Assorted Thoughts

I am grateful to G-d for life and, please G-d, health.

There's a statement that daybreak does not start and night does not end until you can recognize your the face of another person (someone you don't know that well, according to Tosafot).  Technically this is a matter of logistics; this marks the starting time for saying Shemah in the morning.  Homeletically, it's telling us that what brings light into the world, what makes for a new day, is when we truly recognize and dignify each other. And then we are able to accept G-d into our lives.

In Chumash we're learning about the 10 tests of Avraham and had a good talk about it today.  Someone asked why it has to be 10- based on the fact that 3 major Rishonim debate what the 10 are from 14 major events in Avraham's life, why not just say it was all 14. Once the mishnah in Avot says that there were 10 it's accepted and then the question becomes which ten.  It reminds me of the 613 mitzvot and how once it was stated by a reputable source that there are 613 it was accepted and then the Rishonim put forth their opinions of what the 613 are.

Today marked my first day back at work after a week out due to flu/bronchitis.  I am grateful to G-d for the teaching work I have done for these past 25 years plus, and particularly for these 19 in the same place.  It is hard work and also a labor of love.  May G-d bless me to teach and connect and assist and guide more and more.

I'll take wisdom where I find it.  Recently on Chopped a judge advised a contestant about how important it is to deal with the stresses of being a chef and that he needed to do that lest he come to hate the thing he loves.

I'm surprised myself that I've been writing here for ten years.

One source in Chazal says that as soon as Yaakov died the shibud - subjugation of Egypt started.  Another source says it didn't start until all the brothers passed away.  The answer of the Darchei Noam is that spiritually the downfall started when Yaakov died, physically it didn't/couldn't go into effect till all the brothers dies.

That brings to mind something the Nesivos Shalom (the father of the Darchei Noam) says regarding Chanukah: The true intent of the Yevanim was to destroy us physically but they knew they could only accomplish that by putting out our light.  Thus the miracle of the oil represents that spiritual/light salvation, which enabled us to physically be saved and to win the war.

Maybe a gut feeling is a collection of wisdom gathered - NPR.

Also from NPR, a story about Harrah's cards- how through the card you sign up for they keep track of how much you gamble, what you play, when you win or lose, at what point you quit, etc.

I'm ending this at the time that will be posted though it was started quite a while ago.

Good night and may G-d Bless.