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Demai 2:2
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
Jewish society in the early rabbinic period was divided between a scholarly elite known as “members” who were scrupulous in the complicated system of tithing food and maintaining its purity, and the common people, referred to derisively as “Am Ha’aretz” and suspected of violating these dietary rules.
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Kilayim 9:8
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
Kilayim refers to forbidden mixtures. The Torah prohibits sowing different crops together; sewing wool and linen together; yoking different types of animals to a plough together; and breeding different species together. The synonym shatnez is obscure, making it ripe for wordplay.
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Shevi’it 10:8
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
When may you accept or decline additional favors?
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Ma’aser Sheini 3:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
What religious obligations can be outsourced, and which must be personally performed?
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Hallah 3:5
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
According to Numbers chapter 15, verse 20, a portion of dough must be given as a gift to the priest. This obligation is, however, limited to certain circumstances. Only dough from one of the five grains (wheat, barley, spelt, oats, or rye), in volume exceeding one kav, and that belongs to a Jew is liable for this tax.
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Bikkurim 3:7
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
How do we balance the integrity of a ritual with the need to invite participation by the masses?
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Shabbat 6:4
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
What may one carry on Shabbat? Are weapons like jewelry or like tools?
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Eruvin 4:2
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins
What if you get caught outside the Shabbat boundary on Friday afternoon?
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Ta’anit 2:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
How does a community demonstrate true remorse?
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Shekalim 1:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
What preparations are needed for the Jewish community to begin a new year?
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Sukkah 3:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
Do mitzvot require background checks?
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Beitzah 2:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
Rabbinic law allows cooking food on yom tov [Pesah, Shavu’ot, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot], but only for yom tov. What, then, will one eat on the day immediately following Shabbat?
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Rosh Hashanah 2:5
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
Should do-gooders be given special dispensations?
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Megillah 4:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
This Mishnah is a window into early rabbinic customs of chanting scripture.
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Moed Katan 1:5
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
In talmudic times, the dead were initially placed in burial caves to decompose. After a year, their relatives would gather the bones for “second burial” in an ossuary. Could this be done during the festival?
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Hagigah 1:5
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
On the three pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, Jews were required to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem and bring two sacrifices. The re’iyah (appearance offering) was an olah (burned sacrifice). The hagigah (festive offering) was a sh’lamim (edible sacrifice). The latter was shared by the family as a simhah, or “happy meal.” The Torah does not specify the size of these sacrifices.
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Yevamot 15:1
Jan 1, 2008 By Daniel Nevins | Text Study
This tractate deals primarily with complicated cases that test the Torah’s dictate that if a man dies childless, his younger brother is obligated to marry the widow (Deut. 25:5-6). Mingled with these discussions are the consideration of many other situations involving widowhood, divorce, and remarriage.
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