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The Mishnah (Bava Metsi’ah 4:2) teaches that if one pays for fruit but does not actually have the chance to take it from the seller, the seller has the ability to change his mind and return the money. Nevertheless, the Rabbis maintained that there is an impropriety in going back on one’s word and that for doing so a person will incur Divine Retribution similar to the People of the Generation of the Flood.
נתן לו מעות ולא משך לו פירות יכול לחזור בו אבל אמרו מי שפרע מאנשי דור המבול עתיד להפרע ממי שאינו עומד בדבורו
What does the case of the Mishnah, going back on one’s word have to do with the Flood? An insight may be found in the Talmud Yerushalmi.
Rabbi Aha explains that the sin of the People of the Generation of the Flood was that they systematically stole less than the value of a perutah, an amount which can not be claimed in court. When a person would leave his house with merchandise, the people around him would swipe small amounts from him. Although the amounts taken by each individual were too small to be brought to justice, the people would end up practically robbing him of all of his possessions.
The connection would appear to be that one who goes back on his word and one who steals less than the value of a perutah both commit a crime for which their is no legal recourse. When the courts can not bring a people to justice, God does.
Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba likens the sins of the People of the Generation of the Flood with that of the People of Sodom. "Before they had a chance to lie down the people of Sodom surrounded the house from the young to the elderly, all of the people who were at a distance" (Gen. 19:5). The Scripture paints a picture of a thoroughly corrupt Sodom. The young, like the elderly, the far like the close banded together against Lot’s guests in their common endeavor of acting out their immoral desires.
The People of the Flood, like the People of Sodom were corrupt through and through. The manner in which the people of the Flood banded together against their culprit presumes a state of corruption like that which existed in the Generation of the People of Sodom.
Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba focuses on the state of lawlessness in the two generations. It would seem that in his opinion the idea in the case of our Mishnah is God’s extreme sensitivity to anything that smacks of lawlessness.
Peninei Halakha 5. Weddings and Engagements during the Omer Period
Chapter 3: Customs of Mourning during the Omer Period
Peninei Halakha 5. Weddings and Engagements during the Omer Period
Chapter 3: Customs of Mourning during the Omer Period
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.