Reverence and Love for God: From Judaism – The Talmud, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with selections from Chapter 2 of the book “Hebraic Literature: Translations from the Talmud, Midrash and Kabbala,” by Maurice H. Harris, which presents excerpts from the Talmud that focus on the duality of this world and the benefits of being silent.

On the virtues of silence

“P’sachim 98b

If silence be good for wise men, how much better must it be for fools!

Avoth Chapter 1

Simeon, the son of Gamliel, said, ‘I have been brought up all my life among the wise, and I have never found anything of more material benefit than silence.’ Rabbi Akiva said, ‘Laughter and levity lead a man to lewdness; but tradition is a fence to the law, tithes are a fence to riches, vows are a fence to abstinence, while the fence of wisdom is silence.’” […]

Avodah Zarah 17a-17b

“Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Yonathan traveled one day together; they came to two roads, one of which led by the door of a place devoted to the worship of idols, and the other by a place of ill fame. Upon which one said to the other, ‘Let us go by the former, because our inclination to the evil that waylays us there is already extinguished.’ ‘Nay, rather,’ said the other, ‘let us go by the latter, and curb our desires; so shall we receive a reward in recompense.’ In this resolution they went on, and as they passed the place, the women humbled themselves before them and withdrew ashamed into their chambers. Then Yochanan asked the other, ‘How did thou know that this would occur to us?’ He made answer, ‘From what is written, “Discretion (in the law) shall preserve thee.”’”

Berachoth 6a

“Where are we told that when two sit together and study the law, the Shechinah is with them? […] It is written, ‘They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it.’”

Berachoth 118b

“If Israel kept only two Sabbaths, according to the strict requirement of the law, they would be freed at once from their compelled dispersion; for it is written, ‘Thus said the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, Even them will I bring to my holy mountain.’”

Gittin 7a

“He who sets aside a portion of his wealth for the relief of the poor will be delivered from the judgment of hell. Of this, the parable of the two sheep that attempted to ford a river is an illustration; one was shorn of its wool and the other not; the former, therefore, managed to get over, but the latter, being heavy-laden, sank.”