Rebbe's asceticism

Hi,

"When Rebbe [Rabbi Yehudah haNasi] died, he spread his ten fingers heavenward and said, 'Master of the Universe! You know that I worked in Torah with my ten fingers, and I did not benefit even [the measure of] the little finger!...'"

(Talmud,  Ketuvot 104a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Proceed with caution

Hi,

"And Esav said to him, "I will go forth with you." He wished to escort Yaakov, but Yaakov did not accept him. When our master went to the government, he would study this portion and not take an Aramean with him. Once he did not study it and he took Arameans with him, and he did not reach Akko before he sold his horse."

(Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 78:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Succession

Hi,

"When Rabbi Akiva died, Rebbe was born. When Rebbe died, Rav Yehudah was born. When Rav Yehudah died, Rava was born. Whn Rava died, Rav Ashi was born.

"This teaches you that a righteous person does not pass away until an equally righteous person has been created, as the verse says, 'And the Sun shone, and [only after there was a new Sun shining] the Sun set.'"

(Talmud, Kiddushin 72b)

[The idea is that Gd watches out for us, and does not leave us without resources.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rebbe's instructions to his children

Hi,

"When Rebbe was dying, he said, 'I need my children.' His children entered, and he told them: Be careful of your mother's honor. In addition, make sure that the lamp will always be lit in its place, the table should always be set in its place, and the bed should always be arranged in its place."

(Talmud, Ketuvot 103a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part III

Hi,

"Rebbe continued to push Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair [to come eat with him], until a mountain [miraculously] arose between them.

"Rebbe cried and said: In their lives they are so powerful [that Gd would perform miracles to satisfy their desire], how much more so in their death! For R' Chama bar Chanina taught, 'The righteous are greater in their death than in their lives, as it is written...'

"They said regarding Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair that he never broke bread belonging to another."

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part II

Hi,

"When Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair came to Rebbe's home, he sought to enter through a passage where [he found that] a white mule stood. He exclaimed, 'The angel of death [for white mules were particularly vicious] is in this house; how could I eat with him?'

"Rebbe heard this and exited to greet him. He said, 'Should I sell it?!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'You shall not put a stumbling block before the blind!'

"He said, 'I will abandon it!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'You will increase the harm! '

"He said, 'I will remove its hooves!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'This will pain a living creature!'

" He said, 'I will kill it!' To which Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied, 'That would violate the prohibition against waste!'

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair did not want to eat out - Part I

Hi,

"Rebbe heard [that Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair had arrived]. He went out to greet him, and asked, 'Would you like eat with me?' Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair replied: Yes.

"Rebbe's face shone [with joy]. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said to him, 'Did you think I had vowed not to benefit from Israel? Israel is a holy people! I only refuse because some people want to host but lack the means, and others have the means but don't sincerely want to host, and it is written (Mishlei 23:6-7), 'Do not eat the bread of a stingy person, and do not desire his tasty food, for it is bitter in his soul; he will instruct you, 'Eat and drink,' but his heart is not with you.' You, on the other hand, sincerely want to host and have the means.'"

(Talmud, Chullin 7b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Neturei Karta

Hi,

"Rabbi Yehudah haNasi sent R' Asi and R' Ami to go repair the cities of Israel. They would ascend to cities and say, 'Bring us the guardians of the city ["Neturei Karta נטורי קרתא"].' The people brought out the heads of the guards. R' Asi and R' Ami said, 'Are these the guardians of the city? These are the destroyers of the city!'

"The people asked them, 'Then who are the guardians of the city?'

"They replied, 'These are the teachers of Torah and Mishnah, who read and teach and guard the Torah day and night, as it is written (Yehoshua 1), 'You shall read it day and night,' and (Tehillim 127), 'If Gd will not build a house, its builders will have worked for nothing. If Gd will not guard a city, its guard will have been diligent for nothing.'"

(Midrash, Eichah Rabbah, Petichta 2)

May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai