This is a project of What If What Next(TM) a Public Relations firm located in Toronto, Canada. For more information contact the Author: Howard Oliver Partner, What If What Next (TM) Toronto, Ontario holiver@whatifwhatnext.com http://www.whatifwhatnext.com (C) 2004, Howard Oliver, Toronto, Canada All Rights Reserved
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Rabbis of the Talmud kept personal notebooks, for example Zeiri  and Levi's notebook found on Shabbat 156a". Personal compilations of learning and ideas are kept by Rabbi and Yeshiva students to this day.. This blog is such a "Pinchas" - a modest personal collection of ideas from across the sea of Shas and Tanach. 

However modest, subjective, error ridden and personally indulgent, this effort is dedicated to my boys - Yonatan Simcha and Dov Alexander and daugher Elana Rachel. All are experienced sailors and dedicated to Torah Study. The three of us have sailed the sea of Torah together as well as the Great Canadian Lakes in my sailboat -"The Boat".

There is a Jewish nautical mind! Israel after all is a country by the sea. There are well know ancient seaports at its shore. Less well know is the vast store house of laws, philosophy, anecdotes and experience about ships, the sea and the Jewish experience of nautical enterprise that is contained in the Talmud. This Blog will present that view of the Talmud. This is a project of What If What Next(TM) a Public Relations firm located in Toronto, Canada. For more information contact the Author: Howard Oliver Partner, What If What Next (TM) Toronto, Ontario holiver@whatifwhatnext.com http://www.whatifwhatnext.com (C) 2004, Howard Oliver, Toronto, Canada All Rights Reserved
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View Article  Index

Commerce 
The Law of the Ship

Carrying At Sea 

Divorce – Gittin 7b
Dirt from outside Israel, on a boat in Israeli waters: Gittin 7b
Requiring verification where the Get was brought on a boat on the Rivers of Israel or in the Mediterranean territorial waters of Israel: Gittin 7b-8a

Fishing 
Tractate Nedarim Folio 20a 
Baba Bathra 21b The Fisherman’s Livelyhood 
Baba Bathra 78b 
The Holy Temple 
Gitting 56a The Distruction of the Temple 
Set Sail on a Ship 

Food 
Abodah Zarah 40a Cuisine 
Abodah Zarah 40b Permitted Foods
Abodah Zarah 10b 
Baba Bathra 78b 

Items Lost at Sea 
Baba Mezi'a 58a Lost 
Baba Mezi'a 24b Finding Lost Goods 
Tractate Baba Mezi'a Baba Mezi'a 43a 
Baba Mezi'a 29b 
Abodah Zarah 62a 
Baba Mezi'a 87a Rudders as Measurement 
Baba Bathra 78b Merchandise


Marriage 
Yebamoth 115a The Aguna 
Kethuboth 61a Marital Relations 
Kethuboth 62a Marital Relations 
Berakoth 11a The Principal of Being Agitated 
Berakoth 16b The Principal of Being Agitated

Mystical 
Tractate Berakoth 8a Death 
Kethuboth 111b The World to Come 
Pesachim 4: Sailors Come from the Tribe of Zebulin 
Baba Bathra 91b Abraham the Captian 
Baba Basra 200 Abraham the Captian 
Niddah 14a The Righteosness of Sailors 
Baba Mezi'a 59b R. Gamaliel 
Nedarim 50a The Wealth of Rabbi Akiba

Prayer 
Berakoth 28b Prayer 
Baba Mezi'a 59b R. Gamaliel’s Prayer 
Berakoth 11a Saying the Shema 
Niddah 31a 
Berakoth 30b Time for  Saying the Shema 
Niddah 31a The Blasphemer


Seamanship 
Sotah 48a Sailors Can Sing 
Horayoth 10a Using the Stars 

Sea Monsters 
Baba Basra 203 Monster Waves and Hashem 
Baba Basra 204  Fish Stories – “If I had not been there, I should not have believed it.” 
Baba Basra 205 The Voice of Heaven 
Baba Basra 208 The Leviathan 
Baba Basra 208 The Ruler of the Sea 
Baba Basra 208 The Jordan and the Levitan 
Baba Basra 208 The Sea-Goat 
Baba Basra 208 The tale of the Diamond the Snake and the Diver 
Baba Basra 208 Fear of the Unknown 

Selling A Boat 
Baba Basra 167: Selling a Boat 
Baba Basra 168: Transfer of Ownership 
Kethuboth 85a Acquisition 

Shabbas Observance 
Shabbath 60b Festival Observance 
Shabbat 93: Shabbas Observance While On Board 
Shabbath 111a Knots 
Shabbath 156a 

Ritual Purity
Baba Kama 46 Discovering Tuma in the Hold 
Tractate Nazir Becoming Unclean Abroad 


Trade Routes 
Abodah Zarah 34b  By Way of Tyre 
Yebamoth 115b From Spain 
Baba Basra 208 For upon seas and rivers he hath established it 

View Article  LM1, Lesson #2
what if not?
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View Article  netx 3
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View Article  Ancient boat shows Jewish maritime life

More on the vessel discovered in coastal lagoon near northern city of Haifa from Associated Press Published:  01.25.07, 19:59 

A boat that plied the coast of the Holy Land 1,300 years ago carrying fish, carobs and olives is helping researchers better understand a little-known period in the region's history.

The boat, discovered in a coastal lagoon near the northern city of Haifa, dates from the early 8th century, not long after the rise of Islam and the Arab conquest of the Middle East. The find suggests that a long tradition of sea trade was not disrupted by the arrival of new rulers from the Arabian Desert.

See: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3356944,00.html for the rest of the piece

View Article  Recent News: An eighth-century shipwreck was discovered off Israel’s northern coast.

An eighth-century shipwreck was discovered off Israel’s northern coast.

Though the 50-foot-long boat was discovered almost a decade ago, Haifa University’s Institute for Maritime Studies announced the find Tuesday after completing its research into the vessel.

"We do not have any other historical or archaeological evidence of the economic activity and commerce of this period," said the university’s Ya’acov Kahanov.

"The shipwreck will serve as a source of information about the social and economic activities in this area."

In addition to the wooden hull, many of the boat’s contents were preserved.

Among them are 30 vessels of pottery of different sizes and designs containing fish bones, ropes, mats, a bone needle, a wooden spoon, wood carvings and food remains, mainly carobs and olives.

See link: http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6549

 

View Article  Seek Human Aid on Shabbat Taanis 14A

We learn in a clarifying Brisa that crying out for human help on Shabbas for a ship floundering at sea and other immanent dangers is acceptable, according to Rav Yosi.

He holds that calling out to G-d, is not allowed because of the uncertainty of the response marring the sanctity of the Sabbas. Rashi clarifies that Rav Yosi is referring to a dramatic public prayer. It is not the Jewish customer to morn publicly on Shabbas so this thinking is consistent. Private prayer is acceptable.   

 

View Article  Rav Nachman's Song of Delight on God's Glory in the Nature of the Seas

Rivers, streams, channels of abundant waters, and seas  great and small,

Woundrous, diverse in colors, tastes and characters,

Swarming with creatures small and great - each one contains species without number.

All laud and praise God with all their limbs.

They constantly utter words and never deny their Ruler.

Precious jewels and pearls glint in their depths:

Hidden within them are the lights of their vessels.

View Article  Prayer for the Shipboard Community- Rosh Hashanah 17B
Come and learn from a Braraisa where Psalm 107 is quoted as follows: "Those who go down to the merchant ships, ...   more »
View Article  Likutey Moharan

The Kaballah teaches us that it is possible to associate every Hebrew word to one of G-d's names. For example ...   more »

View Article  The Great Sea Monster The Leviathan - Tractate Baba Bathra 75a

A chase of Leviathan; for it is said: Canst thou draw out Leviathan with a fish hook? Or press down ...   more »

View Article  A Remedy for Fever - Shabbath 67a

For a tertian fever one should obtian seven prickles from seven palm trees, seven chips from seven beams, seven pegs ...   more »

View Article  Sea Peoples and Dan

We will check with our Rabbinical adviser to determine the acceptability of this account of Dan. It is currently posted ...   more »

View Article  Divorce – Gittin 7b
Dirt from outside Israel, on a boat in Israeli waters: Gittin 7b
Requiring verification where the Get was brought on ...   more »
View Article  The singing of sailors
“R. Huna said: The singing of sailors and ploughmen is permitted, but that of weavers is prohibited.  R. Huna abolished ...   more »
View Article  Using the Stars - Horayoth 10a
“Since it is stated, In the house of freedom  it must be inferred that until then he was a servant;  ...   more »
View Article  The Wealth of Rabbi Akiba - Nedarim 50a
From six incidents did R. Akiba become rich: From Kalba Shebu'a  From a ship's ram. For every ship is provided ...   more »
View Article  A Sea Tale of R. Gamaliel - Baba Mezi'a 59b R.
"A Tanna taught: Great was the calamity that befell that day, for everything at which R. Eliezer cast his eyes ...   more »
View Article  The Righteosness of Sailors - Niddah 14a
Camel riders  are forbidden to eat terumah.  So it was also taught: All camel-drivers are wicked,  all sailors are righteous,  ...   more »
View Article  Abraham the Captian - and Baba Basra 200
R. Hanan b. Rabha in the name of Rabh said again: On the day when Abraham our father departed from ...   more »
View Article  Abraham the Captian - Baba Bathra 91b
R. Hanan b. Raba further said in the name of Rab: On the day when Abraham our father passed away ...   more »
View Article  Sailors Come from the Tribe of Zebulin - Pesachim 4A
"There was this man who would commonly say: "On the shore of the sea I will establish a palace. They ...   more »
View Article  The World to Come - Kethuboth 111b
"And of the blood of the grape thou drankest foaming wine.  It was inferred: The world to come is not ...   more »
View Article  Disease - Berakoth 8a
"For it is said: The issues of death, and the numerical value of Toza'oth is so. The worst of them ...   more »
View Article  Travels of Ravin
"His arrival, along with the rest of the "seafarers" who had travelled from Israel to Bavel" Succah 43b; Niddah 10b...   more »
View Article  Zeiri's Notebook shabbat 156a


Rabbis of the Talmud kept notebooks

"Zeiri His notebook: Shabbat 156a"

"Levi's notebook: Shabbat 156a"

These personal compilation of learning and ideas are keep in Yeshivas to this day. This blog is such a "Pinchas" - a modest personal collection of ideas from across the sea of Shas and Tanach.

However modest, subjective, error ridden and personally indulgent this effort is dedicated to my boys - Yonatan Simcha and Dov Alexander. Both are experiences sailors and dedicated Bnai Torah. They will get why this is being written. My daugher too - Elana Rachel. We have all sailed the sea of Torah together as well as the Great Canadian Lakes in my sailboat - "The Boat".

Appreciation is express for http://www.aishdas.org/webshas/ and their search engine.

 

 

 

 

View Article  Using the Sea Eruvin 8a
Mareimar didn't permit the people of Sura to consider the sea an enclosure for their alleys, lest the sea deposit sufficient silt to create land:
View Article  Solomon's Sea Power - 2nd Chronicals 8:17, 8:18; 9; Isaiah 60:9

Solomon's extensive sea trade and diplomacy was enabled by naval technology from the Phoenicians, Egyptians and others. 

Strategically, ancient Israel was well located at the ...   more »

View Article  What is the Talmud?

Talmud is a Hebrew word that means learning. The Talmud is the most important work of learning in Judaism. It is a collection of the Torah she-Ba-al Peh, the Oral Law, that was given to Moshe at Sinai together with the Written Law. The Talmud was passed down in an unbroken chain of oral tradition for generations until it was written down around 500 CE. The Talmud is also known as the Gemara, an Aramaic word that means completion or tradition.

View Article  Selling a Ship

Tractate Baba Bathra Folio 73a

MISHNAH. He who sells a ship sells its contents: mast, sails anchor and all the implements needed for directing it, but he does not sell the crew, bags or stores. If, however the vendor says: It and all that it contains, then all these are included in the sail.

View Article  Ritual Purity at Sea

Shabbath 83b

MISHNAH. How DO WE KNOW THAT A SHIP IS CLEAN? BECAUSE IT IS SAID, THE WAY OF A ...   more »

View Article  Sea Monsters

Baba Bathra 74b

R. Johanan related: Once we were travelling on board a ship and we saw a fish that ...   more »