Makkot

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Makkot resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Makkot 24: A Heart of Gold!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“A song to David; G-d, who will live in Your tent, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He [who] speaks truth in his heart” (Tehillim 15:2, Makkot 24a). The Gemara, explaining what it means to speak truth in one’s heart, has a…
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Makkot 24: 11+6+3+1= 613!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“’And now let Me go, so that I may destroy them and make you a great nation’ (Shemot 32:10). Rav Abahu said: If the verse had not been written, it would not be possible to say it. It teaches that Moshe grabbed the Holy One, Blessed…
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Makkot 23: It's Great To Do Nothing!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Almost by definition, news—at least most of it—is of the less-positive variety, often causing us to think the world is a lot worse than it really is. What makes the news are the aberrations: tragic murders, terrorist attacks, financial…
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Makkot 22: Please Stand Up!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rava said: How foolish are the rest of the people who stand before a sefer Torah, but do not stand before a great person!” (Makkot 22b). Walk into any shul when the sefer Torah is being taken out, or even when the…
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Makkot 12: It's Not My Fault

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Torah takes justice very seriously: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot” (Shemot 21:24). The death penalty is a common refrain in the Torah; one who causes monetary damage to his fellow must…
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Makkot 5: Don't Quote Me

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When I first started learning Gemara – and as we prepared for tests – we were told not to worry if we got the names of the rabbis wrong. What was most important was to understand the content and the logical arguments put forth. I…
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Makkot 5: A Fatal Mistake

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“And you shall do to them as they sought to do to others” (Devarim 19:19). Edim zomimim, plotting witnesses, are punished by receiving the punishment the victim of their false testimony would have suffered…
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Makkot 5: I Don't Believe You

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“The witnesses do not become zomimim, ‘plotting witnesses’, unless they falsify themselves” (Makkot 5a). The law of edim zomimim is a unique subset of invalid witnesses. In a “standard” case of…
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An Introduction to Makkot

Rabbi Jay Kelman

  In the standard editions of the Talmud Bavli in vogue today, there are 63 tractates of Mishna, 37 of which have a corresponding Gemara. The other masechtot dealt with issues that, by and large, were no longer relevant –…
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