Dreaming of Moshiach

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Words of Wisdom

ON THE DIVINE LAW:
"A man ought always to occupy himself in the words of the Law, and in the commandments, even if it were not for their own sake. For at length, he will do it for their own sake."
לעולם יעסוק אדם בתורה ובמצות אפילו שלא לשמה. שמתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה.

"The Divine Law, the land of Israel and the world to come are all acquired through afflictions."
התורה וארץ ישראל והעולם הבא נקנין ביסורין.

"The Sword and the Book [of the Law] both came down into the world wrapped up."
(i.e., if one occupies himself in the one, he is delivered from the other.)
הסייף והספר ירדו כרוכים לעולם.

"There is no Scripture which is meant to be taken outside of its plain and ordinary sense."
אין מקרא יוצא מידי פשוטו.
(שבת ס"ג, א')

"From the poor shall go forth the Law (Torah)."
מעניים תצא תורה.

"The commandments were not given for any personal satisfaction."
מצות לאו ליהנות ניתנו.

"The Divine Law (Torah) speaks in the language readily understood by men."
דברה תורה בלשון בני אדם.

"Good manners came before the giving of the Law."
דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה.
(ויקרא רבה ט:ג')

"The Divine Law (Torah) was not given to a school of ministering angels."
(Meaning, although man is prone to many evil inclinations, it was to him that the instruction of the Law was committed.)
התורה לא ניתנה למלאכי השרת.
(קידושין נ"ד, א')

"The [Divine] Law has made a fence about itself, in order to ensure its own keeping."
עשתה תורה סייג לדבריה.

"He who would add to the instrument, actually subtracts from it!"
(Eve did not fall until she added to the words of G-d.)
כל המוסיף גורע.
(סנהדרין כ"ט, א')

"The commandments were not given [unto man], save for this one purpose: that the creations might become integrated thereby."
לא ניתנו מצות אלא לצרף בהן את הבריות.
(בראשית רבה מ"ד, א')

"The letters maketh wise."
אותיות מחכימות.

"The wage for learning an array of oral teachings is the development of one's reasoning faculties."
אַגרא דשמעתא סברא.
(ברכות ו' ב')

ON GENTILES:
"If any man says to you, ' There is worldly wisdom to be found among the gentiles,' believe him. But if he says to you, ' The Divine Law (Torah) is to be found among the gentiles,' do not believe him."
חכמה בגוים תאמין. תורה בגוים אל תאמין.

"It is a law irrevocable that Esau hates Jacob."
הלכה. עשו שונא ליעקב.

ON MERIT & PUNISHMENT:
"He (G-d) shows favour at the hand of clean-souled men, yet adversely meets out punishment at the hand of those who are deserving of punishment themselves."
מגלגלין זכות על ידי זכאי וחובה על ידי חייב.

"You can confer a meritous deed upon any man in his absence, but you cannot confer liability upon another except in his presence"
זכין לאדם שלא בפניו ואין חבין לו אלא בפניו.
(גיטין י"א, ב')

ON MAN'S NATURE:
"A man is motivated by his own interests, and no man incriminates himself."
אדם קרוב אצל עצמו. ואין אדם משים עצמו רשע.
(סנהדרין כ"ה, א')

"No man sees his own disabilities."
אין אדם רואה נגעי עצמו.
(תלמוד)

"Man is prone to accidents."
אדם מועד לעולם.

ON THE MOCKERY OF WINE:
"When wine comes in, the secret goes out."
נכנס יין יצא סוד.
(סנהדרין ל"ח, א')

ON SILENCE:
"If a word is worth a stater, silence is worth two."
מלה בסלע משתוקא בתרין.
(מגילה י"ח, א')

"A hedge about one's wisdom is his silence."
סייג לחכמה שתיקה.

ON FRIENDSHIP:
"Give me companionship, or give me death."
או חברותא או מיתותא.
(תענית כ"ג, א')

"Words which come forth from the heart enter into the heart."
דברים שיוצאין מן הלב נכנסין ללב.

ON GRATITUDE:
"The well from which thou hast drunk water, do not cast a stone into it!"
באר ששתית ממנו מים אל תשליך בו אבן.

ON G-D'S PROVIDENCE:
"There is no kingdom which can lord itself over another [kingdom], even if it were but the space of a hair's breadth [in time]."
אין מלכות נוגעת בחבירתה אפילו כמלוא נימא.
(יומא ל"ח, ב' וברכות מ"ח, ב')

"Anyone who has bread in his basket and asks, 'what shall I eat to-morrow,' belongs to those of little faith."
כל מי שיש לו פת בסלו ואומר מה אוכל למחר אינו אלא מקטני אֱמנה. (סוטה מ"ח, ב')

"Every delay is for the best."
כל עכבה לטובה.

"All which G-d does, He does for good."
כל דעביד רחמנא לטב עביד.

"A bird without heaven's consent cannot perish. How much more, then, man himself!"
ציפור מבלעדי שמיא לא יבדא. כל שכן בר נשא.
(אסתר רבה ג:ז')

"No man can touch a thing which has been designated for another."
אין אדם נוגע במה שמוכן לחבירו.
(ברכות מ"ח, ב')

ON THE DIVINE PRESENCE:
"Wheresoever there are ten [Jewish male] persons [gathered together to form a quorum], the Divine Presence is amongst them."
כל בי עשרה שכינתא שריא.

ON ONE'S ASSOCIATION:
"It was not in vain that the starling went off with the raven. Rather, it goes to show that he's one of its kind!"
לא לחנם הלך זרזיר אצל עורב, אלא מפני שהוא מינו.
(בבא קמא צ"ב, ב')

"It is not the business of a sane person to go off walking with a mad man."
לית עסקיה דערים מהליך עם שטיי.
(מדרש הגדול, במדבר, פרה אדומה, 20 : 12)

"Flock of a feather stick together, and the son of man with his own kind."
כל עוף למינו ישכן, ובן אדם לדומה לו.
(תנא דבי אליהו י"ב, א')

ON G-D'S MERCY:
He who is banished [from men] is not an outcast from Him."
לא ידח ממנו נדח.
(עיין בשמואל ב' פרק י"ד)

"G-d exempts the man who is constrained."
אנוס רחמנא פטריה.
(בבא קמא כ"ח, ב')

ON HYPOCRISY:
"Be not afraid of the Pharisees… but rather [fear] the hypocrites who make themselves like the Pharisees; whose works are as the work of Zimri, yet do they seek the wage of Pinheas!"
אל תתיראי מן הפרושין... אלא מן הצבועין שדומין לפרושין, שמעשיהן כמעשה זמרי, ומבקשין שכר כפינחס!
(סוטה כ"ב, ב')

ON IGNORANCE:
"Israel, leave them alone! For it is better that they be found acting in error, rather than acting wantonly."
(i.e., sometimes it is better not to tell a man his faults, but rather, let the man remain in his own ignorance, even while he thinks that he is in the right. For if he knows that what he does is wrong, he may decide to willfully persist in that wrong, making him all the more guilty of wanton sin.)
הנח להן לישראל. מוטב שיהו שוגגין ואל יהו מזידין.
(ביצה ט"ז, ב' ובבא בתרא ס', ב')

ON ENVY:
"Better a thousand deaths, and not a single case of envy!"
אלף מיתות ולא קנאה אחת.

"The camel went off to ask for himself a pair of horns, but lost his ears in the process."
אזל גמלא למיבעי קרני. אודנין די הוו ליה גזונהי מניה.
(סנהדרין ק"ו, א')

"The envy of school teachers proliferates wisdom."
(The sense here is to emulation amongst scholars.)
קנאת סופרים תרבה חכמה.

ON THE GOLDEN RULE:
"Whatsoever is hated by thee, refrain from doing the like of which to thy neighbor. This is the entire Law."
(Originally spoken by Hillel the Elder.)
דעלך סני לחברך לא תעביד. זו היא כל התורה כולה.
(שבת ל"א, א')

ON PRIDE & HUMILITY:
" My exaltation is my humiliation. My humiliation is my exaltation."
הגבהתי היא השפלתי. השפלתי היא הגבהתי.
(ויקרא רבה א, ה')

"Pride is not comely unto women."
לא יאה יהירותא לנשי.
(מגילה י"ד, ב')

ON MEEKNESS:
"What wisdom has done by making a crown for one's head, so too has meekness made a heel for one's sole."
מה שעשתה חכמה עטרה לראשה, עשתה ענוה עקב לסולייתה.
(ירושלמי שבת פרק א' משנה ג')


ON TEMPTATION:
"The greater the man, the greater his [evil] inclinations."
כל הגדול מחבירו יצרו גדול הימנו.

"The heart and the eye are two abettors to the crime."
לב ועין שני סרסורין לעבירה.
(זוהר הקדוש, חלק ב', קט"ז,ב')

ON FORNICATION:
"No man is an innocent by-stander when it comes to lechery."
אין אפוטרפוס לעריות.

"Zealots come and avenge themselves of that man who lives promiscuously with a gentile lassie!"
הבועל ארמית קנאין פוגעין בו.

"Jesting and levity make a man accustomed to sinful license."
שחוק וקלות ראש מרגלין לערוה

"The only reason Israel declared themselves atheists was to ease the effect on their conscience when openly pursuing after ungodly and worldly lusts."
לא כפו ישראל באביהם שבשמים אלא להתיר להם עריות בפרהסיא.
(רבי עקיבא)

ON WITNESSES:
"A single witness is esteemed faithful when it comes to avouching a thing to be prohibited."
עד אחד נאמן באיסורים.

ON RESTRAINT:
"Who is the valiant man? He who controls his passions."
איזהו גיבור. הכובש את יצרו.

"A man runs into folly who loves too heartily."
(It could not have been put better than this, in the words of Shakespeare. Yet, even Shakespeare's words were preceded by those of Israel's Sages, "Unrestrained love corrupts one's sense of good judgment.")
האהבה מקלקלת את השורה.
(בראשית רבה נ"ח: ח')

ON JUDGES & COURTS OF LAW:
"A judge has naught on which to base his judgment, except that which has been laid before his eyes."
(Meaning, even if a judge renders an improper verdict, one has only the proceedings to blame.)
אין לדיין אלא מה שעיניו רואות.
(סנהדרין ו', ב')

"A Court's decision* will pierce the mountain!"
(lit. "the verdict," or "judgment," or "sentence.")
יקוב הדין את ההר.

"If you've seen a generation where many a misery comes upon it, go out and check the judges of Israel!"
אם ראית דור שצרות רבות באות עליו צא ובדוק בדייני ישראל.
(שבת קל"ט, א')

"He who is tacit to the charges laid against him, admits to those charges laid against him."
שתיקא כהודאה.

"Judgment delayed is judgment lost."
(Literally, "Judgment which has spent the night, etc." i.e., sometimes when judgment is delayed, it loses its effectiveness.)
בת דינא, בטל דינא.
(סנהדרין צ"ה, א')

"What a Court rules as confiscated, forthwith becomes derelict property."
הפקר בית דין הפקר.
(גיטין ל"ו, ב' ויבמות פ"ט, ב')

ON GOVERNMENTS:
"The law of a Government is the law of the land."
(Meaning, it is sanctioned in Heaven.)
דינא דמלכותא דינא.
(גיטין י', ב' ובבא בתרא קי"ג, ב')

"He who rebels against the king, signs his own death warrant."
המורד במלכות חייב מיתה.

"If you have not seen for yourselves the lion, then come! Observe the place where he coucheth! If you have not yet seen King Solomon, then come! Observe the face of a good man who standeth before him!"
(By tradition, this ancient proverb was first spoken by the Queen of Sheba to her entourage, when she mistook Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, for being King Solomon. Morale: If you want to know the greatness of a king, observe the caliber of men who serve him.)
אם לא ראיתם את הארי, בואו וראו את רבצו. אם לא ראיתם את מלך שלמה בואו וראו את האיש הטוב העומד לפניו.
(מגילת אסתר, תרגום שני)

ON DEATH:
"A man has naught in this world, save four cubits."
(i.e., the grave)
אינש לית ליה בהדין עלמא אלא ד' גרמידי.

"The feet of man are surety for him."
(i.e., if it has been decreed in Heaven that a man must die at a certain place, his feet will see to it that he gets there.)
רגלים של אדם ערבים לו.

"A man's son is as an extension of his father." (Meaning, when a man dies, his son continues in his place, whereby his loss is not felt so strongly.)
ברא כרעא לאבוה.

"A man does not die with the half of his ambitions fulfilled."
אין אדם מת וחצי תאותו בידו.

"Alas! Over those who are lost and are no longer to be found with us!"
חבל על דאבדין ולא משתכחין.
(שמות רבה ו')

ON SUBORDINATION:
"Even a fox, if it is his hour, bow down before him!"
תעלא בעידניה סגיד ליה.
(מגילה ט"ז, ב')

ON AARON'S PROGENY:
"The priests of Aaron's lineage are highly motivated."
כהנים זריזין הן.

ON LOGIC:
"When confronted with two possible scenarios, choose the more likely of the two." (The Hebrew verse has a dual connotation, and can also mean: "Never take on more than what you can handle.")
תפסת מרובה, לא תפסת. תפסת מועט, תפסת.

"One does not learn from two Scriptures when the end result comes to serve the very same function."
(Rather, each Scripture has its own special lesson to impart.)
שני כתובים הבאים כאחד אין מלמדין.
(חולין ס"א, א'-ב')

ON CHARITY (ALMSGIVING):
"[If it's meat that needs preserving], then salt it! If it's money [that needs preserving], then stand in want of it! (Meaning, the way to ensure that riches remain is to give out charity with that money.)
מלח. ממון, חסר.
(אבות דרבי נתן י"ז: ד')

"More than what the Good Man of the house does for the poor, the poor man does for the Good Man of the house." (Meaning, the poor man was the cause by which the rich man, who gave to him alms, was made the more happier.)
יותר ממה שבעל הבית עושה עם העני העני עושה עם בעל הבית.

ON JUDGING OTHERS:
"Anyone who disqualifies another, does so in the very malady with which he, himself, is plagued!"
כל הפוסל, במומו הוא פוסל.

"That same standard which a man uses for others, it shall be used for himself as well."
במדה שאדם מודד בה מודדין לו.
(שמות רבה כ"ה: ט' ומגילה י"ב, ב')

"Give to every man the benefit of the doubt."
הוי דן את כל האדם לכף זכות.
(משנה, פרקי אבות)

ON MONEY & LOANS:
"A loan is given with the intent of it being expendable."
(Meaning, the creditor does not expect to receive as reimbursement for a loan those very same coins which he lent out in specie. Rather, he expects their worth in different coins. This rule comes as a contrast to an object which has been committed unto the care and safekeeping of another. In this case, the very same object must be returned.)
מלוה להוצאה נתנה.

"He who loves money will never be satisfied with money."
אוהב כסף לא ישבע כסף.

ON THE FEAR OF G-D:
"G-d did not make the lightning, nor the distant peals of thunder, except to straighten withal the crookedness in man's heart."
לא נבראו רעמים אלא לפשוט עקממיות שבלב.
(תלמוד, ברכות נ"ט, א')

"All is given into the hands of heaven, except one's fear of
heaven."
הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים.
(נדה ט"ז, ב' וברכות ל"ג, ב')

"Woe unto me because of my natural inclinations! Woe unto me because of my Creator!" (This verse rhymes in Hebrew.)
אוי לי מיצרי. אוי לי מיוצרי.

"There are three persons from whom the curtain is not sealed-off: [He that suffers] oppression; [he that incurs a loss because of] theft; [and he that worships] idolatry."
(Meaning, G-d is quick to intervene for these three, but in the latter case, he punishes that man.)
שלשה אין הפרגוד ננעל בפניהם: אונאה וגזל ועבודה זרה.
(בבא מציעא נ"ט, א')

ON PRE-DETERMINATION:
"All things are foreseen [by G-d], yet the choice is given [unto man], and the world is judged by [its] good."
הכל צפוי והרשות נתונה ובטוב העולם נדון.
(פרקי אבות)

ON THE SAVING OF LIFE:
"The saving of life takes precedence over the Sabbath day."
פיקוח נפש דוחה שבת.

"Anyone who sustains one life is as though he sustained the world entire!"
כל המקיים נפש אחת כאילו קיים עולם מלא.

"No man who is impounded can set himself free."
אין חבוש מתיר עצמו מבית האסורים.

ON SUFFERING (TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS):
"Not every man is privileged to eat from two tables."
(i.e., to enjoy the good, both in this world and in the world to come. Usually, one comes at the expense of the other.)
לא כל אדם זוכה לשתי שלחנות.

"No man is so vexed beyond his measure, such as which he is not naturally able to withstand."
(By way of inference. For had they beaten Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, they would have bowed down to Nebuchadnezzar's image.)
אין מביאין נסיון לאדם אלא אם כן יכול לעמוד בו.
(כתובות ל"ג, ב'– עפ"י המסקנא שם)

"The duress of the present hour, precludes any other considerations about tomorrow."
(By tradition, this statement was first said by Moses at the burning bush, when G-d pleaded with Moses about his going back into Egypt. G-d foretold, at that time, Israel's future servitude and bondage in other lands, to which came this reply. Literally: "It is enough [for us to cope with] the troubles [we have] at this time.")
דיה לצערה בשעתה.
(ברכות ט', ב')

"There is no affliction without iniquity."
אין יסורין בלא עוון.

"No man can hurt his finger in this terrestrial world lest it were first decreed upon him in the celestial world."
אין אדם נוקף אצבעו מלמטה אלא אם כן מכריזין עליו מלמעלה.
(חולין ז', ב')

"He who resists the evil, the evil resists him."
(lit. "the hour [of evil]" )
כל הדוחק את השעה שעה דוחקתו.

ON STUDY:
"More than what a disciple desires to learn, his teacher desires to instruct."
(lit. "More than what a calf desires to suck, the cow desires to give suck." )
יותר ממה שהעגל רוצה לינוק פרה רוצה להניק.

"But for the warm breath generated by small children learning in the house of their Schoolmaster, the world could not exist."
אין העולם מתקיים אלא בשביל הבל תינוקות של בית רבן.
(שבת קי"ט, ב')

ON THIEVERY:
"Thefts rail against the man above all other things."
גזל מקטרג בראש.

ON WOMEN:
"It suffices us that they raise our children, and that they save us from sin."
(On the virtue of women.)
דיינו שמגדלות בנינו ומצילות אותנו מן החטא.
(יבמות ס"ג, א'-ב')

"Go down one step and take a wife. Go up one step and choose a best-man."
נחית דרגא נסיב איתתא. סק דרגא בחר שושבינא.

"No man finds contentment except through his first wife."
אין אדם מוצא קורת רוח אלא מאשתו הראשונה.

"A woman's voice is tantamount to her nakedness."
(This refers to the man who, while reciting Qiryath Shema, willfully and attentively listens to a woman whom he knows while she is singing.)
קול באשה ערוה.
(ברכות כ"ג, עמ' ב' / קידושין ע' עמ' א')

"According to a man's works is he matched with a woman."
אין מזווגין לו לאדם אשה אלא לפי מעשיו.
(סוטה ב', א' )

"He whose business is with women, let him not be left alone with them!"
כל מי שעסקו עם נשים לא יתיחד עם הנשים.

"He who marries a woman should first check her brothers."
(This is because a man's sons usually take after their maternal uncles.)
הנושא אשה צריך שיבדוק באחיה.
(בבא בתרא ק"י, א')

"The woman is stingy towards the guests, moreso than the man."
האשה צרה עיניה באורחים יותר מן האיש.
(בבא מציעא פ"ז, א')


"Even though she painted not her eyes with stibium, nor painted her cheeks with rouge, neither braided her hair, she is still a damsel of exceptional beauty!"
לָא כְּחַל וְלָא שְׁרַק וְלָא פִירכּוּס וְיַעֲלַת חֵן
(כתובות י"ז, א')

ON FORGIVENESS:
"Those who pass over insult are those who are to be forgiven."
כל המעביר על מדותיו מעבירין לו על כל פשעיו.
(יומא כ"ג, א' וראש השנה י"ז, א')

ON LEARNING BY EXAMPLE:
"One does not learn by way of example from a callow fellow."
לית ילפין עובדא מבר נש זעיר.

"[Any] deed wrought by the forefathers is an example unto [their] sons."
מעשה אבות סימן לבנים.

"An [elder] daughter is an example to a [man's] sons."
בת סימן לבנים.

"A little light repels much darkness"
קצת מן האור דוחה הרבה מן החושך.

ON DREAMS:
"A dream that goes without interpreting, is as a letter that goes without reading."
חלמא דלא מפשר כאגרתא דלא מקריא.

ON ANXIETY:
"Do not worry about tomorrow, for thou knowest not what the day will bring forth."
(Originally spoken by Ben-Sira)
אל תצר צרת מחר. כי לא תדע מה ילד יום.
(יבמות ס"ג, ב')

ON DANGER:
"Satan does not rail at a man except in his hour of danger."
(i.e., a man should never put himself in a position of danger, for by doing so, his works – whether good or bad -come before G-d, to call him in remembrance before G-d.)
אין השטן מקטרג אלא בשעת הסכנה.
(בראשית רבה צ"א: י')

"To endanger one's self is worse than to transgress a prohibitive command."
חמירא סכנתא מאיסורא.

ON PRAYER:
"Even if a sharp sword were laid to the neck of man, let him not cease from praying!"
אפילו חרב חדה מונחת על צוארו של אדם אל ימנע עצמו מן הרחמים.
(ברכות י', א')

ON PRAGMATICS:
"Sell what thou hast to sell, yet whilst the dust of that transaction still clingeth upon thy feet, go and invest the revenue in other stock!"
(This was Rab's advice to his son, Aybu.)
אדחלא אכרעיך זבינך זבין.

"While the dates are still in the borders of your skirt, run off with them to the distillery!" (Meaning, before you waste what you have, convert it into something more productive. In the levant, men would make liquor from dates.)
תמרי בחלוזך, לבי סודנא רהוט!

"Receive the payment. Deliver the goods!"
(i.e., do not sell on credit.)
שרי כיסיך. פתח שקיך.

ON WISEMEN:
"He who is savant sees what is coming."
חכם רואה את הנולד.

"He is wise who learns from all men."
איזהו חכם. הלומד מכל אדם.
(משנה, פרקי אבות ד', א')

"A word* to the wise is enough."
(*lit. "an intimation")
די לחכימא ברמיזא.

"We give audience to the words of wise men when they are spoken in quiet repose."
(Meaning, the words of loud and boisterous men are not heard.)
דברי חכמים בנחת נשמעים.

ON GOOD MANNERS:
"Never enter your house on a sudden! How much more, your neighbor's house!"
אל תיכנס לביתך פתאום. כל שכן לבית חבריך.

ON CONTENTMENT:
"He is rich who is content with his portion."
איזהו עשיר. השמח בחלקו.

ON RABBINIC ENACTMENTS:
"Even though the occasion no longer presents itself, or has long since been cancelled, the Rabbinic enactment which followed in suit has not been cancelled."
אף על פי שהטעם בטל, אין הגזירה בטלה.

"Anything which the Rabbis have enacted carries with it the full validity and force of the Law."
כל דתקון רבנן כעין דאורייתא תקון.
(פסחים ל', ב')

"The mouth that made a thing prohibited is the same mouth that made it permitted."
(This dictum may also apply to the things G-d prohibits, on the one hand, yet permits on the other, though they might seem contradictory to man.)
הפה שאסר הוא הפה שהתיר.
(כתובות כ"ב, א')

"They cannot make a public enactment unless the majority of the public is able to bear it."
אין גוזרין גזירה על הצבור אלא אם כן רוב צבור יכולין לעמוד בה.
(בבא בתרא ס', ב')

ON REWARDS:
"There is no wage in this world for doing good deeds."
שכר למצות בעולם זה ליכא.

ON TRUST & FAITH:
"Anyone who has bread in his basket and asks 'what shall I eat, tomorrow,' belongs to the faithless."
כל מי שיש לו פת בסלו ואומר מה אוכל למחר אינו אלא מקטני אֱמָנה.

ON YOUTH:
"Youth is a crown of roses. Old-age is a crown of reeds."
התשחורת כתר של שושנים. הסיבה כתר של חילף.
(אבן-עזרא)

ON EMISSARIES:
"A man's emissary is as himself."
שלוחו של אדם כמותו.

"There is no emissary in an act of transgression."
(i.e., if a man was sent to kill another man, he who does the killing will actually be the one to blame.)
אין שליח לדבר עבירה.

ON ANIMALS:
"The suffering of animals is a thing prohibited in the Law."
צער בעלי חיים דאורייתא.
(שבת קכ"ח, ב')

ON REWARDS:
"As is the trouble taken to procure a thing, so is the greatness of its reward!"
לפום צערא אגרא.
(משנה, פרקי אבות ה', כ"ז)

ON THOUGHTS:
"Sinful fancies* are more injurious to health than the sin itself."
(* lit. "impure thoughts)
הרהורי עבירה קשים מן העבירה.
(יומא כ"ט, א')

"No man speaks except that which is in his heart."
אין אדם מדבר אלא מתוך הרהורי לבו.

"The thought is as the deed itself.*"
מחשבה כמעשה
(*This is only by way of an exegesis on Deut.7:25. The verse says here that one must not covet, which everyone knows is a thing involving one's own thoughts. However, the same verse goes on to say that by coveting, G-d imputes upon the man that he had already taken it, as it says "…so that thou take it unto thee." So far the exegesis. In reality, however, no Jew is ever held accountable for his bad thoughts until he actually performs those thoughts.)

ON SIN:
"He who causes another to sin is worse than he who kills him."
גדול המחטיאו יותר מן ההורגו.

"There is no righteous man upon earth, who will do good and not sin."
אין אדם צדיק בארץ אשר יעשה טוב ולא יחטא.
(שלמה המלך)

"Saul fell once, and he was dismissed. David twice, yet he stayed on."
שאול באחת ועלתה לו. דוד בשתים ולא עלתה לו.
(יומא כ"ב, עמ' ב')

ON EQUITY:
"If over the things which concern himself he is not faithful, how then can he be faithful over what concerns others?"
על עצמו אינו נאמן. כיצד יהא נאמן על של אחרים.
(משנה)

"As is the claim for a hundred [pennyweight], so is the claim for a penny."
(Meaning, one must be faithful and honest even in the least amount.)
דין פרוטה כדין מאה.

ON WRATH:
"The angry man is controlled by many and variegated manifestations of hell."
כל הכועס כל מיני גיהנם שולטין בו.

"A man is known by his purse, by his drinking* and by his anger."
(* lit., "by his cup.")
The three things here named have all similar sounds in Hebrew.
אדם ניכר בכיסו בכוסו ובכעסו.

ON SATAN:
"Don't open your mouth to Satan!"
(A warning about casually speaking a thing against oneself or others, and thereby giving Satan the forethought of doing the thing which was spoken.)
אל תפתח פיך לשטן.

ON EXILE:
"Exile atones for all things."
גלות מכפרת על הכל.
(סנהדרין ל"ז, ב')

ON THE MESSIAH:
"The son of David shall not come until money has vanished from the purse." (Meaning, until poverty prevails.)
אין בן-דוד בא עד שתכלה פרוטה מן הכיס.

ON SINCERITY:
"G-d desires your heart."
רחמנא לבא בעי.
(סנהדרין ק"ו, ב')

ON BLESSINGS:
"Let not the blessing of a commoner be esteemed a light thing in thy sight."
אל תהי ברכת הדיוט קלה בעיניך.

ON THE SABBATH:
"He who busies himself with Sabbath preparations has that which to eat on the Sabbath."
(This parable was meant to be understood in regard to one's preparing himself for the world to come.)
מי שטרח בערב שבת יאכל בשבת.

"Better to make yourself a simple Sabbath meal, and not put yourself in need of others."
עשה שבתך חול ואל תצטרך לבריות.

"Only that labour which comes with pre-meditated thought has the Law (Torah) prohibited."
(Meaning, for example, if a Jew leaned against the wall in the dark and inadvertently rubbed against the light switch, turning it on, he is exempt from all punishment. But if he had forgotten that the day was a Sabbath and he turned on the light switch, he is culpable thereby, and must bring a sin-offering.)
מלאכת מחשבת אסרה התורה.

ON POVERTY:
"There is no man who does not at some time come to this extreme measure. If not him, then it is his son. And if it's not his son, then it is his son's son."
אין לך אדם שאינו בא לידי מדה זו. אם לא הוא, בנו. אם לא בנו, בן בנו.
(בר קפרא)

"A trifling amount hardly satisfies the lion, neither does a cistern fill up by the oozing of its bank."
(Said to King David as parable about the poor of Israel, and how they were incapable of making a living one from the other. Rather, they were admonished by King David to go out and wage war upon their enemies, and to take from them spoils for their own needs and sustenance. The second clause of this parable follows the explanation given by the Geonim, rather than by Rashi. For a cistern can only be filled up by channeling water into it from a duct or sluice brought from afar.)
אין הקומץ משביע את הארי ואין הבור מתמלא מחוליתו.
(ברכות ג' עמ' ב')

ON WEALTH:
"A man is not always privileged to eat from two tables."
(Said with regard to the spiritual wealth gained at one's acquisition of the Torah, as opposed to the physical wealth to be had in this world. Usually, the one comes at the expense of the other, and it is very rare that both are found together.)
לא תמיד זוכה אדם לשתי שולחנות.


ON ISRAEL:
"All [of the people] of Israel are inextricably bound* together."
(*lit. "are surety one for another")
כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה.
(לקוח מסנהדרין מ"ג, ב')

"The people of Israel are bashful, compassionate and benevolent."
עם ישראל ביישנים, רחמנים וגומלי חסדים.

"Though he may have sinned, he is still an Israelite!"
אע"פ שחטא, ישראל הוא.
(סנהדרין מ"ד, א')

"The native-born Jew, [always] upon the earth; a proselyte, in the heavens of heavens!"
(Meaning, things are not always what they should be. This proverb was said with regard to the respect G-d gives to him who has joined the religion, when it would seem that a native-born Jew should be all the more honoured by G-d.)
יציבא בארעא וגיורא בשמי שמיא.
(תלמוד ירושלמי)

"G-d did not disperse Israel amongst the nations, except that proselytes might join themselves to them."

ON ESTEEM:
"A name made is a name lost."
(Meaning, he who seeks his own self-aggrandizement will in the end be held in bad report, either on account of envy from others, or simply because of his being over-concerned with public affairs, which usually hastens the end of that man.)
נגד שמא אבד שמיה.
(משנה, פרקי אבות א', י"ג ואבות דרבי נתן י"ב:י"ג)

ON BLESSINGS:
"Blessings are inherent to those things that are concealed from the eyes."
אין הברכה מצויה אלא במה שסמוי מן העין.

ON DISSENSION:
"It is not considered a brave act to refute the opinions of a lion once he is dead."
אין משיבין את הארי אחר מותו.
(אברהם אבן-עזרא, על קהלת ה', א')

ON CONTRITENESS:
"Be exceedingly lowly in spirit."
הוי מאד מאד שפל רוח.
(פרקי אבות)

ON JERUSALEM:
"The air of Jerusalem maketh wise."
(Meaning, her air is conducive to learning.)
אוירה של ירושלם מחכים.

MISCELLANEOUS:
"What use is a candle at mid-day?"
מאי רבותיה דשרגא בטיהרא.
(חולין ס', ב')

"The best of the physicians are destined for hell."
טוב שברופאים לגיהנם.
(יומא ל', א')

"Better a mere kab from the floor, than a kor from the rooftop."
(i.e., Kab and Kor were ancient Hebrew measures of capacity, a Kab being the smaller of the two. The meaning of the proverb is this: What is certain is certain.)
קבא מארעא ולא כורא מאגרא.

"Whatsoever a slave doth buy, it forthwith becomes the purchase of his Master."
מה שקנה עבד קנה רבו.
(פסחים פ"ח, ב')

"He who comes to kill you, rise up and kill him!"
הבא להורגך השכם להורגו.

"He who is currently engaged in one religious duty, is exempt from doing another."
העוסק במצוה פטור מן המצוה.

"The burden of proof rests on him who makes the exaction."
המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה.

"No prosecutor becomes an advocate."
(This maxim is especially used on the Jewish New Year's Day whereon, by tradition, Jewish women are not allowed to don their gold jewellery. Gold, "the prosecutor" in this case, is a thing which calls to remembrance the incident of the golden calf at Sinai, and accuses us before G-d. Therefore, on a day when we ought to be remembered for the good, we abstain for doing anything which will put us in ill-report with our G-d.)
אין קטיגור נעשה סניגור.
(ראש השנה כ"ו, א')

"They reckon the spoiling of a thing after him who was the first to be spoiled."
תולין את הקלקלה במקולקל.

"All beginnings are fraught with difficulties."
כל התחלות קשות.

"The action is preceded by the thought."
סוף מעשה במחשבה תחילה.

"If its time has passed, so too its sacrifice."
עבר זמנו, בטל קרבנו.

"More desirable [than prohibiting a thing], is the power it takes to render a thing permitted."
כח דהתירא עדיף.
(תלמוד)

"It is better to sit upon the dunghill of the city of Mahaseya, rather than in the courtyards of Pom Baditha!"
(For there were thieves living in Pom Baditha, who regularly took away the personal effects of all guests sleeping there.)
אקילקי דמתא מחסיא תיבו ולא אפדני דפומבדיתא.
(כריתות ו' עמ' א')

"The world is built on loving kindness."
עולם חסד יבנה

~Source: Global Yeshiva~

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והיה השם למלך על כל הארץ, ביום ההוא יהיה השם אחד - ושמו אחד ישתבח שמו לעד לנצח נצחים בכל העולמות Blessed is His name for eternity in all worlds אין עוד מלבדו