You will be protected

Hi,

Regarding Daniel 3, and the Divine rescue of Chananiah, Mishael and Azariah from the fiery furnace, after they refused to bow to King Nevuchadnezzar's statue:

"This story is also a lesson for the nation in their exile, under the decrees and destruction the kings of the nations issue in their lands, among their nations, and amid the great dangers they bear in exile, like a burning, fiery furnace, to let them know that the malach of Gd will never leave them, and Gd's supervision will not abandon them."

(Don Isaac Abarbanel, Maayanei haYeshuah, Maayan 6 Tamar 3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Judith's Rebuke to the Jews of besieged Bethulia

Hi,

"Now therefore, brethren, let us set an example to our brethren, for their lives depend upon us, and the sanctuary and the temple and the altar rest upon us. In spite of everything let us give thanks to the Lord our G-d, who is putting us to the test as he did our forefathers. Remember what he did with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia in Syria, while he was keeping the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother. For he has not tried us with fire, as he did them, to search their hearts, nor has he taken revenge upon us; but the Lord scourges those who draw near to him, in order to admonish them."

(Book of Judith, Chapter 8, Revised Standard Version)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Martyrdom, and punishment through one's descendants

Hi,

I'm really not sure what to say about this source, but it provides considerable food for thought:

"Some people sin in their lifetimes, and are punished for all of their sins only posthumously.

"For example: There was a learned person in a certain place where it was decreed that the community either adopt another religion or be killed. He told the population to adopt the other religion and then repent later. He adopted the other religion, as did they, and then the community returned to Judaism.

"Because they adopted that other religion upon his ruling, his descendants abandoned Torah, and he was punished as though he had caused all of them to sin."

(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 197)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Daily Torah Thought - 2/22

Hi,

"There are three creatures of particular chutzpah - the dog among the animals, the rooster among the birds, and the Jew among the nations.

"Rabbi Yitzchak bar Redifa said, citing Rabbi Ami: You may think this is derogatory, but it is actually praise for them - we will either live as Jews, or be killed."

(Midrash, Shmot Rabbah 42:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai