Saturday 5 July 2014

Mussar: We Leave Emtpy-Handed

From:
DerechEmet@yahoogroups.com

Yalkut Meam Loez commentary on Kohelet [Ecclesiastes], chapter 5, verse 14:
 
This was taught in the name of Rabbi Meir:
 
When a baby enters this world, his hands are closed fists, as if to say:
 
THE ENTIRE WORLD IS MINE;
I WILL INHERIT IT ALL.
 
When he leaves this world,
the palms of his hands are
stretched open [flat], as if to say:
 
I TOOK NOTHING FROM THIS WORLD.

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CHRONOLOGY 1: Rabbi Meir was active around year 160 of the Common Era.
 
CHRONOLOGY 2:
The Yalkut Meam Loez commentary on Kohelet was written by Rabbi Shmuel Yerushalmi,
following the death of Rabbi Yaakov Culi in 1732 CE in Constantinople.
 
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Kol Tuv,
RRW

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