Excerpt Browser

This page displays the full text of excerpts.  When viewing a single excerpt, its “Share,” “Switch Article,” and “Comment” functions are accessible.

EXODUS — 10:12 arm

EXOD133 When [men] occupy themselves with Torah and gemiluth chesed their inclination is mastered by them, not they by their inclination, as it is said (Isaiah 32:20): "Blessed are you that sow beside all waters." What is meant here is that man's inclination strives to master him in two ways. Firstly, it attempts to divert his attention to foolish matters, and secondly, to habituate his limbs to all manner of activity contrary to the will of God, may He be blessed. However, whoever occupies himself with Torah and with acts of kindness succeeds in subduing his inclinations and in bringing them under his control. Through Torah, one is occupied with the teachings of the living God, and so he sanctifies his intellectual powers; while, through acts of kindness, he sanctifies his bodily organs, since these are now taken up with the service of the King of the Universe. So we find [this verse (sic?), Exodus 11:22 (sic - 10:22?): "To walk in all His ways" -- and Exod. 18:12 (sic - 18:20?)]: "And you shall make known to them the way in which they shall go, " which refers to all the ways of goodness of the Holy One, blessed be He. So Chazal have asserted. Man thereby acquires immunity to the enticements of his inclinations to do the opposite.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

EXODUS — 12:38 mixed

EXOD162 (Continued from [[DEUT1215]] Deuteronomy 23:5 meet AHAVCH 105-6). Consider how great was the shame of the individual who was suspected by Chazal (Betzah 32b) of being descended from the "mixed multitude" [this verse]. "Shabtai b. Marinus came to Babylon, and entreated them to provide him with a loan for trading. (He would share the profits equally with them.) They refused this to him; neither did they give him any food. He said: These are the descendants of the mixed multitude, for it is written (Deuteronomy 13:18): 'And He will show mercy and have compassion upon you.' Whoever is merciful to his fellow man is certainly of the children of our father, Avraham, and whoever is not merciful to his fellow man is certainly not of the children of our father Abraham" (ibid.). And Chazal has further declared (Yevamoth 79a): "This nation is distinguished by three characteristics: They are shy, compassionate, and benevolent (Gomlei chasadim)." Whoever does not have these three characteristics is not worthy to become part of this nation.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

EXODUS — 13:22 not

EXOD198 Now since man is obviously confined within time and space, his deeds cannot penetrate beyond a certain limit -- the furthest point his merit can reach. Hence Scripture has advised us that when we see the merits of our forefathers becoming exhausted, we should ourselves awaken the attributes of God's goodness and chesed for us, by clinging in our deeds to the same virtues. Then, measure for measure, His chesed will envelop us and will never depart from us. (The expression lo yamush carries the implication of "will never depart", as in [this verse], lo yamish -- "the pillar of cloud shall not at any time depart.")

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

RSS
12345678910111213
Back To Top