Chayenu is excited to announce to Anash the forthcoming launch of the Complete Talmud Sotah in the App, beginning Sunday night.
The new, exciting content is from the Koren Talmud (Noé Edition), with a running commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel-Steinsaltz.
This unparalleled feature will include vowelled Hebrew (Nikkud) alongside a side-by-side English translation, all digitized to flow with your screen.
While the print edition of Chayenu offers a snapshot of the daily Talmud Sotah during Sefiras HaOmer, the App will have the complete Daily Daf – and it will be available for free (just download the Chayenu App, on the App or Play store – or make sure you have the latest version of the Chayenu app).
Why do we learn Talmud Sotah during Sefira?
In Hayom-Yom the Rebbe writes, that it is customary to study Talmud Tractate Sotah during the days of Sefiras HaOmer – counting of the Omer – one daf per day.
Besides the fact that there are 49 Dafim in the Tractate of Sotah which correspond the 49 days of Sefira (which may seem like a rather arbitrary connection), there is also an intrinsic, thematic connection.
The primary subject matter of this tractate deals with the “Sotah”, a woman suspected of adulterous behavior, who is tested in a supernatural way and (hopefully) proven innocent. Ultimately, upon her loyalty being clarified, her marriage is blessed profoundly and she emerges more abundantly strengthened.
Our relationship with Hashem as his “spouse” also undergoes a “thorough review” during Sefiras HaOmer, when we cross-examine our animalistic tendencies, via the 49-Sefiros intensive character building exercise. When we “arrive” on Shavuos to our intimate encounter with Hashem, we are cleansed and strengthened, similarly.
Also, interestingly, part of the Sotah’s purification process is to bring a barley offering and this is similar to the Omer offering which was also brought from barley (animal fodder) to emphasize how the service associated with Sefirah count, and the purification of the Sotah both represent the refinement of the emotional qualities of the animal soul.
Diverse Subject Matter
While the topic of the Sotah serves as the basic structure for this Talmudic Tractate, it is by no means its only topic. Many pages of Talmud recount unrelated, fascinating tales and teachings (of Aggadah) on a wealth and variety of other topics.
“Talmud in Hand”
The Talmud (Bava Basra 10b) relates, that the sage Rav Yosef once had a near-death experience, and briefly entered Gan Eden. There, he saw and heard various fascinating things. One such announcement he was privileged to hear in heaven was, “Fortunate is he who arrives here with his Talmud in hand!” (referring to one who has not forgotten their Torah learning in this world, and arrives to the World to Come with it all intact).
Well, Chayenu now offers the ‘Heaven on Earth experience’ of having the Talmud in your hand, literally!
Take advantage of this unprecedented offer and challenge yourself to study the Talmud Sotah each day of Sefiras HaOmer!
Download the Chayenu App today, and look out for the new content.
To purchase a pdf version of Talmud Sotah or a book please visit Koren Publishers
Our gratitude to Matthew Miller of Koren Publishers and Rabbi Meni Even-Israel Steinsaltz of The Steinsaltz Center.
To get the Chayenu app now: visit: Chayenu.org or find it on
