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Kiruv Rechokim: Not Just for Professionals

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Kiruv Rechokim: Not Just for Professionals Outreach as a Value Rabbi Benjamin Yudin in Halacha and Jewish Faculty, JSS, Yeshiva University Thought Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ KIRUV RECHOKIM: NOT JUST FOR PROFESSIONALS e find ourselves well Interestingly, the Navi Yeshayah verse describing who Avraham took into Sefer Bereishis, called Avraham Avinu “ohavi” (41:8), with him on his journey to Canaan and I believe there meaning “the one I love.” Why is he (Bereishis 12:5), v’es hanefesh asher areW no biblical stories, only Bible rewarded with this most honorable asu biCharan, “the souls they made lessons. Why doesn’t the Torah, our title? I believe that as Rashi teaches in Charan,” is understood by the Constitution, begin with hachodesh (Bereishis 18:1), ve’atah siman Rambam Hilchos Avodah Zarah (1:3) hazeh lachem (this month is for you livanecha, Avraham is the model for to mean the many tens of thousands — Shemos ch. 12) and its flow of his descendants, in that everyone he brought under the wings of the mitzvos? After all, other constitutions desires to be a beloved of Hashem. Divine, educating masses of the do not provide any biographical So how do we achieve this honorable existence and Divine providence of material regarding its authors or their title? The Chafetz Chaim, in his Hashem. contemporaries. Why the details of introduction to the sefer Chomas The Torah honors the Jewish people the lives of the Avos and Yosef and Ha-Das, postulates that Avraham is by referring to them in Devarim his brothers? This is much more than called because he fulfilled the ohavi (14:1), banim atem laHashem, “you d’rosh vekabel s’char (study and receive obligation/privilege of ve’ahavta es are children of Hashem.” Therefore, reward). As a prerequisite to the 613 Hashem Elokecha (you shall love when we experience the loss of a laws of the Torah, the Torah provides Hashem Your G-d), understood by close relative, the Ramban on this a picture, a road map of how to live the Talmud, Yoma 86a, and by the verse citing our Rabbis, teaches that our lives with the distinctive laws of Sifri as making Hashem beloved to the we are not to mourn excessively, as Shabbos, kashrus, and not charging masses. Others should come to love Hashem, our Father, will comfort us. interest on loans one to another. G-d by observing our actions. The 28 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5780 As He comforts us, we owe it to Him understands it as he proclaimed the teachers? Most of us are in business to comfort Him. Just as the father is name — the identity of G-d to all. or other professions and vocations. most happy and comforted when his Avraham was the first to engage in The answer is that we are all charged children are united and come close to kiruv rechokim. Yitzchak also assumed and have the capacity to positively him, similarly when the Jewish people the role of reaching out and touching influence others, be it our peers in the are united in their service of Hashem, many more souls, as we are taught workplace, at social gatherings and at and act in a brotherly manner to each and noted by the Sforno, Bereishis Shabbos and Yom Tov tables. other, this brings Him much nachas. (26:5), that initially Hashem blesses Why are we all charged to be Moreover, if we love our friend, we Yitzchak because of his father’s concerned about the spiritual well- cannot tolerate others attacking and accomplishments. However, after being of the others? I would like to degrading him. Similarly, our love Yitzchak builds an altar (26:25) and share five different approaches. and allegiance to Hashem should not preaches/teaches to the masses, allow us to sit by idly while others he is privileged to warrant his own I. Upon entering the Land of Israel, profane His name, and dishonor Divine communication. Regarding the Jewish nation became arayvim Him by their neglect and disregard Yaakov, continues the Sforno, the — responsible one for another. This of his mitzvos. Mesilas Yesharim (19) Torah does not tell us that he was means, explains the Ritvah, that even cites the verse in Mishlei (28:4), blessed in the merit of his father, since if I have fulfilled my mitzvah, but “those who forsake the Torah praise from his childhood on he was the another Jew nearby has not, if I can the wicked and the keepers of Torah yoshev ohalim, understood to mean assist or influence him to perform the contend with them.” We must be the l’lmod u’lilamed — he was meant to mitzvah and I don’t, my mitzvah is challengers, challenging those who study and enlighten others with his incomplete until the next one fulfills don’t yet believe in the Oral Law and knowledge. This was especially so at the mitzvah. On a metaphysical level those whose lives are devoid of Jewish the Yeshiva of Shem viAver, the place the Jewish people are considered observance. King David in Tehilim where those seeking to learn about one soul, and therefore, a part of us (97:10) teaches “ohavay Hashem Hashem gravitated. is lacking if another Jew does not ,” lovers of Hashem despise participate in Torah and mitzvos. sinu rah The Talmud inSuccah (49b) evil. In addition, we are taught ain elaborates on the praise attributed to Moreover, the term arev literally HaKadosh Baruch Ho ohaiv elah mi the first Matriarch Sarah, and which means “co-signer.” If I co-signed a loan she’ohaiv es Yisroel — God loves those is recited/sung Friday night to extol on someone’s behalf and the borrower who love the Jewish people. We can the woman of the home. “Pihah was going to invest the money in a show no greater love to the Jewish paschah bichachma visoras chesed al venture that I felt very strongly would people than by returning those of His lishonah — her mouth opens with not succeed, I would do everything in children that have become estranged wisdom and the Torah of kindness is my power to dissuade the borrower from their Father in Heaven. Our on her tongue.” Asks the Talmud, is from squandering the money and showing patience, love, and respect there a Torah of chesed and one not investing foolishly, since this could to the not-yet learned and observant of chesed? The Talmud answers in negatively affect my pocketbook. Jewish communities is our way of the affirmative. Torah that is shared is Here too, the Torah (Vayikra 19:17) demonstrating our love for Him. Toras chesed. Torah that is not shared ordains that we are to rebuke our We are taught that when Avraham is not a Torah of chesed. Torah is neighbors and not suffer sins on their first arrives in Canaan, Hashem meant not only to be studied, but behalf. The Talmud,Sanhedrin 27b, immediately informs him that this taught to others. understands this to mean that if I land is his and for his progeny that could have prevented another Jew Indeed, every morning, in the second from violating a Torah law, and chose will be forthcoming. Avraham’s bracha recited before the Shma, we response was to build a mizbayach to mind my own business, I receive petition Hashem to assist us lilmod (Bereishis 12:8) “And he called in the part of the sin that could have been ulilamed, to study and teach and prevented. name of Hashem.” Targum Unkelus perform all the tenets of your Torah. understands this to mean that he The immediate question is, are we all II. The obligation to bemekarev prayed to Hashem. The Ramban rechokim is derived from the biblical 29 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5780 mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, the the mitzvah of tzedakah. endeavor. However, with our busy, returning of a lost object. The Torah hectic schedules and limited time for IV. The Talmud,Shabbos (31a), our own Torah study, and recognizing stresses the great responsibility and informs us of the six questions that that the study of Torah surpasses all effort that we must exert to prevent await when in the next world we need other activities, we justify having the financial loss of our Jewish to give an accounting of our life. One neighbor. The Talmud no time for kiruv rechokim. We are Sanhedrin of these questions is tzipisa liyishua making a grave error and are missing (73a) teaches that if we are obligated — did you yearn for the redemption? out on an important aspect of Talmud to busy ourselves and show great We are not only to pray thrice daily for concern for the material losses of the Torah. The RambamHilchos Talmud the geula, but the Rambam, Hilchos next one, all the more so regarding Torah (1:2) explains that an intrinsic Tshuva (7:5) sides with the opinion aspect of Torah study is to teach Torah spiritual losses of the next one. The of Rebbe Eliezer that the redemption to others. Similarly, the Rambam Ohr Hachayim actually learns this will not come until the Jewish in his (pos. #11) concept from the very text of the people repent. Moreover, the Torah, Sefer HaMitzvos — writes that Talmud Torah is defined mitzvah to return a lost object. He Devarim (30:2) has assured us that as , to study understands the directive, Devarim the Jewish people will do tshuva. Rav lilmod Torah ulilamdah — Torah and to teach to others.
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