As Gittin draws to a close, the final Mishna (90a) discusses what would justify a man divorcing his wife. A Biblical verse about divorce, Devarim
The mishna (Gittin 82a) discusses a case where a man divorces his wife, telling her, “you are permitted to everyone except for ploni.” Rabbi Eliezer
There are certain decisive principles, כללי הוראה, which halachic decisors, פוסקים, utilize when analyzing a Talmudic passage and establish the halacha. Two such principles are
Two weeks ago, we considered Rav Shizvi and suggested that his rabbinic karet (cutting-off) was no joke, but reflected his teacher, Rav Chisda’s approach, by
My column this week was going to be about Rav Chisda and rabbinic “absolute theft,” but I decided to shift topic, based on Rabbi Efram
Rav Shizvi makes what seems like a ridiculous statement, and his colleagues laugh at him. Rava—his disputant—comes to Rav Shizvi’s defense. Let’s examine this exchange,
Gittin 47a recounts Reish Lakish’s feat of strength and bravery: He sold himself to the Ludae, taking a sack containing a round stone with him.
There is a fundamental disagreement between fifth-generation Tannaim, Rabbi Eleazar (ben Shamua) and Rabbi Meir, about what aspect of writing a bill of divorce needs
Nazir 57b relates an upsetting story about an interaction between (second-generation Amora) Rav Huna and (second, or first and second-generation Amora) Rav Ada bar Ahava
The morning of my wedding, my ears suddenly clogged. All sounds were muffled. I got an appointment with an ENT, who was surprised at how
I drafted a lengthy article about Nedarim 68-70—about the derashot and interpretations—according to Rava and according to Rabbi Yishmael’s academy. The impetus was that the
In Nedarim 62b, Rava asserts that Torah scholars are exempt from the “kraga,” or head tax. As Rav Steinsaltz notes, “kraga” is derived from the
