Two Aramaic Sermons

First Sermon

[ . . . ] Fortunate are penitents, for their merit grants them life in the ever-after. And they are saved from disgrace and humiliation, for indeed it is stated: Then you shall again [lit., “you shall return”—i.e., in repentance] discern (Malachi 3:18). Now, at this time, this holy congregation repents before the Merciful One—perhaps He will take pity upon us and will cause us to prosper and will answer us with rains of blessing—as it is stated: When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You (1 Kings 8:35). And after this, the verse states what will happen to those who act thus: Then You will hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk and send rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance (1 Kings 8:36).

And maintain integrity in your dealings—for the rains fall through the merit of men of faith—as it is stated: Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven (Psalms 85:12). Does truth really spring from the earth? Rather, when people deal faithfully, immediately righteousness shall look down from heaven, and the rains will fall, and good will prevail in the world.

And be strong in your giving of charity—for rain falls through the merit of the charitable deeds that Jews do, one unto the other—as it is stated: The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by charity (Psalms 72:3). Do mountains really bring peace? Rather, so long as Israel performs charitable deeds and Jews show kindness to each other, the rains fall to the earth, and the mountains are filled with grain. And when a person brings grain into his house, peace prevails in his home.

R. Aḥa ben R. Ḥanina stated [see m. Ta‘anit 7]: The day when rain falls is greater than the day when the dead will be resurrected. For the resurrection of the dead pertains only to the righteous, but the rain benefits [both] righteous and wicked, livestock, animals, and fowl. [And the rains] are a sign that the sins of Israel have been forgiven—as it is stated: Lord, You have been favorable to Your land (Psalms 85:2). What is written after this? You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people (Psalms 85:3).

And we must submit ourselves before the supernal King in repentance. For His hand is outstretched to all penitents and to all who pray to Him to annul harsh decrees. For thus did the sages in their perfection state:

Three things annul the harsh decree, and they are prayer, charity, and repentance. And all three are in one verse—as it is stated: If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves [and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways] (2 Chronicles 7:14). [y. Ta‘anit 2:1:9]

And pray. This is prayer.

Seek my face. This is charity—as it is stated: As for me, I will see Your face in charity (Psalms 17:15).

And turn from their wicked ways. This is repentance.

And if we do thus what is written there: Then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Second Sermon

Listen, my brothers! We announce before you, holy congregation, and we inform you that the Holy One has chosen Israel over all other nations—as it is stated: The Lord your God has chosen you (Deuteronomy 7:6). And He gave them the Torah, that they may keep it and observe its commandments—as it is stated: You came down also on Mount Sinai [and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments] (Nehemiah 9:13). And He commanded them to observe the commandments, to perform charitable deeds, and to have mercy on each other. For charity is what raises Israel up before the supernal King—as it is stated: Charity exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34).

R. Yoḥanan stated: Come and see the great power of charity. For it resides at the right side of the Holy One—as it is stated: Your right hand is full of charity (Psalms 48:11).

Great is charity, for King David of Israel was praised on account of it—as it is written: So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and charity to all his people (2 Samuel 8:15).

Great is charity, for it is only through it that Israel is praised—as it is written: Charity exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34).

Great is charity, for through it the Holy One is destined to bring salvation to Israel—as it is written: I who speak in righteousness [tsedakah] [am mighty to save] (Isaiah 63:1).

Great is charity, for it bestows righteousness and life to those who perform it—as it is stated: He who follows charity and mercy [finds life, charity, and honor] (Proverbs 21:21)— honor in this world and life in the world to come.

Great is charity, for it accompanies those who perform it at the time of their departure from the world—as it is stated: And your charity shall walk before you (Isaiah 58:8). For this reason, Solomon praises Israel and says to them: Charity exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34). R. Abbahu said: If you ever see a person who scatters his money to charity, know that it will be increased [for him]—as it is stated: There is one who scatters, yet increases more (Proverbs 11:24). Further, R. Samuel ben Naḥmani said: If you ever see a person who withholds his hand from giving charity, know that [the money] will be lost to him—as it is stated: And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty (Proverbs 11:24).

See what is written: You shall give, surely you shall give to him (Deuteronomy 15:10). If you give little, in the end you will give much—as it is stated: You shall give, surely you shall give. And if you opened [your hand] a little, in the end you will be opened very much, as it is written: You shall open, surely you shall open (Deuteronomy 15:11). A person reaps according to what he sows—as it is stated: For He repays man according to his work (Job 34:11), and it is written: Sow for yourselves righteousness; [reap in mercy] (Hosea 10:12).

And a person must not be cruel. For whoever is cruel is called wicked, as it is written: But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel (Proverbs 12:10). And we must have mercy on each other, just as He is merciful. For indeed it is written: And His mercies are over all His works (Psalms 145:9).