Parshas Beshalach February 7, 2020
A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul Medicine Man Misplaced Trust by Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher A man once came to the Kotzker The Mishna (Kiddushin 4:14) teaches the Sifsei Kohen (Shach) al HaTorah to Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of that “the best of doctors is destined for interpret this verse. The Sifsei Kohen Kotzk (1787-1859), explaining that gehinnom.” Before those in the medical explains that when Hashem provided he needed to marry off his daughter field stop reading and start sending hate Moshe the means to “cure” the non- but lacked the funds to do so. The mail, let us ponder these words for a few potable water, He also gave Moshe a Rebbe gave the man a letter to bring moments. Indeed, they seem difficult great deal of medicinal information, to the wealthy Reb Moshe Chaim to fathom. Providing medical care for providing Moshe with the knowledge Rothenburg, brother of the the another is an enormous mitzvah, and of how to cure all sorts of ailments Kotzker’s Rebbe’s illustrious student is, in fact, explicitly recommended by and illnesses. There are two major Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Rothenburg the Torah. That being the case, even categories of remedies for ailments: (better known as the Chiddushei the accountants and lawyers ought to one group includes those medicines HaRim, the founder of Gerrer Chassidus). be wondering what exactly our Sages are whose efficacy can be understood trying to teach us with this provocative based on the laws of nature, while the The poor man travelled for some statement. There are, in fact, numerous second group contains those regarded time and finally arrived at the wealthy explanations, and a verse in this week’s as segulah, items or methods whose man’s house, whereupon he presented the letter, confident that his salvation parsha opens the door to one approach ability to heal cannot be explained by was at hand. To his consternation, that provides an important insight into science but are, rather, in the realm Reb Moshe Chaim gave him a mere the field of medicine. of the spiritual. The “ordinances” pittance and wished him well. The The Torah tells us that, following referenced in the verse refer to the poor man begged, pleaded and cajoled the events of the Splitting of the Sea, former category, while the “decree” Reb Moshe Chaim, telling him that the Jewish Nation arrived at Marah alludes to the latter, those remedies the Kotzker had sent him here so he and discovered that there was bitter that cannot be scientifically explained. could raise funds for the wedding. water everywhere, but not a drop to The verse continues that “he” - that is, Alas, his words fell upon deaf ears, drink. They complained to Moshe, Moshe - “tested” the various medicines and, disappointed, he headed back the and he cried out to Hashem. Hashem Hashem had revealed to him. way he had come. responded by showing Moshe a tree. The Sifsei Kohen continues that As soon as the poor man had Moshe took a piece of wood from the the next verse in the Torah adds an departed, Reb Moshe Chaim went tree and cast it into the bitter waters, important message to this line of out and purchased clothing, utensils, which then miraculously became sweet. interpretation: “[Hashem] said, ‘If furniture, and whatever else a young The Torah concludes its narrative with you listen diligently to the voice of couple could need to set up their new the enigmatic words (Beshalach 15:25), Hashem… then any of the diseases that home. He loaded up a wagon and “There He established a chok (decree) I placed in Egypt, I will not bring upon hurried after the poor man. Upon catching up with him, Reb Moshe and mishpat (ordinance), and there He you, for I am Hashem, your Healer.” Chaim presented the astonished tested it.” Rashi explains this to mean (Beshalach 15:26) Hashem is making a fellow with the wagon. that in Marah, Hashem gave the Jewish vital point to Moshe, teaching him not People several important mitzvos of to place his faith in the many medicines The poor man, after offering profuse thanks, asked Reb Moshe Chaim the Torah to study: Shabbos, the Red he has just discovered. Rather, after to explain why he had not simply Heifer, and civil law. Shabbos and civil utilizing the medicine, Moshe must still provided him with everything at the law are considered “ordinances” due place his faith in Hashem, Healer of all outset. to their logical nature, while the Red flesh. “When you arrived,” explained Reb Heifer is a “decree” as it is the classic An individual who practices medicine Moshe Chaim, “you had a letter in mitzvah whose reasoning cannot be can easily err into believing that he or your pocket from the Kotzker Rebbe comprehended by the human mind. she is the one healing people, saving continued on back There is another approach offered by lives, deciding who shall live and who continued on back
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engage in the practice of medicine and and medicine of practice the in engage even something as simple as pain relief relief pain as simple as something even
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treatment. Of course, a doctor should should doctor a course, Of treatment. people recite prior to taking medication, medication, taking to prior recite people
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Mordechai Fleisher. Ma’ariv at at Ma’ariv Fleisher. Mordechai
die, who shall be ill and who shall be be shall who and ill be shall who die, steps difficult steps, complex steps, many
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