Page 389 - MOADIM

The Torah instructs us to count seven weeks from Pesach, without
delineating that this counting concludes with Matan Torah. This indicates
that the days of Sefirah have intrinsic significance, apart from being days
of preparation for Matan Torah. They are days designated for correcting
our character.

The gematria of the phrase (a good heart) is forty-nine. Man’s
mission during the forty-nine days of Sefirah is to acquire “a good heart.”
This will enable him to attain all good character traits.

There are different opinions regarding whether Matan Torah was on the
sixth or the seventh of Sivan. Why, then, does everybody celebrate it on
the sixth? This teaches us to anticipate receiving the Torah and display
our eagerness over it by coming early to study Torah.

Rabbi Yochanan came to visit Rabbi Elazar, who was sick. As soon as
Rabbi Yochanan bared his arm, the entire room was suffused with light.
Rabbi Elazar bewailed the fact that such beauty would eventually rot in
the grave. Rabbi Yochanan brought merit to the entire world. He would
sit outside the mikveh so that the women emerging would see him and
give birth to righteous children. However, Rabbi Yochanan never took any
credit for his virtue.
The wicked Achav does not have a share in the World to Come. However,
because he allowed Ovadiah to support Torah Sages during a famine, half
of his sins were absolved. Good character traits are so powerful that they
can save even a rasha like Achav, who was an avowed idolater. 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Moadim-EYAL | 13 - A | 18-08-19 | 13:51:57 | SR:-- | Black 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Moadim-EYAL | 13 - A | 18-08-19 | 13:51:57 | SR:-- | Magenta 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Moadim-EYAL | 13 - A | 18-08-19 | 13:51:57 | SR:-- | Cyan #26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Moadim-EY

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