Building a National Family

בס“ד Parshat Reeh 30 Av, 5776/September 3, 2016 Vol. 8 Num. 2 This issue of Toronto Torah is sponsored by Mervyn and Joyce Fried, and Asher and Annette Breatross, on the occasion of their son Tzvi’s marriage to Dali Balaban of Toronto. Mazal tov! Building a National Family Rabbi Jonathan Ziring “Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said to the Jews surround themselves with Ramban and Ibn Ezra together, this them: Go out and see, what is the positive influences. Hence, he discusses mitzvah reminds the Jews that they are straight path that a man should the laws of establishing a court system, the “family members” of G-d, tasked follow?... Rabbi Yehoshua said: A good including the roles of both judges and with a mission. With their destiny in friend. Rabbi Yosi said: A good enforcers. He outlines the place in mind, they should naturally avoid all neighbour... He said to them: Go out society of the Kohanim and Leviim, the who would hinder their path forward, and see, what is the evil path that a ritual and educational leaders. Moshe and seek out those who will aid in the man should avoid?... Rabbi Yehoshua tells the Jews they will have no need for fulfillment of their goals. said: A bad friend. Rabbi Yosi said: A necromancers, because they will have bad neighbour.” (Avot 2:9) prophets who can convey the word of Our Sages saw yet another mitzvah G-d to them. [For more on these embedded in these verses. “Lo titgodedu In Moshe’s final days, his last task is themes, see Rabbi Menachem Leibtag’s – lo ta’asu agudot agudot – do not make to prepare the Jewish people to enter discussion of them, here: http:// many groups” (Yevamot 13b). The the Land of Israel and establish a tanach.org/dvarim/reay2.txt.] rabbis understood that this verse country founded on the Torah and all enjoined Jewish leaders to avoid it represents. Thus, he outlines or The pivot, between cautioning against factionalism, working together to come reiterates the mitzvot that are most exposure to negative influences and to agreement and not issue contrary relevant for nationhood (such as the pushing to find positive ones, takes legal positions within single laws of court systems and the army) place in Devarim 14. “You are children communities. Whether this is because and inspires the Jews to develop of Hashem your G-d. Do not gash we want to avoid machloket (Rambam, perspectives and attitudes crucial to yourselves or shave between your eyes Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 12:14), or living full religious lives (such as love because of the dead. For you are a holy because we don’t want the Torah to look and fear of G-d). people for Hashem your G-d: Hashem like two Torot (Rashi to above), this law your G-d chose you from among all requires leaders to speak, as much as Towards these ends, Moshe cautions other peoples on earth to be His possible, with a single voice and present the Jews that their commitment will be treasured people.” What about these few a unified vision. threatened if they surround words explains the transition between themselves with the wrong influences. these two aspects of Moshe’s This is the connective tissue between Thus, in Parshat Re’eh, Moshe warns exhortation? the messages of Re’eh and Shoftim. It is the Jews to: not enough to avoid those whose Destroy the idols of the native The question of who the Jewish people negative influence is apparent. If leaders nations (12:2-3). should associate with comes down to want to inspire their people to realize its Not fall under the sway of the gods the question of who we are, an idea purpose, they must be united. of those nations (12:29-31). which is at the core of the mitzvah in Infighting, even for the sake of G-d, can Ignore the words of, and execute, this passage. As Ibn Ezra writes, the disenchant people and hinder their false prophets (13:2-6). Jews are forbidden from mourning too progress as much as exposure to Have no mercy on those who much because they must know that external temptations. Thus, even if we tempt them to serve idols, even they are the children of G-d, and He is each contribute in our own ways, we intimate family members (13:7- watching them lovingly, ensuring that cannot forget that we are a family, 12). things will work out for the best. together seeking to ensure that our Eradicate the ir hanidachat, the Ramban notes that this commandment Father’s values find proper expression city that has shifted its allegiance was already given to the Kohanim in in the world we build. and worshiped idols (13:13-19). Vayikra (25:1). Its repetition here for all Jews highlights that every Jew is holy [email protected] In the following parshah of Shoftim, on and must strive to act accordingly; the the other hand, Moshe demands that Jewish people are all kohanim. Taking OUR BEIT MIDRASH ROSH BEIT MIDRASH ABBI ORDECHAI ORCZYNER R M T SGAN ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI JONATHAN ZIRING AVREICHIM DAM RIEDMANN ARON EREZ A F , Y P WOMEN’S BEIT MIDRASH RS RA IRING RS LLIEZRA EREZ M . O Z , M . E P CHAVERIM EZER DIENA, NADAV GASNER, RYAN JENAH, CHEZKY MECKLER, ZACK MINCER, MOSHE OSTRIKER, RONI PEREZ, YISRAEL RAGOSIN, AARON ROSENFELD, EZRA SCHWARTZ, ARIEL SHIELDS, DAVID SUTTNER, DAVID TOBIS, DAVID ZARKHINE We are grateful to Continental Press 905-660-0311 Book Review: When G-d is Near Rabbi Baruch Weintraub When G-d is Near: On the High What is the goal of the book? be said. These types of insights, Holidays For the casual reader, this book is a intellectually rich with deep emotional Rabbi Yehudah Amital continual source of fresh and implications, are abundant throughout Maggid Press, English (2015) innovative ideas for Elul and the the book. ensuing holidays. Rabbi Amital, a Who is the author of the book? creative thinker, pushes us to renew Are there any ideas for Elul? While the answer to this question and breathe new life into our All of the above is more than enough, seems to be answered in the title, Rabbi sometimes worn out perceptions of the in this reviewer’s opinion, to justify Yoel Amital, son of Rabbi Yehudah Days of Awe. investing the time to read and learn Amital zt”l and editor of the book, Rabbi Amital’s sichot. However, there suggests that his father saw it For example, Rabbi Amital explains is other important material. Rabbi Yoel differently. Rabbi Yehudah Amital why our Sages saw the shofar as Amital decided to include in the book consistently related to it as Rabbi Yoel’s linked to the ram in the Akeidah: not only the sichot given by his father book, referring to “what you wrote…”. Avraham, after being stopped from on the holidays themselves, but also This remark reveals something deep sacrificing his only son, was deeply two sichot given at the beginning of about my mentor, Rabbi Yehudah moved and full of emotions, aching for Elul, which in the Yeshiva also marks Amital - how he understood the power a way to express his internal devotion the beginning of a new year. Reading his sichot (oral teachings). He realized to his Creator. At that exact moment, the words of Rabbi Amital inviting us that the written and spoken words work G-d introduced the ram, which to re-enter the world of learning will differently. Therefore, although these immediately became a vehicle for remind students of this sharp and are his sichot, it is his son’s book. Avraham to say that which could not fresh sense of beginning anew, eager to Although the written word cannot be put into words. In the same way, make ourselves and the world better. entirely capture the richness and concludes Rabbi Amital, we stand sincerity of the original speech, the before G-d on Rosh Hashanah, unable [email protected] essential ideas and morals of the Rosh to speak even the sacred words of Yeshiva come through with strength prayer – so G-d gives us the shofar, a and clarity in the pages of this book. vehicle to express that which cannot Israel’s Rabbis: Rabbi Isser Yehuda Unterman Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner Rabbi Isser Yehuda Unterman behalf in synagogues before blowing shofar on Rosh Born in 1886 in Brest-Litovsk (Brisk) HaShanah, and before maariv on Yom Kippur. One of Rabbi Passed away in 1976 in Jerusalem Unterman’s most controversial leniencies was to accept the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, 1946-1964 conversions of non-Jewish Russians who married Jews, and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1964-1972 made aliyah, without fully practicing Judaism. Biography Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Rabbi In his youth, Rabbi Isser Yehuda Unterman studied under Unterman addressed major issues in medical halachah, Rabbi Shimon Shkop and Rabbi Raphael Shapiro; he quickly taking positions which remain influential today. Rabbi became known as “the Ilui [prodigy] of Brisk”. After receiving Unterman ruled that saving a patient’s vision is the halachic ordination, Rabbi Unterman held rabbinic roles in Lithuania equal of saving a life (Yabia Omer 3:Yoreh Deah 23:30). He from 1910 until 1924. At first, Rabbi Unterman founded a opined that a fetus is fully alive even in the earliest stages, yeshiva and taught advanced students, but throat difficulties such that abortion is prohibited in most cases (Shevet forced him to retire from full teaching, in favour of the pulpit.

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