Love for the land of Israel

Hi,

"Rabbi Yosi ben Chanina would kiss the rocks of Akko, saying, 'To this point is the land of Israel.' Rabbi Zeira crossed the Jordan River in his clothing. Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba rolled in the forest [some render: market] of Tiberias.

"Rabbi Chiyya Rabbah weighed the stones [repairing any areas where people might stumble].  Rabbi Chananiah weighed the clumps of earth. They fulfiled Tehillim 112:15, 'For Your servants have desired her stones, and favour her dust.'"

(Talmud Yerushalmi Sheviit 4:7)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Eating non-kosher to save one's life

Hi,

"Rabbi Abba bar Zamina did tailoring work for a Roman. The Roman brought him a piece of non-kosher meat, and said, 'Eat!' He replied, 'I will not eat.'

"The Roman said, 'Eat; if not, I will kill you!' He replied, 'If you wish to kill me, kill me, for I will not eat the non-kosher meat.'

"The Roman said, 'How did you know that if you would have eaten, I would have killed you? One must either be a Jew, or a Roman!'

"Rabbi Mana said: Had Rabbi Abba bar Zamina heard the words of the sages [that one should eat non-kosher in order to save his life, if it is not a public situation], then he would have eaten."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Sheviit 4:2)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

The reward for community service

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon ben  Lakish taught: Shaul merited to take the throne only because his grandfather lit lamps for the community.

"Thus he was named Ner [lamp] – Divrei haYamim I 8:33 says, "Ner fathered Kish", but Shemuel I 9:1 says "Kish the son of Aviel" – Shaul's grandfather's name was Aviel, but because he lit lamps for the community, he was also called Ner."

(Talmud Yerushalmi Sheviit 3:7)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

It is not empty, it is your life!

Hi,

In the merit of Gilad, Naftali and Eyal:

Devarim 32:47 says regarding Torah, "For it is not something empty for you, for it is your life." On this, the Jerusalem Talmud comments:

"'For it is not something empty for you' - And if it is empty for you, why is that? For you did not work at it. 'For it is your life' -  When is it your life? When you work at it."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Sheviit 1:5)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai