An interesting religious approach to the pursuit of wealth

Hi,

We are familiar with texts which denigrate the pursuit of wealth, arguing that people amass wealth for a future they might not live to see. Here's a different perspective:

"The ant lives only six months, and consumes only one and a half wheat kernels, but it gathers any wheat and barley it can find all through the summer.

"Rabbi Tanchuma said: In its entire life it consumes only a wheat kernel and a half, and it gathers all of this - why? It says: Perhaps Gd will decree that I should live, and so I need to have food prepared to eat."

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 5:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The invasion of Canaan

Hi,

"What did Yehoshua do? He spread messages wherever he went to battle, writing, 'One who wishes to depart may depart, one who wishes to make peace may make peace, and one who wishes to make war may make war.'"

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 5:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

There will be justice or Justice

Hi,

"Rabbi Eliezer said: Where there is justice there is no justice; where there is no justice, there is justice.

"What does this mean? Rather: If justice is performed in this world, Gd does not need to execute Justice from above. If justice is not performed in this world, Gd executes Justice from above."

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 5:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Justice vs. Korbanot, revisited

Hi,

[You may wish to see this post first.]

"It is written [Mishlei 21:3]: One who performs acts of righteousness and justice has done something which is more choice, for Gd, than an offering.

"This says that these are acts are more choice than offering, and not only equal to an offering. How is this so? Offerings apply only in the time of the Beit haMikdash, while righteousness and law are conducted in the time of the Beit haMikdash and in a time when there is no Beit haMikdash. Also, [most] offerings atone only for accidental sin, but righteousness and law atone for accidental and intentional sin."

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 5:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honest ants

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta said: An ant once knocked down a single wheat kernel (for collection). All of the ants came to sniff it, but none of them took it. The ant which had selected it came and took it.

"See the wisdom and glory in the ant: It learned from no one, it has neither judge nor officer... You, for whom I have appointed judges and officers, certainly should listen to them!"

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 5:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Divine Reciprocity

Hi,

"‘And it will be, if you listen’ – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sichnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: HaShem declares, ‘If you will listen to My mitzvot, I will listen to your prayers.’"

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Divine mercy and circumcision

Hi,

"And why is a child circumcised at eight days? Gd had mercy on him, to wait until he has strength."

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 6:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Bless the Torah, bless yourself

Hi,

“HaShem declared: If you bless the Torah, you bless yourself. How do we know this? It is written (Mishlei 9), “’For in me [the Torah] your days will be increased, and years of life will be added to you.’”

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 8:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah and Olive oil

Hi,

"Just as [olive] oil is bitter in the beginning and sweet at the end, the same is true regarding words of Torah: A person is pained over them in the beginning and then he produces through them a great end."

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 7:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The power of "Amen"

Hi,

"Rabbi Yudin said, “Anyone who replies ‘Amen’ in this world will merit to respond ‘Amen’ in the next world.”"

(Midrash, Devarim Rabbah 7:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai