The Customs Associated with Joy on Chanukah and Their More Obscure Sources
…of the 13th century) from the nephew of the Rosh, writes that although during the rest of the year it is prohibited to tell jokes (pg 12) or play musical…
Hot Tears For A Close Friend: Rabbi Eitam Henkin HY”D
…honesty was ever-present, in every field and topic, be it in Torah study, academic research, or this-worldly life. Our final conversation took place between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I…
A Review of Beis Havaad by Eliezer Brodt
…so; and, consulting experts on particular topics. Koton gives the example of if one is working on Mesechtas Rosh Hashana and comes to the topics relating to Hilchos Kiddush Hachodesh,…
ועשו להם ציצת – What to Make of Tzitzit
…on the first day of Rosh Hashana, or the line אלו ואלו בצפצוף מצפצפים in the similarly styled כל שנאני שחק, recited in the same place in the service on…
Review of James A. Diamond, “Maimonides and the Shaping of the Jewish Canon” (2014) by Menachem Kellner
…the Department of Maritime Civilizations, and founding director of Be-Zavta, a program in Jewish enrichment. His most recent book is Menachem Kellner: Jewish Universalism, edited by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and Aaron…
Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part one
…the sixth such conversation I have had with him of this kind this year (earlier we discussed Yerushalmi Shekalim [here], Yoma [here], Rosh Hashanah [here] Taanis [here] and Megillah [here])….
Quiz Answers; Response to Criticism; Rav Schwab Writes to the Rogochover
Quiz Answers; Response to Criticism; Rav Schwab Writes to the Rogochover Marc B. Shapiro 1. Let me begin with the riddles from my last post here. A. Where do we…
Towards A Reappraisal of the Recent Works of Rabbi Shelomoh Luriah (Maharshal)
…treifus in lungs (Rosh Efraim), R. Efraim Zalman states that Shechitot u’Bedikot were written last, even after Yam Shel Shelomoh, and the Halakha should be fixed accordingly, even against a…
Book Week 2011
…be-talmud Bavli. Another title is from S. Tzefatman called Rosh Ve-rishon. Another title is from Shlomo Simonsohn on the Jews in Sicily. Another nice collection is related to the Cario…
A Printing Mistake and the Mysterious Origins of Rashbi’s Yahrzeit*
…Ben Yosef, pp. 26-33; M. Cohen, Ishim Utekufot, pp. 92-112; R. Y. Tamar, Alei Tamar, Tannis, pp. 390-392;C. Kulitz, Rosh Lechachochim; Ibid, Ben Ha-aliyah; collection of articles in Mared Bar…
Satmar From As Seen By An Insider: A Review of the New English Biography of Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe
…Weissmandel (Rosh Yeshiva of Nitra Yeshiva in Mount Kisco) wanted to make sure he wouldn’t return to Israel. He therefore took the Rebbe’s passport and ripped it up. What is…
Rabbi Zeira – Forgetting the Teachings of Babylon
…Talmud in the sense of teachings occurs many times, often in comparison to mikra or mishna. [2] Compare Rosh Hashana 20b: “When R. Zeira went up [to the land of…
Hadaran: Who is going down to the pit of destruction?
…the text: the yoshvei קרנות of the Talnud Bavli are really yoshvei קרו”ת, roshei teivos for קרקסיות andתרטיות , those who patron theaters and circuses, which in fact, is the…
Daf Yomi: Seforim on Moed Katan, Part Two and Three
…have had with him of this kind this year (earlier we discussed Yerushalmi Shekalim [here], Yoma [here], Rosh Hashanah [here] Taanis [here] Megillah [here] and Moed Koton part one [here])….
Easing the Donkey’s Burden: Nitkatnu Hadorot or Nitgadlu?
…was not satisfied, and in response he made following request of the Jewish people: “On every Rosh Chodesh bring a sacrifice on my behalf in order that I obtain forgiveness…