We assume that a clear imperative of the Torah carries the highest moral authority. Yet this may not be so: rational human logic carries an even higher authority and underpins the authority of the Torah

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Forging G-d’s “signature” to authenticate a lie undermines the very essence of Truth

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As in the case of Nedarim, in Shevuot the precise meaning of the language used is critically important. Nevertheless, Abaye teaches us, context can provide a very different interpretation of an individual’s intention

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The stakes in Halacha are high. The consequences of committing an aveira (wrongdoing), even in error, are serious. However, Halacha magnificently builds mechanisms to avoid people developing OCD over the fear of possibly having committed an aveira.

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Education is the process of bringing out the potential an individual already has for a particular talent or characteristic 

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This sugiya explores the difference in consciousness between theoretical knowledge and one’s living reality 

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By the time we reach Yom Kippur afternoon, our Kapara (Atonement) is complete. The remainder of the day our focus pivots from healing self to healing others and to the universe we might have contaminated with our actions.

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Normally a shogeig (unintentional action) means that at the time of the action we had no knowledge that what we were ding was wrong. In the case of שגגת טומאת מקדש וקדשיו the un intentionality that triggers the obligation to bring a קרבן עולה ויורד, requires  a measure of subconscious knowledge that the action was wrong. We explore the nature of subconscious knowledge.

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Halacha is a living process. Poskim (halachik decisors), like all of us, are works in progress. Their decisions at a given time are snapshots of their evolution at that time. Their later opinions, when different from earlier ones, do not invalidate the reasoning of these earlier opinions which remain a part of our halachik canon.

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