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

Beautifying the menorah

Hi,

"[The menorah of the Chashmonaim] was made of iron spits, covered with tin. When they became wealthier they made it of silver. When they became still wealthier, they made it of gold."

(Talmud, Rosh haShanah 24b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Beautiful mitzvot

Hi,

Preface: The Jews say, as they cross through the Red Sea, 'This is my Gd, and I will praise Him.' The word אנוהו means I will praise Him, but the gemara ties it to the word נאה, meaning beautiful, therefore reading the passage, I will beautify Him:

"'This is my Gd, and I will beautify Him' - Make yourselves beautiful before Him with mitzvot. Make a beautiful succah, make a beautiful lulav, make a beautiful shofar, make beautiful tzitzit, make a beautiful Torah scroll and write in it with proper intent using beautiful ink and a beautiful quill and an expert scribe, and wrap it in beautiful silks."

(Talmud, Shabbat 133b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai