Teaching our children, Part I

Hi,

"The sages required us to train our minors in mitzvot for which they are suited, so that they will be trained and accustomed to mitzvot."

(Rashi to Talmud Succah 2b מדרבנן)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Breakaway Minyanim

Hi,

"The community may decree that no minyan pray outside the shul, because of appearances – lest the nations think that they are many [Jewish denominations]. Also, because of the individuals themselves who do not pay the taxes and pray elsewhere."

(R' Avraham Gombiner, Magen Avraham 154:23)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tefillin: A Celebration

Hi,

The interesting opposition between Tefillin and Mourning:

"A mourner, on the first day of Shivah, is not permitted to don tefillin for the entire day - even after the burial.

"The verse [Amos 8:10] states, 'And its aftermath will be a bitter day.' Tefillin are termed 'glory' and should not be donned on a bitter day."

(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 38:8, from Talmud, Moed Katan 21a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Baruch she'Amar

Hi,


“We say, ‘Blessed is He who spoke, and the world existed.’

“This is the expression of the sages, who said many times, ‘It is revealed and known before the One who spoke and the world existed,’ along the lines of the verse (Tehillim 33:9), ‘He spoke, and it was.’

“It means that that via speech the world was created, without any exhaustion or any other action, as it is written (Tehillim 33:6), ‘The heavens were created at the word of Gd.’

“This is also the message of Bereishit Rabbah (12:10) that this world was created with the letter ה, as it is written (Bereishit 2:4), ‘These are the chronicles of the heavens and the earth, בהבראם – בה"א בראם.’ It means that just as ה is the easiest letter to produce, so He created the world without any exhaustion or strain.”

(Avudraham, Baruch She’Amar and Psukei d’Zimrah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Qualifications for judges

Hi,

"One may not place anyone on the Sanhedrin unless he is a person of wisdom, a good appearance, a person of physical stature, a person of age, a person knowledgeable in sorcery, and a person who knows seventy languages, so that the Sanhedrin will not need to hear testimony via an interpreter."

(Talmud, Menachot 65a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Moshe and Yitro cut a deal

Hi,

Here's one that requires much thought:

"Yitro made a condition with Moshe that he circumcise one of his sons and leave the other one."

(Midrash Aggadah, Shemot 18:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Wedding Violence?

Hi,

"Young man who ride out to greet a groom and bride, and who harm each other’s property in a manner of joy and laughter, or who do so in other joyous circumstances, are exempt from liability because that is the practice."

(Rama, Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 378:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai