#ezra reads the unbroken

[melanie-ohara]

It's a Long Way to Peridea

Part II - Bait

Smut warning - it gets real spicy!

Read it on AO3 here!

Sabine wasn't sure how long it took Shin to come crawling back to her door. Meditation made it difficult to keep track of time, and the featureless cell didn't help. With the ship in hyperspace, even the rumble of the engines was a constant. Eventually, the day's events caught up to her and she felt the wave of exhaustion sweep her away. The bed barely deserved the name: a single slab of flat metal with no pillow or covers that offered so little comfort she might as well sleep on the floor. Sabine stretched out on it anyway. She missed the loth-cat - even if it didn't curl up with her, its snuffles and purring was a lot more comforting than the unbroken silence of the brig.

Sabine slept, but wasn't sure for how long. It wasn't the soft click of the slats on the window sliding partially open that woke her, but the certainty she was being watched. She didn't need to look to know she'd see wide, pale-blue eyes watching her. Sabine was lying on her back and stretched lazily, like she was still sleeping. She didn't need her eyes to see Shin - she would be standing a step back from the door, leaning forwards to spy on her with that oh-so-enticing lost animal expression on her face. Shin knew that, much like Ahsoka, her Master would not approve of this… fascination. The idea made Sabine smile, but she quickly hid it. Shin thought she was spying, and this would be much more fun if she didn't know Sabine was aware of her presence.

She wished they'd at least taken the cuffs off so she could sleep, it made unclipping her trousers much more difficult. Clearly, someone was aware of the Ghost crew's proclivity for daring escapes, even if that had been Ezra's field more than hers. Sabine thought about pushing her trousers down her thighs, to give her admirer a look at her skin, but quickly decided that if Shin wasn't going to make a move then she wasn't going to reward her. She had to open her legs a little more to work the chunky imperial cuffs into her waistband and the angle left one hand dangling uselessly, but it was worth it to hear the barely perceptible hitching of breath across the room. She disguised her self-satisfied chuckle with a mumble of pleasure as she touched one finger against herself through her underwear. The sensation was dulled by the fabric, but she was planning on taking her time while she was being watched. Slowly, she started to rub her middle finger back and forth, pressing down just enough to feel a tingle of arousal grind through her senses. She wished Shin could see how her wetness made her underwear cling, indistinctly outlining her pussy. She wondered if she was blushing yet, and the idea of Shin's sharp face glowing with embarrassment and excitement only served to turn her on more. Sabine remembered how Shin had looked at her neck like she wanted to bite her, and pressed her head back against the metal to expose her throat for her.

Sabine imagined Shin opening the door and storming inside. She wouldn't stop. Her fingers moved faster, and she pressed a second digit against her pussy through the fabric. Her hips lifted into the sensation, and she overextended the motion for Shin's benefit. Sabine worried it might be too much, that Shin wouldn't believe she was that excited already, but she heard nothing from the other side of the door. That made her wonder if Shin even touched herself, and then her head was filled with the idea of teaching her how. She could sit behind her on her bed, arms and legs wrapped around her slim, athletic frame, taking her hands and gently guiding them down her body and introducing her carefully to all the places that enhanced the feeling - from her throat to her tits and then down over that taut stomach and between her thighs.

Impatient for more feeling, Sabine rushed to get her hand inside her underwear. The elastic waistband of her briefs pushed down on the cuffs but the discomfort of the metal digging into her waist was enticing in its own way, and Sabine let out a soft moan. She didn't exaggerate it for Shin this time. She wanted her to hear what real pleasure sounded like from her lips - and now that she could touch herself properly, she could give her voyeur all she could want. The stupid restraints meant she couldn't use the heel of her hand against her clit the way she normally preferred, but she could show Shin that another time. Instead, she ran two fingers up and down along her slick folds and humped her hips into them. With her eyes closed, she imagined her fingers were Shin's tongue as she inexpertly but eagerly tasted her. If she had a hand free she could take her by the hair - roughly, of course, she could tell Shin didn't want to learn gently - and teach her some technique, but for now she would have to be content with the mental image of her surprisingly soft blue eyes looking up at her as she licked.

Sabine wished she could get out of her underarmour. Focusing all her attention on her pussy was infuriating when more than anything she wanted Shin's hands and mouth and teeth elsewhere on her body. Or maybe, she thought, she could use the Force. She imagined Shin focusing until she felt her throat constrict, and let out an involuntary gasp of excitement. Her mind wandered, exploring the erotic potential of the Force, and almost absent-mindedly she felt the tip of one finger press inside her. The ideas she had made her more determined than ever to fully connect with the Force - if only so she could pin Shin in place so she couldn't even wriggle as Sabine gave her orgasm after orgasm with her fingers and tongue until she was an overstimulated mess.

Sabine moaned again at the image of her enemy sprawled out on ruined bedsheets, her pussy raw and red from cumming too many times to count, and pushed a second finger inside herself. The hard, almost painful stretch made her cry out until she bit her lip to stifle the sound. It was too much too soon, but given what Sabine was imagining doing to Shin she thought she deserved to see her suffer a little discomfort too. She slowed her pace a little to adjust, but soon sped up again until the sound of her slick fingers pumping in and out of her pussy started to fill the tiny cell. Sabine knew Shin would be able to hear it, and the thought only spurred her on. Fighting in the Alliance had got her used to masturbating quick and quiet in crowded starships, and the illicit thrill of getting to put on a show only intensified the pleasure and within seconds she was close.

So much for taking it slow, she thought, surprised how quickly she had brought herself to the edge. Picturing Shin defeated and begging for more - for her - had really had an effect on her. She could pull back, slow her fingers, and show Shin how to edge herself for when she relived this guilty peep show back in her bunk, but self-control had never been a skill she possessed and instead she sped up. Her back arched and she lifted her ass off the metal, twisting slightly to angle her hips towards the door. She wanted Shin to have the best view possible when the thought of her finally made Sabine cum.

The wave hit and Sabine clenched, her muscles squeezing down and gripping hard onto her fingers. Her eyes fluttered closed and she let out a couple of short, hard breaths as the electric pulse of a hard orgasm shot through her nerves.

"Oh, Shin…" she heard herself gasp. She hadn't meant to: the orgasm had overwhelmed her senses and she could barely think - at least, not about anything other than the girl on the other side of that door, watching her grind on her fingers. Her muscles gave out and she fell flat again on the bed as her eyes snapped open and immediately found Shin. They locked eyes for a half-second as Sabine panted with satisfaction, and then she was gone. Sabine heard a thud and in her still-dazed state hoped she'd made Shin fall over in shock, and then quick footsteps as she rushed away down the hall. Sabine held back her laughter until she was sure the other woman was out of earshot, and then finally rolled onto her back and allowed herself a giggle. Perhaps it was cruel, she thought as she freed her hands from her restrictive underwear and wiped her wet fingers on her trousers, but Shin had started it. If she hadn't stabbed her on Lothal the way she did, maybe neither of them would be so intrigued by the other.

-

Shin ran from the brig with a desperate ache between her legs. She had felt it before, but never this strong and never this demanding. Sabine had felt it too, but rather than push it down the way Shin instinctively believed was right she had… attended to it. Shin knew she shouldn't have watched, but found herself rooted to the spot until Sabine had broken the spell by crying out her name like a lover would.

She made herself stop running. Her head hurt from where the shock of eye contact had made her slip forwards and bang her forehead on the door, and she rubbed it distractedly. The Mandalorian had been thinking about her while she touched herself, Shin had felt it through the Force. She couldn't read her mind, only sense her intent, but what she got from her was frightening: there was a possessiveness Shin couldn't understand from an enemy, a desire to have her in a way that didn't involve lightsabers or those irritating blasters Wren waved around. It was carnal, and vicious, and alien, and she felt it too. When she saw Sabine's neck she wanted to feel skin against her teeth, hard enough to bruise - not to hurt her, just to mark her. To mark her as hers. While she had been watching her writhe and gasp and think about stripping Shin's clothes, she had wondered where else she could sink her teeth, what other parts of Sabine's body she could claim. The urge had frightened her then, but now it made her want to rush back to the brig and let herself in.

Meditation wouldn't be enough tonight. Shin palmed the door release button and called her lightsaber to her hand before it had even closed behind her, and the projectors had started up by the time it was ignited. There were scans of Mandalorians in the archives, and now she had Wren's armour it wasn't long before the holo in front of her was the spitting image of the prisoner she couldn't stop thinking about. She would practice all night if that's what it took - as long as she needed to be able to beat the infuriating, smirking devil and quell her inexplicable need to be close to her, to feel her hands grip her and tangle in her hair and touch their lips together and -

Shin struck out with raw howl, and felt the force feedback of holographic beskar under her blade.

#wolfwren #star wars #ahsoka #peridea #fanfic #writing #smut #sabine x shin #sabine wren #shin hati #lesbian #shin is a biter #sabine is a top #they're made for each other

[asexualbookbird]

i have 12 hours to read 200 pages of this book and i cant its so stressful everythings going sideways everyones dying this is TOO MUCH!!!!

#bookbird babbles #ezra reads the unbroken #it's good though i love it #but i just want tourraine to be safe and happy and loved 😭

[springsteenicious]

WRITING PLAYLIST #2 of 5

This one is for @those70scomics‘ fic, Jackie Stargazer (ao3 / ffnet). Keep in mind, I put this together. None of these songs are approved by MistyMountainHop, I just think they fit the vibe of her excellent fic. And I would like her to know that she has veto power over this playlist, meaning that if there is a song she feels does not fit on this playlist, she can tell me to take it off :D 

I will also be adding to this as more of the story is published. Each time I add to it, I’ll make a post with the tag ‘Jackie Stargazer Playlist,’ so if you don’t want to see these, block that tag. 

Listen to the playlist on Spotify! (Let me know if that link doesn't work, Spotify was being weird.)

Number of songs on the playlist (currently): 24 songs

Bands/artists: Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Ezra Furman, The Kinks, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Rainbow, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, The Dead Daisies, Black Sabbath 

Significant Songs: All. So, under the cut is my explanation for each song, or just the important lyrics. 

Downed by Cheap Trick - I’m gonna live on a mountain / way down under in Australia / it’s either that or suicide / its such a strange strain on you / Ooh, I got a mind / Over you it's not the first time / Ooh, I got a mind

Mean Streak by Deep Purple - This song is about Ro. It’s a kickass song and the lyrics fit her (and Hyde) very well. --- She drive me crazy gets inside my brain / She spun my money down the drain, ohh / So I roll over for my reward / How much can I afford? / She says, "Just a little more" --- I can't take this no more / Tried so hard but I can't get through the door / Because one smile from those eyes / And I stand there paralyzed / And she says, "You better beg for more I mean / Get down sucker you know what I like"

Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple - I am returning / The echo of a point in time / A distant face that shines --- I am the echo of your past

Black Night by Deep Purple - The whole song is relevant to Jackie. 

The Queen Of Hearts by Ezra Furman - See this post. 

Destroyer by The Kinks - Again, relevant to Jackie. --- She said, man, there's really something wrong with you / One day you’re gonna self-destruct / You're up, you're down, I cant work you out / You get a good thing going then you blow yourself out / Silly boy, ya self-destroyer / Silly boy, ya self-destroyer / Silly boy, you got so much to live for / So much to aim for, so much to try for / You blowing it all with paranoia / You're so insecure, you self-destroyer

Serve The Servants by Nirvana - Teenage angst has paid off well / Now I'm bored and old / Self-appointed judges judge / More than they have sold --- Serve the servants / That legendary divorce is such a bore / As my bones grew they did hurt / They hurt really bad / I tried hard to have a father / But instead I had a dad / I just want you to know that I / Don't hate you anymore / There is nothing I could say / That I haven't thought before

Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana - Just. This song is so good. And can be very easily applied to JS. --- She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak / I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks / I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap / I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black --- Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet / Cut myself on angel hair and baby's breath / Broken hymen of Your Highness, I'm left black / Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back --- I got a new complaint / Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Rape Me by Nirvana - Self-explanatory. 

All Apologies by Nirvana - What else should I write? / I don't have the right / What else should I be? / All apologies --- I wish I was like you / Easily amused / Find my nest of salt / Everything is my fault / I'll take all the blame / Aqua Sea Foam shame / Sunburn freezer burn / Choking on the ashes of her enemy

Corduroy by Pearl Jam - This song is amazing and I could write so much about this and how it fits not just Jackie but Hyde too. If you listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics, you’ll see what I mean. 

State Of Love And Trust by Pearl Jam - State of love and trust as I busted down the pretext / Sin still plays and preaches, but to have an empty court, uh huh / And the signs are passin', grip the wheel, can't read it / Sacrifice receiving the smell that's on my hands, hands, yeah / And I listen for the voice inside my head / Nothin', I'll do this one myself

Once by Pearl Jam - I admit it / What's to say / I'll relive it / Without pain / Backstreet lover on the side of the road / I got a bomb in my temple that is gonna explode --- Once upon a time / I could control myself / Ooh, once upon a time / I could lose myself, yeah / Oh, try and mimic / What's insane / I am in it / Where do I stand? --- Ooh, once upon a time / I could love myself, yeah / Once upon a time / I could love you

Release by Pearl Jam - Again, relevant to Jackie. Just look at the lyrics. 

Black by Pearl Jam - Like Corduroy, if you follow the lyrics while listening you’ll see why I put this on the playlist. 

Paranoid Eyes by Pink Floyd - You believed in their stories of fame, fortune and glory / Now you're lost in a haze of alcohol soft middle age / The pie in the sky turned out to be miles too high / And you hide, hide, hide / Behind brown and mild eyes

The Thin Ice by Pink Floyd - Again, Jackie. And again, just pay attention to the lyrics. 

Stargazer by Rainbow - I will be completely honest with you, I chose this mostly for the title. The song is kind of a stretch, but if you look at the lyrics a certain way, the wizard is kind of Hyde. Anyway, I kept it on the list for the chorus(es): Where is your star? / Is it far, is it far, is it far? / When do we leave? / I believe, yes, I believe

Still I’m Sad by Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow - See the stars come fallin down the sky / Gently passing, they kiss your tear drops dry / See the wind come, softly blow / Your hair from your face --- For myself my tears just fall in the dust / As I search in the night and find they're lost / See the wind come gently blow / Time into my heart / And the rain comes falling down / While were apart / Still I'm sad

Unspoken by The Dead Daisies - Mostly because the lyrics fit, also there is a Degenerate Matter song with this same title --- In the oneness now you realize / Lost your compass and I sympathize / In the darkness now you fade to grey / In the stillness you will make your way / Oh, I can hear you breathe / Unspoken, you gotta let go / Unspoken, you're out in the glow / Unbroken, you let it all flow

Like No Other (Bassline) by The Dead Daisies - Don't breathe in the air on the dark side / It's a lie, you will go insane / You fall down, down deep in the landslide / Who am I, who am I? / You lose your head in the music / Move up and kiss the sky / You slip away and refuse it / Do or die, do or die

Come Alive by The Dead Daisies - Come alive / You can start over / Now take me by the hand and come alive / Gotta break your malady / You got to live your life free / So come alive

Resurrected by The Dead Daisies - Stare in the mirror, lines on my face, yeah / I wonder where the time has gone / It's been a long hard road out from the grave / But I keep a moving on / I been up, down, turned around / Kicked hard to the ground / Keep a coming back again / From the ashes, from the flame / I'm here to light the fire again / I'm back, resurrected

Paranoid by Black Sabbath - Sadly, this is yet another Jackie song. --- I need someone to show me / The things in life that I can't find / I can't see the things that make / True happiness, I must be blindMake a joke and I will sigh / And you will laugh and I will cry / Happiness I cannot feel / And love to me is so unreal

If you have questions about the songs or don't get why I put them on, feel free to ask!

#Jackie Stargazer Playlist #springsteenicious' writing playlists #that 70s show

[rabbiaharon]

From Scripture to Talmud - a brief recapitulation of the history of the Oral Tradition

This post is a modest start for anyone who wants to understand the process by which Jewish law is handed down. Furthermore I am leaving this here to dispel the unfortunate misconception that we were given scripture, then a huge break from Torah, then Mishnah/Talmud (and then another huge break until today). The Mesorah - handing down of the tradition - is an unbroken chain from Sinai until today. Let’s begin with Pirkei Avos, a simple, up-front source for this stuff: 

משֶׁה קִבֵּל תּוֹרָה מִסִּינַי, וּמְסָרָהּ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ לִזְקֵנִים, וּזְקֵנִים לִנְבִיאִים, וּנְבִיאִים מְסָרוּהָ לְאַנְשֵׁי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הֵם אָמְרוּ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים, הֱווּ מְתוּנִים בַּדִּין, וְהַעֲמִידוּ תַלְמִידִים הַרְבֵּה, וַעֲשׂוּ סְיָג לַתּוֹרָה:

אבות א:א

Moshe received the torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples and make a fence round the Torah.

Pirkei Avos Chapter 1, Mishnah 1.

The time which passed from the giving of the Torah (the year 2448AM) until the building of the second temple (3410AM) was 962 years, during which there was a halachically undisputed leader of the Jewish people who was responsible for guiding them and teaching the oral Torah, the Rambam (Maimonides) lists the order of transmission in much more detail in his preface to his magnum opus, the Mishnah Torah.

רבי יהודה בר נחמני מתורגמניה דרבי שמעון בן לקיש כתיב (שמות לד, כז) כתוב לך את הדברים האלה וכתיב (שמות לד, כז) כי ע"פ הדברים האלה הא כיצד דברים שבכתב אי אתה רשאי לאומרן על פה דברים שבעל פה אי אתה רשאי לאומרן בכתב

גיטין ד’’ס ע’’ב

Rabbi Yehuda bar Naḥmani, the translator for Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, expounded as follows: It is written: “Write you these matters” (Exodus 34:27), and it is written later in that same verse: “For on the basis of [al pi] these matters.” How can these texts be reconciled? They mean to teach: Matters that were written you may not express them orally [al peh], and matters that were taught orally you may not express them in writing. The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: The word “these” in the mitzva recorded in the verse “Write you these matters” is used here in an emphatic sense: These matters, i.e., those recorded in the Written Law, you may write, but you may not write halakhot, i.e., the mishnayot and the rest of the Oral Law. 

--Gittin 60b

So... if there is an injunction not to write down the Oral Tradition. How did we get to the mishnah, the talmud... and for that matter all the incredible breadth (read: literally millions of volumes of explanations, expounding, or written law of any sort) that we have now. Warning: The english translation will be imprecise, because in comparison to mishnaic hebrew, english is un-elegant, inefficient, un-contextual, and a lot of other in-’s and -un’s. For those who can understand the mishnaic hebrew text, you’ll understand why.

זמן בית שני היה נחלק לשתי תקופות בכלל. הא' היא זמן אנשי כנסת הגדולה, והשני’, זמן הזוגות. האנשי כנסת הגדולה (ובתוכם מרדכי היהודי, עזרא הסופר, ירמיהו הנביא, נחמיה וכמה עד שניזכרו במקרא) הם סוף זמן המקרא, ותחילת זמן המשנה, והם גזרו כמה וכמה גזירות לחזק את ישראל בעבודת אלקים חיים ב'’ה. ושמעון הצדיק היה משירי אנשי כנסת הגדולה כמ'’ש במס' אבות. בתקופה השני’ היה המסורה נמסרה בעיקר ע'’י שני גדולי הדור – נשיא ואב בית דין, ובית דינם. ושירי הזוגות הם הלל ושמאי. ואחר הלל, שמעון בנו היה הנשיא, ורבן יוחנן בן זכאי האב בית דין… ותלמידיו ,ותלמידי תלמידיו נחשבו גוף התנאים שבמשנה. בתחילת גלות רומי (בשנת 3829 ליצירה) החריבה את בתינו ושרפה את היכלינו והגליתנו מארצנו, ומכאן ואילך נעשו הצרות כפולות ומכופלות ונתחדשו גזירות קשות בכל שנה ושנה עד נשיאיות רבינו הקדוש, הוא רבי יהודא הנשיא ונתן לו הקב'’ה חן בעיני אנטונינוס מלך רומי ונחו מצרות וימצא חן וחסד וכבוד בעיניו והרביץ התורה לרבים (זה לשון ספר הליכות עולם). וראה רבינו בחכמתו שהגיע זמן לחבר ספר בתורה שבעל פה פן ישכח המסורה מתוך עם ישראל מפני הירידה לגלות ח’’ו. וקבץ בעלי שמועה ובעלי משנה מכל קצוות הארץ ואמר כל אחד ואחד שמועתו כמו שנשמעה תלמיד מפי רבו עד משה רבינו עליו השלום. ובחר רבינו המובחר משש מאות סדרי משנה שהיה בזמן ההוא וחבר ששה סדרי המשנה בס'’ג מסכתות בקיצור נמרץ, מעט בכמות, ומרובה באיכות וסמכו הוא ובית דינו על המקרא שכתוב עת לעשות לה’ הפרו תורתיך. ועכ'’ז נגנזו בו כל התורה וסודותיה. וכתוב בסדר הדורות שזה היה בערך לשנת 3948 

The time of the second temple was divided into 2 eras. The first was the era of the Men of the Great Assembly, and the second was referred to as the era of the Pairs. The Men of the Great Assembly (and among them Mordechai, Ezra, Yirmiyahu, Nechemiah, and many more who are mentioned in Scripture) represented the end of scripture, and the beginning of the time of the Mishnah, and they made many decrees to strengthen the Jewish people in their service of the Living G-d. Shimon the Righteous was among the last of the Men of the Great Assembly, as is written in Pirkei Avos. 

In the second era the tradition was guarded and disseminated mainly by 2 great leaders working in tandem - the first one the Nasi (leader typically descended from King David) and the second the Av Beis Din (head of the court) aided by their court. The last of the Pairs was Hillel and Shammai, and after them, Hillel’s son Shimon served as the Nasi, and Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai as the Av Beis Din. Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, his students, and his students’ students became the main sages of the Mishnah. In the year 3830, the Romans destroyed our Holy House, burned our Palace, and sent us into exile from our land. From then on, the suffering was doubled and quadrupled, with new, harsher decrees against the jewish people every year until the generation of Rebbi Yehudah HaNasi. G-d granted him grace and respect in the eyes of Antoninus, the emperor of Rome, and the decrees were relaxed. Students came back to the study houses to learn, and the Oral Torah spread out to the masses.

Rebbi Yehuda saw with his wisdom that it had come time to assemble a book of the Oral Tradition, lest it be forgotten from the Jewish people in the midst of the descent into Exile. Thus he gathered sages from as far north as Germany, as far West as Spain, as Far South as Ethiopia, and as far East as India, and each one repeated their learning tradition as they had received it, teacher to student, going back to Moshe, our teacher, peace be upon him. Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi picked the choicest of the mishnayot from the 600 orders of mishnah that were at that time, and assembled them into the 6 orders of mishnah, comprised of 63 tractates in brief - words few in quantity, but great in quality - in the 6 orders of mishnah, he concealed the entire oral tradition and all of its secrets. It’s written in Seder Hadoros (historical text) that the assembly of the mishnah was around the year 3948AM, 1500 years after the exodus from Egypt.

ואלו הן הס'’ג מסכתות של משנה לפי סדרם

A list of the 63 tractates of Mishnah divided into 6 “orders”: 

Zeraim, dealing with agricultural laws and blessings.

Berachos, Peah, Demai, Kilayim, Shvi’is, Terumos, Ma’asros, Ma’aser Sheni, Orlah, Challah, Bikkurim

Mo’ed, dealing with the holidays and their customs

Shabbos, Eiruvin, Pesachim, Shekalim, Yoma, Sukkah, Beitzah Rosh Hashanah, Ta’anis, Megillah, Moeh Katan, and Chagigah

Nashim, dealing with the laws of marriage, vows, and divorce

Yevamos, Kiddushin, Kesubos, Nedarim, Nazir, Sotah, and Gittin

Nezikin, dealing with civil law, criminal law, and damages

Baba Kamma, Baba Metziah, Baba Basra, Sanhedrin, Makkos,  Shevuos, Eidius, Horius, Avodah Zarah, and Avos

Kodashim, dealing with the temple and sacrifices

Zevachim, Menachos, Chullin, Bechoros, Erchin, Temurah, Kerisos, Me’ilah, Kinnim, Tamid, and Middos

Taharos, dealing with the laws of ritual purity and impurity

Keilim, Ohelos, Negayim, Para, Taharos, Mikvaos, Niddah, Makshirin, Zavim, T’vul Yom, Yaddayim, and Uktzin

לפי דעת בעל ספר הליכות עולם: מרבי יוחנן בן זכאי לרבינו הקודש חמש דורות ואלו הם: הדור הראשון רבי יוחנן בן זכאי בעצמו וחבריו,  הדור השני, רבי אליעזר בן הורקנוס, רבי אלעזר בן ערך, רבי יהושע בן חנניה, רבי יוסי הכהן והרבה זולתם  הדור השלישי, רבי עקיבא, רבי טרפון, רבן גמליאל, רבי אלעזר בן עזריה, רבי אלעזר בן שמוע וחבריהם, הדור הרביעי, רבי שעמון בן יוחי (מחבר הזהר הקדש), רבי יהודא , רבי מאיר, רבי יוסי בן חלפתא, רבי נחמיה, וחבריהם. הדור החמישי רבינו הקדוש, רבי נתן, רבי ישמעאל בנו של רבי יוסי, וחבריהם, והם סוף התנאים שבמשנה ע''כ.

According to Sefer Halichos Olam: The time between Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai until Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi spanned 5 generations. In the first generation, Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai and his colleagues. The Second Generation: Rebbi Eliezer ben Horkenus, Rebbi Elazar ben Arach, Rebbi Yehoshuah Ben Chananya, Rebbi Yossi HaKohen, and many others like them. The Third generation included Rebbe Akiva, Rebbi Tarfon, Rabban Gamliel, Rebbi Elazar ben Azarya, Rebbi Elazar ben Shamuah and their colleagues. The fourth generation included Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai (who assembled the Holy Zohar), Rebbi Yehuda bar Ilai, Rebbi Meir, Rebbi Yossi ben Chalafta, Rebbi Nechemiah, and their colleagues. The fifth generation included Rebbi Yehudah HaNasi, Rebbi Nasan, Rebbi Yishmael the son of Rebbi Yossi, and their colleagues - and they were the last generation of the sages of the Mishnah. 

ואחר חיבור המשנה נתבלבלה דעת הלומדים, ולא נמצא אלא מעט התלמידים היכולים לדייק כל התורה ממשנה בלבד, ונצטרכו להכניס ברייתות, מלשון כלפי בר, שנקרא כן מפני שנשתיירו חוץ למשנה. וחברו תלמידי רבינו – רבי הושעיא ורבי חייא – ספר התוספתא שהם ברייתות חזקות ואלמות כמשנה. וחברו רבי הושעיא ותלמידיו המדרש רבה להאיר המסורה וסודותיה בקו הנסתר באגדת התורה, ביין ובשמן כמ'’ש ואספת דגנך ותירושך ויצהרך. וחבר רב (י'’א שהוא רבי אבא דירושלמי, והוא תלמידו של רבי) ותלמידיו את הספרא כנגד ספ' ויקרא, וספרי כנגד במדבר ודברים ,שהם מדרשי הלכות. וחבר רבי יוחנן האמורא ותלמידיו את התלמוד ירושלמי, להאיר המשא ומתן שבמשנה ולבון הילכתא.

In the years after the assembly of the Mishnah, as a result of the descent into exile, the torah students began to lose the ability to learn the oral tradition properly - there were only a select few who knew how to divine all the secrets of the Torah from the few words of the Mishnah. Therefore they required the additional detail of Mishnaic statements left out of the 6 Orders of Mishnah, called Baraisos (Which means “outside”) because they were left out of the Mishnah. The students of Rebbi Yehudah HaNasi-  Rebbi Hoshiya and Rebbi Chiya - assembled the Tosefta from those Baraisos: The Tosefta, edited and published so soon after the mishnah, is considered highly accurate, and when compared in talmud has strength similar to Mishnah. Rebbi Hoshiya and his students then assembled the Midrash Rabbah to illuminate the traditions and their secrets within the stories of the torah, with “wine and oil”, as it is written “And you will gather your grain, your wine and your oil”. Rav (many say he was also known as Rebbi Aba in the Jerusalem Talmud - also a students of Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi) and his students assembled the baraisos of Sifra on Sefer Vayikra and the Sifri on Bamidbar and Devarim - Sifra and Sifri are midrashei halacha (sections of law derived directly from verses in Torah). Rebbi Yochanan the Amora and his students assembled the Jerusalem Talmud to illuminate and elucidate the discussions behind the Mishnah.

 וכתוב בספר הליכות עולם: אלו הם חכמי הגמרא לדרותם. הדור הראשון, רבי חייא, ורבי הושעיא, ולוי, ובר קפרא, רבים זולתם (והם נקראים בכמה מקומות 'דור המעבר' שהם ממעצים בין תנאים לאמוראים), הדור השני רבי יוחנן, ריש לקיש, [רב, וי'’א שהוא רבי אבא דירושלמי, ושמואל], וחכמי דורם. הדור השלישי רב הונא ורב יהודא, ורב נחמן, ורב אסי, ועולא ואנשי דורם, הדור הרביעי רב חסדא ורבה בר נחמני ורב יוסף,  ורב ששת וזולתם. הדור החמישי אביי ורבא וזולתם הרבה. הדור הששי רב פפא ורב פפי ורב הונא בריה דרב יהושע ורב יימר ורב זביד ואנשי דורם, הדור השביעי רב כהנא ורפרם בר פפא ואמימר ומר זוטרא ורב אשי . ורבינא, והם סוף הוראה עד כאן לשון הליכות עולם. חיבור הגמרא היה בערך לשנת 4250, ומכאן  ועד 4300 היה זמן הרבנן סבראי כגון רב אחאי ורב יהודאי.

It’s written in Sefer Halichos Olam: These are the leaders of the generations of the Gemara. The first generation, Rebbi Chiya, Rebbi Hoshiya, Levi, Bar Kappara, and many like them (as they are called in many places, the “transition generation”, as they represent the transition between Tannayim of the Mishnah and Amorayim of the Gemara). The second generation Rebbi Yochanan, Reish Lakish, Rav, and Shmuel, and the others of their generation. The third generation, Rav Huna, Rebbi Yehuda Nesiah, Rebbi Nachman, Rav Assi, Ullah, and the others of their generation. The fourth generation, Rev Chisda, Rabbah bar Nachmeini, Rav Yosef, Rav Sheishes, and their peers. The fifth generation, Abaye, Rava and many others. The Sixth generation, Rav Pappi, Rav Pappa, Ameimar, Mar Zutra, Rav Ashi, and Ravina. They represented the end of the time of the gemara, which was written down around the year 4250 on the hebrew calendar to preserve the discussions and elucidations on the mishnah lest they be forgotten. From then until around the year 4300 was the time of the Rabbanan Savrai, like Rav Achai and Rav Yehudai - who added a few final sections to the Gemara before sealing it.

ועמדו אחריהם הגאונים, כגון רב סעדיא גאון, רב שרירא,  ורב האי גאון והרבה זולתם, שהם נשיאים  התמימים עד עמוד הראשונים בשנת 4800, דמשמת רב האי גאון, נולד רש'’י, הראשון שבראשונים. והם הם עמודי הלכה. ובתוכם – רש'’י, הרמב'’ם, הרמב'’ן, הר'’ף, הר'’ן, הר'’י, רבינו תם, המהר'’ם, מרדכי, והרבה זולתם והרא'’ש הוא האחרון שבהם, וחיבור בנו את הטור, שקבץ סברות הראשונים במקום אחד וסדר אותם לעין כל. 

After them arose the Geonium, like Rav Sa’adya Gaon and Rav Sherira, Rav Hai Gaon, and many others. They were the the pure and holy leaders of the jewish people until the beginning of the era of the Rishonim (firsts) in the year 4800 - as the last of the Geonim (Rav Hai Gaon) passed away, Rashi (known as the first of the Rishonim) was born - and they represented pillars of halacha, and among them: Rashi, the Rambam, the Ramban, The Rif, The Ran, the Ri, Rabbeinu Tam, the Maharam, the Mordechai, and many like them. The Rosh as the last of them, and his son, the Tur, gathered the rulings of the Rishonim into one place and arranged them for all to see.

ואחריו עמדו שני מאירי עולם, רב יוסף קארו (הבית יוסף) ואת רב משה איסרליש (רמ'’א) . ונתן הקב'’ה  בליבם לבאר דברי הטור בבאר היטב, ואחר כך לסדר ההלכה למעשה לעם ישראל, הוא השולחן ערוך שהוא עומד וקיים לעד אפילו לאחרי ביאת המשיח ותחיית המתים. 

And after them arose 2 illuminators of the world, Rav Yosef Karo (the Beis Yosef) and Rav Moshe Isserles (the Ramah). The Holy One Blessed be He placed upon their hearts to explain the words of the Tur in great breadth, and afterwards to arrange and publish the practical laws for the Jewish People. This is the Shulchan Aruch, which will stand and sustain until even after the Moshiach comes and the dead are resurrected.

והטור ושולחן ערוך נחלק לארבע חלקים, ובתוכם הלכות לאין קץ מסודרים בסימנים ופרקים שונים, ואלו הם

The Tur and Shulchan Aruch are divided into 4 sections, and within them many laws with no end, arranged according to their sections and different chapters.

#torah #torah study #talmud #jewish study #judaism #jumblr

[sifshoney-notactive]

Aurora Rising and why it didn't work for me

(Spoilers for The Illuminae Files and the first 100 pages of Aurora Rising)

Okay, I LOVE The Illuminae Files, it's my favourite trilogy ever and I admit, even though I was trying not to, I let my expectations rise for Aurora Rising due to me loving so much TIF.

But I think that, even without those expectations, I would have DNFed this book anyways.

The first thing that disappointed me was the start. Strong starts are fine, really (I mean do you all remember Ezra and Kady having to fight Beitech from page one? I don't mind them), but the start did feel like being dumped in something and in every confusing way. The going backwards part didn't really help so I was left confused and weirded out, but I still hang on because I mean... its Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffmen, I was SURE I was going to love the book. Then we got to know better the characters and I mean... the only thing I know is that Tyler is Rhys Lindstrom with Nik Malikov's dimples and a killer smile, and that he rescued Aurora and is the first ranked in Aurora Academy.

Secondly: every character talks and speaks the same. I wouldn't be able to discern them from each other even trying, from their speech. Why do I think originality in character is important? Take Illuminae. In Illuminae, at some point, Ezra's speech sounded different. It didn't change much and he could still pass as himself, but there was still something off. Maybe the choice of wording, or the way he behaved with Kady, but you could sense something was weird. Then it is revealed that AIDAN, for at least ten of the last convos, was actually pretending to be him. Now, was it still a surprise? Oh hell yes, it got me so well, but still you could sense it because you knew Ezra. You knew why he was different from Kady. What made his wit differ from, to name one, Byron or McNulty's. And even in the other books, you could sense why Nik was different from Ezra or why Ezra was different from Rhys. Like... each character felt real and their own person. When it comes to Aurora Rising, the only characters I could actually make out fully were Finian (love and protect him please) and Kal. Cat and Scarlett pretty much sounded the same and Aurora's story was so interesting at first, but her bland characterization pierced through that layer of interest as soon as the events started to pile up, because piling up is what they were doing.

Thirdly: AURORA. I was so happy to finally have a half Asian character, and I couldn't wait to finally know more about her story, her thoughts and the way she got there but CHUUUM. She didn't even sound real. She didn't try to cope in any way, the only thing I know about her as a person is that she is a cryogenically frozen girl who was the only survivor of the Hadfield disaster, that she obviously misses her family and that she thinks Tyler and Kal are hot. Yes, this is Aurora.

Fourth point and last: the pacing. With inconsistent character, a decent worldbuilding that was 60% infodump, you'd think they gave us time to at least bond with the whole thing right? Nope. NOPITY NOPE. We were thrown here and there, and when Aurora had an interesting turning point it she was suddenly thrown in a battle against the Unbroken and it literally happened in the span of a page. Like...

Also: ZILA!!! I wanted to know more about her, I instantly adopted her (as I did with Finian) when I was reading but the authors didn't even give her pov the same importance other characters pov's were given, and that disappointed me to no end. I guess you could take the excuse of her being quite as an excuse for this, but Kal himself isn't one to speak much, and yet his POV was huge. I just think this was a disservice to her character and I didn't like the choice.

Ezra Mason: I mean chuuuum...

Ella Malikova: WHAT A MESS.

Nik Malikov: _-_-_-_-_-_-_ALL CAPS!!!

Final opinion

I think the authors took what we loved about the Illuminae files (the wit, hot MCs, friendships and love stories) forgetting to take a good witten storyline too. We wouldn't love TIF if they weren't set, written and paced the way they were. We wouldn't love the characters if they were all the same and had no distinction between each other.

Aurora Rising had a good premise but it developed in a messy way, and while I tried my best I just couldn't continue.

Stars: 2/5 ☆☆

#aurora rising #jay kristoff #amie kaufman #the illuminae files #review #spoiler review #booklr #book review #bookaholic #bookish

[shitsuji-hcs]

I didn’t realize the previous account was inactive, sorry. I was re-reading the blue arc where everything went high musical. Then I was thinking if you could choose what the p5 or/and (you choose) the S4 would sound like, using pop singers?

Sen: It’s fine, no need to worry! Hopefully this is adequate? Went with just the P5 for this but may return to the S4 if I can think of who to go with for them.

Clayton

He has the most untrained voice out of the boys, yet can reach ‘some’ low notes. Clayton has the slight rasp and more breathy quality that Dylan Minnette of Wallows has but also the nasally quality of Luke Olson from The Walters. 

Edward 

His English accent is very apparent. Breathier vowel sounds and a thick, trained voice - Edward doesn’t think of himself as an amazing singer but all his fans would beg to differ. He has a voice somewhat like Adam Thompson of We Were Promised Jetpacks or James Bay.

His voice actors are Seiichiro Yamashita (Kakeru from Orange) and Justin Briner (Midoriya from BNHA)

Soma

He has a vibrant and clear voice that can swiftly change to mellow and sweet. He’s definitely the best singer out of all of them. Soma loves to incorporate his language into his music like Zack Knight or Sam Fender.

His voice actors are Shinnosuke Tachibana (Takizawa from Tokyo Ghoul) and Christopher Ayers (Freiza from Dragon Ball). I absolutely detest the current English VA for Soma considering how the manga states that he speaks without a trace of an accent.

Joanne

With his voice unbroken, Joanne’s definitely a valuable asset to the group, able to reach higher notes that the rest haven’t hit in years. We’re talking the likes of Miguel but mostly the softness of Ezra Koening from Vampire Weekend. He’s just relieved that his face is good enough to get him by - he doesn’t believe that he has a strong enough voice to compete with the rest of the boys.

Cheslock

His voice has attitude. Whether he’s still carrying a great melody while screaming out, like Luke Reilly of Otherkin, or even rasping rapping like slowthai, Cheslock’s musical genius extends to vocals as well.

#kuroshitsuji #black butler #edward midford #soma asman kadar #joanne harcourt #cheslock #clayton #body tag #mod sen

[carlerinle]

The Real Faith

Sunday 26th April 2020

1 Cor. 10:11 – “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

The Bible is an amazing piece of work, written by about 40 people over about 15 centuries, and yet its thread is unbroken throughout. From the old testament, we read of people like Job, Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Deborah, Ezra, Daniel, Elijah, etc. and in the new, of people like Paul, Matthew, Eunice, John, etc. The Bible is essentially a book that details salient parts of the lives of many people who lived long before our time, and how remarkable it is that their lives happened to follow a common thread. It details their successes, failures, trials, temptations, etc. and in all these stories, the thread of the Gospel message is being woven carefully by a masterful God who orchestrates everything according to His will.

If you ever thought faith was difficult to have, then imagine how difficult it was for the saints of Bible times. We have a whole faith delivered to us (Jude:3), complete with theology, doctrine, and writings. We read the Bible and we learn about God, looking at the lives of the Bible characters and their interactions with an esoteric Being we now call God. Abraham, who with his people were idol worshippers, had no script to read when God appeared to him. None of those on the hall of faith (Heb. 11) read any book about God before they believed. This is why it was such a big deal to God that Abraham showed his faith in God by abandoned his family with their cultures of worship. This was the real faith, the faith that moved God to transfer His righteousness to a man even before the price had been paid. And even though the apostles and early church had only the law and the prophets to guide them, even they lived their lives out of a strong sense of conviction about what they believed.

With no Bible, doctrine or even church, people followed a “voice” and their lives became the very fabric by which the Gospel was preached. David tending his father’s sheep, Josiah becoming king at the age of eight, Mary who mothered the Lord, they all had a faith so strong and independent of the privileges we have in the Body today. They were willing to die, and many did die for the sake of this “voice” that kept telling them to do this or that. Every action they took, every decision they made, recorded and published for the rest of humanity to read, dissect and judge. It is their lives that we read from: Paul’s thirst to know and be known of God, the disciples willing to abandon their life and follow the Messiah, the Pharisees willing to thwart Christ’s ministry at every turn, Judas being lured by money, etc.

The challenge to us today is twofold. With all that God has made available for us at this time, what are you doing with your faith? How devoted are you to this God whom you say you believe? Are you sold out to Him in your day-to-day living? How much of God do you really want to know? Second, if their lives were recorded for our sakes, what example is your life giving to the world and to other believers? Does the world see Jesus in you? Is your life telling the beautiful story of Christ? Can the day-to-day activities of your life sum up to a glorious message about Christ that others can see and be blessed by? Is Christ the focus of your life? If you’re unsure, there’s no better time than now to realign your priorities and become the light God uses to shine His life to the world. No one is close enough to the Father; everyone of us can yet edge closer to Him. Let your Bible be your companion, let your prayer life be alive, let your spirit shine through, so that your life constantly exudes the fragrance of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, a tapestry He shows off to the world. His grace is available to us to do all things.  

Have a blessed day.

#Devotional DiligentBibleStudy GrowingInFaith TheDailyWord

[travelafter55]

Nashville - Feb 2017 - Delivering a letter to Johnny Cash

Tom Blake Delivering a letter to Johnny Cash. How could this happen in 2017?Read the story to find out.

On Wednesday night, February 22, 2017, while packing suitcases for a week-long trip to Nashville and Memphis, my partner Greta and I found a letter sealed in a baggie attached to the front door of our Dana Point, California, home. The letter was not addressed to us; and, we had anticipated it would be there.

The hand-printed letter read: “Mr. Cash, I love you. I like ‘A Boy Named Sue.’ It’s funny. I’m named Cash too.”

It was written by a four-year-old boy named Cash. He is the son of our neighbors, Cody and Victoria, a delightful young couple who live across the street. When we first met Cody and Victoria, they told us their son was named Cash.

“Why?” We asked.

“Because we love Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and country music,” they said.

They about flipped out when I told them that I worked with Johnny in 1976 and 1977, and had been friends with him.

When I told them that Greta and I and my brother Bill and his wife, Linda, were going to Nashville to visit The Johnny Cash Museum, the Grand Old Opry, The Ryman Auditorium, The Country Music Hall of Fame, and the cemetery in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where the Cash family is buried, they said, “Maybe you could do us a favor?”

Cody and Victoria knew that their son Cash, a huge Johnny Cash fan, would want to send a letter to Johnny and wanted to know if we would hand-deliver it for him. Of course, young Cash didn’t comprehend that Johnny and his wife June Carter had both passed away in 2003.

We said we would somehow get the letter to Johnny, in one way or another.

The trip was the first time I had been to Nashville since 1977, when I co-produced an album of train songs with Johnny, at his recording studio in nearby Hendersonville.

On our first night in Nashville, we had dinner at B.B. King’s restaurant in “The District,” the bustling downtown area of Nashville, where live music is heard on the sidewalks from the endless bars and honkytonks.

The next morning, our first stop was the Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry until 1974. Johnny Cash and June Carter led the final song there, written by June’s father, Ezra Carter, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The Ryman is a must for any visiting country music fan; there is incredible history posted on the walls. Concerts are performed there now. A popular group called “Little Big Town” was playing that night.

Ryman Auditorium. Home of the original Grand Ole Opry

Next, we walked to the Johnny Cash Museum. I wanted to meet the museum founder and owner, Bill Miller, to give him a copy of I book I wrote, titled “Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?” The book features the details of when I worked with Johnny and has a picture of us on the front cover.

While waiting to meet Bill Miller, the four of us took the museum tour. And that is where our young neighbor Cash’s letter was delivered to Johnny (See photo above).

Tom in front of Destination Victoria Station album he produced with Johnny

Later we met Bill Miller. He was most gracious, and gave us a tour of the soon-to-open Patsy Cline Museum, which is located on the second floor above the Cash Museum. He also invited us to a private Johnny Cash birthday anniversary party for the following day.

Tom Blake and Bill Miller (founder and owner of the Johnny Cash Museum)

On Saturday morning, we visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you are a country music fan, include this when you visit Nashville. The highlight: the rotunda where each of the 130 Hall of Fame members have plaques on the wall. The country music memorabilia in there is staggering.

From there, it’s a short walk to the Johnny Cash Museum. We spent time with W.S. Holland, Johnny’s only drummer. I had known him when I worked with Johnny. And since he is mentioned in my book, I signed a copy for him. 

Tom and W.S. Holland, Johnny Cash’s only drummer

We enjoyed attending the birthday party for Johnny in a private room, which included a presentation by Alan Messner, a photographer who had taken hundreds of photos of Johnny and June.

That night, we attended the Grand Ole Opry. Johnny’s manager, Lou Robin, who I’ve known for 40 years, arranged for a private backstage tour during the show. We saw Vince Gill practicing his guitar in his dressing room before his appearance. We watched a part of the show from behind the stage. There were nearly 20 performers that night, making it a stellar evening.

Grand Ole Opry --Greta, Tom, Linda and Bill --up front on a Saturday night

On Sunday, we drove 20 miles to Hendersonville to pay our respects at the gravesites of Johnny and June Carter Cash. Other members of the famous Carter family are buried nearby.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash gravesites with Tom in foreground

Then, we drove to the Hermitage, the home of President Andrew Jackson, for a tour of his home and the extensive grounds surrounding it.  

[asexualbookbird]

look i know i complain a LOT about slow beginnings in books but THE UNBROKEN got real high stakes real fast and i am s t r e s s e d

#bookbird babbles #ezra reads the unbroken #gosh its so good though i love touraine