Jews and Dates, Part II - The Date as a Devoted Martyr

Hi,

"Rabbi Shemuel bar Nachmeni cited R’ Yonatan: ‘I said I would ascend the date tree and hold on to its bunches (Song of Songs)’ – ‘I said I would ascend the date tree’ refers to Israel, but now I only grasped one bunch: Chananiah, Mishael and Azaryah."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 93a)

Have a great day (and note the connection between this post and yesterday's post),
Mordechai

Jews and Dates

Hi,

"Rabbi Levi said: Like a date – A date has only one heart, so Israel has only one heart for their father in heaven."

(Talmud, Succah 45b)

[The idea of 'one heart' may be that most trees have branches that shoot off in different directions, while date palms are single-trunked until the lulavim at the top.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai