The Shulchan Aruch says that it's appropriate to fast today - Monday 27 Sivan - since about 2,000 years ago on this date, the Romans wrapped the great Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon in a Sefer Torah, and burnt him to death. Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon was one of the 10 martyrs. King David started Tehilim - Psalms - by declaring: Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the gathering of the scornful. Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon taught (Avot 3:3): - A gathering of the scornful is when Jews sit together and don't discuss Torah-related topics. - When Jews do discuss Torah then the Shechina - G-d's presence - is with them. - Even when a lone Jew learns Torah (like a Halocho a Day), Hashem takes note and rewards him. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:2 Read about the 10 martyrs at http://www.answers.com/topic/ten-martyrs Read about Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon at http://www.answers.com/topic/haninah-ben-teradion - Danny
Monday, June 30, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I just wanted to thank you for creating and maintaining "A halocho a Day" because even if I don't have time to learn a lot one day, I know I can get a dose of Torah infusion here that uplifts me spiritually. So thank you.
And I was wondering if you can further explain the quote by Dovid HaMelech. Is he saying that you should or should not be among the wicked?
Thank you again.
Kayla
Hi Kayla
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing; it's the feedback that keeps me going.
Dovid HaMelech started Tehilim by declaring: Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, doesn't stand in the way of sinners, and doesn't sit in the gathering of the scornful.
Dovid HaMelech obviously doesn't need to tell us not be wicked.
He's telling us more than that:
- Don't walk in the counsel of the wicked; don't take advice from wicked people, as their advice can't be trusted. After all, they followed their own advice and they became wicked.
- Don't stand in the way of sinners; don't be seen hanging around with the sinners. As in "birds of a feather flock together" and "tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are".
- Don't sit in the gathering of the scornful; if a gathering (meeting, class, performance, etc.) is simply to have a good time, and not for Torah learning or at least for earning a living or at the very least for pure relaxation then don't join. Idle fun leads to sin.
Hope this makes some sense,
- Danny