Torah Tuesday

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai received the tradition from Hillel and Shammai. He used to say: if you have learned much Torah, do not claim credit for yourself, because for such a purpose were you created.

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai had five disciples and they were these: Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah, Rabbi Yose, the priest, Rabbi Shimon ben Nethaneel and Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach.

Rabbi Yohanan used to list their outstanding virtues:

Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus is a plastered cistern which loses not a drop;

Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah happy is the woman that gave birth to him;

Rabbi Yose, the priest, is a pious man;

Rabbi Simeon ben Nethaneel is one that fears sin,

And Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach is like an eternally overflowing spring.

Rabbi Yohanan used to say: if all the sages of Israel were on one scale of the balance and Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus on the other scale, he would outweigh them all.

Abba Shaul said in his name: if all the sages of Israel were on one scale of the balance, and Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus also with them, and Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach on the other scale, he would outweigh them all.

[Why does the creation begin with the Divine Name ELoHYM as the Creator and end with two Names, YHVH ELoHYM when concluding the creation story?]

The Midrash explains: This may be compared to a king who had some empty glasses. The King wondered: ' If I pour hot water into them, they will burst; if, however, I pour cold water, they will contract [and shatter]. ' What then did the king do? He poured in a mixture of hot and cold water so the glasses would remain whole.

So, said the Holy One: "If I create the world on the basis of mercy alone, its sins will be oppressive; on the basis of justice alone, how would the world be able to exist? I will create it with justice and mercy together and then, maybe, it will be able to stand!" That is why the Name YHVH is added to the Name Elohym.

(12) And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God demand of you? Only this: to revere the LORD your God, to walk only in God's paths, to love God, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and soul,

(16) One is obligated to give to poor people on the day of Purim. One should give no less than two poor people one gift each of money or types of cooked dishes or types of food, as it says (Esther 9:22) "gifts to the poor": two gifts to to poor people...(17) It is good for people to increase in their gifts to the poor more than they increase in their meal and the gifts that they send to their companions, for there is no greater or glorious joy than to bring happiness to the hearts of the poor and orphans and widows and strangers, for he who brings happiness to the hearts of these unfortunate people is compared to the Divine Presence, as it says, "To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).

Hillel says: Do not separate yourself from the community.

(18) Heal us, L·rd, & we will be healed. Save us & we will be saved, for You are our Praise. And bring a cure & healing for all of our ailments, & all our pains, & all our wounds for, G·d You are a compassionate & faithful healer. Blessed are You L·rd, Who heals the ill of His people, Yisrael.

Another matter: your love is better than wine [Song of Songs 1:2]; Words of Torah can be compared to water, wine, oil, honey, and milk. To water: O all who thirst, come for water [Is. 55:1]

Just as water goes from one end of the earth to the other, as it is written, to the one who spread forth the earth above the waters [Psalms 136:6], so does Torah go from one end of the earth to the other, as it is written, the measure is longer than the earth [Job 11:9].

Just as water is forever-living, as it is written, a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters [Song of Songs 4:15], so is Torah is forever-living, as it is written, for they are alive to those that find them [Proverbs 4:22], and also come, buy and eat [Isaiah 55:1]. [prooftexts suppressed going forward]

Just as water comes from the heavens, so too does Torah come from the heavens.

Just as the water has many voices, so too does Torah have many voices.

Just as water restores the soul, so too does Torah...

Just as water cleanses the body from tumah (ritual impurity), so too does Torah cleanse impurity.

Just as water originates in tiny drops and accumulates into mighty streams and rivers, so the Torah is acquired word by word today, verse by verse tomorrow;

Just as water covers the nakedness (erva) of the sea, so too does Torah cover the nakedness of Israel, as it is written, love covers up all faults [Proverbs 10:12].

Just as water descends drop by drop to form rivers, so too does a person learn Torah two halakhot each day until it is a flowing stream.

Just as water is not pleasing to a person who is not thirsty, so too Torah not appreciated unless a person [has struggled with it enough to be] tired from it.

Just as water leaves high places alone and runs in low places, so too Torah leaves alone someone with a haughty attitude and clings to someone with a modest self-image.

Just as water is not kept in silver or gold vessels, but the simplest [clay] vessels, so Torah is sustained by one who makes him/herself like a clay vessel.

Just as a scholar is not embarrassed to ask a student, ‘pass me some water,’ a scholar is not embarrassed to learn from a student a chapter, a verse, a word, or even a letter.

Just as one who does not know how to float in water will eventually drown, so too will one who cannot float on and point out (l'horot) words of Torah eventually drown.

One day the wise ones in the house of study were divided on the following question: At what stage in their creation are a sword, a knife, a dagger, a spear, a handsaw, and a scythe deemed to be finished utensils, and thus susceptible to uncleanness? {According to Jewish law, only a completed object can be ritually impure}

Rabbi Yohanan said, 'after the utensils have been heated in a furnace.' Resh Lakish (his brother-in-law, a former Roman gladiator and possible one-time thief) said, ' only after it has been cooled in water.'

Rabbi Yohanan retorted, " A robber is an expert in his trade."

Resh Lakish responded, "What benefit have I received from all of the Torah you have taught me? I was called 'master' as a robber, and am still called 'master'? (My title and respect has not changed---all the Torah you taught me has not raised the title by which people call me!)

Rabbi Yohanan, "I gave you the benefit of bringing you under the wings of the Presence of God." Nevertheless, Rabbi Yohanan was ashamed by the sharpness of their exchange, while Resh Lakish was so overcome by sadness that he became ill. Thereupon Resh Lakish's wife (Rabbi Yohanan's sister) wept before Rabbi Yohanan, "Forgive him for the sake of my sons... for the sake of my widowhood!" Soon after that, Resh Lakish died. For Rabbi Yohanan, no friend ever matched Resh Lakish. He cried, "Where are you son of Lakish?" The sages were never able to console him.

(1) Establish peace, goodness, blessing, grace, loving kindness and mercy upon us and upon all Israel Your people. Bless us our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your face. For in the light of Your face You gave to us, O Lord our God, the Torah of life and love of kindness and righteousness and blessing and compassion and life and peace. It is good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel during all times and in all hours with Your peace.

R. Simeon b. Gamaliel says: Anyone who eats or drinks on the Ninth of Ab is as if he ate and drank on the Day of Atonement. R. Akiva says: Anyone who does work on the Ninth of Ab will never see in his work any sign of blessing. And the Sages say: Anyone who does work on the Ninth of Ab and does not mourn for Jerusalem will not share in her joy, as it is said, Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all that mourn for her.
Jerusalem merits to share in her joy, and any one who does not mourn for her will not share in her joy.

In the name of Hashem, G-d of Israel: On my right is Michael, on my left is Gabriel, before me is Uriel, behind me is Raphael, and over my head is the Presence of G-d.