Year: 2018

Warm Water After Shabbos Heals WHAT, Exactly?

The Kedushas Levi (I think) quoted the Gemara in Shabbos 1192: חמין במוצאי שבת מלוגמא פת חמה במוצאי שבת מלוגמא, and used an invented Gematria to say warm water or bread on Motza’ei Shabbos is a cure for depression. Since then, I recall others have decided with zero evidence it’s a panacea for something else.

And why, indeed, can’t anyone make up any story they wish? After all, the Gemara doesn’t specify.

But the Gemara doesn’t need to explain because it’s obvious!

Kesubos 110b:

… דאמר שמואל שינוי וסת תחלת חולי מעים כתוב בספר בן סירא כל ימי עני רעים והאיכא שבתות וימים טובים כדשמואל דאמר שמואל שינוי וסת תחלת חולי מעים

Translation:

… as Shmuel said, “A change of diet causes mild intestinal trouble”. Ben Sira’s book states: “All the days of the poor man are bad”. But what about Sabbaths and holidays? The meaning is like Shmuel who is quoted saying: “A change of diet causes mild intestinal trouble”.

Are You Allowed to Give Your Child a Non-Jewish Name?

Like, say, Aaron. Or, well, Pinchas…

Well, is it permitted or not?

Yes, it is permitted, although not recommended. Unless, of course, this is a way to get closer to non-Jews and their culture.

By the way, as for that known Medrash on Jews not changing their names in Egypt, see Kotzk Blog’s analysis. (And besides, it’s meant as a symptom of the positive. This wasn’t a merit per se for which they were redeemed from exile.)