Topics covered: Chapter 8, Mishna 1 The five forms of afflicting oneself on Yom Kippur are derived from the five mentions of “afflict yourselves” in the Torah. We may not eat/drink, engage in marital relations, wear (leather) shoes, bathe, or …

Topics covered: Chapter 8, Mishna 1 A series of pearls of wisdom arising from Rav Ami and Rav Asi disagreeing about the meaning of the manna and other verses in Torah. What did the manna taste like? When/where/how and to …

Topics covered: Chapter 7, Mishna 3, Chapter 8, Mishna 1 Besides the garments, what are the differences between and ordinary priest and the High Priest? What is the Priest Anointed for War? What is the Urim v’Tummim and how does …

Topics covered: Chapter 7, Mishna 3 The garments of the High Priest were made of extremely fine craftsmanship, and every element held symbolic meaning. According to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, they represent three types of Jews. If he didn’t atone for …

Topics covered: Chapter 7, Mishna 1, 2, 3 We don’t roll a Torah in synagogue to access disparate reading unless the synagogue only possesses one Torah. We don’t pass over the opportunity to perform a mitzvah, even to perform another …

Topics covered: Chapter 7, Mishna 1 Apropos the question of whether priests could wear their consecrated garments outside the Temple, we encounter two amazing stories. 1) When Alexander the Great met the High Priest Shimon the Righteous, it turned out …

Topics covered: Chapter 6, Mishna 4, 5 A beautiful reading from the machzor (Yom Kippur prayerbook) on the parts of the High Priest’s service we’re covering now. What does the High Priest do with the carcasses of the bull and …

Topics covered: Chapter 6, Mishna 3 Why was the goat sent to Azazel and pushed off a cliff? Why such a horrific death? What/where is Azazel? Which sins are specifically addressed by the rite of the scapegoat?

Topics covered: Chapter 6, Mishna 2 Why did R’ Eliezer refuse to answer certain questions from his students and a wise woman? How did the other Sages feel about R’ Eliezer? An abridged version of the Oven of Achnai story. …