Bikkur Holim - Visiting the Sick

“Rabbi Akiva taught: Those who do not visit a sick person may just as well spill his blood.” –Talmud, Nedarim 40a

This is a powerful quote; Rabbi Akiva is taking a very harsh stance on Bikkur Holim--visiting the sick. Why do you think he takes this dramatic position? Consider how one feels when sick, and how a visit, a card, or balloon makes the ill feel.

In addition to your opinion, for full marks, find an example of bikkur holim in the Tanakh. We have studied at least one example. Please e-mail your findings to justin.sakofs@adelsoncampus.org. Your responses will be collected and posted by yours truly, and will form the basis for the second post this week.

Second Part to the Infitnite Value of Life.

Below I have posted some 'Questions to Ponder.' Many of you have shared answers to these questions already, so here is your next challenge. RESPOND to another's post, by agreeing or disagreeing with it; however, your opinion is not enough. You must find a source that agrees with you and cite it. One point will be given for any source, but if you have a Jewish source, you will earn two points. (Make sure you mention whose post you are commenting on, in addition to you ideas.

Questions to Ponder: How can a single life be a like a whole world? One answer is that all humans descended from a single person, Adam, so had one person not been created, all of human existence would never have existed. Every human being is created in the image of God, and is as valuable as a world. How does that knowledge change how you treat other people?

Posts will be tallied, on Monday morning.

The infinite importance of every human being

“Whoever takes a single life it is as though he destroyed a whole world, and whoever saves a single life it is as though he saved a whole world.” --Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:5

This value and quote illustrates something very important to us all, the power of influence one can have. I'll elaborate on this idea on Wednesday, but first it is your turn. Please share your ideas of influence (and its relation to the mishna) AND your understanding of this mishna. Perhaps you have an incident or story which relates to share. This is your forum, so please take advantage of the opportunity.

I will be tabulating your postings on Wednesday morning for credit (as always with the first post of the week.)

Lashon haRa - 2 - Gossip

Can you take back something that you have said about another? Just the same, who is responsible for spreading gossip? The source? or sources? or middlemen/women?

Comment on the Hassidic Tale below, and Norman Rockwell's The Gossip.

“A person went about the community telling lies about the rabbi. Later, he began to feel sorry. He went to the rabbi and begged his forgiveness, saying he would do anything he could to make amends. The rabbi said, "Take a feather pillow, cut it open, and scatter the feathers." The man did this. When he returned, the rabbi said, "Now, go and gather the feathers." The man could not gather all the feathers. The rabbi said to him, "You cannot undo the damage your words have caused any more than you can gather up all the feathers.” –Chasidic tale


Please note, that due to the late posting of this post, comments will be accepted through Monday.

Lashon Hara -- Guarding one's speech

Our mouths are an extremely important part of our bodies and are involved in most of our activities day in and day out. (In addition, a quick aside, the tongue is the most powerful muscle in the body.) Our speech is therefore something which we must use with precision. Think for a moment about the taunt we all knew as kids 'sticks and bones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.' Is this really true? Can words not hurt?
Please ponder for a moment on this idea, and share your thoughts about the effects of your speech.

REMEMBER: Comments will be counted on Wednesday morning! A new post will be available then to further the thoughtful discussion.

HaKarat HaTov - 'Being Thankful'

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this week we are presenting the Hebrew term for the concept of being thankful-- HaKarat HaTov.

“One who learns from his friend a single chapter, a single law, a single verse, a single expression, a single letter, should accord him respect.” --Pirkei Avot 6:3

Please share your understanding of this quote from Pirkei Avot, and give a personal example. (YES, I want you to thank someone in this 'public' forum.) I will be tallying posts for credit on Wednesday night, due to the fact of it being a short school week.

Kashrut

We are a community of learners, and learners help one another learn and succeed. Therefore, I am asking each of you to help one another with finding articles on the world wide web (a.k.a. the Internet) which will assist in writing the next paper.

The assignment, in brief is to take a position on the concept of 'keeping kosher.' As your teacher, I have provided you with a number of texts on the topic; however, I am not limiting you to these alone. I encourage you to search the web and texts for sources and opinions on the matter, and share them with your classmates. Whether or not you, personally use the source, someone else might find it useful so PLEASE SHARE.

Your contributions to this sign will be a component of your grade for this assignment.