Three sins for which women die in childbirth - from "women's mitzvot," such as they are. Why these are so severe, and the cautionary mishnah. Also: Rabbi Yannai and not relying on miracles. Plus: Theodicy (again). And: Cause and effect between sins and negative outcomes for society.
Hillel and Shammai themselves, the famous stories. The dare to anger Hillel, who takes every question seriously, patiently. "Convert me while I stand on one foot." The ways Hillel and Shammai were so different, and yet also the same. Also: The value of Yirat Hashem.
Extinguishing a flame to prevent the flame from being seen vs doing so to save the candle... For example, saving a life... Or improving the sick person's situation. Also: King David's death and what God doesn't tell man, and how nobody outsmarts the Angel of Death, not really. Plus: The effort to keep Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) out of the canon of the Bible, and why it didn't work.
Repurposing a garment to be wicks - yea or nay? Plus: The prohibition of getting up an oil dispenser for candle from an egg shell (never mind the challenge in securing eggs in Israel right now), and it would be permitted. Also: The need for context in understanding halakhah and how psak works (including what happens on social media).
Still talking about ritual impurity... Including non-kosher animals. Holy endeavors must use a kosher animal, and the Gemara explains where this rational doesn't apply to tefillin, which are defined by Halakhah le-Moshe mi-Sinai - and no argument. Plus: The "tachash" - an unknown animal (kosher? unkosher?) used in making this Mishkan.
The impurity of Tzara'at and the impurity of the creepy-crawlies -- can one be inferred from the other? Different ways one happens upon tumah - vs. the tumah and experience of Tzara'at. Also: Tzitzit. With Sha'atnez. Literally. Plus: Learning from verses in proximity to each other. And: Some musing on the surreality of the discussions of these mitzvot (and Yardaena's story of sha'atnez). Also: why the blind are obligated in Tzitzit.
The audio is a little wonky today - with gaps and overlaps - we don't know why (why tried to fix it) - we are sorry about that....... Back to the oils for Shabbat candle use (or not-use, as the case may be). And: a very strange drama that illustrates the volatility (flammability) of balsam oil and some family dynamics... What if you don't have olive oil? Because plenty of locales did not.
Some basic terms of what invalidates kodshim - the sanctified offerings - including immediate mourners who cannot partake. Also: welcoming Shabbat with nice candles, with washing in hot water. Preparing for Shabbat, with a focus on what matters. The complications of the current era and our changes under the coronavirus. Who's Who: R. Yehuda bar Ilai.
The influence of Chanukah: should it be mentioned in Birkat HaMazon? What about Musaf? How do we incorporate new-fangled holidays into the liturgy, without casting aspersions on the biblical holidays?
Blessing the "commandment" of Chanukah. Lighting at every entrance to prevent suspicions. Pe'ah - leaving gleanings the right way. Also: human nature. And concern for community norms and well-being. Plus triage for when you can't afford everything, and don't want to diminish the value of any mitzvah.
How do we treat ritual objects? Disgracing a mitzvah. Are the tools and byproducts of a mitzvah inherently holy? 3 debates between Rav and Shmuel, including R. Shimon's opinion on the physical outcome of melakhah.
Bad oil, bad wicks. Also: Chanukah! Embarking on everything you wanted to know about the holiday and its halakhot, at least from the texts of the Sages.
What does it mean for something to be cooked? How much must be cooked before Shabbat starts? The measurement of Ben Dorsai. Welcoming Shabbat - to exclude a whole host of possible candle materials (ch. 2). Plus a discussion of vocabulary.
All kinds of things come together: Jew/non-Jew interaction, Pesach, selling chametz... Kutach. Shabbat responsibility (when those who are not obligated in Shabbat do what would be violating Shabbat for Jews). Plus: Passive Shabbat "violation." And: When the talmudic text is absent and that changes psak. Also: Muktzah, and the limits of local authority (or: how halakhah is supposed to function).
A new mishnah, a new machloket between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai: beginning a process before shabbat that continues into shabbat, with no new involvement on your part. Namely letting your tools and vessels rest on shabbat. Plus: the concept of a "shabbos clock" (timer). And the concept of mar'it ayin (the appearance gives the wrong impression). Also, the beginning of the conversation of Jew/non-Jew interactions when it comes to shabbat.
Hillel and Shammai. Harvesting grapes in purity, sure, but what about olives? Preserving Hillel's honor in the face of Shammai's decree. Also: the passions riding high when it comes to figuring out the last of the 18 decrees, including using and avoiding non-Jews.
The oddity of the decree to make vessels made of metal impure. Breaking vessels to renew their pure status. What makes rain Waters become standing water, and the significance of intent. Plus: A very strange decree rendering the Kutim/Samaritans impure. Also: the impulse to protect the halakhah with stringent decrees.
Impure land - who said, and when? Six decrees out of Usha (Who's Who and What's What). What's the purpose of a rabbinic decree? Specifically: When terumah comes in contact with possibly impure ground, garments, vessels, spit, or urine.
The impurity of the Sefer Torah - what? Why?! Busy hands. With a note that pure/impure are not value judgements. Now, who decided what? What was ascribed to Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai was really Hillel and Shammai themselves - and those great men really got along.
R. Hananya ben Hizkiyah ben Garon, who saved the Book of Yezhekel (Ezekiel). Plus, Megillat Taanit. We're a product of our times, whenever that may be.
Tefillin on erev Shabbat, and the message of awareness of God at all time. Bikur Holim, and God's presence in the visit. Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha - and the prohibition against adjusting a candle on Shabbat (was he an "adam chashuv" or not?).
A powerful statement that encompasses the Talmud's action, in full. Then, small actions to avoid on erev Shabbat, lest you forget, into shabbat (the Mishnah picks up where the last one left off). Who's Who (what): Matos Mechasya. What's What: Seyag - a fence for the Torah.
Rav Kahana's exceptional approach to prayer - and the fact that we can turn to God in different frames of mind. Plus: The potential conflict between prayer and learning Torah - coming down heavily on the side of the eternal life earned in talmud Torah (with an aside for the proper mentality for prayer).
Examining the essence of the threshold - inside, outside, fluctuating? Establishing space before time... And now on to time: What activities to avoid before Mincha, until after you have davened. What's What: Sha'ot Zmaniot, Minchah Gedolah, Minchah Ketanah.
The definitions and oddities of these four domains, from a large barrel to a basket -- objects vs. domains. Also some reflections on our definitions of space in this challenging time of redefining space, inside and outside of quarantine, closing of public spaces, and ongoing community.
The Karmalit - defining what it is and what it is not, in relation to reshut ha-rabim and reshut ha-yachid. Plus: Exploring the outer parameters of the karmalit, including why the Gemara cares about throwing that juicy cake of figs. And why we care about the karmalit.
Defining the 4 domains (well, two of them). Paying attention to the differences in our space. Carrying in and carrying out, including from an "exempt place" (mekom patur).
Answering Rabbi Akiva (from Shabbat 4). The importance of one's hands in completing the act of Hotza'ah. Probing what counts as a resting place to constitute completed "hanachah." What's What: Teiku
The Gemara tries to figure out why the poor person in the first mishnah of the masekhet would be in violation of Hotza'ah on Shabbat. Rabbi Akiva has an interesting take.
Each tractate is a unit unto itself. Levels of violation of Shabbat. Who's Who: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, Rav, Rav Hiya. What's What (Shabbat edition): Mezid, Shogeg, Patur aval asur. Melakhah definition: Hotza'ah
