Sanhedrin

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

Sanhedrin 46: I'm Not Mad at You

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Man finds it difficult to admit wrongdoing. Doing so creates cognitive dissonance. Being that we are basically good people – there are few who do not think such of themselves – our actions are almost always, if not exemplary, at least…
Article
Sep 28, 2017

Sanhedrin 45: Take off Your Clothes!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In an amazing teshuva, Rav Yaakov Ettlinger (Binyan Tzion #172-173), basing himself on the story of Tamar and Yehuda, rules that one must give up one’s life rather than embarrass someone in public. Tamar was willing to die rather than…
Article
Sep 25, 2017

Sanhedrin 44: I Didn't Do It!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In recent years, as more forensic tools have become available, we have been able to free many people who languished for years in prison before their wrongful conviction was overturned. It is this fear of accidentally putting to death an innocent…
Article
Sep 19, 2017

Sanhedrin 43: Confess and Die

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The fact that the Bible allows – perhaps at times even encourages – the death penalty for violating its most serious transgressions is based on the belief that death is not the end of a human’s existence. While it may mark one…
Article
Sep 18, 2017

Sanhedrin 40:Where Were You on Monday at 3:00pm?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"They would cross-examine him with seven questions: in which year of the jubilee, in which year of the shmitta cycle, in which month, on what day of the month, on what day of the week, at what time and where? Rabbi Yossi says, on what…
Article
Sep 14, 2017

Sanhedrin 37: The World Was Created for Me

Rabbi Jay Kelman

There is nothing more precious than human life. As we discussed in our last post, it is due to the crucial importance of one individual life that man was created alone. Yet there is more to learn from the fact that man, unlike all other creatures,…
Article
Sep 11, 2017

Sanhedrin 37: 1+1=Eternity

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the most famous and beautiful teachings of Judaism is, “whoever preserves one life, it is as if he has preserved an entire world”. Less well known is the source of this teaching, which originates in the Mishna (Sanhedrin 37a…
Article
Sep 7, 2017

Sanhedrin 37: Back to School

Rabbi Jay Kelman

With thousands going back to school today (myself included), parents, teachers and students are looking forward (well, maybe not all are looking forward) to a year of learning and growth. There is much to do to prepare for a successful year of…
Article
Sep 5, 2017

Sanhedrin 36: The Mean Judge

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The conflict between truth and peace dates back at least as far as the creation of the world, with “truth” arguing that being that man is full of deceit, G-d should not create the world, and “peace” arguing that yes,…
Article
Sep 4, 2017

Sanhedrin 29: I Hate that Rabbi

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Based on the words of two or three witnesses shall the matter be established” (Devarim 19:15). While absent cause, we have little reason to doubt the integrity of any particular person, the Torah was afraid that the testimony of…
Article
Aug 31, 2017