NEFESH: The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals

Dont Judge a Sinner by His Cover: The Ancient Psychology of Modern Idolatry

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May 25th, 2026

Our Gemara describes the laws of ritual purity that are particular to earthenware vessels. They are unique in that they are not susceptible to impurity from the outside but only from the inside. Furthermore, if there is a tight wrap around the mouth of the vessel, even when it is in a house with a corpse, the impurity will not enter it. This is derived from the verse in Bamidbar (19:15):
“And every open vessel, with no lid fastened down, sha …

Time Wounds All Heels: When Indecision Is the Costliest Choice Chulin 24

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May 24th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the criteria for qualification and disqualification of Levites:
“Levites remain fit for Temple service with the blemishes enumerated in the Torah but are unfit with the passage of years, as they are fit for service only between the ages of thirty and fifty (see Numbers 4:47).”
Beis Yisrael (Behaalosecha 5709) reads a deeper hint in this statement. Blemishes do not automatically invalidate but years do. …

Broken Necks and Red Heifers: Processing Death at the Edge of the Camp Chulin 23

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May 22nd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the laws of the Red Heifer and the “Calf-whose-Neck-is-Broken.” These are two unique rituals which have both extreme similarities and differences.
1. Both have to do with death. The Red Heifer is to cleanse death impurity and the Calf-whose-Neck-is-Broken is to atone for an unsolved murder outside the city.
2. They are both bovine.
3. They are both unfit if they were used for labor.
4. They ar …

Young at Heart, Old in Practice: The Two Kinds of Tzaddik Chulin 22

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May 22nd, 2026

Our Mishna on Amud Aleph discusses the qualifications of two different kinds of bird offerings:“He shall bring his offering of doves, or of young pigeons” (Leviticus 1:14).
“The age that is fit for sacrifice in doves, mature birds, is unfit for sacrifice in pigeons, immature birds; the age that is fit for sacrifice in pigeons is unfit for sacrifice in doves. At the intermediate stage of the beginning of the yellowing of its plumage …

The Question That Stopped the Room: Rabbi Zeiras Art of Breaking Assumptions

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May 21st, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph records a reaction to a question posed by Rabbi Zeira to Rabbi Ami. Rabbi Ami is described as having paused, in a state of surprise. The Aramaic is “eshtomem,” which implies a state of surprise, at a loss for words. It is from a question that was thought provoking and induces a review of prior assumptions in order to answer. See Rashi (Daniel 8:13 and Bereishis 24:21.)
This figure of speech comes up a few times in …

Wash, Rinse, Repeat: How Intuition Became Law Chulin 20

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May 20th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses an aspect of bird shechitta that is different from animal shechitta. According to one opinion, the shechitta remains valid even if the windpipe and gullet are uprooted, unlike with an animal.
The Gemara first suggests that this opinion also holds that the requirement of shechitta for birds is only rabbinic, therefore they were lenient in this regard. While the position that holds uprooting invalidates bird she …

The Power of Being Truly Seen Chulin 19

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May 19th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis seeks to define the exact location of the melika slaughter performed on sacrificial birds. It is referred to as “adjacent to the neck.” The Gemara is unclear if the Hebrew word adjacent “mul” means adjacent or opposite. They cite a verse where Balak complains to Bilaam that the incoming horde of Jews were going to overtake them; he described them as occupying the space “right adjacent to me.”
What was Bilaam …

Go With the Flow: Rivers, Bridges, and the Local Pulse of Halacha Chulin 18

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May 18th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis reports a response by Rav Yosef to explain what seems to be contradictory halachic practices in different locales. Rav Yosef says, “nahara, nahara upashta” — “Each river and its unique course, i.e., each place follows its custom.”
What does Rav Yosef mean? Rashi explains that rivers naturally flow differently in different locations. The Aramaic word “pashta” is translated as direction of spread or flow. La …

Investigate and Be Rewarded: The Value of a Good Hypothetical Chulin 17

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May 17th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph raises a theoretical question that at first glance has no practical implication. According to the opinion that in the wilderness the Jews did not need to do shechitta, but rather meat was permitted by stabbing the neck of the animal, what would be the status of such meat upon entry into the land of Israel? The core question is: do we follow the moment of slaughter, or where the meat is right now, which is a place where it …

Melave Malka and the Secret of Resurrection Chulin 16

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May 15th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis states a position that in the wilderness the Jews were not allowed to consume ordinary meat. The only time that one could eat meat is if it is part of a sacrifice such as a shelamim. In Sefer Daf al Daf, he quotes the Sar Shalom Mi-Belz that this Gemara proves that one is not obligated to have meat at Seudas Melave Malka. His reasoning is as follows: if in the wilderness they could only consume sacrificial meat, such meat …

Feasts and Beasts Chulin 15

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May 15th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses what objects are permitted and which are forbidden to use as a shechitta knife:
“…one may slaughter with any item that cuts, except for the serrated side of the harvest sickle, a saw, the teeth of an animal when attached to its jawbone, and a fingernail, because they are serrated and they consequently strangle the animal and do not cut its windpipe and gullet as required.”There is a strange and fascinati …

Shards of Immortality: The Broken Vessel Still Has Value Chulin 14

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May 14th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a halacha in muktzah, certain items which are forbidden to carry on Shabbos because of their lack of utility. One way to understand the prohibition of Muktzah is that Shabbos is a day of rest, and therefore long-term planning activities and construction are prohibited. Since they are practical needs, utensils that have immediate and daily use are permitted to carry; however, something that has no immediate use is …

Keeping Faith Fresh Across Generations Chulin 13

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May 13th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis makes an interesting assertion about the state and sincerity of worship for pagans outside of Israel. Though they may profess or practice belief in certain deities, it is merely “a custom of practice inherited from their ancestors,” and without real intent to worship. This has implications, as an animal slaughtered by such a gentile will not be treated with the severity of an idolatrous sacrifice, which aside from not …

Too Many Cooks Spoiled Chinuch Chulin 12

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May 12th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses how certain persons with compromised mental capacity can still perform a kosher shechitta so long as “others watch and supervise.”
The Pri Megadim (Introduction to Laws of Shechitta, Shoresh 5) notes that it is written in plural form “others.” He says this is not an actual requirement and even one person is sufficient supervision. Tiferes Yisrael (beginning of the mesechta) says it’s to include even …

Brains Are Overrated: The Talmuds Theory of Intelligence Chulin 11

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May 11th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph refers to the kidneys as the part of the body that provide advice and planning. The ancients had a different view of medicine than we do and the ideas that emerge are fascinating.
First let’s start with this shocker: In Biblical Hebrew there is no word for brain! Such a seemingly vital organ simply is not identified. In rabbinic Mishnaic Hebrew the word moach is used to connote brain, but it really is a borrowed term …

Poison, Presumption, and the Limits of Legal Thinking Chulin 9

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May 8th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis draws a distinction between doubts that affect kashrus versus doubts that affect danger to health. When it comes to kashrus, we follow various legal formulae such as majority, chazakah and other principles. However, if we are unsure of an item’s toxicity, such as water left exposed which may have snake venom in it, we cannot rely on legalistic principles to ensure that it isn’t poisonous.
However, is it really that …

Open Channels: The Halacha of Actually Listening Chulin 8

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May 15th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the status of an animal properly slaughtered; however, the knife itself was used for non-kosher substances, and therefore has a potential to transmit the non-kosher into the flesh of the animal’s throat. There is an opinion that nothing gets absorbed into the meat of the animal, and it simply needs to be rinsed off. One explanation that is offered is that since at the moment of the slaughtering the flesh in th …

Spiritually Bullet Proof Chulin 7

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May 14th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes how Rabbi Chanina was impervious to someone who was directing powerful sorcery against him. The Gemara notes that normally sorcery has the ability to function, in some way, contrary to God’s heavenly entourage. Ordinary people still might succumb. However, because this sage had a certain awareness embodied in the verse “There is none else beside Him” (Devarim 4:35), the magic had no power. The story is nota …

Bon Vivant or Baal Nefesh? Knowing who is in Charge Chulin 6

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May 6th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph relates a story where “that certain elder” (likely Eliyahu Hanavi) admonished Rabbi Meir to avoid a particular kind of wine. Eliyahu Hanavi cites a verse from Mishley (23:2): “And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite [a Baal Nefesh].”
The poshut pshat meaning of the word “Baal Nefesh” is a person of great appetite (see Rashi ibid). A good parallel word in French would be Bon Vivant …

The Enemys Kitchen: Providence Hidden in Plain Sight Chulin 5

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May 5th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us that Eliyahu Hanavi was supported by ravens who brought kosher meat from King Achav’s kitchen while he was a fugitive hiding out, as a wanted man for “anti-state activities.”
Ben Yehoyada here observes the irony, that while Achav was trying to capture and kill Eliyahu, his own food was supporting him! He draws a parallel to how Pharaoh was trying to eliminate every male Israelite born so as to preemp …

The Oldest Con: Yitschok, Esav, and Seeing the Good Chulin 4

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May 4th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis brings a proof that one can eat from meat slaughtered by a Jewish transgressor with regard to idol worship. The proof comes from Yehoshaphat, king of Judea, who partook of the feast prepared by Achav, king of Israel, who was a transgressor with regard to idol worship.
Some ask, why not bring a proof from Yitschok who asked to eat from Esav’s hunting? After all, the Midrash states that Esav was an idolator already prio …

Cutting Edge: The Torah’s Ambivalence Toward Technology Chulin 3

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May 3rd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the interesting status of metal that comes in contact with a corpse. A corpse, already the highest level of impurity, transmits impurity through metal that is in contact with it, at the same level. Ordinarily, a corpse which contacts another item will transmit impurity but also step down one level, which means that the chain erodes and eventually ends at levels 3-5 depending on whether it is for the holiest sacr …

Chew on This: From the Mundane Table to the Sacred Altar Chulin 2

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April 24th, 2026

We begin Tractate Chulin which discusses the laws of slaughter and other aspects of kosher food. The Maaseh Rokeach often mines the legal declarations of the Mishna for hints at mystical truths. Regarding Chulin’s placement after the laws of sacrifices, he states that this follows the verses in Vayikra which first discuss the laws of sacrifices and then the laws of kosher. But what is the deeper meaning to that order? Eating itself is to be vie …

Books and Burnt Offerings: Torah Study as Temple Service Menachos 110

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April 24th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph cites several encouraging statements about the value of Torah study:
“A Song of Ascents, Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand in the House of the Lord at night” (Psalms 134:1). What is the meaning of “at night,” given that the Temple service is not performed at night and all the offerings must be sacrificed during the daytime? Rabbi Yoḥanan says: These are Torah scholars, who engage …

Man in Black: Yom Kippur’s Hidden Guest Menachos 109

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April 30th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes a vision that Shimon Hatzaddik had on his last Yom Kippur, which led him to conclude that he would not live to serve next year:
“Shimon HaTzaddik said to them: In previous years, every Yom Kippur, upon entering the Holy of Holies, I had a prophetic vision in which I would be met by an old man who was dressed in white, and his head was wrapped in white, and he would enter the Holy of Holies with me, and he wo …

More or Less: The Torah’s Take on Quality Versus Quantity Menachos 108

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April 29th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a case where a person pledges to bring two bullocks and they became invalidated. If he offers in their place one big bullock, even if the value of the big one is equal to the two, Rabbi Yose says he has not fulfilled the requirements of his vow. Rashi comments that two are considered more significant than one, even if the single one is equal in actual value to the two small ones.
Rav Yosef Engel, who had an in …

Shard but Not Forgotten: The Body’s Hidden Ascent Menachos 107

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April 28th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph mentions the crop and feathers of the olah burnt offerings that were thrown on the ground next to the altar. Rashi here adds that they were miraculously absorbed into the ground.
There is another sacrifice related item that gets absorbed into the ground. The Gemara Yoma (21a) tells us shards of earthenware vessels used for the kodshei kadashim sacrifices were swallowed in the earth in their places. These vessels used f …

The Vow Doth Protest Too Much Menachos 106

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April 27th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses a situation where someone pledges a smaller item but then brings a larger item. Is that considered a fulfillment of the pledge or is it a different pledge and he still must bring his original sacrifice since he has not kept his word.
If one said: It is incumbent upon me to bring a small bull, and he brought a large bull instead, he has fulfilled his obligation, as the value of a small bull is included in the v …

Equal but not the Same Menachos 105

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April 26th, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph considers the case of a person who states: “It is incumbent upon me to bring a meal offering” but did not specify which kind. According to Rabbi Yehuda, he must bring the Mincha of fine flour.
The Gemara analyzes Rabbi Yehuda’s position. At first they consider it might be due to the fact that the fine flour offering is mentioned first in the Torah. However, they reject that line of reasoning because when it comes …

Daily Bread, Daily Dread: When Manna Meets Anxiety Menachos 104

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April 24th, 2026

In our Gemara on Amud Aleph we find Rav Bevai excusing himself from a particular Torah analytic discussion due to his stress over his basic food security. He drew reference to a Biblical prophetic curse, “And you shall have no assurance of your life”; this is referring to one who relies on the baker [hapalter] to give him bread because he has no grain of his own. (Devarim 28:66.)
Rav Yisrael Salanter (Ohr Yisroel, Kochvei Ohr, 11) raised a …

Limits, Liminality and Law Menachos 103

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April 24th, 2026

In our Gemara on Amud Beis we find the Rabbis objecting to Rabbi Shimon’s assertion that only up to and including sixty tenths of flour can be properly mixed with a log of oil: Sixty can mix but all of the sudden sixty-one is too much? Rabbi Shimon’s reply is: “All the measures of the Sages are so: For example, in a ritual bath containing forty se’a of water, one immerses for purification, and in a ritual bath with forty se’a less the s …

Guilt Trip: When Holy Fear Becomes a Compulsion Menachos 102

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April 23rd, 2026

Our Gemara at the end of Amud Aleph to the beginning of Amud Beis discusses a situation where a person dedicated an Asham Taluy and then discovered he did not sin and what to be done with that sacrifice. An Asham Taluy is a unique sacrifice brought by a person who is in doubt if he committed a sin that would incur a chattas offering.According to Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion he can still bring this Asham Taluy, because even though he realized that he …

Holy Cow: Pride Goeth Before the Offering Menachos 101

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April 22nd, 2026

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses the situation of a Red Heifer; if he found another animal choicer than it, there is a mitzvah to redeem the first one and purchase the choicer one with the money.From this Gemara we see a principle that one should always look for the choicest animals for a sacrifice, and when possible even upgrade after the fact. Yet this contradicts another teaching from Shavuous (15a) regarding Nechamia’s choice of anima …

Trust me it will be good for you Menachos 100

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April 21st, 2026

Our Gemara at the end of 99b through the top of Amud Aleph discusses Gehenom and punishment in the after life, based on a verse in Iyov (36:15–16): “He has allured you out of a narrow opening to a broad place without confines below it, and that which is set on your table is full of fatness.”
“Come and see that the attribute of flesh and blood is unlike the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He. The attribute of flesh and blood is th …

A Quotidian Torah Quota Menachos 99