Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Shikkerdovid’s all time favorite pasuk  is the taken from the Rebukes. (It should have been the name of a rock group in the early 60’s).  The pasuk says:  In the morning you shall say, give me the evening and … Continue reading →

Parsha Ki Tetzi opens with, when you go to your war with your enemy and you see a beautiful captive woman, and you desire her and you take her. You bring her to your house, cut her nails, have her … Continue reading →

As Jews we sometimes think that we “own” Hashem.  That we are his chosen people and that somehow he values us higher than others.  This always bothered the SD. Since Hashem runs and rules the world, he also controls , … Continue reading →

Sometimes you get the feeling that the Talmud has something on its mind it wants to explore. Page 152  of Shabbos is about old age and references from Ecclesiates and Rabbinic statements about aging.   Near the bottom of the page, … Continue reading →

The Talmud has a discussion whether one can wrap or wear felt to bring out of the house into a public area. Rav allows and Shmuel prohibits.  The Talmud then retracts that attribution that Rav prohibited.  The Talmud brings a … Continue reading →

Parsha Devarim starts in the first sentence with veiled criticism of the past behavior of Israel mentioning the places where they failed. Rashi says he places mentioned are references to the sins such as the golden calf, the sin of … Continue reading →

Parsha Matos begins with the laws of taking vows and oaths.  The Bal Haturim (13 century rabbi from Cologne) says “nedarim” is the gematria or numerical equivalent of murderer (rotzach)because one who vows and does not pay , the sin … Continue reading →

This parsha lists all the sacrifices starting  with the daily ones, then Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh and the holiday.  When it comes to Shabbos the Ramban says something cryptic (at least it is vague to me). Ramban notes that the “musaf” … Continue reading →

Shabbos page 118 is the gastronomic guide to Shabbos.  Tucked into this daf on what to eat on Shabbos is a strange statement from R. Yose.  R. Yose says, I want to be among those who say a full Hallel … Continue reading →

Conventional wisdom is that Korach was motivated by the jealousy of Moses and Aron; that Korach was rebellious and looking to take power.  In Chapter 16 verse 19 we are told that “the congregation and korach  gathered in front of … Continue reading →