Love for the land of Israel

Hi,

"Rabbi Yosi ben Chanina would kiss the rocks of Akko, saying, 'To this point is the land of Israel.' Rabbi Zeira crossed the Jordan River in his clothing. Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba rolled in the forest [some render: market] of Tiberias.

"Rabbi Chiyya Rabbah weighed the stones [repairing any areas where people might stumble].  Rabbi Chananiah weighed the clumps of earth. They fulfiled Tehillim 112:15, 'For Your servants have desired her stones, and favour her dust.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi Sheviit 4:7)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Humility and Ordination

Hi,

"Rabbi Zeira hid from ordination, for Rabbi Elazar had said, 'One should always be humble, and thereby live.'

"However, when Rabbi Zeira heard Rabbi Elazar say, 'One does not ascend to great status unless he has been forgiven for all of his sins,' he bolstered his courage [and accepted ordination]."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 14a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai