Several years ago I took my family (including a Swiss exchange student) to the Grand Canyon for Spring Break. We hiked all the way to the bottom of the canyon…
Author: Beastman
I am a corporate attorney. I was raised Jewish in a slightly observant household. Although I was bar mitzvahed in an Orthodox synagogue, I have never kept kosher or Shomer Shabbos. I love history and particularly Jewish history. I am happily married to a Catholic woman. Our children were raised in a reform synagogue and consider themselves Jewish - in some ways, they are more observant than me.
Religious Zealots, the Problem of Timekeeping and the Talmud – Shabbat 34
Yesterday's story of the ascetic Rabbi Shimon Yochai continues today. Upon emerging from his second isolation in the cave, Rabbi Shimon understood that he had to work with people who…
Ascetics and the Talmud – Shabbat 33
Today we continue yesterday's discussion about specific sins leading to specific punishments. In particular, we consider how particular sins lead to particular medical conditions. This line of thought troubles our…
Jerry Falwell and the Talmud – Shabbat 32
Jerry Falwell said, "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. . . . AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals. It is God's punishment for the…
Prison, Famous Stories and the Talmud – Shabbat 31
One day, I had the pleasure to visit a maximum security prison with the Chief Jewish Chaplain of the Texas Prison System. We visited a prison about an hour from…
Live Dogs, Dead Lions and the Talmud – Shabbat 30
We ended yesterday with a Mishnah that stated in part that we could extinguish a candle on Shabbat to comfort a sick person. I expected a very detailed parsing of…
Intent and the Talmud – Shabbat 29
Several times in our readings, the ugly world of fear has impinged on our rules for religious living. At the end of today's Daf we get a new Mishnah that…
Unicorns, Translation and the Talmud – Shabbat 28
Ancient is ancient. We lose sight that there was ancient for times we consider ancient. In the time of the Talmud, the events of the bible were already ancient. Indeed,…
Fidgeting and the Talmud – Shabbat 27
Observant Jewish men wear an undershirt that has knotted strings attached to the four corners. The strings or the garment are called Tzitzis or Tzitzis Katan. The obligation to wear…
The Worst Mother-In-Law in the World and the Talmud – Shabbat 26
"I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport." Jokes and stories about how difficult Jewish mothers-in-law can be are legendary. None can hold…