The Mishna in Sanhedrin 3:3 lists people invalid to testify due to their occupation. These include: one who plays with dice for money, one who

In a recent article (“Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, Name-Giver?,” December 12, 2024), I discussed Rav Reuven Margolios’ suggestion that Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak was responsible

Many aspects of the Jewish calendar were historically placed under the control of the Jewish court, which in turn allowed them to decide when festivals

As we begin Sanhedrin, we encounter Rabbi Yonatan (ben Yosef) of the Land of Israel arguing with Rabbi Yoshia of Babylonia. These are fifth-generation Tannaim

Last week’s column (“Plain Rav Nachman,” December 5, 2024) presented several opinions as to plain Rav Nachman’s identity. Tosafot argue (A), that he was third-generation

In Bava Batra 152a, Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak sat before Rava, and Rava was sitting before his teacher Rav Nachman (bar Yaakov), whereupon Rava asked

In Bava Batra 145a, Rav Yosef bar Minyumi quotes Rav Nachman (bar Yaakov). Minyumi is the same as Binyamin. /b/ and /m/ are from the

My focus in this column will be about that famous Amora, Rabbi Mana, who was the brother of second-generation Rav Huna, and how this relates

What does the phrase וְהָוֵינַן בַּה— “and we discussed it”— truly mean? It appears in Bava Batra 138. My usual approach is that the phrase

A baraita on Bava Batra 130b seems to declare that we don’t rule from a straight reading of the Gemara. Thus: תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין לְמֵדִין

On Bava Metzia 116, Rami bar Chama poses two questions. The Mishna had stated a kelal, a general rule, that (i) when someone has higher

While reading Bava Batra 103a, I noticed that the sugya discussed densities and the kav measure; how much someone would willingly forgo; comments by specific