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Learn Talmud – Berachot #51 Daf 19b (Koren Talmud Bavli) [Human Dignity Can Override Torah]

The Mishnah had instructed us with regards to the laws of reciting the Shema when taking part in a funeral. Here the Gemara continues to explain in further detail the relevant laws as to who is obligated and who is exempt from reciting the Shema.

Lessons in Tanya #60 – Chapter 29 Part 4 [Shouting At The Sitra Achra]

When one begins the process of seeing the grossness of the physical world, one begins to realise what the nature of the Sitra Achara (the Other Side) really is. One must then cast the Sitra Achra down to do away with it (as its mission is to conceal Godliness from us.)

Mesillat Yesharim – Path of the Just #33 – Chapter 5 – Watchfulness [Living Life Like A Drunkard]

It is God Who has created the evil inclination, and it is He Who has also created its cure. This is the Torah. Who would be foolish enough to assume to take a better cure than the “Doctor” who knows the sickness the best?

Learn Talmud – Berachot #50 Daf 19a (Koren Talmud Bavli) [Never Open One’s Mouth To The Satan]

Our page is jam packed with a number of different topics. As is the way of Gemara – to jump from one theme to another in an apparently totally random order – our page is no different!

Mesillat Yesharim – Path of the Just #32 – Chapter 5 – Watchfulness [The Cure For The Evil Inclination]

Those wishing to ascend the ladder of holiness must begin their journey with the study of Torah. It is the Torah that tells us what we should be watchful about. How do we know what to refrain from and what is bad for us? The Torah teaches us.

Lessons in Tanya #59 – Chapter 29 Part 3 [Overcoming Dullness of the Heart]

When a person finds himself with Timtum HaLeiv (a dullness in his heart) and he finds it hard to involve himself in the service of the heart (i.e. prayer), the Alter Rebbe tells us that he needs to break his animal soul. He uses the example of the Zohar that with a beam that does not catch alight, we must break the beam up into smaller pieces so that the fire will begin to catch on it. So too we do the same to our souls. We must break the part of ourselves that prevents the light (of Hashem – our Godly souls) from penetrating through.

Learn Talmud – Berachot #49 Daf 18b Part 2 (Koren Talmud Bavli) [Do the Dead Wear Cosmetics?]

Our Gemara picks up from our last lesson regarding the story of a pious man who had chosen to spend the eve of Rosh HaShanah sleeping in a cemetery – after an argument with his wife.

Lessons in Tanya #58 – Chapter 29 Part 2 [The Essential Soul of the Beinoni]

The essential soul of the Beinoni — his very essence is really his animal soul. It is that that he associates with. On the other hand, each morning, when we awaken, we thank God for bestowing within us a Godly soul.

Mesillat Yesharim – Path of the Just #31 – Chapter 5 – Watchfulness [Distractions of Worldly Activities]

We begin Chapter 5 of the Mesillat Yesharim – the Path of the Just. After having discussed the factors that relate to the trait of watchfulness and how to acquire it, we move on to factors that detract from allowing us to acquire the trait of Watchfulness.

Learn Talmud – Berachot #48 Daf 18a & 18b Part 1 (Koren Talmud Bavli) [Do the Dead Know Anything?]

One who transports the bones of a dead person should not do so in a disrespectful manner by simply placing them in a type of double bag attachment added to a donkey and then ride on it that way. But if one is afraid of robbers or the like, one may do so. We even learn that if it comes down to it and the only way of transporting a Sefer Torah in a type of disrespectful that even then one may do so – but only under extreme circumstances.

We learn about the importance of accompanying the deceased to their place of rest if one should find oneself in a cemetery at the time that the deceased is being interred.

We hear about a story concerning a rabbi who had let is Tzitzit hang out as it dragged along the graves of those buried there and how his fellow had rebuked him. It was not respectful to them – as he said, because it makes a mockery of those who can no longer fulfill Mitzvot (while we in this world can still perform Mitzvot).

The Talmud then goes into an exciting discussion as to whether or not the dead are aware of things that occur in this world. In

When the sons of Rabbi Chiya were out one day they become disheartened that they had forgot their Torah learning and the one brother asked his brother if he thought that maybe their deceased father had felt their pain over the matter. Now the Talmud turns to the discussion about whether the dead may know about what happens to us in this world or not. We will continue this subject in our next lesson.

The Talmud tells us of a story about a man who gave charity before Rosh HaShanah – but when his wife found out, she was mad at him! He went to sleep in the cemetery to get away from the fighting and heard some spirits talking amongst themselves. They wanted to find out what would be in store for the physical world in the coming year. Knowing well how things would play out, the man followed the discussion in practice and met with success in his harvest that year – while the rest of the world was set with troubles!

Our Gemara will continue in the next lesson as we find out more about this exciting story!