ב"ה
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Shabbat, December 14, 2024

Halachic Times (Zmanim)
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Jewish History

In the first decades of the 5th century, Rav Ashi (d. 427) and Ravina I (d. 421) led a group of the Amoraim (Talmudic sages) in the massive undertaking of compiling the Babylonian Talmud -- collecting and editing the discussions, debates and rulings of hundreds of scholars and sages which had taken place in the more than 200 years since the compilation of the Mishnah by Rabbi Judah HaNassi in 189. The last of these editors and compilers was Ravina II, who passed away on the 13th of Kislev of the year 4235 from creation (475 CE); after Ravina II, no further additions were make to the Talmud, with the exception of the minimal editing undertaken by the Rabbanan Savura'i (476-560). This date thus marks the point at which the Talmud was "closed" and became the basis for all further exegesis of Torah law.

Links:
What Is the Talmud?

Daily Thought

G‑d appeared to Abraham…but he looked up and saw that there were three men… (Genesis 18:2)

Abraham put aside his encounter with G‑d in order to greet his guests. From this we learn that hosting guests is so great that it takes priority over an encounter with G‑d. (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah)

The three men that Abraham greeted and fed turned out to be angels.

Angels don’t eat or drink. Neither do they need a place to sleep. They only pretended to eat and drink out of respect for Abraham.

If so, what did Abraham accomplish? He served food to beings that never hunger and drinks to beings that never thirst. For this he walked out of a private audience with G‑d Himself?!

Aside from that, how can we learn from his example the greatness of caring for guests when in fact he provided his guests with nothing?

Yet indeed we learn more from this incident than any other.

We learn that the main ingredient of hosting guests is not the food, not the drink, not even the roof over their heads and a comfortable bed.

The crucial ingredient of hosting guests is to show them that you care.

And that, Abraham and Sarah exemplified to perfection.

Likutei Sichot vol. 25, p. 78.