Great, amazing stuff

Reading the Artscroll Tikkun on the sixth floor of the garage, I found that the names Zerach and Perez have mystical connotations, explained by Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakaneh (Ana B'Koach), head of the 5th century Kaballah school.

Zerach is the Sun which shines (Zarach) and Perez is the Moon which is sometimes breached (Paraz). It would be appropriate for the Sun to come first, and Zerach showed his hand first. But David was destined to come from Perez, so Perez became the firstborn.

There were 30 generation of Jewish kings corresponding to the 30 days of the month. The first was Abraham who was called a prince, David was 14th, almost full Moon, and Shlomo was 15th, the full Moon. The last one was Hizkiyahu, whose sons were killed and who was blinded.

During some time when it was forbidden to declare New Moon, the court still did it. The code phrase was "David Melech Israel Chai VeKayam". The gematria of this phrase is the same as of "Rosh Chodesh".

Lucked again

I can not believe it, another Friday afternoon learning! Wishing the same to everybody!!!
Only this time it is decaf with skim milk :)

Im lo tedi lach, ha yafa banashim

"If you do not know, o fairest of women, follow the footsteps of the sheep and graze your kids" (Song of Songs)

The drash I knew is "if you, the Jewish people, do not know what to do, follow in the footsteps of your forefathers".

The Talmud in Ketubot top of daf 67 gives a different interpretation, "if you, the Jewish people, do not learn and therefore do not know Torah, you will have a burden of work placed on you, such as tending to your own sheep".

If Mr. Rascal blows up Mr. Victim in his Porsche

Then it is logical to say that Mr. Rascal should pay for the Porsche with his money, and for Mr. Victim's life with his life.

That is indeed what happens in the American court system. For example, O.J.Simpson was first tried in the criminal court (and acquitted) and then in a civil court (and ordered to pay).

For the last few days in Ketubot we learned the opposite. If Mr. Rascal is tried in the Jewish court, he will have to face criminal charges, and because he may loose his life, he is spared the payment!

It seems that from here we can see the answer the Talmud gives to the unsolved question in the American law, namely, the crime and punishment theory.

Among all possible views, there is one that we want to restore Mr. Victim to the state before the crime, or that we want to punish Mr. Rascal, or that we want others to be deterred.

If in the Jewish court we do not care what the state or Mr. Victim will be, it must be that we are only concerned with punishing Mr. Rascal. When we want others to be afraid, it is specifically mentioned.

In the Jewish law, this result comes out because we are only concerned with the correction of Mr. Rascal's soul, while Mr. Victim is already corrected. This should rule out the same point of view in the American law, because it is not a practical reason.

Life

Is life good or what?

Cheers, all

Elul

אלול
Means also "(א)Ish (ל)l'reehu (ו)umatanot (ל)laevyonim", "man exchanges good wishes with his friend, and give presents to poor".

Rabbi Mendel Glickman, Jerusalem

About etrog

When we wave the four species on Succot, three are bound together, while the etrog is held separately. The etrog represents this world, which is separate from the Heavenly realms. Yet, the etrog also has a small crown at its end which, although fragile, is all-important because the commandment of waving the four species can be performed only when it is intact. This crown represents the world's attachment to the Source of all blessings, while the etrog's independence from the other species shows Israel's disassociation from God in our daily state of awareness.

From the "Living Kabbalah" by Simcha Benyosef.

This year I would like to find an etrog with the pitom.