Netziv on the causes of Anti-Semitism

Hi,

"Many, including complete people, inquire regarding the on-going hatred in the hearts of Anti-Semites against Israel. Each strains and exhausts himself to find an appropriate answer to this serious question, one thus and one thus, each according to his mind and his outlook on Judaism…

"We, with the banner of our pure Torah and loyal faith, will also speak of this, with G-d's help. We will say that the essence of the hate of Anti-Semites for Israel has ever been known to every Jew and has been fluent in his mouth from the Haggadah of the "night of protection", when we say, "And this is what stood for our ancestors [that not only one has stood against us to destroy us, but in every generation they stand against us to destroy us]…"

"The lesson of Lavan instructs us that there are two causes for hatred: Jealousy of wealth and suspicion of theft and corruption, mixed with hatred of our belief and service of Gd…"

(Netziv, She'eir Yisrael, Chapter 1)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

A parent's influence

Hi,

"Rabbi Akiva said: A parent determines five traits in his child: Beauty, physical strength, wealth, wisdom and lifespan."

(Talmud, Eduyyot 2:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Be generous, good and friendly

Hi,

"Rabbi Yehoshua said: An evil [un-generous] eye, an inclination toward evil, and hatred of others, remove a person from the world."

(Pirkei Avot 2:11)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

The well-digger's daughter

Hi,

"It was taught: The daughter of Nechunyah, the public well-digger, once fell into a big pit. They came and told Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa. At first he said, 'It's fine.' Later he said, 'It's fine.' Still later he said, 'She has ascended.'

"They asked her, 'How did you get out?!' She responded, 'An elderly man leading a ram came to me.'

"They said to Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa: You are a prophet! He replied: Iam not a prophet and I am not the son of a prophet. I simply said, 'This righteous man took great pains over the mitzvah [of digging wells], can it be that his children will be hurt by them?!'"

(Talmud, Bava Kama 50a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Delayed payment

Hi,

"The sages taught:

"From the fact that the verse (Leviticus 19) stated, 'Do not let the payment of an employee's work sleep with you,' I can already see that one is in violation [of the law against withholding payment] if he waits until the next morning.

"Then why did the Torah add, 'until morning?' To teach that the violation is a one-time violation, on that first morning.

"What happens after that? Rav said: One is in violation of a separate prohibition against withholding payment.

"Rav Yosef asked: What is the scriptural source for this additional prohibition? It is written [Proverbs 3]: 'Do not tell your friend, 'Go and return tomorrow, and I will give it to you,' when you have the payment there now.'"

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 110b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah Meals

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon said: If three people eat at a table and do not speak words of Torah, it is as though they ate from the offerings of dead [i.e. idolatry]...But if three people eat at a table and they speak words of Torah, it is as though they eat from Gd's table."

(Pirkei Avot 3:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

If you catch cold, it's your fault

Hi,

"Rabbi Chanina said: All is in the hands of Heaven except chills and fevers, as it is written (Proverbs 22:5), 'Chills and fevers are in the path of the fool; one who guards his life will distance himself from them.'"

(Talmud, Bava Metzia 107b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai