Lying Waze
The Waze app has a crucial safety feature: it prohibits drivers from typing instructions while the vehicle is in motion, allowing only voice commands.
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Middos and Mussar
Shalom
Making peace between people and at home.
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.
Keeping It In the Family
Sometimes, while learning Talmud and the commentaries, one can uncover new facts about the events recorded in Tanach. Tosfos in Yevamos (21a) states that Dovid HaMelech married the former wife of Shaul HaMelech, Ritzpah…
Rosh Hashana in a Cemetery
The Gemara in Brachos (18b) records a particularly interesting incident. A pious man gave a poor man a dinar on Erev Rosh Hashana during years of famine.
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…
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?
Whodunit?
Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein discusses an interesting incident in his sefer Chashukei Chemed on Yoma (86b). There was an apartment building in Eretz Yisrael with 16 units. Quite possibly, the building lacked an elevator.
She’asah Nissim
The Shulchan Aruch writes that if one passes a place where a miracle occurred to him, he recites the blessing of “she’asah li neis ba’makom ha’zeh.” It is clear from the Mishnah Berurah that the miracle in question has…
Something To Pick At
In a neighborhood where there is no communal eiruv, an eiruv chatzeiros is required to carry on Shabbos from one’s home into a common area. In the Lower East Side there is no eiruv that permits carrying in the streets.
Gemara stories on Shalom
Rav Moshe Sternbuch and the Rounded Luchos
A South African congregant objects to his shul's round-topped Luchos. Rav Moshe Sternbuch finds no real problem, but for peace has them squared off.
Rav's Son Chiya Reverses the Lentils and Peas
Rav's wife always cooks the opposite of what he asks, so their son Chiya reverses the requests, until Rav learns of it and warns him against lying.
Reuven Confesses After Yehudah
After Rachel's death Reuven moves Yaakov's bed. Hearing Yehudah publicly admit his error, Reuven too publicly confesses, sparing his brothers suspicion.
The Chofetz Chaim Marries His Step-Sister
The young Chofetz Chaim turned down rich dowries and married his poor step-sister Freidah for the sake of shalom bayis, and credited all he achieved to her.