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
Sep 28, 2023

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
Mar 5, 2020

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,…
Article
Feb 27, 2020

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
Feb 26, 2020

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…
Article
Feb 24, 2020

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…
Article
Feb 19, 2020

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…
Article
Feb 16, 2020

Brachot 29: The Changing Nature of Prayer

Rabbi Jay Kelman

It is hard to think of a mitzvah that has undergone as much change over time as that of prayer. Originally, prayer was a spontaneous pouring out of one’s heart before G-d. One prayed when, what, how and for however long one may have wanted.…
Article
Feb 13, 2020

Brachot 28: Saving Judaism

Rabbi Jay Kelman

It is fair to say that, if not for the leadership of Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai, you would not be reading these words. Judaism as we know it today could not have survived without his great foresight.    It was he who steered the Jewish…
Article
Feb 12, 2020

Brachot 28: The Education of Rabban Gamliel

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The years following the destruction of the Temple were fraught with great danger and uncertainty. The infighting that had so weakened the Jewish people threatened to completely tear them apart. Hundreds of thousands were killed or exiled, with the…
Article
Feb 6, 2020