סיום מסכת בבא מציעא | Siyum masekhet Bava Metzia [tractate completion]

New at Alma [Home for Hebrew Culture, in Tel Aviv]! Daf Yomi [daily Talmud folio study group] with Kobi Oz... Your daily or occasional participation would delight us... Sundays through Fridays, from 9am to 10am... At times, Alma lecturers join us. [No fee]

Our Daf Yomi group has been engaging in a dynamic and spirited text inquiry since spring 2011 as we follow the seven-and-a-half-year cycle studying the oral Torah and its commentaries, in which each of the 2,711 pages of the Babylonian Talmud is covered, in order. We are a mix of secular and religiously observant Israeli men and women who share wide-ranging knowledge of Talmud, Torah, Jewish history, and rabbinic law; anthropology; education; computer science; music, management; culinary arts, community organizing; and Israel's geography, ancient and modern history, agriculture, and customs. And more.

At our recent Siyum [completion] of Bava Metzia (the second of three Talmud tractates, or sections, on damages), we celebrated with strong drink and sweets while reading the tractate's closing verses, and the opening verses of Bava Batra (the third tractate). We concluded this traditional siyum with the special Rabbinical Kaddish prayer for rabbis, scholars, and their disciples on completing a unit of study —  a significant accomplishment and a milestone.

Watch the slide show (1:15 minutes).



For more information about the group and to ask questions (in English and Hebrew), visit our Facebook Page דף גמרא יומי נינוח במרכז תל אביב. You can also join the group's page (Hebrew).

Alma Home for Hebrew Culture
Bezalel Yafe 4
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Tel. (03) 5663031

Hebrew Lesson: ‏‪כדרכו בקודש [ke-darko ba-kodesh, following his usual style]

Ruth reads The New Dictionary (Even-Shoshan) on ‏‪ke-darko ba-kodesh

A casual phrase in an email that Rabbi Dr. Michael Berger sent me triggered a lesson in Hebrew, Aramaic, and the wisdom of scholars and scholar-friends.‬

Watch the video (5:27 minutes), in Hebrew and bits of Aramaic and English.

Purim celebration in Tel Aviv

Dancing in Purim costumes

Purim celebrates a story in the biblical Megillat Esther (Book of Esther), in which Queen Esther saves the Jewish people from (Ahasuerus advisor) Haman's plot to destroy them.

This year, 2012, Purim starts on Thursday, March 8, and continues for two days until Friday, March 9. In the Hebrew calender, a day begins at sunset on the previous day, so Jews will celebrate Purim at sunset on Wednesday, March 7.

Purim eve, 2009, Tel Aviv's tree-lined Rothschild Boulevard was a virtual sacred space where the Megilla reading, singing, playacting, and music blared under glowing night-lights while children and dogs wandered around and beneath rows of white plastic chairs.

On this holiday (observed with fanciful costumes), the spirited multigenerational crowd also listened to Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau's history lessons and encouragement. Other highlights included "Secrets of the Palace," an enactment of the Purim story told in the Megilla, awards for best costumes, and merry singing and dancing — all celebrating the festival in which, instead of being annihilated, the Jews lived.

Watch my video (5:13 minutes).



Four mitzvot, commandments on observing Purim:

• Listen to the reading of Megillat Esther
  
• Participate in the Purim feast
• Send Mishloach manot, gifts to friends
  
• (most important) Give Matanot LaEvyonim, gifts to the needy

My Purim posts

• Rabbi Y.M. Lau on Purim in the Nazi camps (includes video)
• Purim: celebrating solidarity and mutual responsibility
• Purim in Kfar Tavor and Kaduri (includes video)
• Purim, festival of joy: When is it?