B"SD

Jewish Words of Wisdom: Quotes from July

Quotes for the Weeks of 22 Tammuz 5757/July 27, 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)


Quotes for the Week of 8 Tammuz 5757/July 13, 1997 and 15 Tammuz 5757/July 20, 1997

Yigdal

"Exalted is the living G-d, and praised
He exists, His existence transends time.

He is unlike the corporeal or even the non-corporeal,
His holiness is beyond comparison.

He is Master of the Universe to every creature,
(all) proclaim His greatness and His majesty.

There never arose in Israel another like Moses,
A prophet who beheld G-d's image.

The Almighty will not exchange nor alter His Law.
Never will He offer any alternative.

He rewards man with kindness according to his deeds.
He sends evil to the wicked according to his wickedness

The Almighty will revive the dead because of His abundant kindness:
Blessed forever is His praised Name. (The Complete Metsudah Siddur)


From the Week of 1 Tammuz 5757/July 6, 1997

"Then hear You in heaven, and do, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness." (I Kings 8:32)

"Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and those who return to her with righteousness." (Isaiah 1:27)

"Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings." (Isaiah 3:10)

"...the L-RD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and G-d who is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16)

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and security forever." (Isaiah 32:17)

"The L-RD shall judge the people. Judge me, O L-RD, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me." (Psalm 7:9)

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and truth shall go before You." (Psalm 89:15)

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness saves from death." (Proverb 10:2)

"Righteousness does not imply perfection; holiness does not imply saintliness" (Rabbi Moshe Berger, PhD)

"Righteousness is not an inheritance, but one's own" (Midrash Tehillim as quoted in A Treasury of Jewish Quotations, Joseph L. Baron, Ed.)

"If you won't be better tomorrow than you were today, then what need do you have for tomorrow?" (Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, as quoted in Jewish Wisdom by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin)


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