The Orchard

It is human nature: people forced to uproot themselves painfully at a young age are able to retain flexible attitudes later in life, while those who remain in the same surroundings all their lives develop ossified attitudes and icy souls, and they hold the same opinions all their lives. Sometimes, they appear to have changed, but these are not real

“There is love that flows from obligation, and there is love that bursts forth on its own, from a heart full of longing and loss, like the love for God.”

History repeats itself. The deeds of the sages serve as signs for their students.

What can he say to him? That the Children of Israel grew weary of the Temple? That the God of Israel despised it? That the prophets of Israel opposed it ferociously? That the sages of Israel established the beit midrash in its place and will never give up the sublime study of Torah in exchange for the blood of slaughtered animals? That every time t

In our day, loyalty is not given to kin and to friends, as it is when things are right with the world, but rather to that elusive entity called “national unity.”

“Everything is foreseen, yet free will is given.

The Nasi of the Sanhedrin must by nature incline toward the middle path – neither overly sensitive nor heartless, neither arrogant nor self-deprecating, neither despotic nor soft, neither frail nor wild. He must possess only two qualities in an extreme form – wisdom and appeal.

The Pharisees are lenient with the Torah’s commandments through the oral law, but the Sadducees believe only in the written Torah. They regard the commandments of the Torah as permanent and unchanging injunctions that may not be eased.”

“You yourself are creating a new basis for loathing the nation of Israel. The gentiles will hate us.”