YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- The Month of Adar
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Jewish Laws and Customs
- Astronomy and Halachic Times
The scientists who deal with absolute time, as though there is such an actual measurable thing, also have created for us a leap second and there are many other such leap items that abound in our complex universe. I have often thought that there is a unique message that lies in the word leap as it appears in all of these cases regarding the passage of time.
I think that almost all of us, in looking back on our lives tomorrow, will agree that time leaps and does not drag. It goes faster than we wish and allows us little ability to savor the precious moments that it sporadically provides. In the words of the Psalmist: "For it (the time of one’s lifespan) flies away swiftly." Time therefore leaps and does not tarry. Therefore in reality all of our years are leap years for they have all leapt away quickly and sometimes even without notice or remembrance.
That to me has always been the message of calling these leap years, those that have within them an unusual number of days. All of our lives therefore are one long leap, strenuous and swift, dangerous and exhilarating. And we are always leaping into the unknown.
There is a strange idiom that exists in the English language called "killing time." This almost always means wasting time or being forced to wait and/or being delayed from accomplishing a certain task or goal or project that exists before us.
The word "killing" when used in connection with time seems to be a strange choice of a verb. We do not usually think of time as being a living object that is in danger of being killed. Yet by the very use of the idiom we are pointing out to ourselves that disregarding the passage of time and treating time in a wasteful and cavalier fashion is akin somehow to murder.
Time is deemed to be so precious that it is no longer just a measure of life but it is life itself. And therefore it can be killed and snuffed out just as any other form of life that exists on our planet. So when the Torah forbids murder and the unjustified taking of life it is indirectly also forbidding us from destroying and wasting the time that is allotted to us on this earth.
The great men of Lithuanian Mussar had a short poem that sums up all of this: "People concern themselves over the loss of wealth; but they do not concern themselves over the loss of time. Eventually wealth cannot help them; but the days of time will never return." In Hebrew these sentences rhyme. However I think the message is clear in no matter in what language the sentiments are expressed.
One of the great challenges in life is how to deal with time. How do we fill our days? This is a major challenge in the years of life when we are less active, already retired from our professions and enterprises, and thus find ourselves with time on our hands.
There is no magic answer to this problem and one size certainly does not fit all. Yet medically, socially and emotionally our nature is to be busy and occupied. There is an inner drive within us to avoid killing time. This certainly is part of the heritage of the Jewish people.
Maybe in a rueful way it explains why no one in Israel wants to wait in line for any service or attention. The dreaded visit to the post office and its inevitable long line, waiting impatiently for the bus or train to arrive and rushing to get on it when it finally does come, and many other such instances in our daily lives, exhibit our impatience and stem from our innate desire not to waste time.
Deep down we are aware how precious and valuable time is and of the necessity for exploiting it to the utmost in a productive fashion. Just as we abhor the slaughter of innocent people so to are we inclined not to kill time. It is far too precious a commodity to be treated lightly and without profound respect and consideration.
A happy leap year to all!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
