The good deeds of the ancestors contribute to the welfare of their descendants. The expression, "You remember the good deeds of the patriarchs," is repeated three times daily in the opening benediction of the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. The zechut avot concept, in Jewish theology, is expressive of the idea that individuals profit in the their lifetime by the meritorious acts of their ancestors. The Torah, in the second of the Ten Commandments, clearly indicates that the benefits of a man’s good deeds will extend indefinitely, implying that God’s mercy in rewarding righteousness infinitely transcends his anger in punishing the sinful (Shemot 20:6; Devarim 7:9). Zechut Avot has also been interpreted to imply that a person is best able to advance on the road to moral perfection if he starts with the accumulated spiritual heritage of righteous ancestors. The earliest use of the phrase zechut avot is in the [...]
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Ask someone coming out of Synagogue on a Shabbat, “Do you believe in God?” and the worshipper is shocked. “What type of question is that? Of course I do!” Then ask him, “Do you consider yourself religious?” and you’ll hear “Certainly. That’s why I’m here!” This is normal. These conve ...
Weekly Sidra: Ki Tavo (When you come) Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 60:1-60:22 The month of Elul is a time for reflection. As the last month of the year we look back on our lives. We seek to repent of any actions we have done and continue to draw near to HaShem by reading His ...
Armilus / Anti-Messiah? – ארמלגוס "Rab said: All the predestined dates [for redemption] have passed (according to Daniel 9:26 Mashiach was to come before the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash / Temple), and the matter [now] depends only on repentance and good deeds. But Sh’muel maintained: ...
Mevaser is the Hebrew word for Proclaimer. We can find such word for example in Yeshayahu 52:7, which states: “Mah navu al heharim raglei mevaser Mashmi’a shalom mevaser tov, mashmi’a yeshu’ah, omer leTzion malach Elokoyich.” “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings that ann ...
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Habakkuk 2:3) What is meant by ‘but at the end it shall speak and not lie?’— R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in the name of R. Jonathan: Blasted be the bones o ...
Weekly Sidra: Yitro (Jetro) Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 18:1-20:23 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 6:1-6:13 (Sephardim) But when Moshe’s (Moses) father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning unt ...
Warning!! Blessings and Curses Ahead – The Road signs of Life 26 See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: 27 blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you this day; 28 and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day ...
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