Rabbi Nachman, commenting on the Talmudic dictum that the Torah was meant to be given after one thousand generations, but was, in fact, given after twenty six generations, because of "arrogant people", as follows:The world was created in "Ten...
The "Hora'at Sha'ah" (ruling for the hour), is a provision in Jewish Law that allows a prophet, a beit din(court) or even a community rabbi, to decide that in extraordinary situations, a law, even a Biblical law, could be set aside for a greater...
I have written several times in the past about the centrality of Deuteronomy 17:5-13, which is the very foundation of the Oral Torah and rabbinic authority. When there is a question of how to follow a Torah command, we are to turn to the sages,...
Hermeneutics is the scholarly term for rules of Biblical interpretation. The Talmud records several methodologies. One is the Seven Rules of Hillel. These were later expanded by Rabbi Yishmael into thirteen rules (or Middot). These are actually...
The Shemittah, or Sabbatical Year, is commanded in several places in the Torah. It is part of a fifty year cycle, that includes a Sabbatical year every seven, which includes a cessation from most agricultural work in the Land of Israel, as well as...
Let's look at what Shemittah REALLY means. It is an acknowledgment that the Land belong's not to us, but to G-d. Like the Shabbat, it is not only restrictions, but sanctification. All fruit trees are to be made ownerless. Every person could come...
The Heter Mechirah sent shock waves through the rabbinic community.On the one hand, many felt that it was a brilliant solution to a desperate situation. After all, it was similar to other "ha'aramot" (legal fictions, used to prevent a situation in...
Those opposed to the Heter Mechirah were well aware that the full observance of Shemittah was impractical at the present time, but took offense at any legal fiction that would "uproot" this mitzvah entirely. They came up with the Otzar Beit Din...
When I first moved to Israel in 1984, I had my heart set on living in the mystical city of Tzfat. I had learned that apartments were available for very reasonable prices in a new development. When I went to visit the complex, I was asked to sign a...
Shemittah is inextricably tied to the Land of Israel. Anything grown outside the Land, does not have the sanctity or restrictions of Shemittah produce. But what are the borders of the Land? I frequently see people posting maps of "the REAL borders...
Upon entering the Land of Israel, Joshua is commanded by G-d "Let not his Book of the Torah depart (Yamush) from your mouth". (Joshua, 1:8) The Torah is to be our constant companion in life...and even afterwards. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov gives an...
Some forty five years ago, I heard a lecture given by a prominent New York rabbi, who today is a major figure in Israel. The topic was birthdays. More specifically, why they are bad, and should not be celebrated. While it is true that birthday...
The later books of the Tanakh make it clear that one may not "carry burdens" on Shabbat. This is a recurring theme in the Book of Ezra.The rabbis of the Talmud record that the Oral Torah understands this as being the primary meaning of the...
We have seen that, in the ancient layout of cities, courtyards and alleys could be made into Private Domains by means of the Eruiv, but that Public Domains probably could not, unless first made into semi-Public Domains (Karmelit) by means of...
The complexities of the Eruv are great, and the opinions as to its details many. Is it, in fact, worth it? Let's take a look, from the most pro to the most anti-Eruv views.First, the Talmud, as we have seen, greatly praised the innovation of the...
