How can we tell that this is Shabbos?

Hi,

[Yes, the following requires some commentary...]

"Wicked Turnus Rufus also asked this question of Rabbi Akiva: Why is one day different from other days? He replied: Why are you different from other men?

"He replied: Because my master [Caesar] wishes it. [Rabbi Akiva:] The same is true for Shabbat; my Master wishes it.

"Turnus Rufus said: This is what I mean to ask: Who says that today is Shabbat? Rabbi Akiva replied: The Sabatyon River proves it [for it rests on Shabbat], the baal ov proves it [speaking to the dead is not effective on Shabbat], and your father's grave proves it for it does not produce smoke on Shabbat.

"He replied: You have disgraced him, you have shamed him, you have cursed him!"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 65b)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Why a flood of water?

Hi,

Shemot 6:!7 says, "And I, I will bring a mabul of water". A midrash is bothered by the language which indicates that Gd could have brought a mabul of anything, and He chose water, specifically. Why choose water?

"Gd said: They anger Me with the good I have poured upon them, and so with this I will punish them."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 108a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Divine patience with humanity

Hi,

"Rav Yehudah said, citing Rav: When Gd wished to create Man, He created a group of ministering malachim and said, 'Do you wish for us to make Man in our image?' They said, 'Master of the Universe, what are his deeds?' He replied, 'Such and such.' They said, 'Master of the Universe, 'What is Man that You remember him, etc?' He extended His finger among them and burned them. The same happened with a second set. 

"The third set said before Him: Master of the Universe, what good did the first accomplish with what they said? The entire world is Yours, do whatever You want with Your world. When the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Dispersion came, whose acts were corrupt, they said before Gd: Master of the Universe, didn’t the earlier groups speak correctly before You? He responded: 'Until old age I am He, and until old age I will be patient, etc. (Yeshayah 46)'"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 38b)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

The importance of lending

Hi,

An interestng factor in rabbinic legislation: Ensuring that loans will be available for people in need -

"Biblically, both financial and capital matters should require extensive interrogation of witnesses. Why did the sages rule that financial matters do not require extensive interrogation of witnesses? To avoid locking the door before borrowers [lest lenders fear being unable to collect on their loans]."

דבר תורה, אחד דיני ממונות ואחד דיני נפשות בדרישה ובחקירה, ומה טעם אמרו דיני ממונות לא בעינן דרישה וחקירה - כדי שלא תנעול דלת בפני לווין. 

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 2b-3a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The prohibition against sexual immorality

Hi,

Mitzvah 35, according to the count of the Sefer haChinuch, prohibits a Jew from engaging in intercourse with the spouse of another. The Sefer haChinuch explains that these types of activity are inherently harmful, both to the species and to the individual:

Species - HaShem created each species and instructed it to reproduce "according to its type," for the benefit of the species, and monogamy is considered inherently beneficial for the development of our species.

Individual - Disruption of loyal relationships leads to confusion, jealousy, hatred and violence. A strong marriage, on the other hand, builds safety, stability, trust and love.

Technically, the biblical command of Lo tinaf applies only to relationships sanctioned by the Torah, and therefore is limited to Jewish marriages. However, a separate biblical instruction of v'davak b'ishto “He shall cling to his wife,” applies to Jew and non-Jew alike and prohibits violation of any monogamous, intercourse-based relationship. (Sanhedrin 58a, Tosafot Kiddushin 21b אשת )

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Do not stand by

Hi,

"How do we know that one who sees another drowning in a river or being dragged by a beast or being beset by bandits must act to save him? The Torah says: 'You shall not stand by the blood of your peer.'"

מניין לרואה את חבירו שהוא טובע בנהר או חיה גוררתו או לסטין באין עליו שהוא חייב להצילו תלמוד לומר לא תעמד על דם רעך 

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 73a)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

A need for creative judges

Hi,

Preface: Vayikra 11:29-38 lists varieties of sheretz (crawling creatures) that are ritually impure.

"Rav Yehudah said, citing Rav: We only seat on the Sanhedrin (the highest rabbinical court) one who knows how to argue, from biblical sources, that a sheretz is ritually pure."

 אמר רב יהודה אמר רב: אין מושיבין בסנהדרין אלא מי שיודע לטהר את השרץ מן התורה.

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 17a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Happy Loser

Hi,

"Someone said, 'One who leaves the court bereft of his cloak should sing as he walks.' 

"Shemuel said to Rav Yehudah: This is Shemot 18:23: 'Also, this entire nation [winners and losers] will come to its place in peace.'"

ההוא דהוה קאמר ואזיל: דאזיל מבי דינא שקל גלימא - ליזמר זמר, וליזיל באורחא. אמר ליה שמואל לרב יהודה: קרא כתיב וגם כל העם הזה על מקמו יבא בשלום. 

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 7a)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Prophetic style

Hi,

On the role of a prophet in shaping a prophecy:

"One style is used to address many prophets, but no two prophets express their prophecy with the same style."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 89a)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

The rehabilitation of Nevuchadnezzar, and the reaction of the Sages

Hi,

"R' Yitzchak said: Molten gold should be poured into the mouth of that wicked one [King Nevuchadnezzar, who praised Gd at the end of the third chapter of the book of Daniel]. Had a malach not slapped his mouth, he would have put all of the songs and praises of David in Tehillim to shame!"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 92b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The diversity of humanity

Hi,
"[Gd created Adam as an individual] in order to publicize Divine greatness. A person mints many coins from one stamp and all of them reseble each other. The King of kings of kings, Gd, minted each person from the stamp of Adam the First, and one does not resemble the other."

(Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Compromising

Hi,

"R' Eliezer, son of R' Yosi haGlili, said: Compromise [by a court] is prohibited, and one who compromises is a sinner… R' Yehoshua ben Karchah said: It is a mitzvah to compromise… R' Shimon ben Menasya said: When two come before you for judgment, then before you hear their words, or after hearing but before you know where the verdict leans, you may tell them, 'Go compromise.'"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 6b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Live near a doctor

Hi,

"A city must possess ten things before a Torah scholar may live there: A court that punishes, a tzedakah collection that is collected by two and distributed by three, a synagogue, a bathhouse, a bathroom, a doctor, a phlebotomist, a scribe, and a schoolteacher.

"They cited Rabbi Akiva as saying that it must also contain fruit, for these illuminate the eyes."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 17b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Obey the law! Obey a law!

Hi,

"[A verse (Isaiah 5) states:] The depths widened, and opened her mouth to [swallow] the one without a law (literally: without limit).

"Reish Lakish explained: Even a person who omits a single law [ends up in the depths].

"Rabbi Yochanan responded: That interpretation does not please your Master! Rather, even a person who has learned a single law will not be drawn into the depths!"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 111a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forgiveness for all

Hi,

"When Moshe ascended to Heaven, he found HaShem sitting and writing, ‘Long in patience.’ He said, ‘Master of the Universe, ‘long in patience’ for tzaddikim?’ HaShem replied, ‘Even for reshaim.’ Moshe declared, ‘Wicked people should be destroyed!’ HaShem said, ‘Now you will see what you will need.’

"When the Jews sinned, HaShem said: Didn’t you say to Me, ‘long in patience’ for tzaddikim?

"Moshe said: Master of the Universe, did You not say to me, ‘even for reshaim?’
And this is the meaning of [Moshe’s words], ‘And now may the strength of HaShem be elevated, as You have spoken, saying…’"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 111a-b)

גמר טוב,
Mordechai

Atonement requires action

Hi,

"We have never found atonement possible without an associated action."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 4a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mashiach: Wealthy or Indigent?

Hi,

"R' Yehoshua ben Levi asked about two competing texts [regarding Mashiach]: "He came with the clouds of heaven, like a son of man (Daniel 7)" and "a pauper, riding on a donkey (Zecharyah 9)"!

"If they merit, "with the clouds of heaven". If they do not merit, "a pauper, riding on a donkey"."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Free on a technicality - but not for long

Hi,

"R’ Shimon ben Shetach once reported: I saw a man pursuing another person into a ruin and I pursued him. I found a sword in his hand, with blood dripping and the murdered man still shuddering.

"I said: “Wicked one, who killed this man? It was either you or I - but what can I do? Your blood is not given into my hand, for the Torah says (Deuteronomy 17), ‘The man will be killed by the word of two witnesses.’ May the One who knows all thoughts punish him for killing this man!”

"They say that the two of them did not leave the spot before a serpent bit the man, and he died."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 37b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Magic tricks in the Talmud

Hi,

"Rav said to R' Chiyya: I saw a Bedouin take a sword and slash his camel, and then he knocked on a table and the camel arose! R' Chiyya responded: Afterward, were blood and feces around? Rather, he simply grabbed your eyes."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 67b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Belief in multiple gods

Hi,

"A Jew who joins the Name of Heaven with anything else is uprooted from the world, as per (Exodus 22:19), 'One who sacrifices to a god will be destroyed, other than to Gd alone.'"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 63a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai