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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Do they still print g'maras with regular Torah Or?
It used to be the standard for many many years that each in-text quotation of a Biblical verse in the Vilna edition Talmud Bavli had a little circle before the first word, which corresponded to a ...
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138 views
Do angels sing?
After reading the last Tosfos on Chullin 91b ( http://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=31&daf=91b&format=text) I wondered if angels sing? Is there an explicit source in Tanach that they ...
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214 views
Which Raban Shimon ben Gamliel was it who was martyred?
The Ten Martyrs liturgy describes Rabbi Yishmael the High Priest and Raban [=nasi or "chief rabbi"] Shimon ben Gamliel as killed by the Romans at the same time. Rabbi Yishmael served as cohen gadol ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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85 views
How could Yaakov name his children Gad and Dan?
Shabbos 67b says Gad was the name of an idol of the Amorites, and Dan was an idol of Samaria. If we're not supposed to even say the name of idols, how could Yaakov name his sons after them? (or is it ...
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67 views
How were long-running talmudic discussions actually conducted?
Eiruvin 13b records two years-long disputes between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, and surely these are not the only long-running debates. How did that work in practice? Did they really have a single ...
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129 views
If someone doesn't believe in the Gemara, is he a heretic?
If someone says "I believe that the Mishnayos/Braisos/Toseftas are accurate, but I think that the Gemara made mistakes and has no holiness.
Is such philosophy heresy?
What about someone who argues ...
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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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142 views
Which Talmudic source for Ḥanukah is the real source?
What is the Talmudic source for Ḥanukah?
In discussing candles for Shabbath, the Talmud (Shab. 21b) goes into a discussion about candles generally, touching upon Ḥanukah candles, and ultimately asks, ...
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65 views
Is every mishna mentioned in the Bavli?
On a previous question that I asked, one correspondent pointed out the existence of a Mishnaic index, which lists every page of the early rabbinic literature on which there is a reference (or ...
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61 views
Where Does the Talmud Teach Not to Learn Halacha From Observation of Teachers?
Back when I was learning Daf Yomi, I ran into an interesting lesson I'm finding difficult to find again. It was a teaching that one should learn halacha from your rebbe's teachings and not through ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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51 views
Connection of Toch Kedei Dibbur to Walking 4 Amot
According to this, the gemara compares Toch Kedei Dibbur (the length of time neccasary to greet someone; see Shalom alecha rebbi (u'mori) ) to the time it takes to walk 4 amot (cubits). Thus, with ...
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3answers
128 views
What sages were known to have revived the dead?
The Talmud speaks of several rabbis who successfully appealed to G-d to revive a deceased colleague or some other individual. As I recall, one revived rabbi asked to be return to the world of the ...
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104 views
References for learning Aggada
I often run into aggadic passages in the Talmud, and would like to get a list of references beyond the standard 4 (Ein Yaakov, Maharsha, Benayahu/Ben Yehoyada and the Chiddushei Aggados of the ...
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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 ...
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53 views
Did HaShem “regret” creating someone/something
I heard once that it says somewhere in Chazal that there were certain things or people that HaShem "regretted" (had "charatah") in creating. Although I don't remember which examples were given or if a ...
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1answer
60 views
What is a “migu”
A popular topic discussed sometimes at length in Yeshivas I would like to pose the question here with a few additional points:
What is a "migu"?
How is it used in Shas?
What is a "classic" (or the ...
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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?
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'fixed' wording of the g'mara justified by found mss.?
In the margins of the g'mara are many notations indicating changes that various rabbis (Bach, G'ra, Tzon Kadashim, Shita M'kubetzes, etc.) made in the wording of the g'mara, seemingly to resolve ...
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170 views
Origin of a Jewish quote about fools
There is a quote about fools that I have heard, which is attributed to the Talmud. It goes as follows, "Never tell a fool he is a fool. All you'll have is an angry fool."
I know that there are a ...
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2answers
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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 ...
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108 views
Tuesday and Friday nights
Bavli P'sachim 112:2 has a story of an angel of destruction who would work daily (see Rashash) until asked to quit. When she requested some time to work, the rabbi she was talking with allowed her ...
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483 views
Difference between the Mishnah, Gemara and the Talmud
As a non-Jew, I would like to know the difference between the Mishnah, Gemara and the Talmud. I understand that the Oral Law was not written down until after the destruction of the second temple. That ...
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42 views
reason for rav yehuda holding can't rip stitch of tunic
why in maccos when it is talking about hilchos shobbas and ripping the stitch on the neck hole of a tunic and opening a barrel stopper does rav yehuda hold that you can't rip the thread of the tunic ...
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67 views
Why does Rebbe Yehoshua need a passuk?
The Gemara (Nazir 65b) says that Rabbi Yehoshua learns from the passuk of לטהרו או לטמאו that the case of ספק שיער לבן קדם ספק בהרת קדמה the halacha is טהור. The question is why he needs a passuk to ...
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A Mashal of HaShem as a crazy king and Moshe as His weak-kneed friend?
The Gemara (Ber. 32a) quotes R' El'azar that when HaShem wanted to destroy Bnei Yisrael and Moshe intervened, it is comparable to a king who beat his son terribly, and the king's friend was at his ...
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Can the Gemara be used as scriptural basis to prove a point? [closed]
In a discussion to my answer on Mordechai - was he or wasn't he? I was told that the Gemara can not be used as scriptural basis to prove a point. Being that the Gemara clarifies scripture is that ...
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4answers
176 views
Is it idolatry to use the english word “God” to refer to Hashem?
Shabbos 67b says "Gad" (גד) was the name of an Amorite idol, and we shouldn't use it. Shouldn't this apply to the name "God" as well?
eg. "God forbid"
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1answer
85 views
All but every 6th letter begins the name of a misechte
For each letter in the aleph beis, there is at least one misechte in shas whose name starts with it — besides for every 6th letter (vuv, lamed and tzadi).
Did anyone ever hear any explanation ...
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2answers
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Did the Jews in the Midbar know the entire Torah?
The G'mara in Y'vamos (ד) and B'rachos (כא) records a dispute over whether laws can be deduced from the fact of two p'sukim appearing adjacent to one another in the Torah.
The Mahara"tz Chayos ...
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Source? The day you were born was the day Gd decided the universe could no longer exist without you
I am looking for the source for the following quote
The day you were born was the day Gd decided the universe could no longer exist without you
The greeting card I saw it on said the quote was ...
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1answer
71 views
Where can I find the Rif's commentary on tractate Niddah?
Where inside tractate Nidda can I find R' Isaac Alfasi's commentary on the tractate? I looked in hebrewbooks.org's 685-page tractate-Niddah PDF but couldn't find it.
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Bikkurim Baskets
Why do the poor have to give away their wicker baskets yet the rich get back their gold baskets and I know the Gemara says this proves that wealth goes to wealth and poor goes to poor but why IS THE ...
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2answers
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Issur Kolel What is it?
What is Issur Kolel in the context of "AIN ISSUR CHAL AL ISSUR" I heard two people talking about the concept please illustrarte with example and explain the illustration of the example?
Edit by ...
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1answer
80 views
How does the word “Talmud” derive from root LMD? Is the word Aramaic?
I know what "Talmud" means and that it derives from the root Lamed Mem Dalet. But I cannot figure out how the word derives. Is it Aramaic (i.e. not Hebrew) and/or are there any other words that follow ...
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1answer
131 views
Ben Petura - The Nazarene?
The Gemara in Bava Metzia 62a talks about two people in the desert and who gets the water first. I heard that the character Ben Petura is the Nazarene; can anyone confirm or deny this with a source?
...
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3answers
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What is the connection between giving tz'daka and tripping on steps?
"Paso'ach Tiftach Es Yadecha Lo", open up your hand to the poor (Re'eh 15:8).
The Gemara in Bava Basra (10a) tells the story how Rav Papa was walking up the stairs and his foot slipped and he was ...
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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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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 ...
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1answer
45 views
What is the significance of the Diet Information in Shas
It strikes me as I am learning Kesubos that the Gemara takes the time to speak of extensively the shortcomings and praises of dates (the fruit). I know the gemara does the same with cabbage and other ...
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1answer
84 views
What is Issur Moisef?
What is Issur Moisef I heard two people talking about this concept in the context of "AIN ISSUR CHAL AL ISSUR" please illustrate with example?
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2answers
73 views
Source for starting one limmud after finishing another
What is the source for starting a new limmud (learning) immediately after finishing the previous one? For example After finishing one mesechta I have seen people immediately start the next one, even ...
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1answer
81 views
Explanation of Avos 2:6?
Is there a comprehensive explanation of Avos 2:6?
Why is it in aramaic?
why is this lesson included in Avos (seems out of place)
Who is this skull and how does Hillel know it was drowned due to ...
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1answer
143 views
Why was the Mishna written in Hebrew while the Gemara wasn't?
By the time of the Mishna, people speaking in Aramaic on a day-to-day basis. Nonetheless, R' Yehuda Hanasi wrote the Mishna in Hebrew. So were the Toseftas and the Braisos.
Why?
On the other hand, ...
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1answer
95 views
Bonim Talmidei Chachamim
The Gemara is Shabbos(Chuf gimel amud beis) says:
Haragil Bner Havin Lei Bonim Talmiday Chachamim
(very loosely translated) A person who is studious with the mitzvah of lighting will have children ...
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66 views
Chometz Gezel Akum
The Gemara in Pesachim (ה:) says if you are holding Chometz for a gentile and Pesach comes you have to burn it. How is it possible to say that: it is Gezel Akum and even if you pay him back you ...
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1answer
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Why is the Rif's digest of tractate Niddah hidden in tractate Shevuos?
Rabbi Isaac Alfasi's summary of tractate Niddah is hidden in masechet Shevuot. Why is it buried in maseches Shevuos?
