We begin today's Daf with a story that started at the very end of yesterday's page. Levi, the son of Rav Huma bar Chiya, and Rabbah bar Rav Huma were…
Year: 2020
Responsible Pet Owners and the Talmud – Shabbat 51
I love dogs and have had dogs as pets my entire life. I try really hard to be a responsible pet owner. I adopt my dogs as rescues. They have…
Skin Care Regimes and the Talmud – Shabbat 50
Today we learn a lot about the skin care regimes of the Rabbis as we consider which facial cleaners are Muktzeh (not supposed to be moved on Shabbat) and which…
Superheroes and the Talmud – Shabbat 49
Today we are introduced to Elisha the Winged One. Why was Elisha called "the Winged One"? As we have stated before, of all the ancient hegemonic powers over the Jews,…
Laundry and the Talmud – Shabbat 48
In today's Daf, we learn a little about the ancient profession of launderer. We learn that some people sent their laundry to be done professionally. When the laundry was returned,…
Thermodynamics and the Talmud II – Shabbat 47
We previously discussed the Rabbis understanding of thermodynamics in connection with cooking. The Rabbis understood heat transfer as a function of a vessel in a train of transfers from the…
Lamps and the Talmud – Shabbat 46
We have today and half of tomorrow left in Chapter Three and the laws of Muktzeh. Today, we largely focus on candelabra's and lamps, but for different reasons. For candelabra's,…
National Emergencies and the Talmud – Shabbat 45
We have spent several days discussing the laws of Muktzeh - items with no obvious purpose on Shabbat. Consider a pen. We are not allowed to write on Shabbat. Should…
Mattresses, Money and the Talmud – Shabbat 44
Today we continue our exploration of the rules of Muktzeh - items that cannot be moved on Shabbat. The Rabbis cannot agree on what makes something Muktzeh or not. Some…
Sublime Detail and the Talmud – Shabbat 43
We continue our discussion of Muktzeh, items that are not normally used on Shabbat. Perhaps in my haste to catch up to the cycle today, I have read too many…