Today’s column presents topical thoughts on Daf Yomi, Chanukah, and the parsha. The common thread between them is non-disclosure and concern for negative misimpression. In

A brayta on Bava Kamma 31a discusses a case of potters or glassware merchants walking behind one another. The first one stumbled and fell, the

A brayta on Bava Kamma 31a discusses a case of potters or glassware merchants walking behind one another. The first one stumbled and fell, the

An ox typically has six legs: two legs in the back and forelegs in the front. However, the Torah also tells us of the shor

There’s a story about a prominent rosh yeshiva who, in his youth, attended summer camp. Once, a Chassidishe rebbe, who was somewhat overweight, came to

Two bachurim were studying the opening mishnah of Bava Kamma together in a Chofetz Chaim beit midrash. Yossi read “אַרְבָּעָה אֲבוֹת”, then stopped. “Wait. How

Kiddushin 49a discusses conditional betrothal. If I betroth on condition that I’m a Kohen, but I am really a Levi, there’s no betrothal. The same

We’ve discussed many famous Amoraim, but it’s also nice to better know less famous ones when we encounter them, even if such knowledge doesn’t impact

In last week’s column, I mentioned that Rabba and Rav Yosef, third-generation Amoraim who each presided over Pumbedita academy, often argued with one another. A

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