Save "Tikkun Leil Shavuot 5784

I ~ All is in God's hands?
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Tikkun Leil Shavuot 5784 I ~ All is in God's hands?
(יב) וְעַתָּה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מָ֚ה ה׳ אֱלֹקֶ֔יךָ שֹׁאֵ֖ל מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֣י אִם־לְ֠יִרְאָה אֶת־ה׳ אֱלֹקֶ֜יךָ לָלֶ֤כֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו֙ וּלְאַהֲבָ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־ה׳ אֱלֹקֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
(12) And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God demand of you? Only this: to revere the LORD your God, to walk only in His paths, to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and soul,

(ב) כי אם ליראה וגו'. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָּרְשׁוּ מִכַּאן הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם חוּץ מִיִּרְאַת שָׁמַיִם (ברכות ל"ג):

(2) כי אם ליראה וגו׳ EXCEPT TO FEAR [THE LORD YOUR GOD, etc.]. — Our Rabbis derived from this (“and now, what does God ask from you”) that everything is in the hands of God except the fear of God (Berakhot 33b).

ואמר רבי חנינא הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים שנאמר (דברים י, יב) ועתה ישראל מה ה׳ אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה אטו יראת שמים מילתא זוטרתא היא והא"ר חנינא משום ר' שמעון בן יוחי אין לו להקב"ה בבית גנזיו אלא אוצר של יראת שמים שנאמר (ישעיהו לג, ו) יראת ה׳ היא אוצרו אין לגבי משה מילתא זוטרתא היא דאמר ר' חנינא משל לאדם שמבקשים ממנו כלי גדול ויש לו דומה עליו ככלי קטן קטן ואין לו דומה עליו ככלי גדול:

And Rabbi Ḥanina said: Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except for fear of Heaven, as it is stated: “And now Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you other than to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all of His ways, to love Him and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). The Gemara asks: Is fear of Heaven a minor matter? Didn’t Rabbi Ḥanina say in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The Holy One of Blessing has nothing in his treasury other than a treasure of fear of Heaven, as it is stated: “Fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). The Gemara responds: Indeed, for Moses fear of Heaven is a minor matter. As Rabbi Ḥanina stated: It is comparable to one who is asked for a large vessel and has one, that seems to them like a small vessel. However, one who is asked for just a small vessel and does not have one, it seems to them like a large vessel. Therefore, Moses could say: What does the Lord your God ask of you other than to fear, because in his eyes it was a minor matter.

~ What does God have to ask? Why?

(כד) מָה־רַבּ֬וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֨יךָ ׀ ה׳ כֻּ֭לָּם בְּחׇכְמָ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ מָלְאָ֥ה הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ קִנְיָנֶֽךָ׃ (כה) זֶ֤ה ׀ הַיָּ֥ם גָּדוֹל֮ וּרְחַ֢ב יָ֫דָ֥יִם שָֽׁם־רֶ֭מֶשׂ וְאֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֑ר חַיּ֥וֹת קְ֝טַנּ֗וֹת עִם־גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ (כו) שָׁ֭ם אֳנִיּ֣וֹת יְהַלֵּכ֑וּן לִ֝וְיָתָ֗ן זֶֽה־יָצַ֥רְתָּ לְשַֽׂחֶק־בּֽוֹ׃ (כז) כֻּ֭לָּם אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְשַׂבֵּר֑וּן לָתֵ֖ת אׇכְלָ֣ם בְּעִתּֽוֹ׃ (כח) תִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם יִלְקֹט֑וּן תִּפְתַּ֥ח יָ֝דְךָ֗ יִשְׂבְּע֥וּן טֽוֹב׃ (כט) תַּסְתִּ֥יר פָּנֶיךָ֮ יִֽבָּהֵ֫ל֥וּן תֹּסֵ֣ף ר֭וּחָם יִגְוָע֑וּן וְֽאֶל־עֲפָרָ֥ם יְשׁוּבֽוּן׃ (ל) תְּשַׁלַּ֣ח ר֭וּחֲךָ יִבָּרֵא֑וּן וּ֝תְחַדֵּ֗שׁ פְּנֵ֣י אֲדָמָֽה׃ (לא) יְהִ֤י כְב֣וֹד ה׳ לְעוֹלָ֑ם יִשְׂמַ֖ח ה׳ בְּמַעֲשָֽׂיו׃ (לב) הַמַּבִּ֣יט לָ֭אָרֶץ וַתִּרְעָ֑ד יִגַּ֖ע בֶּהָרִ֣ים וְֽיֶעֱשָֽׁנוּ׃ (לג) אָשִׁ֣ירָה לַה׳ בְּחַיָּ֑י אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה לֵאלֹקַ֣י בְּעוֹדִֽי׃ (לד) יֶעֱרַ֣ב עָלָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י אָ֝נֹכִ֗י אֶשְׂמַ֥ח בַּה׳׃ (לה) יִתַּ֤מּוּ חַטָּאִ֨ים ׀ מִן־הָאָ֡רֶץ וּרְשָׁעִ֤ים ׀ ע֤וֹד אֵינָ֗ם בָּרְכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־ה׳ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(24) How many are the things You have made, O LORD;
You have made them all with wisdom;
the earth is full of Your creations.
(25) There is the sea, vast and wide,
with its creatures beyond number,
living things, small and great.
(26) There go the ships,
and Leviathan that You formed to sport with.
(27) All of them look to You
to give them their food when it is due.
(28) Give it to them, they gather it up;
open Your hand, they are well satisfied;
(29) hide Your face, they are terrified;
take away their breath, they perish
and turn again into dust;
(30) send back Your breath, they are created,
and You renew the face of the earth.
(31) May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in His works!
(32) He looks at the earth and it trembles;
He touches the mountains and they smoke.
(33) I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
all my life I will chant hymns to my God.
(34) May my prayer be pleasing to Him;
I will rejoice in the LORD.
(35) May sinners disappear from the earth,
and the wicked be no more.
Bless the LORD, O my soul.
Hallelujah.
הָנְהוּ בִּרְיוֹנֵי דַּהֲווֹ בְּשִׁבָבוּתֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר וַהֲווֹ קָא מְצַעֲרוּ לֵיהּ טוּבָא. הֲוָה קָא בָּעֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר רַחֲמֵי עִלָּוַיְהוּ כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלֵימוּתוּ. אָמְרָה לֵיהּ בְּרוּרְיָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ: מַאי דַּעְתָּךְ — מִשּׁוּם דִּכְתִיב ״יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים״, מִי כְּתִיב ״חוֹטְאִים״? ״חַטָּאִים״ כְּתִיב. וְעוֹד, שְׁפֵיל לְסֵיפֵיהּ דִּקְרָא ״וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם״, כֵּיוָן דְּ״יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים״ ״וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם״? אֶלָּא בְּעִי רַחֲמֵי עִלָּוַיְהוּ דְּלַהְדְּרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה, ״וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם״. בְּעָא רַחֲמֵי עִלָּוַיְהוּ, וַהֲדַרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה.

There were these hooligans in Rabbi Meir’s neighborhood who caused him a great deal of anguish. Rabbi Meir prayed for God to have mercy on them, that they should die. Rabbi Meir’s wife, Berurya, said to him: What is your thinking? On what basis do you pray for the death of these hooligans? Do you base yourself on the verse, as it is written: “Let sins cease from the land” (Psalms 104:35), which you interpret to mean that the world would be better if the wicked were destroyed? But is it written, let sinners cease?” Let sins cease, is written. One should pray for an end to their transgressions, not for the demise of the transgressors themselves. Moreover, go to the end of the verse, where it says: “And the wicked will be no more.” If, as you suggest, transgressions shall cease refers to the demise of the evildoers, how is it possible that the wicked will be no more, i.e., that they will no longer be evil? Rather, pray for God to have mercy on them, that they should repent, as if they repent, then the wicked will be no more, as they will have repented. Rabbi Meir saw that Berurya was correct and he prayed for God to have mercy on them, and they repented.

~ Does God change people's impulses, if we pray for it, according to this source?

~ How do you deal with this?

ור"ל האי קרא דר' יוחנן מאי דריש ביה מבעי ליה לכדדריש רבי חנינא בר פפא דדריש ר' חנינא בר פפא אותו מלאך הממונה על ההריון לילה שמו ונוטל טפה ומעמידה לפני הקב"ה ואומר לפניו רבש"ע טפה זו מה תהא עליה גבור או חלש חכם או טיפש עשיר או עני ואילו רשע או צדיק לא קאמר כדר' חנינא דא"ר חנינא הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים שנאמר (דברים י, יב) ועתה ישראל מה ה׳ אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה וגו'

The Gemara asks: And how does Reish Lakish interpret this verse cited by Rabbi Yoḥanan “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night on which it was said: Conceived is a man-child” (Job 3:3)? The Gemara answers that he requires that verse for that which Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa taught. As Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa interpreted that verse in the following manner: That angel that is appointed over conception is called: Night. And that angel takes the drop of semen from which a person will be formed and presents it before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and says before Him: Master of the Universe, what will be of this drop? Will the person fashioned from it be mighty or weak? Will he be clever or stupid? Will he be wealthy or poor? The Gemara notes: But this angel does not say: Will he be wicked or righteous? This is in accordance with a statement of Rabbi Ḥanina, as Rabbi Ḥanina said: Everything is in the hand of Heaven, except for fear of Heaven as it is stated: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you other than to fear the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 10:12).

~ What does God not control? Why, in your opinion?

~ Is this souce in tension with the previous one?

וּמְכֻוּוֹנוֹת לָהֶם דְּרָכִים וְכוּ׳. תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: ״מִקְלָט״ הָיָה כָּתוּב עַל פָּרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּכִּיר הָרוֹצֵחַ וְיִפְנֶה לְשָׁם. אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: מַאי קְרָא? ״תָּכִין לְךָ הַדֶּרֶךְ״ – עֲשֵׂה [לְךָ] הֲכָנָה לַדֶּרֶךְ. רַב חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא פָּתַח לַהּ פִּתְחָא לְהַאי פָּרַשְׁתָּא מֵהָכָא: ״טוֹב וְיָשָׁר ה׳ עַל כֵּן יוֹרֶה חַטָּאִים בַּדָּרֶךְ״ – אִם לַחַטָּאִים יוֹרֶה, קַל וָחוֹמֶר לַצַּדִּיקִים. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ פָּתַח לַהּ פִּתְחָא לְהַאי פָּרַשְׁתָּא מֵהָכָא: ״וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה וְהָאֱלֹקִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ וְגוֹ׳״, ״כַּאֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר מְשַׁל הַקַּדְמֹנִי מֵרְשָׁעִים יֵצֵא רֶשַׁע וְגוֹ׳״, בַּמָּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר – בִּשְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהָרְגוּ אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ, אֶחָד הָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג וְאֶחָד הָרַג בְּמֵזִיד, לָזֶה אֵין עֵדִים וְלָזֶה אֵין עֵדִים. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַזְמִינָן לְפוּנְדָּק אֶחָד, זֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּמֵזִיד יוֹשֵׁב תַּחַת הַסּוּלָּם, וְזֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג יוֹרֵד בַּסּוּלָּם, וְנֹפֵל עָלָיו וְהֹרְגוֹ, זֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּמֵזִיד – נֶהֱרָג, וְזֶה שֶׁהָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג – גּוֹלֶה. אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב הוּנָא, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מִן הַתּוֹרָה וּמִן הַנְּבִיאִים וּמִן הַכְּתוּבִים – בַּדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁאָדָם רוֹצֶה לֵילֵךְ בָּהּ – מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ.

§ The mishna teaches: And roads were aligned for them from this city to that city. It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: Refuge was written on signs at every crossroads marking the path to a city of refuge, so that the unintentional murderer would identify the route to the city of refuge and turn to go there. Rav Kahana said: What is the verse from which this is derived? “Prepare for you the road” (Deuteronomy 19:3), meaning: Perform for you preparation of the road. § Apropos that halakha, the Gemara cites that Rav Ḥama bar Ḥanina introduced this portion with regard to the halakhot of exile with an introduction from here: “Good and upright is God; therefore He directs sinners along the way” (Psalms 25:8). He said: If He directs sinners by commanding the placing of signs directing them to the city of refuge, it may be inferred a fortiori that He will assist and direct the righteous along the path of righteousness. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish introduced this portion with an introduction from here: It is stated with regard to an unintentional murderer: “And one who did not lie in wait, but God caused it to come to his hand, and I will appoint you a place where he may flee” (Exodus 21:13). Now this is puzzling. Why would God cause one to sin in this manner? The verse states: “As the ancient parable says: From the wicked comes forth wickedness” (I Samuel 24:13). Evil incidents befall those who have already sinned. Reish Lakish explains: In this light, the verse “But God caused it to come to his hand” may be understood. With regard to what scenario is the verse speaking? It is with regard to two people who killed a person, where one killed unintentionally while the other killed intentionally. For this person there are no witnesses to his action, and for that person there are no witnesses to his action; therefore, neither received the appropriate punishment of exile and execution, respectively. The Holy One, Blessed be He, summons them to one inn. This person who killed intentionally sits beneath a ladder, and that person who killed unintentionally descends the ladder, and he falls upon him and kills him. There were witnesses to that incident and therefore, that person who killed intentionally is killed, and that person who killed unintentionally is exiled, each receiving what he deserved. Apropos the path upon which God leads people, the Gemara cites a statement that Rabba bar Rav Huna says that Rav Huna says, and some say it was a statement that Rav Huna says that Rabbi Elazar says: From the Torah, from the Prophets, and from the Writings one learns that along the path a person wishes to proceed, they assist him.

~ Does God prevent a person from making bad choices or acting on their worse impulses?

~ Does God micromanage our moral failures?

עין איה על ברכות א קכג

(ברכות י.): "הנהו בריוני דהוו בשבבותי' דר"מ דהוו קא מצערו לי' טובא, הוה קא בעי ר"מ רחמי עליהו כי היכי דלימותו, א"ל ברוריא דביתהו, מאי דעתיך משום דכתיב יתמו חטאים מן הארץ, מי כתיב חוטאים חטאים כתיב, בעי רחמי עלייהו דליהדרו בתשובה כו'".

דבר פשוט הוא שהאדם הוא בעל בחירה חופשית ואין מכריח על צדקו ורשעו. אמנם גם זה פשוט שאם האדם חפץ בדרך צדקה מסייעין אותו. ע"כ חשב ר"מ כיון שאלה הבריונים היו נשחתים בתכלית, ואינם פונים כלל אל חפץ הישרת דרכם, איך תועיל תפילה לשנות את בחירתם, מה שהוא חק כללי קבוע, שלא יכריח השם ית' בחירת האדם, וזהו יסוד כל התורה כולה. אמנם ברוריה השכילה, כי אין לך רשע בעולם שלא הי' בוחר יותר ללכת בדרך טוב מדרך רע, אלא שיצרו אונסו ומטעהו, ע"כ הוא אומלל והולך בדרכי רשע. אבל אין לך אדם שיהי' נשחת לגמרי, שלא יועיל לו חינוך הגון ותוכחת חכמה ברב או במעט. ע"כ אין להתיאש מלבקש רחמים שישובו לשמור ארחות צדק גם הפושעים היותר גדולים. והיא ההשקפה החודרת על רוממות ערך נפש האדם שעשאה אלקים ישרה וטובה, ואי אפשר שהאדם ישנה צורתה וטבעה הטוב. ע"כ יתכן לבקש רחמים על אומללים כאלה, כעל כל החולים שאינם יכולים לעזור לעצמם עם כל חפצם להעזר. והנה לדעת הסוברים, שנפש האדם היא רק הכנה לקנות נצחיות ע"י דעות טובות מושכלות ומדות ומעשים טובים, אפשר להיות נפש נשחתת לגמרי מאין דרך לבקש רחמים על הטבתה, זולת בהיותו מעצמו משנה בחזקת היד בחירתו והרגלו ע"י כח מדת הגבורה שבנפש האדם. אבל לפי הדעת הנכונה, שהנפש היא עצם חי ונשגב, כאחד האישים העליונים היא עומדת בצורתה, ורק במקרה נפסדה ממקרי הגוף, אבל חפצה לעולם לעלות במעלות הצדק והמשרים, ע"כ ראוי להתפלל שהחטאים ישובו ולא יהיו עוד רשעים. ויתכן מה שהסמיך לזה בכתוב "ברכי נפשי את ד'", שתברך את ד' על חלקה שבראה מאור החכמה והיושר האלקי, עד שא"א השחתתה לגמרי באופן שאין אפשרות להיות תם ונאפס כ"א החטאים, שלא יהיו עוד רשעים ולא החוטאים, שהנפש הנבראת מאור העליון לא תתם, ותחי עוד לנצח.

Ayin Ayah on Brachot, 1:123

And read Brachot 10a: "there were hooligans etc "may sinners disappear (Ps 104:35) etc"

It is an undisputed thing that a person has free will, and there nothing that forces a person to righteousness or wickedness. However, it is also undisputed that if a person desires to go towards righteousness, that person receives help [from Above]. And therefore Rabbi Meir thought that, since those hooligans were completely corrupt, and would not turn at all to try to straighten their ways, how could a prayer to change their choices help? And this is also a general established chok, that the Holy Name does not force the choices of humans, and this is the basis of all of Torah. And yet the Beruriah clarified that there is no wicked person in this world that wouldn't prefer to walk more in the way of good than the way of evil, and really what happens is that their yetzer (impulses) forces them and brings them down, and this is why such a person is wretched and goes to the ways of evil. But there is no person that is completely corrupt, for whom suitable instruction and wise admonition wouldn't help in a greater or lesser degree. And so one should not despair of asking for compassion that people should return to the paths of righteousness, even if they are great sinners. And this is the pervasive idea that the soul of a person is high indeed, made by God, good and just, and it isn't possible for a person to change its form and its essential good nature. Therefore it makes sense that one should ask for compassion for wretched ones like those hooligans, just as one does to all those who are sick and can't help themselves even with all their might. And there are those who think that the soul of a person is only made to acquire eternality through good rational opinions, and good traits, and good deeds, and that it is possible that a soul is so completely corrupt that there is no reason whatsoever to ask for compassion so it improves, only a person can themselves change through the force of their own ability to choose and [change] their habits through the force of the trait of limits present in their soul. However, according to the correct understanding, the soul is herself alive and exalted, just as one of the high angels the soul exists in her own form, and it is only in the case that she falls into a body that she becomes faulty, but her desire is constantly to go higher in levels of righteousness and doing the right thing. Therefore it is correct to pray that sinners should do teshuvah, and they will be no longer wicked. And it makes sense then what is written with it: "bless God, o my soul" that you should bless God over the soul itself, a part created from the light of Wisdom and the straightforwrd light of God, to the point that it is impossible to corrupt it completely, in that it cannot be completely cancelled, like with those sinners, that the soul is created from the highest light, it won't be destroyed and exists eternally.

~ What do we mean when we pray for someone to change, according to Rav Kook?

~ Do you think Rav Kook's idea about the soul applies to all humans?

צִנִּ֣ים פַּ֭חִים בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ עִקֵּ֑שׁ שׁוֹמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ יִרְחַ֥ק מֵהֶֽם׃

Thorns, snares are in the path of the crooked; a person who values their life will keep far from them.

(א) צנים פחים. כמו (במדבר ל״ג:נ״ה) לצנינים בצדיכם ובאו עליך הוצן (יחזקאל כ״ג:כ״ד) ל' גדודים ולסטים: (ב) צנים פחים. הם טמונים בדרכי המעקש דרכיו כלומר יסורים מוכני' לו: (ג) שומר נפשו ירחק מהם. שמיישר מעשיו ינצל מהם:

(1) Troops [and] snares Heb. צנים, as in (Num. 33:55) “troops (לצנינים) in your sides”; (Ezek. 23:24) “And they will come upon you, a band (הצן),” an expression of bands and brigands. (2) Troops and snares are hidden on the ways of the one who perverts their ways; torments are prepared for such a person (3) one who preserves their soul will keep far from them one who is upright in their deeds will be saved from them.

~ If Rashi has to play dictionary, what do you know about those words?

~ What do you make of Rashi's third comment?

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי נְחוּנְיָא בֶּן הַקָּנָה? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: נֶאֱמַר ״אָסוֹן״ בִּידֵי אָדָם. וְנֶאֱמַר ״אָסוֹן״ בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם. מָה ״אָסוֹן״ הָאָמוּר בִּידֵי אָדָם — פָּטוּר מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין, אַף ״אָסוֹן״ הָאָמוּר בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם — פָּטוּר מִן הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין. מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: מִמַּאי דְּכִי קָא מַזְהַר לְהוּ יַעֲקֹב לִבְנֵיהּ, עַל צִינִּים וּפַחִים דְּבִידֵי שָׁמַיִם נִינְהוּ? דִּלְמָא עַל אַרְיָא וְגַנָּבֵי דְּבִידֵי אָדָם נִינְהוּ?! אַטּוּ יַעֲקֹב אַהָא אַזְהַר, אַהָא לָא אַזְהַר? יַעֲקֹב עַל כֹּל מִילֵּי אַזְהַר. וְצִינִּים פַּחִים בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם נִינְהוּ? וְהָתַנְיָא: הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם חוּץ מִצִּינִּים פַּחִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״צִינִּים פַּחִים בְּדֶרֶךְ עִיקֵּשׁ שׁוֹמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְחַק מֵהֶם״! וְתוּ אַרְיָא וְגַנָּבֵי בִּידֵי אָדָם נִינְהוּ? וְהָאָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף וְכֵן תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּיא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבָּטְלוּ סַנְהֶדְרִין, אַרְבַּע מִיתוֹת לֹא בָּטְלוּ. לֹא בָּטְלוּ?! הָא בָּטְלוּ לְהוּ! אֶלָּא: דִּין אַרְבַּע מִיתוֹת לֹא בָּטְלוּ. מִי שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּיב סְקִילָה — אוֹ נוֹפֵל מִן הַגָּג, אוֹ חַיָּה דּוֹרַסְתּוֹ. וּמִי שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּיב שְׂרֵיפָה — אוֹ נוֹפֵל בִּדְלֵיקָה, אוֹ נָחָשׁ מַכִּישׁוֹ. וּמִי שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּיב הֲרִיגָה — אוֹ נִמְסָר לַמַּלְכוּת, אוֹ לִיסְטִים בָּאִין עָלָיו. וּמִי שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּיב חֶנֶק — אוֹ טוֹבֵעַ בַּנָּהָר, אוֹ מֵת בִּסְרוֹנְכֵי?! אֶלָּא, אֵיפוֹךְ: אַרְיָא וְגַנָּבֵי בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, צִינִּים וּפַחִים בִּידֵי אָדָם.

The Gemara asks: What is the rationale for the opinion of Rabbi Neḥunya ben HaKana regarding the idea that if one transgresses Yom Kippur on is already liable for the death penalty and therefore does not pay fines? Abaye said: Just as it states the word "harm" at the hands of man, in the verse “But if any harm follow, then you shall give a soul for a soul” (Exodus 21:23) so too it states the word "harm" at the hand of Heaven, in the verse in which Jacob states: “My son shall not descend with you…and harm befalls him on the way” (Genesis 42:38) in both cases one is exempt from being fined. Rav Adda bar Ahava strongly objects to this: From where is it derived that when Jacob is warning his sons he is warning them about troops and snares [tzinim paḥim], which are at the hand of Heaven? Perhaps he was warning them about a lion and thieves, which are harm at the hands of man. The Gemara refutes this: Is that to say that Jacob warned them about this harm at the hand of man, but about that harm at the hand of Heaven he did not warn them? Jacob warned them about all potentially harmful matters that might befall Benjamin, not merely one particular form of catastrophe. The Gemara asks: And are troops and snares at the hand of Heaven? Isn’t it taught in a baraita: All matters are at the hand of Heaven except for troops and snares, as it is stated: “Troops and snares are on the path of the crooked, one who guards their soul shall keep far from them” (Proverbs 22:5)? And furthermore, are a lion and thieves forms of harm at the hands of man? But didn’t Rav Yosef say, and similarly, didn’t Rabbi Ḥiyya teach a baraita: From the day that the Temple was destroyed, although the Sanhedrin was abolished the four death penalties were not abolished? The Gemara asks: Were they not abolished? It is clear that they were abolished, as today there is neither Sanhedrin nor capital punishment. Rather, it means that although there are no court-imposed executions, the punishment of the four death penalties was not abolished. How so? One who was liable to be executed by stoning either falls from the roof or a beast tramples him. And one who was liable to be executed by burning either falls into a conflagration or a snake bites him, which creates a burning sensation. And one who was liable to be executed by decapitation is either handed over to the ruling monarchy for execution by sword, or bandits attack and kill him. And one who was liable to be executed by strangulation either drowns in a river, or dies of diphtheria [serunki]. Rather, reverse the order of the previous statement: A lion and thieves are cases of harm at the hand of Heaven, while troops and snares are cases of harm at the hands of man.

~ What does God control, according to this discussion?

~ What are things that you would imagine God controls, among the four things mentioned (troops, snares, lions, thieves)?

(ב) לֹֽא־י֭וֹעִילוּ אוֹצְר֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה תַּצִּ֥יל מִמָּֽוֶת׃
(2) Ill-gotten wealth is of no avail,
But righteousness saves from death.
(ד) לֹא־יוֹעִ֣יל ה֭וֹן בְּי֣וֹם עֶבְרָ֑ה וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה תַּצִּ֥יל מִמָּֽוֶת׃
(4) Wealth is of no avail on the day of wrath,
But righteousness saves from death.
אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן רָמֵי, כְּתִיב: ״לֹא יוֹעִיל הוֹן בְּיוֹם עֶבְרָה, וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״, וּכְתִיב: ״לֹא יוֹעִילוּ אוֹצְרוֹת רֶשַׁע, וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״ – שְׁתֵּי צְדָקוֹת הַלָּלוּ לָמָּה? אַחַת שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִמִּיתָה מְשׁוּנָּה, וְאַחַת שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם. וְאִי זוֹ הִיא שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם? הַהוּא דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ ״עֶבְרָה״ – דִּכְתִיב: ״יוֹם עֶבְרָה הַיּוֹם הַהוּא״. וְאִי זוֹ הִיא שֶׁמַּצִּילָתוֹ מִמִּיתָה מְשׁוּנָּה? נוֹתְנָהּ – וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לְמִי נוֹתְנָהּ, נוֹטְלָהּ – וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִמִּי נוֹטְלָהּ. נוֹתְנָהּ וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לְמִי נוֹתְנָהּ – לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּמַר עוּקְבָא; נוֹטְלָהּ וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִמִּי נוֹטְלָהּ – לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִדְּרַבִּי אַבָּא. וְאֶלָּא הֵיכִי לֶיעְבֵּיד? לִיתֵּיב לְאַרְנָקִי שֶׁל צְדָקָה.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba says: Rabbi Yoḥanan raises a contradiction between two texts. In one place it is written: “Riches profit not on the day of wrath, but charity delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4), and elsewhere it is written: “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but charity delivers from death” (Proverbs 10:2). Why is it necessary to have these two verses about charity, that it delivers from death? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba continues: One verse serves to teach that charity delivers from an unnatural death in this world, and one verse serves to teach that charity delivers from the judgment of Gehenna in the World-to-Come. And in which of the verses is that charity which delivers from the judgment of Gehenna mentioned? It is in that verse in which “wrath” is written, as with regard to the day of judgment it is written: “That day is a day of wrath” (Zephaniah 1:15). And which type of charity is that which delivers from an unnatural death? It is the type in which one gives the charity without knowing to whom he gave it, and the other one takes it without knowing from whom he took it. The Gemara explains: One gives it without knowing to whom he gave it, this serves to exclude the practice of Mar Ukva, who would personally give charity to poor people without their knowing he was the donor. The other one takes it without knowing from whom he took it; this serves to exclude the practice of Rabbi Abba, who would render his money ownerless, so that poor people would come and take it without his knowing whom he helped, although they would know from whom the money came. The Gemara asks: Rather, how then should one act to conceal his own identity and also remain ignorant of the identities of the recipients? The Gemara answers: The best method is to put the money into the charity purse.
וּמִדִּשְׁמוּאֵל נָמֵי אֵין מַזָּל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. דִּשְׁמוּאֵל וְאַבְלֵט הֲווֹ יָתְבִי, וַהֲווֹ קָאָזְלִי הָנָךְ אִינָשֵׁי לְאַגְמָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבְלֵט לִשְׁמוּאֵל: הַאי גַּבְרָא אָזֵיל וְלָא אָתֵי, טָרֵיק לֵיהּ חִיוְיָא וּמָיֵית. אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁמוּאֵל: אִי בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא, אָזֵיל וְאָתֵי. אַדְּיָתְבִי אֲזַל וַאֲתָא. קָם אַבְלֵט שַׁדְיֵהּ לְטוּנֵיהּ, אַשְׁכַּח בֵּיהּ חִיוְיָא דִּפְסִיק וּשְׁדֵי בְּתַרְתֵּי גוּבֵּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁמוּאֵל: מַאי עֲבַדְתְּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כׇּל יוֹמָא הֲוָה מַרְמִינַן רִיפְתָּא בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי וְאָכְלִינַן. הָאִידָּנָא הֲוָה אִיכָּא חַד מִינַּן דְּלָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ רִיפְתָּא, הֲוָה קָא מִיכְּסַף. אָמֵינָא לְהוּ: אֲנָא קָאֵימְנָא וּמַרְמֵינָא. כִּי מְטַאי לְגַבֵּיהּ, שַׁוַּאי נַפְשַׁאי כְּמַאן דִּשְׁקִילִי מִינֵּיהּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִיכְּסִיף. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מִצְוָה עֲבַדְתְּ. נְפַק שְׁמוּאֵל וּדְרַשׁ: ״וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״, וְלֹא מִמִּיתָה מְשׁוּנָּה, אֶלָּא מִמִּיתָה עַצְמָהּ. וּמִדְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא נָמֵי אֵין מַזָּל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. דְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא הַוְיָא לֵיהּ בְּרַתָּא, אָמְרִי לֵיהּ כַּלְדָּאֵי: הָהוּא יוֹמָא דְּעָיְילָה לְבֵי גְנָנָא, טָרֵיק לַהּ חִיוְיָא, וּמִיתָא. הֲוָה דָּאֵיג אַמִּילְּתָא טוּבָא. הָהוּא יוֹמָא שְׁקַלְתַּהּ לְמַכְבַּנְתָּא, דַּצְתַּהּ בְּגוּדָא, אִיתְרְמִי אִיתִּיב בְּעֵינֵיהּ דְּחִיוְיָא. לְצַפְרָא כִּי קָא שָׁקְלָה לַהּ, הֲוָה קָא סָרֵיךְ וְאָתֵי חִיוְיָא בָּתְרַהּ. אֲמַר לַהּ אֲבוּהּ: מַאי עֲבַדְתְּ? אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ בְּפַנְיָא אֲתָא עַנְיָא, קְרָא אַבָּבָא וַהֲווֹ טְרִידִי כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא בִּסְעוּדְתָּא, וְלֵיכָּא דְּשָׁמְעֵיהּ. קָאֵימְנָא, שְׁקַלְתֵּיהּ לְרִיסְתָּנַאי דִּיהַבְתְּ לִי, יַהְבִתֵּיהּ נִיהֲלֵיהּ. אֲמַר לַהּ: מִצְוָה עֲבַדְתְּ. נְפַק רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וּדְרַשׁ: ״וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת״, וְלֹא מִמִּיתָה מְשׁוּנָּה, אֶלָּא מִמִּיתָה עַצְמָהּ.
And from that which transpired to Shmuel, one can also conclude that there is no constellation for the Jewish people. The Gemara relates that Shmuel and the gentile sage Ablet were sitting, and they saw these people were going to the lake. Ablet said to Shmuel: This person will go and he will not return, because a snake will bite him and he will die. Shmuel said to him: If he is a Jew, he will go and come back. As they were sitting for a while, the person they discussed went away and then returned. Ablet stood up, threw down the person’s burden, and inside he found a snake cut and cast in two pieces. Shmuel said to him: What did you do to merit being saved from death? The person said to him: Every day we all take bread together and eat from the bread. Today, there was one of us who did not have bread, and when it came time to gather the bread, he was embarrassed because he did not have any to give. I said to the others: I will go and take the bread. When I came to the person who did not have bread, I rendered myself as one who was taking from him so that he would not be embarrassed. Shmuel said to him: You performed a mitzva. Shmuel went out and taught based on this incident that even though it is written: “And charity will save from death” (Proverbs 10:2), it does not only mean that it will save a person from an unusual death but even from death itself. And from that which transpired to Rabbi Akiva as well it can be derived that there is no constellation for the Jewish people, as Rabbi Akiva had a daughter, and Chaldean astrologers told him that on the same day that she enters the wedding canopy, a snake will bite her and she will die. She was very worried about this. On that day, her wedding day, she took the ornamental pin from her hair and stuck it into a hole in the wall for safekeeping, and it happened that it entered directly into the eye of the snake. In the morning, when she took the pin, the snake was pulled and came out with it. Her father Rabbi Akiva said to her: What did you do to merit being saved from the snake? She told him: In the evening a poor person came and knocked on the door, and everyone was preoccupied with the feast and nobody heard him. I stood and took the portion that you had given me and gave it to him. Rabbi Akiva said to her: You performed a mitzva, and you were saved in its merit. Rabbi Akiva went out and taught based on this incident that even though it is written: “And charity will save from death” (Proverbs 10:2), it does not mean that it will save a person only from an unusual death, but even from death itself.

~ What is the idea of a "constellation" or mazal regarding the people of Israel?

~ What is the power of tzedakah, according to these sources?

~ How much stock do the rabbis put in mazal?

~ How does that sit with your own vision of God?

מתני׳ שאלו את הזקנים ברומי אם אין רצונו בעבודת כוכבים למה אינו מבטלה אמרו להן אילו לדבר שאין צורך לעולם בו היו עובדין היה מבטלו הרי הן עובדין לחמה וללבנה ולכוכבים ולמזלות יאבד עולמו מפני השוטים אמרו להן א"כ יאבד דבר שאין צורך לעולם בו ויניח דבר שצורך העולם בו אמרו להן אף אנו מחזיקין ידי עובדיהן של אלו שאומרים תדעו שהן אלוהות שהרי הן לא בטלו: גמ׳ ת"ר שאלו פלוסופין את הזקנים ברומי אם אלקיכם אין רצונו בעבודת כוכבים מפני מה אינו מבטלה אמרו להם אילו לדבר שאין העולם צורך לו היו עובדין הרי הוא מבטלה הרי הן עובדין לחמה וללבנה ולכוכבים ולמזלות יאבד עולם מפני השוטים אלא עולם כמנהגו נוהג ושוטים שקלקלו עתידין ליתן את הדין דבר אחר הרי שגזל סאה של חטים [והלך] וזרעה בקרקע דין הוא שלא תצמח אלא עולם כמנהגו נוהג והולך ושוטים שקלקלו עתידין ליתן את הדין דבר אחר הרי שבא על אשת חבירו דין הוא שלא תתעבר אלא עולם כמנהגו נוהג והולך ושוטים שקלקלו עתידין ליתן את הדין והיינו דאמר ריש לקיש אמר הקב"ה לא דיין לרשעים שעושין סלע שלי פומבי אלא שמטריחין אותי ומחתימין אותי בעל כרחי שאל פלוספוס אחד את ר"ג כתוב בתורתכם (דברים ד, כד) כי ה׳ אלקיך אש אוכלה הוא אל קנא מפני מה מתקנא בעובדיה ואין מתקנא בה אמר לו אמשול לך משל למה"ד למלך בשר ודם שהיה לו בן אחד ואותו הבן היה מגדל לו את הכלב והעלה לו שם על שם אביו וכשהוא נשבע אומר בחיי כלב אבא כששמע המלך על מי הוא כועס על הבן הוא כועס או על הכלב הוא כועס הוי אומר על הבן הוא כועס אמר לו כלב אתה קורא אותה והלא יש בה ממש אמר לו ומה ראית אמר לו פעם אחת נפלה דליקה בעירנו ונשרפה כל העיר כולה ואותו בית עבודת כוכבים לא נשרף אמר לו אמשול לך משל למה"ד למלך ב"ו שסרחה עליו מדינה כשהוא עושה מלחמה עם החיים הוא עושה או עם המתים הוא עושה הוי אומר עם החיים הוא עושה א"ל כלב אתה קורא אותה מת אתה קורא אותה א"כ יאבדנה מן העולם אמר לו אילו לדבר שאין העולם צריך לו היו עובדין הרי הוא מבטלה הרי הן עובדין לחמה וללבנה לכוכבים ולמזלות לאפיקים ולגאיות יאבד עולמו מפני שוטים וכן הוא אומר (צפניה א, ב) אסוף אסף כל מעל פני האדמה נאם ה׳ אסף אדם ובהמה אסף עוף השמים ודגי הים והמכשלות את הרשעים [וגו'] וכי מפני שהרשעים נכשלים בהן יאבדם מן העולם והלא לאדם הן עובדין (צפניה א, ג) והכרתי את האדם מעל פני האדמה [וגו']

MISHNA: The gentiles asked the Jewish Sages who were in Rome: If it is not God’s will that people should engage in idol worship, why does He not eliminate it? The Sages said to them: Were people worshipping only objects for which the world has no need, He would eliminate it. But they worship the sun and the moon and the stars and the constellations. Should He destroy His world because of the fools? The gentiles said to the Sages: If so, let Him destroy those objects of idol worship for which the world has no need and leave those objects for which the world has a need. The Sages said to them: If that were to happen, we would thereby be supporting the worshippers of those objects for which the world has need, as they would say: You should know that these are truly gods, as they were not eliminated from the world, whereas the others were eliminated. GEMARA: The Sages taught: Certain philosophers [filosofin] asked the Jewish Sages who were in Rome: If it is not your God’s will that people should engage in idol worship, for what reason does He not eliminate it? The Sages said to them: Were people worshipping only objects for which the world has no need, He would eliminate it. But they worship the sun and the moon and the stars and the constellations. Should He destroy the world because of the fools? Rather, the world follows its course, and the fools who sinned will be held to judgment in the future for their transgressions. The baraita presents another matter that illustrates the same concept: Consider the case of one who stole a se’a of wheat and went and planted it in the ground. By right it should not grow. But the world goes along and follows its course and the fools who sinned will be held to judgment in the future for their transgressions. The baraita presents another matter that illustrates the same concept: Consider the case of one who engaged in intercourse with the wife of another. By right she should not become pregnant. But the world goes along and follows its course and the fools who sinned will be held to judgment in the future for their transgressions. The Gemara comments: And this is as Reish Lakish says: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Is it not enough for the wicked that they treat My die for a sela coin as if it were ownerless [pumbi], using it without My permission and against My will, as they impregnate women adulterously? But moreover, they also trouble Me and cause Me to sign the result of their actions against My will, as I form the fetus and give it life, even when its creation is the result of prohibited sexual intercourse. A certain philosopher asked Rabban Gamliel: It is written in your Torah with regard to the prohibition against idol worship: “For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24). For what reason is He jealous and does He exact vengeance from the idol’s worshippers, but He is not jealous of the idol itself and does not destroy it? Rabban Gamliel said to the philosopher: I will relate a parable to you. To what is this matter comparable? It may be compared to a king of flesh and blood who had one son, and that son was raising a dog. And the son gave the dog a name, naming him after his father. When the son would take an oath, he would say: I swear by the life of the dog, my father. When the king heard about this, with whom was the king angry? Is he angry with the son or is he angry with the dog? You must say that he is angry with the son. So too, God is angry with the worshippers who attribute divinity to objects of idol worship and not with the objects of idol worship themselves. The philosopher said to Rabban Gamliel: Do you call the idol a dog? But the idol truly exists, i.e., has power. Rabban Gamliel said to the philosopher: And what did you see that caused you to believe that the idols have power? The philosopher said to Rabban Gamliel: A fire once broke out in our city, and the entire city was burned down, but that temple of idol worship was not burned down. Rabban Gamliel said to the philosopher I will relate a parable to you. To what is this matter comparable? It may be compared to a king of flesh and blood whose province sinned against him. When he wages war, does he wage war against the living or does he wage war against the dead? You must say that he wages war against the living. God punishes the living worshippers and not the idol, which is not alive. The philosopher said to Rabban Gamliel: You call the idol a dog; you call the idol dead. If it is so, let God remove it from the world. Rabban Gamliel said to the philosopher: Were people worshipping only objects for which the world has no need, He would eliminate it. But they worship the sun and the moon, the stars and the constellations, and the streams and the valleys. Should He destroy His world because of fools? And so the verse states: “Shall I utterly consume all things from off the face of the earth? says the Lord. Shall I consume man and beast? Shall I consume the fowls of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks of the wicked, and shall I cut off man from off the face of the earth? says the Lord” (Zephaniah 1:2–3). Should God remove objects of idol worship from the world due to the fact that the wicked stumble because of them? If so, He would have to destroy all of humanity as well, as do not idol worshippers also worship people? This is expressed in the continuation of the verse: “And shall I cut off man from off the face of the earth? says the Lord.”

~ What does it mean that "the world goes along and follows its course"?

~ Why can't God simply change the things that are forbidden for us?

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