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PREVIOUS PASSAGES 04/16/2008: The Yerushalmi's Explanations of the Four Cups of Wine 04/07/2008: Pesach: A Family Feud? 03/20/2008: The Four Mitsvot of Purim 03/06/2008: Another Text for your Seder 02/18/2008: What is the Afikoman? 02/08/2008: Non-Jewish Leaders Who Like Jews 01/24/2008: Yerushalmi's Respones to the Priestly Benediction 01/06/2008: A Year of Yerushalmi! How's Your Kiddush Cup? 12/06/2007: Add an Extra Blessing to your Hannukkah 11/15/2007: Once Holy ... Always Holy 11/02/2007: Some Reflections on the Changing Nature of Halloween and Jewish Ideas of Communing with the Dead 10/25/2007: The California Fires, Katrina and Two Prayers to Say 10/11/2007: A Surprising Perspective on Rabban Gamliel 09/30/2007: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished on Sukkot 09/13/2007: Value Everyone 08/30/2007: This Year, Resolve not to Give Satan a Chance 08/17/2007: Harry Potter, the High Holidays and Talmud, Too 07/04/2007: Alaska ... What a Jewish Experience! 05/24/2007: Putting the Fun Back in Dysfunction 05/10/2007: Confessions of a Failed Baker 04/26/2007: Heaven and Earth in Each of Us 04/12/2007: Jerusalem or Divorce 03/29/2007: Can You Tell what Kind of Adult a Child will Become? 03/15/2007: The Exodus: A Family Affair 03/01/2007: Do We Make Our Own Enemies? 02/16/2007: The Place of Show Business in Jewish Life 02/01/2007: The Destruction of Jerusalem ... From a Different Point of View 01/18/2007: The Bar Mitsvah Blessing 01/03/2007: A Great Lady: Rabban Gamliel's Maid 12/21/2006: This Must be Jewish: Antikythera Mechanism 12/07/2006: The Sages Knew It 1500 Years Ago: Drink Responsibly 11/23/2006: How to Give Thanks at Thanksgiving 11/09/2006: The Seed of Rabbi Eliezer's Excommunication 10/26/2006: I Got to the Church on Time 10/12/2006: Silver or Gold? 09/28/2006: Don't Wear Your Finest this Yom Kippur 09/14/2006: A New Year ... A True Renewal ... A Perpetual "Shehecheyanu" Moment 09/06/2006: Why are the Blessings after the Haftara Reading So Darn Long? An Answer from the Minor Tractate Sofrim 08/17/2006: Something Smells Fishy: Eliyahu Rabbah and Eliyah Zuta 08/02/2006: A Portion of Peace 07/19/2006: Feelings are as Real as Objects: A Study of the Oven of Akhnai Story and Its Consequences, Part III 07/07/2006: Feelings are as Real as Objects: A Study of the Oven of Akhnai Story and Its Consequences, Part II 06/22/2006: Feelings are as Real as Objects: A Study of the Oven of Akhnai Story and Its Consequences, Part I 06/08/2006: What is Jewish about America's "Favorite Pastime"? 05/25/2006: What Characterizes the Perfect Convert? (Part II) 05/10/2006: What Characterizes the Perfect Convert? 04/27/2006: Got Miracles? 04/12/2006: Vindication or Vengeance 03/30/2006: Passover is Coming to Town 03/19/2006: Talmud as Hypertext, Part III 03/01/2006: Talmud as Hypertext, Part II 02/19/2006: Talmud as Hypertext, Part I 02/02/2006: Talmud, Lies and the Internet: A Form of Anti-Semitism on the Web, Part III 01/19/2006: Talmud, Lies and the Internet: A Form of Anti-Semitism on the Web, Part II 01/04/2006: Talmud, Lies and the Internet: A Form of Anti-Semitism on the Web 12/22/2005: Non-Jews in the Synagogue/Temple: Some Hannukkah Texts 12/08/2005: Who is More Valuable: The Intellectual or the Practical Decision Maker? 11/14/2005: Where do I Rank? A Story of Intrigue, Part Two 11/14/2005: Where do I Rank? A Story of Intrigue 10/27/2005: The Three Seasons of Life: 40-40-40 10/12/2005: Those Non-Sexists Sages on Sukkot...You Gotta Love 'Em! 09/29/2005: Learn to Forgive Yourself 09/15/2005: Who by Fire and Who by Water 09/01/2005: Judaism is Everywhere: Bethesda, Bethel and Bethany 08/17/2005: Keeping up with the Cohens 07/21/2005: Blessing our Torah Study 07/19/2005: The Talmud and Harry Potter 07/06/2005: The Academy on High: A Model for Today's Yeshivah? 06/26/2005: Time Management: God's Example 06/08/2005: Teiku: Seeing All Sides of an Issue 06/01/2005: Bringing Texts to Life 05/11/2005: Counting the Omer/Counting Those We've Lost 04/28/2005: The Lowdown on Descending into the Red Sea 04/14/2005: Don't Let Low Self-Esteem Stop Your Spiritual Growth 03/31/2005: The Power of the Hebrew Alphabet 03/16/2005: Fun with the Hebrew Alphabet 03/02/2005: Is it Okay to Use Bible Texts to "Magically" Control Your Life? 02/15/2005: A Wedding Gift for Maqom's Webmeister: Copper Lavers 01/26/2005: Tractate Parking Lot 01/13/2005: How Does God Fit into the Picture of the Earthquake and Tsunami? 12/28/2004: Don't Dream a Little Dream About Aher! 12/01/2004: Aher's Legacy 11/17/2004: Why Did Elisha ben Abuya Go Wrong? 11/10/2004: What Was it that Aher (aka Elisha ben Abuya) Did that Was So Bad? 10/22/2004: Why Elisha Ben Abuya Went Wrong 10/10/2004: God to Avram: "Giddiyup" 09/19/2004: The Sages' Egalitarian (Yes, You Read that Correctly) Understanding of the Lulav 08/19/2004: Countdown to Rosh Hashanah 08/13/2004: Blessings for Business 07/29/2004: Why We Need to Say Blessings and a Blessing for Chocolate 07/16/2004: What Do You Say When You See Someone Disabled? 07/01/2004: Living in a State of Mindfulness: The Jewish Path Beginning with Blessings Every Day 06/17/2004: Aleinu: The Climax of Mystical Ascension 06/04/2004: A New Course of Study: The Siddur 05/21/2004: A Marriage Seder Plate 05/06/2004: Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery 04/25/2004: Trump Card: What Kind of Evidence and Reasoning are the Best According to the Sages? 04/08/2004: More of Hillel's Mysterious Teachings 03/25/2004: Hillel's Pesach Sandwich 03/11/2004: The Sayings of Hillel: The Zen of Mitsvah Maintenance 02/29/2004: Every Golden Age Ends 02/12/2004: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models and the Priests in the Temple 01/29/2004: Aging and Its Affects on our Relationships 01/15/2004: Shaming People After They've Done the Wrong Thing 01/01/2004: Shaming People Into Doing the Right Thing 12/17/2003: The Correct Way of Lighting the Menorah? Fuggedaboudit! 12/05/2003: Memory and Liturgy: Making the Prayers Real 11/20/2003: Myth, Memory and Martha 11/09/2003: Wisdom Literature and Genesis 10/24/2003: Creation and the Burning Bush: A Healing Practice 10/09/2003: Pardes and the Four Species 09/25/2003: Shanah Tovah! 09/11/2003: The Clash of Symbols 08/28/2003: Making a Difference 08/21/2003: You're Not Getting Older . . . You're Getting Better! 08/13/2003: Don't Insist on Having it all Your Way (You'll be Surprised at the Bonus Prize You Receive!) 07/17/2003: The Blessing of Remembering: A Textual Guide to Spiritual Growth 07/03/2003: The Blood that Cries Out from the Ground 06/19/2003: Kol Ishah: Women's Voices in Prayer 06/05/2003: Celebrating Israel's Beauty and Richness 05/22/2003: On the Anniversary of the First Summiting of Mount Everest: A Spiritual Lesson from the Physical World 05/08/2003: Holy Hairdressing 04/24/2003: The Third Time's a Charm: Counting the Omer 04/10/2003: The Important Woman 03/27/2003: The Four Questions and the Nature of Rabbinic Literature 03/14/2003: The Heart of the Torah: More Hidden Meanings (Plus: A Purim Bonus) 02/28/2003: The Rainbow, Noah's Ark and the Temple 02/14/2003: Contemporary Jewish Law and Columbia Astronaut's Widow 01/31/2003: The Song for the Day 01/16/2003: The Connection Between Synagogue Liturgy and the Prayers Offered in the Temple 01/02/2003: The Power of God's Names and How to Spot Improper Uses of Them 12/19/2002: The Holy Place Where Life and Death Meet 12/05/2002: Seeing and Hearing the Deepest Secrets of the Temple 11/21/2002: The Sounds and Smells of the Temple 11/06/2002: Getting a Picture in Mind of the Second Temple and Do Women and Men Differ in Philanthropy 10/24/2002: The Temple's Candelabra "Liturgized" 10/10/2002: Revisiting the Priestly Benediction 09/26/2002: If You're Spoiled and You Know It, Say Amen! 09/12/2002: Numerology and Torah "Codes" 08/29/2002: Let's Start at the Very Beginning . . . 08/16/2002: The Six Questions You Will Be Asked After You Die 08/01/2002: Halakhahot v. Other Recognized Areas of Jewish Learning 07/18/2002: Almost no Halakhah in the "Halakhic" Midrash Collections 07/04/2002: Received Tradition vs. Reasoning 06/20/2002: Halakhah: Exploring an Idea's Evolution 06/05/2002: Jewish Meditation: An Ancient Practice 05/23/2002: Grace After Meals: The Long and the Short of It 05/09/2002: Dreams and Dream Interpretation 04/25/2002: The Mystery Woman 04/11/2002: The Priestly Benediction: The Power of the Word 03/28/2002: More Blessings 03/14/2002: It's All in Your Head 02/28/2002: Why Are Blessings So Important? 02/14/2002: Starting Your Day Off With Prayer 01/31/2002: Being Grateful in Every Moment 01/17/2002: Even the Smallest Mitsvah Brings Great Rewards 01/03/2002: Secret Service 12/20/2001: Jewish Astrology 12/06/2001: Light = Pride and Courage of Hannukkah 11/20/2001: Omniterritoriality 11/08/2001: Where Have the Angels Gone? 10/25/2001: The Shekhinah and What Crime and Punichment do to People and God 10/11/2001: For the Paths of Peace 09/13/2001: How Can You See God Face to Face? 08/30/2001: Understanding the Symbolism of the Temple Cult on Yom Kippur 08/16/2001: Personal Prayers of the Sages and . . . Can You Spot the Textual Emandation? 08/02/2001: Choosing Judaism, Part I 07/19/2001: How to Live Longer and More Happily 07/07/2001: Intensive Torah Study Involves Sacrifice and Brings Rewards 06/21/2001: Charity and Deeds of Loving Kindness 06/07/2001: The Paradigm Shift 05/24/2001: Divorce and the Destruction of Jerusalem 05/10/2001: Visiting the Sick 04/24/2001: What is Community? 04/12/2001: Oops! Let's Do It Again! /04/01/2001: Light=Welcome 03/14/2001: Whose Life Comes First? 03/01/2001: Haftarah Blessings: What's the Real Story? 02/14/2001: Opposites Attract: Rebellion and Chastisement 01/17/2001: When is it Addiction? 01/04/2001: Sex, Pizza and Light 12/21/2000: Hannukkah 12/07/2000: What is a Sugya? 11/23/2000: Why a Passage is Placed Where it is in the Bavli? 11/12/2000: How the Talmud was Made: Clues in the Text 10/26/2000: For the Ways of Peace 10/12/2000: Becoming An Adult Gradually 09/27/2000: How Elemental Can You Make Judaism? 09/13/2000: Is Silence Golden? 08/31/2000: It's All In Your Intention 08/15/2000: Q & A 08/03/2000: What Do We Really Need? (Part III) 07/20/2000: What Do We Really Need? (Part II) 07/01/2000: What Do We Really Need? (Part I) 06/23/2000: Chairty and Lovingkindness 06/14/2000: Rabbi Akiba's Ability to Survive      05/26/2000: How Rabbi Akiba Died 05/14/2000: Have a Positive Outlook 04/30/2000: Near the End of Rabbi Akiba's Life 04/16/2000: How Rabbi Akiba Enjoyed Life 03/30/2000: What Kind of Students are the Best? 03/16/2000: Rabbi Akiba's Mystical Journey 03/03/2000: Why Are there Crowns on the Letters in the Torah? 02/17/2000: Rabbi Eliezer's Death, Part II 02/02/2000: Rabbi Akiba and Rabbi Eliezer's Death Scene 01/06/2000: Rabbi Akiba and his Teacher, Nachum Gamzu (Part 2) 12/22/99: Rabbi Akiba and his Teacher, Nachum Gamzu (Part 1) 12/03/99: Rabbia Akiba's Role in One of the Academy's Greatest Conflicts 11/18/99: Rabbi Akiba Jousts with Rabban Gamliel 11/04/99: Rabbi Akiba and the Sages: Rabban Gamliel 10/21/99: Study or Practice? 10/07/99: Rabbi Akiba on Ambition 09/23/99: Rabbi Akiba's Sayings in Pirkei Avot 09/15/99: There is a Right Time to Leave This World 09/09/99: Rabbi Akiba and Satan 08/26/99: Rabbi Akiba and Visiting the Sick 08/13/99: Rabbi Akiba and Children 07/29/99: Rabbi Akiba in Prayer 07/14/99: Rabbi Akiba's Continuing Awe Before the Torah 07/01/99: The End of Rabbi Akiba's 24,000 Students 06/17/99: The Crown 06/03/99: Rachel and Rabbi Akiba 05/20/99: How Rabbi Akiba became Wise and Rich 05/06/99: Two Mishnahs that Relate to Rabbi Akiba 04/28/99: Trying to Do the Right Thing is Sometimes the Wrong Things 04/08/99: Rabbi Akiba 03/25/99: Making the JourneyThrough Illness a Journey Through Heaven (conclusion) 03/11/99: Making the Journey Through Illness a Journey Through Heaven (continued) 02/25/99: Making the Journey Through Illness a Journey Through Heaven (continued) 02/11/99: Making the Journey Through Illness a Journey Through Heaven (continued) 02/01/99: Making the Journey Through Illness a Journey Through Heaven 12/20/98: These and Those are the Words of the Living God 11/22/98: Two Jews, Two Opinions 10/21/98: What if Nobody is Watching? 09/24/98: "When You've Completed the Amidah, Please Be Seated" 07/14/98: Measure for Measure 06/24/98: The Quality of Mercy is not Strained: It Droppeth as the Gentle Rain from Heaven 06/04/98: Don't Rush to Judgment 05/06/98: Don't Throw in the Towel! 04/14/98: Intellect Isn't Everything, In Fact, It's Almost Nothing 03/25/98: You Either Have It Or You Don't 03/04/98: Adicted to charity 01/21/98: Be Careful What You Ask For! 12/31/97: Like Father Like Grand(son) 12/10/97: The Dreamer and the Dream 11/19/97: The Long and the Short of It 10/29/97: Too Much of a Good Thing? 10/08/97: The Golden past 09/17/97: Too much of a good thing? 08/26/97: L'Chayim - To Life 08/06/97: Accepting the Awful: Lessons from King Josiah's Death 07/23/97: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My 05/26/97: An ounce of prevention 05/05/97: Your smallest act is important 04/15/97: What comes around goes around 04/01/97: Quaking and Faking: Suffering and Charity 03/18/97: Bringing Suffering On Yourself 03/04/97: Your Money or your Life 02/18/97: Public Policy, How to Merit a Long Life and Fungible Resources 02/04/97: Miracles, Marveling, and the Megillah 01/21/97: Pride and Prejudice 01/07/97: Gentleness and Strength 12/24/96: Praying, Healing, Celebrating: A New Format 12/08/96: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Gemara! 11/19/96: Lights!Lulav!Action! 11/03/96: What Your Haircut Says About You 10/21/96: Be prepared! 10/08/96: Let's do the time warp again! 09/24/96: Party All Night Long! 09/08/96: Three strikes-You're out 08/21/96: Getting ready for the New Year 08/04/96: Baraita v. Mishnah 07/24/96: The Ninth of Av 07/02/96: The Seventeenth of Tammuz 06/24/96: "And Let us say, Amen!" 06/10/96: A Sherets in the hand... 05/27/96: Elders, Sages and Prayer 05/13/96: Shavuot 04/29/96: Intervening Souls of the Dead 04/14/96: Praying Outside 03/28/96: Pesach 03/20/96: Fasting with Ashes on Your Forehead 03/05/96: Purim 02/19/96: When not to Fast 02/05/96: Fasting for Rain 01/22/96: Shofar Calls 01/11/96: Zichronot and Shofarot 01/02/96: Taanit: The Order of Fasts 12/18/95: Plant a Tree for Your Grandchildren 11/21/95-12/05/95: Honi the Circle Drawer 11/07/95: Various Blessings/Rabin's Assasination 10/31/95: Matchmaking 10/24/95: Beginning with Berachot Also, The Healing and Holiday passages (January-June 1997) may be downloaded as Microsoft Word files. 6/15/97 Rosh Hodesh and Renewal (Holiday passage) 6/15/97 M.D. = Major Do-Gooder (Regular and healing passage) 5/26/97 Healing and Holidays: The Omer (found at the end of the regular Talmud passage) 5/05/97: Healing: The advantages of age and illness and Holiday: Shavuot - Bringing your first fruits (Healing and Holiday passages - found at the end of the regular Talmud passage) 4/15/97: Healing: MiShebeirach and Holiday: Pesach (Healing and Holiday passages - found at the end of the regular Talmud passage) 4/01/97: Holidays: Pesach and Personalities (Holiday Passage) 4/01/97: People and God in Partnership: Visiting the Sick (Healing passage) 3/18/97: A Frame for Understanding Joy and Pain (Healing passage) 3/04/97: Healing: how do you Merit a Long life (Healing passage) 2/18/97: Holidays: Time or Attendance (Holiday passage) 2/18/97: Healing: How to Merit a Long Life (Healing passage) 2/04/97: Megillah and Mitsvot (Holiday passage) 2/04/97: Find One Hundred Ways (Healing passage) 1/21/97: Purim, the Grown-up Holiday (Holiday passage) 1/21/97: What is Misfortune? (Healing passage) Build Your Mitsvah Portfolio | Current Study Passage | Join the Discussion | Maqom Supporters | Individualized Intensive Learning | Annotated Bibliography | Previous Study Passages | A Talmud Tale | Jewish Texts: The Owner's Manual | The Tefillin Gift Shop | Guided Meditations | The Maqom Journal | Art | Links | Home | About Rabbi Abrams | Autographed Books Maqom: A Place for the Spiritually Searching admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. © 2001 Judith Z. Abrams