In an article on the billionaires of the world a few weeks ago, the New York Times asked how much wealth is too much. In America, we all believe that…
Nothing to Say and the Talmud – Shabbat 24
I always try to relate what I read in the Daf to my own life. The task is more difficult because I am not a strictly observant religious Jew. A…
Charter Schools and the Talmud – Berakhot 35
Yesterday I talked to my friend who is a teacher at a charter school. Today she was to start online classes for her 9th grade students as a result of…
Nudity and the Talmud – Shabbat 23
Today, we answer the question on everyone's mind - can I perform a Rabbinic (not biblical) commandment in the nude? Before reading on and finding the answer, please write your…
Disrespect and the Talmud – Shabbat 22
Today's Daf debates how we properly respect the Chanukah lights. To understand this debate, we need to turn back to the Bible and discuss how we cover blood. Leviticus 17:13…
Chanukah and the Talmud – Shabbat 21
For modern America, the holiday of Chanukah is the most widely known, not because of its theological significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas and "the Holiday Season". The…
Naming Fish and the Talmud – Shabbat 20
In my previous job I traveled all over the world. I traveled to five continents (six, depending on whether the Middle East is Asia, Africa or Europe) and numerous countries.…
My Dogs, Shabbat and the Talmud – Shabbat 19
With the COVID-19 quarantine, I have learned that every day is a day of rest for my dogs! They spend most of their day lying at my feet waiting for…
Tools, Rest and the Talmud – Shabbat 18
Our Daf yesterday ended in the middle of a Mishnah that listed a series of activities that Shammai ruled could not be started on Shabbat if the process would not…
My Dry Cleaners and the Talmud – Shabbat 17
I am fairly certain that my dry cleaners are not Jewish. For the last 20+ years when I have gone to them, I have been greeted by an inspirational verse…