Beautifying the menorah

Hi,

"[The menorah of the Chashmonaim] was made of iron spits, covered with tin. When they became wealthier they made it of silver. When they became still wealthier, they made it of gold."

(Talmud, Rosh haShanah 24b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why traditional prayer is not instrumental

Hi,

"We have seen that our ancestors who instituted the prayers did not enact musical instruments even though song emerged from among us in the service in the Beit haMikdash. Our ancestors abandoned it; we see that they felt it inappropriate, because there is no joy before Gd since the day the Beit haMikdash was destroyed."

(Rav Moshe Sofer, Chatam Sofer 6: Likkutim 84)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The message of the oil

Hi,

"The essential miracle [of the oil] was performed only to demonstrate to them the love of Gd for them… A miracle occurred for them in the essential fact that they were fully redeemed from the wicked Greek empire, who told Israel, “Inscribe upon the horn of the ox that you have no share in the Gd of Israel,” and who decreed various shemadiot. Now that the Jews were redeemed, and a great miracle was performed for them in that they would reign over their foes, this miracle of the flames was also performed for them, testimony for Israel that Gd is among them."

(R' Yehoshua Falk, Pnei Yehoshua to Shabbat 21b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Love and Awe

Hi,

"Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar: One who acts [for Gd] out of love is greater than one who acts out of awe...

"There were two students of Rava. One said: I was told in a dream, 'How great is Your goodness, which You have stored for those who are in awe of You.' The other said: I was told in a dream, 'All who trust in You will be glad, and will sing eternally... those who love Your Name will rejoice in You.'

"Rava said: Both of you are completely righteous, one out of love and the other out of awe."


(Talmud, Sotah 31a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honor My Name

Hi,

"And you shall not desecrate My Holy Name, and I will be sanctified in the midst of the children of Israel; I am Gd, who sanctifies you."

(Vayyikra 22:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The future of Jerusalem

Hi,

Yoel 4:17 says, "Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will no longer pass through."

"“Strangers will no longer pass through” to harm them, as they had done until today. It is also possible that strangers will not enter Jerusalem because in the future her sanctity will grow. Just as one – even a Yisrael - may not enter the heichal, so the whole city will be holy, and strangers from the nations will not be permitted to enter."

(Radak to Yoel 4:17)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The importance of respect

Hi,

"Rabbi Yitzchak said: Yerushalayim was destroyed only because they equated the small and the great, as it is written, “And as is with the nation, so will be with the kohen… and the land will be emptied out.”"

(Talmud, Shabbat 119b)

Have a good day,
Mordechai