Tag: rabbinic wisdom
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Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma said: Once I was on a journey and I encountered a man. We greeted one another. Then he said to me: ‘Rabbi, where are you from?’ I replied to him: ‘I come from a great city of sages and scribes.’ He then said: ‘Rabbi, if you are willing to dwell in…
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Shabbat shalom
Do not seek greatness, and do not covet more honor than your learning warrants. Do not sit at the table of kings, for your table is greater than theirs, and your crown is greater than theirs. From “Chapters of the Fathers,” in Gates of Prayer, Chaim Stern, ed. (New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis,…
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Shabbat shalom
This is the way of Torah: you shall eat a morsel of bread with salt, drink a measure of water, sleep on the ground, and live a life of hardship as you toil in the Torah. If you do this, “Happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you.” (Psalm 128:2) From “Chapters…
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Shabbat shalom
If we learn from others one chapter, one halachah, one verse, one saying, or even one letter, we are obliged to show honor to them. From “Chapters of the Fathers” in Gates of Prayer, Chaim Stern, ed. (New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1975), 27.
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Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Meir said: If you study Torah in order to learn and do God’s will, you acquire many merits; and not only that, but the whole world is indebted to you. … You become like a gushing fountain, like a never-failing river. From “Chapters of the Fathers” in Gates of Prayer, Chaim Stern ed., Central…
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Shabbat shalom
According to the labor is the reward. Rabbi Ben Hei Hei, from “Chapters of the Fathers,” in Gates of Prayer, Chaim Stern, ed., Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1975, 26.
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Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Ben Bag Bag said “Turn it [the Torah] over and over, for it contains everything. Keep your eyes riveted to it. Spend yourself in its study. Never budge from it, for there is no better way of life than that. From “Chapters of the Fathers” in Gates of Prayer, Chaim Stern, ed. (New York:…
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Shabbat shalom
Every controversy conducted for God’s sake will in the end prove fruitful; every controversy not conducted for God’s sake will in the end prove fruitless. From “Chapters of the Fathers,” in Gates of Prayer, Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1975, 26.
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Shabbat shalom
Four types of minds sit before the wise: a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sieve. A sponge takes in all things. A funnel receives at one end and lets out at the other. A strainer lets out the wine and retains the dregs. A sieve lets out the course meal and retains the…
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Shabbat shalom
[The sages said:] There are four types among those who attend or fail to attend the house of study: some attend but do not practice what they learn – they are rewarded for attending; some practice but do not attend – they are rewarded for practicing; some attend and practice – they are the devout;…
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Shabbat shalom
The rabbis say there are four temperaments: easily angered, easily appeased – the loss is offset by the gain; hard to anger, hard to appease – the gain is offset by the loss; hard to anger, easily appeased – a saint; easily angered, hard to appease – wicked. From “Chapters of the Fathers” in Gates…
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Shabbat shalom
There are four types of character among human beings: some say: ‘What is mine is mine and what is yours is yours’ – they are the average type, though some consider them callous, like the citizens of Sodom. Some say: ‘What is mine is yours and what is yours is mine’ – they are stupid.…
Matters of Interpretation 