B"SD

Jewish Words of Wisdom: Quotes from August

From the Week of 28 Av 5757/August 31, 1997

"Do not place yourself with the wicked, to be and unrighteous witness" (Exodus 23:1)

The above is from Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., Living Each Day, p343


From the Week of 21 Av 5757/August 24, 1997

"He who strives to do good and kind deeds
Attains life, success, and honor" (Proverb 21:21)

"Seek good, not evil, that you may live" (Amos 5:14)

"...The scoundrel says in his heart, 'There is no G-d!' They [scoundrels] have acted corruptly and abominably [in their] action; there is no doer of good [among the scoundrels]" (Psalm 14:1-2)

"Seek the good in everyone, and reveal it, bring it forth." (Rav Nahman of Bratslav, Lekkute Moharan, p 279 as quoted in Joseph L. Baron, ed.)

"Who makes others do good transcends the doers" (Talmud Bavli, Bava Batra as quoted in Words of the Wise, Reuven Alcalay compiler)


From the Week of 14 Av 5757/August 17, 1997

Tanach - Psalms Chapter 145:


From the Week of 7 Av 5757/August 10, 1997

For the last 2 weeks, the quotes here have been about baseless hatred. This week I turn to the converse, love and unity...Alyza

"Behold how good it is, how pleasant, when brethren dwell in unity together!" (Psalms 133:1)

"If you take one nut out of the heap, all the others tumble down, so it is with Israel" (Song of Songs Rabbah, from Words of the Wise, Reuven Alcalay compiler)

"A bundle of reeds cannot be broken by a man; but, taken singly, even a child can break them." (Tanhuma as quoted in Words of the Wise, Reuven Alcalay compiler)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18)

And finally, as song from Yeedle's album Together:


Quotes for the Weeks of 29 Tammuz 5757/August 3, 1997

"You shall not hate your brother in your heart" (Leviticus 19:17)

"Hatred stirs up quarrels; but love covers all sins." (Proverbs 10:12)

"But why was the second Sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they were occupying themselves with Torah, [observance of] precepts, and the practice of charity? Because therein prevailed hatred without cause. That teaches you that groundless hatred is considered as of even gravity with the three sins of idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed together [which caused the First Temple to be destroyed]." (Talmud Bavli, Yoma 9b)

"The Second Temple was destroyed because of causeless hatred. Perhaps the Third will be rebuilt because of causless love." (Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, 1st Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, as quoted in Joseph Telushkin's Jewish Wisdom)

"Rabbi Yehoshua said: An evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred of other people remove a person from the world. "(Mishnah, Pirke Avot 2:16 Art Scroll translation)

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