(Courtesy of JEC-Elmora Avenue Shul) On Sunday, the JEC-Elmora Avenue Shul had their monthly Lox n’ Learn shiur led by its mara d’asra, Rabbi Anthony Knopf. Over 50 people attended a Rosh Chodesh minyan and enjoyed a delicious breakfast and shiur. In his signature style, in addition to a traditional shiur, Rabbi Knopf facilitated a lively group discussion engaging everyone by asking probing and incisive questions.
The shiur was titled “The Ethics of Gambling.” The central theme was what Jewish tradition teaches us about gambling, and how its insights might help us evaluate modern sports betting, casinos and gambling apps. The shiur explored the fascinating debate in the Gemara, Sanhedrin 24b, about mesachek be-kubya — someone who gambles with dice for money — and why such a person might be disqualified from giving testimony. The discussion illustrated how a debate in the Gemara about ancient dice games can illuminate remarkably contemporary questions about gambling psychology, digital technology, personal responsibility and the kind of people we aspire to become. There is considerable debate among the poskim about whether one can find a halachic justification for gambling. A deeper question is actually what effect does this activity have on one’s character. Fascinating topics discussed included:
Is gambling a form of theft?
Are gamblers contributing to society?
What about modern gambling apps?
What is technically permitted and not permitted?
The discussion concluded with the question of “What does gambling teach us about consent, self-control, responsibility and living a meaningful, productive life?”
Attendance at the breakfast shiurim continues to grow, with everyone anticipating the next monthly Lox n’ Learn.