Drinking & Prayer | August 10, 2026

See today's text here! In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parshat Shoftim, Hilchot Tefillah, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the proper limits of human knowledge. The Me’am Loez section examines the prohibition against placing an asherah near the altar and offering defective sacrifices. It then focuses on the laws surrounding idolatry, emphasizing careful investigation, two witnesses, and the responsibility placed on witnesses in carrying out justice. The Rambam section explains that a drunk person should not pray because he lacks proper concentration, while someone slightly inebriated should wait until the effects pass. Prayer should also be approached calmly, without anger, laughter, arguments, or distracting thoughts. The Menorat HaMaor teaching uses the shape of the letter bet to explain that human inquiry should focus on the world we inhabit. Torah study should ultimately guide us toward serving Hashem, improving ourselves, and building a better future. Today's text: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-D2TgBIzLrw_j_XpeA4ygylbQezMxvFB/view?usp=sharing Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.