Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

“The path of gratitude is not for children; it is path of tender heroes, of the heroes of tenderness who, whatever happens, keep burning on the altar of their hearts the flame of adoration.”

Rumi

Sotah 40: מוֹדִים לָךְ

jyungar May 8, 2023

For the source text click/tap here: Sotah 40

To download, click/tap here: PDF

What is the proper name of God to call upon when we want to offer gratitude? This is the subject of a debate on our daf.

The discussion picks up after relating which verses the people should say when the priests offered the priestly blessing at the end of various services. The Gemara now asks:

While the prayer leader is reciting the blessing of: “We give thanks,” what do the people say?

When the Amidah is recited by the leader, the worshipers are meant to listen and answer amen to the blessings. But Modim demands more of the worshipers; they are meant to say their own prayer. What should they say? Here we see a debate:

Said Rav: “We are thankful to you, Adonai our God, that we are thankful to you.”

Shmuel said: “We are thankful to you, God of all flesh, that we are thankful to you.”

Rabbi Simai said: “We are thankful to you, our Molder, Molder of creation, that we are thankful to you.”

Rav, Shmuel and Rabbi Simai are debating the name of God to be used in this short prayer.

We explore different religious attitudes to gratitude.

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​