Day 348: Study Judaism Fifteen Minutes a Day...Starting Now
Sometimes I lose sight of why I began this project and I need to remind myself of my two main goals:
- to dedicate some time each day to studying Judaism
- to find relevance in my religion and be able to relate it to my everyday life
I've really enjoyed it! I've gained a lot and I can tell each day, I learn something new! I think this is a project I'll be replicating in the future. Maybe not as a new year's resolution and probably not with this book, but maybe with sections of the Tanakh or the Talmud?
Setting aside time for independent study each day can be challenging when you've got classes and finals or a busy work schedule, but it's so rewarding and has given me so much to think about.
Day 349: Random Acts of Kindness
It is no secret that to make the world a better place, we must be willing to help others in our own capacities. However, some people might seem less worthy of our kindnesses than others. But from now on, I'll be keeping in mind the following quote by Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsberg: "When a poor man asks you for aid, do not use his faults as an excuse for not helping him. For then God will look for your offenses, and He is sure to find many."
Day 350: Shabbat
At last! Finally at home, finished with finals, halfway through my sophomore year! As the grades roll in, I've been smiling a little wider and as I am reunited with my friends, I get a little bit happier.
I'm ready to enjoy winter break and Birthright, and I'm so very ready for 2016!
- One Who Calls Another Person by a Cruel Nickname: N/A
- When Anonymous Giving Is Not Good: N/A
- Do You Owe Your Children an Inheritance?: N/A
- "One Who Is Bashful Will Never Learn": N/A
- Study Judaism Fifteen Minutes a Day...Starting Now: N/A
- Random Acts of Kindness: N/A
Day 351: A Particularly Evil Form of Stealing
When a person steals from an individual and he feels remorse, he can easily return that which he stole. However, when someone has stolen from many people through how he conducts his business or otherwise, and he feels remorse, it is much more challenging to repent. In this situation, he must repent and make it up to those whom he knows he has frauded, and for the balance, he must give back to the community as a whole. Yet, Rabbi Telushkin makes sure to point out that this doesn't justify those who have dishonestly earned their money and then donate large sums to charity to make up for their fraud.
Day 352: A Husband's Obligations to His Wife
As an unmarried woman who would, one day, like to be a married woman, I can't share any personal experiences here. I can only share my thoughts and hopes. I don't think I'm alone in wanting a spouse who will be attentive, caring, and kind (of course, ambitious, funny, and smart would be nice when thrown into the mixture too).
But in the ketuba, the marriage document signed by husband and wife, a man promises his wife the following: "I will give you your food, clothing and necessities, and live with you as husband and wife according to the universal custom." He also promises that "I will cherish, honor, support, and maintain you in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who cherish, honor, support, and maintain their wives faithfully."
So what does any of that actually mean? Good thing I love color coding!
Food, clothing, and necessities refer to anything the wife might need to live. Fairly self-explanatory. To live as husband and wife as universal custom refers to engaging in sexual relations. It was expected that women were more sexually shy and if a husband was sexually indifferent, the wife might feel physically neglected. So this clause protect the needs of the wife as well as the urges expected of the husband. Lastly, cherishing, honoring, supporting, and maintaining refers to the respect a wife deserves from her husband.
Now that we're more familiar with the obligations, "matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match..."
Day 353: Don't Insult Your Spouse
Again, not that I'm skilled with marriage or anything, but I have to expect that it's important to honor and respect your spouse rather than degrade them privately or publically. And this goes for both husbands and wives! I've heard stories of husbands insulting wives and of wives shocking their husbands, and none of these sound like marriages I'd be happy in. The following quotes are brought to remind us how to act towards our spouses:
One should always be careful not to offend his wife, lest she starts crying, for women are easily brought to tears (Bava Metzia 59a)
Honor her more than yourself (Yevamot 62b).
If you're like me and enjoy long lists of quotes about love, here's this for you to enjoy: http://www.torahone.com/docs/shalombais.htm
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