Classes by Mordechai Dinerman

The Talmud tells us to refrain from predicting when Moshiach will come, and Rambam affirms this ruling in his code of law. But Rambam himself, and so many other rabbinic sages, issued messianic predictions. Why?

Predicting the Redemption: What About the Talmudic Prohibition?

The abundance of name calling in some of the Dead Sea Scrolls exposes diverging worldviews about how halachic interpretation should operate.

The Dead Sea Scrolls (Part 3): The Philosophical Dispute

Rabbi Yechiel of Paris was forced to defend the Gemara before a Christian tribunal. Despite his courageous efforts, the Talmud was condemned to the flames.

Paris 1240: Disputation and Devastation

The Dead Sea Scrolls present a sectarian system for measuring time and celebrating the festivals, and it may help us understand an enigmatic line in our Mishnah.

The Dead Sea Scrolls (Part 2): An Alternative Jewish Calendar

The Supreme Court recently issued a landmark decision regarding the “right to bear arms.” What does Halachah offer on this topic?

Gun Control: Talmudic Perspectives

The first of a three-part series analyzing how the Dead Sea Scrolls can deepen our understanding of the Mishnah and Talmud.

Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls? A Talmudic Approach

The Tzemach Tzedek wrote about the proper brachah to make on a talis katan, but some have alleged that we tampered with his text.

The Scandal of the Missing Line: Allegations of Textual Corruption against Chabad

The Talmud famously recounts how one of its sages discovered the “dead of the desert.” Drawing on a range of sources, the Rebbe explained this Talmudic tale with symbolic depth and personal relevance.

The Curious Case of the Desert Dead

This day has a sad history of persecution, but also an interesting tendency to be taken seriously at first, only to peter out after some time.

Remembering and Forgetting: The History of Chof Sivan

Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yehudah (Rebbi) debated how the furniture in the Beis Hamikdash was situated, and this reflected their philosophies about life.

The Rebbe’s Reshimas Hamenorah: An Overview