Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 11th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph teaches the following: Rav Sheshes said that Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya: From where is it derived with regard to a yevama who came before a yavam afflicted with boils that one may not muzzle her, i.e., she cannot be forced to enter into levirate marriage, and he is compelled to release her by ḥalitza? As it is stated: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain ” ( …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 10th, 2022

The top of Amud Aleph continues the discussion of why the Tanna of the Mishna began his enumeration of cases with the instance of the daughter. The principle stated is, “A law derived from a homiletical interpretation and is not explicitly stated in the Torah, is more precious to the Tanna, and therefore stated first.” כֵּיוָן דְּאָתְיָא מִדְּרָשָׁא חַבִּיבָא לֵיהּ This principle is difficult …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 9th, 2022

This mesechta discusses the Mitzvah of Yibum and various related topics. The Mitzvah of Yibum is mentioned even before the giving of the Torah, as we see in Yehuda’s directive to his son Onan, to carry on his deceased childless brother’s name, by marrying his wife and having a family. The Ramban (Bereishis 38:7-8) hints that Yibum is based on the concept of reincarnation. While he does not explicitly explain what he means, one might i …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 8th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us: ⁦Rabbi Abbahu said that Rabbi Elazar said: The fire of Gehenna has no power over Torah scholars. This can be derived by an a Kal V’chomer inference from the salamandra, a creature created out of fire and immune to its effects, and whose blood is fireproof: If a salamander, which is merely a product of fire, and nevertheless when one anoints his body with its blood, fire has no power over him, all the mor …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 7th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us about the miracle of the Lechem Hapanim, the bread from the special table in the Beis HaMikdash: They would lift the table with the shewbread on it to display the shewbread to the oley regel standing in the Temple courtyard, as it was prohibited for Israelites to enter the Sanctuary, where the table stood, and they would say to them: Behold your affection before God, Who performs a perpetual miracle with the bread …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 6th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the concept of Tzamid Pasil, which literally means a tightly sealed cover. The case of Tzamid Pasil is explicit in the Torah, whereby the contents of an earthenware container, (as well as the container itself since earthenware becomes tamey only through its insides), that is wrapped tightly does become tamey when in the dwelling of a corpse. It states in Bamidbar 19:15: וְכֹל֙ כְּלִ֣י פָת֔וּח …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 4th, 2022

Rashi on Amud Aleph (“Eyno Din”) discusses the rule of dayo in relation to a kal v’chomer. This is a lomdishe piece, that also involves exegesis,, and then more mystical discussion as well. Let’s start with a basic kal v’chomer. A kal v’chomer is the first of the thirteen hermeneutical principles that tradition says we use to understand and derive Torah laws. A kal v’chomer works by making an assumption t …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 4th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us about a counterintuitive stringency applied to Kodesh but not Terumah, despite the fact that the logic of the stringency should apply equally to both. The reason offered is this particular rabbinic decree was based on an incident that occurred. And there is a principle that, at times, enactments remain limited to the circumstances of the incident even if logic would dictate to apply it to a broader range. So in t …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 3rd, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us that In the heat of rabbinic dispute, Rabbi Yehoshua used disrespectful language to express what he thought was bewildering illogic in Shammai’s position. Later, he regretted this impertinence, and the Gemara tells us that, “Throughout his days his teeth darkened because of all his fasts that he undertook to atone for having spoken inappropriately of Beis Shammai.” Is it permitted to take extreme …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 2nd, 2022

    Our Gemara on Amud Beis uses the famous Talmudic term, Chulin Shena’asu Al Taharas Hakodesh, which literally means non-holy produce that is treated with the same stringencies as sacrificial produce. As we saw in Psychology of the Daf Chaggigah 18, the pious chaverim conducted themselves with extra purity and maintained Tahara as if they were cohanim in the Beis HaMikdash, even in ordinary daily life. Of course the practice of …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

March 1st, 2022

The Mishna on Amud Beis enumerates the ways in which Kodesh, sacrificial products, have stricter purity requirements than Terumah, produce set aside for the Cohanim. The opening example is: חוֹמֶר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ מִבַּתְּרוּמָה שֶׁמַּטְבִּילִין כֵּלִים בְּתוֹךְ כֵּלִים לַתְּרוּמָה אֲבָל לֹא לַקֹּדֶשׁ one may immerse vessels inside other vessels to purify th …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 28th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the concept that produce needs to come into contact with water (in the verse, VaYikra 11:38) and other primary liquids in order to become receptive to ritual impurity. However, the proviso is that there be a human will and interest that the water be applied. A random splashing of water that serves no interest to the owner of the produce, unlike washing it, does not make it receptive to ritual impurity. The simpl …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 27th, 2022

Our Gemara mentions the extensive additional restrictions, that the Rabbanim who were known as perushim, took upon themselves. They would conduct themselves with stringencies that treated ordinary non/sacred foods as if they were sacred. They conducted themselves with similar maintenance of ritual Purity as if they were Cohanim who ate of the sacrifices. From what I can tell, the term Perushim and Chaverim are analogous in Shas (See Yachin Demai …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 20th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes the famous teaching of Rav Gidal, that even though ordinarily one should refrain from making oaths, for a Mitzvah it is permitted. Presumably, if one needs to galvanize and commit to a Mitzvah, making an oath is permitted (See Nedarim 7a). There is a fascinating machlokes Rambam And Ramban in Sefer Hamitzvos, Aseh 7. The Rambam states: ⁦That is that He commanded us to swear by His name when it is necessary to rat …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 25th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph mentions a hermeneutical principle that also is used metaphorically:
תָּפַשְׂתָּ מְרוּבֶּה לֹא תָּפַשְׂתָּ תָּפַשְׂתָּ מוּעָט תָּפַשְׂתָּ If you grasped too much, you did not grasp anything; if you grasped a smaller amount, then you grasped something.
In the hermeneutical sense, if there is an equal interpretive option to derive from a verse a large …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 24th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes one of my most favorite verses in the Torah, from Melachim I:19:11 as one of the inspirations that kept Rabbi Akiva safe when he entered the dangerous mystical zone of the Pardes. The content and context of this pasuk is powerful. The context is that Eliyahu is dispirited. Baal worship is still rampant and King Achav and Izevel remain with a strong power base. Eliyahu declares after a difficult journey : 
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 23rd, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us the story of Acher, that is Elisha Ben Avuya, who saw something that he could not unsee. Acher was one of the four great sages and mystics who entered “The Orchard” (Pardes)”. The Pardes is a metaphor for a mystical abode or state of being that only great and pious sages could achieve.  The journey to this transcendent zone was fraught with spiritual danger. Something occurred when Acher sa …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 22nd, 2022

This Daf is the beginning of several dafs where we will examine themes related to unhealthy standards and perfectionism.
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes Torah as something that one cannot acquire unless he stumbles on it. On a simple level, this is referring to the process of learning. That is, to grapple with difficult subjects, it is a given that many errors will occur until the best understanding and formulation is arrived at.  …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 20th, 2022

The Gemara on Amud Beis discusses Yechezkel’s vision of the divine chariot. The angelic creatures he saw had four separate faces, on each side of their heads. However, there seems to be a contradiction in verses. One time the face of an ox is described, and later it is left out and substituted with a cherub. The Gemara answers that originally it was an ox, but since it would be a reminder of the Golden Calf, Yechezkel prayed that it be chan …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 20th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us that the World stands on Twelve pillars, then cites an opinion that it stands on seven pillars, and concludes with the opinion that it stands on only one pillar. That one pillar is known as the “Tzaddik Foundation of the World”. Of course such cryptic statements beg interpretation. The Maharal Be’er Hagolah (6:8) explains that the material world can only be sustained from the spiritual forces flo …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 18th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis presents certain ideas about desire and psychology. It states that there are two constant desires that plague people to an extraordinary extent: Theft and sexual relations. Presumably the Gemara is referring to rationalizations that people often commit to avoid making full payment, paying back loans, trespassing and similar ways of not respecting others’ possessions and keeping financial commitments. The Gemara notes …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 17th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph and Beis interprets the verse In Koheles (1:15) “What is crooked cannot be fixed”, as referring to certain sins which seem to be irreparable. These sins range from missing out on certain mitzvos whose time has passed and cannot be made up, to forbidden sexual relations that has permanent effects such as conceiving a mamzer, or causing a woman to be forbidden to her husband. Though within the Gemara there are v …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 16th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a verse in Devarim 16:17 Describing the expectations of devotional sacrifices one should bring on the festival: אִ֖ישׁ כְּמַתְּנַ֣ת יָד֑וֹ כְּבִרְכַּ֛ת הֹ אֱלֹקיךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃  ⁦but each with his own gift, according to the blessing that the LORD your God has bestowed upon you. The Shalah ( של״ה תורה שבתב ראה דרך חי …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 15th, 2022

  Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a verse in Mishley (25:17): הֹקַ֣ר רַ֭גְלְךָ מִבֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ פֶּן־יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃ ⁦Visit your neighbor sparingly, Lest he have too much of of you and loathe you. The gist of this verse is to not overstay your welcome. The Talmud extends this idea by metaphor to not frequent the Beis HaMikdash with offerings, as presumably frequency …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 14th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph wonders why, according to the House of Shammai that even a young child who can ride on his father’s shoulders is obligated in the Mitzvah of Aliyah L'Regel, why didn’t Chana and the young Shmuel travel up to Yerushalayim for the festival when Shmuel was physically capable of doing so? The Gemara answers that “Channa saw in Shmuel a delicate nature and the need for extra pampering. She was concerned about …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 13th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the concept that God hears and judges all our speech. This includes even talk between husband and wife when they are intimate. This would imply that it is considered a lack of modesty and decorum to engage in conversation prior and during marital relations. To this, the Gemara raises an objection based on an incident that occurred which showed that the great Amora and Rosh Yeshiva, Rav, engaged in levity and laug …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 11th, 2022

  Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us the very strange story of how the Angel of Death mistakenly took the wrong person. He was supposed to take Miriam the Hairdresser but instead took Miriam the Nanny. The error came from the similarity of their names: Miriam Megadla Sear Miriam who braids hair, and Miriam who raises children Miriam Megadla dardeki.  Once the error is realized, it’s too late and both Miriams are taken by the Grim Re …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 11th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes various odd behaviors that could be indicators of insanity. The Gemara discusses someone who wanders alone at night as not conclusive evidence of insanity, because perhaps “gandripas” took hold of him. What is this problem called גנדריפס? Rashi here offers two opinions: An illness that comes from worry. Being overheated and needing fresh air What is the etymology of this word? Looking at Jast …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 10th, 2022

Our Gemara on amud aleph relates the machlokes between the house of Shamai and the house of Hillel regarding what is the age of a child whom the parents are obligated to bring up for the festival pilgrimage. Who has the status of a minor with regard to this halakha? Any child who is unable to ride on his father’s shoulders and ascend from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount; this is the statement of Beis Shammai. And Beis Hillel say: Any child wh …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 9th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us: ⁦And Rabbi Levi said: Anyone who leaves from the synagogue and goes to the study hall or goes from the study hall to the synagogue, i.e., he goes from the mitzva of prayer to the mitzva of Torah study or vice versa, merits to receive the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:8). This phrase “merits to rec …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 8th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis warns against grieving “too much”, that is beyond the halachically prescribed mourning periods. So let us consider, is mourning a Torah concession to human frailty, and the ideal person is stoic about death and accept God’s decree with no sadness? Or, is mourning an important holy process itself? The fact that it’s a Mitzvah may not prove anything any more than divorce is a Mitzvah. The question is, …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 7th, 2022

Our Gemara on amud aleph describes what appears to be some kind of good luck charm or talisman, that was used by typical Jewish Babylonian Householders. It was called a Arsa DeGaddah, which translates as a “good luck bed“. Rashi he describes it as a bad that was not used but somehow symbolically conferred good mazal. You can imagine, in some households where there was great poverty and disarray, it could be one area that you could kee …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 6th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph mentions our tradition that the prophet Elijah never really died. The verses allude to this as well. In Malachim II:2:11 it states: “and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” While that doesn’t explicitly tells us that he will remain on this earth, Malachi (3:23) prophesies that Elijah will return to us in the times of the Mashiach: “⁦Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the comin …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 4th, 2022

The Gemara on Amud Aleph uses a phrase to describe death as Nach Nafshei, as his soul at rest. This phrase is used in Shas, and has similar connotations to the more modern phrase petira. Petira presumably means to be discharged, as in an honorable discharge from the army. In this case a discharge of the duties of life. So too, Rav Tzadok MiLublin (Resise Laylah 1:1 and Dover Tzeddek, kuntros Ner Hamitzvos 2) says is the origin of the term Nach Na …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 4th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis mentions that we eulogize a child of age five or six.  This is a idea, there is a popular belief that the evil inclination enters a child from birth, but the Yezer Hatov only enters the child at Bar or Bas Mitzvah.  (see Koheles Rabbah 4:13 and Sanhedrin 91b).  Yet, by the fact that we eulogize a child, this shows that even a small child is capable of performing righteous deeds. And this is a very important …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 3rd, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us: If one’s wife died, it is prohibited to marry another wife until three Festivals pass since her death. Tosafos discusses three possible rationales for this ruling: So he not too quickly forget the love of his previous wife. That when he remarries he won’t reminisce about his prior wife and lead to having “two people in the same bed”. That when he remarries he won’t reminisce about …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 2nd, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the impact of the Godol Habayis, the principal member of the family, on the shiva process. The Shiva is not just observed by an individual, but rather the family observed Shiva. Thus, when Shiva starts or ends may depend on when the Godol Habayis is present. The definition of Godol Habayis seems to depend less on age, and rather on role and leadership. Shulkhan Arukh YD 375:2 codified it as follows: ⁦Those who …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

February 1st, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Beis tells us: ⁦Rabbi Meir said: One who finds another in mourning after twelve months and speaks to him words of consolation, to what may this situation be likened? To a person who broke his leg and it healed, and afterward a physician found him and said to him: Come to me, for I will break it a second time and then I will heal it, so that you may know how good my medicines are and how well they work. And it is similarly cod …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

January 31st, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph and Beis tells us an interesting story about how Rav broke the news of his father’s death to his uncle, in an indirect manner: When Rav went there, Eretz Yisrael, his uncle Rabbi Ḥiyya said to him: Is your father, Aivu, still alive? ⁦Not wishing to deliver unfortunate news, Rav said to him: Is my mother still alive? In other words, why do you not ask me about my mother, who is your sister, whether she is still a …
0 comments

Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

January 30th, 2022

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the ways it is permissible to write Tefilin on Chol Hamoed. Presumably, this Gemara would seem to prove that Tefilin are worn on Chol Hamoed, as otherwise what could be the pressing need to allow for them to be written? Tosafos (“Rabbi Yosi”) suggests that the Mishna may be written from the point of view (Eiruvin 96b, the opinion of Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda) that Tefilin are permitted on Shabbos a …
0 comments