A Soulful Journey

"Great is the day of rain, as great as the day when heaven and earth were created." -Taanit 7b It is said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  Is this not also true for miracles?

At the beginning of Shabbat, Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa saw that his daughter was upset.   He asked her what was wrong and she answered that she accidently used vinegar instead of oil to light the Shabbat candles.    God, who told them should burn only oil, can also declare that vinegar can also burn.    As it turned out the candles miraculously burned until it was time for Havdalah.   – Taanit 25 a What might have happened did not.   W hat might have happened?   T he poor daughter could have been chastised, berated, made to feel small. Moral? It is easy to judge but better to forgive.

Two people came [to the marketplace]. [Eliyahu HaNavi] said to [Rabbi Broka]: Those people are destined for the World to Come. [Rabbi Broka] went to them and said: What is your profession? They said: we are comedians who entertain those who are sad. Ta’anit 22a

Talmud teaches us:  “Anyone who mourns for Jerusalem will merit the privilege of sharing in her joy, and any one who does not mourn for her will not merit that privilege.”   -Taanit 30b

We have been taught: “To love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart" (Deuteronomy 11:13). What service (Avodah) is that with the heart? It is prayer. - Ta’anit 2 a