Is shofar a decree, or a rational statute?

Hi,

Psalms 81:5 says of blowing the shofar that it is "a decree [chok] for Israel, a law [mishpat] for the Gd of Jacob." On this, Malbim explains:

"We do not analyze the reason for this mitzvah of blowing shofar; for Israel it is a law, without any reason other than a decree from Gd. But it is a statute for the Gd of Jacob; Gd knows its reason, and for Him it is statute, not law."

[Note that the terms "law" and "statute" do not truly translate the Hebrew. The point here is to distinguish between chok as a law with power and force without need for explanation, and mishpat as a rational rule.]

(Malbim to Tehillim 81:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Creating a thing and its opposite

Hi,

"He dried up the waters of the sea, the Jordan and the liquid water, and He brought liquid streams from the dry stone… The meaning is that Gd alone can make something and its opposite [co-exist]. He split the sea and Jordan and stones, reversing their nature."

כי הוא יבש מי הים והירדן והמים לחים, והוציא נחלים שהם לחים מסלע שהוא יבש... והנה הטעם כי ד' לבדו יעשה דבר והפך הדבר והנה הים והירדן והצורי' בקעם והפך תולדתם:

(Commentary of R' Avraham ibn Ezra to Tehillim 114:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

My Shadow and me?

Hi,

"Tehillim 121:5 says, 'Gd is your shadow.' Just as when you cry your shadow cries opposite you, and just as when you laugh your shadow laughs opposite you, so Gd is as a shadow."

ד' צלך מה הצל הזה כשאתה בוכה הוא בוכה נגדך, ואם אתה שוחק, משחק נגדך, כך הקב"ה הוא כבחינת הצל

(Midrash cited by Shelah in Toldot Adam, Shaar haGadol, as cited in Or haMeir [R' Zev Wolf haLevi] to Parshat Netzavim)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Types of Hatred, Part 2 of 3

Hi,

"Also, a craftsman who hates his competitors – this is all futile and a great evil, for he should think that no one can profit more than the Creator decrees for him.

"And the worst and harshest type of hatred is that of people who hate those who instruct them and rebuke them, to show them the straight path, as Amos 5:10 says, 'They hate the instructor at the gate.'

"And there is an even worse hatred: People who hate those who perform good deeds and pursue righteousness, as Psalms 38:21 says, 'They hate me, in return for my pursuit of goodness.'…"

וגם אומן שונא בני אומנותו - הכל הבל ורעה רבה, כי יחשוב ששום אדם לא יוכל להרויח יותר ממה שגזר לו הבורא. והרעה שבמיני השנאה והקשה שבהן - כגון בני אדם השונאים מוכיחיהם והמייסרים אותם להורותם הדרך הישרה, כענין שנאמר (עמוס ה י): "שנאו בשער מוכיח". ויש שנאה רעה ממנה - כגון בני אדם השונאים עושי טובה ורודפי צדק, כענין שנאמר (תהלים לח כא): "ישטנוני תחת רדפי טוב"... 

(Orchot Tzaddikim, Shaar haSinah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How to produce sons

Hi,

[Note: The preference for sons in talmudic times was not a  religious statement; rather, it was directly linked to the economic and social advantages of having sons. This is seen in the source below.]

"What should one do in order to have sons?

"R' Eliezer said: He should scatter his money among the needy, as Tehillim 112:9 says [following verses about wealth and social status], 'He has scattered, he has given to the needy, his righteouness stands forever, his glory shall be elevated in honour.' Or, he should do as his wife desires [carnally]."

(Kallah Rabti 2:11, as explained by Rashi Bava Batra 10b)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Guard your tongue

Hi,

"Who is the man who desires life, who loves his days, to see good? Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Abandon evil and perform good, seek peace and pursue it."

(Psalms 34:13-14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Give thanks!

Hi, "It is good to thank Gd, and to sing to Your elevated Name, to speak of Your generosity in the morning and of Your loyalty in the nights." (Psalms 92:2-3) Have a great day, Mordechai

In what way is Gd "alone"?

Hi,

Tehillim 86:10 says: "For You are great and You perform wonders; You are Gd alone."

Two midrashim explain "alone" in three different ways:
(1) Unique
(2) Without a partner
(3) The only one who is aware of what You do

""In the beginning, Gd created" – R' Tanchuma began: "For You are great and You perform wonders." R' Tanchum said: If this barrel would have a hole the size of a needle's point, all of its air would escape. Man is formed of tubes and tubes, holes and holes, and his air does not escape. Who does this? "You are Gd alone."

"Alternatively: "For You are great and You perform wonders" – Normally, a flesh and blood king is praised in the land, and the leaders of the land are praised with him for they carry his burden with him. Gd is not thus; He alone created the universe, He alone is praised in the universe, He alone is glorified in His universe. R' Tanchuma said, "For You are great and You perform wonders," Why? For "You are Gd alone," You created the universe alone."

(Midrash, Bereishit Rabbah 1:3)

"While Yaakov delayed, where was Esav all that time? R' Yehoshua ben Levi said: He would trap prey and then a malach would release it and chase it away… Gd said, "Yaakov does not know what miracles were performed for him. When he left, Esav entered," as it is written… And so David said, "You are great and You perform wonders; You are Gd alone." You know what miracles and wonders You perform for this person, and he does not know…"

(Midrash Tanchuma Toldot 17)

Worth noting: Rashi to Tehillim 86:10 adopts the second explanation.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The unique shofar of Rosh HaShanah

Hi,

"This holiday [Rosh haShanah] is different from all of the other appointed times, in that we blow the shofar on this day.

"The shofar is always a sign of fright; we normally blow the shofar on fasts for rain or for any other trouble, times when we do not play musical instruments. On Rosh HaShanah, though, the Levites play music in the Beit haMikdash and we also blow the shofar, such that the shofar blast does not frighten the nation."

(Malbim to Tehillim 81:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A Divine promise

Hi,

"If only My nation would listen to me, if Israel would walk in My ways. In a moment I would humble their enemies, and put My hand upon their foes."

(Tehillim 81:14-15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The few over the many

Hi,

"The few who aid the righteous are better than the many who aid the wicked."

(Tehillim 37:16, as explained by Rashi)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Responding to evil

Hi,

"Of David: Do not compete against evildoers, and be not jealous of those who practice corruption. Like grass they will soon wither, and like the green grass they will fade. Trust in Gd and perform good deeds, dwell and the land and nurture your faith."

(Tehillim 37:1-3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Yerushalayim: The place of Gd's rest

Hi,

"For Gd has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling. 'This is My resting place eternally; here I dwell, for I have desired her.'"

(Tehillim 132:13-14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Path to the good life

Hi,

"Who is the man who desires life, who loves his days, to experience good things?

"Guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Abandon evil and perform good, seek peace and pursue it."

(Tehillim [Psalms] 34:13-14)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Yom Yerushalayim - Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem

Hi,

In honor of the 42nd Yom Yerushalayim, celebrated Friday, the 28th of Iyyar:

"Seek the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you have peace."
(Psalms 122:6)

"May Gd bless you from Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem, all the days of your life."
(Psalms 128:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The joy of Torah study

Hi,

"The Torah of Your mouth, Gd, is greater to me than thousands of silver and gold coins!"

(Psalms 119:72)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A promise of Divine protection

Hi,

"A song of steps, by David. I raise my eyes to the mountains; from whence will my aid come? My aid is from Gd, Creator of Heaven and Earth. He will not allow your foot to falter, your Guardian will not sleep. Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps."

(Tehillim 121:1-4)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Yom Yerushalayim

Hi,

In honor of the forty-first anniversary of the reunification of Yerushalayim:

"A song of steps, of David. I rejoiced when they said to me: 'Let us go to the house of HaShem.'

"Our feet stood at your gates, Jerusalem. A built-up Jerusalem is like a city united together, where the tribes ascended, the tribes of HaShem, a testimony to Israel to give thanks in the name of HaShem.

"For there thrones sat for justice, the thrones of the house of David.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love you prosper. May there be peace within your walls, prosperity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will say, 'May there be peace within you.' For the sake of the house of HaShem our Gd, I will seek good for you."

(Psalm 122)

Have a great day,
Mordechai