1) THE SIMCHAS BEIS HA’SHO’EVAH (a) Women could sift wheat by its light. (b) The sages who had not tasted sin gave thanks for their youth which did not embarrass their old age, and those who had repented would give thanks for that. (c) Both groups proclaimed the blessings of he who had not sinned, calling upon the sinner to then repent. (d) Hillel proclaimed … Continue reading Sukkah Daf 53
May the studying of the Daf Notes be a zechus for his neshamah and may his soul find peace in Gan Eden and be bound up in the Bond of life. Regarding the eulogy in the future described in the verse, one opinion maintains that the eulogy will be for Moshiach ben Yosef who will be killed at war and a second opinion maintains that … Continue reading Sukkah Daf 52
The 6th mitzvah is that we are commanded to be close to the wise and to associate with them. We should constantly be close to them and to be with them in all possible ways of friendship, such as eating, drinking and doing business, in order to thereby succeed in emulating their actions and knowing from their words the true way of looking at things. The source … Continue reading Clinging to the Sages
The 5th mitzvah is that we are commanded to serve G‑d (blessed be He). This commandment is repeated many times: And you shall serve G‑d, your L‑rd”;1″And you shall serve Him”;2 “And to serve Him.”3 Although this commandment is of a general nature,4 as explained in the Fourth Principle,5 [and apparently should not be included in the count of the 613mitzvos,] nevertheless it has a specific quality, since it is the commandment … Continue reading Prayer
The 4th mitzvah is that we are commanded to establish in our minds fear and dread of G‑d (exalted be He); that we not be calm and nonchalant, but be constantly concerned of imminent punishment1 [for misdeeds.] The biblical source of this commandment is G‑d’s statement2 (exalted be He), “You shall fear G‑d your Lord.” At3 the end of tractate Sanhedrin4, there is a discussion of G‑d’s statement5(exalted be He), “Anyone who is nokev (curses) … Continue reading Fearing G-d
The 3rd mitzva is that we are commanded to love G‑d (exalted be He), i.e. to meditate upon and closely examine His mitzvos, His commandments, and His works, in order to understand Him; and through this understanding to achieve a feeling of ecstasy. This is the goal of the commandment to love G‑d. [We can see that meditation is the way to create this feeling of love1 from] theSifri: “From the statement, … Continue reading Loving G-d
The 2nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d‘s Unity, i.e. to understand that the Original Creator and Source of all existence is One. The source of this commandment is G‑d’s statement2 (exalted be He), “Hear [i.e. “understand”] O Israel, G‑d is our Lord, G‑d is One.” In most Midrashim you will find this mitzvah described [in the context of G‑d’s statement that a certain kindness … Continue reading G-d’s Unity
