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Gemara: [The Rabbis said not to read by the light of an oil lamp, but some thought that it was permitted for a person who knows how to be careful]. … [He] read and tilted the oil lamp and wrote in his notebook: "I, [Yishmael ben Elisha] read and tilted the lamp on Shabbat; when the Beit Hamikdash will be built, I will bring a fat sin offering."
Ein Ayah: Writing in a notebook awakens a person to realize it is proper to remember, not forget, one’s sins. If all acts of sin would only have a temporary impact on one’s soul, it would have sufficed for him to repent at the time of the sin, rendering remembering the sin long term superfluous. In truth, though, a person’s spiritual powers and his personal actions are intertwined, and one sin can ruin much goodness. Each act of sin has a negative impact on several of a person’s good attributes and can cast away a person’s altruism from his heart, according to the level of the sin and the imprint it leaves.
A person’s spiritual powers are hidden, and some of their shortcomings are unnoticeable except when life arranges matters so that he needs to act by using that power, which he will then find to be lacking. Only at that time will the person be able to rectify the shortcoming by having the powers of goodness and sanctity, which are the foundations of repentance, overcome and thereby fix the shortcoming.
For this reason, a person should make sure that his sin will not be forgotten until he sees that his spiritual powers that relate to the area of the sin are complete and are not harmed either in attributes or in philosophies. Then he can be happy and know reliably that his sin has left him and has dissipated like a cloud.
Every action makes a different imprint on the soul, not just according to its value as good or evil, but also based on the situation and reasons that caused it. One cannot compare, for example, the impact of an action that was done when a person was in a good mood to one performed when in a state of heartache. It takes great study to know how to strengthen the position of goodness and sanctity in a person’s soul in relation to the damage that sin brought according to the essence of the sin and its circumstances. Therefore one should not only write down the essence of the sin but even the factors that brought it about. That is why Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha wrote that he was reading (the cause) and tilted the lamp (the action), stressing the noteworthiness not only of the action but even its causes.
The human body lives and survives with the help of its flesh and bones. The body’s fat provides some benefit that would otherwise be missing. Sin also is supported by factors that help bring about the sin. If a sin’s causes did not make a difference, then the fatness of the sacrifice brought to atone for it would not be significant enough to record and remember. Rabbi Yishmael realized that he needed to distance himself greatly from the decision to not heed the warning of the Rabbis. Therefore the fact that he decided to read by the light of the lamp had to be written with the fact that he needed atonement, even though the sin (violating Shabbat) has its own complete character without this specific cause. He also recorded the need to bring a fat animal to stress that he needed atonement for that which made the sin a "complete one," as his thought process was intrinsically lacking and required work. Every person needs to learn from this story and be vigilant to follow all of the injunctions of the Rabbis, without trying to find personal ways around them. Therefore, the circumstances that surrounded the sin needed to be recorded as part of the effort to receive full atonement.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
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
