Berachot

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

Reflections on Daf Yomi Turning 100

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Rosh Hashanah marked 100 years of Daf Yomi. I have seen surprisingly little written about this important milestone. The thoughts below on this momentous occasion reflect my personal, subjective thoughts and I would love to hear your feedback and…
Article

Brachot 55: People Power

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Leadership is not for the faint of heart. A leader, by definition, must make decisions that are going to hurt people. That does not mean the decisions are incorrect, but rather is a result of the fact that it is impossible for every decision to…
Article

Daf Yomi - Brachot 55 - February 28, 2020

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Audio

Brachot 48: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Look to the Sky

Rabbi Jay Kelman

I imagine that many of us had elementary school classmates whom we knew were going to reach great heights. Their intelligence and drive to succeed was obvious, and their success was easily foretold. While some are late bloomers, many, likely most,…
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Brachot 43: Learning from Tamar

Rabbi Jay Kelman

We have often noted that the Talmud was edited with great precision. A simple example is the extreme to which it goes to record who, and in whose name, teachings were made. When the teachings of the same person on a variety of subjects are…
Article

The Importance of Community: Laws of Zimmun in Berakhot Daf 50 and Reflections on the Siyum HaShas for Women

Michelle Cohen Farber

Audio

Brachot 43: Sweet Smells

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When one is consumed with hatred, one is liable to act in ways that are out of the norm, to say the least. “Sina’ah mekalkelet et hashura, hatred breaks down one’s straight thinking” (Rashi, Bamidbar 22:21). Bilaam, consumed…
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Daf Yom: Brachot 43

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Audio

Brachot 31: Channa's Prayer

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rav Hamnuna said: How many important halakhot can be derived from these verses of the prayer of Hannah?” (Brachot 31a). The image one conjures up when one thinks of Channa is that of a most pious woman, spilling her…
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Brachot 29: The Simple Jew

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Our Sages taught: Shimon Hapekuli arranged the eighteen blessings before Rabban Gamliel, al haseder, in order, in Yavne” (Brachot 28b).  The Gemara (Megillah 17b) notes that the shemoneh esrei was initially composed…
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