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Sifrei

On Numbers and Deuteronomy

The heart of Sifrei in about 1 minutes: 2 passages from 2 chapters, in its own words.

By
The schools of Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva
When
c. 3rd century
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In its own words

"ישא ה' פניו אליך". בשעה שאתה עומד ומתפלל, שנאמר (בראשית י"ט) ויאמר אליו הנה נשאתי פניך. והרי דברים קל וחומר, ומה אם ללוט נשאתי פנים בשביל אברהם אוהבי, לך לא אשא פנים מפניך ומפני אבותיך (וזה הוא שאמר הכתוב ישא ה' פניו אליך):

(Bamidbar 6:26) "The L-rd lift His countenance unto you": when you stand in prayer), as it is written (in respect to the prayers of Abraham, Bereshit 19:21): "Behold, I have lifted your countenance." Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If I have lifted the countenance for Lot for the sake of Abraham, My beloved, shall I not do so for you, and for the sake of your fathers!
Sifrei Bamidbar 42:1 · Sifrei by Rabbi Shraga SilversteinRead on

Every word below is the text itself, as written, with its translator named. Texts from Sefaria. Nothing is paraphrased.

Sifrei Devarim 49

  1. (דברים יא כב) לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו, אֵלּוּ הֵן דַּרְכֵי מָקוֹם? (שמות לד ו) ״ה׳ אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן״, וְאוֹמֵר (יואל ג ה): ״וְהָיָה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא בְּשֵׁם ה׳ יִמָּלֵט״. וְכִי הֵיאַךְ אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לָאָדָם לִקְרֹא בִּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם? אֶלָּא נִקְרָא הַמָּקוֹם רַחוּם – אַף אַתָּה הֱיֵה רַחוּם; הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִקְרָא חַנּוּן – אַף אַתָּה הֱיֵה חַנּוּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קמה ח): ״חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם ה׳״ וְגוֹ׳, וַעֲשֵׂה מַתְּנוֹת חִנָּם. נִקְרָא הַמָּקוֹם צַדִּיק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים יא ז): ״כִּי צַדִּיק ה׳ צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב״ – אַף אַתָּה הֱיֵה צַדִּיק. נִקְרָא הַמָּקוֹם חָסִיד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ג יב): ״כִּי חָסִיד אֲנִי נְאֻם ה׳״ – אַף אַתָּה הֱיֵה חָסִיד. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר (יואל ג ה): ״וְהָיָה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא בְּשֵׁם ה׳ יִמָּלֵט״, וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה מג ז): ״כֹּל הַנִּקְרָא בִשְׁמִי״ וְגוֹ׳; וְאוֹמֵר (משלי טז ד): ״כֹּל פָּעַל ה׳ לַמַּעֲנֵהוּ״.

    (Devarim 11:22) "to walk in His ways": Which are the ways of the Holy One Blessed be He? (Shemoth 34:6-7) "The L-rd, the L-rd, G-d of mercy and grace, slow to wrath and abundant in mercy and truth, keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving transgression, offense, and sin, and cleansing …" And it is written (Yoel 3:5) "All who will be called by the name of the L-rd will escape": Now how is it possible for a man to be called by the name of the Holy One Blessed be He? But, (the intent is) just as the L-rd is called "merciful and gracious," you, too, be merciful and gracious, and give gratuitously to all. Just as the Holy One Blessed be He is called "righteous," viz. (Psalms 145:17) "Righteous is the L-rd in all His ways and saintly in all His acts" — you, too, be righteous. Just as the Holy One Blessed be He is called "saintly," — you, too, be saintly. This is the intent of "All who will be called by the name of the L-rd will escape." And it is written (Isaiah 43:7) "… everyone that is called by My name. For My honor I have created him, and formed him, and fashioned him." And it is written (Proverbs 16:4) "The L-rd has created all for His sake." (Devarim, Ibid.)

    Sifrei Devarim 49:1 · Sifrei by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein

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Sifrei Bamidbar 42

  1. "ישא ה' פניו אליך". בשעה שאתה עומד ומתפלל, שנאמר (בראשית י"ט) ויאמר אליו הנה נשאתי פניך. והרי דברים קל וחומר, ומה אם ללוט נשאתי פנים בשביל אברהם אוהבי, לך לא אשא פנים מפניך ומפני אבותיך (וזה הוא שאמר הכתוב ישא ה' פניו אליך):

    (Bamidbar 6:26) "The L-rd lift His countenance unto you": when you stand in prayer), as it is written (in respect to the prayers of Abraham, Bereshit 19:21): "Behold, I have lifted your countenance." Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If I have lifted the countenance for Lot for the sake of Abraham, My beloved, shall I not do so for you, and for the sake of your fathers!

    Sifrei Bamidbar 42:1 · Sifrei by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein

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