Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 1 The righteous Jews who deceived the Greek guards with figs and pestles received a special holiday for their families. When is Hallel recited? What happened on the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz? …

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 1 The history and development of the priestly & non-priestly watches in ancient Israel. If humanity has descended to the wickedness of the generations of the flood and the dispersion, why does the world still …

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 1 Final chapter and final mishna of our tractate! Examining the righteous Israelites who served alongside the Priests in the Temple as representatives of the nation, and the memorial fast days which we still observe …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 Stories of impoverished Sages with great merit accrued for their lives in the World to Come. Eliezer and Akiva both prayed for rain, why was Akiva answered? Because he prayed Avinu Malkeinu? Nope! Because …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 Righteous deeds of the Sages, Yosei from Yokrat may have been too righteous, at least as far as his children were concerned. Even his donkey was scrupulously honest! Elazar of Birta gave all his …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 A story for the ages, literally! Honi the Circle-maker was a saintly miracle worker who nagged God on behalf of others. All his life he was puzzled by a verse from Psalms that compares …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 The great deeds of simple people like Abba the Bloodletter. Rabbi Beroka often had conversations with Elijah the Prophet in the marketplace. Once he learned about the special place in heaven reserved for a …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 Ilfa and Rabbi Yochanan sat under a shaky wall while angels discussed their fate. Only Yochanan heard them. Nachum Ish Gam Zu always said, “This too is for the best,” and boy, was he …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 The memorable Tale of Rabbi Elazar and The Ugly Man. “Go to Uman.” Don’t stand under a shaky wall, i.e. don’t place yourself in danger where you might need a life-saving miracle, and the …