Reaching New Heights
It was widely reported a number of months ago that One World Trade Center, which recently laid claim to the title of New York City’s tallest building, might not become America’s tallest building.
Seder Moed · dafim 2–157
Shabbos
Finished August 10, 2020 in this cycle. 13 articles, 9 stories
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Articles, in daf order
Light Up The Night
If a woman is lighting more than one light for Shabbos, why does she recite “L’hadlik ner shel Shabbos”? Ner is the singular form. Shouldn’t the correct text be l’hadlik neiros?
Making Waves On Shabbos
The Gemara in Shabbos makes an undisputed statement: Less than three days before Shabbos, one is not allowed to board a boat that will travel on Shabbos unless the travel is for the purpose of a mitzvah.
More Crockpot Questions
Last week’s article generated comments from readers, especially since the article ended with a statement that a blech was recommended for the use of a crockpot on Shabbos.
Seeing Another’s Pain
A man who is suffering from tzara’as has to call out, “I am tamei.” The simple reason behind this commandment is to warn others not to approach him since he is tamei.
Salad Days
I vividly remember one high-school Shabbaton I attended in Miami. The food preparations had been divided up among many students. At the Friday-night meal, the hostess turned to the person in charge and innocently asked…
Mirror Mirror, Can I Trust You At All?
There is a fascinating incident related in the Gemara (Shabbos 88a) which begs for interpretation. A Sadducee saw Rava so engrossed in his learning that he did not even realize that his fingers were under his leg in…
Incensed And Innocent
The Amora Reish Lakish said that one who suspects the innocent is punished by being stricken in his body (Shabbos 97a). The question of who exactly is considered innocent isn’t clear.
LOL: Lots Of Learning
aftR I finishD learning d Daf Yomi on mon I realized dat OMG I had Nuttin 2 wrte bout. Nuttin jumped out @ me. I wz turniN things Ovr n my hed wen d ideas of acronyms hit me. ppl uz dem whIl txtN.
Calling Doctor Dolittle
When I was growing up, my family used to daven at Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, which was then in Forest Hills. At the yeshiva, all the local children liked to visit “the dungeon.” The dungeon was the lone dormitory room on…
Finders, Keepers?
Tami Robinson decided that she would single-handedly tackle the homeless problem in Florida. She located abandoned houses, filed some paperwork with the county government, and then proceeded to change the locks.
Dog Foodies
The Gemara in Shabbos teaches us that one is not allowed to expend any effort on Shabbos to feed animals that are not his. The Mishnah Berurah therefore questions the custom some have of feeding the birds on Shabbos…
The End . . . To Be Continued
Daf yomi reached an important milestone—completing Maseches Shabbos on Shabbos Chazak. I needed a d’var Torah that related to the end of Maseches Shabbos, but I was at my wit’s end to come up with one.
Stories in Shabbos
Rav Ashi Rebuilds the Shul of Masa Machsya
Rav Ashi spots a crack in the shul of Masa Machsya, tears it down and sleeps in the ruins until a new shul is built taller than every house in town.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and the Two Myrtle Bundles
Leaving the cave, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son meet an old man carrying two myrtle bundles for Shabbos: one for 'zachor' and one for 'shamor.'
Rav Huna and the Lights of Avin the Carpenter
Rav Huna sees many Shabbos lights in the house of Avin the carpenter and foretells two great sages; Rav Idi and Rav Chiya bar Avin grow up there.
The Chasam Sofer and the Pressburg Flood
Before Napoleon’s siege of Pressburg, a Danube flood moves the Jews to great chesed, and the Chasam Sofer wonders if that merit is what saved them from the siege.
Rava and the Sadducee: An Impetuous Nation
A Sadducee mocks Rava, so absorbed in learning that his fingers bled, for a nation that said "na'aseh" before "nishmah." Rava answers that trust comes from wholesomeness.
Eliezer Gives Rivkah the Jewelry
Eliezer trusts that Hashem answered his prayer at the well and gives Rivkah the jewelry at once, then changes the order when telling Besuel and Lavan.
Rabbi Akiva Names Tzelofchad as the Mekoshesh
Rabbi Akiva identifies the man who gathered wood on Shabbos as Tzelofchad, and Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira warns him that either way he will have to give an accounting.
Rebbe Zalman of Vilna and the Inn Without Mezuzos
Rebbe Zalman of Vilna finds invalid mezuzos at an inn for Shabbos, so the innkeeper declares the inn ownerless before three witnesses to keep his guest.
Ulla Finds Rabbah bar Rav Huna Measuring Bathwater
Ulla sees Rabbah bar Rav Huna measuring his bathwater on Shabbos and rebukes him; Rabbah answers that he is only measuring idly, with no purpose.