"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. 

DEUTERONOMY — 6:13 fear

DEUT284 It is a positive commandment to fear Hashem as Scripture states, You shall fear Hashem your God [this verse]. The way toward reverent fear of Him is like the way to love for Him, as outlined [See Deuteronomy 6:5 love CCCBM 15]. When a sin comes to one's hand, he is duty-bound to arouse his spirit [to know] that the holy One, Blessed is He, watches every action of human beings. This is among the commandments that a person is obligated to observe at every occasion, constantly. And reverent fear includes the requirement not to pronounce the name of Heaven [God] in vain, purposelessly.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 6:13 fear

DEUT285 Our Sages, z"l, have explained the nature of an epikoros (Sanhedrin 99b) as one who does not conduct himself out of a reference for Torah scholars, even if he does not belittle them, such as one who belittles another in the presence of a Torah scholar, without showing respect for the scholar's Torah. [He would not act in such a pompous manner before an important official.] Since he does not sufficiently venerate the Torah to treat it in a respectful manner, he has no share in the World to Come--for this too is counted as one who has desecrated the Torah. Consequently, our Sages, z"l, (Pesachim 22b), "You shall fear Hashem, your God' [this verse] -- this includes Torah scholars."

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 6:13 fear

DEUT283 In addition to all this, one who speaks or listens to lashon hara also transgresses the commandment of אֶת־יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א, “You shall fear Hashem, your G-d” (Devarim 6:13), which requires us to fear Hashem all our lives. If a person is in a position to sin, this mitzvos requires him to remind himself at that moment that Hashem is aware of a person’s every action and will punish him in accordance to the severity of the offense. This realization will prevent a person from contravening the will of Hashem. Therefore, one who allows himself to commit this severe sin of lashon hara and rechilus definitely transgressive this commandment.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 6:13 serve

DEUT289 It is a positive precept to pray every day to the Blessed God for Scripture says, and Him shall you serve [this verse]; and through the Oral Tradition our Sages of blessed memory learned (Talmud Bavli, Ta'anith 2a) that this service means prayer. For Scripture states, and to serve Him with all your heart (D'varim 11:13). What service is with the heart? -- prayer. The commandment is that a person should relate the praises of the Holy One, Blessed is He; after that he should ask his needs; and after that he has to give praise and thanks to the Blessed God. It is necessary to pray with the focused attention of the heart; one should turn his heart away from every thought, and he should see himself as though standing before the shechinah. He should not produce his prayer like someone who is carrying a burden and throws it down and goes his way. Neither should he pray with a troubled and disturbed mind.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 6:14 upright

DEUT290 (Continued from [[EXOD300]] Exodus 18:20 words SPERO 168-9). Another passage associated with a broad moral imperative reaching into lifnim mi-shurat ha-din is the command, [this verse]. Yet another source is the verse, "In order that you may walk in the path of the goodly" (Proverbs 2:20). Regardless of how we interpret these passages, their character remains that of imperatives rooted in the Torah.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 6:16 test

DEUT292 Do not excessively test a true prophet. Included in this mitzvah is that we are forbidden to test Hashem through performance of mitzvos. That is, we may not perform mitzvos with the intention of checking whether He rewards us for them. One is forbidden to make one's performance of mitzvos conditional upon receiving reward for them. Rather, mitzvos must be performed out of love for Hashem, and also out of awe and fear of Him. As to why we are forbidden to test Hashem through the performance of mitzvos--reward for mitzvos is not given in this world.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

RSS
First192021222324252627293132333435363738Last
Back To Top