Bava Metzia 30b notes that there are certain situations in which a person may not be obligated to return a lost item; for instance, if the finder is elderly and taking care of the item would somehow infringe on his dignity. However, Rabbah states that if the elderly person “struck it” – i.e., the lost…
A TorahTutors student studying the story of King David learned that the prophet Shmuel needed a lot of guidance to arrive at the son of Yishai he was supposed to anoint. When he first saw Eliav, the oldest, Shmuel felt sure that was the one – until God reminded him that (as some might put…
A TorahTutors student learned about the origins of the bedtime Shema, a Rabbinic enactment distinct from the Shema that is recited as part of the evening service. As Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi states, “Even though one recited Shema in the synagogue, it is a mitzvah to recited it upon his bed” (BT Berachot 4b). Elsewhere,…
We’re back after a brief hiatus, with another Tuesday TorahTutors tidbit! Real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. A TorahTutors student learned this beautiful passage in the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 9:9): Chizkiyah said: Peace is great, for regarding [most] mitzvot, it is written “When you see [your enemy’s donkey struggling]…” (Shemot 23:4), “When you chance upon…
This week’s Torah reading (Parshat Mishpatim) includes the commandment of bikkurim: “The choice first fruits of your land you shall bring to the house of Hashem, your God” (Shemot 23:19). A TorahTutors student read the Sefer Hachinuch’s explanation of the “roots” of this commandment: So that even as we rejoice in our bounty, we will…
In honor of Tu B’Shevat and, in America, Martin Luther King Junior Day, we’ll make this a pre-Tuesday TorahTutors tidbit: real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. A TorahTutors student learned about the mitzvot of ma’aser: separating portions of produce for Leviim, poor people, and/or simply to eat oneself in Jerusalem. Different types of ma’aser are…
A time-traveling Tuesday TorahTutors Tidbit: Real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. A TorahTutors student studied some the Gemara’s many suggested Scriptural sources for the concept of the resurrection of the dead, and one of the texts cited is in this week’s Torah reading. The Gemara in Sanhedrin 91b quotes a baraita that states: Rabbi Meir…
A #TuesdayTorahTutorsTidbit for the beginning of 2022, about goals and what we need to achieve them; real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. According to Rambam (in his Introduction to Perek Chelek), the ultimate good to which a human’s soul might aspire transcends this world and consists in full knowledge of, and thereby unity with, God.…
A pre-teen TorahTutors student had a bit of a déjà vu moment when learning the story of Creation. After working through the six days, she and her tutor reached the seventh day and discussed the idea of active rest. The student read the pesukim about Shabbat slowly, while translating – and knew they sounded familiar,…
A young TorahTutors student learning the weekly Torah portion saw the tribe of Levi demonstrate certain character traits in multiple contexts. In last week’s parsha (Vayechi), Yaakov cursed Levi’s anger and indicated that the tribe would be dispersed (Bereishit 49:7) – seemingly as punishment for Levi’s vengeance. At the same time, some see a positive…