Medical Treatment on Shabbat II #14: Skincare and Memareiach, Part 3 - Mar 13, 2024 - Wrapping up the topic: Leniencies to allow use of creams on Shabbat

Why did Achashverosh elevate Haman? Part 2 - Mar 13, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment looks at the view that Haman was a member of the royal court (Memuchan or Mehuman) before Achashverosh elevated him, and asks how that fits the text and what the message is.

Makkot 4b-5a - Mar 12, 2024 - Malkos for a לאו שאין בו מעשה, dividing up punishments among the witnesses in a set of edim zomimin, what sort of contradictory testimony labels witnesses as edim zomimin, and more. And why do we need an עונש and an אזהרה?

Why did Achashverosh Elevate Haman? Part 1 - Mar 12, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks why Achashverosh elevated Haman, and who Haman was before the Purim story.

Halachah in Healthcare Settings 14: Davening for Cholim, Part 5 - Mar 11, 2024 - A chabura on practical medical halachah, building from the sources toward the conclusions of the Nishmat Avraham. Coopting Refaeinu for spontaneous tefillah; Davening to save people from becoming ill; davening for cholim who might not be alive anymore; davening when there is no hope

Medical Treatment on Shabbat II #13: Skincare and Memareiach, Part 2 - Mar 11, 2024 - Continuing the topic of Memareiach with clarifications and an exploration of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach's leniency where the cream is entirely rubbed into the skin. Also a discussion of memareiach and food.

Fourteen Centuries #13: Rav Sherira Gaon, Part 2 - Mar 10, 2024 - A summary of Sunday's abbreviated shiur. Rav Sherira Gaon explains why Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi compiled the Mishnah. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Daniel and Esther: The Vegetarians - Mar 11, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks why a gemara claims that Esther ate seeds, like Daniel, while in the palace of Achashverosh.

Mordechai at the King's Gate: Powerful or Powerless? - Mar 10, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Esther, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages, wounded and everyone in the line of fire. Today's installment asks whether Mordechai's seat at the king's gate was a sign of power, or the position of a supplicant.

Our Non-Jewish Neighbors: Two Visions - Mar 8, 2024 - Derashah for Parshat Vayakhel 5784 (but not about the parshah). Two schools of thought about how we relate to people who did not stand at Sinai, and a heartwarming experience.