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Sage Insights is a series of resource sheets and articles drawing on insights from Chazal (the Sages) to flesh out the topic at hand.
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How Do You Shpiel Chanukah?An examination of our favorite Chanukah traditions - from a focus on the Sages and their insights - to answer the question of "how do we 'shpiel' Chanukah?"
Brian Tice•1158 Views•November 27, 2021•Menorah,Chanukah,Tradition,Sage Insights,Holidays,Hanukkah,Minhag
Parashat Pequdei: A Torah Perspective on a Cloudy DaySage Insights on the significance of the Cloud of the Presence in Shemot 40:33-38 of Parashat Pequdei
Passover: Defining Kosher l'PesachDifferent Jewish communities have different definitions of "kosher l'Pesach," and those differences don't end with the allowance or prohibition of kitniyot.
Brian Tice•1430 Views•March 2, 2022•Unleavened Bread,Kashrut,Seder,Passover,Kosher,Laws of the Passover Night Seder
Circumlocution of the TetragrammatonA presentation of the etiology and a defense of the Jewish practice of Sanctification of the Name via circumlocution of the Tetragrammaton
Parashat Bo and the TzaddikMoshe is regarded as the ultimate tzaddik and all tzaddikim after him are compared to him. The foundation for this can be seen throughout his life, but we find in a particular scribal tradition pertaining to how Parashat Bo is written a visual midrash illustrating this.
Brian Tice•1034 Views•January 22, 2023•Moses,Otiyyot Rabbati,Tzaddik,Parashat Bo,Kabbalah,Otiyyot Meshunot,Writing a Torah Scroll,Sofrut,Humility
Hardened-Heartedness in Parshiyot Va'era & BoThree different Hebrew roots in the account of the plagues all tend to be translated the same way in English, i.e. "hardened." These are קשה ,כבד, and חזק, respectively. Do they all convey the same meaning or are there nuances to each that are not being respected when we translate all three the same way? How does Hashem "hardening the heart of Pharaoh" not violate his humanity, i.e. his freewill?
The Minyan MandateWhat is the reason behind the requirement of a minyan for certain prayers and liturgical elements? Why is a minyan defined as ten Jewish (shomer Shabbat) men? Answers are derived from and/or elucidated in Torah, Talmud, and later Sages.
Chanukah: Festival of LightsWith so many voices decrying the miracle of the oil as "a late embellishment to the Chanukah story" or even "fabricated to avoid Roman interpretation of Chanukah as inciting revolt," we herein examine early sources pointing to its validity.
Mimouna: A Mouthwatering Moroccan MoedWhat is Mimouna? Since at least as far back as the mid-18th century CE, the Jews of the North African diaspora have had a tradition of holding a special feast the day after the end of Unleavened Bread to celebrate freedom and a return to eating leavened foods. Though a recent tradition, some ancient traditions are incorporated.
Parashat Shemini: Sage Insight on KashrutThe food definitions of Torah are not presented in tandem with any explanations, i.e. why certain animals are not food for followers of Hashem. While it should be enough to simply obey "because G-d said so," many of our Sages have offered insight into why these definitions are as they are.
Parashat Tsav: Yemenite Insight on SacrificeThe purpose for and practice of the sacrificial system has been explained in a number of ways. The Yemenite insight on this is explored herein using both Rambam and 14th-century sources central to Nusach Teiman.
Parashat Vayiqra: The Aleph Calls OutAn examination of the reasons postulated for the small aleph in the first word of Vayiqra is presented, both from a scribal perspective and a spiritual one.
Parashat Vayak'hel: The Sabbath ProhibitionsThe 39 malakhot (Shabbat prohibitions) is a list comprised of the 39 activities pertaining to the building of the Tabernacle. The halakha which stems from this is presented herein.
Brian Tice•956 Views•January 29, 2022•Sabbath,Laws of Shabbat,Sabbath Prohibitions,Shabbat,39 Malakhot
Sage Insight on the Oral TorahThe concept of "the one whole Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu" including both the Written and the Oral is central to rabbinic Judaism, but has often come under fire as not being legitimate and/or binding - whether by the Sadduceeic sect of late antiquity or by modern critics (including neo-Karaite, Islamic, and Christian voices). The etiology and legitimacy is herein examined through insights from the Sages.
Brian Tice•2037 Views•February 16, 2022•The Written Torah and the Oral Torah,Talmud,Mishnah,Oral Torah
Parashat Ki Tissa: The 13 Attributes of MercyThe 13 Attributes of Mercy is the heart of Hashem's response to the Golden Calf debacle. It is alluded to many times in the Tanakh and is central to the selichot prayers which we recite on the fast days of the Jewish calendar.
Brian Tice•2781 Views•February 9, 2022•13 Attributes,Golden Calf,Soferim,Writing a Torah Scroll,Selichot,Parashat Ki Tisa
Zayin Adar: The Yahrzeit of Rabbeinu MosheZayin Adar, or Shevat Adar, is the generally-accepted date for the birth and death of Moshe Rabbeinu. Traditionally marked by fasting and special additional prayers, this is more a day to celebrate Moshe's life than to mourn his passing.
Brian Tice•4828 Views•February 10, 2022•Moses' Birth,7th of Adar,Moses' Death and Burial,Fasting,Minhag
Parashat Tetzaveh: The Kohen's New ClothesSage Insights with regard to the garments prescribed for the Levitical priesthood in this week's parashah, as well as some orthographical observations respecting the sofrut practices associated with the parashah.
Brian Tice•1811 Views•February 9, 2022•Kohen Gadol,Cohen Hagadol,Soferim,Parashat Tetzaveh,Writing a Torah Scroll,Head Coverings
Parashat Terumah: The Mishkan and its CoveringA contextual-grammatical examination of some linguistic nuances of the parashah, exploring the significance and meaning of the Mishkan and its uppermost covering.
Brian Tice•1542 Views•January 31, 2022•Parashat Terumah,Tabernacle,Tachash,The Hebrew Language,Mishkan,Wilderness,Midbar
Parashat Mishpatim: Sins which Lead to DeathParashat Mishpatim presents a number of legal statutes, including those which require capital punishment. Herein we focus on those, including discussion of both the scribal layout of the passage and the Sage insights into its exegesis.
Brian Tice•1419 Views•January 22, 2022•Parashat Mishpatim,Capital Punishment,Sage Insights,Death Penalty
Parashat Yitro: Torah from SinaiWhat is the "Torah" that was given to Israel at Mount Sinai? Was it just the Esrei haD'varim? Was it the entirety of the Torah shebikhtav? Or was it the full Torah (both the Written and the Oral)?
Brian Tice•788 Views•January 18, 2022•Decalogue,Rabbinic Authority,Mount Sinai,The Written Torah and the Oral Torah,Parashat Yitro,Halakhah
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