Bernard S. Antin's Blog – May 2008 Archive (5)

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AVOTH 5:4 THE BENEFITS OF AN OPEN MIND

Ten miracles were performed for our ancestors in Egypt and ten at sea . . . .





Rabbi Menachen Azariya of Panov ZY’A in his Sefat Emmet defines a miracle as a state where the rigid strictures of nature become subservient to Chessed, the D-vine attribute of benevolence.



Natural order is interrupted, instead an intense form of D-vine energy, from a place without boundaries is directed to a particular time or place The miracle is called in Hebrew, Nes, an ensign. A unique… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on May 30, 2008 at 2:17am — No Comments

AVOT 4:5 UTILITY PLAYER

Rabbi Yishmael appears to be teaching that if one merely sees Torah as an academic discipline, something to study and teach one will be blessed with the ability and opportunity to study and teach. However, one who approaches Torah from the point of view that Torah exists on a level that surpasses its intellectual depth. Torah is what animates every movement in one’s life. Consequently, one who adopts this second approachl is blessed not just to learn and teach but also have the opportunity to… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on May 22, 2008 at 6:09am — 5 Comments

Avoth 3:1 SETTING THE SPIRITUAL GPS

Rabbi Akiva ben Mihalelail one should examine three things to avoid sin "from where do i come?", 'where is my final destinaton ?" and "before whom will I be acountable for the life lived?"

. . . .



Rabbi Akiva ben Mihalelail’s teaching is challenging. The Rabbi is as the Chofetz Chaim ZY’A explains that these are the images one should keep constantly on one’s mind. Yet to think that one should carry around the conundrum that even a life full of accomplishment ends in the grave,… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on May 15, 2008 at 2:59am — No Comments

Avoth 2:13 ----Judaism With All the Fixin's

Rabbi Shimon’s teaching about prayer appears to contradict Shamai’s comment in 1:15. As Shimon HaZaddik in 1:2 taught both Torah and Worship are two legs of the tripod upon the which the world stands. Yet Shamai’s teaching calls for Torah study be keva, fixed. Yet, Rabbi Shimon teaches that prayer not be keva.



Torah Study and prayer appear as equal elements of Jewish life, yet the sages instruct placing each in a different place. My Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Henoch Liebowitz ZT’L ZY’A… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on May 8, 2008 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

Summer Afternoon Reading

The Jewish Summer season starts the day after Pesach and ends with the holiday cycle of Rosh HaShanah-Yom Kippur and Succoth. This period is punctuated with the anticipation of the law giving at Shavouth, the cultivation and harvesting one’s fields and orchards thereby securing one’s livelihood for the coming year. The recognition that no matter what the present has to offer the gnawing pain of exile and yearning for redemption yielding to the introspection and resolve of Elul. The weekly… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on May 1, 2008 at 2:17am — No Comments

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