The importance of lending

Hi,

An interestng factor in rabbinic legislation: Ensuring that loans will be available for people in need -

"Biblically, both financial and capital matters should require extensive interrogation of witnesses. Why did the sages rule that financial matters do not require extensive interrogation of witnesses? To avoid locking the door before borrowers [lest lenders fear being unable to collect on their loans]."

דבר תורה, אחד דיני ממונות ואחד דיני נפשות בדרישה ובחקירה, ומה טעם אמרו דיני ממונות לא בעינן דרישה וחקירה - כדי שלא תנעול דלת בפני לווין. 

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 2b-3a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The mitzvah of lighting a menorah

Hi,

"What blessing does one recite [when kindling the Menorah]? 'Who sanctified us with his mitzvot and instructed us to light the Chanukah lamp.'

"But where did He give us such an instruction?! [Chanukah, occurring after the Torah was given, has no instructions in the Torah!]

"Rav Avya answered: From 'Do not deviate from the words of the sages.'

"Rav Nechemyah answered: From 'Ask your father and he will tell you,

your elders and they will tell you.'"

(Talmud, Shabbat 23a)

חג אורים שמח,

Mordechai

Another benefit of the victory of the Chashmonaim

Hi,


"The essential miracle of the Chashmonaim in the second Beit haMikdash was as a preparation for this bitter exile. Had the Jews descended into this bitter exile as they did after the destruction of the first Beit haMikdash, when they were lawless in Torah, they would have lacked the strength to endure this bitter exile and remain Jewish.

"It was only by the miracle of the Chashmonaim, and the subsequent fences and boundaries and protections which were then instituted, that we had strength to remain in our faith all through this long exile."

(Chatam Sofer, Torat Moshe III Devarim pg. 71b)

Chag Urim Sameach,
Mordechai

The source for lighting the Menorah

Hi,

Indirectly, Chanukah testifies to Jewish loyalty to the words of the Sages:

"[When we light the menorah, we recite the following blessing:] 'You are blessed, Gd... who sanctified us with mitzvot and instructed us to light the lamp of Chanukah.'

"But where did Gd instruct us to do this?! [Chanukah occurred after the canonization of Tanach; there can be no biblical instruction to light the menorah!]

"Rabbi Avya explained: It is written, 'You shall not stray from what the sages tell you, right or left.'" [In other words: This does not appear in the text of the Torah, but it is an instruction of the Sages and is honored as such.]

(Talmud, Shabbat 23a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The severity of rabbinic law

Hello,


"Rabbi Zerika said, citing Rabbi Elazar: One who takes the mitzvah of hand-washing [before eating bread] lightly will be uprooted from the world."

(Talmud, Sotah 4b)

Rashi explains, citing the Talmud elsewhere: "For one who violates the words of the sages is liable for death, as it is written (Ecclesiastes 10), 'One who breaks through a fence will be bitten by a snake.'"

This ought to provide pause on both sides - by those who would violate rabbinic law, obviously, but also by those who would create it. Creating laws which others will take lightly presents a serious stumbling block to the public.

Have a great day,
Mordechai