Ein Yaakov
Shabbos 28b
A short piece on the unusual animal (possibly a unicorn-like creature) the Gemara says Adam offered as his first korban, and the translation debate over the word 'tachash.'
Yoma 53b
A short aggadic piece on a student's proper way to leave his rebbi, the direction of exit from the Temple, and why the right hand is offered first in greeting.
Yoma 53b
Covers the etiquette of greeting with the right versus left hand, Rava and Abaye's unusual walking posture, and the story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa's prayer bringing sudden rain.
Ein Yaakov — Yoma 54b
A Baraisa-based class on why creation is said to have spread outward from Zion, the differing punishments for golden-calf worshippers, and the debate over teaching women Chumash.
Ein Yaakov — Yoma 54b
A Baraisa-based class on why creation is said to have spread outward from Zion, the differing punishments for golden-calf worshippers, and a question over Shlomo HaMelech's standing in Olam Haba.
Shabbos 32b
A sugya weighing neglect of mezuzah, tzitzis, and Torah study as possible causes of a child's early death, with the halachos of removing a mezuzah when moving.
Yoma 66b
A Yoma sugya on the stations built between Jerusalem and the cliff for the sa'ir la'azazel, and the honor shown by Jerusalem's most prominent citizens who escorted the Kohen partway along the route.
Yoma 66b
Explores why Rabbi Eliezer deflects a difficult question, the Dovid-Bas Sheva parable of the sheep and the shepherd, and whether a mamzer can inherit.
Yoma 66b
Explores why Rabbi Eliezer deflects a difficult question, the halachos of kiddushin and ketubah, and a mamzer's eligibility to inherit.
Yoma 66b
A Yoma sugya on the stations built along the route to the cliff for the sa'ir la'azazel, and the exact distance between them.
Shabbos 49b
A Shabbos sugya exploring why the Mishnah counts 39 melachos (forty minus one), tied to the episode of Yosef's brothers and a case of washing with perfumed water on Shabbos.
Yoma 67a
Continues the Yoma sugya on the sa'ir la'azazel's journey, explaining why the stations along the way offered the Kohen food and drink even though the Gemara says he never actually needed it.
A Lame Wife, a Hidden Tragedy, and the Meaning of 'Tied'
Ein Yaakov aggada beginning chapter five -- a story about tznius in marriage, the Rebbe concealing a painful loss from his mother, and the recurring theme of things 'bound together.'
Yoma 69b
A Gemara sugya on the exact wording the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah used to nullify the yetzer hara for avodah zarah, and the tradition that incubating eggs failed to hatch on that day.
Shabbos 54b
A sugya on the obligation to rebuke wrongdoing even on Shabbos, the Tosafos distinction between Torah-level and rabbinic 'putting a stumbling block,' and the Rebbe's view on teaching Noahide law to non-Jews.
Shabbos 55a
Aggada on a mark distinguishing the righteous from the wicked in a time of judgment, the critical role of rebuke, and when the merit of the Avos stopped protecting their descendants.
Shabbos 55a–55b
Aggada on four righteous people said to have died only because of the serpent's decree (not personal sin), and what the word 'choteh' (sinner) really implies.
Shabbos 55b
A close textual reading asking whether the sons of Eli HaKohen truly committed the sins attributed to them, using the Kri-Ktiv (read versus written) discrepancy in the text.
Yoma 71a
Covers the etiquette of addressing a Kohen Gadol in public versus private, Rava's farewell blessing formula, and the value of marrying into a talmid chacham's family.
Yoma 71a
Covers the etiquette of addressing a Kohen Gadol in public versus private, Rava's farewell blessing formula, and the conflict between a Kohen Gadol and Shemaya and Avtalyon.
Shabbos 56a
A sugya examining the accusations against Dovid HaMelech regarding Uriah's death, the controversy of a soldier's conditional get before battle, and Mephivoshes's disputed property.
Shabbos 56b
A Shabbos sugya reconciling two pesukim about Shlomo HaMelech -- one saying his wives turned his heart, the other that his heart remained like his father Dovid's -- resolving the contradiction without concluding that Shlomo actually sinned.
Shabbos 59a
A short, lighter piece recounting a dream vision of the Baal Shem Tov and the Arizal, and a question about wearing a crown (keilila).
Yoma 73b
Explores why the manna itself is called a form of affliction, how seeing food affects satisfaction, and a side discussion on drunkenness and moral conduct from Sotah.
Shabbos 60a
Covers the halacha against wearing nail-studded sandals on Shabbos (tied to a story of mistaken panic in a cave), and the Rebbe's custom of buttoning right over left.
Shabbos 69b
A short halachic piece on counting the first day in a timed obligation, and a property dispute over shared fruit.
Shabbos 74b
A Shabbos sugya on the melacha of tying knots, catching the chilazon snail for techeiles dye, and sewing thread -- plus a question on whether a particular religion counts as avodah zarah.
Shabbos 75a
A short piece on restoring one of Hashem's names, the mitzvah to study the stars, and old halachic remedies involving insects.
Shabbos 77b
Aggada answering a series of Rav Yehuda's natural-world riddles -- why goats lead sheep, why a camel's tail is short, and why the 'goat' kingdom of Greece preceded the 'sheep' kingdom of Israel.
Shabbos 83b
Covers a sugya on doubt in niddah status, the cult of Baal Z'vuv, and the prohibition against moving a neighbor's boundary marker (hasagas gevul).
Shabbos 86a
A niddah sugya on the halachic shift from a three-day to a five-day waiting period, and the distinction between the prohibition and the status of tumah.
Shabbos 87a
A sugya noticing that the Torah twice describes Moshe bringing the people's words back to Hashem, and what that repetition teaches about the exchange leading up to naaseh v'nishma at Har Sinai.
Shabbos 88a
Explores the meaning of 'tapuach' in Shir HaShirim, the principle of 'we will do' before 'we will hear,' and stories of embracing suffering with joy from Reb Zusha and the Tzemach Tzedek.
Shabbos 89b
A short piece on a verse likening sin to whiteness, calculating how many years of responsibility a person bears, and Yitzchak's plea on behalf of his descendants.
Shabbos 90a; later carrying discussion
A Shabbos sugya on carrying a load above ten tefachim, a measurement debate over the Leviim's height, and when a live person on a bed is exempt from liability.
Shabbos 96b
Explores a disputed gezeirah shavah, Moshe's halachic dilemma over executing the mekoshesh for gathering wood on Shabbos, and the account of Miriam and Aharon's divine rebuke.
Shabbos 104a
Explores the mystical meaning behind letters like mem and peh having both open and closed forms, tied to the balance of revealed and hidden Torah, with the story behind the title 'gute Yid.'
Ein Yaakov — Shabbos 107b
A short piece dividing the day into three-hour segments and examining the Gemara's statements on lice reproduction against modern science.
Shabbos 108a
A short halachic piece distinguishing neveilah from treifah, and the tumah status of a non-Jew's body.
Shabbos 109b
A fantastical aggada about a scholar punished with a snake for defying the Sages, and practical folk-advice for escaping or defending against a snake.
Shabbos 113b
A short piece on a wordplay in Megillas Rus and an omen in where Rus chose to sit among the harvesters.
Shabbos 115a
A halacha sugya on rescuing holy books on Shabbos, Rabbi Yishmael catching a scribe erasing Divine names, and the custom of reciting Tehillim chapters by age.
Shabbos 118a
Explores the Chabad custom of not formally washing between the third Shabbos meal, the mitzvah of oneg Shabbos through food, and how sleep itself is part of that pleasure.
Shabbos 118b
A short piece on fulfilling the third Shabbos meal with just fruit, and the proper timing of mikvah relative to prayer.
Shabbos 118b
Explores Rabbi Yossi's claim about his own bris, trusting the Rebbe's guidance over strict halachic text, and the unresolved vow of Yiftach.
Shabbos 119a
Stories of how different Sages prepared for Shabbos -- Rabbi Chanina's visible joy, Rav Anan's solemn attire -- and the famous tale of Yosef Mokir Shabbos selling a diamond.
Shabbos 119b
Covers the halachic reasoning behind keeping food warm for Shabbos (the blech), modern crockpot questions, and the special Melaveh Malkah customs of the Rebbe.
Shabbos 129a
A sugya permitting urgent, even costly, measures for a sick person on Shabbos -- including lighting a fire and selling a house for shoes after bloodletting.