Our Sages teach us in the Gemara (Berachot 5a) that Hashem does not conduct himself like human beings, for when a human being sells an object to another, the seller is upset about the loss of the object he was forced to sell and the buyer is happy about the acquisition of his new purchase….
Tag: The Torah
Torah Portion #48 Shof’tim
Torah Portion #48 Shof’tim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) In this Torah Portion we read about justice for the people and laws for ruling the nations. The Judgest and officers are commanded that they must judge with righteous judgement. We also learn about the guidelines for a king concerning Torah. Other topics cover gifts for priests and Levites,…
Pirkei Avos
Is Torah a Burden? Part II Chapter 6, Mishna 2(b) By Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld “Rabbi Yehoshua ben (son of) Levi said, on every day a heavenly voice emanates from Mount Horeb, announcing: ‘Woe to them, the people, because of the affront to the Torah.’ For anyone who does not study is called ‘rebuked,’ as the…
Pirkei Avos – Chapter 5, Mishna 17
Killing Ourselves Chapter 5, Mishna 17 “There are four types among those who go to the study hall. [One who] goes but does not ‘do’ receives reward for the going. [One who] does but does not go receives reward for the doing. [One who] goes and does is pious. [One who] does not go and…
Challenges, Not Problems
Pirkei Avos Challenges, Not Problems Chapter 5, Mishna 14 By Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld “There are four types of temperaments. One who is quick to become angry and quick to calm down — his gain is outweighed by his loss. One who is slow to become angry and slow to calm down — his loss is…
Simchat Torah
The Simchat Torah Evening Service A time to dance with the Torah. By Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs The Simchat Torah service is joyous by nature. Many congregations go beyond the basics that are described here. The dancing with the Torah (hakafot) can be quite extensive. Some liberal congregations have bands playing klezmer or other Jewish…
Maharal
Chapter 3: Mishna 6: Part 2 This idea (that one who is intimately connected to G-d escapes the limitations and control imposed upon him by physical systems) is embodied in the statement of Rabbi Yossi (Tr. Avodah Zarah 5a): “The Jewish people accepted the Torah [only] so that the Angel of Death, other nation[s], and…
G-d Striking Back, Part I
Pirkei Avos G-d Striking Back, Part I Chapter 5, Mishna 11(a) By Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld “Pestilence comes to the world for death penalties mentioned in the Torah which are not in the hands of the courts [to administer] and for [the forbidden use of] Sabbatical year produce. The sword comes to the world for the…
Maimonides, Laws of De’os
Going Beyond the Bounds Chapter 5, Law 1(b) “Just as a wise man is distinct in his wisdom and his character traits, and he stands apart from others regarding them, so too he must be distinct in his deeds, in his eating, in his drinking, in his marital relations, in his going to the bathroom,…
Daf Insight
The Gemara (Chagigah 4b) states: R. Eleazar, when he came to the [following] verse, wept: And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? Now if Samuel, the righteous, was afraid of the Judgment, how much more so should we be! How do we know this about Samuel? — For…
Maharal – Chapter 3: Mishna 6: Part 1
Chapter 3: Mishna 6: Part 1 Rabbi Nechunia ben HaKannah says: Anyone who subjects himself to (imposes upon himself)the burden of Torah has the burden of the government (bureaucracy) and the burden of livelihood removed from him. And anyone who releases himself from the burden of Torah has the burdens of government and of livelihood…
Daf Notes Chagigah Daf 10
Daf Notes is currently being dedicated to the neshamah of Tzvi Gershon Ben Yoel (Harvey Felsen) o”h 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. The Mishna states: The laws concerning…
Yeshua Centered Judaism 
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