Hi,
R' Klonymus Kalmish Schapira, the Piaseczner Rebbe, was a rebbe in the Warsaw Ghetto, killed by the Nazis. He was a fervent believer in self-esteem, and the importance of growth through actualization of one's own potential. You can read more about him here.
"Your main educator is you, yourself. If you will not stand up to take the reins of control in your hand and reign over yourself, guiding yourself as the captain of a ship, who knows whether you won't be broken, whether you won't drown in the stormy sea and the material world, amid the baser human desires? At that point all of your teachers and mentors will not benefit you at all, Gd-forbid."
(R' Klonymus Kalmish Schapira, Chovat haTalmidim, Chapter 10)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Spiritual intent in a material world
Hi,
"We are taught, 'All of your deeds should be for heaven's sake.'
"This is an important, all-encompassing statement. It means this:
"A person must involve himself in affairs of the world and in the development of civil society, for the sake of material needs. This lesson instructs us that even when we are involved in such matters, our intent should still be, specifically, for completion of the soul."
(R' Menachem Meiri on Pirkei Avot 2:16)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"We are taught, 'All of your deeds should be for heaven's sake.'
"This is an important, all-encompassing statement. It means this:
"A person must involve himself in affairs of the world and in the development of civil society, for the sake of material needs. This lesson instructs us that even when we are involved in such matters, our intent should still be, specifically, for completion of the soul."
(R' Menachem Meiri on Pirkei Avot 2:16)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The great influence of hatred and love
Hi,
The following is a comment by Rabbi Menachem Meiri, a 14th century sage, on a verse, Proverbs 10:12 - "Hatred arouses litigation, but love covers up all transgressions."
"This says that hatred will awaken quarrels and fights even in lightweight matters, regarding which people do not ordinarily quarrel. The degree of one's hatred for another causes him to suspect the other even in lightweight matters, even for mistakes, and to quarrel with him continually.
"Love, on the other hand, covers up even transgressions, which includes intentional sin and rebellion."
(Meiri to Proverbs 10:12)
The following is a comment by Rabbi Menachem Meiri, a 14th century sage, on a verse, Proverbs 10:12 - "Hatred arouses litigation, but love covers up all transgressions."
"This says that hatred will awaken quarrels and fights even in lightweight matters, regarding which people do not ordinarily quarrel. The degree of one's hatred for another causes him to suspect the other even in lightweight matters, even for mistakes, and to quarrel with him continually.
"Love, on the other hand, covers up even transgressions, which includes intentional sin and rebellion."
(Meiri to Proverbs 10:12)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Honor your wife
Hi,
"Rabbi Chelbo said: A man must always be careful with his wife's honor; there is extra Divine protection upon her, to the point that his estate will not be blessed other than because of his wife. It is written (Bereishit 12), 'And he gave Avram gifts because of her, and he had sheep...'"
(Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Chelbo said: A man must always be careful with his wife's honor; there is extra Divine protection upon her, to the point that his estate will not be blessed other than because of his wife. It is written (Bereishit 12), 'And he gave Avram gifts because of her, and he had sheep...'"
(Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Menorah, the Shabbat Candle, Kiddush and Peace
Hi,
Introductory note: One of the main purposes of Shabbat lights/candles is to illuminate the home, so that people will not trip over things or get into fights in their frustration in the dark.
"If a person must choose [financially] between Shabbat lights and Chanukah lights, or between Shabbat lights and kiddush for Shabbat, then Shabbat lights have precedence, for the sake of domestic peace...
"Peace is great, for the entire Torah was given for the sake of creating peace in the world, as it is written, 'Its paths are paths of pleasantness, and all of its ways are peace (Proverbs 3:17).'"
(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Chanukah 4:14)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Introductory note: One of the main purposes of Shabbat lights/candles is to illuminate the home, so that people will not trip over things or get into fights in their frustration in the dark.
"If a person must choose [financially] between Shabbat lights and Chanukah lights, or between Shabbat lights and kiddush for Shabbat, then Shabbat lights have precedence, for the sake of domestic peace...
"Peace is great, for the entire Torah was given for the sake of creating peace in the world, as it is written, 'Its paths are paths of pleasantness, and all of its ways are peace (Proverbs 3:17).'"
(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Chanukah 4:14)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
A humble epitaph
Hi,
This was Rabbi Aryeh Levin's instruction for his epitaph:
"I strongly insist that no more than one row of simple, undressed stones be placed over the grave; the tombstone should be of modest size, and the inscription should not vary in the least from what I have written herewith:
"'Here lies Aryeh Leib the son of Binyomin Beinish of blessed memory, known as R' Aryeh Levin.'
"I insist that not even one word of praise be added. For I possess no Torah learning, being fluent in not even one chapter; nor have I a proper reverent awe of Heaven, or good deeds to my credit. If I did something of worth, I have been accorded honor for it seven times over; and perhaps I have thus, Gd forbid, already received my full reward for it."
(R' Aryeh Levin, as cited in A Tzaddik in our time, pg. 468)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This was Rabbi Aryeh Levin's instruction for his epitaph:
"I strongly insist that no more than one row of simple, undressed stones be placed over the grave; the tombstone should be of modest size, and the inscription should not vary in the least from what I have written herewith:
"'Here lies Aryeh Leib the son of Binyomin Beinish of blessed memory, known as R' Aryeh Levin.'
"I insist that not even one word of praise be added. For I possess no Torah learning, being fluent in not even one chapter; nor have I a proper reverent awe of Heaven, or good deeds to my credit. If I did something of worth, I have been accorded honor for it seven times over; and perhaps I have thus, Gd forbid, already received my full reward for it."
(R' Aryeh Levin, as cited in A Tzaddik in our time, pg. 468)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Why celebrate for eight days?
Hi,
One of the longest-standing questions regarding Chanukah is this: If there was sufficient oil for one night, just not for eight, then there were really only seven nights of the miracle. So why do we light the menorah for eight nights?
R' Yechiel Michel Epstein, in his Aruch haShulchan, cites three popular answers:
1) Each night, only 1/8 of the oil burned.
2) The Syrian Greeks had prevented Jews from performing circumcision, so we celebrate for eight days to hint at circumcision, which is performed on the eighth day of a baby boy's life.
3) When the Chashmonaim recaptured the Beit haMikdash (Temple), they re-dedicated it for the service which the Syrian Greeks had halted. This is what we celebrate on the first day.
(R' Yechiel Michel Epstein, Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 670:4)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
One of the longest-standing questions regarding Chanukah is this: If there was sufficient oil for one night, just not for eight, then there were really only seven nights of the miracle. So why do we light the menorah for eight nights?
R' Yechiel Michel Epstein, in his Aruch haShulchan, cites three popular answers:
1) Each night, only 1/8 of the oil burned.
2) The Syrian Greeks had prevented Jews from performing circumcision, so we celebrate for eight days to hint at circumcision, which is performed on the eighth day of a baby boy's life.
3) When the Chashmonaim recaptured the Beit haMikdash (Temple), they re-dedicated it for the service which the Syrian Greeks had halted. This is what we celebrate on the first day.
(R' Yechiel Michel Epstein, Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 670:4)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Judith's story
Hi,
We are taught that Judith was a heroine of Chanukah; her actions are cited by many traditional Jewish sources as a central part of the Chanukah miracles we celebrate.
The story of Judith is apocryphal, meaning that it does not appear in Tanach [it could not possibly appear in Tanach, since it would have occurred after the conclusion of Tanach]. Instead, it has its own book, the Book of Judith.
Here is a key part of the story, from the Book of Judith:
"When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master's presence. They went to bed, for they all were weary because the banquet had lasted so long. But Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holofernes stretched out on his bed, for he was dead drunk.
"Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait for her to come out, as she did on the other days; for she said she would be going out for her prayers. She had said the same thing to Bagoas. So everyone went out, and no one, either small or great, was left in the bedchamber. Then Judith, standing beside his bed, said in her heart, "O Lord Gd of all might, look in this hour on the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. Now indeed is the time to help Your heritage and to carry out my design to destroy the enemies who have risen up against us." She went up to the bedpost near Holofernes' head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "Give me strength today, O Lord Gd of Israel!" Then she struck his neck twice with all her might, and cut off his head. Next she rolled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts. Soon afterward she went out and gave Holofernes' head to her maid, who placed it in her food bag.
"Then the two of them went out together, as they were accustomed to do for prayer. They passed through the camp, circled around the valley, and went up the mountain to Bethulia, and came to its gates. From a distance Judith called out to the sentries at the gates, "Open, open the gate! Gd, our Gd, is with us, still showing His power in Israel and his strength against our enemies, as He has done today!"
"When the people of her town heard her voice, they hurried down to the town gate and summoned the elders of the town. 1They all ran together, both small and great, for it seemed unbelievable that she had returned. They opened the gate and welcomed them. Then they lit a fire to give light, and gathered around them. 1Then she said to them with a loud voice, "Praise Gd, O praise Him! Praise Gd, who has not withdrawn His mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this very night!"
"Then she pulled the head out of the bag and showed it to them, and said, "See here, the head of Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, and here is the canopy beneath which he lay in his drunken stupor. The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman. As the Lord lives, who has protected me in the way I went, I swear that it was my face that seduced him to his destruction, and that he committed no sin with me, to defile and shame me."
"All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped Gd, and said with one accord, 'Blessed are you our Gd, who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people.'"
(Book of Judith, Revised Standard Translation, Chapter 13)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
We are taught that Judith was a heroine of Chanukah; her actions are cited by many traditional Jewish sources as a central part of the Chanukah miracles we celebrate.
The story of Judith is apocryphal, meaning that it does not appear in Tanach [it could not possibly appear in Tanach, since it would have occurred after the conclusion of Tanach]. Instead, it has its own book, the Book of Judith.
Here is a key part of the story, from the Book of Judith:
"When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master's presence. They went to bed, for they all were weary because the banquet had lasted so long. But Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holofernes stretched out on his bed, for he was dead drunk.
"Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait for her to come out, as she did on the other days; for she said she would be going out for her prayers. She had said the same thing to Bagoas. So everyone went out, and no one, either small or great, was left in the bedchamber. Then Judith, standing beside his bed, said in her heart, "O Lord Gd of all might, look in this hour on the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. Now indeed is the time to help Your heritage and to carry out my design to destroy the enemies who have risen up against us." She went up to the bedpost near Holofernes' head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "Give me strength today, O Lord Gd of Israel!" Then she struck his neck twice with all her might, and cut off his head. Next she rolled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts. Soon afterward she went out and gave Holofernes' head to her maid, who placed it in her food bag.
"Then the two of them went out together, as they were accustomed to do for prayer. They passed through the camp, circled around the valley, and went up the mountain to Bethulia, and came to its gates. From a distance Judith called out to the sentries at the gates, "Open, open the gate! Gd, our Gd, is with us, still showing His power in Israel and his strength against our enemies, as He has done today!"
"When the people of her town heard her voice, they hurried down to the town gate and summoned the elders of the town. 1They all ran together, both small and great, for it seemed unbelievable that she had returned. They opened the gate and welcomed them. Then they lit a fire to give light, and gathered around them. 1Then she said to them with a loud voice, "Praise Gd, O praise Him! Praise Gd, who has not withdrawn His mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this very night!"
"Then she pulled the head out of the bag and showed it to them, and said, "See here, the head of Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, and here is the canopy beneath which he lay in his drunken stupor. The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman. As the Lord lives, who has protected me in the way I went, I swear that it was my face that seduced him to his destruction, and that he committed no sin with me, to defile and shame me."
"All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped Gd, and said with one accord, 'Blessed are you our Gd, who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people.'"
(Book of Judith, Revised Standard Translation, Chapter 13)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Zechariah's Chanukah message
Hi,
From the Haftorah for Shabbat of Chanukah:
"And the angel that spoke with me returned and woke me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. He said to me: What do you see?
"And I said: I have seen, behold, a Menorah made entirely of gold, with a bowl atop it and seven lamps thereon. There are seven channels leading to the lamps which are on top, and two olive trees next to it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other on its left side.
"And I asked the angel that spoke with me: What are these, my master?
"And the angel that spoke with me told me: Don't you know what these are?
"And I said: No, my master.
"Then he spoke to me, saying: This is the message of Gd to Zerubavel [the political leader of the Jews in Zechariah's day]: Not by might, and not by power, but by My spirit, says HaShem, Gd of hosts. Who are you, great mountain standing before Zerubavel? You shall become a plain; and Zerubavel will bring forth the topmost stone [for the construction of the Temple] amid great proclamations of its beauty.'
(Zechariah 4:1-7)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
From the Haftorah for Shabbat of Chanukah:
"And the angel that spoke with me returned and woke me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. He said to me: What do you see?
"And I said: I have seen, behold, a Menorah made entirely of gold, with a bowl atop it and seven lamps thereon. There are seven channels leading to the lamps which are on top, and two olive trees next to it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other on its left side.
"And I asked the angel that spoke with me: What are these, my master?
"And the angel that spoke with me told me: Don't you know what these are?
"And I said: No, my master.
"Then he spoke to me, saying: This is the message of Gd to Zerubavel [the political leader of the Jews in Zechariah's day]: Not by might, and not by power, but by My spirit, says HaShem, Gd of hosts. Who are you, great mountain standing before Zerubavel? You shall become a plain; and Zerubavel will bring forth the topmost stone [for the construction of the Temple] amid great proclamations of its beauty.'
(Zechariah 4:1-7)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, December 22, 2008
The spiritual light of Israel will never be dimmed
Hi,
R' Shimshon Raphael Hirsch's strong message on the Menorah's light:
"Each year, when the Chanukah season recurs, lights are kindled in every home of Israel, and by every son of Israel, and the events of those days are celebrated in word and in song, paying homage to Gd. Thus the darkened courses of Israel are lit up by this message: 'The spiritual light of Israel will never be dimmed.'
"And even if round about you everything becomes defiled by the oppression of the time, so long as the light remains pure within the confines of only one house or within the breast of only one man, live on joyfully amid all the wanton aberration, even die joyfully under the frenzy of a madman, for the spiritual life of Israel is saved. Gd watches over it; and even by the light of one man He rekindles it anew."
(Horeb, paragraph 246)
Have a great Chanukah,
Mordechai
R' Shimshon Raphael Hirsch's strong message on the Menorah's light:
"Each year, when the Chanukah season recurs, lights are kindled in every home of Israel, and by every son of Israel, and the events of those days are celebrated in word and in song, paying homage to Gd. Thus the darkened courses of Israel are lit up by this message: 'The spiritual light of Israel will never be dimmed.'
"And even if round about you everything becomes defiled by the oppression of the time, so long as the light remains pure within the confines of only one house or within the breast of only one man, live on joyfully amid all the wanton aberration, even die joyfully under the frenzy of a madman, for the spiritual life of Israel is saved. Gd watches over it; and even by the light of one man He rekindles it anew."
(Horeb, paragraph 246)
Have a great Chanukah,
Mordechai
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Chanukah Elevation
Hi,
"The school of Hillel says that on the first night [of Chanukah] we kindle one light, and then we add as we go along...
"What is the reasoning of the school of Hillel? For we elevate in holiness; we do not cause decent in holiness."
(This is often translated as "we ascend in holiness; we do not descend in holiness," but I believe that is a mis-translation; the Hebrew is "maalin" and "moridin" rather than "olin" and "yordin." It is not about our own ascent/descent; rather, it is the ascent/descent of the menorah, and perhaps the celebration of the miracle.)
(Talmud, Shabbat 21b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"The school of Hillel says that on the first night [of Chanukah] we kindle one light, and then we add as we go along...
"What is the reasoning of the school of Hillel? For we elevate in holiness; we do not cause decent in holiness."
(This is often translated as "we ascend in holiness; we do not descend in holiness," but I believe that is a mis-translation; the Hebrew is "maalin" and "moridin" rather than "olin" and "yordin." It is not about our own ascent/descent; rather, it is the ascent/descent of the menorah, and perhaps the celebration of the miracle.)
(Talmud, Shabbat 21b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The source for lighting the Menorah
Hi,
Indirectly, Chanukah testifies to Jewish loyalty to the words of the Sages:
"[When we light the menorah, we recite the following blessing:] 'You are blessed, Gd... who sanctified us with mitzvot and instructed us to light the lamp of Chanukah.'
"But where did Gd instruct us to do this?! [Chanukah occurred after the canonization of Tanach; there can be no biblical instruction to light the menorah!]
"Rabbi Avya explained: It is written, 'You shall not stray from what the sages tell you, right or left.'" [In other words: This does not appear in the text of the Torah, but it is an instruction of the Sages and is honored as such.]
(Talmud, Shabbat 23a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Indirectly, Chanukah testifies to Jewish loyalty to the words of the Sages:
"[When we light the menorah, we recite the following blessing:] 'You are blessed, Gd... who sanctified us with mitzvot and instructed us to light the lamp of Chanukah.'
"But where did Gd instruct us to do this?! [Chanukah occurred after the canonization of Tanach; there can be no biblical instruction to light the menorah!]
"Rabbi Avya explained: It is written, 'You shall not stray from what the sages tell you, right or left.'" [In other words: This does not appear in the text of the Torah, but it is an instruction of the Sages and is honored as such.]
(Talmud, Shabbat 23a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The importance of publicizing the Chanukah miracle
Hi,
"If a person has a choice between fulfilling the Mitzvah of the Menorah or of Kiddush on Shabbat, which has precedence? Kiddush is a more frequent (and therefore more significant) Mitzvah, but Chanukah lights publicize the miracle Gd performed for us!"
"Chanukah lights have precedence; such is the greatness of publicizing a Divine miracle."
(Talmud, Shabbat 23b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"If a person has a choice between fulfilling the Mitzvah of the Menorah or of Kiddush on Shabbat, which has precedence? Kiddush is a more frequent (and therefore more significant) Mitzvah, but Chanukah lights publicize the miracle Gd performed for us!"
"Chanukah lights have precedence; such is the greatness of publicizing a Divine miracle."
(Talmud, Shabbat 23b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The value of the Menorah
Hi,
"One who is consistent in the Mitzvah of kindling Chanukah lights will have children who will be Torah scholars."
(Talmud, Shabbat 23b)
[Some explain that this is because one who is careful in this Mitzvah shows visible, public love of the Mitzvah. That is certain to affect one's children.]
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"One who is consistent in the Mitzvah of kindling Chanukah lights will have children who will be Torah scholars."
(Talmud, Shabbat 23b)
[Some explain that this is because one who is careful in this Mitzvah shows visible, public love of the Mitzvah. That is certain to affect one's children.]
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A menorah for whom?
Hi,
"Rav Sheshet asked: It is written (Leviticus 24), 'The lights of the Menorah will be arranged beyond the curtain [which covers the Holy of Holies in the Temple].'
"Does Gd require its light?! For forty years, the Jews in the desert traveled only by Gd's own light! Rather, the Menorah is intended as testimony to those who enter this world, that Gd manifests Himself among Israel."
(Talmud, Shabbat 22b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rav Sheshet asked: It is written (Leviticus 24), 'The lights of the Menorah will be arranged beyond the curtain [which covers the Holy of Holies in the Temple].'
"Does Gd require its light?! For forty years, the Jews in the desert traveled only by Gd's own light! Rather, the Menorah is intended as testimony to those who enter this world, that Gd manifests Himself among Israel."
(Talmud, Shabbat 22b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, December 15, 2008
"Mitzvah meals" for Chanukah
Hi,
Turning one's meal into a Mitzvah:
"We sing songs and praises at the special meals added for Chanukah, and so these meals become Mitzvah Meals."
(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 670:2)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Turning one's meal into a Mitzvah:
"We sing songs and praises at the special meals added for Chanukah, and so these meals become Mitzvah Meals."
(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 670:2)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The goal of Torah study
Hi,
"You msut study for practical life - that is the fundamental principle of the law. With attentive mind and with receptive heart you must study in order to practice. You must aim at learning from the law a way of life, which is its true teaching; only then can you learn it properly, only then will it disclose to you its inmost meaning.
"Every other object, whether it is to sharpen the mind and the brain, or even to attain honour and respect and livelihood, has a value, because there is a hope that through occupying yourself with the law you will learn to love and study it for the sake of its one supreme object, but in itself it does not lead to the goal."
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraph 493)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"You msut study for practical life - that is the fundamental principle of the law. With attentive mind and with receptive heart you must study in order to practice. You must aim at learning from the law a way of life, which is its true teaching; only then can you learn it properly, only then will it disclose to you its inmost meaning.
"Every other object, whether it is to sharpen the mind and the brain, or even to attain honour and respect and livelihood, has a value, because there is a hope that through occupying yourself with the law you will learn to love and study it for the sake of its one supreme object, but in itself it does not lead to the goal."
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraph 493)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Hillel the Confident
Hi,
"Once Hillel the Elder was travelling home when he heard a cry from the city. He said, 'I am certain that this is not from my house.'
"Regarding this it is written (Psalms 112), 'He will not fear bad news, for his heart is established, confident in Gd.'"
(Talmud, Berachot 60a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Once Hillel the Elder was travelling home when he heard a cry from the city. He said, 'I am certain that this is not from my house.'
"Regarding this it is written (Psalms 112), 'He will not fear bad news, for his heart is established, confident in Gd.'"
(Talmud, Berachot 60a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, December 11, 2008
We pray as a community, and we leave as a community
Hi,
"The Sages enacted a special additional blessing (Magen Avot) to be recited at the end of the Friday night Maariv service...
"Why did they do this? Because many people come to pray, and there might be someone who arrived late and won't be done when everyone else finishes, and he might remain alone in the synagogue and be endangered [upon leaving by himself].
"Therefore the Chazan recites this additional blessing, in order that the entire congregation should remain until the late one finishes. They will then all exit together."
(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prayer 9:10-11)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"The Sages enacted a special additional blessing (Magen Avot) to be recited at the end of the Friday night Maariv service...
"Why did they do this? Because many people come to pray, and there might be someone who arrived late and won't be done when everyone else finishes, and he might remain alone in the synagogue and be endangered [upon leaving by himself].
"Therefore the Chazan recites this additional blessing, in order that the entire congregation should remain until the late one finishes. They will then all exit together."
(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prayer 9:10-11)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Are you worthy of eating meat?
Hi,
When Gd creates Adam and Chavah, He only permits them to eat that which grows from the ground. It is only after the Flood that Gd permits consumption of higher-order living things. The commentators offer various explanations for this change.
The following passage from the Talmud indicates that meat-eating is a privilege reserved for people who develop themselves spiritually:
"Rebbe said: A person who does not study Torah may not eat meat. It is written (Leviticus 11), 'This is the Torah of consuming animals and poultry,' showing that one who is involved in Torah is permitted to eat meat and poultry, but one who is not involved in Torah may not do so."
(Talmud, Pesachim 49b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
When Gd creates Adam and Chavah, He only permits them to eat that which grows from the ground. It is only after the Flood that Gd permits consumption of higher-order living things. The commentators offer various explanations for this change.
The following passage from the Talmud indicates that meat-eating is a privilege reserved for people who develop themselves spiritually:
"Rebbe said: A person who does not study Torah may not eat meat. It is written (Leviticus 11), 'This is the Torah of consuming animals and poultry,' showing that one who is involved in Torah is permitted to eat meat and poultry, but one who is not involved in Torah may not do so."
(Talmud, Pesachim 49b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Enthusiasm for Judaism
Hi,
The very Jewish ideal of enthusiasm:
"Those who are enthusiastic rush to perform Mitzvot at the earliest opportunity."
(Talmud, Pesachim 4a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
The very Jewish ideal of enthusiasm:
"Those who are enthusiastic rush to perform Mitzvot at the earliest opportunity."
(Talmud, Pesachim 4a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, December 8, 2008
Visiting the sick, and being sensitive to their needs
Hi,
A nuance in the mitzvah of visiting the sick:
"One should not visit ill people who have bowel ailments, or eye pain or headaches: Bowel ailments because the ill person will be embarrassed before the visitor, and eye pain or headaches because conversation is painful for someone in that condition."
(Talmud, Nedarim 41a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
A nuance in the mitzvah of visiting the sick:
"One should not visit ill people who have bowel ailments, or eye pain or headaches: Bowel ailments because the ill person will be embarrassed before the visitor, and eye pain or headaches because conversation is painful for someone in that condition."
(Talmud, Nedarim 41a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Gd preventing, or permitting, sin
Hi,
A passage with enormous ramifications regarding Free Will, as well as Repentance:
"The generation of Jews in the desert were so elevated that Gd would have protected them from having the opportunity to sin with the Golden Calf, but Gd allowed it to happen in order to teach future generations about the power of repentance."
(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 4b as explained by "Maharsha")
Have a great day,
Mordechai
A passage with enormous ramifications regarding Free Will, as well as Repentance:
"The generation of Jews in the desert were so elevated that Gd would have protected them from having the opportunity to sin with the Golden Calf, but Gd allowed it to happen in order to teach future generations about the power of repentance."
(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 4b as explained by "Maharsha")
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, December 6, 2008
My advice: Take advice
Hi,
"Any government which does not have advisors is not a true government.
"From whom do we learn? From the government of the house of David. He had advisors, as it is written (Divrei haYamim I 27), 'And Jonathan, David's uncle, was an advisor, a man of understanding and a scribe.' If the government of the house of David had advisors, how much more so would advisors be good for ohter people!
"One who listens to advice is wise. It is also written (Mishlei 11), 'And salvation comes through much advice.'"
(Midrash, Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer 3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Any government which does not have advisors is not a true government.
"From whom do we learn? From the government of the house of David. He had advisors, as it is written (Divrei haYamim I 27), 'And Jonathan, David's uncle, was an advisor, a man of understanding and a scribe.' If the government of the house of David had advisors, how much more so would advisors be good for ohter people!
"One who listens to advice is wise. It is also written (Mishlei 11), 'And salvation comes through much advice.'"
(Midrash, Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer 3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Changing one's clothes for prayer
Hi,
A source for wearing unique clothes to pray:
Where does the Torah teach that changing into fresh clothing is a sign of respect?
"It is written (Leviticus 7), "[After the Kohen clears the ashes from the altar,] he shall remove his garments and put on different garments."
"It was taught in R' Yishmael's school: We see that the Torah taught proper conduct: One should not pour wine for his master while wearing the clothing in which he cooked the master's food."
(Talmud, Shabbat 114a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
A source for wearing unique clothes to pray:
Where does the Torah teach that changing into fresh clothing is a sign of respect?
"It is written (Leviticus 7), "[After the Kohen clears the ashes from the altar,] he shall remove his garments and put on different garments."
"It was taught in R' Yishmael's school: We see that the Torah taught proper conduct: One should not pour wine for his master while wearing the clothing in which he cooked the master's food."
(Talmud, Shabbat 114a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Arrogance and Torah knowledge do not mix
Hi,
"Arrogance is a sign of poverty... 'poverty' meaning a poverty of Torah knowledge."
(Talmud, Kiddushin 49b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Arrogance is a sign of poverty... 'poverty' meaning a poverty of Torah knowledge."
(Talmud, Kiddushin 49b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Understanding the words of the Torah
Hi,
On the difficulty of properly understanding the Torah's text:
"Rabbi Yehudah said: One who translates a biblical sentence according to its literal form is a liar, and one who adds interpretation on his own is a blasphemer."
(Talmud, Kiddushin 49a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
On the difficulty of properly understanding the Torah's text:
"Rabbi Yehudah said: One who translates a biblical sentence according to its literal form is a liar, and one who adds interpretation on his own is a blasphemer."
(Talmud, Kiddushin 49a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, December 1, 2008
Amen!
Hi,
One to ponder; this lesson does not have an easy explanation:
"Rabbi Yosi said: One who responds 'Amen' to a blessing is greater than the one who recited the blessing in the first place...
"This is actually subject to debate, for we have another lesson, 'Both the one reciting a blessing and the one responding 'Amen' are performing great deeds, but it is better to rush to be the one who recites the blessing.'"
(Talmud, Nazir 66b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
One to ponder; this lesson does not have an easy explanation:
"Rabbi Yosi said: One who responds 'Amen' to a blessing is greater than the one who recited the blessing in the first place...
"This is actually subject to debate, for we have another lesson, 'Both the one reciting a blessing and the one responding 'Amen' are performing great deeds, but it is better to rush to be the one who recites the blessing.'"
(Talmud, Nazir 66b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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