Cleanliness and Safety, traits of the Torah scholar

Hi,

"What are the characteristics of a Torah scholar's dining table?

"Two-thirds of the surface is covered with a cloth, and one-third is uncovered [on which one places serving dishes which might otherwise dirty the tablecloth], and it holds dishes and greens.

"The protruding ring is pointed inward. [The ring was a pointed attachment which was used to hang up the table when not in use; the same advice would apply to any protruding part, to avoid harming those who pass by the table.]

"But we have learned that one should let the ring point outward [to protect the diners from the protrusion]!

"Some explain that this is only where there are no children around. Others explain that this is only where there is no servant around. Others explain that this is only during the day [so that the ring is visible and therefore less dangerous]."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 57b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Travel by day

Hi,

(Preface: The Torah says that when Gd created light, "He looked at it, and saw that it was good." Thus daytime is labelled "the time which is called, 'That it was good.'")

"Rav Yehudah said, citing Rav: A person should always enter (from the road) during the time which is called 'That it was good,' and depart (for the road) during the time which is called 'That it was good.'"

(Talmud, Bava Kama 60a-b)

(The idea is that night is a time of unseen danger, and one should be careful to preserve his safety and travel by day.)

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

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

Asking for trouble

Hi,

"Three circumstances call to mind a person's sins: An inclined wall, examination of one's prayer [assuming Gd must answer one's prayers, because one prayed with great concentration - Rashi] and asking Gd to punish others for their sins."

(Talmud, Rosh HaShanah 16b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Safety in the dining room

Hi,


"What are the characteristics of a scholar's dining table? Two-thirds of the surface is covered with a cloth, and one-third is uncovered [on which one places serving dishes which might otherwise dirty the tablecloth], and it holds dishes and greens. The protruding ring is pointed inward. [The ring was a pointed attachment which was used to hang up the table when not in use; the same advice would apply to any protruding part.]

"But we have learned that it is all right to have the ring point outward!

"Some explain that this is only where there are no children around. Others explain that this is only where there is no servant around. Others explain that this is only during the day [so that the ring is visible and therefore less dangerous]."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 57b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Avoid danger

Hi,

"One should always take care not to deliver himself into danger or rely on a miracle, for one does not know which way the scales are leaning."

(Meiri to Shabbat 32a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The mortal danger of authority

Hi,

"Rabbi Yochanan said: Woe to those who hold positions of authority, for authority buries its holders."

(Talmud, Pesachim 87b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai