Hi,
Liturgy recited by many Jews in introducing various mitzvot includes the phrase, “And the 613 mitzvot which depend upon it [this mitzvah].”
“Know that the 613 mitzvot are the general group, and each mitzvah exists as an independent entity. The general group needs the individual entity, though, and so the 613 mitzvot depend upon each independent mitzvah.”
(Sfat Emet, Responsa 1, expanded in commentary to Netzavim 5664)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Showing posts with label Sources: Sfat Emet: To Parshah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sources: Sfat Emet: To Parshah. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Shabbat and the ultimate inheritance of the Jew
Hi,
“The gemara states, ‘One who enjoys Shabbat will be given a boundless portion, as it is written, I will feed you the portion of Yaakov… and you will spread…’
“This means the following: We are taught that when Gd said to Yaakov, I will give you the land upon which you lie, He folded up all of Israel and placed it beneath him. This is the root of the concept of ‘the foundation stone,’ which is the root of the world. Yaakov Avinu, the complete man, for whom all was created, merited this foundation site upon which all else depended. There it is written, I will give it to you, and to your descendants, and so all Israel owns a portion of this gift.
“This is fulfilled on the sacred Shabbat, regarding which the sages wrote, ‘I have a great gift in My storehouse, and it is called Shabbat.’
“This is the meaning of the Torah’s statement regarding Shabbat, No man should leave his place. Shabbat gives each Jew a place.”
(R' Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, Sfat Emet to Vayyetze 5652)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
“The gemara states, ‘One who enjoys Shabbat will be given a boundless portion, as it is written, I will feed you the portion of Yaakov… and you will spread…’
“This means the following: We are taught that when Gd said to Yaakov, I will give you the land upon which you lie, He folded up all of Israel and placed it beneath him. This is the root of the concept of ‘the foundation stone,’ which is the root of the world. Yaakov Avinu, the complete man, for whom all was created, merited this foundation site upon which all else depended. There it is written, I will give it to you, and to your descendants, and so all Israel owns a portion of this gift.
“This is fulfilled on the sacred Shabbat, regarding which the sages wrote, ‘I have a great gift in My storehouse, and it is called Shabbat.’
“This is the meaning of the Torah’s statement regarding Shabbat, No man should leave his place. Shabbat gives each Jew a place.”
(R' Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, Sfat Emet to Vayyetze 5652)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Remember your origins
Hi,
“The departure from Egypt was the beginning of the introduction of the Jewish people to HaShem’s reign.
"The beginning is the essence, as it is written, ‘The end of a matter is better than its beginning.’ One must always remember this [beginning], which will bring strength and energy in all of one’s deeds. Depression begins when one forgets the origin.”
(Sfat Emet, Parshat Bo 5641)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
“The departure from Egypt was the beginning of the introduction of the Jewish people to HaShem’s reign.
"The beginning is the essence, as it is written, ‘The end of a matter is better than its beginning.’ One must always remember this [beginning], which will bring strength and energy in all of one’s deeds. Depression begins when one forgets the origin.”
(Sfat Emet, Parshat Bo 5641)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The value of preparing for a mitzvah, Part II
Hi,
"The Tur cited a midrash [as we saw here yesterday] that between Yom Kippur and Succot we are invovled in mitzvot of Lulav and Succah and we do not sin, and Gd declares that what is gone is gone.
"The Taz asked: How could these days be greater than Succot itself, when we fulfill the actual mitzvah – and yet, he says that the first day of Succot is first for the year’s accounting of sins!
"But this is not unlikely, for there is greater strength and salvation in the preparation for a mitzvah than in the fulfillment itself:
"First, this is because fulfilling the mitzvah is for a moment and preparation is eternal. Regarding this it is said, ‘You shall guard and you shall fulfill’ – based on the way a person guards himself continually, in order to be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem. Certainly, all of the work he does to guard himself from the empty elements of this world is needed so that he will be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem, and his ability to fulfill the mitzvah will match his level of purity.
"Also, because of the way one guards himself he then merits to fulfill the mitzvah and be guarded from all harm, as it is written, ‘One who guards a mitzvah will know of nothing bad.’
"Further, who can fulfill a mitzvah according to all of its precepts? But the desire and preparation for a mitzvah is all in order to perform it according to Divine desire, and therefore that preparation and joy in arriving at the mitzvah opportunity is very important."
(Sfat Emet to Parshat Haazinu)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
"The Tur cited a midrash [as we saw here yesterday] that between Yom Kippur and Succot we are invovled in mitzvot of Lulav and Succah and we do not sin, and Gd declares that what is gone is gone.
"The Taz asked: How could these days be greater than Succot itself, when we fulfill the actual mitzvah – and yet, he says that the first day of Succot is first for the year’s accounting of sins!
"But this is not unlikely, for there is greater strength and salvation in the preparation for a mitzvah than in the fulfillment itself:
"First, this is because fulfilling the mitzvah is for a moment and preparation is eternal. Regarding this it is said, ‘You shall guard and you shall fulfill’ – based on the way a person guards himself continually, in order to be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem. Certainly, all of the work he does to guard himself from the empty elements of this world is needed so that he will be prepared to fulfill the mitzvot of HaShem, and his ability to fulfill the mitzvah will match his level of purity.
"Also, because of the way one guards himself he then merits to fulfill the mitzvah and be guarded from all harm, as it is written, ‘One who guards a mitzvah will know of nothing bad.’
"Further, who can fulfill a mitzvah according to all of its precepts? But the desire and preparation for a mitzvah is all in order to perform it according to Divine desire, and therefore that preparation and joy in arriving at the mitzvah opportunity is very important."
(Sfat Emet to Parshat Haazinu)
Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai
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