Hillel's commitment to labor?

Hi,

"They say regarding Hillel the Elder that he would work each day and earn a tarpeik [I don't know the proper Roman name corresponding to this talmudic term]. With half he would pay the guard at the study hall, and with half he would support himself and his household."

(Talmud, Yoma 35b)

"Before he would go to the study hall, he would go earn money, to fulfill the lesson we have learned, 'Any Torah which is with labor will endure. That which is without labor will not endure.' Also, he needed to earn this in order to pay the guard at the study hall."

(Maharsha, Chiddushei Aggadot to Yoma 35b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why chesed [kindness] matters so much

Hi,

"The Talmud says that one who only studies Torah, and does not engage in kindness, is as though he has no Gd to protect him, as though he had no true Gd, Gd-forbid. This is because Gd's traits are acts of kindness, and one is supposed to follow Gd's traits."

(R' Shmuel Eideles, Maharsha to Avodah Zarah 17b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Prayer and Peace

Hi,

"Intense prayer is a form of creating peace, for prayer brings peace between Israel and their Father in Heaven."

(Rav Shemuel Eideles, Maharsha to Shabbat 127b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah as a spouse

Hi,

"Torah is compared to a spouse in various places. When it is first given to a Jew, it is like an arusah [betrothed], until he learns Torah and then it becomes his [fully wedded] spouse."

(Maharsha to Pesachim 49b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Mitzvot of Pesach - Korban Pesach and Brit Milah

Hi,

The korban pesach symbolizes our rejection of Egyptian lamb-worship and our acceptance of HaShem, which includes the message HaShem taught Avraham and Sarah, and the brit milah covenant. Therefore, an arel (an uncircumcised male) may not eat from the korban pesach, and neither may his parents. This is the 17th mitzvah recorded by the Sefer haChinuch.

Interestingly, the talmudic sage Rava (Yevamot 71b) says that an arel's mother also may not eat from the korban pesach, even though only the arel's father is obligated to circumcise him. Maharsha explained that this is because the brit milah requirement for korban pesach is not a law regarding brit milah; it's a function of the korban pesach, a requirement that we confirm our commitment to the brit of Avraham before we may participate in our national redemption. This applies to both parents.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

True Friends

Hi,

Background:
Taanit 23a says, "One must have friends, or death."
But Bava Batra 16b says, "One must have friends like those of Job, or death."

Maharsha to Bava Batra 16b explained, "This text teaches us that 'one must have friends' does not mean just any friends, but friends like thoes of Job, who traveled many parasangs in order to comfort him."

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why one should say a little, while doing a lot

Hi,

We are taught (Bava Metzia 87a) that righteous people promise little, and then do a lot. This emerges from Avraham's conduct with his visitors, in which he offered basic bread and then provided a feast. The Maharsha elaborated:

"A guest will, at times, refrain from entering, and a beneficiary will refrain from receiving, in order to avoid burdening the benefactor. This is why Avraham said, 'You won't be burdening me a great deal; just eat some bread with me, and then you'll travel on.'"

(Maharsha, Chiddushei Aggadot to Bava Metzia 87a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Femininity of Torah

Hi,

"We use the female gender when speaking of Torah... and perhaps this refers to the elevated nature of Torah. Torah is female because it brings a person's soul to the path of life."

(Maharsha to Kiddushin 2b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Marrying Shabbat

Hi,


"Just as a man and woman become married when the Kallah (bride) enters the Chuppah, so Shabbat becomes married to the Jews at its entrance, with Kiddush."

(Maharsha's comment to Bava Kama 32b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Starting a fight

Hi,

"Achitofel gave his children three instructions. First: Do not get into disputes."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 147a)

Maharsha, an 18th century commentator, noted: Achitofel said, 'Do not get into disputes,' but he did not say, 'Do not dispute.' Sometimes a person should dispute with others, if they trespass against him. Achitofel only told his children, 'Don't be the one to cause the dispute.'

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Gd preventing, or permitting, sin

Hi,

A passage with enormous ramifications regarding Free Will, as well as Repentance:

"The generation of Jews in the desert were so elevated that Gd would have protected them from having the opportunity to sin with the Golden Calf, but Gd allowed it to happen in order to teach future generations about the power of repentance."

(Talmud, Avodah Zarah 4b as explained by "Maharsha")

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Achitofel, Shavuot and Torah Study

Hi,



Achitofel is described in Tanach as the wisest advisor of King David. The Talmud presents a cryptic statement regarding Achitofel's instructions to his children:



"Achitofel told his children three things...The third lesson was: If the weather on the holiday of Shavuot is clear, plant wheat."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 147a)

Maharsha explains: Shavuot is the holiday of the presentation of the Torah. Optimal study requires clarity, like one achieves on a breezy day. Wheat is a symbol of wisdom, as the Talmud notes that a child first begins to show intelligent thought at the age when it starts eating wheat.



Thus Achitofel instructed his children: If the time when Torah is presented to you is opportune for Torah study, take advantage of it and study Torah.



Have a great day,

Mordechai