The Torah Times
by Rabbi Israel Rubin
Rabbi Israel Rubin has been producing "The Torah Times" on/off since his days back in Yeshiva (then with the blessing and enthusiastic encouragement of the Lubavitcher Rebbe) with newer, revised and updated editions.
Studies in Pirkei Avot - Ethics of Our Fathers
The study of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) welcomes us to a rich and colorful gallery of famous Talmudic Jewish sages. Pirkei Avot gives us a personal introduction to the rabbis of successive generations and their spiritual legacies.
Instead of dealing only with standard Talmudic legal rulings and Halachic axioms, the focus here is on personal matters of character, ethical values, moral issues and relationships. Each Rabbi shares with us his personal advice and counsel, reflecting his own life experiences, and his individual formula to spiritual attainment.
This purpose and direction of these essays on Pirkei Avot is to based on what we will call Talmudic Archaeology, exploring a sage's biography, geography and historic background to better appreciate his advice and counsel.
Studies in Pirkei Avot - Ethics of Our Fathers
The study of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers) welcomes us to a rich and colorful gallery of famous Talmudic Jewish sages. Pirkei Avot gives us a personal introduction to the rabbis of successive generations and their spiritual legacies.
Instead of dealing only with standard Talmudic legal rulings and Halachic axioms, the focus here is on personal matters of character, ethical values, moral issues and relationships. Each Rabbi shares with us his personal advice and counsel, reflecting his own life experiences, and his individual formula to spiritual attainment.
This purpose and direction of these essays on Pirkei Avot is to based on what we will call Talmudic Archaeology, exploring a sage's biography, geography and historic background to better appreciate his advice and counsel.
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Small-Town Jewry (6:9)
"Talmudic Archaeology" unearths a new understanding of Rabbi Yosi ben Kisma's refusal to leave a city of scholars. Or did he refuse? Pomegranates: Goodness Stuffed (4:3) Resh Lakish, highway-man turned Rabbi and his view that every person is worthy of spiritual protection. A study on the conclusion of Talmud tractate Chagigah. Northway Exits 13 S-N (2:11) The lower exit leads to Saratoga Lake, while the higher exit leads to Saratoga Springs. Examining the difference between still and flowing waters in Jewish tradition. Firstborn Fast or Feast? (4:11) Why do all Jewish communities rely on the loophole of completing a Talmud tractate, to avoid the Firstborn Fast on the eve of Passover? Diverse & Together! (1:14) An analysis of an interesting law connecting two of the priestly garments - the Choshen & the Ephod - sheds light on Hillel's paradox. Hillel, Shammai and the 3 Converts (1:12-15) Using a story in the Talmud as background to resolve problems the First Chapter of Avot. City Rabbi, Country Rabbi (1:4) The benefits of having a balance in leadership where the pairs compliment each other with their specialties and backgrounds. The Two Bookends of Pirkei Avot Understanding the Intro "all Israel" and Rabbi Chananya Ben Akashya's added ending to each chapter of Pirkei Avot. Hillel & Bnai Besaira: Paschal Offering on Shabbos (2:5) Understanding this famous Talmudic story as an argument over Grassroots Leadership Warmed by the Light (2:10) Appreciating the warmth, aroma and atmosphere... |
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