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May 7, 2018, 6:48 AM

The sixth Shabbat after Pesach is on May 12, 2018. We close out our study of Pirke Avot by considering the sixth and final chapter. This chapter is rich in symbolism, extolling the virtues of Torah study. I will...

May 4, 2018, 4:46 PM

Pirke Avot: Opening and Closing

We have been spending the past few weeks studying a chapter of Pirke Avot each Shabbat between Pesach and Shavuot. Let's look at the opening and closing statements for each chapter. At the beginning of each chapter of Pirke...

Apr 29, 2018, 8:18 PM

May 5, 2018 will mark the the fifth Shabbat after Pesach. We therefore continue our study of Pirke Avot with chapter 5, for meaning and inspiration. I am using the version of Pirke Avot found at Sefaria.org (The Sefaria edition...

Apr 23, 2018, 10:14 PM

April 28, 2018 will mark the fourth Shabbat after Pesach. This means we shall look at chapter 4 from Pirke Avot as we continue our studies moving toward Shavuot. The version of Pirke Avot I am using comes from...

Apr 18, 2018, 4:58 AM

April 21, 2018 will be the third Shabbat after Pesach. This means we will be looking at chapter 3 of Pirke Avot (translation from Sefaria.org The Sefaria edition of Pirke Avot) as well as the classical commentary of Rabbi...

Apr 12, 2018, 7:12 PM

Daf Yomi Horayos 14

We complete Meseches Horayos with daf 14 on 4/14/18. This daf not only completes the tractate, but it also completes the "order" (Seder) known as Nezikim (meaning "damages"; there are six orders in the Talmud: Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikim,...

Apr 11, 2018, 3:01 PM

The second Shabbat after the start of Pesach is on April 14, 2018. As mentioned in a previous blog, it is customary to study a weekly chapter of Pirke Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) on each Shabbat after Pesach...

Apr 9, 2018, 2:51 PM

Daf Yomi Horayos 10

The daf for 4/10/18 comes from Meseches Horayos 10. The are some very interesting aspects to this daf (translation from Sefaria.org The William Davidson digital edition of the Koren Noe Talmud Bavli): The first thing we notice is that Rabbi...

Apr 3, 2018, 11:27 PM

As mentioned in a previous blog (from 4/2/18), it is customary to study a chapter of Pirke Avot on Shabbat between Pesach and Shavuous. This year, the time between the two festivals also coincides with the daf yomi cycle...

Apr 2, 2018, 3:55 PM

Daf Yomi Horayos 2

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Pesach seder. Yesterday (4/1/18) marked the completion of Meseches Avodah Zarah. Today (4/2/18) we start a new tractate named "Horayos" which deals with erroneous decisions made by a Beit Din (Jewish court). It...

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About Me

Jonathan Wolf is a retired high school physics teacher. He retired to NJ with his wife. He is an adjunct professor of physics at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has published professional papers and has been the author of AP Physics review books as well as general HS and college physics review books. He is a past President and ritual chairman at a conservative synagogue on Long Island, NY before he retired to NJ.