A common feature of Talmudic editing is to group together a series of statements made by the same…
Brachot 43: Love of Zion
We human beings are naturally biased. Products of our environment, we are influenced by our…
Rosh Hashanah: Time to Remember
David, Karen, and Beca Bookman wish their parents, families, friends, and the Or Chaim Minyan a…
Brachot 40: Getting It Wrong!
A striking feature of Talmud study is how it seamlessly moves from subject to subject; and how,…
Brachot 39: Eat First, Ask Later
Jewish law prescribes not only that we make a blessing on food, but that we do so in the correct…
Brachot 38b: Practice, Practice, Practice!
As the Talmud is, at its core, an oral tradition—with the words before us a summary of…
Brachot 35: No, Thank You!
The opening Mishnah of the sixth chapter of Brachot discusses the various blessings one makes on…
Brachot 34a: Respect for the Congregation
In Talmudic times, the norm was that the chazzan literally prayed on behalf of the congregation.…
Ki Tavo: What a Waste!
Man has an innate desire to see the fruit of his own efforts. When life's blessings are handed…
Brachot 32a: Forcing G-d to Forgive
One of the exciting aspects of Talmud study is the range of ideas presented, and the openness to…
Brachot 31: Where to Pray
The Talmud spends a good deal of time discussing the proper frame of mind for prayer. In a rather…
Brachot 27: Too Close for Comfort?
The Gemara, in discussing the propriety of making an “early Shabbat”, records that Rav…
Dead Foundation Money
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney recently called on Canadian corporations to start spending the…
Ki-Teze: On the Road
Until modern times, travel was viewed as something best avoided. It was slow, uncomfortable, and…
Shoftim: Ignoring Justice
This week's d'var Torah is dedicated in honour of the upcoming wedding of Estie Roz and…
Re'eh: Man and Man
This week's d'var Torah is dedicated in honour of the upcoming wedding of Galit Sone and Adam…
Welcome Home, Journey Through Jewish History: Central Europe travelers!
We are happy to welcome home the travelers from the Journey Through Jewish History: Central Europe…
Eikev: The Sweat of Your Brow
Raising an independent nation is no easy task. The generation that left Egypt was (understandably)…