Monthly Archives: ‍‍ Adar / Nisan 5769 - March 2009

Halakhah and Phenomenology – The Very Small, Tastes and Birkhas haChamah

The Chinukh repeatedly explains various mitzvos by explaining “ha’adam nif’al lefi pe’ulaso — a person is affected according to his action.” Contemporary hashkafos differ over what halachic life is supposed to cause, whether the ideal is better described as “wholeness”, … Continue reading

Posted in Phenomenology | 3 Comments

Raba Got Up and Slaughtered Rav Zeira

Rava’s position in the gemara is famous: רבא מיחייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא עד דלא ידע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי Rava obligated people to drink on Purim until he would not know between “cursed is Haman” and “blessed is Mordachai”. … Continue reading

Posted in Holidays, Simchah | 2 Comments

Speaking Yiddish

In the US today, when someone needs to pay for a ride to get somewhere, someone in the house may wait by the window to see when it arrives. And then they’ll call out “Time to go, the taxi’s here!” … Continue reading

Posted in Dei`os | 2 Comments

Osniel ben Kenaz

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב בשעה שנפטר משה רבינו לגן עדן אמר לו ליהושע שאל ממני כל ספיקות שיש לך אמר לו רבי כלום הנחתיך שעה אחת והלכתי למקום אחר לא כך כתבת בי (שמות לג) ומשרתו יהושע בן נון … Continue reading

Posted in Process, Yahrzeits | Leave a comment