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.

Brachot 26: Prayer is Mercy

Rabbi Jay Kelman

As we transition from the third to the fourth chapter of masechet Brachot, our focus shifts from the mitzvah of kriat shema to that of tefillah or, more accurately, the amidah. That which we say before the amidah—…
Article
Feb 2, 2020

Brachot 21: Before and After

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Shehechiyanu vekemanu vhegeyanu lazman hazeh. It was when daf yomi last reached Brachot 27 that I wrote my first “Daily Daf”. For the past seven and a half years it has been a tremendous privilege to share my thoughts on the daf. I…
Article
Jan 29, 2020

Brachot 21: What Did I Say

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the things I love about the Gemara is how realistic and human it is—how it portrays people, rabbis and laypeople alike, in all their complexity, never shying away from pointing out their foibles. “Rav Yehuda said: One who is…
Article
Jan 26, 2020

Brachot 17: Do You Know What I Know

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“A jewel in the mouth of Rava. The purpose of chochmah, wisdom, is teshuva and maasim tovim, good deeds”(Brachot 17a). Knowledge that increases one’s knowlege and nothing else is worth little, is largely a…
Article
Jan 23, 2020

Brachot 12: The Heretics and The Ten Commandments

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“The appointed one [assistant kohen gadol] said to them [the priests in the Temple]: ‘Recite a single blessing.’ They recited a blessing, and read the aseret hadibrot, Shema, veHaya im Shamoa and …
Article
Jan 19, 2020

Brachot 8: Go to Work

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rabbi Chelbo said in the name of Rav Huna: All who have yira’at shamayim, fear of Heaven, his words are heeded, as it is stated: ‘The end of the matter, all having been heard: Fear G-d and keep His commandments; for…
Article
Jan 16, 2020

Brachot 7: What Does G-d Pray For?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

What should one pray for? If we were to take a survey of the typical shul-goer, or even one who is not, I suspect we will hear such ideas as health, peace, justice, economic success, a wonderful family. One might take a look at the siddur and see…
Article
Jan 13, 2020

Brachot 3: Where to Pray?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In our post discussing the last lines of the Talmud Bavli, we wondered why the Gemara ends with a teaching by Eliyahu Hanavi. As Daf Yomi begins its 14th cycle and we open up masechet Brachot, it does not take us long—one page, to be…
Article
Jan 9, 2020

Brachot 2: Who's on First

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“From when may one recite the kriat shema in the evening? From the time the kohanim enter to eat their terumah until the end of the first watch; these are the words of Rabbi Eliezer” (Brachot 2a). It might be coincidental…
Article
Jan 6, 2020

Brachot: A New Cycle Begins

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Rashi begins his commentary to Chumash asking why the Torah begins with the story of creation and not with the first mitzva given to the Jewish people, that of establishing a calendar. Put slightly differently, Rashi wonders why do we begin…
Article
Jan 5, 2020