Daf Hayomi Yoma Chapter 7 Yoma 72b: “R. Johanan said: There were three crowns זירים: that of the altar מזבח, that of the ark ארון, and that of the table שלחן. The one of the altar Aaron deserved and he received it זכה אהרן ונטלו. The one of the ark, David deserved and received זכה דוד ונטלו. The one of the ark is still lying עדיין מונח הוא and whosoever wants כל הרוצה to take it ליקח, may come and take it יבא ויקח [Aaron, the first high priest, obtained the crown of priesthood, symbolized by the altar; David, the crown of kingdom; but there is no hereditary crown of learning, it must be acquired by each individual. The aspirants. however, are not many, hence it is still lying unclaimed.]. Perhaps you might think it [that of the ark ארון] is of little account, therefore the text reads: “Through me kings reign בי מלכים ימלכו, And rulers decree just laws ורוזנים יחקקו צדק” (Proverbs 8:15). R. Johanan pointed out a contradiction. It is written: Zar זר [alien] and we read it: zir זיר? i.e.,[crown] If he deserves it, it becomes a wreath unto him נעשה לו זיר; if not it remains alien זרה הימנו to him. R. Johanan pointed out another contradiction. It is written: “Thereupon the Lord said to me: Carve out two tables of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mount; and make an ark of wood ועשית לך ארון עץ.” (Deuteronomy 10:1). And it is also written: “They shall make an ark of acacia-wood: two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” (Exodus 25:10).”
Beautiful. Three crowns: the priesthood מזבח, the kingdom מלכות, and Torah ארון. I’m a Cohain and I never miss blessing the people. Rulers, God determines that. Torah, available to anyone.
Torah thought on this week’s parsha בלק. Balak was sore afraid ויגר מואב of the Jews. He should’ve been sore afraid of the Amorites. Why? “For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto the Arnon. Wherefore they that speak in parables say: Come ye to Heshbon! Let the city of Sihon be built and established! For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of Arnon. Woe to thee, Moab! Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh; He hath given his sons as fugitives, And his daughters into captivity, Unto Sihon king of the Amorites. We have shot at them—Heshbon is perished—even unto Dibon, And we have laid waste even unto Nophah, Which reacheth unto Medeba. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.” (Numbers 21:26-31).
My theory. Balak was on the Progressive Left of a deeply divided ancient Moab. All Moab agreed that Chemosh is their god and that Mr. god of the Jews is like the midrash of the serpent in the Garden of Eden telling Eve that mr. god ate from that tree and that’s how he created the world. The Left in ancient Moab welcomed Sihon to attack and killed many Moabites. Why? Sihon hated Jews and hated that mr. god promised Jews Israel. The Right in ancient Moab believed in live and let live. No, even the Right in ancient Moab would not allow Jews to pass through their lands. Balak loved Balaam who knew how to deal with mr god. Balak and Balaam were terrible anti-Semites.
Daf Hayomi Yoma Chapter 7 Yoma 72b:
ReplyDelete“R. Johanan said: There were three crowns זירים: that of the altar מזבח, that of the ark ארון, and that of the table שלחן. The one of the altar Aaron deserved and he received it זכה אהרן ונטלו. The one of the ark, David deserved and received זכה דוד ונטלו. The one of the ark is still lying עדיין מונח הוא and whosoever wants כל הרוצה to take it ליקח, may come and take it יבא ויקח [Aaron, the first high priest, obtained the crown of priesthood, symbolized by the altar; David, the crown of kingdom; but there is no hereditary crown of learning, it must be acquired by each individual. The aspirants. however, are not many, hence it is still lying unclaimed.]. Perhaps you might think it [that of the ark ארון] is of little account, therefore the text reads: “Through me kings reign בי מלכים ימלכו, And rulers decree just laws ורוזנים יחקקו צדק” (Proverbs 8:15). R. Johanan pointed out a contradiction. It is written: Zar זר [alien] and we read it: zir זיר? i.e.,[crown] If he deserves it, it becomes a wreath unto him נעשה לו זיר; if not it remains alien זרה הימנו to him. R. Johanan pointed out another contradiction. It is written: “Thereupon the Lord said to me: Carve out two tables of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mount; and make an ark of wood ועשית לך ארון עץ.” (Deuteronomy 10:1). And it is also written: “They shall make an ark of acacia-wood: two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” (Exodus 25:10).”
Beautiful. Three crowns: the priesthood מזבח, the kingdom מלכות, and Torah ארון. I’m a Cohain and I never miss blessing the people. Rulers, God determines that. Torah, available to anyone.
Torah thought on this week’s parsha בלק.
Balak was sore afraid ויגר מואב of the Jews. He should’ve been sore afraid of the Amorites. Why? “For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto the Arnon. Wherefore they that speak in parables say: Come ye to Heshbon! Let the city of Sihon be built and established! For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of Arnon. Woe to thee, Moab! Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh; He hath given his sons as fugitives, And his daughters into captivity, Unto Sihon king of the Amorites. We have shot at them—Heshbon is perished—even unto Dibon, And we have laid waste even unto Nophah, Which reacheth unto Medeba. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.” (Numbers 21:26-31).
My theory. Balak was on the Progressive Left of a deeply divided ancient Moab. All Moab agreed that Chemosh is their god and that Mr. god of the Jews is like the midrash of the serpent in the Garden of Eden telling Eve that mr. god ate from that tree and that’s how he created the world. The Left in ancient Moab welcomed Sihon to attack and killed many Moabites. Why? Sihon hated Jews and hated that mr. god promised Jews Israel. The Right in ancient Moab believed in live and let live. No, even the Right in ancient Moab would not allow Jews to pass through their lands. Balak loved Balaam who knew how to deal with mr god. Balak and Balaam were terrible anti-Semites.