rosh hashana 20

sometimes it is more convenient for the moon to stay covered. no matter what anyone thinks they have seen.

intimidating the witnesses in their testimony about the new moon to say what they ought to have seen, according to the court's private calculations. despite any calculations or observations to the contrary.

(the new moon needs to be witnessed for the court to declare the month. but some months need to tweak it so that there will be a weekday in-between the shabbat and festival day - for the sake of fresh vegetables and that bodies that need to be buried. the court have their own calculations about the 24 hours when the moon is not visible, how much of it belongs to the old month, and the new month, night and day. Shmuel claimed he could calculate the calendar, but his calculations were lacking the secret of additions that the courts had. btw - as well as doing this draw yomi, I have also been doing a omer counting by drawing. this year was about the poetry of numbers. it got a bit geometrical, and I learnt that the word 'geometry' means 'earth measurement')

rosh hashana 19

how did she know that to turn grief and mourning into celebration, you need to publicly, unashamedly, and openly, cry out in pain.

(this page discusses the various fast days in Megillat Ta'anit that were turned into festive days. and refers to a time when Torah learning was banned by Rome, the people were oppressed for being Jewish and different. The rabbis went to a certain Matronita - an important Roman woman - who instructed them to take to the streets at night and cry, emphasising their common humanity, that jews are their brothers etc... the ban was lifted and the day was turned into a festive day. also on this page is discussed sending messengers publicising the new moon and so then all will know when the festivals will be.)

rosh hashana 18

some messages need to travel far.
to the exiled ones and to the distant God.

rosh hashana 17

who is spared descending into Gehenna?
those who wear the tallit and pray, those who wear tefillin on their heads.
and those who forgive others, get forgiven

but those who try to lead by inciting fear - they will never ascend from this hell.

rosh hashana 16

blowing the crooked shofar confuses Satan and disrupts the order of the books.

(one of the reasons for the different types of notes of the shofar is that it will confuse Satan at the time of judgement. Satan's role is to act as prosecution against the people. The judgement is recorded in 3 books - Life for the righteous, Death for the wicked, and the in-between book for those who aren't wholly wicked or righteous)

rosh hashana 15

what can be learnt from a silent study partner? an adversary that doesn't answer back?

but sometimes, as the poor etrog knows, it is better to leave things alone.

(Resh Lakish and R. Yohanan seem to be in disagreement about if the etrog is tithed at picking or when it is formed. But R. Yohanan is remarkable silent in the face of Resh Lakish's argument. on this page it is also noted that many people handling the etrog tree may damage the tree and affect the growth and future fruit for 3 years.)

rosh hashana 14

etrog - fruit or vegtable?
formed by the falling rain or the time that it is picked?