Class
reviews fall 5778
Aggadah
What are
the 3 ways one can view an Aggada according to the Rambam? Which one is
preferable in his mind?
Who was
the “author” of the Aggada of Moshe and Akiva?
What were
the major two theological issues touched by the Aggada of Moshe and Akiva?
Which was the primary problem, and which was easily “sidestepped”?
Is
Theodicy (the idea of questioning "why bad things happen to good
people") an essential part of the Aggada of Moshe and Akiva?
Regarding
the problem of the
What are
the two paradoxes in the story of Moshe and Akiva?
How are we
as the reader more aware of why the death of Akiva is not a theological problem
than Moshe?
How does
Rashi solve the first theological problem in the Aggada of Moshe and Akiva?
What problem
did we note with Rashi's approach (in the manner he solved the first
theological problem in the Aggada of Moshe and Akiva)?
How does
the Arizal solve the first theological problem in the Aggada of Moshe and
Akiva?
What is
the concept of "Dwarfs on the Shoulders of Giants"? How was it
relevant to our discussion?
What was
the Hebrew word used for "mountains" – as in the ability for Rabbi
Akiva to derive "mountains of law"? what is the significance of this
particular word?
According
to Rebbe Nachman from Breslov – what is the significance of silence? Does his
explanation fit easily into the text?
According
to Rashi – what was God’s first thought?
Why was it
necessary to create the world by “Din” (judgement)?
Who was
treated in the “strictest possible manner? Who else?
In what
sense does Akiva continue the life of Moshe?
How is
water and a rock connected to Moshe’s death?
How is
water and a rock connected to Akiva?
How was
Akiva’s death considered a “reward”?
How did
Akiva’s death “fix” an aspect of Moshe’s life?
Which two
problems were posed on the passage “Elu v’ Elu” (“These and these”)?
What was
the question which was cited by the Ritva in the name of the “rabbis from France”?
Did the
Midrash in Tehilim directly relate to the passage “Elu v’ Elu” (“These
and these”)?
Did all
sources agree that all details of Torah were revealed to Moshe?
What does
the word “Living” modify?
How does
translating “Elu v’ Elu” (“These and these”) differently make the question
reported by the Ritva disappear?
Where did
the Talmud Yerushalmi say the Bat Kol (“Elu v’ Elu”) was heard?
In what
sense did the Bat Kol (“Elu v’ Elu”) counter established Jewish
Law?
Why
couldn’t the schools of Hillel and Shamai come to an understanding?
Why
couldn’t the schools of Hillel and Shamai just follow the majority?
Why was
the law established in accordance with the School of Hillel?
In what
way did the School of Hillel have a superior methodology?
Why did
the Bat Kol (“Elu v’ Elu”) “have” to support the School of
Hillel?
How did
the concept of a diet shed light on halakic practice?
Is it
justified if a person always follows the School of Shammai?
How does
the Talmud label a person who is always strict? Why?
How does
the Talmud label a person who is always lenient? Why?
In what
way is looking at art similar to the experience at Sinai?
What term
did the Jerusalem Talmud use for someone who allowed something patently not
allowed?
In what
way is the name “Chanukah” an appropriate name for the holiday?
How did
the completion of the building of the Second Temple compare to the completion
of the First Temple? The Mishkan?
Why would
celebrating the battle of Chanukah have been inappropriate? (3 reasons)
In what
way does the Rambam in his description of Chanukah depart from what the Talmud
says?
It what
way does the Rambam see Chanukah as a religious holiday? Secular holiday?
What was
the context in the Talmud, of the story of the "Oven of Achnai"?
Was Rabbi
Eliezer able to bring any logical proofs to support his opinion?
Which word
describing the Rabbis rejection of Rabbi Eliezer seemed superfluous?
What was
the response to the uprooted tree?
What does
an uprooted tree symbolize?
Why did
Rabbi Eliezer bother with the stream after he saw the response to the uprooted
tree?
In what
way were both Rabbi Eliezer and the Rabbis correct?
What would
Ima Shalom never let Rabbi Eliezer do?
What was
the defense of Raban Gamliel of his treatment of Rabbi Eliezer?
How do we
see that the rabbis were scared of Rabbi Eliezer?
How does
the context of the Oven story explain the death of Raban Gamliel?
What theme
in the earlier years of Rabbi Eliezer foreshadowed his later years?
How old
was Rabbi Eliezer when he started to learn?
Why did
Rabbi Eliezer never study Torah as a
youth?
As far as
Raban Yochanan ben Zakai was concerned - where did Rabbi Eliezer's Torah come
from?
How did
rabbenu Chananel (cited in the Shita Mikubetzet) solve the dilemma – how the
rabbis could have ignored the truth?
How did
Tosfot solve the dilemma – how the rabbis could have ignored the truth?
How did
Rabbenu Nissim solve the dilemma – how the rabbis could have ignored the truth?
(2 reasons)
How did
the Ran solve the dilemma – how the rabbis could have ignored the truth?
How did the
Sefer Hachinuch solve the dilemma – how the rabbis could have ignored the
truth?
How did
the Vilna Gaon solve the dilemma – how the rabbis could have ignored the truth?
What
happened the day Rabbi Eliezer died?
What
foreshadowing did we see of Rabbi Akiva’s death (2)?
How did
the words of Rabbi Eliezer in Piriki Avot connect to his biography?
Parasha
– World of the Sages
When is
the first time God spoke to Avraham? Why is this complicated?
What is
the significance of the following numbers? 3, 40, 48, 52, 70, 75?
What is
the difference between the way which Avraham addresses the male versus the
female client? What does this indicate?
In what
way did the midrash “foreshadow” the binding of Isaac in terms of the
relationship between Avraham and his father?
What was
the dialogue between Avraham and Nimrod?
Which two
biblical statements give us some insight into the personality of Terach?
Did Terach
respect his father? How do you know?
Did God
ever say to Avrahom to kill Yitzchak?
What is
the literal definition of the word olah?
What are
the “holy sparks of paganism” of which Rav Kook spoke?
What was
our conclusion regarding the reason God told Avraham to put Yitzchok on the
altar?
In what
way was AviMelech moral?
In what
way does Avraham chastise Avimelech?
The
binding of Yitzchak is introduced as “after these things” – which things?
How could
the treatment of Yishmael be an introduction and perhaps justification of the akaida?
Were
Avraham and Sarah spiritual equals?
Who
thought that Sarah was inferior to Avraham?
Who was
Hagar?
What was
possibly counter intuitive in the selection of Hagar?
What was
the source of Hagar’s claim to her own greatness?
How old
was Sarah when she died?
What was
the significance behind the manner which the Torah delineated her age?
In what
sense can prophecy at times be considered a “burden”?
Which
blessing did Yitzchak wish to give to Esav?
Which
blessing did Yitzchak wish to give to Yaakov?
Which
blessing did Yitzchak give to Yaakov when he thought it was Esav?
Which
blessing did Yitzchak give to Esav when he knew it was Esav?
Which
blessing did Yitzchak give to Yaakov when he knew it was Yaakov?
What did
Yitzchak mean when he said “the voice is the of Yaakov, and the hands are the
hands of Esav”?
When Yitzchak
said “the voice is the of Yaakov, and the hands are the hands of Esav”, did the
sentence end with a “question mark” or an explanation point?!
When did
Yaakov realize his mother was correct?
What was
Yitzchak’s vision for his two sons?
When did
Yitzchak realize his vision for his two sons was faulty?
What was
Rivaka’s understanding of the eventual relationship between her sons? From
where did she get this understanding?
What did
Yitzchak come to learn about the capabilities of Yaakov?
Which
instruction to Yaakov did both of his parents agree upon?
When
Yaakov slept which vision did he see?
How was
Yaakov’s vison related to the content of God’s message to him?
How did
God refer to Yaakov’s father? What was missing?
When
Yaakov was blessed by God, which blessing was missing?
Did the
angels first go up or come down? What is the significance?
How did
the color blue relate to having one’s head in heaven?
Why was
Yaakov scared when he returned to Israel?
What is
enigmatic about Yaakov’s struggle?
What did
Yaakov see in himself which scared him?
Why did
Esav not kill Yaakov when he finally had the opportunity? (what caused his
change of heart?)
According
to the Zohar what was the date when Yaakov and Esav met?
Where did
Yaakov go to after his confrontation with Esav?
How is the
holiday of Sukkot related to Yaakov?
What is
the meaning of the law of gid hanashe in the context of the narrative?
How are
the gifts that Yaakov sends Esav reminiscent of the Yom Kippur service?
What
element of Yom Kippur involves “twins”? why?
How does
the story and struggle of Yaakov indicate the Jewish attitude toward wealth?
When Yosef
meets his brothers why does he accuse them of being spies?
What does
Yosef put in the brother’s bag the first time? Why?
What does
Yosef put in the brother’s bag the second time? Why?
Why did
Potifar buy Yosef?
How did
Yosef know the baker would die?
How do we
see “bread” is related to the evil inclination in the Yosef narrative?
In Yosef’s
mind what/whom does the chalice represent?
Why does
Yosef place the chalice in his brother’s bag?
What
earlier episode in the brother’s lives is Yosef trying to replicate?
What is
strange about the “negotiations” between Yosef and his brothers?
What does
Yosef mean when he says “I am Yosef” is my father still alive?
Which
specific point is Yosef trying to clarify with regards to his brothers?
When Yosef
reveals himself to his brothers –what are the contours of the new relationship?
Is Yosef
providing food for his brothers considered good or bad?
What
happens before Yosef dies which heals the fraternal relationship?
Which are
the first siblings in the book of Shmot who display sibling responsibility?
Did Moshe
have a "Jewish" name?
What law
are we told the Jews abandoned in Egypt?
Why was it
important that Moshe came from the palace?
What did
Moshe learn from his mother? How do we see this?
How did
Rav Yehudah divide the plagues?
What do
the first, fourth and seventh plagues have in common?
What do
the second, fifth, and eighth plagues have in common?
What do
the third, sixth and ninth plagues have in common?
What do
the eighth, ninth and tenth plagues have in common?
How does
understanding of Egyptian mythology give insight to the meaning of the plagues?
Where did
the Targum Yonatan say the Jews celebrated the first Pesach Seder?
How would
the Jews in Egypt have responded to the question we usually associate with the
“wicked son”?
Why did
the Jews celebrate leaving Egypt before they left?
From which
story did we see that Rabbi Akiva “lived in the future”?
Contemporary
Halacha – Law and Ethics
What was
the case of “Buck versus Bell”?
Was it in
fact surprising to find writings of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. in the Nuremberg
collection?
Why was
Kellog’s cornflakes originally developed?
What is
the classical discussion of limited resources and life and death consequences?
How did
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel suggest we solve moral dilemmas involving limited
resources?
What was
the case with 2people in the desert?
How many
solutions are there to the dilemma of 2 people in the desert?
What is
cognitive dissonance?
Which
verse did Rabbi Akiva use to understand how to resolve the dilemma of 2 people
in the desert?
Which
verse did Ben Petura use to understand how to resolve the dilemma of 2 people
in the desert?
How did Rabbi
Akiva resolve the dilemma of 2 people in the desert?
How did
Ben Petura resolve the dilemma of 2 people in the desert?
What was
the case which brought the response “who says your blood is redder”?
What would
Rabbi Akiva say if someone said “kill him or I will kill you”?
What was
the “logical conclusion” which according to Tosfot was the overriding principle
of
According
to Tosfot was the overriding principle when dealing with the case of 2 people
in desert, and someone who said “kill him or I will kill you”?
What was
the claim of Rav Chaim, when he accused Tosafot of reaching an “illogical
conclusion”?
How would
a Shabbat elevator work taking into consideration the rationale of Tosfot?
How would
a shabbat elevator work taking into consideration the rationale of Rav Chaim?
Is it a
simple thing to translate laws of damages or murder to Shabbat? Why?
What do
that rabbis do when the letter of the law is kept but the spirit of the law is
trampled upon?
Give an example
where Isaiah (Yishayahu) made up a “rabbinic law”.
What was
the case of the two towns?
What was
the unusual opinion of Rav Yossi, when it came to laundry?
How did
the opinion of Rav Yossi shed light on Ben Petura?
Did Rav
Yossi follow Rabbi Akiva or Ben Petura?
What was
the intrigue in the text of the Mishna regarding saving a life? Which text
would seem to be authentic? How do you know?
According
to the Mishna what is an example of Tikkun Olam?
Which
Mitzvah does the Rambam state is the greatest mitzvah?
What
exception does the Rambam state for the “greatest mitzvah”?
What is an
example of macro thinking?
What is an
example of “result oriented” thinking?
According
to the Talmud what are the three Chanukah lighting possibilities?
What is
strange about most people’s Chanukah lighting custom?
According
to Rav Moshe Feinstein where should the Chanukah candles be lit if you live in
an apartment building?
According
to the Chazon Ish where should the Chanukah candles be lit if you live in an
apartment building?
According
to the Brisker Rav where should the Chanukah candles be lit if you live in an
apartment building?
How did we
see an expansive definition of “times of danger”?
What are
the contours of the abortion debate in America?
How does
Jewish law differ from either extreme in the American abortion debate?
What is
the case in the Mishna regarding abortion? In which case was it permissive? In
which case was it stringent?
What was
the discussion in the Talmud regarding a rodef? Why was the Mishna
introduced?
Is a “good
Samaritan” more like a judge or police? What is your proof?
What leap
of logic did the Rambam use regarding a rodef? What are the implications
of this leap?
What
considerations did Rabbi Yakov Emdem consider before allowing an abortion?
What
considerations did Rabbi Yair Bachrach (Chavat Yair) consider before allowing
an abortion?
What
considerations did the Maharit consider before allowing an abortion?
In what
sense was the Ben Ish Chai "coy" when discussing abortion?
What do we
believe was the Ben Ish Chai's own opinion regarding abortion?
What was
the case of the conjoined twins?
What were
the possible legal ramifications the case of the conjoined twins?
What was
the decision of Rav Moshe Feinstein in the case of the conjoined twins?
How did
Rav Feinstein's strict opinion in the case of abortion pave the way for a
leniency in the case of the conjoined twins?
What is
triage?
Is triage
consistent with Jewish law?
What did
Rav Moshe Feinstein suggest should be the overlying principle when saving
lives?
What did
Rav Moshe Feinstein suggest should be the solution if two lifesaving
opportunities arrive simultaneously?
What was
the differences between the first and second chapters of the Shma noted
by Rav Chaim of Volozhin? What did we learn from this?
What was
the medieval source for transplants – from a live donor?
What was
the halachic source for transplants – from a dead donor?
What was
the debate we saw concerning autopsies? What are the ramifications of the
debate?
