The Talmud is a central text of Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history.
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1answer
67 views
Why are disputes in pairs?
The final paragraph of this answer:
We do have the tools to derive from the Torah what those Halachos are (Moshe Rabeinu taught them to us), but these rules are very general in nature and ...
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votes
3answers
201 views
What are the authoritative Jewish documents?
When I'm reading through answers on this site I often see users make references like -
Baba Batra 75A
Or
Chagiga 12A
I don't understand what these mean.
What are the documents that ...
10
votes
2answers
79 views
How do we understand the idea of something missing from the mishnah חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני?
The gemoro often reconciles the argument of a mishnah with other evidence by saying
חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני - there is something missing from the mishnah and this is how you must learn it. See for ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
Who established the Shema?
The Gemara in Berachos 12b says "They sought to establish [various passages] in the Shema" and "they establish[ed] the passage of tzitzis in the Shema" (Artscroll trans.)
I had thought that the ...
5
votes
0answers
73 views
When was the bending of the knees in bowing introduced?
The Gemara in Berachos 12a says that we bow at Baruch and we straighten at Hashem. Nowadays the familiar practice is to bend the knee at Baruch, to bow at Atah, and to straighten at Hashem, as stated ...
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votes
3answers
115 views
Why is המחזיר אבידה לכותי singled out?
The Gemara, Sanhedrin 76b, states that "one who returns a lost object to a כותי (or, per the marginal notes there, גוי) is censured by the Torah. Rashi there explains: "He is thereby equating the כותי ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
Can one make a siyum mesechta if it was learned in English?
If someone has some trouble with Aramaic and learned parts of a mesechta in English (for example with an Artscroll Gemara), can he still make a siyum?
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vote
2answers
120 views
Is the Talmud part of the Jewish canon? [closed]
In response to another question, I was told that the Talmud was considered canonical by Orthodox Jews. I have heard it called authoritative, but never canonical before. The cursory sources I checked ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
Dialogue Between Jews and Romans in Jewish Tradition
I always wonder what people refer to when they quote things spoken between the Jews and the Romans. Does ancient Jewish doctrine include instances of dialogue between the Jews and the Romans?
4
votes
3answers
163 views
Connecting Shas and Halacha
What resources are available to trace the connections from the Gemara to the Halachic codifications and the reverse? For example, how can someone learning Daf Yomi find the related Halachic rulings ...
6
votes
2answers
745 views
Online English Rashi (Talmud)
Is there an English translation of Rashi's commentary on the Talmud available online?
6
votes
1answer
60 views
Rashi in Horayos
I'm learning now Horayos, and it seems to me that Rashi there is somewhat different. Too verbose, I would say. Are there any sources that in Horayos Rashi is indeed Rashi, or it is not?
6
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3answers
172 views
Practical guide to the Brisker method in English?
Is there a book that serves as a practical guide in English to applying the Brisker method of learning Gemara?
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2answers
137 views
Paskening from Talmud vs. Shulchan Arukh
Sometimes poskim will pasken from the Talmud (gemara) instead of the Shulchan Arukh. However, I thought that we pasken from the Shulchan Arukh and not from the Talmud. What is the proper way for ...
3
votes
2answers
82 views
In the גמרא when should I read 'לך' as 'לְךָ' and when should I read it as 'לָךְ'?
When I use an Artscroll gemara with vowels, sometimes it will vocalize the word לך differently. The pattern I notice seems to be that it vocalizes לך as לְךָ for hebrew, i.e. a mishna or braisa, and ...
2
votes
0answers
152 views
Does Kiddushin 81b imply that one opinion allows for suicide if that is the only way to keep from sinning?
The Gemoro in Kiddushin 81b brings down the following (shortened version of the) story:
Rabbi Chiya Bar Ashi used to say 'May God save me from the Yetzer
Hora'! When his wife overheard him she ...
2
votes
2answers
105 views
Why was Chanah called an “Ishah Kesheirah”?
The Gemoro says that when Chanah was caught by Eli davening and whispering, he asked the Urim Vetumim about her to see if she was ok. The letters ה ר ש כ appeared on the Urim Vetumim.
Eli understood ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Source for “Ein Mazal B'Yisroel”
I know that there is a Gemarah (somewhere in Shabbos I think), that discuses birth signs, based on days of the week and month. The Gemarah ends with Ein Mazal B'Yisroel and a few stories that ...
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vote
1answer
39 views
Learning words from the servants of Rebbi
Where is the gemarah that discusses how the sages didn't know the meaning of certain words until their heard the servants of Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi using those words in everyday conversation?
2
votes
1answer
154 views
Why is it Ok to have tzizit without techelet?
The Mishna in M’nachot 4:1 says that the mitzvah of the white tzizit is not gone if there is no techelet, and the mitzvah of the techelet is not gone if there is no white. That seems a straight ...
11
votes
3answers
119 views
Who is the voice of Tosafoth?
Tosafoth were the sons-in-law, grandchildren, and students of Rashi (and their students), and "they" wrote a commentary on the Talmud that is often at odds with Rashi's earlier commentary. Sometimes ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
What is the logical explanation for קם ליה בדרבה מיניה?
HodofHod:
"In essence, the idea is this:
If a person does one act, and with that one act incurs two different kinds of penalties, we only apply the stricter one. So if a person (for example) borrows a ...
4
votes
3answers
104 views
The concept of קם ליה בדרבה מיניה
I'm trying to understand this concept. I've Googled around and could't find any straightforward answers. I don't need too many details, just the explanation that's given in the Gemara (I understand ...
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votes
3answers
372 views
Why were some of the works of Rabbi Steinsaltz banned?
Apparently some of the works of Rabbi Steinsaltz were banned. What are the specific examples that prompted the ban? Is there a list of all of his works that have been banned, as I am interested in ...
10
votes
1answer
126 views
Best way to translate “קא”
In the Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud, there is a widely used word "קא", like in the sentence והא קא קרי (in Berahot 13:1).
What is the best way to translate it to Hebrew or English? Or maybe just ...
4
votes
1answer
79 views
How would anyone ever “worship idols out of love or fear”?
It says in the Gemara (Krisus 3a) that if one worships an idol without accepting it as a god, he isn't liable to even bring a chatas. This opinion seems to held according to everyone.
Yet, the Gemara ...
8
votes
4answers
228 views
Teiku VS. Kashya
When a Gemara does not have a solution to a question why does it sometimes it end off with "Teiku" and sometimes with "Kashya"?
8
votes
5answers
286 views
Riddle: Where does a Non Jew have more Halachic power than a Jew? [closed]
When a Non Jew does something it would work according to Halacha, however when a Jew does the same thing it is useless.
6
votes
1answer
107 views
How was Rabbi Yochanan allowed to walk with his son's bone?
It says in Brachos 5B that R' Yochanan used to show people his tenth son's bone (all of his children passed away, and he used to carry a bone of his tenth child).
How was he allowed to not bury this ...
6
votes
4answers
470 views
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3answers
377 views
Zeh klal gadol batorah - really?
In the Talmud Yerushalmi, Nedarim 9:4
ואהבת לרעך כמוך: אמר רבי עקיבא זה כלל גדול בתורה:
"You shall love your fellow as yourself. Said Rabbi Akiva: This is a great principle in the Torah."
...
15
votes
2answers
599 views
Apologetics for marriage at 3 years old
Are there contemporary apologetics for the Mishnah (Niddah 44b) that a girl of the age of 3 can be married by sexual relations? (It seems difficult to accept that such a thing is even allowed in ...
8
votes
6answers
466 views
does one have to take a Midrash/Aggadah literally?
Does one have to take a Midrash/Aggadah literally?
5
votes
2answers
213 views
Pocket-size Talmud/Gemara
Is there is a pocket-size Gemara? Soft cover preferred. This would be a great invention if it doesn't already exist.
5
votes
1answer
67 views
What does R' Shimon mean when he “Expounds the reason of a verse”?
There is a known argument In Kiddushin and other places where it says that R' Shimon "expounds [for Halachic purposes] the reason of a verse" (דרש טעמא דקרא).
What does this mean? Does it mean that ...
5
votes
1answer
55 views
Merit and Ein Mazal L'Yisrael
The Gemara (Shabbos 156b) tells a story with Shmuel and a non-Jewish astrologer named Avlait. They observed people entering a swamp. Avlait said that a certain man would not emerge from the swamp ...
5
votes
0answers
93 views
Sharp sword on the throat
The Gemara says Berachot 10a
אפי' חרב חדה מונחת על צוארו של אדם אל ימנע עצמו מן הרחמים
Even if a sharp sword is resting on one's thought he shouldn't hold back from (asking for) mercy."
Why ...
9
votes
1answer
289 views
How were men allowed to watch an execution?
It says in Maseches Sota (8a) that that if a woman would be punished by stoning, she would be stoned virtually unclothed, and men would be allowed to attend. The Gemara says that there is no concern ...
9
votes
1answer
251 views
Academic review of Steinsaltz Gemara
One of the nice aspects of the Steinsaltz Gemaras is that he provides little historical background pieces to figures and objects referenced in the text, as well as linguistic analysis of certain ...
6
votes
1answer
143 views
Mamzer Question on Kiddushin 72b
The gemarah in Yevamos (78b) says "mamzer eino chai" (A mamzer [who is not known, look later in the daf] doesn't live [for more that 12 months] so not to proliferate mamzeirim).
However, the Gemarah ...
5
votes
3answers
231 views
Why masechet “Beitza”?
Why do we call it masechet Beitza now, and not masechet Yom Tov, as was apparently once common? Unlike the parshiot, which are named after their first words, masechtot are all named after topics, ...
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votes
7answers
670 views
How to learn gemara independently
Is there an organized path that a Ba'al Teshuva can follow to learn Gemara and prepare the Daf by himself?
I mean after he is able to learn with Artscroll.
12
votes
4answers
181 views
Rabba bar bar Chana
There is a rabbi in the Talmud referred to as רבה בר בר חנה. Why is he called that way? It says that Rabba was the grandson of Chana.
Who was Chana? Was it(?) a woman? Why wasn't he called after his ...
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votes
2answers
323 views
Why does the Talmud assume a woman cannot get pregnant on the first act of intercourse?
There is a rule in the Gemara (Yevamot 34a) that אין אשה מתעברת בביאה ראשונה. The question is why the Talmud assumes that a virgin cannot conceive on her first act of sexual intercourse if the hymen ...
4
votes
2answers
141 views
Looking for a source for well done Purim Torah Gemaras
One example that is utterly irreverent yet very well done and funny is the Simpsons episode done up as a blatt of gemera. (As a positive aspect, his use of B'Laz for Rav Shmuel David Ha'Tzair, as ...
6
votes
1answer
102 views
Plural vs Singular masechtot names
Why are some masechtot names plural (e.g. gitin, kidushin) while others are singular (e.g. tomid, nida and shabos)?
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Haman in the Torah
Similar to Alex's question,
Why did the Gemara say "From where is the source of Homon in the Torah? Homin Hoetz." when it could have used "Vechaltem es Homon"?
Anyways, what is the purpose of ...
10
votes
1answer
93 views
Why not “Where is Achashverosh in the Torah”?
In Chullin 139b, the Gemara asks about hints in the Torah for several of the figures in the Megillah, and provides answers:
"Where is {Haman, Esther, Mordechai} hinted at in the Torah?" ...
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votes
2answers
441 views
Citation format for G'mara
If one is citing a g'mara in a scholarly article, what is the proper publication information to use, including title, etc.? I can't seem to find reliable examples in either English or Hebrew.
This ...
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votes
2answers
152 views
Insults in the gemarah
Why do tanaim and amoraim use disparaging terms (bavlai tipshai, for instance) or insults when talking with one another. If there is something positive to be learned from this behavior why is it no ...
