Life Goals of Maimonides

Hi,

"One who follows a healthy lifestyle is not following a good path if his goal is only to have his body complete, and his children doing his work and supporting him. Rather, his goal should be to have a complete and strong body so his spirit will be straight, in order to know Gd. One cannot understand and examine wisdoms when he is hungry or ill or one of his limbs aches. And his goal should be that his children might become sages and leaders in Israel…"

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Deiot 3:3)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Caring for one's parents

Hi,

"If one's father or mother develops dementia, he should try to act according to their wishes until Gd has mercy upon them. If he cannot bear it because they have become extremely irrational, he should leave and instruct others to manage them in the manner befitting them."

(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah Hilchot Mamrim 6:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't leave it for your children to do

Hi,

"Every person should seek to improve, personally, through his own energies, in any way he can find, whether in his Torah study or in his good deeds.

"He should not depend upon his children to complete the task after him through their deeds, or for them to elevate his status [through their good deeds]. Certainly, his children will also be busy with their affairs, and they, too, will not have time to improve their deeds, and they will depend upon their own children, who in turn will depend upon their descendants, and his hope will be for naught!"

(R' Yisrael Meir Kagan (Chafetz Chaim), Ahavat Chesed, Perek 4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Of children and grandchildren and hope

Hi,

"Shemuel told Rav Yehudah, 'Sharp one! Do not be on the court [alt. edition: "among those"] to transfer inheritance, even from a bad son to a good son – for you do not know what sort of seed will emerge from him."

(Talmud, Ketuvot 53a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

In the merit of great descendants

Hi,

"Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: What was done for the ten tribes was not done for the generation of the Flood.

"Regarding the generation of the Flood it says (Bereishit 6), 'The thoughts of their hearts were only evil all day,' while regarding the ten tribes it says (Michah 2), 'Who perform evil on their beds' at night, as well as by day, 'By the light of morning they practice it.'

"Despite this, no remnant was left of the generation of the Flood, while a remnant was left of the ten tribes. This was in the merit of the righteous men and righteous women who would emerge from them."

(Midrash, Bereishit Rabbah 28:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Domestic disturbance

Hi,

"Bad behavior in one’s home is worse for a parent than the ultimate war of Gog and Magog. Regarding Avshalom’s rebellion it is written, “A psalm of David when he fled from his son Avshalom… HaShem, how great are my enemies, many rise against me!” But regarding the war of Gog and Magog it is written, “Why do the nations make noise, why do the nations speak emptiness,” but it does not say, “How great are my enemies.”"

(Talmud, Berachot 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The merit of our ancestors

Hi,

"If you are tested and you keep from sinning, do not take credit for yourself, saying, ‘I withstood the test.’ Perhaps your ancestors were tested, and when they did not sin they asked of Gd that when their descendants are tested, they also keep from sinning."

(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 160)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The effect of tzedakah upon one's children

Hi,

"Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon said: One who pursues [opportunities to give] tzedaka will have children who are masters of tzedakah, as well as Torah and Aggada [Torah which is not law-oriented]."

(Midrash Mishlei 21)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Estate Advice

Hi,

"Shemuel said to Rav Yehudah: Sharp one! Do not be among those who shift portions, even from a bad son to a good son."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 133b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honoring children and their parents

Hi,

Here's an odd midrash, commenting on Vayyikra 6:2 -

"What prayer did Moshe recite for Aharon?

"R' Mana of Yeshevav and R' Yehoshua of Sichnin cited R' Levi: From the beginning of the book [Vayyikra] until now, it is written, 'And the children of Aharon will arrange,' 'And the children of Aharon will sprinkle,' 'And the children of Aharon will place.'

"Moshe said before Gd: Is the cistern despised and its water beloved? You have given honor to trees because of their children, as we have learned, 'All types of wood are acceptable for the altar, other than olive and grape [because they are needed for their fruit],' and for Aharon You will not give honor because of his children?

"Gd replied to Moshe: Because of you, I will bring him close and I will even make him the essence and his children subsidiary - 'Instruct Aharon and his children, saying...'"

(Midrash, Vayyikra Rabbah 7:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai