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Simcha Feuerman

Simcha Feuerman

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

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Divorce Narrative Gittin 21 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis explains that unlike the bond of marriage, which can be established through various means as outlined in the first Mishna of...

latest 1

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Hiddur Mitzvah as a Requirement Gittin 20 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

In our Gemara on Amud Aleph, we learn about a specific mistake that can occur when writing the Tetragrammaton in a Sefer Torah and the circumstances...

yesterday 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Umbrella Policy Gittin 18 Reading Between the Lines Gittin 19 Psych of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph references the metaphysical idea that one does not do actions (or even say things) that hasten painful or disturbing events....

previous day 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Dying to Be Heard Gittin 15 The Ups and Downs of Exile Gittin 16 and 17

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the ethical and legal concept of a מִצְוָה לְקַיֵּים דִּבְרֵי הַמֵּת It is a mitzvah...

sunday 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Authentic Freedom Gittin 13 Intuitive Truth Vs. Logical Truth Gittin 14 

Authentic Freedom Gittin 13 Authentic freedom is a complex concept that has been debated by philosophers and theologians for centuries. Authentic...

01.06.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Do We Have the Right to Argue with God? Gittin 12 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses practical and legal dimensions of slave ownership, responsibilities of slave to master and master to slave....

31.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Baal Teshuva Syndrome Gittin 10 and A Vered by Any Other Name Gittin 11

Baal Teshuva Syndrome Gittin 10  Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the status of Matzah baked by Cuthite. According to this Gemara, though this...

30.05.2023 8

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Silent Rebuke Gittin 9 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph reports that Rabbi Yosei would use the following verse in Mishley (24:26) to praise cogent Torah arguments: ...

29.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Another Way to Make Aliyah Gittin 8 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a fascinating legal enactment in order to promote settlement of the land of Israel. Even though ordinarily, one may...

28.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Being Amongst the People Gittin 7 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on 6b and 7a tells us about how to give instruction and guidance during the hectic time preceding the arrival of Shabbos:  אָמַר...

25.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Too Much of a Good Thing? Gittin 6 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the opinion of Shmuel that Babylonia is considered outside of Israel and a Get needs the messenger to attest to the...

23.05.2023 9

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Season’s Greetings Gittin 4 and Gittin 5 The Details Count Psychology of the Daf

Season’s Greetings Gittin 4 Psychology of the Daf Yomi Our Gemara on Amud Beis strongly implies that there is no mitzvah of Aliyyah Leregel (Yom...

22.05.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

The Quest for Satisfaction Gittin 2 and Spiritual Credit Score Gittin 3

The Quest for Satisfaction Gittin 2 Our Gemara on Amud Beis laments the state of the world prior to arrival of the Mashiach, including the inability...

21.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Factors That Create Receptivity Toward Criticism Sotah 49 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Beis laments the state of the world prior to arrival of the Mashiach, including the inability to to accept rebuke: ...

19.05.2023 7

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Love Bombing Sotah 47 and Demons in Your Marriage Sotah 48 Psych of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the way in which arrogant men at first charm women during courtship but eventually disappoint: ...

17.05.2023 8

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Human Potential Sotah 46 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph laments the loss of potential in the wake of a seemingly random, senseless murder. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן...

16.05.2023 9

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Boundaries Before Marriage Sotah 44 Take Your Measurements as a Leader Sotah 45

Build Your Boundaries Before Marriage Sotah 44 Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the appropriate order of development to prepare for marriage: ...

15.05.2023 30

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

The Three Stages of Providence Sotah 43 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the process of announcements made by the Cohen prior to battle, where those persons who may lack courage due to sin...

14.05.2023 40

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

No Room for Truth, No Room for God Sotah 42 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud aleph discusses fours classes of people whose behavior leads to an alienation from the Shekhina: אָמַר רַבִּי...

11.05.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Even the Fetuses Have Contempt Sotah 41 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the ethical and characterological problem of flattering sinners: וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר:...

10.05.2023 30

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

How the Vest Was Won Sotah 40 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph explains a dress code for the Cohanim when they go up to bless the congregation: דְּאֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים...

09.05.2023 40

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Being Quiet is Different than Listening Sotah 39 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses two proof texts for the requirement to be silent when the Torah is being read. אָמַר רָבָא בַּר...

08.05.2023 50

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

The Sinai Campaign Sotah 37 Torah Mindfulness Sotah 38 Psychology of the Daf

The Sinai Campaign Sotah 37 The Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the level of details and explanation that was given along with the written Torah: ...

07.05.2023 60

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Promises, Promises Sotah 36 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses what seems to be a prophecy about the return to Jerusalem in the time of Ezra, which was not fulfilled: ...

04.05.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Self Fulfilling Prophecy Sotah 35 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the intentions of the Spies: וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן...

03.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

God May Let You Do What You Want, Even If It Is Wrong Sotah 34 Psych of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses God’s ambiguous directive to Moshe about sending out the Spies:  שְׁלַח לָךְ אֲנָשִׁים...

02.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

What Do Angels Know? Sotah 33 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on amud Aleph tells us that while prayers can technically be said in any language, there are metaphysical barriers when the prayer is not...

01.05.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Sing Baby Sing Sotah 30 Good Job Bad Job Sotah 31 Location Is Everything Sotah32

Sing Baby, Sing Sotah 30 Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the levels of prophecy that occurred at the splitting of the Red Sea and how the Jews and...

30.04.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Technically Not a Sin Sotah 28 And 29 Psychology of Rabbinic and Torah Laws

Sotah 28 Technically Not a Sin, Oh But it Is!  Our Gemara on amud aleph tells us that a husband who commits sins cannot expect the waters of Sotah...

27.04.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Rewarding Bad Behavior Sotah 26 Sotah 27 Sharing the Burdens of Life Together

Rewarding Bad Behavior Sotah 26 Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a dispute between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael regarding what benefits accrue...

25.04.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

We Knead to Be Productive Sotah 24-25 God Tolerates Many Sins If We Get Along

We Knead to Be Productive Sotah 24 Our Gemara on Amud Beis uses specific terms to describe two different levels of mental incapacity that would allow...

24.04.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Who is a Torah Ignoramus? Sotah 22 The Real Pain of Social Ostracism Sotah 23

Who is a Torah Ignoramus? Sotah 22 Our Gemara on amud aleph lists various criteria that describe an ignoramus (in Torah), as called by the Gemara, an...

23.04.2023 30

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

A Guilty Look Sotah 19 First Impressions Sotah 20 Study Versus Action Sotah 21

A Guilty Look Sotah 19 Our Gemara on amud beis discusses circumstances of the Sotah’s retraction of her willingness to drink from the waters....

20.04.2023 7

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

God’s Foreknowledge and Free Will Sotah 18 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Mishna on Amud Beis tells us that according to Rabbi Meir, one of the oaths that the Sotah takes is about her future behavior: רַבִּי...

19.04.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

The Blues Don’t Always Have to Bring You Down Sotah 17 Psychology of the Daf

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a mystical meditation that is inspired by the blue-like techeiles thread in the tzitzis: מִפְּנֵי...

18.04.2023 7

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Sotah 16 Is a Rabbinic Derasha the Same as Torah Law? Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph describes a certain rabbinic derasha about Metzora as “Miderabanan”. This is an odd text because usually the term...

17.04.2023 9

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Psychology of the Daf Yomi Sotah 12-15

Sometimes It Is Best Not To Fight the Yetzer Hara Sotah 12 Our Gemara on Amud Alpeh describes how beautiful Miriam had become, as indicated by...

16.04.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Sotah 8 Self-Punishment, Sotah 9 Love-Hate, Sotah 10 Humiliation and Sotah 11

Sotah 8 Our Mishna on Amud Beis notes how providentially we find that the punishment fits the crime, as well as the Gemara later discussing that the...

14.04.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Dr. Fauci and Talmud Bavli Sotah 7 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses various traditions of what is stated to the Sotah, in order to encourage her to confess (assuming she is guilty) and...

11.04.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Just the Flax, Ma’am Sotah 6 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Sotah 6 Our Gemara on Amud Beis rules that a woman about whom there are strong rumors of infidelity, to the extent that she is the object of a...

10.04.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

The Waking Dead Sotah 5 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

In the Lecha Dodi liturgy that we recite Friday night, which welcomes Shabbos and the redemption, there seems to be an incorrect ordering of these two...

09.04.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Who is Wrong? The Rebbe or the Student? Sotah 4 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

People from my parents’ generation used to draw a comparison to the old style of chinuch versus the new post Dr. Spock generation. In the old days,...

04.04.2023 5

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Occupied Territories Nazir 65 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Daf Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes a verse about Yaakov’s burial wishes as a proof text that requires a portion of the nearby earth to be taken...

30.03.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Does God Trust Your Repentance? Nazir 64 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the idea that a person is considered eligible to be counted as part of the Paschal sacrifice once he completes the...

29.03.2023 6

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Setbacks Are Serious But Routine Nazir 63 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph quotes the verse which describes what the Nazir must perform in order to recover and restart his Nazirhood, subsequent to...

28.03.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

So Far, You Didn’t Sin Nazir 62 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on amud aleph makes a statement about annulment of vows that is said many times throughout Shas:  הֶיתֵּר נְדָרִים...

27.03.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Manna Now at Costco Nazir 60 + Nazir 61 We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident

Our Gemara on Amud Beis records a discussion between Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his students: שָׁאֲלוּ תַּלְמִידָיו אֶת...

26.03.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Everyone Needs Encouragement Nazir 59 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis refers to a teaching approach repeated several times in Shas, known as,“To sharpen the students”. A teacher may say over...

24.03.2023 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Spiritual Dashboard Nazir 58 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph refers to the classic Talmudic principle of עשה דוחה לא תעשה, that is, a positive command in the Torah is taken...

23.03.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

Cite Sources as a Matter of Corpse Nazir 56 and Nazir 57 Positive Self-Talk 

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the obligation to cite sources when quoting a teaching. But there is a chain of at least three scholars, such as,...

22.03.2023 20

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

Simcha Feuerman

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