Horious (12a) R. Ammi said: He who wishes to ascertain whether he will live through the year or not shall, during the ten days between the New Year and the Day of Atonement, kindle a lamp in a house wherein there is no draught. If the light continues to burn he may know that he will live through the year. He who desires to engage in business and wishes to ascertain whether he will succeed or not, let him rear up a cock; if it grows plump and fine he will succeed. He who desires to set out on a journey and wishes to ascertain whether he will return home again or not. let him station himself in a dark house; if he sees the reflection of his shadow he may know that he will return home again. This, however, is not a proper thing to do, lest his courage fail him and he meet with misfortune in consequence. Said Abaye: Now that it has been said that omens are of significance, a man should make a regular habit of eating, at the beginning of the year, pumpkin, fenugreek, leek, beet and dates.
“Simonim Horious (12a) R. Ammi said” Thanks DT for this post. Clearly Rav Ammi has an agenda and is speaking to stir the bet medrash for the coming yom hadin, Rosh Hashana. Rav Ami and Abaye have an agenda that we follow God’s commandments. This week’s parsha Moses warns us Deuteronomy 28:15: “But if you do not obey the Lord your God to observe faithfully all His commandments and laws which I enjoin upon you this day, all these curses shall come upon you and take effect:” Moses has an agenda that we follow God’s commandments.
ReplyDeleteCritical to know a person’s agenda. Putin’s agenda is to restore Russia to what it was before Yelsin and Gorbachov. lehavdil, God will punish Putin for his evil in making unjustified war against Zelensky.
All me a Dass Torah this week’s parsha כי תבוא (Deuteronomy 26:3) “You shall go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him ואמרת אליו: ‘I acknowledge הגדתי this day before the LORD your God that I have entered the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to assign us.”
דברים פרשת כי תבוא פרק כו פסוק ג
וּבָאתָ אֶל הַכֹּהֵן אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו הִגַּדְתִּי הַיּוֹם לַיקֹוָק אֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי בָאתִי אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְקֹוָק לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ לָתֶת לָנוּ:
רש"י דברים פרשת כי תבוא פרק כו פסוק ג
אשר יהיה בימים ההם - אין לך אלא כהן שבימיך, כמו שהוא:
ואמרת אליו - שאינךו כפוי טובה:
הגדתי היום - פעם אחת בשנה ולא שתי פעמים:
Kiddushin 66b
“ And how do we know that the service of the son of a divorced woman or a haluzah is [retrospectively] fit? Said Rab Judah in Samuel's name, Because Scripture saith, and it shall be unto him, and to his seed after him, [the covenant of an everlasting priesthood] [Num. XXV, 13]: this applies to both fit and unfit seed [but nevertheless, only if the service has already been performed]. Samuel's father said, [It is deduced] from the following: Bless, Lord, his substance [חילו], and accept the work of his hands [Deut. XXXIII, 11]: accept even the profaned [hullin] in his midst. R. Jannai said, [It is deduced] from this: And thou shalt come unto the priest that shall be in those days: now, could you then imagine that a man should go to a priest who was not of his days? But this [must refer to one who] was [originally assumed to be] fit, and then became profane [I.e., was proved to be such, The verse intimates that until he is proved profane, the going to him for service, etc. is valid.].”
The Kohen in charge in Jerusalem has authority until proof otherwise.
מלבי"ם דברים פרשת כי תבוא פרק כו פסוק ג
ואמרת אליו. האמירה הקצרה הזאת הוא מאמר אל הכהן קודם הנחת הביכורים ע"י הכהן, והאמירה הארוכה שאחר ההנחה היא אמירה לפני ה', ומה שצוה להקדים אמירה להכהן קודם מלפני ה', מפני שבמאמרו אל הכהן יאמר ענין הבאת הביכורים שאם לא ידע המביא כוונת המצוה יהיה ענין הבאתה בלתי משובח ונראה ככפוי טובה, שעל החסד הגדול שעשה ה' לכלל האומה והחסד הפרטי שעשה להמביא אשר נתן לו נחלה אדמת זבת חלב ודבש מביא דורון לבית ה' מעט פרי האדמה,
The Malbim explains that the saying in verse 3 is to the Kohen and the saying later in verse 5 is before God. One must show respect and gratitude to the religious leader as a preliminary to respect and gratitude to God. This is Malbim’s opinion. This is necessary to perform the ceremony and mitzvah properly. Beautiful.