The Prophet: A Breed Apart

Hi,

"Habr: Logically, the intellect sets the speaking being above all other living things, mandating that he develop an improved character, home and nation, and act rationally… And what level would you expect to be above this?

"King: The level of great sages?

"Habr: I am referring to a level which separates its holder qualitatively, like the difference between plant and mineral… This is the level of the indisputable prophet, via whom the masses can perceive the joining of G-d with humanity…"

(Rabbi Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 1:35-43)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Popular acceptance of prophets, Part 1

Hi,

"Every prophet selected by the Creator for His mission was given such an acts as a sign, whether controlling natural entities, like preventing fire from burning or preventing a river from flowing… And when such a sign was given to him, people who saw it were compelled to sanctify him and to believe that which he told them, for sages did not present signs such that they would be credible to people."

(Rabbi Saadia Gaon, Ha'Emunot v'haDeiot 3:5)

"Anyone the prophet encounters, when he meets him and hears his Divine words, has spirituality renewed with him, and he is separated from his own dross with a purity of spirit and a thirsting for those [spiritual] levels, and a cleaving to humility and purity."

(Rabbi Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 1:103)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

The nature of language

Hi,

Two competing views:

Language is a product of human beings:

"That which you need to know, and to which you must be alert, is Bereishit 2:20, 'And the man called names, etc.' We learn that language is established by convention, not nature."

(Rambam, Moreh haNevuchim 2:30)

Language is natural:

"'And all that Adam would call a living creature, was its name (Bereishit 2:19)' – This teaches that the creature was suited for that name. The name was appropriate for it, and taught of its nature."

(Rabbi Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 4:25)

המצפה לישועה,

Mordechai

An 11th century conversion standard

Hi,

A daunting standard:

"We do not equate with ourselves everyone who enters our Torah by verbal commitment alone, but only those who enter with deeds involving strain, with purity and learning and circumcision and many deeds prescribed by the Torah and performance of our customs…  Perhaps his seed will succeed, will succeed in receiving the Divine. One who cleaves to this path will have, him and his seed, a great portion of closeness to Gd."

(Rabbi Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 1:115)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Good intentions do not suffice

Hi,

"They asked me what I knew of the claims and refutations against the philosophers and proponents of religions who disagree with us, and the heretics who oppose the nation of Israel. 

"I remembered that which I had heard of the claims of the habr who was with the Khazar king, who became a Jew about 400 years ago, as recorded in the books of chronicles. He experienced a repeated dream, as though a malach spoke with him, saying, 'Your intent is desirable to the Creator, but your deeds are not desirable.' He tried hard, within the Khazar religion, serving in their sanctuary and bringing offerings wholeheartedly. For all that he worked at those deeds, though, the malach came to him at night and said, 'Your intent is desirable, but your deeds are not desirable.' And this caused him to investigate beliefs and religions, and in the end he and many Khazars converted to Judaism."

(Rabbi Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 1:1)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Communal Prayer: Lean on me

Hi,

"It is rare for an individual's prayer to be complete, without error or carelessness. Therefore, they established that individuals should pray communally, and that our communal prayer should be with a group of no fewer than ten where possible.

"Thus, some of the community will complete that which others are lacking due to error or carelessness, and so that they will collectively achieve a complete prayer, with pure intent, and blessing will rest upon all, and each individual will receive a portion thereof."

מעט הוא שתשלם תפלה ליחיד מבלי שגגה ופשיעה, ומפני כן קבעו לנו שיתפלל היחיד תפלת הצבור, ושתהיה תפלתו בצבור בעוד שיוכל לא פחות מעשרה, כדי שישלים קצתם מה שיחסר בקצתם בשגגה או בפשיעה, ויסתדר מהכל תפלה שלמה בכונה זכה, ותחול הברכה על הכל ויגיע לכל אחד מהיחידים חלקו ממנה.

(Kuzari 3:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Is it the thought that counts?

Hi,

"The Khazar king asked: Since you believe in all you have mentioned, Gd knows what is hidden in your heart and Gd desires the heart, He knows the hidden things and reveals that which is secret [and you need not act on these desires]!

"The Jew replied: This is true when action is impossible, but a person is situated between his desires and his deeds, and he is guilty if he does not convert his visible desire into visible proper action."

(R' Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 5:26-27)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Community and Individual, in prayer

Hi,

"Among the benefits of [praying in] a community is this: A community does not pray for the harm of an individual, but an individual might pray for that which will harm other individuals. It is even possible that there may be, among the individuals [who make up the community], some who will pray for that which harms themselves."

(R' Yehudah haLevi, Kuzari 3:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying for ourselves and for others

Hi,

"Among the benefits of a community is this: A community does not pray for the harm of an individual, but an individual might pray for that which will harm other individuals.

"It is even possible that there may be, among the individuals [who make up the community], some who will pray for that which harms themselves [because they are praying for the community]."

(Kuzari 3:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai