I'm very happy to present for your edification and enlightenment a thorough study of reasons for and against saying a bracha on Hallel at the Seder, with a compilation of citations from Geonim and Rishonim by my good friend Joshua Freedman. Click here for the link. …
A Pesah present and a new project
In writing my articles on the Haggadah and Seder night, I have had frequent occasion to quote the last perek of Mishnah Pesahim and this has been a source of ongoing frustration. It is very obvious that printed and online editions of the Mishnah are wholly inadequate for use, but it is less obvious what should be used. For a long time, like many others, I used a transcribed copy of the widely-hyped Kaufmann MS but it was clear that this had not a few mistakes and problematic readings in it. So, …
Reactionary Note 3 – Karpas
After far too much delay, the third part of the Reactionary Haggadah series is ready. Just in time for a less austere Seder. Click here to take a look or here to see the whole series so far. …
רבותינו אמרו שהמזה טהור ‘Knowing’ Torah (Parshat Parah)
The Parah Adumah is famous as the quintessential example of paradox in Judaism. Its entire function is to render people tahor and yet everyone associated with it becomes tamei. The priest who slaughters it becomes tamei, the priest who burns it becomes tamei, the priest who gathers up the ashes becomes tamei, and the priest who sprinkles the mixture of ash and water becomes tamei. Except the last one on that list is wrong. On verse 21 of the chapter, Rashi writes as follows: רַבּוֹתֵינוּ …
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What is Parshat Zachor?
It is well-known that one of the Torah's positive mitzvahs is to read Devarim 25:17-19, or to listen to it being read, and, since this is a d'orayta, it is proper to make sure that this is done with cavanah, with appropriate care to do the right trop, from an undoubtedly kosher Torah scroll, and pronounce every letter correctly (according to your definition). It's also well known, indeed practically old news, to anyone likely to be reading this that the above is fake. The idea of Parshat Zachor …
A few reflections on Nusah Eretz Yisrael and a way forward
A large number of historical movements are known by names that started as insults. The reason being that any name with a positive connotation will be vigorously contested for by different groups, whereas 'cattle thief' is not a particularly desired appellation by anyone, so a movement only has to stop resisting the insult for the name to stick. Torat Eretz Yisrael is, without doubt, a good slogan, but for that very reason everyone wants a piece of it. Thus, Torat Eretz Yisrael is, depending on …
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