Don't flatter Gd

Hi,

"Daniel said [when addressing Gd in prayer], "The powerful, the great, the awesome," but he did not include [the standard Mosaic text], "the mighty." His children are in chains, where is His might?... 

"But is flesh and blood empowered to make such decisions?! Rabbi Yitzchak ben Elazar said: His prophets know that their Gd is a Gd of truth, and so they do not flatter Him."

(Talmud Yerushalmi Berachot 7:3)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Makom Kavua - A designated place to pray

Hi,

"Rabbi Tanchum bar Chanina said: One must designate a place in the synagogue to pray. Why? Shemuel II 15:32 says, 'And David came to the head," and then it does not say, "the place where he had prayed to Gd", but rather, "the place here he would [continue to] pray to Gd".

א"ר תנחום בר חנינא צריך אדם לייחד לו מקום בבית הכנסת להתפלל ומה טעם [שמואל ב טו לב] "ויהי דוד בא עד הראש אשר השתחוה שם לאלקים" אין כתיב כאן, אלא "אשר ישתחוה שם לאלקים" 

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 4:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't give up!

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai taught: If you see that other people are abandoning hope of studying Torah, stand up and grab on to Torah yourself; you will receive all of the reward that they are shunning. It is written, 'When they are annulling Your Torah, it is a time to act for Gd.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 9:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Even at our nadir

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish taught: When a person has a relative, if that relative is wealthy he admits their connection, if that person is needy then he denies their connection.

"Gd, though, is not that way; even when we are at our nadir, He calls us His brothers and friends, as it is written, 'On behalf of My brothers and friends (Psalms).'"

רבי שמעון בן לקיש אמר בשר ודם יש לו קרוב אם היה עשיר הוא מודה בו ואם היה עני כופר בו אבל הקדוש ברוך הוא אינו כן אלא אפילו ישראל נתונין בירידה התחתונה הוא קורא אותם אחי וריעי

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 9:1)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Attracting conversion

Hi,

"When Israel fulfills Gd's will, Gd scours the world, finds righteous people and brings them to Israel, like Yitro and Rachav."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 2:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Taking on measures of special piety

Hi,

"Regarding taking on acts of special piety which involve pain, one who wishes to identify as unique may do so, one who wishes to identify as a Torah scholar may do so.

"Regarding taking on acts of special piety which confer honour, not all who wish to identify as unique may do so, not all who wish to identify as a Torah scholar may do so, unless one has been appointed as a leader by the community…

"Rabbi Zeira said: Only, one may not take these on if that will disgrace others [who are not practicing thus]."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 2:9)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Deeds are Primary

Hi,

"Why did the Sages say that one should first don tefillin, and then recite Shema and the amidah? So that he would accept the monarchy of Heaven first, completely."

[Commentators explain: One who practices mitzvot is more complete in his acceptance of Divine monarchy.]

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 2:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Patience of King David

Hi,

Preface: King David longed to build the Beit haMikdash, and was told that he could not. See Shemuel II 7, Melachim I 5, Divrei haYamim I 7 and 22 for more information.

"There is no generation without scorners. What would the lawless of [King David's] generation do? They would go to David's windows and say, 'David, when will the Beit haMikdash be built? When will we go to the house of Gd?'

"He would respond, 'Even though they intend to anger me, may I be rewarded for I am happy in my heart.' [As Tehillim 122:1 says,] 'I am glad when they say to me: Let us go to the house of Gd.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi Berachot 2:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kohanim serve Gd, not people

Hi,

"Abba bar bar Chana and Rav Huna were sitting and eating, and R' Zeira was standing and serving them. R' Zeira ascended and brought both wine and oil in one hand. Abba bar bar Chana asked him, 'What is your other hand holding [that you use one hand for both]?'

"Abba bar bar Chana's father grew angry at his son, and said, 'It isn't enough for you that you are reclining while he stands and serves? Further, he is a kohen, and Shemuel taught, 'One who uses a kohen is guilty of trespass!' And yet, you mock him?! I decree that he should recline and you should stand and serve in his place.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 8:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying at sunrise/sunset

Hi,

"Rabbi Yosi bar Chanina would pray with the partial appearance of the sun, so that he would live in awe of Heaven all day."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 4:1)

Pnei Moshe explained: He would pray Shacharit at sunrise, so as to experience awe of Heaven for the rest of the day.

Sefer Charedim explained: He would pray Minchah at the approach of sunset, so as to experience awe of Heaven for the following night and the ensuing day.

Have a great day,
Mordechai