Hi,
"There is a religious demand to develop those virtuous dispositions that would motivate us to act benevolently, independent of divine commands... At the same time, we do not want our independent spiritual yearnings to cause us to lose the sense of being beholden to divine command."
(Rabbi Yitzchak Blau, Purity of motivation and Desiring the world to come, Torah UMadda Journal Vol. 14 pg. 154)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The message of a miracle
Hi,
On the purpose of a miracle:
"Miraculous grace places upon man an absolute responsibility to fulfill the larger imperative that calls out from the miracle. A transcendental imperative always accompanies miraculous activity, 'Command the children of Israel (e.g. Numbers 5:2, 28:1, 34:2, 35:2).'
"Woe unto the beneficiary of a miracle who does not recognize it for what it is, and whose ear is deaf to the echo of the imperative that arises out of this metahistorical event."
(Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, Kol Dodi Dofek (Gordon translation), pg. 23-24)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
On the purpose of a miracle:
"Miraculous grace places upon man an absolute responsibility to fulfill the larger imperative that calls out from the miracle. A transcendental imperative always accompanies miraculous activity, 'Command the children of Israel (e.g. Numbers 5:2, 28:1, 34:2, 35:2).'
"Woe unto the beneficiary of a miracle who does not recognize it for what it is, and whose ear is deaf to the echo of the imperative that arises out of this metahistorical event."
(Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, Kol Dodi Dofek (Gordon translation), pg. 23-24)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Daily Torah Thought - 2/8
Hi,
Here, in discussing gratitude, Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch speaks on a macro level, regarding nations. Nonetheless, he provides an important lesson/reminder regarding gratitude on a personal level: Although I may at times experience abuse from others, it is important for me to be grateful for the good they have done.
"Learn to forget the centuries of oppression and misery, of the inhuman scorn and the inhuman degradation which folly and lack of understanding brought upon you in your wandering in the Galut [exile], and remember gratefully the good that you found everywhere - and still find.
"And when you, yourself, find merely an abode, are allowed only a pitiful existence, even for that be thankful, show gentleness and love to every citizen of those states that have welcomed you and have given you their protection; let him learn from you the love that he has denied you."
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraph 587)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Here, in discussing gratitude, Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch speaks on a macro level, regarding nations. Nonetheless, he provides an important lesson/reminder regarding gratitude on a personal level: Although I may at times experience abuse from others, it is important for me to be grateful for the good they have done.
"Learn to forget the centuries of oppression and misery, of the inhuman scorn and the inhuman degradation which folly and lack of understanding brought upon you in your wandering in the Galut [exile], and remember gratefully the good that you found everywhere - and still find.
"And when you, yourself, find merely an abode, are allowed only a pitiful existence, even for that be thankful, show gentleness and love to every citizen of those states that have welcomed you and have given you their protection; let him learn from you the love that he has denied you."
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraph 587)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The nature of Gd
Hi,
On the nature of Gd:
"Gd is termed 'chei haolamim חי העולמים', the life of two worlds, [such as in our liturgy], because He connects two realms."
(Vilna Gaon, Aderet Eliyahu to Devarim 32:40)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
On the nature of Gd:
"Gd is termed 'chei haolamim חי העולמים', the life of two worlds, [such as in our liturgy], because He connects two realms."
(Vilna Gaon, Aderet Eliyahu to Devarim 32:40)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, February 4, 2008
Praying for ourselves and for others
Hi,
"Among the benefits of a community is this: A community does not pray for the harm of an individual, but an individual might pray for that which will harm other individuals.
"It is even possible that there may be, among the individuals [who make up the community], some who will pray for that which harms themselves [because they are praying for the community]."
(Kuzari 3:19)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Among the benefits of a community is this: A community does not pray for the harm of an individual, but an individual might pray for that which will harm other individuals.
"It is even possible that there may be, among the individuals [who make up the community], some who will pray for that which harms themselves [because they are praying for the community]."
(Kuzari 3:19)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Tefillin and the Name of Gd
Hi,
"It is written (Deuteronomy 28), 'And all of the nations of the land will see that the Name of Gd is called upon you.'
"Rabbi Eliezer haGadol said: This refers to the tefillin worn on one's head."
(Talmud, Menachot 35b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"It is written (Deuteronomy 28), 'And all of the nations of the land will see that the Name of Gd is called upon you.'
"Rabbi Eliezer haGadol said: This refers to the tefillin worn on one's head."
(Talmud, Menachot 35b)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Daily Torah Thought - 2/3
Hi,
"You may, again, recognize the world as the temple of Gd's omnipotence, without, however, feeling that every spot on which you tread in this temple is hallowed to Gd. You may recognize in the multitude of created beings a great concourse of the servants of Gd, without, however, regarding and feeling yourself as also a creature and a servant of Gd. You may have recognized the lofty vocation of Israel as Gd's instrument in history for the education of the human race, without feeling yourself to be in every fibre a son or daughter of Israel. So long as this is so, your knowledge is barren. The flower of actual life does not spring from it.
"It is for this reason that Israel's life-history opens with the words, 'I, the Lord, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, I am the Lord thy Gd.'"
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraphs 2-3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"You may, again, recognize the world as the temple of Gd's omnipotence, without, however, feeling that every spot on which you tread in this temple is hallowed to Gd. You may recognize in the multitude of created beings a great concourse of the servants of Gd, without, however, regarding and feeling yourself as also a creature and a servant of Gd. You may have recognized the lofty vocation of Israel as Gd's instrument in history for the education of the human race, without feeling yourself to be in every fibre a son or daughter of Israel. So long as this is so, your knowledge is barren. The flower of actual life does not spring from it.
"It is for this reason that Israel's life-history opens with the words, 'I, the Lord, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, I am the Lord thy Gd.'"
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraphs 2-3)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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