An animal's soul?

Hi,

"Why does the Torah say, ‘Vayyitzer [And Gd created],’ with two yuds? Because Gd created humans with two yitzrim [natures], the yetzer tov and yetzer ra.

"Rabbi Nachman bar Yitzchak asked: If so, then will you say that animals do not have a yetzer, since for them the Torah says Vayyitzer with only one yud? But we see that they damage and bite and kick!..."

(Talmud, Berachot 61a)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Why we have Yom Tov

Hi,

"Festivals are days that are entirely for joy and for gatherings. They benefit us by enabling the love that is needed between people in national gatherings...causing love between people from one extreme to the other."

(Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed 3:43)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

 

Was Esav Sincere?

Hi,

"‘And he kissed him (Bereishit 33:4)’ has dots atop it, for Esav did not kiss Yaakov with all of his heart.

"R’ Shimon bar Yochai said: It is established halachah that Esav hates Yaakov, but his mercies were reversed at that moment, and he kissed Yaakov with all of his heart."

(Midrash, Sifri Behaalotcha 69)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Proceed with caution

Hi,

"And Esav said to him, "I will go forth with you." He wished to escort Yaakov, but Yaakov did not accept him. When our master went to the government, he would study this portion and not take an Aramean with him. Once he did not study it and he took Arameans with him, and he did not reach Akko before he sold his horse."

(Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 78:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A sign of wisdom

Hi,

"It is written (Proverbs 17:27), 'The breath of a person of understanding is precious.'

"This sentence is saying that if a person's each thought is precious to him, meaning that he will not waste it, then he is a person of understanding."

(Comment of Vilna Gaon to Proverbs 17:27)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

The punishment for embarrassing others

Hi,

"One who whitens the face of another person [by embarrassing him] in public will not have a share in the next world."

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 58a)

Have a great day,

Mordechai