Hi,
"The practice of compelling people to follow Torah is a product of the principle that 'All Jews are responsible for each other'; one who would violate the law would harm others and the entity as a whole. Thus the court should compel and judge one who violates Gd's commands. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate to intervene in another's relationship with his Creator."
(R' Meir Simcha haKohen of Dvinsk, Meshech Chachmah to Shemot 24:3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Knowing how to be a Chasid
Hi,
"This is written for those who are in awe of Gd and who contemplate His Name – for a "chasid" is one whose heart desires love of his Creator, to fulfill all of His will – and who does not know how to place everything upon his heart and from what things to be cautious and how to deepen his fulfillment of his Creator's desire because the hearts have been reduced.
"There are chasidim who put many things upon their heart, and there are chasidim who do little but would do more than those who do much if only they knew and understood matters of piety. Therefore the Sefer Chasidim has been written, so that those who are in awe of Gd will see it, all those who return to their Creator completely, and they will know and understand what they are to do and from what things they must be cautious."
(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"This is written for those who are in awe of Gd and who contemplate His Name – for a "chasid" is one whose heart desires love of his Creator, to fulfill all of His will – and who does not know how to place everything upon his heart and from what things to be cautious and how to deepen his fulfillment of his Creator's desire because the hearts have been reduced.
"There are chasidim who put many things upon their heart, and there are chasidim who do little but would do more than those who do much if only they knew and understood matters of piety. Therefore the Sefer Chasidim has been written, so that those who are in awe of Gd will see it, all those who return to their Creator completely, and they will know and understand what they are to do and from what things they must be cautious."
(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Gd will watch out for us
Hi,
[Regarding Gd's declaration to Moshe at the Red Sea, "Why do you cry out to me?" (Shemot 14:15) before Gd split the sea.]
"R' Elazar haModai said: “Why are you crying out to Me? Do I need instructons regarding My children? Will you instruct me about My children and My creations? They were prepared before Me from the six days of Creation! It is written, 'Should all of the universe’s natural laws fall from before Me, this is the word of Gd, so the Jews would cease to be a nation before me, for all time!'”"
(Midrash, Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael Beshalach 3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
[Regarding Gd's declaration to Moshe at the Red Sea, "Why do you cry out to me?" (Shemot 14:15) before Gd split the sea.]
"R' Elazar haModai said: “Why are you crying out to Me? Do I need instructons regarding My children? Will you instruct me about My children and My creations? They were prepared before Me from the six days of Creation! It is written, 'Should all of the universe’s natural laws fall from before Me, this is the word of Gd, so the Jews would cease to be a nation before me, for all time!'”"
(Midrash, Mechilta d'Rabbi Yishmael Beshalach 3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, February 5, 2012
A deathbed declaration
Hi,
"When Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was dying, he raised his voice and cried… He explained to his students, "Am I going to greet a mortal king, such that his anger would only be in this world, his incarceration would only be in this world, and his execution would only be in this world? Further, I could appease him verbally and bribe him financially. But I am going to greet only the King of kings of kings, Gd, such that His anger is in this world and the next, and I cannot appease Him verbally or bribe Him financially. Further, I have two paths, Gan Eden and Gehennom, and I don’t know whether He will incline me to Gehennom or bring me into Gan Eden.""
(Avot d'Rabbi Natan I 25)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"When Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was dying, he raised his voice and cried… He explained to his students, "Am I going to greet a mortal king, such that his anger would only be in this world, his incarceration would only be in this world, and his execution would only be in this world? Further, I could appease him verbally and bribe him financially. But I am going to greet only the King of kings of kings, Gd, such that His anger is in this world and the next, and I cannot appease Him verbally or bribe Him financially. Further, I have two paths, Gan Eden and Gehennom, and I don’t know whether He will incline me to Gehennom or bring me into Gan Eden.""
(Avot d'Rabbi Natan I 25)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The importance of planting
Hi,
"If a sapling is in your hand and you are told, "Mashiach is here", plant the sapling and then go greet him."
(Avot d'Rabbi Natan II 31)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"If a sapling is in your hand and you are told, "Mashiach is here", plant the sapling and then go greet him."
(Avot d'Rabbi Natan II 31)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The repentance of King Achav
Hi,
"[Eliyahu said,] "Behold, I will bring evil upon you, I will consume everything you leave, and I will destroy every child of Achav and all who are sealed away and left in Israel. I will make your house like that of Yeravam ben Nevat and Basha ben Achiah because of the anger you incited, causing Israel to sin." And regarding Jezebel Gd said, "The dogs will eat Jezebel in the moat of Yizre'el."…
"And when Achav heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth upon his flesh and he fasted and lay in sackcloth, and he walked humbly. And Gd said to Eliyahu the Tishbi, "Do you see how Achav humbles himself before Me? Because he humbles himself before Me, I will not bring this evil in his days. I will bring this evil upon his house during his son's days.""
(Melachim I 21:21-29)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"[Eliyahu said,] "Behold, I will bring evil upon you, I will consume everything you leave, and I will destroy every child of Achav and all who are sealed away and left in Israel. I will make your house like that of Yeravam ben Nevat and Basha ben Achiah because of the anger you incited, causing Israel to sin." And regarding Jezebel Gd said, "The dogs will eat Jezebel in the moat of Yizre'el."…
"And when Achav heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth upon his flesh and he fasted and lay in sackcloth, and he walked humbly. And Gd said to Eliyahu the Tishbi, "Do you see how Achav humbles himself before Me? Because he humbles himself before Me, I will not bring this evil in his days. I will bring this evil upon his house during his son's days.""
(Melachim I 21:21-29)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Rational and Non-Rational Commandments
Hi,
"The first of two types of commandments are… matters regarding which Gd has implanted in our minds an understanding of their benefit, or of the benefit in avoiding them... The second type are matters regarding which the mind [sechel] does not declare that they are objectively good or bad. The Creator added instructions and prohibitions in these [latter] matters in order to increase our reward and success."
(Rav Saadia Gaon, ha'Emunot v'haDeiot 3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"The first of two types of commandments are… matters regarding which Gd has implanted in our minds an understanding of their benefit, or of the benefit in avoiding them... The second type are matters regarding which the mind [sechel] does not declare that they are objectively good or bad. The Creator added instructions and prohibitions in these [latter] matters in order to increase our reward and success."
(Rav Saadia Gaon, ha'Emunot v'haDeiot 3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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