"For Instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." -- Isaiah 2:3

Jerusalem

Torah Verses

Excerpt Sources

Complete List of Source Books

Navigate the Excerpts Browser

Before accessing the excerpts, please review a word about copyright.

Are you more of an "I'll dive right in and figure it out" person, or a "Show Me How This Thing Works" person?  If the former, go right ahead and try the excerpts browers on the right side of this page and/or scroll through the excerpts that start below the following information -- although we still suggest reading the information first.  If you are the latter, click here for a video demonstrating the Excerpts Browser. Either way (or both), enjoy! 

This page is recommended for searches limited to specific Torah books, weekly portions (parshiot), chapters, verses, and/or sources (authors). For keyword and/or for exact phrase (including verse and source) searches of the entire excerpts database, we recommend using the Search Engine page.  For broadest results, use both pages and alternative search strategies. 

This page displays the full text of all or "sorted" (filtered) excerpts in the database.  Use the "Torah Verses" and/or "Excerpt Sources" browsers at the right to locate the excerpts associated with your desired Torah book, portion, chapter. verse, or author.  Or, simply scroll through the excerpts, using the "boxes" at the bottom of any page displaying excerpts to "jump" ahead or back. 

Also note that immediately below the chapter, verse, and keyword of each excerpt is a highlighted line comprised of multiple links.  Clicking on any of the links will limit (filter) the excerpts display to the selected category.  

Transcription of excerpts is incomplete.  For current status, please see "Transcribed Sources" on the Search Engine page.  To assist with completion, please see "Contributors" page. 

138

NUMBERS | 26:11 sons — NUM328 [O]n a personal level, each person has to ...

NUM328 [O]n a personal level, each person has to choose the path he or she wants to lead as a Jew. Just because parents have told children what is right and set an example for them is no guarantee that children will follow. At one point everyone must decide for himself or herself. This is expressed in the Mishnah, which says that the Torah is not an automatic inheritance (Avot 2:12). There are those who do not follow in the Torah path even if their parents did. Even in the Bible, many great leaders (Moses, Joshua, Samuel) had children that were nothing out of the ordinary and did not follow the greatness of their parents. But it works both ways. The sons of Korach did not follow in the evil ways of their father, who rebelled against Moses, as they repented and did not die [this verse]. King David even composed a psalm said by or in honor of the sons of Korach (Psalm 48). This idea, that there are no guarantees that children will follow in the religious path of their parents, is alluded to in an enigmatic phrase of the beginning words of every Amidah prayer. The prayer begins by saying that we bless our God and the God of our fathers. Since Judaism believes in only one God, this double phrase must refer to the same God. Why not suffice with just "our God"? It has been said that this shows that each person has a dual relationship with God. A parent who teaches a child to believe in God and follow Jewish tradition is represented by "God of our fathers." But there comes a time in every Jew's life when he or she must make a choice to accept God for himself or herself. This is "our God." Hence, each person has to make his or her own moral choices in life, irrespective of upbringing.

Share

Print
Source KeyAMEMEI
Verse26:11
Keyword(s)sons
Source Page(s)37

Comment

Collapse Expand Comments (0)

You are replaying to

Your comment was added, but it must be approved first.

Please enter your name
Please enter your email adressPlease enter valid email adress
Please enter a comment
Please solve Captcha.
Add Comment
Back To Top