Avodah Mailing List

Volume 41: Number 46

Fri, 16 Jun 2023

• 1. HKBH begs Moshe Rabbenu to Understand (Rabbi Meir G. Rabi)
• 2. Re: Shoa (David Riceman)
• 3. awe (Joel Rich)
• 4. Learning is Good (Joel Rich)

And if her father spat in her face would she not be humiliated for seven
days?

Why is HKBH saying this to MR?

Is HKBH not pleading that MR understand that His judgement is fair?
It is certain that MR ACCEPTED the judgement, but HKBH wanted more than
that. HKBH wanted MR to UNDERSTAND that this is fair.

But why? As a courtesy?

Perhaps MR sensed a measure of guilt. Had he advised Tzipporah that he was
undertaking an extra step beyond that of other prophets, then she would not
have made that innocent comment, "I pity the wives of these new prophets."
(Rashi) to Miryam.

Which BTW brings us to another consideration: was Tzipporahs comment also
not a violation of LHara?
Also, did she resent that she did not have a normal family life?

Imagine saying at a wedding of someone who wishes to dedicate their life to
learning Torah, "I don't think she knows what she's getting herself into."
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RJK:

> 
> There are other reasons why the Shoa is sui generis. In none of the other
> tragedies perpetrated against the Jews did a government seek to annihilate
> the Jewish people. 

1. Pharoah

2. Purim

3. The ba'al hahagadah adds Lavan (who, admittedly, was not a government).

David Riceman

When we studied The Rambam?s Sefer Hamitzvot and Hilchot Yesodei Hatora we
found that one of the first mitzvot was yirat shamayim which is often
translated as fear of HKBH but we found it was better translated as a awe
of HKBH.

I came across an interesting new book, ? Awe: The New Science of Everyday
Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life?, which is reviewed below. From
an orthodox standpoint, I think we would say that HKBH created the world,
and at the highest level, commanded us to maintain a constant state of awe.
(yirah is a mitzva tmidit [constant mitzva] ? there are six mitzvot which
the Sefer Hachinuch calls ?constant mitzvot which are perpetual and
constant, applicable at all times, all the days of our lives?). This
commanded state of awe will intrinsically have positive effects on us in a
number of aspects of our lives.
Worthwhile to consider in my humble opinion.

Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
Hardcover ? January 3, 2023 by Dacher Keltner
Awe is mysterious. How do we begin to quantify the goose bumps we feel when
we see the Grand Canyon, or the utter amazement when we watch a child walk
for the first time? How do you put into words the collective effervescence
of standing in a crowd and singing in unison, or the wonder you feel while
gazing at centuries-old works of art? Up until fifteen years ago, there was
no science of awe, the feeling we experience when we encounter vast
mysteries that transcend our understanding of the world. Scientists were
studying emotions like fear and disgust, emotions that seemed essential to
human survival. Revolutionary thinking, though, has brought into focus how,
through the span of evolution, we?ve met our most basic needs socially.
We?ve survived thanks to our capacities to cooperate, form communities, and
create culture that strengthens our sense of shared identity?actions that
are sparked and spurred by awe.

In Awe, Dacher Keltner presents a radical investigation and deeply personal
inquiry into this elusive emotion. Revealing new research into how awe
transforms our brains and bodies, alongside an examination of awe across
history, culture, and within his own life during a period of grief, Keltner
shows us how cultivating awe in our everyday life leads us to appreciate
what is most humane in our human nature. And during a moment in which our
world feels more divided than ever before, and more imperiled by crises of
different kinds, we are greatly in need of awe. If we open our minds, it is
awe that sharpens our reasoning and orients us toward big ideas and new
insights, that cools our immune system?s inflammation response and
strengthens our bodies. It is awe that activates our inclination to share
and create strong networks, to take actions that are good for the natural
and social world around us. It is awe that transforms who we are, that
inspires the creation of art, music, and religion. At turns radical and
profound, brimming with enlightening and practical insights, Awe is our
field guide, from not only one of the leading voices on the subject but a
fellow seeker of awe in his own right, for how to place awe as a vital
force within our lives.


KT
Joel Rich
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a positively required mitzvah to learn torah (except to the extent of
knowing practical applications). Given that according to the Gra the
mitzvah of limud torah (for men) applies anytime you?re not doing something
else that has a higher mitzva priority at that time, limud torah must be a
very high priority. However, if I were in the category of not commanded and
doing it (eino metzuveh voseh), what priority would limud torah have?

Starting with the cognitive (versus emotional) evaluation, how do we view
the category of eino metzuveh voseh? As my father used to say, if you don?t
know where you?re going, any road will get you, so for me the first step
would be to prioritize goals. ?) Would it be logical to assume that a
mitzvah that we are not metzuveh in is a lower priority than one in which
we are metzuveh (as in gadol hametzuveh voseh yoter mmi sheino metzuveh
voseh)?

One goal definition might be to be the best servant of HKBH (eved hashem)
that we can be. Using this as a general organizing principle should help us
prioritize our daily efforts. While there?s no simple algorithm, we often
have to choose between competing goods (even something as simple as if we
decide we want to do acts of kindness, how do we evaluate which ones to do

Further how might we evaluate what can make us a better eved hashem? Might
we use connection with HKBH or perhaps the Rambam?s first mitzvah of
knowing HKBH as partial measures?. If so, perhaps limud torah gives us the
best access to the ?mind of God? even if we weren?t metzuveh but perhaps
studying biology, kabala or doing acts of chesed would work as well,
depending on the individual?

After thinking about this, I realized that this is really a practical
question regarding women?s study of Talmud. Given that a woman would be
eino metzuveh voseh, should Talmud study be viewed as a high priority in
required (or suggested) women?s education? Similarly, how do couples
allocate their joint time and responsibilities given that the husband is
metzuveh in talmud torah and the wife is not? (Actually, a subset of the
more general question as to how halacha/hashkafa informs of division of
responsibilities in any family model)

Before I expand on the topic, I?d appreciate others? thoughts?

After I wrote this, I found this from R? Amital:
The study of Torah brings you closer to God. No one understands how this
works. But if you focus your study on Jewish philosophy, Tanakh, or other
subjects ? you will fail. The Oral Law is the basis for everything ? faith,
Torah, yirat shamayim, love of mitzvot. Afterwards, of course, it is
necessary to supplement with aggada and mussar, Tanakh and philosophy. But
the foundation of all foundations is the Oral Law.


KT
Joel Rich
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