What is Talmud Tweets?

What is Talmud Tweets? A short, personal take on a page of Talmud - every day!

For several years now, I have been following the tradition of "Daf Yomi" - reading a set page of Talmud daily. With the start of a new 7 1/2 year cycle, I thought I would share a taste of what the Talmud offers, with a bit of personal commentary included. The idea is not to give a scholarly explanation. Rather, it is for those new to Talmud to give a little taste - a tweet, as it were - of the richness of this text and dialogue it contains. The Talmud is a window into a style of thinking as well as the world as it changed over the centuries of its compilation.

These are not literal "tweets" - I don't limit myself to 140 characters. Rather, these are intended to be short, quick takes - focusing in on one part of a much richer discussion. Hopefully, I will pique your interest. As Hillel says: "Go and study it!" (Shabbat 31a)

Friday, August 17, 2012

Berachot 16 - Prayer After Prayer

Prayers offered by several of the great rabbis which were recited by him after the conclusion of the amidah prayer. This one, by Rab, is now said on the Shabbat of Rosh Chodesh - which is appropriate since tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the month of Elul:

"May it be Thy will, O Lord our God, to grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of good, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of bodily vigor, a life in which there is fear of sin, a life free from shame and confusion, a life of riches and honor, a life in which we may be filled with the love of Torah and the fear of heaven, a life in which Thou shalt fulfill all the desires of our heart for good!"

What prayer would you add?
Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. bikelovejonesAugust 17, 2012 at 8:17 AM

    Reading this today, on the morning of my wedding anniversary, I was suddenly reminded of the things we'd elected to say in our Ketubah -- and one phrase you shared here really stuck out: "... a life of sustenance..."

    Daring to commit to deep relationship with one's beloved means doing the work necessary to ensure longevity. In a world where divorce is all too easy (and marriage is still impossible for some), the work has, for me at least, become part of the reward. It has become what sustains. Thanks for the beautiful tie-in, and Gut Shabbes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rabbi Michael Z. CahanaAugust 17, 2012 at 9:34 AM

      Thank you for this beautiful reflection. You are your beloved are very fortunate.

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)