OHRNETOSHABBOS PARSHASH PINCHAS FOR THER WEEK ENDING 24 NTAMMUZ 5758 JULYE 18, 1998 VOL. 5 TNO. 38 THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET PARSHA INSIGHTS
greater than the former. for us to attack them; rather we THE TURN OF THE SCREW When someone murders, he must maintain a constant enmity Harass the Midianites and takes away the life of a person in against them, a constant mindset smite them (25:17) this world. But when someone to remind ourselves that they tried makes someone else transgress to implant in us a lust for immoral- magine yourself sitting on an the Torah, he takes away their life ity. They tried to remove us not airplane. The person next to I in this world and the next. just from this world but from the Iyou smiles, pulls out a screw- As far as our eyes can see, this next as well. driver, places the sharp end in his world is but a brief walk between ear and starts to turn the screw- two darknesses. However, we driver into his brain. Youd try and HELPING DADDY know that this world is no more stop him, wouldnt you? Youd than an antechamber before the By avenging My vengeance... knock the screwdriver out of his great palace of light. We dont see (25:11) hand and kick it away from him. He expressed the anger that was Would you have the same reac- Mine to show Rashi. tion if the person next to you was Moshe prayed that doing a sin? Why not? hen you ask your three- Ideas dont frighten us. We are whoever would W year old to help you set Wthe table for Shabbos only frightened by what we see. replace him should The greatest proof is that we dont and he manfully steers the kiddush fear G-d as much as we should. resemble G-ds quality cup onto the table, you get a We may know and believe that of knowing the spirits tremendous feeling of nachas. You there is a G-d, but how many of us certainly dont gain anything from walk around feeling that He is in of all the flesh; that he his help, except of course, enor- front of us at every moment? If we should be able to mous pleasure. You could have saw G-d, we would never sin. We just as easily done what he did at dont see Him, and thats why we intuit the needs, the the same time as you brought in are able to go away from Him. In virtues and the foibles the rest of the plates and the cut- Hebrew, the word for fear yirah lery. But you gave him a job all of is almost identical to the word of those that he was his own! for sight. We are only frightened by to lead. Rashi explains the meaning of what we see. the expression he avenged My When we see someone murder- vengeance to mean: He expressed ing, it evokes in us a horror and a the anger that was Mine to show.It the light, but we know its there. revulsion which is beyond words. was specifically because Pinchas We dont see and therefore we But when we see someone did something that was really dont fear. encouraging a Jew to break Hashems to do that he merited The Midianites incited the Shabbos or eat non-kosher food, such a great reward. Jewish People to sin. It is for this we dont have nearly the same The same idea applies to tzeda- reason that Hashem commanded reaction. And yet, logically, our ka, charity. Turnus Rufus once us to take such harsh measures reaction to the latter should be far asked Rabbi Akiva: If Hashem against them. It was not enough
continued on page three
1 PARSHA OVERVIEW
ashem tells Moshe to inform Pinchas that Pinchas will the absence of a brother, they request their late fathers portion receive Hashems covenant of peace as reward for his in the Land. Moshe asks Hashem for the ruling, and Hashem tells HHbold action executing Zimri and the Midianite princess Moshe that the daughters claim is just. The Torah teaches the Kozbi. Hashem commands Moshe that the people must maintain laws and priorities which determine the order of inheritance. a state of enmity with the Midianites because they allured the Hashem tells Moshe to ascend a mountain and view the Land Jewish People to sin. Moshe and Elazar are told to count the that the Jewish People will soon enter, although Moshe himself Jewish People. The Torah lists the names of the families in each will not enter. Moshe asks Hashem to designate the subsequent tribe. The total number of males eligible to serve in the army is leader of the people, and Hashem selects Yehoshua bin Nun. 601,730. Hashem instructs Moshe how to allot the Land of Israel Moshe ordains Yehoshua as his successor in the presence of the to Bnei Yisrael. The number of the families of the Levites is entire nation. The Parsha concludes with special teachings of the recorded. The daughters of Tzlofchad file a claim with Moshe: In service in the Beis Hamikdash. HAFTORAH: YIRMIYAHU 1:1-2:3
he three Haftorahs which are read in Hashem. (2:2-3) transgressions, for had it not been for Tthe Three Weeks (between 17th nce there was a sensitive lad the company the Jewish People kept in Tammuz and 9th Av) are called the who spent all his days in study exile, they would still be on the same three of affliction. They detail the dire O Oand refinement of his charac- spiritual level that they were on when consequences that will befall Bnei Yisrael if ter. While still at a tender age he was they were in the desert. they do not return to Hashem. captured by bandits and forced to live That is the meaning of these verses: Nevertheless, each of these three Haftorahs among them. At first he was repulsed I remember for your sake the kindness of ends on a note of optimism, expressing the by their coarseness and clung to his your youth, the love of your bridal days, confidence that Hashem never forgets His original demeanor. However, as the your following after Me in the wilderness people even in the deepest and darkest weeks lengthened into years and no exile. in a land not sown. I remember, says sign of rescue came, slowly but surely Hashem, how you were when you fol- BAD COMPANY he began to degenerate to the level of lowed after Me through the wilderness, his captors and eventually he became before you were exiled among the Thus says Hashem: I remember for your indistinguishable from them. sake the kindness of your youth, the love of nations. At your root you are holy, and your bridal days, your following after Me in When the Jewish People are finally if you have sinned it is because of the the wilderness in a land not sown. Israel is redeemed from exile the nations that atmosphere you have imbibed during sacred to Hashem, the first of His grain; all have oppressed them will be held to the long night of exile. who devour him shall bear his guilt, evil account, not just for their own mis- shall come upon them the word of deeds against Israel, but also for Israels Kochav mYaakov in Mayana shel Torah LOVE OF THE LAND O H R N E T Selections from classical Torah sources which express the special relationship between the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET
Published by OHR SOMAYACH THOSE WHO SHOULD LOVE THE LAND TANENBAUM COLLEGE POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180, Israel 02-581-0315 total of seventy bul- the shortcomings of all these General Editor: locks were offered on nations in order that they Rabbi Moshe Newman AA Editorial & Web Advisor: the altar in the Beis may gain a favorable heaven- Rabbi Reuven Lauffer Hamikdash during the seven ly judgment for their water Associate Editors: Rabbi Mordechai Becher, days of Succos (Bamidbar needs. This unappreciated Rabbi Reuven Subar 29:12 - 34, Parshas Pinchas). service is what led Rabbi Contributing Writers: These 70 sacrifices, says Yochanan to exclaim: Woe Weekly Daf, Love of the Land: Rav Mendel Weinbach Rabbi Elazar, correspond to to the heathen nations who Insights, Overview, Haftorah: the 70 non-Jewish nations of lost something and are not Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair the world. Since Succos is even aware of their loss. Web Production: Eli Ballon, Michael Treblow the time when the world is judged in When there was a Beis Hamikdash, the Produced and Designed by the Office of Communications regard to rainfall for the year to come, altar provided atonement for them, but Rabbi Eliezer Shapiro, Director Jews offer these sacrifices in their now who will atone for them? © 1998 OHR SOMAYACH INSTITUTIONS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Sanctuary in Eretz Yisrael as atonement for Mesechta Succah 55b PRINTED IN ISRAEL AT OLD CITY PRESS 02-651-1529 THIS PUBLICATION CONTAINS WORDS OF TORAH. PLEASE TREAT IT WITH DUE RESPECT.
OHRNET is available from several sources: ×× E-MAIL VIA INTERNET: Write to [email protected] for information. WORLD WIDE WEB: Our address is: www.ohr.org.il FAX AND REGULAR MAIL WITHIN ISRAEL: To subscribe, mail us a letter, or fax a request with ×× × × your name & fax number to 02-581-2890. US-MAIL WITHIN NORTH AMERICA: Call 1-800-431-2272 for subscription information. ×× ×× You can submit your questions to ASK THE RABBI with your web browser at http://www.asktherabbi.org Or to use standard E-Mail address it to ..... [email protected] To insure correct handling set the subject to ASK THE RABBI.
2 continued from page one PARSHA INSIGHTS loves the poor why doesnt He gives us the job to do, even though one who understands intimately feed them? Rabbi Akiva answered were really not helping Him at the individual natures of those he that the poor give us more than we all. leads. No one can know us as G-d give them for through giving knows us. Thus Moshe prayed them tzedaka, they save us from KINDRED SPIRIT that whoever would replace him gehinom (purgatory). Moshe spoke to Hashem, saying: should resemble G-ds quality of Rabbi Akiva was saying that, of May Hashem, the G-d of all the spir- knowing the spirits of all the flesh; course, its Hashems job to feed its of all the flesh, appoint a man over that he should be able to intuit the the assembly. (27:15-16) the poor, but He allows us to feed needs, the virtues and the foibles them instead. And by doing he G-d of all the spir- of those that he was to lead. Hashems job for Him we earn a its is an unusual far greater reward. We are like T Sources: Tphrase. What was the little boy setting the table for The Turn Of The Screw - Rashi, Midrash Moshe hinting to when he Helping Daddy - Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, ztl Shabbos. Of course, Hashem can addressed Hashem thus? Kindred Spirit - Rashi feed the poor Himself, but He The best kind of leader is some-
I DIDNT KNOW THAT!
Why did the Torah require a wheat offering on Shavuos? On Shavuos, judgment is passed on the fruit harvest of the entire year. We offer a wheat offering so that Hashem should bless the fruit trees. But what is the connection between wheat and fruit? Rashi explains that wheat is considered a type of fruit, since before Adam sinned, wheat grew on a tree. After Mashiachs arrival it will do so again. Rosh Hashana 16a BONUS QUESTION?
m having difficulty. The person whom Im cur- thoughts of repentance, a high place was forged for them IIrently investigating has a clever way of evading all in gehinom which saved them from falling all the way in. my questions. I cant tolerate a statement which What one little thought can do, sighed Sherlox. is neither here nor there, said world famous detextive But Mr. Holmes, we have a rule: Rashi doesnt resort Sherlox Holmes. to a midrash unless there is a textual need to do so. What Im also having difficulty, said Watstein. Im having is it about the above verse that needs explaining? Why difficulty with the following verse. The text says: And the cant the verse be understood in the simple sense: The sons of Korach didnt die (Bamidbar 26:11). Rashi explains sons of Korach didnt die? Whats bothering Rashi? with a midrash which states that they, too, fell into gehi- I cant tolerate a statement which is neither here nor nom (purgatory); yet because at the last moment they had there, said Sherlox. answer on page eight
Weekly Parsha newsletter, Monthly Seasons of the Moon, Weekly Daf, Ask the Rabbi, Holiday specials, Ohrnet magazine, Yossi & Co., Poetry, Essays on Jewish thought and contemporary issues, Excerpts of books by Ohr Somayach faculty, Audio catalog on-line, Jewish Educational Extensions - University on-line, Explore Jerusalem, Mark Twains Concerning the Jews, JLE summer & winter programs in Israel, ChoppedLiver cartoons, Meet the children of Odessa, The Center for Torah Studies, A road map to Jewish learning, Top Ten lists, and much, much more...a billion and a half bytes of Torah literature and information. Join tens of thousands of other people from around the world and...get connected to Ohr Somayach on the Web at... WWW.OHR.ORG.IL.OHR.ORG.IL
3 Insights, explanations and comments for the seven pages of Talmud studied in the course of the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle. WEEKLY DAF
ERUVIN 70 - 76
such a strong bond between a Torah teacher and his stu- ONE MANS FAMILY dents and the students with one another that they too can be formed into a single family unit. n eruv chatzeros is required in order to permit carry- Eruvin 73a A ing on Shabbos from a house to the courtyard when Athere are a number of houses of individual owners WHAT MAKES A WINDOW opening to a common courtyard. But what if all the hous- es are occupied by members of the same family? The mishna informs us that if all the houses are occupied hen can the residents of two adjoining courtyards by different sons of the same man who eat and sleep in make a joint eruv to permit carrying from one to those houses then no eruv is required, provided all the sons WWthe other? receive their allowance for food from their father. This If there is a passageway in the wall between the two, common dependence forms them into a single unit for there is no question that such an arrangement can be made. which no eruv is necessary. But if there is only a window connecting the two and the The gemara extends this rule to the wives (when residents of the courtyards wish to pass objects through polygamy was still permissible) or the servants who sleep that window, the window must be at least four hand- and eat in their individual houses but rely on the head of the breadths by four handbreadths in size in order to connect house for their support. A question is raised in regard to them. Torah students who sleep and eat in their own houses but What is the reason for these particular dimensions? rely on their teacher for their support. The issue is One possibility is that they are determined by the rule of resolved by quoting the historical precedents of the Sage lavud which states that any separation less than a certain Rav when he studied by his teacher Rabbi Chiya and that of minimum is considered as being nonexistent. This rule, Rabbi Chiya himself when he studied by the Sage Rebbi. In which is a halacha leMoshe miSinai (a law received by Moshe both cases it was ruled that no eruv was necessary because Rabbeinu at Mount Sinai but not recorded in the written the students depended on the teacher for their food. Torah) is applied in many places throughout the Talmud. It Why did the gemara even assume that there might be a appeared in our own Mesechta (Eruvin 9a) in regard to a difference between the relationship of student-teacher and korah crossbeam placed at the entry to a mavoi street which that of father-son, husband-wife and master-servant? did not quite reach all the way to the walls on which it was There are two dimensions to the formation of a single supposed to rest. unit from disparate elements. One is the relationship of the But if lavud is the issue, then we must conclude that our dependents to the source of their support. The other is the mishna beginning the seventh perek is in accordance with relationship of the dependents to each other. the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, that any separa- In the case of sons and a father or wives and a husband, tion less than four handbreaths is considered as nonexis- there are familial and legal bonds connecting each of the tent. The majority opinion of the Sages, however, is that dependents to the head of the family as well as to each lavud applies only if the separation is less than three hand- other, which are forged into a single unit by the economic breaths. factor of dependence. Even in the case of servants and The gemara rejects this apparent support for the minor- their master there is a relationship of labor obligations ity opinion. Our mishna is indeed consistent with the which serves as the link connecting servant and master and majority view that lavud is inapplicable once there is a sep- servants to each other. When it comes to a student, how- aration of three handbreadths or more. But even if such a ever, there is neither family bond nor any legal obligation to separation exists, we cannot consider the two courtyards form a link to the teacher or to each other. This gave rise as linked because anything less than four by four cannot to the consideration that they cannot be formed into a sin- qualify as a connecting passageway. gle unit through common dependence alone. Eruvin 76a The historical precedents cited teach us that there is
Ever Consider a Career in Rabbonus, Outreach or Education? THE OHR LAGOLAH LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE A Two-Year Kollel and Training Program Based in Jerusalem is interviewing qualified Bnei Torah interested in training for careers in chinuch, rabbonus and kiruv for the academic year beginning Elul 5758
Generous stipends will be available for qualifying candidates
FOR AN APPOINTMENT PLEASE CONTACT RABBI MOSHE LAZERUS SUN - THU 9 AM - 5 PM AT TEL: 02-581-0315 OR FAX: 972-2-581-2890 EMAIL: [email protected]
4 PARSHA Q&A ?
1. Why was Pinchas not originally a kohen? ly receive? 2. Why was Moav spared the fate of Midian? 11. Why did the decree to die in the desert not apply to 3. Why was Moshe commanded to conduct a census the women? after the plague? 12. What trait did the daughters of Tzlofchad exhibit that 4. To which family name were the letters yud and heh not was exhibited by their ancestor Yosef? added? Why not? 13. Why does the Torah change the order of the names 5. The Torah states that Korach and his congregation of the daughters of Tzlofchad in different places? became a sign. What do they signify? 14. Tzlofchad died because of his own sin. What was it? 6. Why did Korachs children survive? 15. When asking Hashem to appoint a successor, why did 7. In Bereishis 35:18, Rachel named her younger son Ben Moshe use the phrase Hashem of the spirits of all Oni (my unfortunate son). How was her prophecy flesh? fulfilled? 16. Moshe put some of his glory upon Yehoshua. 8. Who was the only living granddaughter of Yaakov at What does this mean? the time of the census? 17. Where were the daily offerings slaughtered? 9. How long did it take to conquer the Land? How long 18. Goats are brought as musaf sin-offerings. For what to divide the Land? sin do they atone? 10. Two brothers come out of Egypt and die in the mid- 19. Why is Shavuos called Yom HaBikkurim (the day of bar. One brother has three sons. The other broth- the first-fruits)? er has only one son, Ploni. When these four cousins 20. What do the seventy bullocks offered on Succos sym- enter the Land, how many portions will Ploni actual- bolize?
PARSHA Q&A!
Answers to this Weeks Questions! All references are to the verses and Rashis commentary unless otherwise stated. 1. 25:13 - The kehuna priesthood 6. 26:11 - Although they originally after the sin of the meraglim. was given to Aharon and his participated in the plot against 15. 27:16 - He was asking Hashem, sons (not grandsons), and to any Moshe, they repented and were who understands the multitude of their descendants who would spared. of dispositions among the Jewish be born after they were anoint- 7. 26:24 - Binyamin had ten sons, only People, to appoint a leader who ed. Pinchas, Aharons grandson, five of whose descendants can deal with each person was born prior to the anointing. entered Eretz Yisrael. Also, nearly according to that persons 2. 25:18 - For the sake of Ruth, a the entire Tribe of Binyamin was nature. future descendant of Moav. destroyed in the incident of 16. 27:20 - That Yehoshuas face also 3. 26:1 - Like a shepherd counts his pilegesh bGivah (Shoftim 20:35). shone. Moshes face beamed flock after it has been ravaged 8. 26:46 - Serach bas Asher like the sun, Yehoshuas face by wolves, G-d wanted to count 9. 26:53 - Seven years to conquer, beamed like the moon. his children who had survived and seven years to divide. 17. 28:3 - At a spot opposite the the plague. Alternatively, when 10. 26:55 - Two portions. sun. The morning offering was the people left Egypt they were 11. 26:64 - In the incident of the slaughtered on the western side given over to Moshe with a meraglim only the men wished of the slaughtering area, and the counting; now that Moshe was to return to Egypt. The women afternoon offering on the east- near death, he wanted to return wanted to enter Eretz Yisrael. ern side. them with a counting. 12. 27:1 - Love for the Land of 18. 28:15 - For ritual defilement of 4. 26:5 - Yimnah, because the name Israel. the Sanctuary or its vessels, of Yimnah already has its own yud 13. 27:1 - To teach that they were which no one is cognizant. and heh at the beginning and equal in greatness. 19. 28:26 - Two loaves of bread end. 14. 27:3 - According to Rabbi Akiva, were brought as an offering on 5. 26:10 - They are a reminder that Tzlofchad was the one who Shavuos. They were the first of the kehuna was given forever to gathered sticks on Shabbos. the wheat-offerings brought Aharon and to his descendants, According to Rabbi Shimon, from the new grain. and that no non-kohen should Tzlofchad was among those who 20. 29:18 - They allude to the seven- ever dispute this right. attempted to enter Eretz Yisrael ty nations of the world.
5 WWW.ASKtheRABBI.ORG
ever tried explaining your dilemma to IN-LAWS AND your employers? Maybe they will give MASADA AND SUICIDE you one day off per month. Or per- SHABBAT LAW haps half a day is enough. Why not Marisa Yentel consider moving? Maybe you will find from Cordoba, Argentina a better job in Tel Aviv.
6 WWW.ASKtheRABBI.ORG
Dear Barnet Shapiro, wailing wall and would like to know if the rumors are Your question is dealt with by the early commenta- rumors or if theyre true. If its true, can you also give tors. One answer given is as follows: One does not me details? make a beracha on an action which is dependent on another persons acceptance, as there is a chance that Dear Michael Vincen Obar, the other person might not accept and hence the beracha would in vain. Actually it is impossible that Goliaths skull or anything would be buried in the vicinity of the Western Wall for Sources: two reasons: Teshuvot Rashba Vol. 1 ch. 18, 254 and Vol. 3 ch. 283 and affiliated to Ramban 189 1) No one was ever buried in the Old City of Ketuboth 40a Jerusalem. 2) The Temple had to be pure, and any dead body (or GOLIATHS SKULL parts thereof) would be a source of ritual defilement.
In the Book of Samuel I, 17:54-55 it states that David Michael Vincen Obar from Sisters, Oregon brought the head to Jerusalem to show Saul, but it does
In Parshas Balak, I note that according to the above, a baal korei who reads k-ohalim nitayu instead of k-ahalim (or k-aholim) nitayu will change the meaning and his con- PUBLIC gregation will not have fulfilled the requirement of the read- ing of the Torah. DOMAIN Ahal is probably Aloe, the aloe vera that is now a pop- Comments, quibbles and reactions ular ingredient in shampoos, including some sold here in concerning previous Ohrnet features Israel. On another note, although you are right that a follar is Re: Si, Si, Signor (Ohrnet Bamidbar): mentioned in Yerusalmi Peah as a (very small) coin current in the time of the Talmud, the fuller of which Ms. Block Theres no prohibition against naming a son after a living heard were probably those people called fullers in English, father. Wouldnt there be a halachic problem in that chil- people whose job was making used woolen garments look dren are not supposed to use their parents names in their more like new (more full) people who would today be parents presence? The siblings of such a child would violate called dry cleaners. The term fuller is often used in trans- this when using their brothers name in their parents pres- lations and English commentaries for these people (see ence. Isaiah 7:3). For that matter, the Mr. Fuller who started the Basya Meyer
Re: Ohel and Fuller (Ohrnet Behaaloscha): Ohrnet Lights Up the Internet
Thank you for the lovely Ohrnet on Parshas Behaaloscha I think its great that you have this web site so that both that I picked up at the minyan of Bnei Yeshivot in Telz-Stone. observant and non- observant people with the Internet can Some comments: Ahal is not ohel: It occurs in the plural have something worthwhile to read. Also I think that your (ahalos or ahalim) with a chataf-patach under the alef and a regular feature, The Other Side of the Story gives a per- kamatz under the heh, indicating that the singular should son a different lookout on life; for example, not judging as have a kamatz under each (like davar/dvarim), and so should quickly as we may want to. be written ahal, and not confused with ohel, a tent. J. Krakauer
7
THE OTHER SIDE GIVING PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT SIDE OF THE STORY When... WHEN speaking to another, WHEN inclined to criticize, Guard against a thoughtless word; Think before you speak; Spoken, it cant be retracted, See things through anothers eyes. In the air its like a bird. Maybe yours are weak.
WHEN your daughters bought some satins WHEN you overhear some gossip, In the colors you abhor, Dont believe a single word. Try to say you like the patterns. Change the subject, make an exit, (It could be that she knows more.) Forget completely all you heard. See both sides of every story; WHEN she shows a finished garment Weigh your words. Into which shes put her heart, Dont try to judge. Dont display your disapproval Merit is achieved by silence. Tearing everything apart. Never, ever, bear a grudge.
WHEN you hear some tittle tattle, WHEN you see the unexpected, Someone saying what theyve heard, Think not you have found them out. Dont believe their idle prattle, There could be an explanation. Likely it has been mis-heard. GIVE the BENEFIT of the DOUBT. Excerpted from a poem by Lesley Hamilton
YIDDLE RIDDLE
Please fill in the missing 5 numbers in the following sequence:
15, 16, 115, 116, 215, 216,___, ___, ___, ___, ___ , ___, 315, 316. Riddle Submitted by Lev Seltzer
ad the verse meant that the sons of Korach lived, It indicates that the situation is bleak indeed; that he is HHit would have said so, said Sherlox. hanging between life and death. His only claim to life is that hes not dead ... yet. How so? asked Watstein. Here too, by telling us they didnt die, the verse indicates The verse would have said: The sons of Korach lived. The that their situation was indeed not a good one, that they were verse did not say this, but rather chose the round-about way, not quite alive and not quite dead; rather they were hanging saying that they didnt die. somewhere in limbo between the two states. What is the implication? asked Watstein. They were neither here nor there! said Watstein. Let me give you an analogy. Lets say you are asking about Indeed, said Sherlox. the health of a patient at the hospital, and they tell you he isnt dead; what does that indicate? Based on Devek Tov
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
RAMBAN SEFER HACHINUCH 26:57 Counting the Leviim 400 Inheritance 27:9 Inheritance 401 The Daily Sacrifices 28:2 The Daily Offerings 405 Shofar 7:13 Gifts of the Nesiim
8