Supporting Torah scholars

Hi,

"Rav Dimi of Neherdaa brought dried figs by boat. The Exilarch said to Rava: Go and see; if he is a young scholar, set up the market for him."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 22a; this is quoted by Rabbi Moshe Isserles, Shut Rama 10, as a legal obligation)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Eat your vegetables

Hi,

"Rav Huna said: A Torah scholar is not permitted to live in a town in which green vegetables are unavailable."

(Talmud, Eruvin 55b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah scholars increase peace

Hi,

"True peace will come to the world only through an embrace of the value of increasing peace, when all sides and all opinions will be viewed, and it will be clarified that each has a place, according to its value, place and content…

"This is how Torah scholars increase peace [as pledged in Berachot 64a]. When they expand and explain and produce new words of wisdom, from different points of view, with a variety and even contradiction of content, thus they increase peace."

(Rav Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, Olat Re'iyyah I pg. 330 [standard Mossad haRav Kook edition])

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The daughter of a Torah scholar

Hi,

"One should sell off everything he owns, if that's what is required in order for him to marry the daughter of a Torah scholar - for then, even if he would die or suffer exile, he could still be certain that his children will become Torah scholars [due to his wife's influence]."

(Talmud, Pesachim 49a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sincerity

Hi,

"[The Torah says, regarding the Ark which held the Tablets:] 'You shall coat it with gold, inside and out.'

"Rava says: Any Torah scholar who is not the same inside as he is outside is not a Torah scholar."

(Talmud, Yoma 72b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Cleanliness and Safety, traits of the Torah scholar

Hi,

"What are the characteristics of a Torah scholar's dining table?

"Two-thirds of the surface is covered with a cloth, and one-third is uncovered [on which one places serving dishes which might otherwise dirty the tablecloth], and it holds dishes and greens.

"The protruding ring is pointed inward. [The ring was a pointed attachment which was used to hang up the table when not in use; the same advice would apply to any protruding part, to avoid harming those who pass by the table.]

"But we have learned that one should let the ring point outward [to protect the diners from the protrusion]!

"Some explain that this is only where there are no children around. Others explain that this is only where there is no servant around. Others explain that this is only during the day [so that the ring is visible and therefore less dangerous]."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 57b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The battles of Torah scholars

Hi,

"Rabbi Yirmiyah said, citing Rabbi Elazar: When two Torah scholars sharpen each other in legal discussions, Gd is joyous, and they ascend to greatness. This does not happen if they do it for non-altruistic motives, though, or if they become arrogant."

(Talmud, Shabbat 63a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The mark of a Torah scholar

Hi,

A Torah scholar is recognizable by four traits:
a. His expenditures;
b. His temper;
c. His drinking;
d. His cloak.

Some add: His speech.

(Derech Eretz Zuta 5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honoring people with dementia

Hi,

"The Tablets and the Broken Tablets were both placed in the Ark; this teaches that one should not disgrace a Torah scholar who has forgotten his learning due to circumstances beyond his control."

(Talmud, Menachot 99a)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

The popularity of a Torah scholar

Hi,

"Abbaye said: If a Torah scholar is beloved to his city, it isn't that he is good. Rather, it's because he does not rebuke them in heavenly matters."

(Talmud, Ketuvot 105b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The definition of "crooked"

Hi,

[Kohelet 1:15 bemoans "the crooked thing that cannot be straightened."]

"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: 'Crooked' only refers to something which was once straight, and then became crooked. What is this? A Torah scholar who leaves Torah."

(Mishnah Chagigah 1:7)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Choose your companions wisely

Hi,

"One should increase his meals with Torah scholars, and decrease his meals with ignorant people, for later on the ignorant person will speak evilly of him [regarding anything that happened at the meal]."

(Tana Dvei Eliyahu Rabbah 12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eat nicely!

Hi,

To preserve the honor of Torah, its representatives should not behave crudely. Therefore:

"A Torah scholar should not eat standing up, should not lick his fingers (from his food) and should not chew his cud before others."

(Derech Eretz Zuta 5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Appropriate awe

Hi,

"Although we are taught not to be in awe of flesh and blood, we are warned to have awe of kings, the community and Torah scholars."

(Rabbeinu Bechayye, Kad haKemach, Yirah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Be a donkey!

Hi,

"Rabbi Elazar said: Yissachar is called a donkey?! If it's because he works in Torah, we should call him a horse, a lion or a leopard! Why is he a donkey?

"They said: It's because a donkey carries a burden and does not kick its master, as other animals do. It possesses no arrogance, and it is not concerned about sleeping in a prepared area."

(Zohar, Bereishit 681)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Re-creating Sinai

Hi,

"Rabbi Eliezer's study hall was arranged like eyelashes (in an arc, presumably), with a single stone designated as his seat. Once Rabbi Yehoshua entered and kissed the stone, saying, 'This stone is like Mount Sinai, and the one who sits there is like the Ark of the Covenant.'"

(Midrash, Shir haShirim Rabbah 1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Be the tree

Hi,

"The Torah compares people to trees, but there are four kinds of trees:

"One is the thorn, which no one will take, for it is useless. It was created only to harm others; these are the wicked…

"The second is the bramble, and people take shelter beneath its branches and leaves; these are people who engage in the way of the world.

"The third is the fruit tree, like those who perform mitzvot and are compared to a fruit… but people do not benefit from the body of the tree, itself.

"The fourth is the cedar, regarding which people benefit from the body of the tree, in construction. This is like a person of Torah; the person is purified in all of his travels and ways, even in his normal conversation. Still, some cedars are better for one person’s construction and some for a mast for a ship at sea and so it supports thousands of people; so there is a scholar who is good for those who are around him, near to him, and then there is a scholar who leads his world, like the captain of a ship. This is the meaning of “Like cedars upon the water,” that we use them on the water."

(Netziv, Haamek Davar to Bamidbar 24:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Safety in the dining room

Hi,


"What are the characteristics of a scholar's dining table? Two-thirds of the surface is covered with a cloth, and one-third is uncovered [on which one places serving dishes which might otherwise dirty the tablecloth], and it holds dishes and greens. The protruding ring is pointed inward. [The ring was a pointed attachment which was used to hang up the table when not in use; the same advice would apply to any protruding part.]

"But we have learned that it is all right to have the ring point outward!

"Some explain that this is only where there are no children around. Others explain that this is only where there is no servant around. Others explain that this is only during the day [so that the ring is visible and therefore less dangerous]."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 57b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Inside and Outside

Hi,

"[The Torah says, regarding the Aron (Ark) which held the Luchot (Tablets):] 'You shall coat it with gold, inside and out.' Rava says: Any Torah scholar who is
not the same inside as he is outside is not a Torah Scholar."

(Talmud, Yoma 72b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Wearing the uniform

Hi,

"Rav Yehuda said, citing Rav: One who arrogantly wears the garb of a Torah scholar, when he is not a Torah scholar, will not be introduced into the enclave of Gd."

(Talmud, Bava Batra 98a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai