Truth
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and
understanding
Your Proverbs Navigator
1. How does one buy truth?
2. If one is not supposed to sell, from whom does one buy it?
Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 10a
Rabbi Hiyya Bar Rav from Difti taught them: "And the people stood
with Moshe from morning until
evening." (Exodus 18) Does it
make sense that Moshe judged the whole day? When did he learn his Torah?
Rather it comes to teach you that any judge who judges truthfully for
even an hour--the verse sees him as if he were a partner of the Holy One in
the creation of the world. Here it is written: "And the people stood
with Moshe from morning until evening." and there it is written:
"And there was morning and there was evening, one day."
Your Talmud Navigator
1. Is it in a judge's power to judge truthfully?
2. What does truth have to do with creation?
Values of Our Fathers
Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel said, "The world is sustained by three
things, by justice, by truth and by peace.
As it has been stated: Speak every man the truth to his neighbor; execute
the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. (Zechariah 8:16)
The Peace Chapter
Rav Muna said: These three things are actually one. When justice is
done, truth is served and peace is achieved, as it is written: "These
are the things that you shall do; Speak every man the truth to his
neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." (Zechariah 8:16)
Your Peace Chapter Navigator
1. How does Rav Muna understand the Mishnah in Values of
Our Fathers?
2. Do you agree with his formula?
Values of Our Fathers Chapter 5 Mishnah 7
[There are] seven things [characteristic] in someone unrefined and seven
in a wise person: a wise man speaks not before one who is greater than he
in wisdom, and does not interrupt his fellow; and is not hasty to answer;
he asks in accordance with the subject-matter, and he answers in accordance
with the accepted decision; and he speaks of the first [point] first, and
of the last [point] last; and concerning that which he has not heard, he
says: I have not heard; and he acknowledges the truth. The reverse
of these [qualities are characteristic] in an unrefined person.
Psalm 85
1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
2. (K) Lord, you have been favorable to your land; you have brought back
the captivity of Jacob.
3. You have forgiven the iniquity of your people, you have pardoned all
their sin. Selah.
4. You have withdrawn all your wrath; you have turned from the
fierceness of your anger.
5. Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cease your anger toward us.
6. Will you be angry with us for ever? Will you draw out your anger to
all generations?
7. Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
8. Show us your loving kindness, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
9. I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for he will speak peace to
his people, and to his pious ones; but let them not turn back to folly.
10. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him; that glory may
dwell in our land.
11. Loving kindness and truth meet; righteousness and peace kiss
(confront) each other.
12. Truth shall spring from the earth; and righteousness shall look
down from heaven.
13. Also, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall
yield her produce.
14. Righteousness shall go before him; and walk in the way of his steps.
Your Midrash Navigator
In the creation story it says when ELoHYM introduces the idea to
create man, the Torah states, "And ELoHYM said, Let Us make
ADaM in Our own image and Our own likeness." (Genesis 1:26) Note that the
Name of God ELoHYM is plural and that ELoHYM refers to Himself as
;"Us;" and ;"Our;" The following Midrash identifies who
God was talking to when God decided to create the first human.
Midrash Rabbah - Genesis 8:5
"Rabbi Simon said, "At the moment the Holy One chose to create
the first ADaM the ministering angels broke up into factions. Some of them
said, ;"Create him;" while others said, "Don't do it."
Thus it is written: "Lovingkindness and truth will meet, righteousness
and peace will kiss." (Psalms 85:11)
Lovingkindness said: Create him, for he will do acts of lovingkindness.
Truth said: Don't create him, for he is drenched in lies.
Righteousness said: Create him, for he will do much Tzedaka.
Peace said: Don't do
it, for he is essentially quarrelsome.
What did the Holy One do? He took Truth and cast it toward the earth.
Thus it is written, ;"And truth will be cast to the earth.;" (Daniel 8:12)
The ministering angels said: Sovereign of the Universe, why do
You shame the leader of Your court? Let truth rise from the earth. Thus it
is written, "Truth will arise from the earth." (Psalms 85:12)
Your Midrash Navigator
Notice that the narrative is actually structured by a creative
reading of the two verses of Psalms 85:11-12. So these verses in Psalms are
being used as a commentary on the verse in Genesis "Let Us make ADaM
in Our own image and in Our own likeness."
1. What does it mean that we consider compassion and truth to be
opposite?
2. How do we understand that people are the enemies of truth and peace
and the friends of compassion and righteousness.
3. What is the significance of truth being cast to the ground and then
flourishing from the earth?
4. Is "truth" sacrificed for "lovingkindness and
righteousness?"
Babylonian Talmud Ta'anit 8a
Rabbi Ami said: The rains come because of those who keep their word. As
it is written: Truth will flourish from the earth and righteousness will be
observed from the heavens. (Psalms 85:12) Rabbi Ami also said: Come and see
how great those who keep their word are. From where do we know this, from
the rat and the pit.
Rashi On This Passage
The rat and the pit-- that killed two people. An incident
where a young man gave his word to a young woman that he would marry her.
She said: Who will bear witness? All that was there was a weasel and a pit.
The young man said "Let the weasel and the pit be witnesses."
Afterwards he forgot his promise and married someone else, and he gave
birth to two sons. One fell in a pit and died and the other was bitten by a
weasel and died.
His wife asked: what has happened that our children die these bizarre
deaths? He then remembered and told her this story.
Your Talmud Navigator
1. What's the relationship between trustworthiness and "karma"
in this story?
2. What does that have to do with rain?
Sources: Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Director, Hillel's
Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning. Reprinted with
permission. |