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Category: History

How many children did Michal have? Explanation of a Talmudic passage in light of the writings of Josephus Flavius

How many children did Michal have? Explanation of a Talmudic passage in light of the writings of Josephus Flavius

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How many children did Michal have? Explanation of a Talmudic passage in light of the writings of Josephus Flavius[1]  By Chaim Sunitsky The following Talmudic passage appears in Sanhedrin 19b (we are using mostly Soncino translation): R. Yossi was asked by his disciples: How could David marry two sisters while they were both living? He answered: He married Michal after the death of Meirav. R. Yehoshua ben Korha said: His marriage to Meirav was contracted in error, as it is said,…

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Self-Censorship in the Arukh ha-Shulhan, ArtScroll’s Latest Betrayal, and Other Assorted Comments

Self-Censorship in the Arukh ha-Shulhan, ArtScroll’s Latest Betrayal, and Other Assorted Comments

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Self-Censorship in the Arukh ha-Shulhan, ArtScroll’s Latest Betrayal, and Other Assorted Comments Marc B. Shapiro 1. R. Mordechai Rabinovitch has recently published the second volume of his commentary on the Arukh ha-Shulhan, dealing with the laws of Hanukkah. I strongly encourage anyone who prepares for the holiday by studying the halakhot in the Arukh ha-Shulhan to use R. Rabinovitch’s valuable work. Interestingly, R. Rabinovitch vocalizes the work as Arokh ha-Shulhan. This is based on the fact that these words, with this vocalization, appear in Isaiah…

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Was Professor Saul Lieberman “Orthodox” or “Conservative”? [1]

Was Professor Saul Lieberman “Orthodox” or “Conservative”? [1]

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Was Professor Saul Lieberman “Orthodox” or “Conservative”? [1] by David Golinkin Saul Lieberman (1898–1983) is universally regarded by Talmud scholars as the foremost talmudist of his generation, and some regard him as one of the foremost talmudists of all times. Immanuel Low wrote to him in Hebrew in 1938: “In the depth of your articles there are many sparks of the spirit of the Gaon of Vilna.” E. S. Rosenthal wrote in Hebrew in 1963: “… until we can almost say…

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A note on an extra word in Rashi – “על ידי שבשביל” – גליון שנשתרבב?

A note on an extra word in Rashi – “על ידי שבשביל” – גליון שנשתרבב?

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A note on an extra word in Rashi By L. Weiss   “על ידי שבשביל” – גליון שנשתרבב? מאת לייביש ווייס בתחילת הפרשה (ויצא, כח: י) כתב רש”י: ויצא יעקב. על ידי שבשביל שרעות בנות כנען בעיני יצחק אביו הלך עשו אל ישמעאל, הפסיק הענין בפרשתו של יעקב, וכתיב וירא עשו כי ברך וגו’, ומשגמר, חזר לענין הראשון. פתיחתו של רש”י בדיבור זה מוקשה, מהו כפל הלשון “על ידי” “שבשביל”, הרי משמעותם אחת היא!? והיה די לו לרש”י לנקוט אחד…

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“Is taking my husband not enough?” (Gen 30:15)

“Is taking my husband not enough?” (Gen 30:15)

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“Is taking my husband not enough?” (Gen 30:15) Rabbi Nathan Kamenetsky of Jerusalem Rabbi Nathan Kamenetsky is the author of the much-talked-about-book, Making of a Godol: A Study of Episodes in the Lives of Great Torah Personalities. A Hebrew version of this essay for Parashat Va-Yetze was first published last week at the Seforim blog [here] and the translation was prepared by Rabbi Daniel Tabak of New York. *                      *                      *                      * If we study the Bible…

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Sotheby’s upcoming Important Judaica auction

Sotheby’s upcoming Important Judaica auction

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December is nearly here and that means that it is the height of Judaica Auction season. Following strong showings by Kestenbaum (Nov 13th), Greenstein (Nov. 24th), Kedem (Nov. 25th), the season reaches its culmination with an exceptionally rich offering of over 170 lots of Important Judaica by Sotheby’s New York. The auction will be held on December 4th, with public viewing, for four days only, from Sunday Nov. 30 through Wednesday, Dec 3. Sotheby’s annual auction features an outstanding array…

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