Parental love

Hi,

Mishlei 13:24 says, "One who spares his rod hates his child, and one who loves his child rebukes him when he is young."

The Malbim comments: "This [declining to punish] shows that his mercy for his son, which makes him unable to observe his son's pain, is more important to him than the benefit for his son. If so, he loves himself more than his son, and he hates his son."

(Malbim to Mishlei 13:24)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

The consequences of inappropriate disciplinary methods

Hi,

"Rebbe's maid saw a man striking his mature son. She said, 'Let him be banned, for violating 'Do not put a stumbling block before the blind.''"

(Talmud, Moed Katan 17a)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Establishing spiritual chevra through material enjoyment

Hi,

"It would be good if they would drink together from time to time, not for the purpose of intoxication or empty celebration, Gd forbid, but only in the manner of the pious, to join closer together and to awaken the animal spirit from its laziness. Even one who does not drink such beverages because of poor health, Gd forbid, should dilute his beverage with water and drink together with them.

"After they drink, they should sing some song of awakening, like Yedid Nefesh, Adon Olam, Psalm 23 and so on. If their souls are inflamed and they want to dance together, they should dance. They should only avoid wasting their time with drinking, singing and dancing exclusively."

(R' Klonymus Kalman Schapira, Bnei Machshavah Tovah, Seder Hadrachah uKlalim 6-7)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Fear and Parenting

Hi,

"This is an important rule for pedagogy: One should avoid causing a child to have great fear of punishment; such fear can cause deep spiritual harm. The Sages tell of a child who was so intimidated that he cast him himself into a pit! (Semachot 2:4-6)

"Therefore, one who will punish should do so immediately, and not say, 'You'll see what Abba will do when he arrives.' This could cause great fear, shaking the child's world."

(R' Shlomo Aviner, Pirkei Chinuch 16:12)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Prayer as weapon

Hi,

"The main weapon used by Mashiach [to accomplish his goals] is prayer."

(Rav Nachman biBreslov, Likutei Moharan 2:1)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Is it the thought that counts?

Hi,

"The Khazar king asked: Since you believe in all you have mentioned, Gd knows what is hidden in your heart and Gd desires the heart, He knows the hidden things and reveals that which is secret [and you need not act on these desires]!

"The Jew replied: This is true when action is impossible, but a person is situated between his desires and his deeds, and he is guilty if he does not convert his visible desire into visible proper action."

(R' Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 5:26-27)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Burial in Israel - on the other hand

Hi,

"Ulla regularly travelled to Israel, but he died outside Israel. When they told R' Elazar, he said, 'You, Ulla, will die on tamei soil?!'

"They then told R' Elazar, 'The casket has arrived.' He said to them, 'There is no comparison between being absorbed while alive and being absorbed posthumously.'"

(Talmud, Ketuvot 111a)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

A growing distance from Gd

Hi,

"The early ones were tested by Gd, as it is written, 'And Gd tested Avraham,' and it is written regarding the generation of the wilderness, 'That I might test him, to see whether he will follow My Torah or not,' and, 'To oppress you and to test you.'

"But the later ones were tested by the nations, as in, 'These are the nations Gd left to test Israel.'"

(Midrash Tanchuma Bereishit 43)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Rav Asi and his mother

Hi,

This story is complex, and admits of multiple explanations:

"Rav Asi's elder mother said, 'I want jewelry,' and he made it for her. She said, 'I want a man," and he said he would seek one. She said, 'I want one as good as you,' and he left her and went to Israel. He heard that she was coming after him, and he asked R' Yochanan, 'May one leave Israel?' R' Yochanan replied, 'No." He asked, 'What about to greet my mother?' He said, 'I don't know.' He delayed a bit, then came back to R' Yochanan, who said, 'Asi, if you want to go back, may Gd return you there in peace.'

"Rav Asi went to R' Elazar and asked, 'Gd-forbid, is he [R' Yochanan] angry?' He replied, 'What did he say to you?' He said, 'May Gd return you there in peace.' R' Elazar said, 'If he was angry at you, he would not have blessed you.'

"By then he heard that his mother's casket had arrived. He said, 'Had I known, I would not have left.'"

(Talmud, Kiddushin 31b)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Dama ben Netina and his mother

Hi,


A talmudic illustration of proper honour for one's parents:

"Rav Dimi reported that once Dama ben Netina was wearing a golden garment and sitting among the Roman aristocrats, and his mother came and tore off his garment, slapped him on the head and spat in his face. He did not embarrass her."

(Talmud, Kiddushin 31a)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

The breaching of the walls of Jerusalem

Hi,

"In the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the famine strengthened in the city and there was no bread for the population. And the city was breached and the soldiers fled, and they departed the city via the gate between the walls by the king's garden, with the Chaldeans surrounding the city, and they traveled via the aravah."

(Yirmiyahu 52:6-7)


"Yirmiyahu spoke regarding the first Beit haMikdash, whereas in the time of the second Beit haMikdash the city was breached on the 17th of Tammuz. A braita corroborates this, saying, 'In the first Beit haMikdash the city was breached on the 9th of Tammuz. In the second, on the 17th of Tammuz.'"

(Talmud, Taanit 28b)

צום קל ומועיל,
Mordechai

This Tuesday: The 17th of Tammuz

Hello,

The fast day of the 17th of Tammuz, observed Tuesday July 19th this year, commemorates five tragedies:

1. Moses descended from meeting Gd and receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai, saw the Jews celebrating with the Golden Calf, and broke the two tablets Gd had given him.

2. The daily Tamid offering, which had been brought regularly in the Jerusalem Beit haMikdash [Temple] from the time the Jews built the Mishkan for over one thousand years, was halted during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem before the Beit haMikdash was destroyed.

3. The Romans invaded Jerusalem, prior to destroying the second Beit haMikdash. (According to the Talmud Bavli, the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem to destroy the first Temple on the 9th of Tammuz. According to the Talmud Yerushalmi, both invasions occurred on the 17th of Tammuz.)

4. A Greek or Roman official named Apostimos held a public burning of the Torah.

5. Idols were set up in the Temple itself; it is not clear what year this happened.

(Mishneh Berurah 549:2)

Be well,
Mordechai

The soul is hidden

Hi,

"Every Jewish soul experiences awe of, and loves, Gd. It is only that she is buried in a reed mat (reference to Berachot 18b), hidden in the body, and so her love and awe are also buried."

(R' Klonymus Kalman Schapira, Bnei Machshavah Tovah, Seder Hadrachah uKlalim 14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Money isn't everything

Hi,

"Avimi, son of Rabbi Avahu, taught: There are those who feed their parents pheasant and yet push them from the world, and there are those who make their parents work at the mill and yet bring them into the next world."

(Talmud, Kiddushin 31a-b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't be so sure of yourself...

Hi,

"If a slaughterer does not have a sage inspect his knife [for flaws] before he uses it, we check the knife. If it's fine, we excommunicate him in order to keep him from depending on himself and using it in the future, when it is flawed."

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Shechitah 1:26)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Learn chassidut and kabbalah

Hi,

"Learn works of chassidut, such as Sh"lah, Maharal, the works of the early chassidim like the great Maggid, Noam Elimelech...

"Even if they include things you do not understand, do not rest your hand from them. At the least, you understand their path, their path of holiness and piety, on your level. Aside from this, their words themselves and their spirit of holiness will stick to you and you will be purified.

"You should also learn a little from the works of kabbalah, so that, at the least, you won't be entirely ignorant in them. The book will be a flow of dew, good for you."

(R' Klonymus Kalman Schapira, Bnei Machshavah Tovah, Seder Hadrachah uKlalim 11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The essence of Judaism eludes us

Hi,

"In our "enlightened" times, Jewish souls are deceived by the delusion of "double concealment." Too frequently, we offer lifeless prayers in the midst of animated personal conversation and drag ourselves through the details of Orthodox Judaism. We have forgotten the purpose of life, while observing its regulations. We have lost our sense of divine yearning and subsequently have stopped yearning ourselves. We proceed cheerfully with the business of establishing institutions and supporting more Jewish causes, not realizing that the essence of Judaism eludes us.

"Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev once gathered all the Jews of Berditchev in the main synagogue, rose to the bimah and called out: "Jews, do not forget there is a Gd in Heaven!" To this end our beis medrash was established -- to stop the inertia of apathy, to tear away at least one mask of concealment and call out "There is a Gd in Heaven!""

(Rav Moshe Weinberger, Jewish Action, Fall 5760)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part III

Hi,

"Rebbe continued to push Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair [to come eat with him], until a mountain [miraculously] arose between them.

"Rebbe cried and said: In their lives they are so powerful [that Gd would perform miracles to satisfy their desire], how much more so in their death! For R' Chama bar Chanina taught, 'The righteous are greater in their death than in their lives, as it is written...'

"They said regarding Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair that he never broke bread belonging to another."

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part II

Hi,

"When Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair came to Rebbe's home, he sought to enter through a passage where [he found that] a white mule stood. He exclaimed, 'The angel of death [for white mules were particularly vicious] is in this house; how could I eat with him?'

"Rebbe heard this and exited to greet him. He said, 'Should I sell it?!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'You shall not put a stumbling block before the blind!'

"He said, 'I will abandon it!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'You will increase the harm! '

"He said, 'I will remove its hooves!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'This will pain a living creature!'

" He said, 'I will kill it!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'That would violate the prohibition against waste!'

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part I

Hi,

"Rebbe heard [that Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair had arrived]. He went out to greet him, and asked, 'Would you like eat with me?' Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied: Yes.

"Rebbe's face shone [with joy]. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said to him, 'Did you think I had vowed not to benefit from Israel? Israel is a holy people! I only refuse because some people want to host but lack the means, and others have the means but don't sincerely want to host, and it is written (Mishlei 23:6-7), 'Do not eat the bread of a stingy person, and do not desire his tasty food, for it is bitter in his soul; he will instruct you, 'Eat and drink,' but his heart is not with you.' You, on the other hand, sincerely want to host and have the means.'"

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why is Shehechiyanu in the plural?

Hi,

"The reason why Shechiyanu [the blessing thanking Gd for keeping us alive and giving us strength to reach a special occasion] was created using plural language ["for keeping –us- alive", etc] is because it would not be possible for people of bitter spirit to thank Gd for bringing "me" to this occasion. It is recited in the plural, not only for the person reciting it but also for others."

(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 839)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Anger management

Hi,

"A person [who suffers from attacks of anger] might not have any flaw in his trait of anger, but in his trait of arrogance, such that all others appear as monkeys to him and so he yells at and degrades them.

"Such a person might spend his entire life working on improving his anger management unsuccessfully; might a person who has no anger issues not shout at, and even strike, a monkey or donkey on occasion?

"Were he to examine and come to the kernel of his anger and see that the cause is actually his arrogance, and so repair his arrogance, then he would be healed."

(R' Klonymus Kalman Schapira, Bnei Machshavah Tovah, Seder Hadrachah uKlalim 8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What to ask for

Hi,

"When one asks [Gd] for spiritual elevation, Gd certainly hears [and responds positively to] his prayer. But when one asks for material aid, it is unclear whether he is worthy of the aid, and whether it would be good for him.

"Therefore, one should ask Gd for spiritual elevation, and then it is possible that he will also be given material aid [as he will now be worthy]."

(R' Moshe Midner, Torat Avot pg. 167)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Food for thought on July Fourth

Hi,

"Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Shimon were sitting together, with Yehudah ben Gerim. Rabbi Yehudah began to speak: 'How fine are the deeds of this [Roman] nation! They established markets, they built bridges, they built bathhouses!'

"Rabbi Yosi was silent.

"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai replied: 'All that they built, they built only for their own needs. They established markets to make a place for women of ill repute; they built bathhouses to pamper themselves; they built bridges from which to collect taxes.'

"Yehudah ben Gerim reported their words, and the report was heard by the government. They said: [Rabbi] Yehudah who praised should be elevated; [Rabbi] Yosi who was silent should be exiled; [Rabbi] Shimon who insulted should be executed."

(Talmud, Shabbat 33b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't embarrass your rebbe

Hi,

Mishlei 23:1-3 says, "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, contemplate that which is before you. Place a knife to your throat if you are a person of great hunger. Do not desire his delicacies; they are the bread of deceit."

"If a student knows that his mentor will be able to answer his question with insight, then 'Contemplate'.

"If not, 'Contemplate that which is before you [independently, rather than embarrass him], and place a knife to your throat [rather than ask and embarrass him].

"'If you are a person of great hunger' [to ask your question], leave that mentor."

(Talmud, Chullin 6a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Follow the leader

Hi,

"If a ruler listens to falsehood, then all of his servants [who follow his lead] will be wicked."

(Mishlei 29:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai