Daily Daf Differently: Masechet Megillah

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 32.

That’s how we roll! Fittingly, the Tractate comes to an end with a discussion in part about the rolling of the Torah for its return to the ark. Why does the one who performs the rolling receive such a great reward? What is the proper way to roll the Torah in its cloth or casing? And how do we roll together the Torah with the fabric of our rituals occasions and our lives?

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 31.

Blessings, curses, and Who Wrote these Verses? In the time of the Gemara there was a custom to read from various verses outlining curses and punishments on a fast day. The question is raised about when it is permissible to stop in the midst of this reading and why it matters if the curses being read come from those listed in Leviticus or from Deuteronomy.

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 30.

Remember, then act. The ritual question of whether Parashat Zachor comes before or after Purim when it falls on a Friday highlights the importance of the commandment to Remember that which Amalek did, as well as to remember the essence of what keeping Torah is about.

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 29.

Measuring the Divine presence. We are used to thinking of G*d as everywhere at all times, but we see here that the shekhina, the Divine Dwelling can be seen as resting and traveling in a particular way.

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 28.

Whose honor is greater? We will see how the hierarchy shifts from the honor due to the kohanim , the priests to the honor due to the scholar of Torah. And within the world of scholars how engagement in halakha begins to take precedence over learning of sources and how this engagement represents the encounter with the Divine

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 27.

Can a synagogue be made into a beit midrash or vice versa? This is the discussion between Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and Raba. And how do we treat sifrei kodesh – sifrei torah, chumashim, siddurim etc. What is the proper way a true talmid hakham behaves?

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 26.

Ma’alin bekadosh v’lo moridin – one may increase in holiness but not decrease. When sold, the proceeds these objects may be used to acquire objects of greater holiness and sometimes equal holiness. Where does this come from? We will also learn about tashmishey mitzvah and tashmishey kedusha – objects used to perform a mitzvah and objects that are holy and what their nature tells us about how we treat them.

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 25.

Everything is in Heaven except fear of heaven – the quote from Rabbi Hanina and how the relationship of love and fear of God and the role of free will has been interpreted and changed by some of great Jewish thinkers. And what does it mean “we do not read” a certain passage? Could this be an error in the text?

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 24.

The mishna explains to us the minimum amount of verses that can be read in any aliyah and introduces the ancient custom of reading and translating the torah and haftarah readings. We will then move on to discuss whether the Maftir is considered an honor or not and whether a minor or a blind person can serve as reader or receive and aliyah.

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 23.

We will briefly revisit the discussion of whether a woman may receive an aliyah and also see the opinion of the Maharam on the subject before moving on to discuss for which prayers a minyan of 10 adults in required.

The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album One Bead.

This podcast is a collaboration with The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.