Hi,
"The sages taught: Why did Esther invite Haman to her meal with Achashverosh?
"R' Eliezer: She planted a trap for him, as it is written (Psalms 69), 'May your table be a trap before them.'
"R' Yehoshua: While in her father's household, she learned that it is written, 'If your enemy hungers, give him bread.'
"R' Meir: So that Haman wouldn't consult his advisors and plot a rebellion against Achashverosh (as he would think everything was fine).
"R' Yehudah: So they shouldn't realize she was Jewish.
"R' Nechemiah: So the Jews wouldn't rely on having a sister of theirs in the palace, and stop praying to Gd for mercy.
"R' Yosi: So that Haman would be before her (in the presence of the king, and she could make him stumble).
"R' Shimon ben Minasya: Perhaps Gd would see the depths to which she had to stoop, and have mercy and perform a miracle.
"R' Yehoshua ben Karcha: I'll be friendly to him before the king, and the king will kill both of us.
"Rabban Gamliel: Achashverosh was whimsical (and might change his mind if it would take time to carry out his decree).
"Rabban Gamliel said: We still require the words of Moda'i, as it is taught: R' Eliezer haModai said: To cause jealousy of Haman from both the King and his other officers.
"Rabbah said: It is written (Proverbs 16), 'Arrogance comes before one is broken.'
"Abayye and Rava said: It is written (Jeremiah 51), 'In anger I will set their feasts (punishment will come at their feasts).'
"Rabbah bar Avuha encountered Eliyahu (the Prophet), and asked: Which explanation is the one which Esther saw, which motivated her to do this?
"He replied: Esther saw all of the rationales of these various sages."
(Talmud, Megilah 15b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Showing posts with label Sources: Talmud Bavli: Megilah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sources: Talmud Bavli: Megilah. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Half-Shekel Contribution
Hi,
"[Haman promised Achashverosh, in exchange for exterminating the Jews:] 'If it is good with the king, I will pay ten thousand silver coins into the king's coffers.'
"Reish Lakish commented: It was revealed and known before the Creator of the Universe that Haman would give shekalim [coins] against the Jews. Therefore, Gd commanded that we precede his shekalim with our own contribution of shekalim. This is why it is taught in a mishnah: On the first day of Adar announcements are made calling people to contribute their shekalim."
(Talmud, Megilah 13b)
"Some have ruled that one should donate a coin which is half the standard unit of currency, to charity, as a memorial to the half-shekel which was given [in the time of the Temple] in the month of Adar.
"Since the word 'donation' is written three times in that section of the Torah which describes this Mitzvah, one should give three of these coins. One should give it on the eve of Purim, before the minchah prayer, and that is the custom in these lands."
(Rama to Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 694:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"[Haman promised Achashverosh, in exchange for exterminating the Jews:] 'If it is good with the king, I will pay ten thousand silver coins into the king's coffers.'
"Reish Lakish commented: It was revealed and known before the Creator of the Universe that Haman would give shekalim [coins] against the Jews. Therefore, Gd commanded that we precede his shekalim with our own contribution of shekalim. This is why it is taught in a mishnah: On the first day of Adar announcements are made calling people to contribute their shekalim."
(Talmud, Megilah 13b)
"Some have ruled that one should donate a coin which is half the standard unit of currency, to charity, as a memorial to the half-shekel which was given [in the time of the Temple] in the month of Adar.
"Since the word 'donation' is written three times in that section of the Torah which describes this Mitzvah, one should give three of these coins. One should give it on the eve of Purim, before the minchah prayer, and that is the custom in these lands."
(Rama to Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 694:1)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, June 25, 2012
Work and Success
Hi,
"Rabbi Yitzchak said: If someone tells you, 'I worked and did not see any result,' don't believe him. If someone tells you, 'I didn't work and I saw a result,' don't believe him. If a person tells you, 'I worked and I saw a result,' believe him.
"This is referring to Torah study, but in commerce the results are aided by Heaven. Even when it comes to Torah study, this is only regarding sharp, deep understanding, but memorization is aided by Heaven."
(Talmud, Megilah 6b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Yitzchak said: If someone tells you, 'I worked and did not see any result,' don't believe him. If someone tells you, 'I didn't work and I saw a result,' don't believe him. If a person tells you, 'I worked and I saw a result,' believe him.
"This is referring to Torah study, but in commerce the results are aided by Heaven. Even when it comes to Torah study, this is only regarding sharp, deep understanding, but memorization is aided by Heaven."
(Talmud, Megilah 6b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, June 4, 2012
Queen Esther's strategy
Hi,
"The sages taught: Why did Esther invite Haman to her meal with Achashverosh?
"R' Eliezer: She planted a trap for him, as it is written (Psalms 69), 'May your table be a trap before them.'
"R' Yehoshua: While in her father's household, she learned that it is written, 'If your enemy hungers, give him bread.'
"R' Meir: So that Haman wouldn't consult his advisors and plot a rebellion against Achashverosh (as he would think everything was fine).
"R' Yehudah: So they shouldn't realize she was Jewish.
"R' Nechemiah: So the Jews wouldn't rely on having a sister of theirs in the palace, and stop praying to Gd for mercy.
"R' Yosi: So that Haman would be before her (in the presence of the king, and she could make him stumble).
"R' Shimon ben Minasya: Perhaps Gd would see the depths to which she had to stoop, and have mercy and perform a miracle.
"R' Yehoshua ben Karcha: I'll be friendly to him before the king, and the king will kill both of us.
"Rabban Gamliel: Achashverosh was whimsical (and might change his mind if it would take time to carry out his decree).
"Rabban Gamliel said: We still require the words of Moda'i, as it is taught: R' Eliezer haModai said: To cause jealousy of Haman from both the King and his other officers.
"Rabbah said: It is written (Proverbs 16), 'Arrogance comes before one is broken.'
"Abayye and Rava said: It is written (Jeremiah 51), 'In anger I will set their feasts (punishment will come at their feasts).'
"Rabbah bar Avuha encountered Eliyahu (the Prophet), and asked: Which explanation is the one which Esther saw, which motivated her to do this?
"He replied: Esther saw all of the rationales of these various sages."
(Talmud, Megilah 15b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"The sages taught: Why did Esther invite Haman to her meal with Achashverosh?
"R' Eliezer: She planted a trap for him, as it is written (Psalms 69), 'May your table be a trap before them.'
"R' Yehoshua: While in her father's household, she learned that it is written, 'If your enemy hungers, give him bread.'
"R' Meir: So that Haman wouldn't consult his advisors and plot a rebellion against Achashverosh (as he would think everything was fine).
"R' Yehudah: So they shouldn't realize she was Jewish.
"R' Nechemiah: So the Jews wouldn't rely on having a sister of theirs in the palace, and stop praying to Gd for mercy.
"R' Yosi: So that Haman would be before her (in the presence of the king, and she could make him stumble).
"R' Shimon ben Minasya: Perhaps Gd would see the depths to which she had to stoop, and have mercy and perform a miracle.
"R' Yehoshua ben Karcha: I'll be friendly to him before the king, and the king will kill both of us.
"Rabban Gamliel: Achashverosh was whimsical (and might change his mind if it would take time to carry out his decree).
"Rabban Gamliel said: We still require the words of Moda'i, as it is taught: R' Eliezer haModai said: To cause jealousy of Haman from both the King and his other officers.
"Rabbah said: It is written (Proverbs 16), 'Arrogance comes before one is broken.'
"Abayye and Rava said: It is written (Jeremiah 51), 'In anger I will set their feasts (punishment will come at their feasts).'
"Rabbah bar Avuha encountered Eliyahu (the Prophet), and asked: Which explanation is the one which Esther saw, which motivated her to do this?
"He replied: Esther saw all of the rationales of these various sages."
(Talmud, Megilah 15b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, March 11, 2012
The conversion of theatres and circuses
Hi,
Zecharyah 9:7 speaks of a future joining of the nations in recognition of Gd, saying, "He [the foreigner] will be as an aluf in Yehudah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusite"
The Talmud draws on Mishlei 22:25, in which the word aluf is used to refer to teaching. Based on this, the Talmud teaches:
"These are the theatres and circuses of Edom, in which the officers of Yehudah will teach Torah publicly."
(Talmud, Megilah 6a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Zecharyah 9:7 speaks of a future joining of the nations in recognition of Gd, saying, "He [the foreigner] will be as an aluf in Yehudah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusite"
The Talmud draws on Mishlei 22:25, in which the word aluf is used to refer to teaching. Based on this, the Talmud teaches:
"These are the theatres and circuses of Edom, in which the officers of Yehudah will teach Torah publicly."
(Talmud, Megilah 6a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Megilat Esther: Malach #3
Hi,
Esther 7:8 says, "And the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the feast of wine, and Haman was falling on the bed on which Esther was seated. And the king said, 'Do you also think to take my wife, with me in the house?" In the following passage, the gemara is sensitive to the word "falling", as well as the narrative difficulty of why Haman would place himself in such a compromising position:
"'And Haman was falling on the bed' - 'Falling'? It should say 'fell'!
Rabbi Elazar explained: This teaches that an angel came and knocked him down on to the bed. Achashverosh declared, "Woe is me from my house, woe is me from outside [see the preceding email for the events outside]!"
(Talmud, Megilah 16a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Esther 7:8 says, "And the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the feast of wine, and Haman was falling on the bed on which Esther was seated. And the king said, 'Do you also think to take my wife, with me in the house?" In the following passage, the gemara is sensitive to the word "falling", as well as the narrative difficulty of why Haman would place himself in such a compromising position:
"'And Haman was falling on the bed' - 'Falling'? It should say 'fell'!
Rabbi Elazar explained: This teaches that an angel came and knocked him down on to the bed. Achashverosh declared, "Woe is me from my house, woe is me from outside [see the preceding email for the events outside]!"
(Talmud, Megilah 16a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, March 5, 2012
Megilat Esther: Malach #2
Hi,
The following Talmudic passage appears to be sensitive to Megilat Esther's repetition of "the palace garden".
"Esther 7:7 says, 'And the king rose in his anger from the feast of wine, to the palace garden... And the king returned from the palace garden.' It links his return to his rising from the feast; just as he rose in anger, so he returned in anger, for he went and found angels, looking like men, uprooting the trees of his orchard. He said to them, 'What are you doing?' And they replied, 'Haman told us to do this.'"
(Talmud, Megilah 16a)
Have a great day, Mordechai
The following Talmudic passage appears to be sensitive to Megilat Esther's repetition of "the palace garden".
"Esther 7:7 says, 'And the king rose in his anger from the feast of wine, to the palace garden... And the king returned from the palace garden.' It links his return to his rising from the feast; just as he rose in anger, so he returned in anger, for he went and found angels, looking like men, uprooting the trees of his orchard. He said to them, 'What are you doing?' And they replied, 'Haman told us to do this.'"
(Talmud, Megilah 16a)
Have a great day, Mordechai
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Megilat Esther: Malach #1
Hi,
"Esther 7:6 says, 'And Esther declared: A man, a foe and an enemy, Haman, this wicked man.'
"R' Elazar said: This teaches that she pointed to Achashverosh, and an angel came and struck her hand to turn it toward Haman."
[I believe R' Elazar is sensitive to the placement of Haman's name later in the sentence, indicating that she was pointing elsewhere first.]
(Talmud, Megilah 16a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Esther 7:6 says, 'And Esther declared: A man, a foe and an enemy, Haman, this wicked man.'
"R' Elazar said: This teaches that she pointed to Achashverosh, and an angel came and struck her hand to turn it toward Haman."
[I believe R' Elazar is sensitive to the placement of Haman's name later in the sentence, indicating that she was pointing elsewhere first.]
(Talmud, Megilah 16a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Why did everyone like Esther?
Hi,
"Rabbi Akiva said: We know that the book of Esther was written with Divine inspiration, because it says, 'Esther gained favor in the eyes of all who saw her' (which the author could not have known without Divine insight).
"But Rabbi Akiva's approach is not proof; perhaps it was as Rabbi Elazar said, that she appeared to each person as though she was from that person's nation [which naturally led to their fraternal affection]."
(Talmud, Megilah 7a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Akiva said: We know that the book of Esther was written with Divine inspiration, because it says, 'Esther gained favor in the eyes of all who saw her' (which the author could not have known without Divine insight).
"But Rabbi Akiva's approach is not proof; perhaps it was as Rabbi Elazar said, that she appeared to each person as though she was from that person's nation [which naturally led to their fraternal affection]."
(Talmud, Megilah 7a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Adoption
Hi,
"One who raises an orphan in his house is viewed by the Torah as though he had birthed him."
(Talmud, Megilah 13a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"One who raises an orphan in his house is viewed by the Torah as though he had birthed him."
(Talmud, Megilah 13a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
You have to work at it
Hi,
“If someone says to you, ‘I worked [to learn Torah] and I did not succeed,’ do not believe him. If he says to you, ‘I did not work and I succeeded,’ do not believe him. If he says to you, ‘I worked and I succeeded,’ believe him.”
(Talmud, Megilah 6b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
“If someone says to you, ‘I worked [to learn Torah] and I did not succeed,’ do not believe him. If he says to you, ‘I did not work and I succeeded,’ do not believe him. If he says to you, ‘I worked and I succeeded,’ believe him.”
(Talmud, Megilah 6b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The good old days
Hi,
"'And it was, in days of Achashverosh (Esther 1:1)' - Rabbi Levi, or some say Rabbi Yonatan, declared: We have a tradition from the Great Assembly that whenever the text says, 'And it was,' this is only an expression of pain:
"'And it was, in the days of Achashverosh' - and Haman arose. 'And it was, in the days of the judging of the judges' - and there was a famine...
[The gemara then challenges this point, pointing out that there are positive 'And it was' references in the Torah.]
"Rav Ashi said: 'And it was' may be negative or positive. 'And it was, in the days of,' is only an expression of pain."
(Talmud, Megilah 10b)
I would add, homiletically: When people live exclusively in the past, talking about, 'It was, back in the day,' then the nation is headed for trouble...
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"'And it was, in days of Achashverosh (Esther 1:1)' - Rabbi Levi, or some say Rabbi Yonatan, declared: We have a tradition from the Great Assembly that whenever the text says, 'And it was,' this is only an expression of pain:
"'And it was, in the days of Achashverosh' - and Haman arose. 'And it was, in the days of the judging of the judges' - and there was a famine...
[The gemara then challenges this point, pointing out that there are positive 'And it was' references in the Torah.]
"Rav Ashi said: 'And it was' may be negative or positive. 'And it was, in the days of,' is only an expression of pain."
(Talmud, Megilah 10b)
I would add, homiletically: When people live exclusively in the past, talking about, 'It was, back in the day,' then the nation is headed for trouble...
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Purim Threat
Hi,
"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai told his students: The Jews [of Shushan] only participated [in bowing to Haman] for show, and Gd only threatened them for show."
(Talmud, Megilah 12a)
[This is sometimes quoted as a source for Purim costumes.]
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai told his students: The Jews [of Shushan] only participated [in bowing to Haman] for show, and Gd only threatened them for show."
(Talmud, Megilah 12a)
[This is sometimes quoted as a source for Purim costumes.]
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The sale of Yosef
Hi,
A statement on the cause of our national exile and slavery in Egypt, and a warning to parents:
"Because of the weight of two sela of silk which Yaakov added to Yosef's cloak, the matter developed and our ancestors descended to Egypt."
(Talmud, Megilah 16b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
A statement on the cause of our national exile and slavery in Egypt, and a warning to parents:
"Because of the weight of two sela of silk which Yaakov added to Yosef's cloak, the matter developed and our ancestors descended to Egypt."
(Talmud, Megilah 16b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The value of reciting the korbanot
Hi,
“It is written (Bereishit 15): ‘And he [Avraham] said: How do I know that I will inherit it [Israel]?’
“Avraham said before Gd: Master of the Universe! Perhaps, Gd-forbid, the Jews will sin before You and You will do to them as You did to the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Tower of Bavel!
“Gd replied: No.
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, how do I know that?
“Gd replied: Bring a calf… [symbolizing the korbanot]
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, that is fine for when the beit hamikdash [Jerusalem Temple] stands, but what will happen to them when the beit hamikdash does not stand?
“Gd said to him: I have already created the order of the korbanot for them; whenever they recite it, I consider it for them as though they had brought the korban before Me, and I forgive them for all of their sins.”
(Talmud, Megilah 31b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
“It is written (Bereishit 15): ‘And he [Avraham] said: How do I know that I will inherit it [Israel]?’
“Avraham said before Gd: Master of the Universe! Perhaps, Gd-forbid, the Jews will sin before You and You will do to them as You did to the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Tower of Bavel!
“Gd replied: No.
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, how do I know that?
“Gd replied: Bring a calf… [symbolizing the korbanot]
“Avraham said before Him: Master of the Universe, that is fine for when the beit hamikdash [Jerusalem Temple] stands, but what will happen to them when the beit hamikdash does not stand?
“Gd said to him: I have already created the order of the korbanot for them; whenever they recite it, I consider it for them as though they had brought the korban before Me, and I forgive them for all of their sins.”
(Talmud, Megilah 31b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Keys to long life
Hi,
"Rabbi Nechunyah ben Hakanah's students asked him: How did you merit long life?
"He replied: I never accepted honor at the expense of another person's honor, I never went to bed upset at someone else's curse (against me), and I was forgiving with my money."
(Talmud, Megilah 28a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Nechunyah ben Hakanah's students asked him: How did you merit long life?
"He replied: I never accepted honor at the expense of another person's honor, I never went to bed upset at someone else's curse (against me), and I was forgiving with my money."
(Talmud, Megilah 28a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Learning Torah with Music
Hello,
Singing is generally taken, in the Talmud, as synonymous with happiness [although the Talmud does discuss funeral music as well]:
"R' Shefatyah said, citing R' Yochanan: Regarding a person who reads Torah without pleasantness [Rashi: such as the musical notes of the trop], and one who learns Mishnah without song, it is written [Yechezkel 20], 'I have given them laws that are not good, and statutes by which do will not live.'"
(Talmud, Megilah 32a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Singing is generally taken, in the Talmud, as synonymous with happiness [although the Talmud does discuss funeral music as well]:
"R' Shefatyah said, citing R' Yochanan: Regarding a person who reads Torah without pleasantness [Rashi: such as the musical notes of the trop], and one who learns Mishnah without song, it is written [Yechezkel 20], 'I have given them laws that are not good, and statutes by which do will not live.'"
(Talmud, Megilah 32a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Silence is worthwhile
Hi,
"If a word is worth one coin, silence is worth two."
(Talmud, Megilah 18a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"If a word is worth one coin, silence is worth two."
(Talmud, Megilah 18a)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, January 31, 2008
When the righteous die
Hi,
"Rabbi Elazar said, citing Rabbi Chanina: A righteous person is lost [only] to his generation.
"To what may we compare it? To a person who lost a gem. Wherever the gem is located, it remains a gem; it is only lost to its owner."
(Talmud, Megilah 15a)
Have a good day,
Mordechai
"Rabbi Elazar said, citing Rabbi Chanina: A righteous person is lost [only] to his generation.
"To what may we compare it? To a person who lost a gem. Wherever the gem is located, it remains a gem; it is only lost to its owner."
(Talmud, Megilah 15a)
Have a good day,
Mordechai
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