Why do we become who we are? Is it choice? Is it because of the family and circumstances we were born into? Do we end up doing what we choose, or what G-d needs us to do to fulfill His plans for the world?
The Paschal Sacrifice was brought in the Bais HaMikdash via three shifts, by halakhic mandate. That is, the entire population of Jews who came to bring the sacrifice would be divided into three shifts in the courtyard of the Temple, presumably …
Sometimes we are in situations where the cost of publically standing tall and defending our beliefs are great. What does it take to be steadfast and consistent in your beliefs, despite all social pressures? Who in Jewish history can we draw strength as role models?
Our Gemara (amud beis) in passing alludes to the remarkable story of Akvaya ben Mehallal-El, as described in more detail in Mishna Eduyos (5:6-7).
It begins with a dispute betwee …
Man is a creature at war with himself. Your heart wants one thing, your mind tells you you should want something else. What are we to do and stay sane?
The Gemara discusses the halakhic concept of Piv V’lebo Shavim, the requirement that certain declarations are only valid if the intention and the words correspond. For example, if one declares something to be Teruma but meant to say maaser.
Notwithstanding the lomdus and halakha, …
Should any woman, on the basis of her gender, refrain from studying Torah? If a woman does study Torah, what status can she achieve? Can she become a Talmid Chacham and would people treat her as such?
Our Gemara toward the end of amud beis mentions Beruriah, the daughter of Rav Chananya ben Tradyon and wife of Rabbi Meir. She was a great Torah scholar who learned three hundred Halachos from three hundred rabbis in one day. She is even …
Maharal (netzach yisrael 48) compared אנכי ה in the עשרת הדברות to אנכי אנכי הוא מנחמכם from ישעיה נא. In the עשרת הדברות which is about Hashem’s essence it is necessary to say “I” only once. In Hebrew אנכי is a stronger “I” than “אני״. Compare the English word “me” to “ I”. However in the prophecy of the future there is a doubling …
The Gemara discusses the sugya of Tefos L’shon Rishon, which is a complex analysis of how do we understand the intent and enactment of a statement made, that has two contradictory parts. The opinion of Tefos L’shon Rishon is that either we assume that his primary intent was in his first words, or that his first words become activated and that whatever is said second does not have power.
While this may be true in lomdus, in …
