When Less Is Too Much
An acquaintance once confided that he had a stone fragment from the Kosel in his possession. He said archaeologists were excavating near the Kosel area and uncovered numerous stone fragments during the dig.
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Beis HaMikdash and Korbanos
Beis HaMikdash
The Mishkan and Beis HaMikdash, its vessels, its site and its avodah.
The Shabbos Afternoon Showdown: Raffles, Bungalows, and the Kohen Gadol
It is 5:45 PM on a sticky July Shabbos afternoon in the Catskills. Inside the wood-paneled walls of the main shul, a single window AC unit is fighting a valiant, entirely losing battle against the ninety-degree heat.
The Mystery of the Kalya Orev: Avian Architecture in the Beis Hamikdash
Mazal tov to all the dedicated learners who recently finished Mesechta Menachos and are embarking on Mesechta Chullin this Shabbos! As we wrap up Menachos, we find that the recent Mishnayos delve into the fascinating…
Fresh, Hot Challah
I received a question about whether it is preferable to bake five pounds of flour once every three weeks, thereby fulfilling the mitzvah of hafrashas challah, and serve frozen challah for the subsequent weeks, or to…
The Emperor’s Used Clothes – For the Aron Kodesh?
As the French army retreated from the frozen outskirts of Moscow in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte, the man who had once rearranged the map of Europe, was reduced to a fugitive.
Firstborn Offerings
Which of our forefathers were considered bechoros? Was Avraham Avinu a bechor? What about Yitzchak or Yaakov? The Mishnah in Zevachim (14:4) teaches that before the Mishkan was built, the avodah was performed by…
Doing the Right Thing
It seems that sitting in the left lane, engine idling while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so you can make a left-hand turn is wasteful—not only of time and peace of mind but also of gas and therefore money.
The Candles Burning Bright
Last week’s daf article about Rosh Hashana was timed perfectly. This week’s article…not so much. Still, there’s a strong connection. The Kohen Gadol performed all of the Avodah on Yom Kippur, including lighting the…
Clearing the Air
The following was inspired by a true question posed to the Beis Shlomo. Boruch recently completed Daf Yomi and studied Shavuos 17, where the Gemara considers whether the airspace above the Beis HaMikdash shares its…
The Simcha of a Siyum
A mishnah in Ta’anis declares that the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar are Yom Kippur and Tu B’Av. The Gemara says that Yom Kippur was joyous because the nation was forgiven for its sins.
Fair and Square
In July 2001, Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court had a massive granite monument – it weighed more than two tons – of the Ten Commandments placed in the Alabama state judicial building.
A Fruity Matter
There is a well-known prohibition against cutting down fruit trees needlessly. Indeed, many non-Jewish gardeners are even aware of this.
A Kohen and His Colorful Socks
There are many complex halachos about interrupting one’s prayers for various responses. At some points in davening, it is forbidden to respond, “Boruch Hu u’baruch Shmo.” At other points, one cannot even respond amein.
Who is Obligated?
The very first Mishna in Chagigah discusses those who are obligated to make the thrice-yearly pilgrimage to the Beis Hamikdash. The Mishna clearly states that the rule is that everyone is obligated except those…
Bidding on Buildings and Baby Boys
Rav Shmuel Eliezer HaLevi Eidels, more commonly known as the Maharsha, was Rosh HaYeshiva in Austroha. At one point due to the great influx of talmidim to his Yeshiva, the community decided to erect a larger building.
Takana Considerations
Rebbe Yochanon Ben Zakkai led the Jewish nation through the tumultuous years immediately following the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdash. His guidance preserved Torah-true Judaism.
Back to Respect
Twenty-five years ago, there was an established shul that let it be known that they were looking for a new rav. There were many candidates for the one position.
Rise and Shine
Everyone knows how hard it is to wake up in the morning. One Siyum HaShas video in fact focused on the coffee served at the Daf. Many Daf Yomi shiurim take place early in the morning, and coffee provides a welcome boost.
Six Collection Boxes and Sunny Days
Daf Yomi learners finished their brief foray into Talmud Yerushalmi. Mesechta Shekalim of the Jerusalem Talmud was completed this week, and the cycle continued with Mesechta Yoma of Talmud Bavli.
Sensitive Situations
The survival of the donkey would be too great a blow to Bilam’s dignity. The Gemara is replete with examples of the sensitivity we must have even to individuals who may have sinned.
Pesachim 16a: Fueling the Flames of Chanukah
Those who studied the daf this week were forced to challenge their long-rooted understanding of the finer points of the Chanukah miracle.
Building Blocks of Halachah
A recent weekly periodical dealing with hilchos Shabbos shocked many families. The Hilchos Shabbos Initiative newsletter stated that it is forbidden for adults and chinuch-age children to play with Magna-Tiles on…
Calm and Collected
The Mishnah in Shekalim says there were 13 monetary collection containers in the Beis HaMikdash. There is no Talmud Bavli on Shekalim; therefore, at the end of Menachos, the Gemara elaborates on the reason for the many…
Piece Of Cake
Over 25 years ago, I walked into Angel’s bakery on Rechov Shmuel HaNavi. My friends and I had gathered funds together to purchase a birthday cake for another mutual friend.
A Burning Question
When Chanukah time comes around, I am always reminded of the Beis Yosef’s famous question: Why did the Sages institute eight days of Chanukah to commemorate the miracle that the oil lasted for eight days?
Lots Of Land: Daf 119b in Zevachim
On daf 119b in Zevachim, the Gemara discusses the words “nachalah” and “menuchah” in the verse “For you have not yet come to the resting place (menuchah) or the inheritance (nachalah).” According to one opinion, both…
Still Sacred
A question that has been discussed in recent years is the appropriateness of entering Har HaBayis. The Gemara records a dispute whether or not someone is liable for kareis by offering a sacrifice to Hashem outside the…
Getting A Handle On Shul Rules
When Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva was located in Forest Hills, the beis midrash was mostly underground. There were windows, but they were located near the ceiling and had to be opened using a ten-foot pole.
Something In The Air
The following was inspired by a true question posed to the Beis Shlomo. Boruch went to the daf yomi shiur and learned Zevachim 87b. The Gemara questions whether the airspace above the Mizbeiach has the same sanctity as…
Sacrificial Service
This week, daf yomi participants are beginning the perek of Gemara titled Eizeh Mekoman (Zevachim 47a), which starts out discussing the proper place for various sacrifices to be brought.
Reach Out and Grab a Mitzvah
The floor of the Beis HaMikdash was composed of beautiful tiles. The Gemara discusses the halachah if one of the tiles became dislodged. May the kohen stand on the wobbly tile and perform the avodah?
What’s In A Name?
The Gemara in Megillah tells us that Memuchan, who is listed as one of Achashveirosh’s advisers, is Haman. The name Memuchan means prepared, as if to say he was prepared for punishment.
The Right Angle
Over 111 million people watched the Super Bowl on Sunday last week. Anecdotally, many of them were equally interested in the commercials.
Who Knows Eight?
I am taking a brief Chanukah vacation from the daf yomi-themed articles. There is a famous question known as “the Beis Yosef’s kasha.” During the time of the Chanukah miracle, the Jews found enough oil to last one day.
Doing The Right Thing
It seems that sitting in the left lane, engine idling, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so you can make a left-hand turn is wasteful not only of time and peace of mind, but also of gas and therefore money.
K’vyachol
Many times in the course of divrei Torah and conversation, the Hebrew word “k’vyachol” is used. I conducted an unscientific study and concluded that people generally understand the word to convey that the statement…
Rules For Temple Tools
Is a Jewish household allowed to have a metal table? That’s a ridiculous question, right? What could possibly be the problem? But the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 24a–b) states that one should not make a courtyard…
Something In The Air
I remember one chol ha’moed Pesach going with a rosh yeshiva and his family to a Mets game. The rosh yeshiva had a son in my class and he invited me to come along.
Fresh Bread: The Original Baker’s Dozen
One of my daughters loves the Shabbos zemer “Ki eshmerah Shabbos keil yishmereini, os hi l’olmei ad beino u’veini…” It was written by Rav Avrohom Ibn Ezra. For some reason, some bentchers leave out this particular zemer.
Sleeping Duty
Before I started attending an early-morning daf yomi shiur, in my ignorance I envisioned that many attendees sleep through most of the shiur.
Gemara stories on Beis HaMikdash
The Blasphemer Who Mocked the Showbread
The Midrash traces how the son of Shlomis bas Divri began by joking about nine-day-old showbread and slid all the way to cursing Hashem.
Eating on Yom Kippur at the Beis HaMikdash Dedication
At the inauguration of the first Beis HaMikdash the nation feasts even on Yom Kippur, fears punishment, and a Heavenly voice promises them the World to Come.
King Uziyahu Offers the Ketores
The righteous and wise King Uziyahu enters the Heichal to offer the Ketores, reasoning a king may, and is stricken with tzara'as for the rest of his life.
Marta bas Baitos Buys the High Priesthood
In the Second Beis HaMikdash, the wealthy Marta bas Baitos pays King Yannai a half-se'a of dinars to make her fiancé, Yehoshua ben Gamla, Kohen Gadol.
Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosi in Caesar's Treasury
After Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosi cures Caesar's possessed daughter, he tears up Rome's evil decrees and sees the stolen paroches of the Beis HaMikdash.