The Torah of Character: Parshat Vayakhel : Motivated action

Date

2024-03-07

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Yeshiva University

Abstract

Rabbi Aviad Tabory opens his excellent new book State of Halakha: Israel's History in Jewish Law (Maggid) with a discussion of the sanctity of Yom Ha'atzma'ut, Israel's Independence Day. In support of its holiness, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook, son of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first chief rabbi of Palestine, cites the Talmud that when a shepherd rescues one of his flock from the clutches of a lion or a bear, it is a miracle (BT Bava Metzia 106a). One can argue that the most basic responsibility of a shepherd is to protect his flock; the shepherd is just doing his job. What's the miracle here?

Commentators on the Talmud explain that although protection is a fundamental role of a shepherd, the decision to take on a ferocious animal expresses the "spirit of courage and willingness to fight." This decision is itself a miracle each and every time. (from Introduction)

Description

Weekly newsletter on the Bible portion

Keywords

Jewish values, Commitment to action, courage

Citation

Brown, E., & Schiffman, M. (2024, March 7). The Torah of Character: Parshat Vayakhel 5784: Motivated action. Introductory remarks by E. Brown.The Sacks-Herenstein Center, Yeshiva University. https://www.yu.edu/sacks-center