R. Yossi sagt: Lass den Reichtum deines Freundes dir genauso lieb sein wie deinen. Und bereite dich darauf vor, die Tora zu studieren. [Sag nicht: Da mein Vater ein Weiser und mein Großvater ein Weiser ist, "kehrt die Tora in ihr Gasthaus zurück" und ich brauche sie nicht weiter zu verfolgen], denn sie ist kein Erbe für dich. Und alle deine Taten sollen dem Himmel zuliebe sein. [Selbst wenn Sie essen, trinken und eheliche Beziehungen pflegen, lassen Sie sich nicht von körperlichem Vergnügen motivieren, sondern von dem Wunsch, gesund zu sein, um den Willen Ihres Meisters zu tun.]
Shev Shmat'ta
(Tsaddi) Our souls are tied, entwined and ‘bound – a woman to her sister’ – as there is no resurrection besides that which is through Torah. And if the masses of the people do not connect to the Torah scholars, ‘from where will their help come?’ And from what will they live [during the time of] the footsteps of the messiah? They said (Sotah 49), “Scholars have begun to become like scribes (teachers of children), etc. and uneducated people are increasingly diminished, and none ask, etc. And [there is none] upon whom to rely [besides] our Father in Heaven.” And one can understand that their intention was that the essence of creation is only for the Torah. And all of Israel is like one man with internal and external organs, but all of their life [force] comes from the heart. And when an organ comes loose from the body, it has no life [force] from the heart. And likewise the Torah scholars of the generation are the heart; and the sanctuary of life is with them. And when the uneducated are connected with the heart – meaning, to the Torah scholars, in that [the scholars] benefit them from their property – then the life of the heart and the limbs are one. [Then] each feels the feelings of his neighbor. But when they separate themselves from the Torah and from Torah scholars, they are only like limbs that have come loose, that do not feel the feelings of their neighbors. And it is a loss for the whole body when there is a limb that has come loose. And so is it with [the People] of Israel. And [so] this is [the understanding of the statement quoted above]: “Uneducated people are increasingly diminished, and none ask and seek” the sustenance of Torah scholars, who are able to meditate upon the Torah of the Lord. And therefore, “there is none upon whom to rely besides our Father in Heaven.” And a person should be very careful in the area of love and brotherhood, not to do anything bad to one’s neighbor. And the [Sages], may their memory be blessed, said (Avot 2:12), “Let the money of your friend be as beloved to you as your own” – all the more so, should he not steal from him.
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Sefer HaChinukh
And this commandment is practiced regarding the joy - but not regarding the sacrifice - in every place and at all times by males and females. And one who transgresses it and does not rejoice himself, the members of his household and the poor according to his ability, for the sake of the commandment of the festival, has nullified this positive commandment. And in the way that we mentioned did they, may their memory be blessed, say (Avot 2:17), "All of your actions should be for the sake of Heaven."
