I'll toss into the mix the following thought of Rambam (MN 3:40):
"A person who killed another person unknowingly must go into exile (Exod. 12:13: Num. 35:11-28); because the anger of "the avenger of the blood" (Num. 35:19) cools down while the cause of the mischief is out of sight. The chance of returning from the exile depends on the death of [the high-priest], the most honoured of men, and the friend of all Israel. By his death the relative of the slain person becomes reconciled (ibid. ver. 25); for it is a natural phenomenon that we find consolation in our misfortune when the same misfortune or a greater one has befallen another person. Amongst us no death causes more grief than that of the high-priest."
According to this it is the grief engendered by a great person's death that is itself the catalyst for people to let go of their own personal grievances.
This clarifies for me a concept with which I have wrestled. Thanks for your study.
BTW, you have meaningful commentary but you sometimes speak faster than I can listen. Maybe, take a deep breath before recording and relax a bit. Not complaining, I just don't want to miss a word of this wisdom.
Thanks for the feedback! Substack allows you to slow down or speed up the audio. Between that option and the written version, I feel like everyone can speak and listen at their preferred pace without trouble. :)
My Substack only lets me speed up, not slow down. I like to study a lot, that's why I listen instead of read, because I can do other things at the same time.
Ah, I see what the issue is. If you're listening on your phone on the substack app, you'll see a 1x next to the icon for volume. If you tap that, it'll go to 1.25x, then 1.5x, then 1.75x, then 2x. But if you tap it AGAIN, it'll go to 0.5x.
But if you're listening on the substack website, then you're right: it only allows you to speed up, but not slow down. Weird design choice on their part.
Another option for audio is to listen to the post on my Machshavah Lab podcast, available on most major podcasting platforms. Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeartRadio, etc. all allow you to slow down what you're listening to.
As an aside, it's interesting how preferred speaking speeds are a cultural thing. When I listen to my most recent recording, I'm speaking SUPER slow! But what is slow for a fast-talking New Yorker like myself might be too fast for others. Although I HAVE gotten comments that I talk too fast, I more frequently get comments that I talk too slow! I've repeatedly had listeners tell me that they listen to me at 1.5x or even 2x! I guess I can't make everyone happy.
Cedarwood essential oil, derived from various species of cedar trees, has a long history of use for its various therapeutic and practical applications. Its uses span across several domains:
combats acne
antiseptic properties of cedarwood oil can help in healing minor wounds and preventing infection
antispasmodic, helping to relieve coughs and congestion, and promoting easier breathing
anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe pain and inflammation
Hyssop oil has very strong antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that make it highly effective for fighting infections
known for its ability to help with respiratory conditions like coughs, colds, and bronchitis due to its antispasmodic and expectorant properties:
antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties
applied topically to soothe muscle aches, spasms, and joint pain
used traditionally for its digestive benefits
Scarlet wool–Ancient civilizations utilized various sources for red dyes, including minerals like red ochre and cinnabar, plants like madder, and insects like kermes and cochineal. These dyes were used for religious ceremonies, art, textiles, and even cosmetics.
Red dye for the clothing of ordinary people was made from the roots of the rubia tinctorum, the madder plant. This color leaned toward brick-red, and faded easily in the sun or during washing.
Madder is a plant. The root is used to make medicine. People use madder for conditions such as kidney stones, menstrual disorders, urinary tract disorders, wound healing, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using madder can also be unsafe. Madder - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD
“In ancient times, the dye was produced from the female scale insect, which lives on the kermes oak tree (Quercus coccifera),” Na'ama Sukenik of the Israel Antiquities Authority explained in a press release. Jul 18, 2024
Basic search for ‘cedar,’ ‘hyssop,’ ‘ancient red dye’ and ‘madder root.’ Ancient medicine was herb-based and many modern medicines are derived from the same herbs, then processed, packaged, advertised and sold to the public.
The Scarlet Dye of the Holy Land Get access Arrow by Zohar Amar , Hugo Gottlieb , Lucy Varshavsky , David Iluz
I'll toss into the mix the following thought of Rambam (MN 3:40):
"A person who killed another person unknowingly must go into exile (Exod. 12:13: Num. 35:11-28); because the anger of "the avenger of the blood" (Num. 35:19) cools down while the cause of the mischief is out of sight. The chance of returning from the exile depends on the death of [the high-priest], the most honoured of men, and the friend of all Israel. By his death the relative of the slain person becomes reconciled (ibid. ver. 25); for it is a natural phenomenon that we find consolation in our misfortune when the same misfortune or a greater one has befallen another person. Amongst us no death causes more grief than that of the high-priest."
According to this it is the grief engendered by a great person's death that is itself the catalyst for people to let go of their own personal grievances.
Great connection! Thanks!
This clarifies for me a concept with which I have wrestled. Thanks for your study.
BTW, you have meaningful commentary but you sometimes speak faster than I can listen. Maybe, take a deep breath before recording and relax a bit. Not complaining, I just don't want to miss a word of this wisdom.
Thanks for the feedback! Substack allows you to slow down or speed up the audio. Between that option and the written version, I feel like everyone can speak and listen at their preferred pace without trouble. :)
My Substack only lets me speed up, not slow down. I like to study a lot, that's why I listen instead of read, because I can do other things at the same time.
Ah, I see what the issue is. If you're listening on your phone on the substack app, you'll see a 1x next to the icon for volume. If you tap that, it'll go to 1.25x, then 1.5x, then 1.75x, then 2x. But if you tap it AGAIN, it'll go to 0.5x.
But if you're listening on the substack website, then you're right: it only allows you to speed up, but not slow down. Weird design choice on their part.
Another option for audio is to listen to the post on my Machshavah Lab podcast, available on most major podcasting platforms. Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeartRadio, etc. all allow you to slow down what you're listening to.
As an aside, it's interesting how preferred speaking speeds are a cultural thing. When I listen to my most recent recording, I'm speaking SUPER slow! But what is slow for a fast-talking New Yorker like myself might be too fast for others. Although I HAVE gotten comments that I talk too fast, I more frequently get comments that I talk too slow! I've repeatedly had listeners tell me that they listen to me at 1.5x or even 2x! I guess I can't make everyone happy.
Sorry for the inconvenience!
Cedar, Hyssop and Scarlet Wool
Cedarwood essential oil, derived from various species of cedar trees, has a long history of use for its various therapeutic and practical applications. Its uses span across several domains:
combats acne
antiseptic properties of cedarwood oil can help in healing minor wounds and preventing infection
antispasmodic, helping to relieve coughs and congestion, and promoting easier breathing
anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe pain and inflammation
Hyssop oil has very strong antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that make it highly effective for fighting infections
known for its ability to help with respiratory conditions like coughs, colds, and bronchitis due to its antispasmodic and expectorant properties:
antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties
applied topically to soothe muscle aches, spasms, and joint pain
used traditionally for its digestive benefits
Scarlet wool–Ancient civilizations utilized various sources for red dyes, including minerals like red ochre and cinnabar, plants like madder, and insects like kermes and cochineal. These dyes were used for religious ceremonies, art, textiles, and even cosmetics.
Red dye for the clothing of ordinary people was made from the roots of the rubia tinctorum, the madder plant. This color leaned toward brick-red, and faded easily in the sun or during washing.
Madder is a plant. The root is used to make medicine. People use madder for conditions such as kidney stones, menstrual disorders, urinary tract disorders, wound healing, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using madder can also be unsafe. Madder - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD
“In ancient times, the dye was produced from the female scale insect, which lives on the kermes oak tree (Quercus coccifera),” Na'ama Sukenik of the Israel Antiquities Authority explained in a press release. Jul 18, 2024
Basic search for ‘cedar,’ ‘hyssop,’ ‘ancient red dye’ and ‘madder root.’ Ancient medicine was herb-based and many modern medicines are derived from the same herbs, then processed, packaged, advertised and sold to the public.
The Scarlet Dye of the Holy Land Get access Arrow by Zohar Amar , Hugo Gottlieb , Lucy Varshavsky , David Iluz
We present evidence based on chemical analysis that identifies the scarlet dye produced by the scale insect Kermes echinatus as the shani (“red” in Hebrew) used toward the end of the second Holy Temple (AD 70). We know that this dye is produced by a coccoid species of scale. However, it is not yet known which of the coccoid species was used in the Holy Land in ancient times. Our results confirm the presence of the red pigment kermesic acid in K. echinatus extracts. The fact that K. echinatus is found in Israel suggests that the origin of the shani color mentioned in the Bible could have been local and that this dye was not an import from abroad, as most scholars have assumed. Our hypothesis, backed by our long-term observations, is supported by the color quality of kermesic acid, by the relative concentration of the pigment, and by the prevalence of K. echinatus in Israel. © 2005 American Institute of Biological Sciences
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-abstract/55/12/1080/407161?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Really nice distinction between the two types of ways we can relate to the righteousness of tzadikim upon their deaths (and lifetimes, of course).
Reminds me a little of Avraham ben HaRambam's 2 paths, even though it's not quite the same.
Good call!