Rabbi's Message - Musings
In Pirkei Avot 3:18 (The Ethics of our Ancestors), Rabbi Eleazar ben Hisma taught that the study of bird offerings is the essence of Halakha (Jewish law) whereas gematria is "a savory dish of wisdom." Few of us today devote time to studying the mishna's detailed and complicated description of the Temple's bird offerings. Still, we should keep Rabbi Eleazar's message in mind. Rabbi Eleazar reminds us that we are nourished by the sacred texts of our tradition. Texts such as Torah, Talmud, Midrash and Halakhic Codes as well as texts on history, liturgy, the holidays, etc. are the "meat and potatoes" of Judaism. Other fields such as gematria (Hebrew numerology) are meant to be delicacies that stimulate the appetite.
The musings below cover a variety of topics. They are meant as savory dishes that whet your appetite for further, in-depth study of God, Torah, prayer or some other aspect of Judaism. If you need a suggestion for where to turn for additional study, feel free to e-mail Rabbi Davis or Rabbi Olitzky.
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