Well, it has been about a week since I have updated in here. There have been several things over the past week that I have wanted to share in this blog, but rather than dwell on what I didn’t post, I will, B’H, move forward and post one thing. The following is from the Gemara Berachos 10a:
There were certain boors in R’ Meir’s neighborhood and they caused [R' Meir] considerable distress. Once R’Meir was praying for mercy regarding them, so that they would die. His wife, Beruria, said to him: What is your reasoning to pray for their deaths? Because it is written in Tehillim (Psalms 104:35) Let sinners (chataim) cease from the earth.. But is the word – chotim written, [which would refer to sinners]? The word is written chataim, [which refers to what causes one to sin. i.e. the Evil Inclination]. And furthermore go down to the end of the verse, which states and let the wicked be no more [But the cessation of present-day sinners does not ensure that the future wicked men will not appear on the scene. Evidently, then, the term chataim refers not to sinners, but to that which causes sin - the Evil Inclination] Therefore, you should rather pray for mercy regarding [these boors] that they should repent and the wicked with be no more. [R' Meir] prayed for mercy regarding [these boors] and they repented.