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 14: I Want a Real Rabbi

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the fiercest debates in medieval Jewish history was engendered by the attempt to reinstate full-blown semicha, rabbinic ordination, by Rav Yaakov Beirav in the 16th century[1]. This “real” semicha had to be passed…
Article
Aug 9, 2017

Sanhedrin 11: Humble Pie

Rabbi Jay Kelman

It is in times of crisis that strong leadership is most needed. And up to that point in Jewish history, there was no greater crisis than that faced by the Jewish people in the year 70—the Temple destroyed, the people dispersed, and worst of…
Article
Aug 8, 2017

Sanhedrin 11: Please Don't Embarrass Me

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When things go well all are ready to take credit, even if they had little or no role to play in the success of the project at hand. At the same time few are willing to take the blame for failure even if they may have played a major role in that…
Article
Aug 4, 2017

Sanhedrin 11: An Extra Long Summer

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Up until this point in Masechet Sanhedrin, we have been discussing the role of the court in resolving monetary disputes. But there is much more for which a court of three was responsible. They were to handle punitive damages, cases of rape,…
Article
Aug 3, 2017

Sanhedrin 8: We Want Justice

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Moshe Rabbeinu was about to die. Like many before him, he wanted to bless his “children” – the nation of Israel[1]. Yet before we get to the actual blessings of the 12 tribes[2], Moshe spends the last five weeks of his life…
Article
Jul 30, 2017

Sanhedrin 7: The Wisdom of the Simple Man

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rabbi Chaninah says: I learned much from my teachers, and from my colleagues more than my teachers, and from my students more than all” (Taanit 7a). While students ostensibly may come to learn from their teachers, more often than not it…
Article
Jul 27, 2017

Sanhedrin 6: Truth or Peace?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Thus said the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth [month] (17 Tammuz ), and the fast of the fifth (9 Av), and the fast of the seventh (Tzom Gedaliah, 3 Tishrei), and the fast of the tenth (10 Tevet), will be to the house of Judah for…
Article
Jul 25, 2017

Sanhedrin 5: Professional Courtesy

Rabbi Jay Kelman

How much would you be willing to sacrifice for the honour of another? Some money, a little bit of time perhaps. But few are those who would be willing to give up a graduate degree or professional advancement for the sake of someone else’s…
Article
Jul 24, 2017

Sanhedrin 4: Please Read it Out Loud

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rav Yochanan said: The Holy One, blessed be He, established the covenant with the Jewish people only because of the Oral Law, as it says (Shemot 34:27), ‘ki al pi, because of these [oral] words G-d established the covenant…
Article
Jul 23, 2017

Sanhedrin 3: Please Lend Me Some Money

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Dinei mammonot, monetary law [is adjudicated] with three [judges]; gezeilot vechavalot, theft and assault, with three [judges]” (Sanhedrin 2a). The Gemara is puzzled as to the need to mention gezeilot vechavalot—are they…
Article
Jul 21, 2017