Hi,
"A man sold land to Rav Pappa, in order to raise money to purchase oxen. In the end he didn’t need the money, and so Rav Pappa returned his land. Rav Pappa transcended the line of the law."
(Talmud, Ketuvot 97a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Remarkable permission to speak lashon hara
Hi,
"Rabbi Shemuel bar Nachman cited Rabbi Yonatan: We are permitted to speak harmfully about people who promote strife."
(Talmud Yerushalmi, Peah 1:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Shemuel bar Nachman cited Rabbi Yonatan: We are permitted to speak harmfully about people who promote strife."
(Talmud Yerushalmi, Peah 1:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The First Mitzvah
Hi,
"The first mitzvah is a commandment to believe that the One who gave us the Torah on Mount Sinai, via our master Moshe, was HaShem our Gd who took us out of Egypt. Regarding this, it is stated when Gd gave us the Torah, 'I am HaShem, your Gd, who took you out of the land of Egypt.'"
(Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, Aseh 1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"The first mitzvah is a commandment to believe that the One who gave us the Torah on Mount Sinai, via our master Moshe, was HaShem our Gd who took us out of Egypt. Regarding this, it is stated when Gd gave us the Torah, 'I am HaShem, your Gd, who took you out of the land of Egypt.'"
(Sefer Mitzvot Gadol, Aseh 1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Back to basics
Hi,
Sometimes, simplest is best:
"You shall neither take revenge nor bear a grudge against your fellow, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Gd."
(Vayyikra 19:18)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sometimes, simplest is best:
"You shall neither take revenge nor bear a grudge against your fellow, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Gd."
(Vayyikra 19:18)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, October 26, 2009
Why send meraglim [spies] to Israel?
Hi,
"It appears that Gd's essential intent was to send Gd-fearing, complete people, whose entire goal was the service of Gd. Gd-forbid, it was not for them to tour the land and see its material aspects, but rather Gd instructed Moshe to send people who already served Gd in order for them to make their mark as servants of Gd there, through Torah and prayer, in order to draw life and spiritual influence from the heavenly Israel to the earthly Israel, so that the land of Israel itself would long for the arrival of the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov."
(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi to Parshat Sh'lach)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"It appears that Gd's essential intent was to send Gd-fearing, complete people, whose entire goal was the service of Gd. Gd-forbid, it was not for them to tour the land and see its material aspects, but rather Gd instructed Moshe to send people who already served Gd in order for them to make their mark as servants of Gd there, through Torah and prayer, in order to draw life and spiritual influence from the heavenly Israel to the earthly Israel, so that the land of Israel itself would long for the arrival of the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov."
(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi to Parshat Sh'lach)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The warning to a potential convert
Hi,
"When someone comes to convert, we do not accept him immediately. Rather, we say to him: Why do you want to convert? Don't you see that this nation is low and tortured among all of the nations, that great illnesses and sufferings befall them, that they bury their children and grandchildren, that they are killed for observing circumcision and immersion and other mitzvot, and that they do not conduct themselves publicly as the other nations do?"
(Masechet Gerim 1:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"When someone comes to convert, we do not accept him immediately. Rather, we say to him: Why do you want to convert? Don't you see that this nation is low and tortured among all of the nations, that great illnesses and sufferings befall them, that they bury their children and grandchildren, that they are killed for observing circumcision and immersion and other mitzvot, and that they do not conduct themselves publicly as the other nations do?"
(Masechet Gerim 1:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Censorship, from Maimonides
Hi,
Regarding King Chizkiyah's decision to conceal the "Book of Cures" of his day:
"There are practices that Gd has forbidden, but that one may study and analyze, for Gd only said, 'Do not learn to practice them,' and our tradition-based understanding, recorded in the Talmud in Sanhedrin 68, is that one may learn them in order to analyze and teach.
"However, when people destroyed their path and began to cure themselves through these means, he removed the practices and hid them away."
(Commentary of Rambam to Mishnah Pesachim, Chapter 4)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Regarding King Chizkiyah's decision to conceal the "Book of Cures" of his day:
"There are practices that Gd has forbidden, but that one may study and analyze, for Gd only said, 'Do not learn to practice them,' and our tradition-based understanding, recorded in the Talmud in Sanhedrin 68, is that one may learn them in order to analyze and teach.
"However, when people destroyed their path and began to cure themselves through these means, he removed the practices and hid them away."
(Commentary of Rambam to Mishnah Pesachim, Chapter 4)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Going to the doctor
Hi,
"When we say that the Torah gave the doctor permission to heal, this means that healing is not prohibited out of concern for error. Alternatively, it is lest people allege that Gd strikes and this person comes to heal, and that it is not the way of humans to heal but only human habit…
"Rather, this permission is a mitzvah, for it is a mitzvah to heal and it is part of saving lives."
(Ramban, Torat haAdam, Sakkanah)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"When we say that the Torah gave the doctor permission to heal, this means that healing is not prohibited out of concern for error. Alternatively, it is lest people allege that Gd strikes and this person comes to heal, and that it is not the way of humans to heal but only human habit…
"Rather, this permission is a mitzvah, for it is a mitzvah to heal and it is part of saving lives."
(Ramban, Torat haAdam, Sakkanah)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Gaining atonement through the mitzvot of our meals
Hi,
“Yechezkel 41:22 says, ‘The altar was made of wood, three amot high… and he said to me, this is the table before Gd.’ He began with altar and concluded with table!
“R’ Yochanan and R’ Elazar explained: As long as the beit hamikdash stands, the altar atones for Israel. Now [since Yechezkel prophesied during a period of exile], a person’s table atones for him.”
(Talmud, Berachot 55a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
“Yechezkel 41:22 says, ‘The altar was made of wood, three amot high… and he said to me, this is the table before Gd.’ He began with altar and concluded with table!
“R’ Yochanan and R’ Elazar explained: As long as the beit hamikdash stands, the altar atones for Israel. Now [since Yechezkel prophesied during a period of exile], a person’s table atones for him.”
(Talmud, Berachot 55a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The victim of anger
Hi,
"Anger is bad for the angry person, himself... There is no greater harm for a person than being angry, as the Sages point out (Talmud, Nedarim 22a) that anger causes a person to forget his Torah knowledge and to become foolish, and it causes many more negative results as well."
(Comment of Maharal to Avot 2:10)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Anger is bad for the angry person, himself... There is no greater harm for a person than being angry, as the Sages point out (Talmud, Nedarim 22a) that anger causes a person to forget his Torah knowledge and to become foolish, and it causes many more negative results as well."
(Comment of Maharal to Avot 2:10)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, October 19, 2009
A lifelong search for peace
Hi,
"One should always daven for peace, even to the last shovelful [in his grave]."
(Talmud, Berachot 8a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"One should always daven for peace, even to the last shovelful [in his grave]."
(Talmud, Berachot 8a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Arrogance and Remembering Gd
Hi,
"Arrogance is the coin which has been disqualified by the great, blessed King, and He warned us about this in the Torah: 'Be careful lest you forget HaShem your Gd (Devarim 8:11),' for one who is arrogant will forget his Creator, as it is written, 'And your cattle and sheep will become many and your silver and gold will increase, and your heart will become elevated and you will forget HaShem your Gd and you will say, ‘My strength and the might of my hand created all of this wealth for me.' You shall remember HaShem your Gd, for He gives you strength to create wealth. (Devarim 8:13-18)'"
(Orchot Tzaddikim, Shaar haGaavah)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Arrogance is the coin which has been disqualified by the great, blessed King, and He warned us about this in the Torah: 'Be careful lest you forget HaShem your Gd (Devarim 8:11),' for one who is arrogant will forget his Creator, as it is written, 'And your cattle and sheep will become many and your silver and gold will increase, and your heart will become elevated and you will forget HaShem your Gd and you will say, ‘My strength and the might of my hand created all of this wealth for me.' You shall remember HaShem your Gd, for He gives you strength to create wealth. (Devarim 8:13-18)'"
(Orchot Tzaddikim, Shaar haGaavah)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Preparing for someone's imminent demise
Hi,
When someone is in the last stages of dying:
"One may not make announcements [to gather people to help with the burial], and one may not begin to praise him for his deeds.
"Rabbi Yehudah said: If he is a sage, one may praise him for his deeds."
(Semachot 1:6)
Nachalat Yaakov explains: The concern is lest this frighten the person who is passing away. With a Torah scholar, though, Rabbi Yehudah believes that praise is customary and therefore not a warning of his incipient passing.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
When someone is in the last stages of dying:
"One may not make announcements [to gather people to help with the burial], and one may not begin to praise him for his deeds.
"Rabbi Yehudah said: If he is a sage, one may praise him for his deeds."
(Semachot 1:6)
Nachalat Yaakov explains: The concern is lest this frighten the person who is passing away. With a Torah scholar, though, Rabbi Yehudah believes that praise is customary and therefore not a warning of his incipient passing.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The value of reciting the korbanot
Hi,
“It is written (Bereishit 15): ‘And he [Avraham] said: How do I know that I will inherit it [Israel]?’
“Avraham said before Gd: Master of the Universe! Perhaps, Gd-forbid, the Jews will sin before You and You will do to them as You did to the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Tower of Bavel!
“Gd replied: No.
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, how do I know that?
“Gd replied: Bring a calf… [symbolizing the korbanot]
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, that is fine for when the beit hamikdash [Jerusalem Temple] stands, but what will happen to them when the beit hamikdash does not stand?
“Gd said to him: I have already created the order of the korbanot for them; whenever they recite it, I consider it for them as though they had brought the korban before Me, and I forgive them for all of their sins.”
(Talmud, Megilah 31b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
“It is written (Bereishit 15): ‘And he [Avraham] said: How do I know that I will inherit it [Israel]?’
“Avraham said before Gd: Master of the Universe! Perhaps, Gd-forbid, the Jews will sin before You and You will do to them as You did to the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Tower of Bavel!
“Gd replied: No.
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, how do I know that?
“Gd replied: Bring a calf… [symbolizing the korbanot]
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, that is fine for when the beit hamikdash [Jerusalem Temple] stands, but what will happen to them when the beit hamikdash does not stand?
“Gd said to him: I have already created the order of the korbanot for them; whenever they recite it, I consider it for them as though they had brought the korban before Me, and I forgive them for all of their sins.”
(Talmud, Megilah 31b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The mortal danger of authority
Hi,
"Rabbi Yochanan said: Woe to those who hold positions of authority, for authority buries its holders."
(Talmud, Pesachim 87b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Yochanan said: Woe to those who hold positions of authority, for authority buries its holders."
(Talmud, Pesachim 87b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Aiding widows and orphans
Hi,
"Mitzvah 256 instructs us not to oppress an orphan or a widow, as it is written, 'You shall oppress no widow or orphan.' This instructs includes verbal oppression as well as oppression through actions. Rather, one should say good and gentle things to them, and do business with them, and provide for them to live a good and happy life."
(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot Prohibition #256)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Mitzvah 256 instructs us not to oppress an orphan or a widow, as it is written, 'You shall oppress no widow or orphan.' This instructs includes verbal oppression as well as oppression through actions. Rather, one should say good and gentle things to them, and do business with them, and provide for them to live a good and happy life."
(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot Prohibition #256)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, October 12, 2009
Deceptive business practices
Hi,
"Regarding the verse, 'I have seen evil beneath the sun,' Rabbi Shemuel bar Ami said: This refers to the plots of the wicked, such as those who mix water into wine, bilkiya water into oil ma'is water into honey, donkey's milk into ktaf, kumus into myrrh, grape leaves into pilyon, red dye into brine and vetch into peppers, and using a long arm on one side of a balance and a short arm on the other side.
"Regarding all of these, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai declared: Woe is me if I say it, woe is me if I do not say it! If I say it, tricky people may learn these methods. If I do not say it, tricky people may say that the scholars are not aware of their tricks.
"In the end, the sages said, 'For the ways of Gd are straight [the righteous will walk in them, and the wicked will stumble in them.'"
(Midrash, Kohelet Rabbah 6:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Regarding the verse, 'I have seen evil beneath the sun,' Rabbi Shemuel bar Ami said: This refers to the plots of the wicked, such as those who mix water into wine, bilkiya water into oil ma'is water into honey, donkey's milk into ktaf, kumus into myrrh, grape leaves into pilyon, red dye into brine and vetch into peppers, and using a long arm on one side of a balance and a short arm on the other side.
"Regarding all of these, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai declared: Woe is me if I say it, woe is me if I do not say it! If I say it, tricky people may learn these methods. If I do not say it, tricky people may say that the scholars are not aware of their tricks.
"In the end, the sages said, 'For the ways of Gd are straight [the righteous will walk in them, and the wicked will stumble in them.'"
(Midrash, Kohelet Rabbah 6:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The unique love of Shabbat
Hi,
[Regarding the amidah for holidays which coincide with Shabbat:]
"We include the phrase, 'You have given us... with love, a day declared to be holy," referring to the uniqueness of Shabbat, which we accepted with love."
(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 487:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
[Regarding the amidah for holidays which coincide with Shabbat:]
"We include the phrase, 'You have given us... with love, a day declared to be holy," referring to the uniqueness of Shabbat, which we accepted with love."
(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 487:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The value of preparing for a mitzvah, Part II
Hi,
"The Tur cited a midrash [as we saw here yesterday] that between Yom Kippur and Succot we are invovled in mitzvot of Lulav and Succah and we do not sin, and Gd declares that what is gone is gone.
"The Taz asked: How could these days be greater than Succot itself, when we fulfill the actual mitzvah – and yet, he says that the first day of Succot is first for the year’s accounting of sins!
"But this is not unlikely, for there is greater strength and salvation in the preparation for a mitzvah than in the fulfillment itself:
"First, this is because fulfilling the mitzvah is for a moment and preparation is eternal. Regarding this it is said, ‘You shall guard and you shall fulfill’ – based on the way a person guards himself continually, in order to be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem. Certainly, all of the work he does to guard himself from the empty elements of this world is needed so that he will be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem, and his ability to fulfill the mitzvah will match his level of purity.
"Also, because of the way one guards himself he then merits to fulfill the mitzvah and be guarded from all harm, as it is written, ‘One who guards a mitzvah will know of nothing bad.’
"Further, who can fulfill a mitzvah according to all of its precepts? But the desire and preparation for a mitzvah is all in order to perform it according to Divine desire, and therefore that preparation and joy in arriving at the mitzvah opportunity is very important."
(Sfat Emet to Parshat Haazinu)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
"The Tur cited a midrash [as we saw here yesterday] that between Yom Kippur and Succot we are invovled in mitzvot of Lulav and Succah and we do not sin, and Gd declares that what is gone is gone.
"The Taz asked: How could these days be greater than Succot itself, when we fulfill the actual mitzvah – and yet, he says that the first day of Succot is first for the year’s accounting of sins!
"But this is not unlikely, for there is greater strength and salvation in the preparation for a mitzvah than in the fulfillment itself:
"First, this is because fulfilling the mitzvah is for a moment and preparation is eternal. Regarding this it is said, ‘You shall guard and you shall fulfill’ – based on the way a person guards himself continually, in order to be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem. Certainly, all of the work he does to guard himself from the empty elements of this world is needed so that he will be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem, and his ability to fulfill the mitzvah will match his level of purity.
"Also, because of the way one guards himself he then merits to fulfill the mitzvah and be guarded from all harm, as it is written, ‘One who guards a mitzvah will know of nothing bad.’
"Further, who can fulfill a mitzvah according to all of its precepts? But the desire and preparation for a mitzvah is all in order to perform it according to Divine desire, and therefore that preparation and joy in arriving at the mitzvah opportunity is very important."
(Sfat Emet to Parshat Haazinu)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The value of preparing for a mitzvah, Part I
Hi,
"Immediately after Yom Kippur people involve themselves in mitzvot of Succah and Lulav and do not perform transgressions. Therefore, the first day of Succot is identified as “First” in the Torah – because it is the first of the year’s accounting of sins."
(Tur Orach Chaim 581)
to be continued...
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
"Immediately after Yom Kippur people involve themselves in mitzvot of Succah and Lulav and do not perform transgressions. Therefore, the first day of Succot is identified as “First” in the Torah – because it is the first of the year’s accounting of sins."
(Tur Orach Chaim 581)
to be continued...
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Succot: Repentance generated by love
Hi,
"It appears correct to me that in the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur each person's eyes are open to examine his ways and return to Gd, each person according to his insight will be praised... and one who trembles at the word of Gd will act according to the heights of his insight to repair that which he had corrupted. This is repentance generated by awe.
"After Yom Kippur, when people become involved with succah and lulav and the four species... then this repentance is repentance generated by love."
(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi for Shabbat Shuvah)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
"It appears correct to me that in the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur each person's eyes are open to examine his ways and return to Gd, each person according to his insight will be praised... and one who trembles at the word of Gd will act according to the heights of his insight to repair that which he had corrupted. This is repentance generated by awe.
"After Yom Kippur, when people become involved with succah and lulav and the four species... then this repentance is repentance generated by love."
(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi for Shabbat Shuvah)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
Monday, October 5, 2009
Arba Minim and the Beauty of those who follow the Torah
Hi,
"You are pursuers of righteousness. You rise early to attend synagogues and study halls, you examine the sick and bury the dead and gladden grooms and perform generous acts for the poor and indigent.
"You exhaust yourselves with mitzvot and spend your wealth to purchase a Lulav and create a succah even though they are only used for seven days and then they are thrown out. You do not stint on this expenditure in order to fulfill mitzvot, and you take pains to fulfill them, such as in eating matzah all seven days and in sleeping in the succah in the frost at night and in the heat of the day, and performing many similarly demanding mitzvot."
(R' Yaakov Skili, Torat haMinchah, Parshat Chayyei Sarah)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
"You are pursuers of righteousness. You rise early to attend synagogues and study halls, you examine the sick and bury the dead and gladden grooms and perform generous acts for the poor and indigent.
"You exhaust yourselves with mitzvot and spend your wealth to purchase a Lulav and create a succah even though they are only used for seven days and then they are thrown out. You do not stint on this expenditure in order to fulfill mitzvot, and you take pains to fulfill them, such as in eating matzah all seven days and in sleeping in the succah in the frost at night and in the heat of the day, and performing many similarly demanding mitzvot."
(R' Yaakov Skili, Torat haMinchah, Parshat Chayyei Sarah)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Succot as a time to draw closer to Gd
Hi,
"Parallel to the twenty-two days of bein hametzarim (a period of historic exile and destruction) is the period from Rosh haShanah to Shemini Atzeret."
(R' Tzaddok haKohen of Lublin, Tzidkat haTzaddik 171)
Moadim l'simcha,
Mordechai
"Parallel to the twenty-two days of bein hametzarim (a period of historic exile and destruction) is the period from Rosh haShanah to Shemini Atzeret."
(R' Tzaddok haKohen of Lublin, Tzidkat haTzaddik 171)
Moadim l'simcha,
Mordechai
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Inviting in the Ushpizin
Hi,
"one must rejoice each day with a shining countenance with these guests who dwell with him.
"And Rabbi Abba said: Initially it is written, 'You shall sit in succot seven days,' and then, 'they shall sit in succot.' In the beginning you shall sit and then they shall sit? Rather, first is for guests [the ushpizin] and then second for people of this world, as when Rav Hemnuna the Elder entered the succah: He rejoiced and stood at the entrance to the succah, outside, and said, 'Let us invite the guests!'"
(Zohar to Emor 103b-104a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"one must rejoice each day with a shining countenance with these guests who dwell with him.
"And Rabbi Abba said: Initially it is written, 'You shall sit in succot seven days,' and then, 'they shall sit in succot.' In the beginning you shall sit and then they shall sit? Rather, first is for guests [the ushpizin] and then second for people of this world, as when Rav Hemnuna the Elder entered the succah: He rejoiced and stood at the entrance to the succah, outside, and said, 'Let us invite the guests!'"
(Zohar to Emor 103b-104a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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