Two ways Gd mitigates a person's sin

Hi,

"[How does HaShem employ mercy in judgment, as the Torah says ?]

"R' Elazar said: He hides sin [i.e. overlooking it].

"R' Yosi b"R' Chanina said: He elevates that side of the scale [i.e. decreasing the weight assigned to it]."

(Talmud, Arachin 8b, as explained by Rashi there; but note Rashi Rosh HaShanah 17a and Maharsha to Arachin 8b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Remain productive in your senior years

Hi,

"People are wont to say: An elderly man in the home is a burden [alternative translation: loss] in the house; An elderly woman in the home is a treasure to the home."

(Talmud, Arachin 19a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Religious coercion, or assistance in developing your better self?

Hi,

"We confiscate assets from those who have vowed to bring burnt offerings or celebration offerings [if they delay fulfilling their vows].

"Even though the offering will not be acceptable [lit. 'atone'] without his agreement, per Vayyikra 1:3 which says 'according to his desire,' nonetheless, we compel him until he says, 'I desire.'"

(Mishnah, Arachin 5:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The power of harmful speech

Hi,

"[Evil] Speech can be worse than [evil] deeds, for we find that the verdict upon the wilderness generation was sealed only for their harmful speech, as it is written, 'They tested Me ten times, and did not heed My voice [and yet they were punished specifically for the sin with the Spies].'"

(Mishnah Arachin 3:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A generation and its leader

Hi,

"R’ Yehudah Nesiah and the Sages debated whether the generation matches the leader or the leader matches the generation.

"As far as what? If you are discussing their spiritual level, meaning that one says that if the generation is good then the leader will be good, and the other says that if the leader is good then the generation will be good, then what about Tzidkiyah, who was good in a bad generation? And what about Yehoyakim, who was bad in a good generation?... Rather, it’s about harsh and gentle styles."

(Talmud, Arachin 17a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The difficulty of receiving and delivering rebuke

Hi,

"Rabbi Tarfon said: I would be stunned if anyone in this generation would accept rebuke. If one would say, ‘Take a splinter from between your eyes,’ he would reply, ‘Take a beam from between your eyes.’

"Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah said: I would be stunned if anyone in this generation would know how to deliver rebuke."

(Talmud, Arachin 16b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rebuke

Hi,

"How do we know that one who sees his friend act improperly should rebuke him? It is written, ‘Rebuke your friend.’

"If he rebuked him and it was not received, how do we know that he should rebuke him again? It is written [a second time], ‘You shall rebuke’ – in any case.

"Should he do it until his friend’s face changes color [in shame]? No; it is written, ‘And do not bear sin for him.’"

(Talmud, Erchin 16b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Speech: A matter of life and death

Hi,

"Since Tanach already says, “Their tongue is a drawn arrow,” why does it also need to say, “Death and life are in the hands of the tongue?”

"It is as Rava taught: One who desires life will find it with his tongue, and one who desires death will find it with his tongue."

(Talmud, Erchin 15b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying with song

Hi,

"Rav Yehudah said, citing Shmuel: What is the essential source for music’s role in the avodah [the service in the Jerusalem Temple]?

"It is written, ‘And the priest will serve in the Name of HaShem, his Gd.’ Which type of service invokes Gd's Name? I’d say: Singing.

"Rav Matnah taught: It is written, ‘[You will be punished] because you did not serve HaShem your Gd with joy and with a good heart.’ What service is performed with joy and with a good heart? I would say: Singing."

(Talmud, Arachin 11a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai