Do your Own Thing

During the Torah reading in the synagogue, Rav Sheshet would turn his face away and study Torah.

He said, "They do their thing, I do mine."

(Brachot 8a)

Still Eating It

Rebbe Chiya bar Ami said in the name of Ulla: Greater is the one who eats the fruits of his own labor than one who fears heaven.  About one who fears heaven, it is written: "Praiseworthy is the man who fears God." (Psalms 112:1)  But about one who eats the fruits of his own labor, it is written: "When you eat the fruits of your own labor, you are praiseworthy and it is well with you." (Psalms 128:2) "You are praiseworthy" in this world, "and it is well with you" in the World to Come.  About the one who fears Heaven, it does not say "it is well with you."

(Brachot 8a)

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Rebbe Yochanan said in the name of Rebbe Yossi: Moshe asked God for three things, and God granted them all.

He asked that the Divine Presence dwell among the Jewish People, and God granted his request, as it is said: "...only if You accompany us."

He asked that the Divine Presence not dwell among idolaters, and God granted his request, as it is said: "me and Your people should be special."

He asked God to explain Himself, and He did, as it is said: "explain Your ways." Moshe said before God: "Master of the Universe, why do some good people have it good, and some good people have it bad?  Why do some bad people have it good, and some bad people have it bad?" 

God said to him: "A good person who has it good is a good person the son of a good person.  A good person who has it bad is a good person the son of a bad person.  A bad person who has it good is a bad person the son of a good person.  A bad person who has it bad is a bad person the son of a bad person."

Really? Do good people really suffer just because their parents were bad?

It is written in one place "God visits the sins of the father upon the children".  And it is written elsewhere: "sons shall not be put to death on account of their fathers."  We asked about the contradiction between these two verses, and we answered: the first verse applies to a son who follows in his father's evil ways; the second verse applies to a son who does not follow in his father's evil ways.


Rather, this is what God said to Moshe: "A good person who has it good is a totally good person.  A good person who has it bad is a mostly good person.  A bad person who has it good is a mostly bad person.  A bad person who has it bad is a totally bad person."


Rebbi Meir disagrees with Rebbe Yossi in this matter.


Rebbi Meir said: two of Moshe's requests were granted, but one was not granted, as it is said: "I will favor those who I will favor," even if they are undeserving.  "And I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy," even if they are undeserving.

(Brachot 7a)

One Hundred Lashes

Rebbe Yochanan said in the name of Rebbe Yossi: A single moment of self-contol is better than many lashes, as it is said: "And she shall pursue her lovers...then she will say, I will go and return to my first husband, because it was better for me then than it is now."

Resh Lakish said: It is better than a hundred lashes, as it is said: "Yelling at an understanding person is better than hitting a fool a hundred times."

(Brachot 7a)

Does God get Mad?

Is there anger before the Holy One, Blessed be He?

Yes, as it is taught in a Braita: God gets angry every day.

And how long does His anger last?

A moment.

And how long is a moment?

One fifty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eighth part of an hour.

Only Bilam the Wicked knew exactly what time of day this moment is.

(Brachot 7a)

May it be My Will

Rebbe Yochanan said in the name of Rebbe Yossi: How do we know that the Holy One, Blessed be He, prays?  As it is written: "I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them happy in the house of My prayer." It does not say "their prayer", but rather, "My prayer". From here we learn that the Holy One, Blessed be He, prays.

What does He pray?  Rav Zutra bar Tovya said in the name of Rav: "May it be My will that My mercy conquer My anger, and that My mercy overcome My attributes, and that I behave towards My children with the attribute of mercy, and that I favor them beyond what justice would require."

It was taught in a Braita, Rebbe Yishmael ben Elisha said: One time I entered the Holy of Holies to burn incense, and I saw Achteriel God the Master of Hosts sitting on a high and lofty throne. He said to me: "Yishmael, my son, bless Me."  I said to Him: "May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger, and that Your mercy overcome Your attributes, and that You behave toward Your children with the attribute of mercy, and that You favor them beyond what justice would require." Upon hearing this, He nodded to me with His head.


(Brachot 7a)

The Beauty that is Rotting in the Dust

Rebbe Elazar was sick, so Rebbe Yochanan came to visit him.  He saw that Rebbe Elazar was lying in a dark room, so he rolled up his sleeve, and the room filled up with light.

Rebbe Yochanan saw that Rebbe Elazar was crying.

"Why are you crying?" Rebbe Yochanan said.

"Are you crying because you can't learn Torah?  Remember the Mishna that says regarding sacrifices: some bring many sacrifices and some bring few, but it's the thought that counts?  Well, the same thing applies to studying Torah."

"Are you crying because you don't have enough food?  Not everyone merits two tables, you know."

"Are you crying because your kids died?  It could be worse -- ten of my kids died!  Look, here is a bone from the tenth one."

"No," Rebbe Elazar said.  "I'm crying because of the beauty that is rotting in the dust."

"Oh," Rebbe Yochanan said.  "That's a good reason to cry."  And they cried together.

Rebbe Yochanan asked Rebbe Elazar, "Are these afflictions dear to you?"

"Not them and not their reward," Rebbe Elazar said.

"Give me your hand," Rebbe Yochanan said.

Rebbe Elazar gave his hand to Rebbe Yochanan, and Rebbe Yochanan cured him.

(Brachot 5b)