Hi,
Pirkei Avot 1:2 - "Shimon haTzaddik, of the remnant of the Great Assembly, taught: The world stands on three things: Torah, Service and Acts of generosity."
"This also hints that there are three types of people in the world. Some pursue ideas and a life of intellectual study; some pursue a life of work and the tasks of plowing, planting and similar activities; some pursue a life of directing and governing to lead the nation and judge them, teaching them generously how to act. All of these are needed in the world."
(R' Shlomo b"R' Yitzchak haLevi, Lev Avot to Pirkei Avot 1:2)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Seeing redemption in current events
Hi,
"Jeremiah wrote, “In those days the house of Judah will go to the house of Israel,” and none could understand what this meant - but then, lo and behold, through the agency of explorers who traveled from Portugal to India for spices, I received a letter from Jews living in the lands of the west, who claimed to be descendants of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who had been exiled from the cities of Judah by Sanchereb and had not returned for the Second Temple! Behold, the house of Judah goes to the house of Israel!"
(Don Isaac Abarbanel [15th-16th century], Commentary to Jeremiah 3:18)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Jeremiah wrote, “In those days the house of Judah will go to the house of Israel,” and none could understand what this meant - but then, lo and behold, through the agency of explorers who traveled from Portugal to India for spices, I received a letter from Jews living in the lands of the west, who claimed to be descendants of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who had been exiled from the cities of Judah by Sanchereb and had not returned for the Second Temple! Behold, the house of Judah goes to the house of Israel!"
(Don Isaac Abarbanel [15th-16th century], Commentary to Jeremiah 3:18)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Monday, February 27, 2012
Piety and Perseverance
Hi,
"What is the root of piety? When one draws his heart in traits of piety and it is difficult, for people mock him and embarrass him and say things to pain him, and they remind him of his bad, Sdom-like conduct, he should not abandon his piety due to the scorners, and he should enter into good attributes, little by little, day after day. One who gathers handfuls will acquire a lot…
"It is a great sin to say to a penitent person, "Remember your earlier deeds," now that this person has deepened his path to enter into piety and he has not concerned himself with the laughter of the scorners. Those who do this, mentioning his earlier deeds, are as though they were locking the door before the penitent. He should remind himself that he has great merit, and his shame is considered righteousness for him."
(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 7)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"What is the root of piety? When one draws his heart in traits of piety and it is difficult, for people mock him and embarrass him and say things to pain him, and they remind him of his bad, Sdom-like conduct, he should not abandon his piety due to the scorners, and he should enter into good attributes, little by little, day after day. One who gathers handfuls will acquire a lot…
"It is a great sin to say to a penitent person, "Remember your earlier deeds," now that this person has deepened his path to enter into piety and he has not concerned himself with the laughter of the scorners. Those who do this, mentioning his earlier deeds, are as though they were locking the door before the penitent. He should remind himself that he has great merit, and his shame is considered righteousness for him."
(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 7)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Start piety young
Hi,
"Because piety is difficult to initiate, it is good to begin in one's youth, as it is written, 'Remember your Creator in your youth; when he ages he will not stray therefrom.'
"Also, the repentance of an elder when he has aged, and his desire has waned, is like that of a person who speaks slanderously and then is unable to speak and says no more. If one repents when he is still strong and his desire is still powerful and he conquers it, this is praiseworthy repentance. He acts with might in controlling his powerful and stubborn desire; regarding this it is written, 'One who controls his spirit is more powerful than a conqueror of cities.' The reward for doing something difficult is very great."
(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 7)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Because piety is difficult to initiate, it is good to begin in one's youth, as it is written, 'Remember your Creator in your youth; when he ages he will not stray therefrom.'
"Also, the repentance of an elder when he has aged, and his desire has waned, is like that of a person who speaks slanderously and then is unable to speak and says no more. If one repents when he is still strong and his desire is still powerful and he conquers it, this is praiseworthy repentance. He acts with might in controlling his powerful and stubborn desire; regarding this it is written, 'One who controls his spirit is more powerful than a conqueror of cities.' The reward for doing something difficult is very great."
(R' Yehudah haChasid, Sefer Chasidim 7)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Another approach to outreach
Hi,
"At a time of [Divine] invisibility, when faith has been cut off from the poor of the nation, punishment does not mend the gap, but only increases it; it appears like a deed of destruction and coercion, Gd-forbid. Since our entire goal is to repair, the law [of punishment] does not apply when it does not repair. We are obligated to bring them back with ropes of love, to bring them to the radiant light to the extent we can."
(R' Avraham Yeshayah Karelitz, Chazon Ish Yoreh Deah 2:16)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"At a time of [Divine] invisibility, when faith has been cut off from the poor of the nation, punishment does not mend the gap, but only increases it; it appears like a deed of destruction and coercion, Gd-forbid. Since our entire goal is to repair, the law [of punishment] does not apply when it does not repair. We are obligated to bring them back with ropes of love, to bring them to the radiant light to the extent we can."
(R' Avraham Yeshayah Karelitz, Chazon Ish Yoreh Deah 2:16)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, February 23, 2012
An obligation to reach out
Hi,
"Regarding my practice of drawing everyone near, including Jews who sin, in order to bring them to repentance: I have written a hint at my meaning to his honour, saying that anyone who is capable of involving himself in the inner secrets of Torah will be filled with the light of the Torah's generosity to a greater extent, and is obligated to involve himself in mending the collapses and bringing near those who are distant."
(R' Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, Letters of the Ra"ayah II pg. 186)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"Regarding my practice of drawing everyone near, including Jews who sin, in order to bring them to repentance: I have written a hint at my meaning to his honour, saying that anyone who is capable of involving himself in the inner secrets of Torah will be filled with the light of the Torah's generosity to a greater extent, and is obligated to involve himself in mending the collapses and bringing near those who are distant."
(R' Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, Letters of the Ra"ayah II pg. 186)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Justice leads to peace
Hi,
"If you will judge righteously, there will be peace between litigants. The Sages have taught, 'When a person whose coat has been taken leaves the court, he sings as he walks.'"
(Radak to Zecharyah 8:16)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
"If you will judge righteously, there will be peace between litigants. The Sages have taught, 'When a person whose coat has been taken leaves the court, he sings as he walks.'"
(Radak to Zecharyah 8:16)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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