Daily Daf Differently

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Abby Sosland looks at Masechet Moed Katan Daf 2. The rabbis send important messages in the proof texts they choose for even the simplest matters. Here, they are reminding us what an important privilege it is to be able to irrigate land of our own. […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 32. That’s how we roll! Fittingly, the Tractate comes to an end with a discussion in part about the rolling of the Torah for its return to the ark. Why does the one who performs the rolling receive […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 31. Blessings, curses, and Who Wrote these Verses? In the time of the Gemara there was a custom to read from various verses outlining curses and punishments on a fast day. The question is raised about when it […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 30. Remember, then act. The ritual question of whether Parashat Zachor comes before or after Purim when it falls on a Friday highlights the importance of the commandment to Remember that which Amalek did, as well as to […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 29. Measuring the Divine presence. We are used to thinking of G*d as everywhere at all times, but we see here that the shekhina, the Divine Dwelling can be seen as resting and traveling in a particular way. […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Michael Bernstein looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 28. Whose honor is greater? We will see how the hierarchy shifts from the honor due to the kohanim , the priests to the honor due to the scholar of Torah. And within the world of scholars how […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 27. Can a synagogue be made into a beit midrash or vice versa? This is the discussion between Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and Raba. And how do we treat sifrei kodesh – sifrei torah, chumashim, siddurim etc. What […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 26. Ma’alin bekadosh v’lo moridin – one may increase in holiness but not decrease. When sold, the proceeds these objects may be used to acquire objects of greater holiness and sometimes equal holiness. Where does this come from? […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 25. Everything is in Heaven except fear of heaven – the quote from Rabbi Hanina and how the relationship of love and fear of God and the role of free will has been interpreted and changed by some […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 24. The mishna explains to us the minimum amount of verses that can be read in any aliyah and introduces the ancient custom of reading and translating the torah and haftarah readings. We will then move on to […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 23. We will briefly revisit the discussion of whether a woman may receive an aliyah and also see the opinion of the Maharam on the subject before moving on to discuss for which prayers a minyan of 10 […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 22. Whether or not people need to go to work decides how many aliyot are read on days that aren’t yom tov: Rosh Hodesh is an occasion when 4 aliyot are read but on Public Fast days only […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 21. Today we learn about the weekly torah reading cycle: Monday, Thursday, Shabbat and also why Mondays and Thursdays? We also learn about the ancient practice that only the first and last person would recite a blessing over […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 20. On this page we examine the question: When does day begin? Is it sunrise, or is it when light first appears in the eastern sky? There are arguments for both opinions. The halachic (Jewish legal) issue is: […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 19. On this page we explore the tension between uniformity and variety in religious practice. According to the Talmud, different communities read the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther) on different days. Yet all read the entire Megillah—even though […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 18. There are two related issues raised on this page: language and memory. The Hebrew language (the language in which Jewish sacred texts such as the Megillah and the Torah are preserved) is clearly important, but how important? […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 17. With this page, we begin chapter 2 of Megillah, which focuses on how the megillah is supposed to be read. The very first rule is that the megillah is to be read in order. The text goes […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 16. This page is filled with interesting midrashic explanations of curiosities in the text of the Book of Esther (the “megillah” that is read on the holiday of Purim). In this Daily Daf Differently presentation, I focus on […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 15. The Talmud is an associative work, and this page of Talmud illustrates this. On the page there is an interpretation of the meaning of an expression in the Megillah offered by Rabbi Eleazar in the name of […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Carl Perkins looks at Masechet Megillah Daf 14. Page 14 of Megillah continues a discussion (that can be found in the previous few pages) of the Book of Esther and the significance of reading the book (i.e., the “megillah”) on the holiday of Purim. We […]