Sotah 13

On today’s daf, we read about the burial of the biblical patriarch Jacob in the Cave of Machpelah. As with the funerals of prominent people to this day, Jacob’s burial was attended by leaders who would have been the equivalent in stature to modern heads of state.   The Gemara describes the scene: They all came […]

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Sotah 12

When the Israelites had successfully crossed the Red Sea, Moses led the (apparently all-male) crowds in a long song praising God’s greatness. Then, the Torah tells us: Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, picked up a drum, and all the women went out after her in dance with drums. And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to the […]

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Sotah 11

Having explained a passage from the mishnah on Sotah 8 showing how the biblical Miriam was proportionately rewarded for her good deeds, the Talmud on today’s daf launches into a midrashic exploration of the opening narrative of the Exodus story. The connection may be in Miriam herself, a key figure in the Exodus story, though the Gemara does not limit itself to […]

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The Surprising Jewish History of Peeps

I won’t sugarcoat it: I love Peeps. They’re the perfect two-bite seasonal candy that’s sure to stain your tongue and satisfy a sugar craving. I can never resist their squishy centers and candy coating. However, my Jewish friends think that I’m crazy for indulging in this iconic North American Easter treat. So, when I discovered […]

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Sotah 10

Today’s daf is almost entirely devoted to a discussion of the story of Judah (one of the sons of the patriarch Jacob) and his daughter-in-law Tamar, found in Genesis 38. It’s worth reading that chapter in Genesis if you have a moment, but if not, here’s a quick reminder of how that story played out: […]

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Sotah 9

Having read about how sotah ordeal works, on today’s daf we get a glimpse into why the rabbis think the accused woman must go through the torment it entails. As we learn from a beraita: The sotah placed her eyes on one who is unfit for her. That which she desired is not given to […]

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Sotah 8

There’s little doubt that the sotah ritual is not just a divine test to verify whether a married woman has committed adultery, but a form of public shaming. On today’s daf, the rabbis consider whether this shaming is merely a natural result of the sotah ritual, or whether this should be its goal. In answer […]

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Sotah 3

The American rock band OK Go is known for their amazing music videos, my favorite of which is “This Too Shall Pass,” which features a fantastically elaborate Rube Goldberg machine. At the beginning of the video, one band member tips over a domino, setting off a series of events featuring multiple bowling balls, a falling […]

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