gemara

So this is the long awaited Moshiach podcast. I had a lot to say, and I didn’t even say it all, but the running time is a little over forty five minutes. I don’t think you will be bored. We explore what’s going on now in light of the Maharsha in Sanhedrin 12A, and we…

There are two fundamental questions in regards to the בן סורר ומורה. The first is, Don’t we believe that every Jew has a chance to do Teshuva, and deep inside has the potential to climb out of whatever pit he has dug for himself? How can we kill a young man על שם סופו –…

The gemara brings the interesting story of R’ Eliezer’s death. The sages came to visit him as he was dying, but would not come within a certain distance of him. This was because they had placed a ban on him because he had been adamant in his opinion and had not submitted to the majority…

Recently, in the daf (Sanhedrin 12) we were offered a look into the concept of Moshiach ben Yosef, which is discussed in the Maharsha. The gemara itself speaks of a ‘news brief’ that was given to Rava. Due to the sensitive nature of the briefing, it was said to him in a code that could…

It is interesting that the Gemara understands that when the Torah says the word elohim in reference to judges, this teaches that the judges must be מוסמכים, having received their ordination in a line going back to Moshe Rabbenu. Generally speaking, the word elohim is most interesting, in that it is the name of Hashem,…

What is the significance of the angel that guides the Jewish people into Israel? Why does Hashem hint to the future sin of the Jewish people at the very time that they are coming into their relationship with Hashem? Why does this angel (Michael) act in a mode of strict justice if it usually corresponds…

The Gemara understands that it is more likely that the custom will be to build a wall in regards to a גינה – a vegetable garden or fruit orchard – than a בקעה – a field meant to grow grains. The question is, Why? נ”ל בע”ה that the understanding is that the whole reason that…

(To prevent any ‘mar’is ayin,’ this post was posted in America, and while it is already Shabbos in Israel, it is not yet Shabbos in the US.) The gemara introduces us to the concept of hezek re’iyah. At the simplest level, this means that it is possible to cause damage to another with one’s vision.…

How do we understand the fact that the Torah only obligates us to return the lost object of a Jew? Another place we have this question is in regard to the prohibition of taking interest on a loan, which is only forbidden when lending to a Jew, but not to a non-Jew. The question is,…