Why were the books of the Prophets recorded?

Hi,

"This [canonization of Samuel II] was not for the purpose of telling the story itself, like the books of chronicles composed by the nations, but for the purpose of learning the service of Gd."

(Don Isaac Abarbanel to Neviim Rishonim, pg. 164)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Triumphant Kindness - The 4th day of the Omer

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the fourth day of each Omer week is Netzach. Netzach is victory, triumphing over obstacles internal and external.

The combined Sephirah for Day 4 of the Omer is Netzach sheb'Chesed, "victorious kindness". This title suggests kindness which involves a triumph over difficulty and adversity.

Many obstacles prevent us from feeling and acting kind; one challenge is a lack of appreciation for others. "Netzach" summons us to meet this challenge and reach out; as the Talmud (Bava Metzia 32b) notes, aiding an enemy is more important than aiding a friend.

The fourth day's Sephirah reminds us that our kindness should extend beyond the cases which are simple and obvious, to be expressed toward all in need.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Splendid Kindness - the 3rd day of the Omer

Hi,

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the third day of each Omer week is Tiferet. Tiferet is splendour and beauty, that which is admired by others. (See, for example, Pirkei Avot 2:1, as well as Kedushat Levi for Rosh haShanah, pg. 276 in one standard edition.)

The combined Sephirah for Day 3 of the Omer is Tiferet sheb'Chesed, "splendid kindness". This title suggests a kindness which is admired by others.

What causes admiration? The Talmud (Yoma 86a) observes that we admire people who behave in a menschlich way, treating others with respect; those who show respect for others will also be respected and admired.

Kindness is sometimes motivated by pity and a sense that the recipient is "less than", resulting in insensitivity toward the recipient. This is quite damaging; as the Talmud (Chagigah 5a) teaches, it would be better not to give, than to give in a way that embarrassed the recipient.

The third day's Sephirah reminds us that our kindness should be driven by the respect that will make it a splendid, admirable kindness.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Omer Thoughts

Hi,

Gd-willing, I will send out a daily Omer email throughout the Omer, including a note about the day's particular Sefirah as well as an event from that day in Jewish history.

Here are the first two emails:
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Day 1: Chesed sheb'Chesed - Kindness in Kindness
Please see below for an introduction to the Sephirot, the mystical associations of each day of the Omer. Each day's dvar torah email will focus on the Sephirah associated with that day.

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

The term Chesed sheb'Chesed, "the kindness in kindness", suggests the most pure breed of kindness - helping others not because of external goals or benefits, and not begrudgingly or out of a sense of obligation, but purely because one wishes to distribute from one's own resources in order to benefit others.

This may occur naturally in the love of a parent for a child, or of spouses for each other, but it is rare to see this sort of relationship in general society. Today's Sephirah encourages us to develop this trait in ourselves, expressed perhaps in holding a door open, in taking time to speak with a person who needs to talk, in donating to a tzedakah, or in dancing at a wedding.

Certainly, there must be healthy and halachic bounds to our sharing with others, but Chesed sheb'Chesed is about pushing the boundaries, building our desire to be kind to others.

The 16th of Nisan, in Jewish History
Moshe informed the Jews in the wilderness (Vayikra 23:9-14) that upon entry into Israel, they would be obligated to observe the prohibition of chadash. Under this law, the new year's grain is prohibited until a special omer offering is brought on the 16th of Nisan. In the absence of a Mishkan or Beit haMikdash, the arrival of the 16th of Nisan itself permits consumption of the new grain.

In line with this law, Yehoshua 5:9-12 informs us that the first time that the Jews who entered Israel from the wilderness ate from the grain of the land was on the 16th of Nisan, the day after they celebrated Pesach. The manna then stopped falling.

Day 2: Gevurah sheb'Chesed - Restraint in Kindness
Please see below for an introduction to the Sephirot, the mystical associations of each day of the Omer. Each day's dvar torah email will focus on the Sephirah associated with that day.

The Sephirah of the Omer's first week is Chesed. Chesed is kindness which motivates a person to give of himself - physically, financially, emotionally - to another.

However, the Sephirah of the second day of each Omer week is Gevurah. Gevurah is power, and we recall the lesson of Pirkei Avot 4:1: איזהו גבור? הכובש את יצרו, True Gevurah is self-control.

The combined Sephirah for Day 2 of the Omer is therefore Gevurah sheb'Chesed, "power in kindness". This title suggests a controlled kindness, a kindness which exists within healthy and appropriate boundaries.

Boundaries keep people from smothering each other, or stifling growth, or helping in undesired and undesirable ways. For example, as the gemara explains, one should not visit an ill person when he is feeling weak or in an embarrassing situation. In other examples, we are taught to avoid kindness which could be misunderstood or lead to impropriety.

Today's Sephirah reminds us that all good traits, even that of Kindness, must be carefully measured. Even HaShem bounded His kindness when He created the world, and we must do the same when we give to others.

The 17th of Nisan, in Jewish History
Bronya Kutzenok, born to a family of Tchernobler chassidim and married to a teacher, made aliyah in July 1921. She Hebraicized her name to Bracha Peli, and opened a library. Bracha eventually moved into bookselling, and then into publishing with her Masada Press. On the 17th of Nisan, in the year 1926, Bracha held the first "Hebrew Book Day". This became an annual event, morphing into today's "Hebrew Book Week" and "Hebrew Torah Book Week" celebrations, which are held in June.


Introduction to Sephirot
The "Sephirot", or "countings", are ten facets of Divine Creation. They are divided into two portions - the upper 3, and the lower 7. The lower 7 are:

Chesed (kindness);
Gevurah (power);
Tiferet (splendour);
Netzach (victory);
Hod (glory);
Yesod (foundation);
Malchut (monarchy).

We are taught that the 7 weeks of the Omer which take us from Pesach to Shavuot, from escaping Egypt to receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, are connected to these lower 7 Sephirot. The seven days of each week are also connected to these lower 7 Sephirot.

Thus the first week of the Omer is Chesed (kindness). The first day of that week is Chesed sheb'Chesed (kindness in kindness), the second day of that week is Gevurah sheb'Chesed (power in kindness), the third day of that week is Tiferet sheb'Chesed (splendour in kindness), and so on.

Then the second week of the Omer is Gevurah (power). The first day of that week is Chesed sheb'Gevurah (kindness in power), the second day of that week is Gevurah sheb'Gevurah (power in power), and so on.

But what do these terms mean? What is "kindness in power", for example?

Further, Rav Kook wrote that we are to study these Divine attributes in order to learn how to emulate G-d and draw near to Him. But what lessons can we draw from these attributes, for our own conduct?

Each day of the Omer, we'll publish a dvar torah exploring the message of the special Sephirah for that day, and what it can teach us for our own lives.

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I may post the Sefirah part on the Daily Torah Thought blog, but I won't be posting the history component there. To sign up, email info@torontotorah.com or follow @zichrondov on Twitter. The emails are free.

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Linking Pesach and Shabbat

Hi,

Food for thought; what is the Pesach and Shabbat connection? Isn't Shabbat universal [Creation of the World] and Pesach only Jewish [Exodus from Egypt]?

"Rav Acha bar Yaakov said: One must mention the departure from Egypt in kiddush [for Shabbat]. Regarding the departure from Egypt it says 'So that you should remember the day', and regarding Shabbat it says 'Remember the day of Shabbat, to sanctify it.'"

(Talmud, Pesachim 117b)

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Why do we dip twice at the Seder?

Hi,


Notwithstanding my Torah Thought from three years ago here...

"As far as why we dip twice: It is in order to create a symbol for the children [so that they will notice that tonight is unique]."

(Talmud, Pesachim 114b)

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Ha Lachma Anya and the key elements of the Seder

Hi,

"In this paragraph ["Ha Lachma Anya"] we have Pesach, Matzah and Marror:

"Matzah – 'This is the bread of affliction which…'

"Marror – 'All who are hungry, come and eat'. It is as people say, 'To a hungry spirit, every bitter item tastes sweet.'

"Pesach – 'All who need, come and partake in the Pesach."

(R' Tzidkiyahu ben Avraham haRofei, Shibolei haLeket 218)

Have a great day,
Mordechai