Rabbi Kook

[Is it so that there is no death without sin?] Doesn’t it say in a baraita: The angels said before Hashem: “Why did you decree death on Adam?” Hashem answered: “I commanded him in one small mitzva, and he transgressed it.” They said to Him: “How about Moshe and Aharon, who fulfilled the whole Torah, and they died?” Hashem answered: “For one outcome will there be for the righteous and the wicked…” (Kohelet 9:2).

Rav Ami said: There is no death without sin.

From when did zchut avot (the merit due to the patriarchs) cease? [The gemara cites four opinions among Amoraim, regarding four periods in the First Temple period (the times of Hoshea ben Be’eri, of Chazael, of Eliyahu, and of Chizkiyahu). Each has a pasuk implying that the zchut avot was only up to that point and not beyond. Rav Kook understands the gemara in a manner apparently different from the simple reading of the source, but one that solves problems arising from the gemara.]

[The tav is a sign of] those who kept the entire Torah from aleph to tav.

[We continue with the significance of the word “tav,” which refers, in Yechezkel 9, to a mark placed on the foreheads of those who received punishment, but also is the name of the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet.] Reish Lakish said: “Tav” is the end of Hashem’s signet, as Rav Chanina said: Hashem’s signet is “emet” (truth).

We saw last time how a mark was placed on the foreheads of different levels of people slated for tragedy due to the sins of some and the lack of protest of others. Now we will look at the significance of the word for this mark – “tav” – which is also the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet.] What is unique about a tav? Tav [is used in] “tichyeh” (you shall live); tav [is used in] “tamut” (you shall die).

The pasuk says: “Hashem said to me: Pass through the city, through Yerushalayim, and etch a sign on the foreheads of the weary and distressed people, due to all of the abominations that are done in its midst” (Yechezkel 9:4). Hashem said to (the angel Gavriel): Go and mark on the foreheads of the righteous a sign made out of black ink, so that the damaging angels will not have power over them, and on the foreheads of the evil a mark of blood so that the damaging angels will have power over them.

Considering Hashem’s attribute of goodness, only good things should be happening.

R. Zeira said to R. Simon: “You should rebuke the House of the Exilarch.” He answered: “They will not listen to me.” R. Zeira responded: “You should rebuke them even if they will not listen.”

Rav Yehuda was sitting before Shmuel. A woman came in and screamed about her plight, and Shmuel did not take heed of her. Rav Yehuda said to him: Do you not agree with the pasuk, “One who seals his ear from hearing the cry of the poor will also call out and not be answered” (Mishlei 21:13)? Shmuel answered: Sharp one, your leader (Shmuel was Rav Yehuda’s teacher) will be exposed to cold water; the leader of your leader (Mar Ukva) will be exposed to hot water. After all, Mar Ukva is the head of the rabbinical court, as it says: “The house of David – thus said Hashem: Rule in the mornings rulings of justice and save the victim of robbery from he who is oppressing him” (Yirmiya 21:12).