Comments for Conservative Yeshiva http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:03:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 CommentsForMishnahYomithttp://feedburner.google.com Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Eight, Mishnah Five by Peg Kershenbaum http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/QNqHPMvRV2k/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-five Peg Kershenbaum Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:03:24 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4172#comment-332 I'm impressed that no one left a comment here. That suggests that everyone realized that there must be some explanation as to why neither order mentioned is the order we use today when performing the havdalah ceremony. I admit that I was baffled until I read a note that in the Gemara the order of our Mishnah is reported by Rabbi Meir while Rabbi Yehudah suggests something more like what we do today. In his version, both bet Hillel and bet Shammai begin with [birkhat ha]mazon and end with havdalah. They differ in the order of spices and light, with Hillel placing spices before light and Shammai placing light before spices. What about the cup of wine that underlies this situation? How did they decide to use one cup for both ceremonies? What would be done about a cup of wine for birkhat hamazon--would there be a blessing for it? for havdalah? Nowadays we bless the havdalah wine way before we drink it and use the rest to extinguish the candle. I’m impressed that no one left a comment here. That suggests that everyone realized that there must be some explanation as to why neither order mentioned is the order we use today when performing the havdalah ceremony. I admit that I was baffled until I read a note that in the Gemara the order of our Mishnah is reported by Rabbi Meir while Rabbi Yehudah suggests something more like what we do today. In his version, both bet Hillel and bet Shammai begin with [birkhat ha]mazon and end with havdalah. They differ in the order of spices and light, with Hillel placing spices before light and Shammai placing light before spices.
What about the cup of wine that underlies this situation? How did they decide to use one cup for both ceremonies?
What would be done about a cup of wine for birkhat hamazon–would there be a blessing for it? for havdalah? Nowadays we bless the havdalah wine way before we drink it and use the rest to extinguish the candle.

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-five#comment-332 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Eight, Mishnah Four by Peg Kershenbaum http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/3ets3-aUBnU/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-four Peg Kershenbaum Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:23:36 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4175#comment-331 While it seems that most translations render bayit as "floor," I wonder why that should be. With all the talk of ritual purity and conveyance of impurity, I would not think that saving and later eating crumbs from the floor would have appealed even to thrifty Jewish diners. There is a definition in BDB "trenchlike receptacle" that might work here, if our diners used such trenchers or if the tables from which they took their food had rims. Then the action of sweeping together the crumbs to use at a different time would also make sense. Where do we find the translation "floor"? I didn't see it in Jastrow, BDB or more modern dictionaries. Thank you for your wonderful Mishnah Yomit project. Your comments and explanations are very helpful! While it seems that most translations render bayit as “floor,” I wonder why that should be. With all the talk of ritual purity and conveyance of impurity, I would not think that saving and later eating crumbs from the floor would have appealed even to thrifty Jewish diners. There is a definition in BDB “trenchlike receptacle” that might work here, if our diners used such trenchers or if the tables from which they took their food had rims. Then the action of sweeping together the crumbs to use at a different time would also make sense.

Where do we find the translation “floor”? I didn’t see it in Jastrow, BDB or more modern dictionaries.

Thank you for your wonderful Mishnah Yomit project. Your comments and explanations are very helpful!

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-four#comment-331 Comment on Peah, Chapter Two, Mishnah Seven by Dr. Joshua Kulp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/npa-0SrvOw0/peah-chapter-two-mishnah-seven Dr. Joshua Kulp Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:13:49 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4323#comment-176 Karla, there are two possibilities. The first is as you said--the gentiles just take the field. The other possibility is that it belongs to them. If a person hired others to harvest his field, they would be obligated just as he was. In Hebrew this phrase is ???? ?? ??? ????? the agent of a person stands in his place. Hope that was helpful! Josh Karla, there are two possibilities. The first is as you said–the gentiles just take the field. The other possibility is that it belongs to them. If a person hired others to harvest his field, they would be obligated just as he was. In Hebrew this phrase is ???? ?? ??? ????? the agent of a person stands in his place.
Hope that was helpful!
Josh

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/peah-chapter-two-mishnah-seven#comment-176 Comment on Peah, Chapter Two, Mishnah Seven by Karla Worrell http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/53hGpdaXZgI/peah-chapter-two-mishnah-seven Karla Worrell Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:18:55 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4323#comment-175 Am I correct in assuming that "harvested by gentiles" refers to gentiles taking without permission (i.e. conscription) and not to gentiles being hired to harvest the field for the owner? Am I correct in assuming that “harvested by gentiles” refers to gentiles taking without permission (i.e. conscription) and not to gentiles being hired to harvest the field for the owner?

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/peah-chapter-two-mishnah-seven#comment-175 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Eight, Mishnah Three [Corrected] by Dr. Joshua Kulp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/BbNWBY5qJbk/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three Dr. Joshua Kulp Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:32:16 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4170#comment-163 Eli, Great question. A few answers are in order. 1) I mostly use Albeck's commentary. Occasionally I reference other commentaries, such as Kahate, Bartenura and the Rambam. 2) If there are multiple interpretations, I usually choose one. My commentary is meant to be simple and accessible, not expansive or particularly scientific. 3) I have a PhD in Talmud (Bar Ilan) so I can't but help have a somewhat academic approach to these subjects. However, this is not a scientific or academic commentary. It's a simple and fairly traditional one. I also hope its somewhat fun and light, as I think is appropriate over the web. I didn't have plans to reformat the units into a single document. I'm quite pressed for time, but maybe a volunteer wants to do it? Thanks for the question. BTW, where are you? It's nice to get an idea of where people are coming from and who is studying this material. Josh Eli,
Great question. A few answers are in order.
1) I mostly use Albeck’s commentary. Occasionally I reference other commentaries, such as Kahate, Bartenura and the Rambam.
2) If there are multiple interpretations, I usually choose one. My commentary is meant to be simple and accessible, not expansive or particularly scientific.
3) I have a PhD in Talmud (Bar Ilan) so I can’t but help have a somewhat academic approach to these subjects. However, this is not a scientific or academic commentary. It’s a simple and fairly traditional one. I also hope its somewhat fun and light, as I think is appropriate over the web.
I didn’t have plans to reformat the units into a single document. I’m quite pressed for time, but maybe a volunteer wants to do it?
Thanks for the question. BTW, where are you? It’s nice to get an idea of where people are coming from and who is studying this material.
Josh

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three#comment-163 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Eight, Mishnah Three [Corrected] by Eli Reich http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/m4Rl-T_ZN3A/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three Eli Reich Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:53:13 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4170#comment-162 Hi Josh, Thanks for the useful, clear and enjoyable study guide. Could you say something about the sources for your translation and commentary? To what extent do you seek to take contemporary academic scholarship into account? Are there any plans of re-formatting the units on Berachot into a single document to facilitate learning (e.g. for adult study groups)? Eli Hi Josh,
Thanks for the useful, clear and enjoyable study guide. Could you say something about the sources for your translation and commentary? To what extent do you seek to take contemporary academic scholarship into account? Are there any plans of re-formatting the units on Berachot into a single document to facilitate learning (e.g. for adult study groups)?
Eli

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three#comment-162 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Eight, Mishnah Three [Corrected] by Dr. Joshua Kulp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/Sm49uEev6WY/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three Dr. Joshua Kulp Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:12:33 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4170#comment-140 This should be the correct version. Sorry for the mistake. Josh This should be the correct version. Sorry for the mistake. Josh

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three#comment-140 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Eight, Mishnah Three [Corrected] by Chasya-Uriel Steinbauer http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/qGzghankmOI/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three Chasya-Uriel Steinbauer Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:15:12 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4170#comment-139 Josh, I think you have the wrong translation/Mishnah above... Hope all is well. Josh, I think you have the wrong translation/Mishnah above…

Hope all is well.

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-eight-mishnah-three#comment-139 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Seven, Mishnah Four [Corrected] by Dr. Joshua Kulp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/vO73G2xiGLg/berakhot-chapter-seven-mishnah-four Dr. Joshua Kulp Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:46:21 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4157#comment-111 Should be fixed. Should be fixed.

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-seven-mishnah-four#comment-111 Comment on Berakhot, Chapter Seven, Mishnah Two by Dr. Joshua Kulp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMishnahYomit/~3/4_P5Scw2DdE/berakhot-chapter-seven-mishnah-two Dr. Joshua Kulp Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:46:03 +0000 http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/?p=4151#comment-110 An olive. An olive.

]]> http://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/berakhot-chapter-seven-mishnah-two#comment-110