Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 There seems to be a contradiction when the Torah says that Nisan, the spring month which includes Passover, is the first of months, yet we celebrate Rosh Hashana as the New Year six months …

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 9, Chapter 5, Mishna 1 Even life-giving water can become too much – ask Noah! – so we seek moderation in most things. Working through the intersection of Shabbos, Yomtov, muktzeh (set aside), maaser (tithing) …

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 8, 9 If food or a vessel is not prepared for use from before a Festival, it may not be prepared for use on the Festival. So you can’t do the final seasoning of a …

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 7, 8 What did God mean when Abraham was told “Now I know that you are a God-fearing man.” Did God NOT know before? We can cook on a festival, and we can build a …

Chapter 4, Mishna 5, 6, 7 We can cook on a festival but we cannot fashion new cooking vessels, nor chop up wood bowls to fuel a wood-burning stove. Nor may we may not break up clay pots or CUT …

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 3, 4, 5 May we chop wood for an oven fire on a Festival? May we gather wood for the kindling? What about leaves? Why does it matter where the wood is gathered from?

Topics covered: Chapter 4, Mishna 1, 2 Shall we let people who don’t know a Torah law remain ignorant, or risk that they may become intentional sinners? If weekday style work must be done on a Festival for the sake …

Chapter 3, Mishna 5-11 We can’t engage in commerce on a festival, or anything like it, but the Sages clarified the rules so we could obtain food needed during the festival…

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 4 Some of the beautiful liturgy of Hoshana Raba. What is a bechor? If a consecrated, first-born animal fell into a well on a Festival, may we examine it for a disqualifying blemish? May we …