The mitzvah of belief in Gd

Hi,

 According to the Sefer haChinuch, mitzvah #25 is the start of the Aseret haDibrot, “I am Gd, your Lord, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.”

The Sefer haChinuch follows the view of Rambam (Sefer haMitzvot, Aseh 1) that this mitzvah includes belief in a single Gd who created all that exists, by whose Will all exists, and who is eternal. The mitzvah is also to believe that this same Gd brought us out of Egypt and gave us the Torah. This is the foundation of Jewish belief and practice; the fact that there is an omnipotent Gd, and that He is involved with our world, is what establishes the validity of the rest of Torah.

In contrast, Baal Halachot Gedolot and Ramban, apparently based on a midrash (Mechilta d'R' Yishmael, Yitro: BaChodesh 6), argue that this Divine declaration sets the stage for all other mitzvot, but is not a mitzvah unto itself.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honouring Parents or Living in Israel

Hi,

"Indeed, honouring one's parents is a great mitzvah, to the point that the Torah equates it with the mitzvah of honouring G-d. (Bava Metzia 32a, Yerushalmi Peah 1:1) However, the mitzvah of settling Israel overrides the mitzvah of honouring parents. The midrash (Sifri Reeh) is known, "Once R' Yehudah ben Beteirah, R' Matya ben Charash and R' Chanina, nephew of R' Yehoshua were leaving Israel. They reached a market and remembered Israel, and raised their eyes to heaven, and their tears ran down and they tore their clothing, and they recited, 'And you shall conquer it and you shall dwell there, and you shall guard all of the laws to practice them,' teaching that settling Israel is equal to all of the mitzvot."

"According to Ramban (Sefer haMitzvot and Bamidbar 33:53), the mitzvah of settling Israel is a biblical commandment, applicable today; Rashbatz and Rashbash agreed. Even per Rambam that the mitzvah is rabbinic [per the understanding of Kenesset haGedolah], it is still a mitzvah great enough to override rabbinic prohibitions, as seen in Gittin 8b…

"The sages have already said, "If one's father would tell him to violate Shabbat or not to return a lost object, could he listen? The Torah says, 'You shall revere your mother and father, and guard My Shabbatot; I am G-d.' All of you are obligated to honour Me." Here, too, if his father would tell him to erase the mitzvah of living in Israel, he could not listen, for he and his father are obligated in the mitzvah of settling Israel.

"Indeed, Rashbatz did write (3:288) that one may leave Israel to learn Torah or to honour parents; he said there is a biblical mitzvah of living in Israel, but he said the mitzvah of honouring parents overrides it. However, even for Torah study one may leave Israel only in order to return to Israel! (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 5:9; Tosafot Avodah Zarah 13a) Perhaps Rashbatz only permitted leaving Israel to honour one's parents in order to return to Israel. This is also seen in Kiddushin 31b…

"In sum: There is nothing comparable to the mitzvah of living in Israel... and especially when one intends to live there for the sake of the mitzvah, and to fulfill all of the land-related mitzvot. Therefore, one should not listen to a parent who tells him not to ascend to the land. Certainly, then, one who already merits to live in the land, and whose parent then instructs him to leave, may not listen to him, for the mitzvah of living in Israel overrides the mitzvah of honouring parents, especially since his parents are also instructed to ascend and live in the land."

אמנם כיבוד אב ואם מצוה גדולה היא, עד ששקל הכתוב מצוה זו למצות כיבודו של הקב"ה, וכמו שאמרו חז"ל במסכת בבא מציעא (דף ל"ב ע"א), וכן בירושלמי פאה (פרק א' הלכה א'). אולם מצות ישיבת ארץ ישראל דוחה מצות כיבוד אב ואם, כי נודע מה שאמרו חז"ל בספרי פרשת ראה: מעשה ברבי יהודה בן בתירא ורבי מתיא בן חרש ורבי חנינא בן אחי ורבי יהושע, שהיו יוצאין לחוץ לארץ, והגיעו לפלטיא, ונזכרו מארץ ישראל, זקפו עיניהם וזלגו דמעותיהם וקרעו בגדיהם, וקראו המקרא הזה: וירשתם אותה וישבתם בה, ושמרתם לעשות את כל החוקים והמשפטים, לומר לך ששקולה ישיבת ארץ ישראל כנגד כל המצות. ע"כ.

ולדעת הרמב"ן בספר המצות, וכן בפירושו על התורה (במדבר פרק ל"ג פסוק נ"ג), מצות ישיבה בארץ ישראל היא מצות עשה מן התורה, ונוהגת גם בזמן הזה. וכן הסכים הרשב"ץ בספר זוהר הרקיע (סימן רכ"ו). וכן כתב בשו"ת הרשב"ש (סימן א' והלאה). ואף לדעת הרמב"ם שסובר שהיא מצוה מדברי סופרים, וכמו שכתב בכנסת הגדולה יורה דעה (סימן רל"ט אות ל"ג) בדעת הרמב"ם, מכל מקום היא מצוה גדולה שדוחה שבות של דבריהם, וכמבואר בגיטין (ח' ע"ב)...

והנה כבר אמרו חז"ל (ביבמות ו' ע"א). הרי שאמר לו אביו לחלל שבת או שלא להשיב אבידה לבעליה, יכול ישמע לו, תלמוד לומר איש אמו ואביו תיראו ואת שבתותי תשמורו אני ד', כולכם חייבים בכבודי, ואף כאן אם יאמר לו אביו לבטל מצות ישיבה בארץ ישראל, לא ישמע לו, שהוא ואביו חייבים במצות יישוב ארץ ישראל...

ואמנם בשו"ת הרשב"ץ חלק ג' (סימן רפ"ח) כתב, שאסור לצאת מארץ ישראל לחוץ לארץ אלא למצות תלמוד תורה ולמצות כיבוד אב ואם. ומבואר שאף לדעתו שיש מצוה מן התורה בישיבת ארץ ישראל, מכל מקום מצות כיבוד אב ואם דוחה מצוה זו. אולם הרי גם למצות תלמוד תורה לא הותר לצאת לחוץ לארץ אלא על מנת לחזור לארץ ישראל, וכמו שמבואר ברמב"ם (בפרק ה' מהלכות מלכים הלכה ט'), וכן כתבו התוספות בעבודה זרה (י"ג ע"א). ולכן יש לומר שגם הרשב"ץ לא התיר לצאת מארץ ישראל לחוץ לארץ למצות כיבוד אב ואם אלא כשיוצא על מנת לחזור. וכן מצינו בגמרא (קידושין ל"א ע"ב)...

בסיכום: מצות ישיבה בארץ ישראל אין ערוך אליה... ובמיוחד כשהכוונה להתיישב בארץ ישראל לשם מצוה, ולקיים בה כל המצות התלויות בארץ. ולכן אם צוהו אביו שלא לעלות לארץ אל ישמע לו. ומכל שכן שהזוכה להתיישב בארץ, וציוהו אביו לרדת מהארץ לחוץ לארץ, שבודאי אסור לשמוע לו, כי מצות ישיבת ארץ ישראל דוחה למצות כיבוד אב ואם, ובפרט שגם הוריו מצווים לעלות ולהתיישב בארץ.

(Rav Ovadia Yosef, Yechaveh Daat 4:49)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Crown of Sinai

Hi,

"If you do not lead a godly life, if you live in a manner unworthy of the Name you bear, if you harbour lies and selfishness in your mind and heart, if you possession is unjust, if your pleasure is mean, if your deeds are heartless, if you profane the Crown of Sinai, just to indulge a mood, a liking, a preference – if your life shows that the all-holy G-d and His holy will are not sacred to you, that you do not hold them as the highest and that you hold other things above them – possessions, pleasure, worldly honours, or anything else – to which you would sacrifice the former, see, then, not only do you kill in yourself the Holy Name, so that it no longer educates you to holiness, but you also destroy its sacred acknowledgment in the mind of your brother, you show that one can be a Jew and yet be unjust, and profane, and heartless – and invite others to be the same. Do not profane the Holy Name."

(Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraph 611)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The role of Israel

Hi,

"There is no assertion in the Bible that the Israelites are inherently better or more moral than others. Their vocation represents not a privilege but a reponsibility. It confers no material advantages, only the religious life itself. Nor is there any implication that G-d is not accessible to others. On the contrary, he is the creator and sustainer of all. Job, the supreme example of a righteous man, is not a Jew… Israel's role is to be an example: no more, no less… If Israel's role is to be an example, then its conduct must never be less than exemplary. That is the meaning of 'sanctifying the name'."

(Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, To Heal a Fractured World, pg. 66)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The honour of his faith

Hi,

"The Jew should remember that the glory of G-d is, as it were, entrusted to his care and that every Israelite holds the honour of his faith and of his entire people in his hands."

(Lord Rabbi J. H. Hertz, Pentateuch, pg. 519)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The reason for exile?

Hi,

"Israel was exiled among the nations only so that converts would be added to them."

לא נגלו ישראל לבין האומות אלא כדי שיתוספו עליהם גרים

(Talmud, Pesachim 87b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Influencing our thoughts via our actions

Hi,

"After deeds are hearts drawn."

אחרי הפעולות נמשכים הלבבות.

(Sefer haChinuch, Mitzvah 16)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Preparing our clothing for prayer

Hi,

"How does one prepare his clothing? First he fixes his clothing and makes himself look fine… He should not pray in his moneybelt, or with a bare head, or with his feet revealed, if local practice is that one would not stand before a respected person without shoes."

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prayer 5:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Special clothing for Shabbat

Hi,

"It is written regarding Shabbat, 'You shall honour it, refraining from performing ordinary tasks.' 'You shall honour it' indicates that your Shabbat clothing should not be like your weekday clothing. This follows along the lines of R' Yochanan's practice of calling his clothing, 'The source of my honor.'"

(Talmud, Shabbat 113a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Giving bad advice

Hi,

"If someone asks you for advice, do not advise him inappropriately. Do not tell him, "Depart in the early morning," such that thieves will attack him, or "Depart at noon," so that he will be overcome by heat."

היה נוטל ממך עצה, אל תתן לו עצה שאינה הוגנת לו, אל תאמר לו צא בהשכמה שיקפחוהו ליסטים, צא בצהרים בשביל שישתרב 

(Midrash, Sifra Kedoshim 2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A perverse form of honour

Hi,

What would you do?

"Rabbi Yishmael's mother came and complained to the sages. She scolded him, saying, 'My son does not accord me honour!'

"The sages' faces reddened; they said, 'Can it be that Rabbi Yishmael does not accord his progenitors honour?!' They asked her, 'What did he do to you?'

"She replied: When he comes home from the rabbinic gatherings, I want to wash his feet and drink the water, and he won't allow it!

"The sages told Rabbi Yishmael: This is her desire, and this is her honour."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Peah 1:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Physical assistance trumps Financial assistance

Hi,

"As great a mitzvah as financial charity is, acts of physical kindness are so great that they are the equal of any mitzvah in the Torah:

"Financial charity is only applicable to the living, whereas physical kindness can be done for the deceased as well.

"Financial charity is only applicable for the needy, whereas physical kindness can be done for the wealthy as well.

"Financial charity can only be done from one's assets, whereas physical kindness can be done with one's body as well."

(Talmud Yerushalmi Peah 1:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzedakah saves from...

Hi,

"Rabbi Abba said: If you give money from your pocket to tzedakah, G-d will protect you from being hurt by all manner of taxation."

(Talmud Yerushalmi Peah 1:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Beautifying a mitzvah

Hi,

"Rabbi Chaviva said in the name of the sages of Babylon: If a person purchases an item for a mitzvah and then finds a nicer item to purchase for that mitzvah, he should spend up to 1/3 beyond the value of the original item to purchase the nicer item."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Peah 1:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Character giveaways

Hi,

"Rabbi Ila'i said: A person's character may be seen in three ways: How he handles his drink, how he deals with others in business, and whether he is quick to anger.

"Some add: Also by what makes him laugh."

(Talmud, Eruvin 65b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Of Wine and Secrets

Hi,

Wine is Yayin in Hebrew, spelled י-י-ן, letters which have the numerical value (gematria) of 70.

Secret is Sod in Hebrew, spelled ס-ו-ד, letters which also have the numerical value (gematria) of 70.

"When wine enters, secrets emerge."

(Talmud, Eruvin 65a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lengthen your lifespan!

Hi,

"Rav Yehudah said: Three things abbreviate a person's days and years: If he is given a Torah from which to read and he refuses, if he is offered a cup [of wine or grape juice] with which to bless Gd and he refuses, and if he acts in the manner of high office."

(Talmud, Berachot 55a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Jurisdiction and Insubordination

Hi,

"One who issues a legal ruling in the geographic area where his rabbinic mentor lives is liable for death."

(Talmud, Eruvin 63a)

Note: This "death" is not a death penalty. Rather, it is a description of Divine wrath [מיתה בידי שמים]. This provides a lesson regarding the process of transmitting Jewish tradition - that it is not a free-for-all, but rather there is a specific line of educated transmission.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Patience!

Hi,

"A person of anger will stir up litigation; a person of patience will silence quarrels."

(Mishlei [Proverbs] 15:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't give up!

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai taught: If you see that other people are abandoning hope of studying Torah, stand up and grab on to Torah yourself; you will receive all of the reward that they are shunning. It is written, 'When they are annulling Your Torah, it is a time to act for Gd.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 9:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The study of Torah is parallel to all of what?

Hi,

"And the study of Torah is parallel to all of them."

(Mishnah, Peah 1:1)

What is "them" in this sentence? Two views are presented in the Jerusalem Talmud:
1. All of the contents of this world - it is worth more than all of them.
2. All of the other mitzvot (for how will one know the mitzvot without study?].

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eat your vegetables

Hi,

"Rav Huna said: A Torah scholar is not permitted to live in a town in which green vegetables are unavailable."

(Talmud, Eruvin 55b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Is G-d a doctor?

Hi,

"Rabbi Yehudah bar R' Chiyya taught: See that Gd's traits are not like human traits. When a human prescribes a drug for another human, the drug will be beneficial for one part but harmful for another. Gd gave the Torah to the Jews, though, and it is beneficial for the entire body, as it is written [Proverbs 1], 'It is a healing for his entire flesh.'"

(Talmud, Eruvin 54a)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

The essence of a person's existence

Hi,

"The essence of a person's existence in this world is to develop wisdom, that he might recognize his Creator."

(Sefer haChinuch, Mitzvah 257)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

A lesson in mercy

Hi,

"And Gd said to Yonah:

"You had mercy on a kikayon [a wild shade plant] for which you did not work and which you did not raise, which came in a night and was lost in a night. Should I not have mercy upon Nineveh, the great city, which contains more than 120,000 people who do not know their right from left, as well as many animals?"

(Yonah 4:10-11)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

When are we "Israel"?

Hi,

"We, as a people, are properly called 'Israel' only in the land of Israel."

(Rabbi Yehudah Alkalai, "The Third Redemption" 1843)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Longer than the earth, deeper than the sea

Hi,

A statement and analogy to contemplate:

"The Torah's wisdom is longer than the earth, and deeper than the sea."

(Job 11:9)

Have a great day,

Mordechai