Reverence for the throne

Hi,

"Rabbi Yannai taught: Reverence for the throne should always be upon you, as it is written (Sh'mot 11), 'All of your slaves will descend to me and bow to me, saying, 'Leave, you and all of the nation that is with you.'"

(Talmud, Menachot 98a)

The reference to Sh'mot 11 is to Moses' speech to Pharoah. Moses tells Pharaoh that Pharaoh's slaves will come and bow to Moses. In fact, Pharaoh himself would end up doing this - but Moses, out of respect for Pharaoh and the throne, refers only to the slaves.

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Laws which help some and harm others

Hi,

"The government's law of tenancy [aka rent control] is just and accepted, especially in big cities, for it is targeted against those who gouge prices and skin the hides of the indigent. Even if it appears, at times, as cheating landlords who are not wealthy, that is the way of law, at times violating justice. We follow the majority [of cases]."

(R' Yosef Eliyahu Henkin, Teshuvot Ivra 96:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Food for thought on July Fourth

Hi,

"Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Shimon were sitting together, with Yehudah ben Gerim. Rabbi Yehudah began to speak: 'How fine are the deeds of this [Roman] nation! They established markets, they built bridges, they built bathhouses!'

"Rabbi Yosi was silent.

"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai replied: 'All that they built, they built only for their own needs. They established markets to make a place for women of ill repute; they built bathhouses to pamper themselves; they built bridges from which to collect taxes.'

"Yehudah ben Gerim reported their words, and the report was heard by the government. They said: [Rabbi] Yehudah who praised should be elevated; [Rabbi] Yosi who was silent should be exiled; [Rabbi] Shimon who insulted should be executed."

(Talmud, Shabbat 33b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dealing with the government

Hi,

“Be careful of those in authority. They become close to people for their own benefit, appearing like friends as long as they benefit from the relationship, but they won't stand by a person when he is in trouble.”

(Pirkei Avot 2:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Government

Hi,

A conflicted message for the Fourth of July:

"Rabbi Chanina, the deputy Chief Kohen, said: Pray for the welfare of the government; if not for fear of the government, each person would swallow the other alive."

(Pirkei Avot 3:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai