Author: Drew Kaplan

Drinking on Hanukah

The newest episode for JewishDrinking.com: The Show is now up, featuring Rabbi Ben Shefter, wherein we discuss “Drinking on Hanukah”. Here is the podcast episode:   Here is the video episode: Related to our discussion is this text in the Shulhan Arukh (OH 670:2): ריבוי הסעודות שמרבים בהם הם סעודות הרשות שלא קבעום למשתה ושמחה Increasing […]

What Did Pharoah’s Drink-Purveyor Do to Land Him in Prison?

We read of Pharoah’s drink-purveyor and baker as sinning to land themselves in prison in this week’s parashah: “חָֽטְא֛וּ מַשְׁקֵ֥ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְהָאֹפֶ֑ה לַאֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם לְמֶ֥לֶךְ מִצְרָֽיִם the drinks-purveyor of the king of Egypt and the baker sinned to their lord, to the king of Egypt” (Gen. 40.1). What did they do to land themselves in prison? […]

Considering Ya’akov’s innovation in Wine-Libation on a Pillar

We read of Ya’akov setting-up a מצבה stone-pillar towards the beginning of last week’s parashah (Gen. 28.18), as well as later on in the parashah (Gen. 31.51-52). In this week’s parashah, we see him doing so a third time, yet he introduces an innovation into his stone-pillar setting-up: “וַיַּצֵּב יַעֲקֹב מַצֵּבָה, בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ–מַצֶּבֶת אָבֶן; […]

Wine in the Mishnah with Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish

The newest episode of our weekly podcast/video series is now available: “Wine in the Mishnah” features an overview of the term יין/wine in the Mishnah, with guest Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish. Rabbi Dr. Walfish’s recent book Mishnaic Tapestries – Tractate Berakhot/מרבדי משנה – פרקי ברכות: עיון ספרותי ורעיוני במשנת ברכות (which is available for purchase […]

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