Criticism and Self-Criticism

Hi,

"Reish Lakish said (based on a verse, Tzefaniah 2:1): First improve [lit. decorate] your own actions, then worry about improving the actions of others."

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 107b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Deeds are Primary

Hi,

"Why did the Sages say that one should first don tefillin, and then recite Shema and the amidah? So that he would accept the monarchy of Heaven first, completely."

[Commentators explain: One who practices mitzvot is more complete in his acceptance of Divine monarchy.]

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 2:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Has nature changed? And does that change Jewish law?

Hi,

[Preface: The Talmud prohibits roasting fish with meat, out of concern for potential poisoning.]

"Rabbi Solomon Luria wrote: Based on the fact that Maimonides did not cite the Talmudic passage prohibiting fish roasted with meat, we see that in Maimonides’ expert knowledge of nature and medicine he was aware that the vapor would not cause harm.

"It is well-known that this is a forced answer, for then Maimonides should at least have mentioned that one may not actually roast fish and meat together…

"It first occurred to me that Maimonides held that ‘Binita’ is a specific fish, and that this specific type of fish is prohibited with meat due to danger, but not other fish…and the Binita is not found among us, and so Maimonides excluded it. This appears strained, though, for that fish surely has not been extinguished in its own land, and so Maimonides should have mentioned it for the sake of the people in that land!

"It appears more likely that in his great knowledge, Maimonides knew and understood that nature had changed regarding this, as we find in a variety of cases…Since we see that Maimonides, whose power in medicine and nature was great, omitted this law, it must be that he experimented and found that nature had changed in this matter…

"We would not depend upon this in practice to permit eating fish and meat together, for it could be that this is considered a practice which has been banned by a court’s decision…therefore we are careful, and the custom of our ancestors is Torah. However, we still profit in that we are no longer dealing with a concern which has the level of danger, for there is no more danger, and perhaps even in their time the concern extended only to the Binita fish, and not with our fish."

(Rabbi Moshe Sofer, Chatam Sofer Yoreh Deah 101)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

For Yom ha'Atzmaut

Hi,

In honor of Yom haAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, celebrated Wednesday night and Thursday:

"You will return to HaShem your Gd and hear His voice, according to all that I instruct you today; you and your children, with all of your heart and all of your soul.

"HaShem will return your exile and have mercy on you, and He will return and gather you from all of the nations to which HaShem, your Gd had scattered you.

"HaShem your Gd will bring you to the land which your ancestors inherited, and you will inherit it, and HaShem will prepare good things for you and make you greater in number than your ancestors.

"HaShem your Gd will circumcise your heart and the heart of your children, to love HaShem your Gd with all of your heart and with all of your soul, for your life."

(Devarim 30:2-6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Yom haZikaron

Hi,

Yom haZikaron, on which Israel commemorates those who have fallen in its defense, is observed on the 3rd of Iyyar this year - Tuesday night and Wednesday.

"And when you go to war in your land against the attacker who attacks you, you shall blow on the trumpets. You will be remembered before HaShem, your Gd, and you will be saved from your enemies."

(Bamidbar 10:9)

Be well,
Mordechai

Something to keep in mind when breaking your teeth

Hi,

"If you will be shocked regarding those whose tongues stumble, saying ח as ה, ש as ס, ק as ט, ר as ד, asking how they can pray or read from the torah and recite sacred passages, how they can say נפשנו חכתה and so blaspheme [for they read it as נפשנה הכתה], do not be shocked.

"Our Creator examines hearts. He asks only that a person's heart by complete with Him. When such a person does not know how to speak properly, He considers it as though the person spoke well."

(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Patience of King David

Hi,

Preface: King David longed to build the Beit haMikdash, and was told that he could not. See Shemuel II 7, Melachim I 5, Divrei haYamim I 7 and 22 for more information.

"There is no generation without scorners. What would the lawless of [King David's] generation do? They would go to David's windows and say, 'David, when will the Beit haMikdash be built? When will we go to the house of Gd?'

"He would respond, 'Even though they intend to anger me, may I be rewarded for I am happy in my heart.' [As Tehillim 122:1 says,] 'I am glad when they say to me: Let us go to the house of Gd.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi Berachot 2:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Day 16 of the Omer - Restraint in Splendour

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's third week is Tiferet. Tiferet is splendour and beauty, that which is admired by others and by Gd; it is proper to act in a way which will garner such admiration.

In addition, the Sephirah of the second day of each Omer week is Gevurah. Gevurah is power, expressed in restraint and boundaries and withdrawal.

The combined Sephirah for Day 16 of the Omer is Gevurah sheb'Tiferet, "restraint in splendour".

Choosing a path which invites admiration can be tricky; that which will satisfy G-d will not necessarily satisfy people, and vice versa. When human and Divine values conflict, we are expected to prioritize Divine expectations and Divine admiration, while minimizing any discredit among people. Refraining from taking the more popular but inappropriate route requires great strength and restraint - the hallmark of Gevurah.

Today's Sephirah instructs us to employ judicious restraint when pursuing our splendid path.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Day 15 of the Omer - Generous Splendour

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's third week is Tiferet. Tiferet is splendour and beauty, that which is admired by others and by Gd; it is proper to act in a way which will garner such admiration.

In addition, the Sephirah of the first day of each Omer week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

The combined Sephirah for Day 15 of the Omer is Chesed sheb'Tiferet, "generous splendour".

Other people may admire us, and Gd may praise us, for many good reasons - personal piety, brilliant erudition, hard work, and so on. We need to develop many such admirable traits, of course, and some of these splendid characteristics will be celebrated later in the week of Tiferet. The first day of the week, though, instructs us to earn Divine and human respect through our generosity toward others.
Tonight's Sephirah instructs us to take our first step toward splendour by helping others.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Day 12 of the Omer - Humble Restraint

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's second week is Gevurah. Gevurah is power, expressed in restraint and boundaries.

In addition, the Sephirah of the fifth day of each Omer week is Hod. The kabbalists linked the word Hod (הוד), which means "glory", with Hodaah (הודאה), meaning "thanks" or "confession", to deduce that הוד is a glorious humility.

The combined Sephirah for Day 12 of the Omer is therefore Hod sheb'Gevurah, "humble restraint".

Successful restraint in areas like speech or self-indulgence can lead to arrogance. As Rav Kook wrote in "Maamar HaDor", "As great as the distance from the heavens to the earth, so is the distance between arrogance and the strength that results from the heavenly blessing of the wealth of the soul and the strength of its righteousness."

Further, arrogance could even convince a person that further restraint is unnecessary.

Today's Sephirah instructs us to use our humble Hod in order to maintain a productive and persistent restraint in our Gevurah.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Isolation

Hi,

Bereishit 33:12-16 says:
And Esav said: Let us travel and go, and I will go alongside you.
And Jacob replied: My master knows that the children are soft and my sheep and cattle are nursing their young; if they would hasten one day, all of the sheep would die. Let my master pass before his servant; I will travel at my slow pace, according to the task before me and according to the needs of the children, until I will meet my master in Se'ir.
And Esav said: I will delegate to you some of the nation who are with me.
And Jacob replied: Why would this find favour in the eyes of my master?
And Esav returned that day to his path, to Se'ir.

To which R' Naftali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin (Netziv) commented:

"Esav understood from this that Yaakov's loving company with him was only due to temporary need, and that the idea of companionship with him and his men in general was not pleasing to him, and that Yaakov's eye was really toward dwelling securely, alone."

(Haamek Davar to Bereishit 33:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Absorbing money

Hi,

"Dry land absorbs water. If the earth is already saturated, additional water turns it into mud.

"So it is with money. The needy can absorb money. When the person who already has enough for his needs accumulates more money, it turns into mud."

(R' Moshe of Mekarov, cited by R' Abraham J. Twerski in Rebbes and Chasidim, Chapter 71)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A new Fear of Gd?

Hi,

"To fear G-d [in our era] is to fear abandonment by G-d. The desolate soul is less frequently overwhelmed by G-d's numinous presence than by His thundering absence. In a word, the dominant emotion of spiritual apprehension is anxiety rather than fear."

(R' Shalom Carmy, "Yet My Soul Drew Back", Tradition 41:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Day 9 of the Omer - Restrained Restraint

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's second week is Gevurah. Gevurah is power, expressed in restraint and boundaries and withdrawal.

In addition, the Sephirah of the second day of each Omer week is Gevurah. Thus the combined Sephirah for Day 9 of the Omer is Gevurah sheb'Gevurah, "restraint in restraint".

Withdrawal is an important tool for healthy personal and communal growth, but like any tool, it is open to abuse. A person who wants to work on his own growth might step away from the community, but pursuing this approach too much will weaken the community at large and make someone a פורש מן הציבור (one who separates from the community, whose conduct is condemned by the Sages). A parent might wish to allow his child to learn independence, but being too remote constitutes neglect. Even our restraint must be exercised with restraint.

Sunday night's Sephirah instructs us to keep a guard upon our restraint, evaluating and applying it carefully.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Day 8 of the Omer - Generous Restraint

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer’s second week is Gevurah. Gevurah is power, expressed in restraint and boundaries and withdrawal.

In addition, the Sephirah of the first day of each Omer week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself – physically, financially, emotionally – to another.

The combined Sephirah for Day 8 of the Omer is Chesed sheb’Gevurah, “generous restraint”.

Sometimes we withdraw ourselves from involvement with a particular person, or even with society as a whole. In particular, we might restrain ourselves in order to avoid enabling impropriety. As Pirkei Avot 1:7 teaches, אל תתחבר לרשע, one ought not join with a wicked person. (Rav Meshulam Roth, a major authority in Jewish law in the early State of Israel and a leader in Religious Zionism of the time, wrote key responsa on applying this principle in our own age. See Kol Mevaser 1:48 and 2:17.) Nonetheless, Chesed sheb’Gevurah teaches us that even when we withdraw from others, we must do it with a spirit of generosity rather than animosity.

The Sephirah counted on Motzaei Shabbat instructs us to withdraw from others when necessary, but to do so with kindness.

Have a great night,
Mordechai

Humble Kindness - The 5th day of the Omer

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the fifth day of each Omer week is Hod. Hod is glory, but it is a particular form of glory. The kabbalists linked the word הוד (hod) with הודאה (hodaah), meaning "thanks" or "confession", to deduce that הוד is a glorious humility.

The combined Sephirah for Day 5 of the Omer is Hod sheb'Chesed, "glorious kindness". This title suggests kindness which is rooted in glorious humility.

We have already learned (in Day 3: Tiferet sheb'Chesed) that we should give respectfully, but here we see that we should give humbly, with an awareness that our ability to give does not, in itself, mean we are better than others. Judaism uses the term 'tzedakah' to indicate that giving to others is 'tzedek', justice; as King David said to G-d (Divrei haYamim I 29:14), "All comes from You, and from Your own we give to You."

Wednesday night's Sephirah reminds us that although we are happy that we can help others, we don't take credit - and this trait is, itself, our glory.

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Why were the books of the Prophets recorded?

Hi,

"This [canonization of Samuel II] was not for the purpose of telling the story itself, like the books of chronicles composed by the nations, but for the purpose of learning the service of Gd."

(Don Isaac Abarbanel to Neviim Rishonim, pg. 164)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Triumphant Kindness - The 4th day of the Omer

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the fourth day of each Omer week is Netzach. Netzach is victory, triumphing over obstacles internal and external.

The combined Sephirah for Day 4 of the Omer is Netzach sheb'Chesed, "victorious kindness". This title suggests kindness which involves a triumph over difficulty and adversity.

Many obstacles prevent us from feeling and acting kind; one challenge is a lack of appreciation for others. "Netzach" summons us to meet this challenge and reach out; as the Talmud (Bava Metzia 32b) notes, aiding an enemy is more important than aiding a friend.

The fourth day's Sephirah reminds us that our kindness should extend beyond the cases which are simple and obvious, to be expressed toward all in need.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Splendid Kindness - the 3rd day of the Omer

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the third day of each Omer week is Tiferet. Tiferet is splendour and beauty, that which is admired by others. (See, for example, Pirkei Avot 2:1, as well as Kedushat Levi for Rosh haShanah, pg. 276 in one standard edition.)

The combined Sephirah for Day 3 of the Omer is Tiferet sheb'Chesed, "splendid kindness". This title suggests a kindness which is admired by others.

What causes admiration? The Talmud (Yoma 86a) observes that we admire people who behave in a menschlich way, treating others with respect; those who show respect for others will also be respected and admired.

Kindness is sometimes motivated by pity and a sense that the recipient is "less than", resulting in insensitivity toward the recipient. This is quite damaging; as the Talmud (Chagigah 5a) teaches, it would be better not to give, than to give in a way that embarrassed the recipient.

The third day's Sephirah reminds us that our kindness should be driven by the respect that will make it a splendid, admirable kindness.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Omer Thoughts

Hi,

Gd-willing, I will send out a daily Omer email throughout the Omer, including a note about the day's particular Sefirah as well as an event from that day in Jewish history.

Here are the first two emails:
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Day 1: Chesed sheb'Chesed - Kindness in Kindness
Please see below for an introduction to the Sephirot, the mystical associations of each day of the Omer. Each day's dvar torah email will focus on the Sephirah associated with that day.

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

The term Chesed sheb'Chesed, "the kindness in kindness", suggests the most pure breed of kindness - helping others not because of external goals or benefits, and not begrudgingly or out of a sense of obligation, but purely because one wishes to distribute from one's own resources in order to benefit others.

This may occur naturally in the love of a parent for a child, or of spouses for each other, but it is rare to see this sort of relationship in general society. Today's Sephirah encourages us to develop this trait in ourselves, expressed perhaps in holding a door open, in taking time to speak with a person who needs to talk, in donating to a tzedakah, or in dancing at a wedding.

Certainly, there must be healthy and halachic bounds to our sharing with others, but Chesed sheb'Chesed is about pushing the boundaries, building our desire to be kind to others.

The 16th of Nisan, in Jewish History
Moshe informed the Jews in the wilderness (Vayikra 23:9-14) that upon entry into Israel, they would be obligated to observe the prohibition of chadash. Under this law, the new year's grain is prohibited until a special omer offering is brought on the 16th of Nisan. In the absence of a Mishkan or Beit haMikdash, the arrival of the 16th of Nisan itself permits consumption of the new grain.

In line with this law, Yehoshua 5:9-12 informs us that the first time that the Jews who entered Israel from the wilderness ate from the grain of the land was on the 16th of Nisan, the day after they celebrated Pesach. The manna then stopped falling.

Day 2: Gevurah sheb'Chesed - Restraint in Kindness
Please see below for an introduction to the Sephirot, the mystical associations of each day of the Omer. Each day's dvar torah email will focus on the Sephirah associated with that day.

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the second day of each Omer week is Gevurah. Gevurah is power, and we recall the lesson of Pirkei Avot 4:1: איזהו גבור? הכובש את יצרו, True Gevurah is self-control.

The combined Sephirah for Day 2 of the Omer is therefore Gevurah sheb'Chesed, "power in kindness". This title suggests a controlled kindness, a kindness which exists within healthy and appropriate boundaries.

Boundaries keep people from smothering each other, or stifling growth, or helping in undesired and undesirable ways. For example, as the gemara explains, one should not visit an ill person when he is feeling weak or in an embarrassing situation. In other examples, we are taught to avoid kindness which could be misunderstood or lead to impropriety.

Today's Sephirah reminds us that all good traits, even that of Kindness, must be carefully measured. Even HaShem bounded His kindness when He created the world, and we must do the same when we give to others.

The 17th of Nisan, in Jewish History
Bronya Kutzenok, born to a family of Tchernobler chassidim and married to a teacher, made aliyah in July 1921. She Hebraicized her name to Bracha Peli, and opened a library. Bracha eventually moved into bookselling, and then into publishing with her Masada Press. On the 17th of Nisan, in the year 1926, Bracha held the first "Hebrew Book Day". This became an annual event, morphing into today's "Hebrew Book Week" and "Hebrew Torah Book Week" celebrations, which are held in June.


Introduction to Sephirot
The "Sephirot", or "countings", are ten facets of Divine Creation. They are divided into two portions - the upper 3, and the lower 7. The lower 7 are:

Chesed (kindness);
Gevurah (power);
Tiferet (splendour);
Netzach (victory);
Hod (glory);
Yesod (foundation);
Malchut (monarchy).

We are taught that the 7 weeks of the Omer which take us from Pesach to Shavuot, from escaping Egypt to receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, are connected to these lower 7 Sephirot. The seven days of each week are also connected to these lower 7 Sephirot.

Thus the first week of the Omer is Chesed (kindness). The first day of that week is Chesed sheb'Chesed (kindness in kindness), the second day of that week is Gevurah sheb'Chesed (power in kindness), the third day of that week is Tiferet sheb'Chesed (splendour in kindness), and so on.

Then the second week of the Omer is Gevurah (power). The first day of that week is Chesed sheb'Gevurah (kindness in power), the second day of that week is Gevurah sheb'Gevurah (power in power), and so on.

But what do these terms mean? What is "kindness in power", for example?

Further, Rav Kook wrote that we are to study these Divine attributes in order to learn how to emulate G-d and draw near to Him. But what lessons can we draw from these attributes, for our own conduct?

Each day of the Omer, we'll publish a dvar torah exploring the message of the special Sephirah for that day, and what it can teach us for our own lives.

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I may post the Sefirah part on the Daily Torah Thought blog, but I won't be posting the history component there. To sign up, email info@torontotorah.com or follow @zichrondov on Twitter. The emails are free.

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Linking Pesach and Shabbat

Hi,

Food for thought; what is the Pesach and Shabbat connection? Isn't Shabbat universal [Creation of the World] and Pesach only Jewish [Exodus from Egypt]?

"Rav Acha bar Yaakov said: One must mention the departure from Egypt in kiddush [for Shabbat]. Regarding the departure from Egypt it says 'So that you should remember the day', and regarding Shabbat it says 'Remember the day of Shabbat, to sanctify it.'"

(Talmud, Pesachim 117b)

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Why do we dip twice at the Seder?

Hi,


Notwithstanding my Torah Thought from three years ago here...

"As far as why we dip twice: It is in order to create a symbol for the children [so that they will notice that tonight is unique]."

(Talmud, Pesachim 114b)

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Ha Lachma Anya and the key elements of the Seder

Hi,

"In this paragraph ["Ha Lachma Anya"] we have Pesach, Matzah and Marror:

"Matzah – 'This is the bread of affliction which…'

"Marror – 'All who are hungry, come and eat'. It is as people say, 'To a hungry spirit, every bitter item tastes sweet.'

"Pesach – 'All who need, come and partake in the Pesach."

(R' Tzidkiyahu ben Avraham haRofei, Shibolei haLeket 218)

Have a great day,
Mordechai