Knowledge is power –
G-dly knowledge, is super power.
The preacher of Mezritch approx. 1700-1772, Rabbi Dov
Ber of Mezritch included in his ethical will, to his son Rabbi Abraham
the Angel, “Learn law every day from the “strong hand” (book of laws
from Maimonides)… after evening services, learn the Holy Rambam –
Maimonides. I received from my Holy teacher (the Baal Shem Tov), this is
a special spiritual assistance for developing fear, awe and respect for
G-d, and to chase away negative forces.”
If a respected knowledgeable electrician guides you to connect wires in a particular circuit in a way which is counter intuitive, would you follow his instructions? Or a well-known and respected Doctor advises you to follow a specific remedy going against common logic would you follow it?
Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon –Rambam-Maimonides, world renowned philosopher, astronomer, physician, Torah/Talmud scholar, in his ground-breaking book of laws, codifies G-dly law as derived from the Bible. Some of it, we can wrap our minds around it, some of it, is beyond our mortal minds, but works nonetheless, as Maimonides guarantees in his introduction.
If a respected knowledgeable electrician guides you to connect wires in a particular circuit in a way which is counter intuitive, would you follow his instructions? Or a well-known and respected Doctor advises you to follow a specific remedy going against common logic would you follow it?
Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon –Rambam-Maimonides, world renowned philosopher, astronomer, physician, Torah/Talmud scholar, in his ground-breaking book of laws, codifies G-dly law as derived from the Bible. Some of it, we can wrap our minds around it, some of it, is beyond our mortal minds, but works nonetheless, as Maimonides guarantees in his introduction.
Protection - directly from G-d.
Payment for all the things necessary for the protection
of a city is collected from all of its inhabitants, even from orphans,
with the exception of Torah scholars. For Torah scholars do not require
protection; their Torah study protects them. Payment for the improvement
of the thoroughfares and the streets, by contrast, is collected even
from the scholars.
How to treat slaves!! Imagine then your employees……
…….. the attribute of piety and the way of wisdom is for
a person to be merciful and to pursue justice, not to make his slaves
carry a heavy yoke, nor cause them distress. He should allow them to
partake of all the food and drink he serves. This was the practice of
the Sages of the first generations who would give their slaves from
every dish of which they themselves would partake. And they would
provide food for their animals and slaves before partaking of their own
meals. And so, it is written Psalms 123:2: "As the eyes of slaves to
their master's hand, and like the eyes of a maid-servant to her
mistress' hand, so are our eyes to God."
Similarly, we should not embarrass a slave by our deeds or with words, for the Torah prescribed that they perform service, not that they be humiliated. Nor should one shout or vent anger upon them extensively. Instead, one should speak to them gently, and listen to their claims. This is explicitly stated with regard to the positive paths of Job for which he was praised Job 31:13, 15: "Have I ever shunned justice for my slave and maid-servant when they quarreled with me.... Did not He who made me in the belly make him? Was it not the One who prepared us in the womb?"
……..And similarly, with regard to the attributes of the Holy One, blessed be He, which He commanded us to emulate, it is written Psalms 145:9: "His mercies are upon all of His works." And whoever shows mercy to others will have mercy shown to him, as implied by Deuteronomy 13:18: "He will show you mercy, and be merciful upon you and multiply you."
Similarly, we should not embarrass a slave by our deeds or with words, for the Torah prescribed that they perform service, not that they be humiliated. Nor should one shout or vent anger upon them extensively. Instead, one should speak to them gently, and listen to their claims. This is explicitly stated with regard to the positive paths of Job for which he was praised Job 31:13, 15: "Have I ever shunned justice for my slave and maid-servant when they quarreled with me.... Did not He who made me in the belly make him? Was it not the One who prepared us in the womb?"
……..And similarly, with regard to the attributes of the Holy One, blessed be He, which He commanded us to emulate, it is written Psalms 145:9: "His mercies are upon all of His works." And whoever shows mercy to others will have mercy shown to him, as implied by Deuteronomy 13:18: "He will show you mercy, and be merciful upon you and multiply you."
How to treat an enemy!!! FIRST.
When a person encounters two individuals: one whose
donkey is fallen under its load and one with a donkey whose burden has
been unloaded, but who cannot find anyone to help him reload it, it is a
mitzvah/G-dly deed, to unload the fallen donkey first, because of the
discomfort suffered by the animal. Afterwards, he should reload the
other animal.
When does the above apply? When the two people he encounters are both friends or both enemies. If, however, the one whose donkey must be reloaded is an enemy and the other is a friend, it is a mitzvah for the passerby to reload his enemy's donkey first, in order to subjugate his evil inclination.
Although by unloading the load off the animal he alleviates the donkey from pain and, is helping a friend (two good deeds), it is even a greater deed for him to grab the opportunity to improve his own character by helping the enemy reload, first! (one, but way more personally important, good deed.)
When does the above apply? When the two people he encounters are both friends or both enemies. If, however, the one whose donkey must be reloaded is an enemy and the other is a friend, it is a mitzvah for the passerby to reload his enemy's donkey first, in order to subjugate his evil inclination.
Although by unloading the load off the animal he alleviates the donkey from pain and, is helping a friend (two good deeds), it is even a greater deed for him to grab the opportunity to improve his own character by helping the enemy reload, first! (one, but way more personally important, good deed.)
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