Moshe Raphael Ben Yehoshua (Morris Stadtmauer) O”H
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The Humanity of the Talmud: Reading for Ethics in Bavli ʿavoda Zara By
The Humanity of the Talmud: Reading for Ethics in Bavli ʿAvoda Zara By Mira Beth Wasserman A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Joint Doctor of Philosophy with Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley in Jewish Studies in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Daniel Boyarin, chair Professor Chana Kronfeld Professor Naomi Seidman Professor Kenneth Bamberger Spring 2014 Abstract The Humanity of the Talmud: Reading for Ethics in Bavli ʿAvoda Zara by Mira Beth Wasserman Joint Doctor of Philosophy with Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley University of California, Berkeley Professor Daniel Boyarin, chair In this dissertation, I argue that there is an ethical dimension to the Babylonian Talmud, and that literary analysis is the approach best suited to uncover it. Paying special attention to the discursive forms of the Talmud, I show how juxtapositions of narrative and legal dialectics cooperate in generating the Talmud's distinctive ethics, which I characterize as an attentiveness to the “exceptional particulars” of life. To demonstrate the features and rewards of a literary approach, I offer a sustained reading of a single tractate from the Babylonian Talmud, ʿAvoda Zara (AZ). AZ and other talmudic discussions about non-Jews offer a rich resource for considerations of ethics because they are centrally concerned with constituting social relationships and with examining aspects of human experience that exceed the domain of Jewish law. AZ investigates what distinguishes Jews from non-Jews, what Jews and non- Jews share in common, and what it means to be a human being. I read AZ as a cohesive literary work unified by the overarching project of examining the place of humanity in the cosmos. -
The Mary Hytken Dumont University @ASBEE Presents.. from the Liturgical Department
The Mary Hytken Dumont University @ASBEE presents.. From the liturgical department... Prayer Unlocked What we will look at today; What is a blessing? A look at the quintessential blessing, the Birkat Hamazon What does each blessing mean? What does this tell us about blessings? The only time it says to bless G-d... ְוַאָכְל ָ֖תְּוָשׂ ָ֑בְעָתֵּוּבַֽרְכ ָ֙תֶּאת־יְהָֹ֣וֱה א ֶ֔הַי עָל־ה ָ֥אֶרַץ הטּ ָֹ֖בֲה א ֶ֥שָׁר נַֽתָן־לֽ׃ You shall eat and be full, and you shall bless Hashem your God for the good land which He has given you. What does it mean to bless? Praise Bless We can bless G-d??? Berachot 7a Similarly, it was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, the High Priest, said: Once, on Yom Kippur, I entered the innermost sanctum, the Holy of Holies, to offer incense, and in a vision I saw Akatriel Ya, the Lord of Hosts, one of the names of God expressing His ultimate authority, seated upon a high and exalted throne (see Isaiah 6). And He said to me: Yishmael, My son, bless Me. I said to Him the prayer that God prays: “May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger, and may Your mercy prevail over Your other attributes, and may You act toward Your children with the attribute of mercy, and may You enter before them beyond the letter of the law.” Rekanati, Taamei Hamitzvot pg. 11 What is the context? Remember the long way that the LORD your God has made you travel in the wilderness these past forty years, that He might test you by hardships to learn what was in your hearts: whether you would keep His commandments or not. -
Perek X Daf 110 Amud A
NOTES Rav Naĥman said that the verse said: “It was a night of watching ָא ַמר ַרב ַנ ְח ָמן: ָא ַמר ְקָרא: ֵ״ליל Some com- to the Lord” (Exodus :), which indicates that Passover night : ֵליל ַה ְמ ׁש ּו ָּמר ּו ָבא – A night that remains guarded ׁ ִש ּמוִרים״ – ֵליל ַה ְמ ׁש ּו ָּמר ּו ָבא ִמן mentaries explain that this night remains guarded throughout is a night that remains guardedN from demons and harmful H ַה ַּמִזּ ִיקין. history, as it is set aside as the time of redemption for the Jewish people. Therefore, there is no concern for danger on spirits of all kinds. Th erefore, there is no cause for concern about this night (see Rashi tractate Rosh HaShana 12b). Alternatively, this form of danger on this particular night. the verse states with regard to this night: “The night shines Rava said a diff erent answer: Th e cup of blessing for Grace aft er ָר ָבא ָא ַמר: ּכוֹס ׁ ֶשל ְּבָר ָכה ִמ ְצ ָטֵרף like the day” (Psalms 139:12), i.e., demons have no power at -Meals on Passover night is used in the performance of an addi ְל ָטוֹבה, ְו ֵאינוֹ ִמ ְצ ָטֵרף ְלָר ָﬠה. ָר ִב ָינא .(that time (Iyyun Ya’akov Because safety is guaranteed on this night, the custom in -tional mitzva and is not simply an expression of freedom. Th ere ָא ַמר: ַאְר ָּב ָﬠה ָּכ ֵסי ַּת ִּק ּינו ַר ָּב ַנן ֶ ּדֶר ְך many communities was to leave one’s doors unlocked as an fore, it combines with the other cups for the good, i.e., to fulfi ll ֵח ּירות, ָּכל ַחד ְו ַחד expression of trust in God, as the Jews were redeemed due the mitzva to drink four cups, and it does not combine for the to their faith (ge’onim). -
The Theological Problems with Our Sounding of the Shofar Rav Jared Anstandig
The Theological Problems with our Sounding of the Shofar Rav Jared Anstandig Why 30? 1. Bemidbar 29:1 ּובַחֹדֶׁשהַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּׁאֶחָד לַחֹדֶ ׁשמִ קְּׁרָ א־קֹדֶ ׁש יִהְּׁ יֶה לָכֶם כָל־מְּׁ לֶאכֶת העֲבֹדָ לֹא תַ עֲׂשּו יֹום תְּׁ רּועָהיִהְּׁ יֶה לָכֶם׃ In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. You shall observe it as a day when the horn is sounded. 2. Rosh Hashana 34a אתקין רבי אבהו בקסרי תקיעה שלשה שברים תרועה תקיעה מה נפשך אי ילולי יליל לעביד תקיעה תרועה ותקיעה ואי גנוחי גנח לעביד תקיעה שלשה שברים ותקיעה Rabbi Abbahu instituted in Caesarea the following order of sounding of the shofar: First a tekia, a simple uninterrupted sound; next three shevarim, broken sounds; followed by a terua, a series of short blasts; and, finally, another tekia. The Gemara asks: Whichever way you look at it, this is difficult. If, according to the opinion of Rabbi Abbahu, the sound the Torah calls a terua is a whimpering, i.e., short, consecutive sounds, one should perform tekia-terua-tekia set. And if he holds that a terua is moaning, i.e., longer, broken sounds, he should sound a set as follows: Tekia, followed by three shevarim, and then another tekia. Why include both a terua and a shevarim? מספקא ליה אי גנוחי גנח אי ילולי יליל מתקיף לה רב עוירא ודלמא ילולי הוה וקא מפסיק שלשה שברים בין תרועה לתקיעה דהדר עביד תקיעה תרועה ותקיעה מתקיף לה רבינא ודלמא גנוחי הוה וקא מפסקא תרועה בין שברים לתקיעה דהדר עביד תש"ת The Gemara answers: Rabbi Abbahu was uncertain whether a terua means moaning or whimpering, and he therefore instituted that both types of sound should be included, to ensure that one fulfills his obligation. -
A Note on the Chronology of the Book of Joel
zutot 14 (2017) 3-5 ZUTOT: Perspectives on Jewish Culture brill.com/zuto brill.com/zuto A Note on the Chronology of the Book of Joel Israel Netanel Rubin Jerusalem Abstract This short note points to a Talmudic source that supports modern research that locates the prophet Joel in the Second Temple period, contrary to the common orthodox tradi- tion that Joel prophesied in the First Temple period. Keywords Joel – chronology – Bible One of the books of the Bible that is chronologically problematic is the Book of Joel. The book itself does not provide any information on his lifetime, neither at the beginning of the book as is customary, nor elsewhere in the text. The rab- binic tradition tried to fill this gap and offered some suggestions, which Rashi and Radak cite at the start of their commentaries to the book: ‘Some say that this prophet prophesied in the days of Joram son of Ahab, as he states: he pre- dicted there would be famine in the land, as he said: for the Lord hath called for a famine (…) and Seder Olam said that he prophesied in the days of Manasseh, saying: Joel, Nahum and Habakkuk prophesied in the days of Manasseh, and because Manasseh was not honest they were not named after him.’1 Both sug- gestions position Joel in the First Temple period, and the first one even puts him ahead of the first writing prophets known to us. This convention was accepted also by Maimonides in his introduction to his Mishneh Torah, where he places Yoel in his tradition-chain after Isaiah, between Michah and Nahum: 1 Radak, Joel 1, 1 and similarly at Rashi, Joel 1, 1. -
JCYF Text Collection
Jewish Community Youth Foundation TEXTS: Draft Aug 24, 2007 Contents: 1. General Texts about Giving a. Not Teaching Your Children to Earn is to Teach them to Rob b. Tzedakah is Equivalent to all other Mitzvot c. Giving Will Not Make You Poor 2. We Don’t Really Own What We Give Away Anyway a. The Sabbatical Year b. Do Not Reap the Corners of your Land 3. Should the Poor Also Give? Two Perspectives a. Even Those Who Receive Tzedakah Should Give b. One’s Own Sustenance Comes First 4. Types of Giving a. Eight Categories of Giving Tzedakah, a.k.a Maimonides Ladder b. The Difference Between Tzedkah and Gemilut Hasadim c. Emergency Versus Ongoing Needs 5. Who Should We Give to? Texts about Allocating a. Allocating is Painful b. Give to Family First, then to the Neighbors c. Giving to Non-Jews d. How to Compare the Poor in your town to the Poor around the World 6. How Much Should We Give? a. Sufficient for his Needs (Day Machsoro) b. Defining ‘Sufficient for his Needs’ c. How Much to Give: 20%? 10%? 7. Tzedakah Midrash a. Midrash of the Sheep Crossing the River b. God Stands at the Right Side of a Poor Person 1. General Texts about Giving Not Teaching Your Children to Earn is to Teach them to Rob T. Kiddushin 29a Anyone who does not teach their child a skill or profession may be regarded as teaching their child to rob. Discussion: Do you think your parents have a responsibility to teach you a skill or profession? How does this teaching change your understanding of people who steal things? Tzedakah is Equivalent to all other Mitzvot B. -
Female Figures in Tanach April 2, 2020 Sources
Female Figures in Tanach April 2, 2020 Sources Miriam A. Megillah 14a:14-15 Miriam was a prophetess, as it is written explicitly: “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand” (Exodus 15:20). The Gemara asks: Was she the sister only of Aaron, and not the sister of Moses? Why does the verse mention only one of her brothers? Rav Naḥman said that Rav said: For she prophesied when she was the sister of Aaron, i.e., she prophesied since her youth, even before Moses was born, and she would say: My mother is destined to bear a son who will deliver the Jewish people to salvation. And at the time when Moses was born the entire house was filled with light, and her father stood and kissed her on the head, and said to her: My daughter, your prophecy has been fulfilled. But once Moses was cast into the river, her father arose and rapped her on the head, saying to her: My daughter, where is your prophecy now, as it looked as though the young Moses would soon meet his end. This is the meaning of that which is written with regard to Miriam’s watching Moses in the river: “And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him” (Exodus 2:4), i.e., to know what would be with the end of her prophecy, as she had prophesied that her brother was destined to be the savior of the Jewish people. B. Excerpted from Chabad.org: Miriam's Well: Unravelling the Mystery, By Yehuda Shurpin Toward the end of the Israelites’ sojourn in the desert, the verse tells us, “The entire congregation of the children of Israel arrived at the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled in Kadesh. -
Shabbos 109.Pub
א' תמוז תשפ“ Tues, Jun 23 2020 OVERVIEW of the Daf Gemara GEM 1) Health issues (cont.) Submerging and Soreness אבל לא בים הגדול The Gemara concludes its discussion of various health related issues. 2) Basting a roast R ambam (Hilchos Shabbos 21:29) writes that the Gemara lists Zeiri and Chiya bar Ashi disagreed whether it is permissible to specific bodies of water in which it is prohibited to bathe on Shab- baste a roast with oil and whisked eggs on Shabbos. bos. These bodies of water each have a specific issue related to it 3) Medical treatments which causes some ill-effect to a person who immerses in it. On the Mar Ukva rules: It is permitted to to use wine reduce the swell- one hand, the overall effect of these pursuits is one of comfort, and ing of an injury on Shabbos. Concerning the use of vinegar, R’ there is even a therapeutic benefit which results. Yet Shabbos is we must indulge in – וקראת לשבת עוג “ Hillel reported that it is forbidden. defined by the concept of Rava qualified Mar Ukva’s ruling and stated that in Mechuza aspects of physical enjoyment”. The very fact that the means to even the use of wine is prohibited due to their sensitive nature. achieve these goals is by experiencing some degree of pain, these 4) Bathing for therapeutic purposes measures are inherently prohibited on Shabbos. Details regarding bathing for therapeutic reasons are clarified. According to Rambam, the reason we cannot bathe in these 5) MISHNAH: Consuming food for therapeutic reasons is dis- waters is not necessarily due to the rabbinic restrictions against us- cussed with a number of examples. -
Talmud Israeli Is Completing the Shas for the First Time!
בס"ד Daf Yomi For US Seder Taharot | Masechet Niddah 67-73 | Shabbat Parashat VaYigash | 1-7 Tevet (Dec. 29-Jan. 4) TALMUD ISRAELI IS COMPLETING THE SHAS FOR THE FIRST TIME! Talmud Israeli is expanding in honor of the 14th cycle of Daf Yomi. We need your help to reach more schools, synagogues, and communities. BE IN THE KNOW to begin learning Masechet Berachot NEXT WEEK! Weekly Kit 324 Seder Taharot | Niddah 67-68 Mar Ukva MILESTONES IN – מַ ר ּעוקְ בָ א :Daf 67 JEWISH HISTORY Mar Ukva lived during the first Amoraic generation and was a contemporary of Rav and Shmuel. LAUNCH OF DAF YOMI Mar Ukva was an Amora, an exceptional Torah scholar, and served as the Reish Galuta (Exilarch, On the first day of the month of Tishrei, or leader of the Babylonian Jewish community). the first day of Rosh Hashanah, in 1923, Mar Ukva came from Kafri, the same city as the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle began with Rav, seat of a renowned Beit Din (court), whose thousands of Jewish people around the power of judgement was considered supreme world learning Masechet Berachot. in the eyes of sages throughout Babylonia. On When the First World Congress of the World many occasions, the Beit Din in Kafri was chosen Agudath Israel took place in Vienna a month to provide the final determination in halachic earlier, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, who became the deliberations between two gedolim (expert Torah rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chochmei Lublin scholars) such as Shmuel and Karna. in Poland, announced his innovative idea to initiate a new type of learning. -
Daf 16 August 27, 2014
1 Elul 5774 Moed Katan Daf 16 August 27, 2014 Daf Notes is currently being dedicated to the neshamah of Tzvi Gershon Ben Yoel (Harvey Felsen) o”h May the studying of the Daf Notes be a zechus for his neshamah and may his soul find peace in Gan Eden and be bound up in the Bond of life The Gemora cites Scriptural sources for the following excommunication (after thirty days) and place him in halachos: It is proper practice to send an emissary cheirem (after sixty days) if he still refuses to abide from the court and summon the defendant to appear by the Beis Din’s instructions. Rav Chisda says that before the Beis Din; we compel the defendant to we warn him on Monday (and place him immediately come before Beis Din (and not that the Beis Din goes under a ban); we warn him again on Thursday (and if to him); we notify the defendant that the judge is a he is still does not repent, we excommunicate him great man; we notify the defendant that so-and-so again); and the following Monday we place him in the plaintiff will be appearing in the Beis Din; we set cheirem. The Gemora notes that Rav chisda’s ruling a precise date to appear in Beis Din; we establish is for monetary matters, but if he shows contempt another date if the defendant does not come to Beis (to the Torah or to scholars), we excommunicate him Din the first time he was called; the agent of the Beis immediately (without any warning). -
Daf Ditty Eruvin 17
Daf Ditty: Eruvin 17: Salt 1 We learned in the mishna that in a military camp one is exempt from ritual washing of the hands. Abaye said: They taught this exemption only with regard to first waters, i.e., hand-washing before eating. However, final waters, i.e., hand-washing after eating and before reciting Grace after Meals, is an obligation even in a military camp. Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said: For what reason did the Sages say that the final waters are an obligation? It is due to the fact that there is the presence of Sodomite salt, which blinds the eyes even in a small amount. Since Sodomite salt could remain on one’s hands, one must wash them after eating. This obligation is binding even in a camp because soldiers are also obligated to maintain their health. Abaye said: And this type of dangerous salt is present in the proportion of a single grain [korta] in an entire kor of innocuous salt. Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: If one measured salt and came into contact with Sodomite salt not during mealtime, what is the halakha? Is there an obligation to wash his hands afterward? He said to him: It was unnecessary to say this, as he is certainly obligated to do so. RASHI 2 Tosafos DH MAYIM ACHARONIM CHOVAH תופסות ה"ד םימ ורחא נ םי הבוח םי נ ורחא םימ ה"ד תופסות Tosfos explains why we do not wash Mayim Acharonim. ישכע ו אל וגהנ םימב ורחא םינ ןיאד חלמ תימודס וצמ י ניניב וננב צ יוסחמ ידםנוח יב גנא ויכ Nowadays our custom is not to wash Mayim Acharonim, became Sodom salt is not found among us; יא ימנ יפל ןיאש נא ו גר םילי לבטל יתועבצא נ ו חלמב רחא הליכא רחא חלמב ו נ יתועבצא לבטל םילי גר ו נא ןיאש יפל ימנ יא Alternatively, it is because we do not normally dip our fingers in salt after eating. -
Sota Book.Indb
Perek I Daf 4 Amud a HALAKHA Th e baraita clarifi es: And what is the measure of seclusion,H ְו ַכ ָּמה ׁ ִש ּיעור ְס ִת ָירה? ְּכֵדי ּטו ְמ ָאה, ְּכֵדי The seclusion of a sota : ׁ ִש ּיעור ְס ִת ָירה – i.e., how is the seclusion of a sota defi ned? Th e measure of seclu- Measure of seclusion is defined as when witnesses see a woman secluded with ִּב ָיאה, ְּכֵדי ַה ֲﬠָר ָאה, sion is equivalent to the time needed for defi lement, which is a man with whom her husband had warned her not to be equivalent to the time needed to perform intercourse, which secluded. The duration of the seclusion is the time needed is equivalent to the time needed to perform the initial stage of for defilement, which is equivalent to the time required for intercourse.N roasting and swallowing an egg. This ruling is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva, whose opinion is accepted Th e baraita quotes several practical examples of this period of time. when he is involved in a dispute with others (Rambam Sefer ְּכֵדי ַה ָּק ַפת ֶ ּד ֶקל, ִ ּד ְבֵרי ַר ִּבי ִי ׁ ְש ָמ ֵﬠאל; .(Th is is equivalent to the time needed for circling a palm tree; this Nashim, Hilkhot Sota 1:2; Shulĥan Arukh, Even HaEzer 178:4 ַר ִּבי ֱא ִל ֶיﬠֶזר ֵאוֹמר: ְּכֵדי ְמִז ַיגת ַה ּכוֹס; ַר ִּבי is the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Eliezer says: Th is is ְי ׁ ֻהוֹשﬠ ֵאוֹמר: ְּכֵדי ִל ׁ ְש ּתוֹתוֹ; equivalent to the time needed for mixing a cup of wine with water, NOTES with the total volume of a quarter-log.