Sunday, June 28, 2009

Re Ve-lamalshinim

Just to add to Ms. Appel's response, here is part of the footnote to the ברכה from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' commentary (this is from the new Koren Siddur, translated and annotated by Rabbi Sacks. I'm still getting started on it, but it seems awesome! I hope to post about it some more in the future). I had heard this insight before, but never in Rav Kook's name.

The Talmud (Berakhot 28b) says that to formulate this prayer, Rabban Gamliel turned to Shmuel HaKatan. Rabbi Kook pointed out that Shmuel HaKatan was
known for his attachment to the principle, "Do not rejoice when your enemy
fails." (Avot 4:19). Only a person who deeply loved his fellow human
beings could be entrusted with the task of constructing this prayer, which must
be free of animosity and schadenfraude.

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