Rebecca's Dvar Torah

is here, comments are most welcome.

Thank you,
Mark

Joseph and Zuleika

Jami (1414-1492) described the story in his poem Yusuf and Zuleika. The Medrash story about all Zuleika's friends cutting their fingers is retold as follows:

The poem now pursues the Scriptural account of the life of Joseph, or Yussuf, whose supernatural beauty is, however, described as being the special gift of God and recorded to have been so great that no woman could look on him without love. Zuleika, therefore, only shared the fate of all her sex. 

Some writers say the ladies who clamored so much against her for her passion were, when he first entered the chamber where they were all assembled, in the act of cutting pomegranates, some say oranges, and in their admiration and amazement cut their fingers instead of the fruit! 

Yussuf is considered the emblem of divine perfection, and Zuleika's love is the image of the love of the creature toward the Creator: some go so far as to say that we ought to follow her example and should permit the beauty of God to transport us out of ourselves. The rapid change from prison to the high estate of Yussuf they consider a type of impatience of the soul to burst its fetters and join its Creator. Yussuf was always surrounded with celestial light, typical as well of the moral beauty and wisdom which adorned his mind. He is sold as a slave, and Zuleika becomes his purchaser, to the great rage and envy of all her rivals, amongst whom was included the Princess Nasigha, of the race of Aad. 

The beautiful Yussuf now enters her service, and, at his own desire, a flock of sheep is given to his special keeping, his admiring mistress wishing, by every indulgence, to attach him to her. The nurse of Zuleika is the confidante of the passion which she cannot control and which, at length, in an imprudent moment, she discloses to its object himself. 

His father, Jacob, or the angel Gabriel in his likeness, appears to warn him of his danger, and he flies, leaving his mistress in an agony of despair, rage, and grief. She thus exclaims: 

Is this a dream?—another dream,


Now continue with the poem,


Is this a dream?—another dream,
Like that which stole my senses first,
Which sparkled o'er my life's dull stream,
By idle, erring fancy nursed?
Was it for this my life I spent
In murmurs deep, and discontent—
Slighted, for this, all homage due,
From gen'rous, faithful love withdrew?
For this, no joy, no pomp have prized;
For this, all honors have despised—
Left all my soul, to passion free,
To be thus hated—spurned-by thee?


The poem is called "The Women of Memphis" and can be found here (search for entry 224). It is lovely.

In the finale of the story Zuleika, old and imprisoned, sees Yusuf in his kingly attire. She runs to him, and Yusuf, recognizing that she is the true love, marries her. Zuleika becomes young again through a miracle.


The Sefer Gilgulei Neshamot tells that the reincarnation of Joseph was Yehoshuah, and the reincarnation of Zuleika was Rahav, one of the four most beautiful women in history. Yehoshuah married Rahav, making the poet finally correct.

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.

About demons

Demons resemble angels in three ways: They have wings, they can fly throughout the universe, and they hear what transpires in heaven. They also resemble mortals in that they procreate, eat, and die. They are always invisible, except under special conditions.

more

The silent scream

You can shout and scream with a “still, small voice” without anybody hearing you. Everybody can do this. Imagine the sound of such a scream in your mind. Imagine the shout exactly as it would sound. Concentrate on hearing the scream in your mind until you are literally screaming with this soundless “still, small voice” – and nobody else will hear anything.

This is actually a scream and not mere imagination. Just as there are channels that bring the sound from your lungs to your lips, so there are nerves that bring the sound to the brain. You can draw the sound through these nerves, literally bringing it into your head. When you do this, you are actually shouting inside your brain.

When you imagine this scream in your mind, the sound actually rings inside your brain. You can stand in a crowd of people screaming this way and no- one hears you.

It could be that when you do this, a faint sound may escape your mouth. This is because the sound traveling through the nerves to the brain can also activate the vocal organs, and they may then produce some sound. But it will be very faint.

It is much easier to shout in this way without words. When you wish to express yourself in words, it is harder to hold the voice in the mind without letting a sound escape your lips. Without words, it is much easier.

Sichot Haran #16


Art: Munch - Scream

Amatlai Bat Karnabo

The name of the mother of Abraham was Amatlai Bat Karnabo. She was reincarnated as Channa with Seven Sons in the story of Chanukkah.

When her seven sons were killed, she said "Go my sons and tell Abraham your father. You were only tested, and I really sacrificed my children. You were tested with just one, and I sacrificed seven". She then threw herself down from the roof and died. This we her tikkun for worshipping idols and her continued conversation with her son.

Her husband Terach was reincarnated as Iyov, and received his tikkun through suffering.

"Gilgulei Neshamot" by Rabbi Meir of Fano.

17th of Tammuz

The numerical value of "17" is tet+vav+bet=9+6+2=tov=good.

Why the letter tet (tov=good) did not appear in the first set of tablets, but only in the second? So that nobody would say, when the first set of tablets was broken, "end of good for Israel". Instead, this good begins only with breaking of the tablets. That is why Aaron said, "Feast to Hashem tomorrow'. Because in the future, this day will indeed be a big celebration for Israel.

To be continued!

(from Bnei Issasschar)

Bruria => Bat Sheva

Bruria was a gilgul of Bat Sheva. In the first incarnation, Bat Sheva was teaching and warning Shlomo, and in the second one Bruria was teaching and warning students of Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Meir himself.

That student who was the cause of Bruria's death was the gilgul of Uriah her first husband. This is why he had some connection with her. As Bat Sheva, she was the cause of Uriah's death. Now as Bruria he was the cause of her death. In fact, Bruria came to the earth in order to atone for Uriah's death.

(From "Gilgulei Neshamot")

48th day of the Omer

One should concentrate in the blessing of “Sim Shalom” (Give Peace), and ask forgiveness for disagreeing with his wife and insisting on his opinion. For in doing this, he has upset “The Mother of Children”, which is the Holy Shechinah, God’s presence.

From "U'Sfartem Lachem"

47th day of the Omer

Hod SheBeMalchut

When a person merits to give tsedaka to the poor and indigent, he should praise Hashem ever more for giving him the chance to do this. As the Zohar says that when Hashem wants to give somebody a present, he sends a poor person to his house. Thus he improves and completes the Malchut (Kingship) with Hod (Praise).

So too, the man should do it himself, teach his family, and his friends, to thank Hashem for every mitzvah which he gets to do.

(from "U'sfartem Lachem")

45th day of the Omer

Tiferet SheBeMalchut

When one merits to learn Torah SheBealPe and halacha, and especially teaches it to others, he should strive to know the source for every law and teaching back in the Chumash. Then he will complete and perfect Malchut (Torah SheBealPe) with the help of Tiferect (Torah SheBeKtav).

When one is involved in business dealings, she should strive to act in truth, making sure that his heart and mouth, thoughts and words, are the same. He will then complete Malchut (worldly dealings) with the help of Tiferet (Truth).

38th day of the Omer

Tiferet SheBeYesod

A man should take to heart, in order to make his holiness and purity complete and acceptable to the Creator and to the people, to follow what the Sages said “Which way is the best to follow – that which is beautiful to his Maker and beautiful to his friends”. He will then consider every aspect of holiness and purity in every details, and will thus complete his Yesod (righteousness) with the help of Tiferet (completeness and beauty).

In his actions, the man should hold on to holiness to the point when he and his name will be known for it, so that his people would say apply "beautiful". Similar to Rabbi Chanina and Rabbi Oshaia, whose names the prostitutes in the market used for taking oaths. Both Rabbis were shoemakers in the market, and when a reliable oath was needed in the business dealings, the prostitutes would swear “by the lives of the holy rabbis in the Land of Israel” meaning these two.

(U’Sfartem Lachem)

36th day of the Omer

A man should meditate on how Hashem does kindness to the Jewish people and to him in particular, and how Hashem helps those who want to purify themselves. He will then come to a desire for purity, and will thus be pure (Yesod) with the help of kindness (Chesed).

A man should also have in mind the “kiyum olam” in all his actions, and specifically doing kindness to his fellow friends. He will thus help them purify themselves (Yesod) through his kindness (Chesed).

(U’Sfartem Lachem)

35th day of the Omer

On the 35^th day of the Omer, which is Malhut SheBeHod.

A man should take to heart, so that he can deserve to praise the Creator, Blessed be His Name, as proper, to increase the measure in which he makes his soul rule over his body, and to accept upon himself a yoke of Heaven, to the point where by itself his mouth will sing praises to the Blessed Creator, and in this way it will be that he reaches and completes the Hod (Praise) with Malhut (Rulership).

(U’Sfartem Lachem)

34-th day of the Omer

Has a sefirah of Yesod of Hod.

Who is fit to praise (Hod) Hashem? The one who is righteous (Yesod). Therefore, one must increase his righteousness. One way is to be careful with his mouth.

As the Zohar says, if a man's words are impure and then he asks for something in prayer, woe is to him.

This is derived from "lo yera lha ervat davar", with emphasis on davar.

(From USefartem Lachem).

Repentant thieves

The thieves who returned vessels are believed to say "We did not touch those vessels" (and the vessels are therefore pure).

But we learned, the thieves who entered a house, everything in the house is impure (and the vessels). No problem - first case is about the thieves who repented. Indeed, this is why the first case says "returned the vessels".

Chagigah 26a.

How often does it happen?

It is just too good

Bar Hei Hei was asking Hillel questions until Eliyahu came to him.

(Bar Hei Hei was a convert at the time of oppression, and he had to hide the fact that he was a convert. He called himself this non-Jewish sounding name. It means though son of Sarah and Avraham, - Meam Loez. We see that he rose to top learning).

Some say Eliyahu came to Rabbi Eliezer instead.

Elyahu then asked, what does it mean, "I refined you but not with silver, I chose you by purifying with poverty"? - that the Holy One Blessed be He looked at every good thing to give to Jews and found nothing better than poverty.

Said Shmuel, and some say Rav Yosef, that is why people say, "Poverty is becoming to a Jew as a scarlet ribbon to a white horse".

(Chagigah, 9b)

Shmini

Aharon was ashamed to do the service after the golden calf. "Go", said Moshe, "you were selected for this" (Rashi).

"For this" means for being ashamed of your bad actions (Arizal).

There is a special mercha chefula taam, and two taams are transposed when read.

Why angels did not sing at the sea

Our sages say that at the see, the ministering angels wished to sing, but God objected, saying: "The work of My hands is drowning, and you wish to sing!" The drowning of the Egyptians prevented the angels, but no the Israelites, from singing. The reason is that the angels wished to sing of Israel's deliverance; but Israel sang of the revelation of God's loftiness.

(from "Living Kabbalah" by Simcha Benyosef)