Hi,
"If just this sin of failing to mourn Jerusalem properly was on our
hands, that would suffice to extend our exile. In my eyes it is the
closest, most obvious, greatest and most powerful cause for all of the
great, terrible, frightening destructions which have found us in exile.
Wherever we have scattered, they have been at our throats, never letting
us rest among the nations, in lowliness and suffering and poverty,
because this mourning left our heart when we were settled in lands not
our own. We forgot Jerusalem; she never entered our heart."
(Rabbi Yaakov Emden, Commentary to Siddur, Laws of Tisha b'Av)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Showing posts with label Churban Beit haMikdash [destruction of the Temple]. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Churban Beit haMikdash [destruction of the Temple]. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Monday, November 5, 2012
The power of tearful prayer
Hi,
"Rabbi Elazar said: Since the time the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, the gates of prayer have been sealed, as it is written (Lamentations 3), 'Even when I call out and cry, my prayer is closed.'
"Although the gates of prayer have been sealed, the gates of tears have not been sealed, as it is written (Psalms 39), 'Gd, hear my prayer and incline an ear to my cry; do not be deaf to my tears.'"
(Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Elazar said: Since the time the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, the gates of prayer have been sealed, as it is written (Lamentations 3), 'Even when I call out and cry, my prayer is closed.'
"Although the gates of prayer have been sealed, the gates of tears have not been sealed, as it is written (Psalms 39), 'Gd, hear my prayer and incline an ear to my cry; do not be deaf to my tears.'"
(Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
When Gd is hard to find
Hi,
Responses to the Roman destruction of the second Beit haMikdash, and the massacre of Jews:
"Abba Chanan said: Psalm 89 says, "Who is like You, mighty Gd?" Who is like You, mighty and tough, such that You hear the mockery and blasphemy of wicked Titus and You are silent?
"In the yeshiva of R' Yishmael they taught: Exodus 15 says, "Who is like You among the mighty [אלים]" – "Who is like You among the mute [אלמים]".
(Talmud, Gittin 56b)
Have a good day,
Mordechai
Responses to the Roman destruction of the second Beit haMikdash, and the massacre of Jews:
"Abba Chanan said: Psalm 89 says, "Who is like You, mighty Gd?" Who is like You, mighty and tough, such that You hear the mockery and blasphemy of wicked Titus and You are silent?
"In the yeshiva of R' Yishmael they taught: Exodus 15 says, "Who is like You among the mighty [אלים]" – "Who is like You among the mute [אלמים]".
(Talmud, Gittin 56b)
Have a good day,
Mordechai
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The eighth, ninth and tenth of Tevet
Hi,
"On the eighth of Tevet the Torah was written in Greek, in the days of King Ptolemy, and darkness came to the world for three days. Our sages did not say what happened on the ninth, but on that day Ezra and Nechemiah died. On the tenth, the king of Babylon neared Jerusalem to destroy her."
(Baal Halachot Gedolot #18)
Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai
"On the eighth of Tevet the Torah was written in Greek, in the days of King Ptolemy, and darkness came to the world for three days. Our sages did not say what happened on the ninth, but on that day Ezra and Nechemiah died. On the tenth, the king of Babylon neared Jerusalem to destroy her."
(Baal Halachot Gedolot #18)
Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Divine commitment to rebuild Zion
Hi,
"Gd declared, "It is My responsibility to pay for the fire I kindled. I ignited Zion, as it is written, 'And He set fire to Zion, and it consumed her foundations,' and I will build her in fire, as it is written, 'And I will be a wall of fire around her, and a source of honour in her midst.'"
(Talmud, Bava Kama 60b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Gd declared, "It is My responsibility to pay for the fire I kindled. I ignited Zion, as it is written, 'And He set fire to Zion, and it consumed her foundations,' and I will build her in fire, as it is written, 'And I will be a wall of fire around her, and a source of honour in her midst.'"
(Talmud, Bava Kama 60b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, August 8, 2011
Failure to mourn for Jerusalem
Hello,
[This follows up on Saturday night's email, here.]
"When the body is separate from the heart which [normally] supports it, the body cannot survive. Therefore, when they did not mourn Jerusalem which was like a heart for a body… they were destroyed."
(Maharal to Gittin 56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
[This follows up on Saturday night's email, here.]
"When the body is separate from the heart which [normally] supports it, the body cannot survive. Therefore, when they did not mourn Jerusalem which was like a heart for a body… they were destroyed."
(Maharal to Gittin 56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Failure to mourn
Hi,
"If just this sin of failing to mourn Jerusalem properly was on our hands, that would suffice to extend our exile. In my eyes it is the closest, most obvious, greatest and most powerful cause for all of the great, terrible, frightening destructions which have found us in exile. Wherever we have scattered, they have been at our throats, never letting us rest among the nations, in lowliness and suffering and poverty, because this mourning left our heart when we were settled in lands not our own. We forgot Jerusalem; she never entered our heart."
(Rabbi Yaakov Emden, Commentary to Siddur, Laws of Tisha b'Av)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
"If just this sin of failing to mourn Jerusalem properly was on our hands, that would suffice to extend our exile. In my eyes it is the closest, most obvious, greatest and most powerful cause for all of the great, terrible, frightening destructions which have found us in exile. Wherever we have scattered, they have been at our throats, never letting us rest among the nations, in lowliness and suffering and poverty, because this mourning left our heart when we were settled in lands not our own. We forgot Jerusalem; she never entered our heart."
(Rabbi Yaakov Emden, Commentary to Siddur, Laws of Tisha b'Av)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Punishment for failure to mourn
Hi,
"Three sages sitting together said: If anyone knows anything about Kfar Sakhnia in Egypt, let him speak.
[One told of a betrothed couple, taken captive, who refused to touch each other without a halachic marriage. The two others told of their commitment to justice.]
"Abbaye asked Rav Yosef: If they were so righteous, why were they punished?
"Rav Yosef explained: They did not mourn for Jerusalem, as it is written, 'Be glad with Jerusalem and rejoice in her, all who love her; rejoice with her, all who mourn for her.'"
(Talmud, Gittin 57a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
"Three sages sitting together said: If anyone knows anything about Kfar Sakhnia in Egypt, let him speak.
[One told of a betrothed couple, taken captive, who refused to touch each other without a halachic marriage. The two others told of their commitment to justice.]
"Abbaye asked Rav Yosef: If they were so righteous, why were they punished?
"Rav Yosef explained: They did not mourn for Jerusalem, as it is written, 'Be glad with Jerusalem and rejoice in her, all who love her; rejoice with her, all who mourn for her.'"
(Talmud, Gittin 57a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Part III
Hi,
"Bar Kamtza told the governor (the Aramaic is "Caesar"; it is unclear what level of authority this was, though): The Jews are rebelling against you!
"The governor said: Who says?
"Bar Kamtza said: Send them a korban, and see whether they offer it up.
"The governor sent a 1/3-grown calf [or third-born, according to some commentators; this was supposed to be especially fine] with Bar Kamtza. En route, he blemished its lips, or some say its ears, in a spot which would be a blemish under our rules but not under Roman rules. [Commentators explain that this hinted to the stingy eye or harmful speech of the Jews of the time. Presumably it could also refer to the Sages who had angered Bar Kamtza by watching with their eyes and failing to speak up.]
"The sages thought to bring it [despite its blemish] to keep peace with the government, but Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus said: People will say that blemished animals may be brought as offerings!
"The sages thought to kill Bar Kamtza to prevent him from informing the governor that they had not brought the offering, but Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus said: People will say that one who blemishes an offering is killed!
"Rabbi Yochanan said: The patience [or, according to some, humility] of Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus destroyed our house, burned our sanctum and exiled us from our land! [In the version of this story in Eichah Rabbah, Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus was the head of the Sages at the party, and he did not prevent Bar Kamtza's ejection. He was humble/patient at the party, but when it came to this legal decision he spoke up.]
"The governor sent Neron Caesar against Jerusalem."
(Talmud, Gittin 56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
"Bar Kamtza told the governor (the Aramaic is "Caesar"; it is unclear what level of authority this was, though): The Jews are rebelling against you!
"The governor said: Who says?
"Bar Kamtza said: Send them a korban, and see whether they offer it up.
"The governor sent a 1/3-grown calf [or third-born, according to some commentators; this was supposed to be especially fine] with Bar Kamtza. En route, he blemished its lips, or some say its ears, in a spot which would be a blemish under our rules but not under Roman rules. [Commentators explain that this hinted to the stingy eye or harmful speech of the Jews of the time. Presumably it could also refer to the Sages who had angered Bar Kamtza by watching with their eyes and failing to speak up.]
"The sages thought to bring it [despite its blemish] to keep peace with the government, but Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus said: People will say that blemished animals may be brought as offerings!
"The sages thought to kill Bar Kamtza to prevent him from informing the governor that they had not brought the offering, but Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus said: People will say that one who blemishes an offering is killed!
"Rabbi Yochanan said: The patience [or, according to some, humility] of Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus destroyed our house, burned our sanctum and exiled us from our land! [In the version of this story in Eichah Rabbah, Rabbi Zecharyah ben Avkulus was the head of the Sages at the party, and he did not prevent Bar Kamtza's ejection. He was humble/patient at the party, but when it came to this legal decision he spoke up.]
"The governor sent Neron Caesar against Jerusalem."
(Talmud, Gittin 56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Part II
Hi,
Continuing the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza from yesterday:
"Bar Kamtza said: I will pay for half of your feast!
"The host said: No.
"Bar Kamtza said: I will pay for your entire feast!
"The host said: No. He grabbed Bar Kamtza by the hand, picked him up and removed him. [Worth noting - He delegated invitations of friends to a servant, but handled the eviction of his enemy himself.]
"Bar Kamtza said: Since the Sages were sitting there and they did not protest, I see that this treatment is appropriate in their eyes! I will spread a harmful rumor about them to the palace."
(to be continued)
(Talmud, Gittin 56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Continuing the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza from yesterday:
"Bar Kamtza said: I will pay for half of your feast!
"The host said: No.
"Bar Kamtza said: I will pay for your entire feast!
"The host said: No. He grabbed Bar Kamtza by the hand, picked him up and removed him. [Worth noting - He delegated invitations of friends to a servant, but handled the eviction of his enemy himself.]
"Bar Kamtza said: Since the Sages were sitting there and they did not protest, I see that this treatment is appropriate in their eyes! I will spread a harmful rumor about them to the palace."
(to be continued)
(Talmud, Gittin 56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Part I
Hi,
"Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Jerusalem was destroyed.
"There was a man whose friend was Kamtza, and whose enemy was Bar Kamtza. [Some suggest these were father and son.] The man made a feast, and told his servant, 'Go bring me Kamtza.' The servant went and brought Bar Kamtza.
"The man came and saw Bar Kamtza sitting at the feast, and said to him, 'You are my enemy – what do you want here? Get up and leave!'
"Bar Kamtza said: Since I have come, leave me, and I will pay you for whatever I eat and drink.
"The man said: No."
To be continued…
(Talmud, Gittin 55b-56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
"Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, Jerusalem was destroyed.
"There was a man whose friend was Kamtza, and whose enemy was Bar Kamtza. [Some suggest these were father and son.] The man made a feast, and told his servant, 'Go bring me Kamtza.' The servant went and brought Bar Kamtza.
"The man came and saw Bar Kamtza sitting at the feast, and said to him, 'You are my enemy – what do you want here? Get up and leave!'
"Bar Kamtza said: Since I have come, leave me, and I will pay you for whatever I eat and drink.
"The man said: No."
To be continued…
(Talmud, Gittin 55b-56a)
המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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
"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
Thursday, June 9, 2011
What did Yechezkel see?
Hi,
"Gd showed Yechezkel His glory and manifestation travelling and leaving the Temple; [this means] that His supervision and protection and ministering angels who fulfill His will, His spheres and heavens and mighty ones who carry out His word, which all camped about Israel in their times of success, saving them and acting as agents on their behalf and saying good things about them - all of them were now traveling and leaving His protection, being elevated from upon the land."
(Don Isaac Abarbanel, Introduction to Yechezkel)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Gd showed Yechezkel His glory and manifestation travelling and leaving the Temple; [this means] that His supervision and protection and ministering angels who fulfill His will, His spheres and heavens and mighty ones who carry out His word, which all camped about Israel in their times of success, saving them and acting as agents on their behalf and saying good things about them - all of them were now traveling and leaving His protection, being elevated from upon the land."
(Don Isaac Abarbanel, Introduction to Yechezkel)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Visions of Gd
Hi,
"The prophets saw Gd in forms which varied in association with His deeds...
"At a time of anger against the nation, when Gd planned to travel and remove His presence from among them and His supervision from upon them, Yeshayahu saw Gd sitting on a throne, high and elevated, as though distancing His supervision form them and removing it fom the lower realms, placing it in the upper realms...
"Yechezkel saw Gd at the time of His travel, the destruction of the Beit haMikdash... as though on a chariot, prepared for the King, Gd, Lord of Hosts, to travel, like kings who travel from place to place, for whom they prepare a chariot to go on his way. All of this is a parable, in human speech."
(Abarbanel, Introduction to Yechezkel)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"The prophets saw Gd in forms which varied in association with His deeds...
"At a time of anger against the nation, when Gd planned to travel and remove His presence from among them and His supervision from upon them, Yeshayahu saw Gd sitting on a throne, high and elevated, as though distancing His supervision form them and removing it fom the lower realms, placing it in the upper realms...
"Yechezkel saw Gd at the time of His travel, the destruction of the Beit haMikdash... as though on a chariot, prepared for the King, Gd, Lord of Hosts, to travel, like kings who travel from place to place, for whom they prepare a chariot to go on his way. All of this is a parable, in human speech."
(Abarbanel, Introduction to Yechezkel)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, November 29, 2010
Why traditional prayer is not instrumental
Hi,
"We have seen that our ancestors who instituted the prayers did not enact musical instruments even though song emerged from among us in the service in the Beit haMikdash. Our ancestors abandoned it; we see that they felt it inappropriate, because there is no joy before Gd since the day the Beit haMikdash was destroyed."
(Rav Moshe Sofer, Chatam Sofer 6: Likkutim 84)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"We have seen that our ancestors who instituted the prayers did not enact musical instruments even though song emerged from among us in the service in the Beit haMikdash. Our ancestors abandoned it; we see that they felt it inappropriate, because there is no joy before Gd since the day the Beit haMikdash was destroyed."
(Rav Moshe Sofer, Chatam Sofer 6: Likkutim 84)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The importance of respect
Hi,
"Rabbi Yitzchak said: Yerushalayim was destroyed only because they equated the small and the great, as it is written, “And as is with the nation, so will be with the kohen… and the land will be emptied out.”"
(Talmud, Shabbat 119b)
Have a good day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Yitzchak said: Yerushalayim was destroyed only because they equated the small and the great, as it is written, “And as is with the nation, so will be with the kohen… and the land will be emptied out.”"
(Talmud, Shabbat 119b)
Have a good day,
Mordechai
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Exile from the Garden of Eden and Exile from Israel
Hello,
"Rabbi Avahu cited Hosheia 6:7, 'They are as man [Adam], they violated the covenant.' This is a reference to Adam the First.
"Gd declared: I brought Adam the First into the Garden of Eden (Bereishit 2:15), I gave him instructions (Bereishit 2:16), he violated My instructions (Bereishit 3:11), I sentenced him to divorce (Bereishit 3:24) and exile (Bereishit 3:23) and I mourned him with 'Eichah' (Bereishit 3:9). It is written as 'Eichah' [even though it is read as Ayekah].
"So, too, I brought his children to Israel (Yirmiyah 2:7), I instructed them (Vayyikra 24:2), they violated My instructions (Daniel 9:11), and I sentenced them to divorce (Hosheia 9:15) and exile (Yirmiyah 15:1), and I mourned for them 'Eichah' (Eichah 1:1)."
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah Petichta 4)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Avahu cited Hosheia 6:7, 'They are as man [Adam], they violated the covenant.' This is a reference to Adam the First.
"Gd declared: I brought Adam the First into the Garden of Eden (Bereishit 2:15), I gave him instructions (Bereishit 2:16), he violated My instructions (Bereishit 3:11), I sentenced him to divorce (Bereishit 3:24) and exile (Bereishit 3:23) and I mourned him with 'Eichah' (Bereishit 3:9). It is written as 'Eichah' [even though it is read as Ayekah].
"So, too, I brought his children to Israel (Yirmiyah 2:7), I instructed them (Vayyikra 24:2), they violated My instructions (Daniel 9:11), and I sentenced them to divorce (Hosheia 9:15) and exile (Yirmiyah 15:1), and I mourned for them 'Eichah' (Eichah 1:1)."
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah Petichta 4)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The loneliness of exile
Hi,
"It is written (Yirmiyah 15:17), 'Because of Your hand, I dwelled alone' - Pharaoh's hand struck me and I did not dwell alone, Sancherev's hand struch me and I did not dwell alone, but when Your hand struck me I dwelled alone, as it is written (Eichah 1:1), 'How did she come to dwell alone, the city that had once contained a great nation.'"
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 3)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
"It is written (Yirmiyah 15:17), 'Because of Your hand, I dwelled alone' - Pharaoh's hand struck me and I did not dwell alone, Sancherev's hand struch me and I did not dwell alone, but when Your hand struck me I dwelled alone, as it is written (Eichah 1:1), 'How did she come to dwell alone, the city that had once contained a great nation.'"
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 3)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Linking Torah study and the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash
Hello,
[I know that the following is not the dominant popular viewpoint; people tend to view Torah study as an intellectual exercise, and less significant than the social aspects of Judaism. This is all the more reason to cite this source for study.]
"Rav Huna and Rav Yirmiyah said in the name of Rav Shemuel bar Rabbi Yitzchak:
"We have found that Gd overlooked idolatry, sexual immorality and murder, but did not overlook the rejection of Torah. It is written (Yirmiyah 9), 'Why was the land lost?' And then the passage does not say, 'For idolatry, sexual immorality and murder,' but rather, 'For they abandoned My Torah.'
"Rav Huna and Rav Yirmiyah said in the name of Rav Chiyya bar Abba:
"It is written (Yirmiyah 16), 'They abandoned Me, and they did not guard My Torah.' Gd was saying: I wish that they had abandoned Me and still guarded My Torah, for through their involvement in Torah, its light would have brought them back to righteousness."
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 2)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
[I know that the following is not the dominant popular viewpoint; people tend to view Torah study as an intellectual exercise, and less significant than the social aspects of Judaism. This is all the more reason to cite this source for study.]
"Rav Huna and Rav Yirmiyah said in the name of Rav Shemuel bar Rabbi Yitzchak:
"We have found that Gd overlooked idolatry, sexual immorality and murder, but did not overlook the rejection of Torah. It is written (Yirmiyah 9), 'Why was the land lost?' And then the passage does not say, 'For idolatry, sexual immorality and murder,' but rather, 'For they abandoned My Torah.'
"Rav Huna and Rav Yirmiyah said in the name of Rav Chiyya bar Abba:
"It is written (Yirmiyah 16), 'They abandoned Me, and they did not guard My Torah.' Gd was saying: I wish that they had abandoned Me and still guarded My Torah, for through their involvement in Torah, its light would have brought them back to righteousness."
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 2)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
Monday, July 12, 2010
A reason for destruction: Low salaries for teachers of Torah?
Hello,
"It is written (Yirmiyah 9), 'Who is wise, who will understand this? Why is the land lost? HaShem declared: Because they abandoned the Torah.'
"R' Shimon bar Yochai said: If you see cities uprooted from their places in Israel, know that they did not properly reward teachers of Tanach and Mishnah."
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 2)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
"It is written (Yirmiyah 9), 'Who is wise, who will understand this? Why is the land lost? HaShem declared: Because they abandoned the Torah.'
"R' Shimon bar Yochai said: If you see cities uprooted from their places in Israel, know that they did not properly reward teachers of Tanach and Mishnah."
(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 2)
May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai
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