Ethics Of Our Fathers
My Rebbe, HaGaon Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zt’l, would commonly say that the most powerful mussar lessons come directly from Chazal themselves.
Seder Zeraim · dafim 2–64
Berachos
Finished March 7, 2020 in this cycle. 7 articles, 3 stories
Map of the dafim
Articles, in daf order
Wandering Jews
The topic of Tefillas HaDerech really comes up later in Maseches Berachos, but I found a way to sneak it in this week. There are many questions surrounding the recital of Tefillas HaDerech.
Do Knot Disturb
I had a friend who purchased an air-line ticket using his frequent-flyer miles. Some issue arose and he needed to contact customer service while at the airport.
Fasten Your Seatbelts
With the thousands of El Al tickets recently sold, it’s appropriate to discuss some of the halachos of davening on a plane. Although the Gemara doesn’t mention traveling on a plane per se, it does discuss the next best…
Prayer And Unity
In Parashas Korach, Moshe Rabbeinu announced that the events that were about to unfold would establish clearly whether or not Korach was right in his challenge.
Fruits Of Our Labor
The beginning of this dramatized conversation has its roots in a conversation recorded in the Talmud between two Amoraim: Boruch: I’m in that national berachos bee and I’m really studying hard!
Find The Missing Word
A Gemara in the middle of Berachos reminded me of a lesson I recently learned in humility and judging favorably. The Gemara says that Hashem’s kingship is mentioned extra times in the fourth blessing of bentching.
Stories in Berachos
Moshe Rabbeinu Says “Around Midnight”
Moshe Rabbeinu warns Pharaoh that the firstborn will die “around midnight,” not “at midnight,” so Pharaoh’s astrologers cannot call him a liar.
Rabbi Chiya, Rabbi Yonasan and the Tzitzis in the Cemetery
Walking through a cemetery, Rabbi Chiya tells Rabbi Yonasan to lift his dragging tzitzis, lest the dead say the living are mocking them.
Rav Aryeh Levin and the Widow's Tears
A grieving widow asks Rav Aryeh Levin if all her tears and Tehillim for her husband were wasted. His answer turns her tears of sorrow into tears of hope.