Avodah Mailing List

Volume 37: Number 87

Sun, 10 Nov 2019

• 1. parnassa segula (Joseph Kaplan)
• 2. mechilla (Rich, Joel)
• 3. Dreams (Rich, Joel)
• 4. Al tochlu mimenu na (Akiva Miller)
• 5. Vayeira (from Rav Kook Torah "Salt of Sodom") (Cantor Wolberg)

?Re the discussion about a particular parnassa segula having to do with the
disposal of bread, I always thought the best such segula was to get a good
education and/or learn a trade. Doesn?t always work, I know, but no segula
always works. 
Joseph

Sent from my iPhone

An old question of mine- Why is the minhag haolam (common practice) to ask
for mechilla (forgiveness) during asseret ymai tshuva (10 days of
repentance) rather than before Rosh Hashana (when the initial judgment is
written down)?
KT
Joel Rich

THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE 
ADDRESSEE.  IT MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL 
INFORMATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.  Dissemination, 
distribution or copying of this message by anyone other than the addressee is 
strictly prohibited.  If you received this message in error, please notify us 
immediately by replying: "Received in error" and delete the message.  
Thank you.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20191106/382c8ab7/attachment-0001.html>

Chazal seem to have mixed feelings about dreams but clearly there was a
strong belief in some dream interpretation. Does this still exist within
orthodoxy? Any current experts/publications in this area?
KT
Joel Rich

THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE 
ADDRESSEE.  IT MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL 
INFORMATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.  Dissemination, 
distribution or copying of this message by anyone other than the addressee is 
strictly prohibited.  If you received this message in error, please notify us 
immediately by replying: "Received in error" and delete the message.  
Thank you.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20191106/da29e445/attachment-0001.html>

On the Mesorah list, we are having a discussion about the word "na"
(nun-aleph), which often seems to mean "now" or "please". It was also
compared to some other synonyms. I interjected that "na" also appears in
Shemos 12:9 with an entirely different meaning, "undercooked".

R' Zev Sero showed how this meaning is *not* so different after all:
> Al tochlu mimenu na means "as it is now", uncooked.
> Think "bistro", or "fast food". The fastest food is raw.

It is a common error to think that "na" means "raw" here.

Rashi on the pasuk defines "na" as "She'eino tzalui kol tzorko - It's not
roasted all it needs" Rashi requires the Korban Pesach to be fully roasted,
and it seems that even Maachal Ben Drusa'i would count as "na".

Similarly, Torah Temimah there (#73 and #81) says that one who eats a
Korban Pesach raw ("chai" is his word) has *not* violated this pasuk. (But
he did fail to eat it roasted as required.)

Akiva Miller
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20191107/e3b7e2db/attachment-0001.html>

The Talmud makes a surprising connection between the evil city of Sodom and
the ritual of washing hands at meals. The Sages decreed that one should
wash hands before and after eating bread. Why? 

The underlying motif of washing hands is ritual purification, similar to
immersion in a mikve. The rabbinical decree to wash hands before meals is
based on the purification the Kohanim underwent before eating their teruma
offerings. 

The Talmud, however, gives a rather odd rationale for "mayim acharonim",
washing hands after the meal. The Sages explained that this washing removes
the salt of Sodom, a dangerous salt that can blind the eyes. [Chulin 105b]

What is this Sodomite salt? What does it have to do with purification? How does it blind the eyes? 

Rav Kook explained that to answer to these questions we must understand the
basis for the immorality of Sodom. The people of Sodom were obsessed with
fulfilling their physical desires. Their concentration on
self-gratification led to selfish, egocentric behavior. They expended all
of their efforts chasing after material pleasures. No energy was left for
helping the stranger; no time remained for kindness towards others. 

Eating a meal obviously involves sensual pleasure.  The rabbis feared that
since we eat several times every day, the importance of spirituality that
truly perfects man can be decreased. As a preventive measure, the Sages
decreed that we wash our hands before eating. This ritual impresses upon us
the imagery that we are like the Kohanim, eating "holy" bread baked from
teruma. The physical meal we are about to partake now assumes a spiritual
dimension. 

Despite this preparation, the act of eating may to some extent reduce our
holiness. Therefore, washing after the meal comes to counteract this
negative influence. We wash away the salt of Sodom, the residue of selfish
preoccupation in sensual pleasures. This dangerous salt, which can blind
our eyes to the needs of others, is rendered harmless through the
purification of "mayim acharonim".    [Ayn Aya I:21]



Religion is for people who are scared to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there. Bonnie Raitt

Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force.  F.D.R.

------------------------------



_______________________________________________
Avodah mailing list
Avo...@lists.aishdas.org
http://www.aishdas.org/lists/avodah
http://lists.aishdas.org/listinfo.cgi/avodah-aishdas.org


------------------------------


**************************************

Send Avodah mailing list submissions to
	avodah@lists.aishdas.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://www.aishdas.org/lists/avodah/avodahareivim-membership-agreement/


You can reach the person managing the list at
	avodah-owner@lists.aishdas.org


When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Avodah digest..."

A list of common acronyms is available at
        http://www.aishdas.org/lists/avodah/avodah-acronyms
(They are also visible in the web archive copy of each digest.)