Rabbi Drew Kaplan’s Textual Insights
Having been alerted yesterday to a curious text, I began to investigate it. The text, as printed in the Vilna…
In my recent consideration of etiological possibilities for Jewesses enstringing upon themselves (Niddah 66a), I now turn to discuss some…
In 2005, I composed the following essay, which has sat proverbially collecting dust amongst my digital files. I hereby present…
A significant text that occurs in the area of menstrual impurity in Jewish law (Halakhah) is the following reportage of…
In the beginning of Mishnah Berakhot, we come across a scene in which Rabban Gamaliel’s sons return home past midnight…
Introduction One of the more familiar aspects of Purim practices is getting drunk, with Purim being one of the most…
A huge concern for the rabbis was the consumption of gentile wine, as it could be used in libations, which…
A curious text emerges on Avodah Zarah 31b: אתמר מפני מה אסרו שכר של גוים רמי בר חמא אמר רבי…
A fascinating wine-related dispute breaks out over Rabbi Yosef Karo’s (1488-1575) statement (שו”ע יו”ד קל”ד:ה): מה יהא במים ויהא בהם…
I recently came across a rather curious text in the Shulhan Arukh (YD 134:5): מה יהא במים ויהא בהם כדי לבטל…