The Homily – Notes

Fringes and Phylacteries

Fringes (tsitsit) are worn by adult males on a special undergarment, and on the prayer shawl worn during daytime services. Phylacteries (tefillin) are leather boxes attached by leather straps to the head and arm, opposite the heart. They were formerly worn all day, but now only during weekday morning services. The boxes contain scriptural readings. «-

Midrash Rabba

The Midrash Rabba is a rabbinic exposition of the Pentateuch and the Five Scrolls -- Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther. There is a translation into English published by the Soncino Press. This passage comes from the Midrash Rabba to Deuteronomy 8.2. There is similar material in the Babylonian Talmud, tractate Megilla 21b. Soncino also publishes a translation of the Talmud.
Formerly, at public readings of Scripture the first to read recited a benediction before reading, and the last to read recited a benediction after reading. The current custom that each individual recites a benediction before and after reading was introduced to avoid misunderstanding on the part of those who came late or left early. They might think the blessing which they happened not to have heard to be unnecessary. «-

Rashi

Acronym of R. Solomon Isaac of Troyes (1040-1105), eminent commentator on Bible and Talmud. «-

Maharsha

Acronym of R. Samuel Eliezer Edels (1555-1631), talmudic commentator. «-

Rab Alghazi

R. Israel Jacob Alghazi (1680-1761), kabbalist and author. «-

R. Azulai

R. Hayim Joseph David Azulai (1724-1806), kabbalist and author, known by the acronym Hida. The point about the embarrassment of the ignoramus is also found in the continuation of Midrash Deuteronomy Rabba cited above. «-

Ari

Acronym of R. Isaac Luria (1534-1572), kabbalist and author. Of Ashkenazic background, he was reared in a Sephardic area, and he sought to use his influence to blend the two traditions. «-

incorrect!

In the original, the Tetragrammaton (the Divine Name) is explained as follows: Y is the smallest letter of the alphabet, and symbolizes the penny; H has the numerical value of five, and symbolizes the hand; W in Hebrew has the shape of an arm; H symbolizes the hand. «-

mercy

Rashi comments on this on the first verse of the book of Genesis. The divine name used first is taken to represent the attribute of Justice. This is later tempered by the other divine name which represents the attribute of Mercy. «-

whole

The Hebrew word for order is hmswh in the consonantal script, which has five letters. The word whole, in Hebrew kl, has a numerical value of 50 (20+30). The factor of ten is cancelled in accordance with the so-called "minor reckoning." «-

Rambam

Acronym of R. Moses b. Maimon, known as Maimonides (1135-1204), jurist, philosopher, physician. He had a remarkable intellect, and wrote on many subjects in Hebrew and Arabic. He codified the whole of Jewish law. «-

Sodom salt

Mined at a mountain near the Dead Sea, and held to be especially dangerous to the sight. Ordinary salt may contain some of this ingredient, and hence rinsing the hands after a meal was ordained in order to remove the danger. The mineral concerned is probably anhydrite (CaSO4) which occurs in nature associated with salt. «-

Messiah

It is customary to conclude Jewish sermons with an expression of faith in the speedy coming of the Messiah. «-