Elul: Ahava & Yirah
The presence, opportunity, and balance of ahava & yirah in Elul.
Sha’arei Teshuva, Sha’ar 4, #1
Pirkei Avos, Perek 1
“Al sholosha devarim haOlam Omed” – Rabbeinu Yona, Rashi: the word exists for the purpose of these 3 things; and, “Avoda” refers to korbanos.Rambam: these 3 things are needed for the world to be sustained and function optimally; and “Avoda”
Pesach, Connection Between Middos and Emunos V’de’os
Shabbos associated with both brias ha’olam and yetzias Mitzrayim. Ramban explains they’re related – the later is me’id on the former. Rambam explains they are two separate things. Rambam says mitzva of leil Pesach is to talk about the miracles
Ramban on Tazria
– Nigei batim & begadim only in Eretz Yisroel because they’re a supernatural expression of a level of hashgacha that only exists in Eretz Yisroel. Nidei adam are a natural phenomenon, not limited to Eretz Yisroel, and are a punishment
Perek 12
Dovid Hamelech mentions 1) kefira against HKB”H 2) distorting the meaning of Torah 3) lashon hara. All 3 of these stem from ga’ava. Both chassidim and anshei emmes are gone, and there are plenty of fakers / smooth talkers.Torah, both
Perek 11
How does one reconcile hashgacha the triumph of a rasha over a tzaddik? If hasgacha meant instantaneous reward/punishment, the evidence of HKB”H would be so overwhelming that we would have no bechira (see, “kafa aleihem har k’gigis”, as well as
Ramban, Shmini
Issur achila stems from the tuma. Issurei kashrus and arayos stem from tuma, and those types of tuma the Torah forbides categorically. Kedoshim tihiyu tells us that even mutar types of tuma we should minimize, i.e. tuma is also on
Perek 10, part 2
The rasha feels invulnerable. Rasha preys on people throughout their lives. Even when old and bent over, people continue on same trajectory without a conscious effort to reflect; nothing affects us automatically. Aveira goreres aveira true in belief as well
Perek 10
Malbim: Dovid Hamelech asking about rasha v’tov lo. People get confused by it, think rasha acting autonomously, etc. Leaves us with an inability to understand it. (If not for the Malbim, could understand the perek as a tefillah, akin to