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Feb 3, 2023, 5:31 PM

Pounds of Prevention for an Ounce of Cure Nazir 11 & Emotional Holding Nazir 12

Nazir 11 Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a scenario where a person was drinking, or even drunk and declared,”I am a Nazirite from this wine.” The rabbis ruled that the person only intended to swear off this wine, but...

Feb 2, 2023, 3:19 PM

Holy Cow! Nazir 10 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tries to understand a strange declaration made by the protagonist in the Mishna. The fellow is frustrated with his cow that is refusing to budge, and declares, “This cow says, I am hereby a...

Feb 1, 2023, 1:21 PM

Bad Hair Day Nazir 9 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph states that according to the opinion of אין שאלה בהקדש, one cannot annul vows made for sanctification purposes, one also cannot annul a nazirite vow. Tosafos offers a proof text that Nazirhood is a...

Jan 31, 2023, 10:49 AM

All In a Day’s Work Nazir 7 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our General on Amud Aleph references the halakhic definition of a day, which is the day behind the prior night. This is learned from verses in Bereishis, “It was evening, it was morning.” Therefore, most Jewish practices that begin...

Jan 30, 2023, 6:48 AM

Back to the Future Nazir 6 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the challenge of the Nazir who unfortunately becomes exposed to a corpse. The verse seems to indicate that he must start his counting all over again. So whatever time he pledged to become...

Jan 29, 2023, 6:43 AM

Mission Accomplished Nazir 8 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us about a man who accepted upon himself 365 consecutive Naziriyos, (30 days x 365). Upon his completion of this cycle he passed away. This story brings to awareness the idea that sometimes...

Jan 27, 2023, 5:01 PM

Paradise Lost Nazir 4-5 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on amud aleph seems to indicate that Kiddush with wine is part of the Deoraysa (Biblical) mitzvah of declaring Shabbos, and not merely a rabbinic requirement. Therefore, it may be that one would not be able to...

Jan 26, 2023, 2:33 PM

In the End, It’s Just a Matter of Time Nazir 3 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a verse in Daniel (22:17): וָאֶשְׁמַ֞ע אֶת־הָאִ֣ישׁ ׀ לְב֣וּשׁ הַבַּדִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִמַּ֘עַל֮ לְמֵימֵ֣י הַיְאֹר֒ וַיָּ֨רֶם יְמִינ֤וֹ וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ֙ אֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע בְּחֵ֣י הָעוֹלָ֑ם כִּי֩ לְמוֹעֵ֨ד מֽוֹעֲדִ֜ים וָחֵ֗צִי וּכְכַלּ֛וֹת נַפֵּ֥ץ יַד־עַם־קֹ֖דֶשׁ תִּכְלֶ֥ינָה כל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ Then I heard the man dressed...

Jan 25, 2023, 3:10 PM

When You Point a Finger, 3 Other Point Back at You Nazir 2 Psych & Daf Yomi

We have discussed many times in Psychology of the Daf (see Nedarim 78), Chazal were ambivalent about pious declarations of abstention, such as the vows of the Nazirite, and as the Gemara on daf 4b explains in regard to...

Jan 24, 2023, 3:09 PM

Reviving a Dead Sex Life Nedarim 91 Psychology of the Daf Yomi

Our Gemara on Amud Beis relates a true story and interesting quandary for an accused adulterer. This fellow heard the husband approaching the house and hid behind the door. From his vantage point, he noticed a snake had deposited...

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Rabbi, Psychotherapist with 30 years experience specializing in high conflict couples and families.

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