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SHABBAT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Mincha 6:35pm SUNDAY
Shir Hashirim: 7:05pm Baruch Hashem we started our Daily Shaharit: 7:30am Candle Lighting: 6:31pm Morning Shiur at 6:10am on Hilchot Minha 6:35pm Shaharit: 8:30am Followed by Arvit & Youth Minyan: 9:00am Nida before Shaharit New Participants Teenager Program Zeman Keriat Shema 9:39am Welcome! nd 2 Zeman Keriat Shema 10:13am MONDAY TO FRIDAY Daf Yomi 4:40pm Birkat Halebana BH this Mosae Shiur: 5:25pm Shabbat Shiur 6:10am Avot Ubanim Recess Earliest Talit 6:43am Minha: 6:10 pm Shaharit 6:50am Followed by Seudat Shelishit & Hillula of Rahel Imenu is this Shabbat Hodu Approx: 7:05am Arvit the 11th of Heshvan. Shiur in Spanish 5:40pm Shabbat Ends: 7:31pm Minha: 6:35pm Rabbenu Tam 8:01pm Followed By Arbit & Shiur in English
We would like to remind our Kahal Kadosh to please Donate wholeheartedly towards our Beautiful Kehila. Anyone interested in donating for any occasion, Avot Ubanim $120, Kiddush $350, Seudat Shelishit $275, Weekly Bulletin $150, Daf Yomi $180, Daf Yomi Masechet $2500, Weekly Breakfast $150, Weekly Learning $500, Monthly Rent $3500, & Monthly Learning $2000, Please contact the Rabbi. Thanking you in advance for your generous support. Tizke Lemitzvot!
בס''ד Refuah Shelema List Men Women
• Yosef Zvi Ben Sara Yosefia, • Isaac Ben Mesoda, • Simja Bat Esther, • Sara Ledicia Bat Mesoda, • Aviv Ben Luba Miriam, • Haim Ben Marcelle, • Mesoda Bat Esther, • Alegria Simha Bat Esther, • Mordechai Ben Brucha • Yizhak Ben Simja • Rachel Bat Sarah, • Naomie Bat Rarel Adda, Malka Shmalo, • Reuben Ben Eta, • Evelyn Bat Solita, • Malka Bat Joyce Simja, • Yizhak Abraham Ben Sheli, • Michael Ben Aliza, • Nina Bat Rachel, • Sivan Simha Bat Yehudit, • Yosef Yizhak Ben Sara Hana, • Eliel Moshe Ben • Gitel Rina Bat Yael, • Nikita Nechama Shimona • Yehudah Leon Ben Mesoda, Sarah • Miriam Bat Sofy, Bat Hava, • Mordechai Ben Miriam, • Rahma Bat Simha • Natalie Rachel Bat Nancy, • Meir Raymond Ben Hamsa • Esther Bat Fortuna • Abigael Haya Bat Esther • Salomon Benarroch Ben Alia • Malka Bat Dina • Madelaine Bat Esther • Mordechai Ben Mercedes • Nurit Jacqueline Bat Rahel
Torah Teasers (AISH)
1. What sets of Parashat of the Torah share the same root in their name? (10 sets) Example: Lech Lecha and Vayelech. 2. Aside from this parsha, where else does Hashem command Avraham with the words Lech Lecha - "Go for yourself"? 3. Which two people are called brothers but weren't? 4. Which Brit ("covenant/treaty") was made between people, and not with Hashem? 5. Which body of water, found in Israel, is mentioned in this parsha? 6. Where is Avraham called an Ivri ("the Hebrew")? Who is the only other person in the Torah called an Ivri? 7. Which birds are mentioned in this parsha? (3 answers) 8. Who was both a king and a Kohen (priest)? Who else in the book of Genesis is called a Kohen? 9. In this parsha, in what context is the number 10 mentioned? In what context is one-tenth mentioned? 10. Which article of clothing appears in this parsha, but nowhere else in the Torah? 11. Aside from Avraham and Sarah, who else in the book of Genesis is given a new name? (3 answers) Who else in the Torah is given a new name? 12. What event in this parsha occurs B'etzem hayom ha'zeh - "on that very day"? What other events in the Torah occur B'etzem hayom ha'zeh? (3 answers)
Answers
1) The following ten sets of Parashat share the same root: (1) Lech Lecha and Vayelech, (2) Vayera, Va'era and Re'eh, (3) Chayei Sarah and Vayechi, (4) Vayetze and Ki Tetze, (5) Vayishlach, Beshalach and Shlach, (6) Bo and Ki Tavo, (7) Mishpatim and Shoftim, (8) Tetzaveh and Tzav, (9) Ki Tisa and Naso, (10) Bechukotai and Chukat. 2) When Hashem tells Avraham to sacrifice his son, He says Lech Lecha - "And go to the land of Moriah" (Genesis 22:2). 3) Avraham refers to Lot and himself as "brothers" (Genesis 13:8). Avraham was actually the uncle of Lot (Genesis 11:27). 4) Avraham makes a Brit with three men in Genesis 14:13. 5) The Dead Sea, is mentioned in conjunction with the war of the four and the five kings (Genesis 14:3). 6) When the refugee informs of the capture of Lot, Avraha m is referred to as HaIvri (Genesis 14:13). It is the only place where he is called this. Yosef is the only other person called an Irvi, by the wife of Potiphar (Genesis 39:14), and by the butler when he informs Pharaoh of Yosef's ability to interpret dreams (Genesis 41:12). 7) Three birds appear in the parsha: turtledove, young dove and vulture (Genesis 15:9, 11). The first two were used as part of the Brit Bein HaBetarim, and the last one came to eat the carcasses of the dead animals and birds.
8) Malchei-Tzedek was both the king of Shalem and "a priest to the G-d above" (14:18). Later, Yosef marries the daughter of Poti-Phera who was the
"priest of On" (Genesis 41:45).
9) Avraham and Sarah wait 10 years in the land of Canaan before Avraham marries Hagar (Genesis 15:3). Avraham gave one-tenth of everything to
Malchei-Tzedek (Genesis 14:20).
10) Avraham tells the king of Sodom that he will not even take a shoelace from the spoils of war (Genesis 14:23). (Genesis 32:29) 11) The name of Yaakov is changed to Yisrael - both by the angel he fought and by Hashem (35:10). The name of Yosef is changed by Pharaoh to Tzafnat Pane'ach (Genesis 41:45). Benyamin's original birth name was Ben-Oni, later called Benyamin (Genesis 35:18). Moshe changes the name of Hoshea Bin Nun to Yehoshua (Numbers 13:16).
12) Avraham gives all the members of his household a Brit Milah "on that very day" he is commanded (Genesis 17:23, 26). The same expression is used when Noach enters the Ark with his family (Genesis 7:13), when Hashem takes Jews out of Egypt (Exodus 12:17), and when Hashem tells Moshe to ascend Har Nevo to visually survey the Land of Israel before his death (Deut. 32:48 with Rashi).
If anyone would like to contact the Rabbi, please feel free
to call or text 786-879-4951, or email [email protected].
בס''ד Community Announcements
(It is YOUR Community, make the most of it!)
Miscellaneous Announcements:
• This Week’s Congregational Kiddush is still available for Sponsorship!
• The Kiddush Club Initiative. Anyone interested donating a Kiddush Please kindly contact the Rabbi. Tizke
Lemizvot!
• is still available for Sponsorship. This Week’s Congregational Seudat Shelishit
• This Week’s Breakfast has been Kindly Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Behar Leiluy Nishmat Harishon
Le tzion Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.
Anyone interested in sponsoring Breakfast for this week or on any day please contact the Rabbi.
• This Week’s Daf Yomi has been Kindly Sponsored by our Dear Friend Mr. & Mrs. Albert Belecen in th memory of his Dear Father Shelom the 15 of Heshvan. Tihye Nishmato Tzerura o Belecen Bar Clara z”l
Bitzror Hahayim Began Eden Amen.
• If anyone is interested in creating a weekly class in your house or an individual class with the Rabbi, please do not hesitate to
contact the Rabbi.
• We are trying to update our Congregant’s contact information. We would like to start sending texts about different Events and
Shiurim. We would also like to start emailing the weekly bulletin. We would like to start a list of Nahalot/Azkarot/Yahrzeits.
We would also like to make a Refuah Shelema list. Please send your contact information to the Rabbi at [email protected]
• Please feel free to contact any of the board members either in person, or via email with suggestions or comments. Our email
addresses are: board member’s first name @oroziel.com
Important Message!!!
Eruv Update: Surfside: The Eruv in Surfside now includes the walking paths along the beach. Pushing strollers and carrying is
permitted on the paths, but not beyond the path or onto the beach.
Bal Harbour: The Eruv in Bal Harbour included the inner (western) walking path only. The pier at Haulover Cut is not included.
• Due to the recent reorganization of seats in the Bet Hakenesset, We are happy to announce the NEW possibility of purchasing seats
in the Bet Hakenesset. For more information, please contact the Board.
Before hanging up anything anywhere in the Bet Hakenesset, please seek authorization from the Rabbi. This includes flyers etc. •
• Please be advised that prior to bringing any food or drinks for any occasion, you must first seek the authorization from the Rabbi.
Special Announcements
• We are pleased to announce that Ness 26 is part of the Amazon Charity Program, which would allow our community to
collect 0.5% of all the orders made by any of you on Amazon.com. In order to register you need to log on
smile.amazon.com and select Ness 26, Inc as the Charitable Organization you want to support, and from then shop on smile.amazon.com instead of www.amazon.com. It won’t cost anything more, and is an easy way to contribute to our budget needs. • Anyone wishing to receive the Daily Halacha by the Rabbi please send a whatsapp message to Simon Chocron 786-351- 1573
Community Calendar:
• The program for Teenaged Boys ages 13-18 Started again with Great Succes with Shiur by the Rabbi & Supper on Sunday Evenings after Arvit at around at 6:00 pm With Supper. New Participants Welcome! Anyone
wishing to sponsor this Shiur Please contact the Rabbi. Tizke Lemitzvot! Recess
• We have started the Mishmar Program Every other Thursday evening at 8:00 pm with Chulent, Beer, &
Snacks. Everyone is welcome!
Avot Ubanim: This Shabbat Afternoon at 6:20pm Recess
Youth Minyan
• We are proud to announce the inauguration of our YOUTH/TEEN MINYAN geared to train and teach our future generations on the different tefillot and parashiot.
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We would like to Whole Heartedly Thank our Dear Friends, Daniel Belecen & Abraham Benhayoun for generously Donating the TORAH LEARNING of Heshvan 5779 Leiluy Nishmat Amram Ben Abraham Benhayoun z”l 6th of Shebat, & Shelomo Belecen Ben Moshe z"l 15th of Heshvan We truly appreciate it. In this merit, may Hashem Bless you & your wonderful family with all the Berachot of the Torah Amen.
Birthdays Happy Anniversary To
Happy Birthday To nd • Rivka Benmergui – Mon. Oct 22 , th • Saadia Aquinin – Wed. Oct 24 , Nahalot th • Lea Guigui – Shabbat. Oct 27 , th th • Yitzchak Vaturi Ben Reuven z”l the 13 of Heshvan • Mrs. Esther Sitbon – Shabbat. Oct 27 , (Grandfather of Mr. Mark, Ronny, & Max Aquinin) • Yosef Avraham Becker – Mon. Oct 29th, • Shelomo Belecen Bar Clara z”l the 15th of Heshvan • Mrs. Estrella Bendahan Mon. Oct 29th, – (Father of Mr. Abraham Belecen)
th
• Saadia Aquinin – Tue. Oct 30 , • Mr. Meir Benhayoun – Tue. Oct 30th, • Shimon Shoshan – Tue. Oct 30th, Next Shabbat: th • Mr. Remy Allouche – Wed. Oct 31st, • Shaul Eisen Ben Shemuel z”l the 18 of Heshvan (Brother of Mrs. Raquel Eisen Benoudiz) (Shabbat)
th • Yizhak Nutta Moore Ben Avraham z”l the 20 of Heshvan (Father of Mr. Richard Moore)
בס''ד Community Shiurim
Weekday mornings:
• 6:10AM to 6:45AM: Laws of Nidah. New participants welcome!
• 7:30AM Shiur on Hok Leyisrael with Breakfast! Everyone Is Welcome to Join. • 7:45AM to 8:30AM: Daf Yomi Masechet Menahot. NEW DAF YOMI MASECHET! New participants are welcome! It is a great time to start learning the Daf and join thousands of Jews across the world in this incredible project.
• 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM: Mishna Berura Dirshu Cycle! New participants welcome!
Weekday afternoons:
• Before Minha o Monday through Thursday: Shiurim in Spanish on assorted topics.
• After Arvit: o Mondays & Wednesdays: Hoshen Mishpat – Business Halacha o Every Thursday evening after Arvit Hilchot Nida in Depth for Men. o Tuesday Assorted Topics
In Recess for the Summer o Monday & Tuesday at 7:00pm Masechet Berachot in French o Every other Monday evening at 8:30pm Shalom Bayit Class to Women. o Every other Tuesday evening at 8:30pm Shalom Bayit Classes to Men.
• SHIUR for Ladies! The Rabbi’s Shiur on Halachot of Kashrut NEW SERIES ON Hilchot Basar Vechalav, (Laws pertaining to Meat & Milk) to Ladies, in the Bet Hakenesset, every Tuesday afternoon at 2:05 pm. New Participants are always Welcome! In Recess
Shabbat:
• Shabbat night before Arvit: Short lecture on the Parasha of the week. • Shabbat Morning: Lecture on the Parashah of the week. • Shabbat Afternoon – Daf Yomi at 4:45pm. • Shabbat Afternoon – Shiur at 5:30pm • Spanish Shiur – with Simon Chocron One hour before Minha • Seudat Shelishit: Short lecture on the Parasha of the week.
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simila r to Avraham’s test of faith. However, an The Uniqueness of the Avot open-ended test, day after day, is much harder. (Rabbi Mansour) G-d commands Avraham to move to Erets Parashat Lech Lecha begins as G-d commands Yisrael, where there is a famine, and he must Avram to leave his home and to go to Erets leave to Egypt, where his wife is taken captive. Yisrael. The Commentators ask why the Torah Avraham experiences one problem after the uses the dual-phrase “Lech Lecha,” and not other. This test spanned years; it is harder to just “lech”? “live” a sacrifice, than to “die” in sacrifice. The Ba’al HaTurim, in his commentary to the The Mesilat Yesharim explains that every day Torah, offers two answers. First, he notes that we are tested. These are the day to day tests the numerical equivalent (gematria) of lech which we confront, and they are difficult. Great lecha is one hundred. G-d hinted to Avram that people don’t only pass their momentary tests, he would not see the blessings he was but they excel day after day. promised until he reaches the age of one --- hundred. Second, G-d hinted to Avram that he would die in one hundred years, at the age of The Ramban explains that our forefathers were one hundred and seventy-five. unique in that their actions created templates for the rest of Jewish history. This is known as -- “maaseh avot siman lebanim.” For example, he The rabbis teach us that leaving his birthplace explains that just as Avraham went in to the and traveling to an unknown destination was land of Israel and settled at Hai, years later one of the ten tests (asara niseyonot) which G- Yehoshua’s first stop when he brings the d tested Avraham. However, we might ask why people into Israel in Hai. Similarly, the Ramban this is considered to be a test, as G-d promised explains that just as Avraham went to Egypt him that he would receive children, money, and because of a famine, and G-d punishes fame. If so, this doesn’t seem to be a very Pharaoh for taking Sarah, and then Avraham is difficult test!? released and sent away with gifts, years later Among the other tests, the Midrash relates that the sons of Yaakov go to Egypt due to a Avraham threw himself into a fiery furnace famine, and after being enslaved by Pharaoh rather than worship Nimrod. One the one hand, they are set free with great wealth. Avraham this appears to be the greatest test, as created the templates for Jewish history. For Avraham was willing to sacrifice his life for G-d. this reason, it is important to carefully study the However, it appears leaving his home was lives of the avot, who created these templates greater than the other tests. The Jewish for their descendants. people, throughout history, succeed in momentary tests,
everything behind to begin a new life in a Sincerity distant land. (Rabbi Mansour) The status of this command as a “test” comes Parashat Lech-Lecha begins with Hashem’s into question, however, when we consider the command to Abraham that he should leave his continuation of the Pesukim. After instructing homeland and resettle in Eretz Yisrael. This Abraham to relocate, G-d promises him that in command is regarded as one of Abraham’s ten his new land Abraham would be blessed with tests, as he heeded G-d’s call and left great wealth, children and fame. Until that
בס''ד point, as we know, Abraham was childless and promise of reward is specifically what made this poor. Was it really such a “test” for him to heed test so difficult. They tempted Abraham to G-d’s command to move to a different place serve G-d for selfish purposes, for his own where he would bear children, become very interests, rather than as a sincere, devoted wealthy, and earn worldwide fame? If G-d servant of his Creator. would have spoken to us and issued a Let us imagine if a distinguished Sadik asked command to relocate with the same promise of us to bring him a cup of coffee, promising us $1 rew ard, wouldn’t we immediately comply? Why million in exchange. Is there any chance we was this a “test” for Abraham? would serve him the cup of coffee strictly out of The answer emerges from a closer reading of a desire to do a favor for the Sadik, and not for the Pasuk that describes Abraham’s personal gain? This was the “test” that compliance with Hashem’s command. The Abraham Abinu passed. Torah tells, “Va’yelech Abram Ka’asher Diber We, Abraham’s descendants, must strive to m went as G-d had Elav Hashem” – “Abraha serve G-d with this same degree of sincerity. spoken to him.” Abraham left his homeland and We should not be doing the Misvot for our own -d had spoken went to Eretz Yisrael only “as G selfish interests, or for personal gain. Our to him” – in order to fulfill Hashem’s primary concern and desire must be to serve command. He did not go in order to earn the our Creator with genuine devotion and love, great rewards promised to him. He was driven without any ulterior motives. solely by the sincere desire to serve G-d and do the right thing. It this turns out that the
his father’s idols, being thrown into the fiery pit, The Importance of Fairness and miraculously escaping. Why does the (Rabbi Frand from Torah.org) Torah not mention the story of Ur Kasdim at all? If It’s Not Fair, G-d Doesn’t Do It Parashat Lech Lecha begins with one of the The Ramban addresses this and teaches a great lesson. The Ramban writes that the tests of the Patriarch Avraham. “Go for yourself from your land, from your birthplace, and from annals of the history of the nations of the world from that time do not mention the story of your father’s house to the land that I will show Avraham Avinu jumping into the fiery pit. Does you.” [Bereshit 12:1] We have commented many times in the past as to why the Torah such an incident not deserve a place in the does not explicitly mention that which many history books? The reason history ignored this Rishonim say was the first test of Avraham story is because the general population disagreed with Avraham. Therefore, they felt Avinu – namely being thrown into the “Fiery Pit” that his emergence from the fiery pit was some (Kivshan HaEish) in Ur Kasdim. Obviously, kind of magical trick. They did not attribute it to jumping into a fiery pit because of one’s belief the power of One G-d. As we see throughout is a bigger test of one’s devotion than needing to pick up and move to a new land. the Torah, magic was prevalent in those days. However, we can ask an even more The observers of the time much preferred to attribute the miracle to magic rather than to troublesome question. When the Torah begins the story of Avraham Avinu, he is already 75 give credence to Avraham’s monotheistic belief years old! [Bereshit 12:4]. What happened in a Creator of the Universe. “For this reason,” during those first 75 formative years of his life? the Ramban states, “the Torah does not record The Torah does not say anything about how this miracle.” Since the general population denied it, the Torah does not mention it, Avraham came to the realization of the Ribono shel Olam [Hashem/G-d]. The Torah never because it would have also been necessary to explicitly mentions the whole matter of breaking mention the skeptical opinion of those who
בס''ד denied the miracle (as was the case when the explicitly record the story in the Torah in an Torah records the rebuttal of the Egyptian “unfair” manner. magicians to the miracles Moshe performed at the beginning of his mission to Pharaoh). In Mitzrayim, the magicians eventually came The Effect of a Negative around to see Moshe’s viewpoint. However, Hashem never miraculously proved the Environment theological correctness of Avraham’s position (Rabbi Frand from Torah.org) beyond any doubt in the eyes of those skeptics. What Was Really Going On In The Dialog The dispute remained a stalemate for the rest Between the Angel and Hagar? of Avraham’s life. Therefore, the Torah chose not to give any credence to the unrefuted views The following observation is from Rav Simcha of the heretics who questioned the miracle of Zissel Ziv (1824-1898), the Alter from Kelm (not the Fiery Pit, by not mentioning the entire to be confused with Rav Simcha Zissel Broide narrative rather than recording an unresolved (1912-2000) quoted above who was named for dispute regarding how to interpret what and was the great-grandson of the brother of happened. the Alter from Kelm). L’Havdil, do the New York Times, the The Torah describes [Bereshit 16:6-9] the story Washington Post, or our own beloved Baltimore of Sarah and Hagar. Sarah was not able to Sun always report “both sides of the story”? Do have children so she suggested to her they always give “equal time and equal opinion” husband, Avraham, that he should marry to responsible spokesmen of opposing Hagar. When Hagar sees that she became viewpoints? So why should this concern the pregnant, she begins treating her mistress, Ribono Shel Olam? He knows the Truth. The Sarah, with disrespect. Sarah demands that Truth is that Avraham Avinu was right. Why Avraham do something about this situation and write the other side of the story? The second Avraham responds that Sarah can do with side of the story is null and void (devarim Hagar whatever she pleases. beteilim). So, what does the Ramban mean? Sarah treats her harshly and Hagar runs away Rav Simcha Zissel Broide, zt”l, (the Chevron from her. “An Angel of Hashem” finds Hagar in Rosh Yeshiva) says that we see from this the wilderness and asks her: “Where are you Ramban – as Rav Simcha Zissel points out coming from and where are you going?” Hagar throughout Sefer Bereshit – why the Book of responds that she is running away from Sarah. Bereshit is called Sefer HaYashar (‘Book of the The angel then tells her to return to her Straight People’ – i.e. — the righteous). The mistress and suffer under her hand no matter message is that the Ribbono shel Olam is how miserably she may be treated. always fair. If it is not fair, the Ribbono shel What is this dialog? The Seforno elaborates on Olam won’t do it. First and foremost, (as we the nature of the conversation between Hagar say in Shiras Ha’Azinu) Tzadik v’Yashar Hu and the angel. Rav Simcha Zissel quotes the (He is Righteous and Straight) [Devorim 32:4]. Seforno: The Malach tells Hagar – Just think It is not ‘yashar‘ [fair] to give only one side of a for a minute. From who are you running away? story, in spite of the fact that the other side of You are running away from the house of the story is false. Avraham. Do you know what a zechus [merit] it The Ribono shel Olam has a bigger agenda in is to be from the house of Avraham? Do you Sefer Bereshit. That agenda is to teach us be know what type of better person you are by straight and fair, to be honest, to be virtue of living in the house of Avraham? You upstanding, and to do the right thing. The right were in an environment of holiness and purity thing is NOT to report only one side of a story. and now you are headed to a place ‘outside the This is such an important concept to the Ribono Land’ towards evil people. shel Olam that He is willing to only obliquely Hagar responds, “I am simply fleeing. I cannot refer to the miracle of Ur Kasdim and to leave it take it anymore; it is too painful. I am not as part of the oral tradition, rather than to headed towards anyplace in particular; I am just leaving an intolerable situation.” The
בס''ד Malach tells her “Go back anyway, no matter perhaps take us to places that are not the best how bad it is.” This – according to the of environments. We tell ourselves, “Listen, I commentary of the Seforno – is the dialog can handle it. I am strong enough.” Everyone between the angel and Hagar. needs a good environment. Rav Simcha Zissel explains that there is Rav Chatzkel Levenstein once offered a another level to the dialog as well: Hagar thought on the famous Mishna [Pirke Avot 6:9]: responded to the Malach, “You do not have to Rabbi Yose ben Kisma said: Once I was worry about me. Since I have been living in the walking on the road, when a certain man met house of Avraham, I am now immune to me. He greeted me and I returned his greeting. negative influences. I have reached this level He said to me, “Rabbi, from what place are of holiness from the years I have spent in you?” I said to him, “I am from a great city of Avraham’s holy environment, so no nothing bad scholars and sages.” He said to me, “Rabbi, can happen to me. I will not be corrupted.” would you be willing to live with us in our place? I would give you thousands upon To which, the angel responds: “Hagar, you’re thousands of golden dinars, precious stones dead wrong. It does not matter that you spent many years in the House of Avraham. Such an and pearls.” I replied, “Even if you were to give me all the silver and gold, precious stones and environment will negatively affect you. A pearls in the world, I would dwell nowhere but person’s current environment always has an in a place of Torah.” effect on them.” Today, your belief system and your value system may be straight and pristine; The question is as follows. The person who but no one can say I am immune and I can go made the offer to Rabbi Yose ben Kisma must live on my own and be unaffected by my new have been a person of great means. Why did environment. Rav Simcha Zissel continues: the the person not move to the city of Rav Yose best proof of this phenomenon is Lot. Look ben Kisma? Let him take his hundreds of what happened to Avraham’s nephew who millions of dollars and relocate to the city of faithfully followed him from Charan to Canaan great sages and scholars, which is a place of and then to Egypt and then back to Canaan. Torah? Rav Chatzkel Levenstein answers that Avraham was his guardian; Avraham took care he must have earned his livelihood in the city of him; he nurtured him; he taught him about where he lived. It must be that he was not Chessed and living a proper lifestyle. Yet when willing to forsake his livelihood to move to a Lot ran off and headed to Sodom, his belief and makom Torah. The person told himself “I can value system totally turned around. In the survive here; I will do alright. I will bring in a words of Chazal, Lot said, “I no longer desire Rav Yose ben Kisma; I will bring in a Yeshiva.” either Avraham or his G-d.” The Alter from That is a mistake. Neither Hagar, nor Lot, nor Kelm says that Lot never really said those anyone else is immune from their environment. words. Chazal are teaching that one who says, This was the story of Noach and the Flood. We “I can leave the house of Avraham and I can go saw the effect that an environment has, not e is in effect live in Sodom and it won’t affect m only on people but on animals as well. Chazal saying, “I don’t need you and I don’t need your say that even the animals were engaged in G- d.” improper behavior. Chazal say that the waters No person is immune from his environment. of the flood washed the first few inches of the People are social animals. They are affected surface of the Earth away because the by their peers. They are affected by their corrosive effect of the corrupt environment that neighbors. A person who says, “I am strong. It existed at that time. It was like a toxic waste won’t affect me.” is whistling past the site. Merely removing the factory that produces graveyard. It will affect you! This is what the the toxic waste is not sufficient. The toxic effect Malach told Hagar: “Go back, anyway; no creeps into the soil and creeps into the water matter how miserable it is. For if you don’t, you because of the negative environment. will be headed down a very slippery slope.” No one is immune from corrupting influences. So many times in life, we experience tests and This is the lesson of the dialog between Hagar temptations. Opportunities tempt us that will and the Malach.
בס''ד Breaking the Idols well intentioned mistake. Just as one honors the king by honoring his emissaries, so did the (Rabbi Zev Leff) generation of Enosh worship various natural Abram took Sarai his wife and his nephew Lot, phenomena, which G-d had invested with and all their wealth that they had amassed, and certain powers, as a means of honoring the the people they had acquired in Charan; and they Creator of those phenomenon. Their mistake embarked for the land of Canuan, and they came lay in failing to recognize that showing respect to the land of Canaan (Bereshit 12:5). to the king's emissary is only a form of honoring the king when he is absent. But when he is They brought them under the wings of the Divine present, it is tantamount to rebellion. Since Presence. Avraham converted the men, and Hashem is always present, the worship of His Sarah converted the women (Rash) to Bereshit 12 5). creations is always a diminution of Him: Don't World history, Chazal tell us, is divided into accept any other powers in My presence" three periods, each lasting two thousand years. (Devarim 5:7). The first is called the era of tobu vavobu (void The two-thousand-year period preceding the and nothingness), the second the era of Torah, era of Torah is described as tobu vavobu-an and the third the Messianic Era. Chazal identify era of confusion, of light and dark mixed the beginning of the era of Torah with together and not easily delineated one from the Avraham's conversion of the idol worshipers of other. With the sin of Adam, the relative terms Charan into believers in G-d. good and evil, replaced the absolutes of truth The question arises Why did Chazal view this and falsehood. The various shades of good and event as ushering in the era of Torah? After all, evil became a confusing admixture. the Torah pre-existed Creation and was the The Torah, by contrast, distinguishes blueprint for Creation. Adam and Noach absolutely between pure and impure, light and learned Torah long before Avraham was born, darkness, life and death "Behold I have placed and Shem and Ever even set up a yeshivah. before you today life and good, and death and In r to answer this question, we must first evil" (Devarim 30:15). Only the Torah allows us to understand Avraham's unique role in the separate the light from darkness, to perceive transmission of knowledge of Hashem. Raavad good as absolute truth and evil as absolute (to Hilchot Avodah Zarah 1 3) asks why Avraham falsehood. alone of all the righteous people of his The confusion introduced by Adam's sin generation and the preceding ten generations became the principal tool of the yetzer hara is credited with influencing the masses. Surely (evil inclination). As the Baal Shem Tov the others also protested against idolatry and explains, the Satan will be held culpable in the rebuked their wayward contemporaries. He future not for attempting to seduce man into answers that while the other tzaddikim sin-that is his function-but rather for making the admonished their contemporaries, they were sin appear as a mitzvah. Thus, we tell not able to break the idols because the idol ourselves when we sleep late and miss worshipers hid them. Only Avraham was able davening with a minyan that our sleep is a to find the idols. mitzvah and our intention is only to learn Torah Raavad's words are difficult to understand. with a clearer head that day. This is the tobu Was Avraham Avinu, then, only a better vavobu of the yetzer hara. Torah is the remedy. detective than the other tzaddikim, and thus The idol worshipers of Avraham's generation able to ferret out the hidden idols? Moreover, did not hide their idolatry physically, but what does Raavad mean that they hid their spiritually. They masked it as righteousness idols? Nimrod and his cohorts publicly and honor to G-d. They created ideologies to worshiped idols and idol manufacturers, like cloak their sins in light and virtue. Prior to Avraham's father, carried on a brisk, open Avraham no one was able to expose the sham, trade. to delineate the light and darkness. This failure To understand Raavad we need a deeper prevented them from exercising any lasting understanding of ancient idolatry. Rambam influence on those they admonished. They explains that the original idol worship was a could not break the idols.
בס''ד Only Avraham saw the light and darkness in lured by the wealth he saw there. Lot's their true perspective and conveyed this to the admixture of good and evil represented the masses. He exposed evil for what it was and antithesis of Avraham's mission in this world. thereby transformed the idol worshipers into Hence, Avraham had to separate from him. believers in G-d. Avraham's life work, then, was Of all the non-kosher animals, the pig has the beginning of the era of Torah, the always symbolized impurity for the Jewish delineation of light and darkness. people precisely because it bears the external Since Avraham's unique ability was to sign of a kosher animal, cloven feet. It is the distinguish between light and darkness, he kosher feet that make it the most loathsome of could welcome into his house wanderers who the non-kosher animals. So, too, the most bowed to the dust of their feet, yet found it dangerous ideologies are those that succeed in necessary to distance himself from his nephew garbing themselves in an aura of piety and Lot. His very resemblance to Lot made it righteousness, that claim the mantle of Torah imperative that he separate himself so as not to and authentic Judaism, but are in essence total confuse his true righteousness with Lot's distortions of the Torah. apparent righteousness. "Separate yourself As descendants of Avraham, who introduced from me," Avraham told Lot, "for we are the era of Torah, it is our task to toil in Torah to brothers." Rashi explains the term "brothers"- discern truth from falsehood, light from "They looked alike." darkness, the holy from the profane. Lot was the personification of tobu vavobu. On Reprinted with permission from Artscroll Mesorah Publications, ltd. the one hand, he appeared to be righteous like This article is provided as part of Shema Yisrael Torah Network Permission is granted to redistribute electronically or on paper, Avraham he baked matzot and invited in provided that this notice is included intact. For information on guests, even at risk to himself. But, in fact, the subscriptions, archives, and other Shema Yisrael Classes, send mail jumble of darkness pervaded his life he chose to [email protected] to live among the wicked people of Sodom,
4. Kids will naturally love vegetables if you love 10 Parenting Lessons in 20 them and you don't force them to eat them. You should see my five-year old eat a salad. Such Years gusto, it’s hilarious. They grow up and mature, and turn into 5. You are so sure you’re going to do things a great adults. It really happens. (By Miriam certain way as a parent but kids and life Schwab) demand otherwise. For example, “My kids will Today marks 20 years since I became a mom. never eat chocolate spread sandwiches on Doing something for over 10,000 hours makes white bread.” Well guess what, they hated the you an expert in the field. I'm no expert but I've carob honey spread I made. And the whole certainly learned a lot over the years, and I wheat bread sandwiches end up in the figured I'd jot down a few notes and thoughts. garbage. This also applies to more serious issues like schooling and religion. Life doesn't Here are 10 things I learned over 20 years of always work according to your well-laid plans. parenting: -confidence is more important 1. Kids are like homing pigeons. They always 6. A kid’s self than pretty much anything. If you think your kid come back when lost. Not that you should lose is too confident, there is no such thing. They them, but some kids are prone to running off. should feel good about their abilities, ideas and 2. Seatbelts in strollers and car seats are the appearance. Love them unconditionally. They biggest gift to parents. need to know that when the world seems 3. Always give kids some advance notice when against them they've got mom and dad on their side no matter what. leaving fun places like, “We’re leaving in five minutes!” It makes the departure way less 7. Kids have good hearts and usually mean stressful. well. Grounding and punishment are almost
בס''ד never effective. Either kids feel bad about what are sincerely bothered by this – from one side they did already, or they don’t understand why or the other. it’s wrong and they need more talking to. Which The girl may say, "We're just good friends and brings me to the next point... my boyfriend has to get used to it." The boy 8. The most effective way to teach kids is by may say, "We've been friends for years and I'm doing, because they watch our every move. not giving her up for my new girlfriend." Want them to be nice to people? Be nice to Although loyalty in general is admirable, in this people. Want them to have a good attitude case it may be misplaced. It may be too about things? Have a good attitude. Want them destructive to the core relationship. to be respectful to you? Be respectful to your parents. Talking and debating is important too, Let's make this weightier by assuming we're and even if it seems like your words are falling discussing a marriage and not a couple that on deaf ears, they heard you and your words has gone on three dates. There's no room in a have taken a place in their brains. marriage for an additional man or woman. They simply don't belong there. Our goal is to be like 9. It’s important to pick your battles very Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden with eyes carefully with kids and to keep your eye on the only for each other. ball, which is: are they a mensch? Are they a good person? Are they taking care of their It's too easy to dismiss this concern by labeling responsibilities in school? If so, then yay and it petty jealousy. This trivializes a real problem don’t let their overgrown hair bother you. In and distracts from the goal of marriage. fact, their hair is a way for them to explore their We don't want a mediocre marriage or even identity and find their individuality. Speaking of just a good one. We want really a great which... marriage and that means making our partner 10. The hard stuff is generally a stage that the main focus of our energy and emotions. We passes. This applies when they’re babies and can't share that with a third person. cry and don’t sleep for six weeks straight and I remember a friend of mine who was always then suddenly they sleep and smile, to all the comparing his wife's more reserved nature with other stages they go through. All of the stuff the warmer, more emotionally open nature of that’s hard for you when they're teens – that his long-time female friend. While it certainly passes too. Remember yourself as a teen? If wasn't the only reason the marriage didn't last, you’re anything like me, you’d now rather get it obviously didn't help. into bed at 8pm than stay out late. They grow up and mature and turn into great adults. It I also recall another situation where an really happens. So stay strong and appreciate acquaintance was constantly complaining to his every day. It passes so quickly. female friend about his wife's negative qualities. Luckily the friend realized that rather than helping the marriage, she was damaging it and asked him to stop. The Third Party I could cite more stories – not as scientific There's no room in a marriage for an evidence but as danger signs and obstacles to additional man or woman. (By Emuna Braverman) be avoided. I like to read advice columns. The author often It has, unfortunately, become commonplace to has wise, insightful ideas that help resolve speak of emotional affairs, situations where unique and challenging situations. Recently I married men or women, while not fitting the noticed a glut of questions focusing on traditional definition of infidelity, allow male/female friendships and what to do about themselves to get swept up in an intense them when a romantic relationship develops emotionally relationship with a member of the with a third party. opposite sex. It may start off as an "innocent" friendship and never "progress" to the physical, While many may shake their heads in yet the results may be just as damaging, Like puzzlement, I know there are many others who other challenges, we all think "I can handle this" or "I'm different than everyone else" – but we
בס''ד never are. The Torah erects universal fences (They) noticed that American children seemed against these types of interaction for a reason. relatively helpless compared with those in other cultures. In those cultures, young children were It doesn't matter if we've known the friend expected to contribute substantially to the longer than our spouse. Getting married is a community, says Dr. Ochs. Children in Samoa commitment and, like all commitments, it serve food to their elders, waiting patiently in front comes with a price. Like all choices, there are of them before they eat... By contrast, the U.S. trade-offs. videos showed Los Angeles parents focusing So what to do about old friends? How do we more on the children, using simplified talk with navigate these sticky situations? There is no them, doing most of the housework and one-size fits all answer and of course every intervening quickly when the kids had trouble situation is different. But with the right completing a task...Asking children to do a task led to much negotiation, and when parents asked, perspective, we need not view them as "sticky" it sounded often like they were asking a favor, not but rather important and appropriate choices to making a demand, researchers said. Parents be made. interviewed about their behavior said it was often There is never a reason to be rude or nasty. too much trouble to ask. We can be cordial yet reserved, pulled back Many years ago when our oldest child, Atara was emotionally. And we should be, no matter about 4, I purchased a book about raising kids. It where we fall on the religious spectrum. emphasized listening to your kids and purports "to Because we all desire to have the best help listeners understand children's emotions, marriage possible, and in order to accomplish gain cooperation, and learn new alternatives to that goal, all that emotional energy should be discipline." We tried very hard to follow its directed at our spouse. And at no one else. prescriptions of expressing back to Atara our understanding of her feelings of frustration as she Yes, this friendship has to put on ice and we flayed about in her tantrums, but she was need to be absolutely and utterly convinced becoming more and more difficult to deal with. that our marriage is worth it. This decision may Then I took a page out of the Irving Nightingale be out of step with some other couples you (my dad) book of raising children and put my foot know. Your family may criticize you. But your down and promised a potch on the tuchus (a little spouse will be grateful. And in the end, that's slap on the behind) if she didn't go to bed on what counts the most. time. Magically, she became a much easier child to deal with. Somehow my parents, without any PhDs, seemed to have more effective tools at The Biggest Mistake raising kids than these so-called experts. The focus of families has dramatically shifted Parents Make from being parent-centered to child-centered. They’re afraid to expect, let alone demand, In the span of one generation, the focus of discipline, rules and chores. (By Rabbi Tzvi families has dramatically shifted from being Nightingale) parent-centered to child-centered. Today everything revolves around the child's schedule, The Wall Street Journal recently had an article of whims, wants and needs. While of course the job a study about the Middle-Class American family of a parent is to ensure the good, welfare and by two Southern California anthropologists. Some security of a child, at the same time it is also their of their points dovetailed with things that I’ve job to inculcate a proper sense of proportion, been teaching for years. discipline and responsibility, and this latter part Among the findings: The families had a very a seems to be a dying art. child-centered focus, which may help explain the I find that the biggest mistake parents make is "dependency dilemma" seen among American that they are afraid to be the heavy and expect, middle-class families, says Dr. Ochs. Parents let alone demand, discipline, rules and chores. intend to develop their children's independence, The biggest lacking in today's families is the yet raise them to be relatively dependent, even parent's unwillingness to give their kids chores when the kids have the skills to act on their own, and responsibilities commensurate with their age she says. and abilities. At the Nightingale home, even 5-
בס''ד year old Batsheva doesn't get a free pass and Ask the Rabbi/Psychologist: she fully understands when we tell her to clean up her toys, take her dishes to the sink and the Mother-In-Law from Hell like. She is more than happy to oblige when I ask Should I tell my husband it’s me or her? her to run upstairs and get me my keys. (By Dr. Michael Tobin and Rabbi Yaacov Haber) Our Shabbat guests often marvel how our kids Question: get up to help without being asked. This is because this is how we raised them. There is no My husband and I have been married for eight secret or magic to this. It just requires that years. We have three children and are usually parents from the outset establish this as the norm happy. We fight most of the time over his mother. in the "benevolent dictatorship" atmosphere in the She is widowed and lives just down the street. home. She comes over four to five times a day which started right after we got married. Five minutes Today the holy grail of raising children is self- after he got home she would be at the door. esteem. Yet there is little understanding that self- Several years ago I found out she made her own esteem does not come from a parent (or teacher) key to our house without our knowledge from a heaping false praise on half-baked attempts by set that was accidentally left at her house. She children in order not to hurt their feelings. Real has no problem using it and just walking in when self-esteem comes when parents make she feel like it. She tells lies around town about reasonable demands on a child and praise them me and when confronted, denies it. I have caught when they truly get off their behinds, move from her myself. their iPods, iPads and iPhones and do something productive in the house or with their school-work. My husband refuses to believe the incident saying it was taken out of context. She has input This rescuing parent syndrome that begins at a on everything from the TV we watch when she is very young age sets the stage and continues here, to telling my children how to behave. I feel onward where parents today rush up to college that I am the outsider in "their" marriage and am with their darlings and spend the first few days about at the end of my rope. I am considering a with them "getting them settled in." I have never divorce, but would like to save my marriage. I understood that; Atara and Moishe did very well can't do it alone. I need help from someone. without us when they went off to Yeshiva in Jerusalem or college in New York. Independence Dr. Michael Tobin’s Answer: starts at a very young age, and the more self- I read your letter a few times and after each sufficient a child is, the better off they’ll be for the reading, I said to myself, "How is it possible that remainder of their lives. in the same paragraph that she writes about the A home where the kids make the rules, define the mother-in-law from hell, she describes her order and are the primary focus will look like this: marriage as 'usually happy'?" Something doesn't compute. Your description of your mother-in-law In about 75% of the families, the mothers came puts new meaning on the word "intrusive." What's home first and began to "gyrate" through the even more problematic is the fact that your house, bouncing between the kids and their husband doesn't seem to get it. As you see it, homework, groceries, dinner and laundry, your husband is more interested in his mother's according to the group's analysis... When the welfare than he is in yours. The picture that you fathers came home, 86% of the time at least one describe is absolute poison for a marriage. child didn't pay attention to him." The kids are oblivious to their parents' perspectives," says Dr. So when you describe your marriage as "usually Ochs. happy," it more than begs the question of how it's possible for you and your husband to put aside Little wonder. But a home where the parents your chronic mother-in-law crises - especially ensure that the children all have jobs, chores and since she's in your space five times a day - and responsibilities and where the kids realize that still connect as husband and wife. they are not the center of it all is one which will be more peaceful - both for parents and kids. The Torah says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife" (Genesis 1:24). In other words, the first principle of marriage is that a husband must establish a new family and that new family takes precedence
בס''ד over his family of origin. The health of a marriage Rabbi Yaacov Haber’s Answer: has a great deal to do with the boundaries that a couple establishes to protect and preserve the So you have three children, are ‘usually happy’ and are considering a divorce. Why? Because marriage. Just as you don't invite your children you married your husband and not his mother; into the middle of your marriage, you also don't your ability as a wife and mother are being invite your respective families either. questioned and scrutinized, and your privacy is A man who is still attached to his mother in an being invaded. unhealthy bond is unable to create a mature I suppose the most obvious answer to this painful relationship with his wife. Although this is not the situation is to do whatever it takes to get your format to go into a detailed psychological mother-in-law out of your house and life. Being explanation to prove the efficacy of that that the only person who can really achieve this is statement, suffice it to say there are no exceptions. To put it simply, it makes sense that your husband, you could simply tell him, ‘It’s your mother or me!’ In other words, he has to be a you're suffering. The situation is untenable and if man and stand up to his mother. it continues, it will lead to divorce or a lifetime of marital misery. Bad advice. I wonder if doing this would make things better or worse. You and your husband need to be on the same team. In all likelihood, you will be viewed as the insecure, paranoid, selfish wife missing the basic If anything is going to change with your mother- respect that one should have for the previous in-law, you and your husband need to be on the generation. It certainly won’t hush your mother in same team. Where is he in all of this? He may not law in fact, it will probably do the opposite - and believe that his mother told lies about you, but – how does he feel about the amount of intrusion it’s quite possible that your ‘usually happy’ marriage will turn sour with an irreparable breach that you experience from his mother? What was between your husband and yourself. his response to her letting herself in to your house and parenting your children? If there is any When you married your husband, you also agreement between the two of you about the married a family with all its positives and inappropriateness of her behavior, you may be negatives. able to work together to set some boundaries. What’s the other option? The more difficult one. Perhaps your mother-in-law would be open to Understand that when you married your husband some gentle help from her son to "getting a life of you did marry his mother, because you married a her own." If your husband doesn't understand family with all of its positive and negative points. your distress and his role in it, you may have to Your mother-in-law is a challenge but at the same force him to choose who he wants to be married time she is a reality in your life. She is as real as to - you or his mother. You don't treat cancer with one of your children, your financial situation or a band-aid and you don't cure an in-law problem any health issues that may be abound. of this magnitude without being willing to confront G-d sometimes challenges our lives in an the problem directly. I would suggest that you uncomfortable way because He wants us to make it an absolute condition that he join you in reach our full potential in life. We can push away therapy. the discomfort and search for relief, or we can Your husband needs help in understanding the look at life's situations and struggles as ties that bind him to his mother and how to opportunities to confront ourselves and who we extricate himself from this relationship. really are. Undoubtedly, he will have to deal with her rage There is no doubt that you are in a difficult and/or depression as a a reaction to any attempt situation. But even if you can’t change the he makes to create healthy boundaries. He will externals of the situation, you can change how it need your support and understanding through affects you inside. this process and you will both will need the guidance of a professional. Think to yourself: Why does it bother you so much what your mother-in-law thinks of you? I encourage you to take immediate action in order Why would you think of divorce if you are ‘usually to save a marriage that I can only assume has a happy’ and have three children? I’m sorry to be great capacity for happiness. harsh but considering the severity of the situation
and the lack of other options, perhaps it is time
בס''ד you address your own insecurities and teach with his mother and explain to her, with one yourself to rise above. voice, how you respect and appreciate her and how you want her to be part of the family. Have a First of all, make sure that your mother-in-law’s conversation about how you want your home to criticisms are not true. Introspection is the first be; about how decisions are made in the family and main step to growth. Have a meeting with and how privacy is honored. Invite her to be part your husband and explain to him that you want to of the family, according to the principles of the grow together, and as individuals in your family. partnership. Tell him that you yearn to be a team. Be secure with yourself and your husband, take When you are sure that your own house is in charge of your lives and live happily ever after. order and your partnership is solid and confirmed, the two of you should sit down
a different argument advanced to forbid bicycle
Halachot of Shabbat riding on Shabbat, namely, the concern that (Daily Halacha) something might break and one would then be Is it Permissible to Ride a Bicycle on tempted to fix the bicycle on Shabbat, in violation Shabbat? of Halacha. However, Hacham Ovadia dismisses this reason, as well, noting that we are not The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, authorized to enact safeguards that were not 1833-1909), in his work Rab Pe’alim, devotes a established by Hazal. If this were a reason to thorough responsum to the issue of riding forbid bicycle riding, then we would not stop bicycles on Shabbat in a place with an Erub. After there, and we would forbid wearing eyeglasses in a long, exhaustive analysis, the Ben Ish Hai case they break, and forbid wearing shoes in concludes that bicycle riding is permitted on case the lace tears. He thus concludes that this Shabbat, and he therefore allowed riding bicycles concern is not grounds to forbid bicycle riding on in his city, Baghdad, which had an Erub. Shabbat. Several Aharonim, including the Kaf Ha’haim One who reads this responsum may, indeed, Sofer (1970-1939) and Hacham Ovadia Hedaya have the impression that Hacham Ovadia permits (1889-1969), in his work Yaskil Abdi, claimed that bicycle riding on Shabbat as a practical matter. the Ben Ish Hai later retracted this ruling, and However, before reaching this conclusion, we forbade bicycle riding on Shabbat. This assertion, must consider his comments on the subject in however, was never proven, and some Poskim other contexts. Some twenty-five pages later in questioned the claim, noting that it seems unlikely that same work (in Siman 55), Hacham Ovadia that the Ben Ish Hai would change his mind returns to the question of bicycle riding on without putting his new ruling into print. Shabbat, and he cites the Ben Ish Hai’s ruling on There is some confusion among many people the topic. He proceeds to analyze all sides of the regarding the position of Hacham Ovadia Yosef issue in great depth and detail, questioning the on this subject, and this edition of Daily Halacha various arguments that have been advanced for seeks to clarify his stance and dispel why bicycle riding should be forbidden. At the misconceptions. In a responsum in his work very end, however, concluding his exhaustive Yabia Omer (vol. 10, Orah Haim 54:12), the treatment of the topic, Hacham Ovadia writes, “It Hacham cites a Halachic authority who claimed is proper to be stringent not to ride a bicycle on that bicycle riding is forbidden on Shabbat Shabbat.” He writes explicitly that despite his because it makes furrows in the ground, violating arguments against those who forbade bicycle the Shabbat prohibition of plowing. Hacham riding, as a practical matter one should follow the Ovadia dismisses this rationale, noting that stringent view and refrain from riding bicycles on making grooves would be, at most, a Rabbinic Shabbat. prohibition, and in a situation where one has no And lest one contend that the Hacham’s intent intention whatsoever to make these grooves, and was merely to advise against bicycle riding on has no interest at all in doing so, it would be Shabbat as a measure of stringency, as opposed permissible. Even in a situation where the to strict Halacha, the question was posed to his grooves would inevitably result from riding, it son, Rabbi Abraham Yosef, as to what his would still be allowed. Hacham Ovadia then cites father’s position is. Rabbi Abraham answered in
בס''ד no uncertain terms that Hacham Ovadia forbids who does not allow bicycle riding on Shabbat. bicycle riding on Shabbat, and he referred to the Riding bicycles in our neighborhood would likely aforementioned responsum as the source. offend the sensitivities of our Ashkenazic Furthermore, there is a website run by Hacham neighbors, and it is possible that even the Ben Ish Ovadia’s grandsons that presents a daily halachic Hai would not permit bicycle riding under such discussion from the Hacham (halachayomit.co.il), circumstances. Indeed, it is told that a Rabbi and the issue of bicycle riding on Shabbat is named Rabbi Sassoon, who lived in England, addressed in one such discussion followed the Ben Ish Hai’s ruling, but he did not http://www.halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDisplayRea allow his children to ride their bicycles in the yard d.asp?readID=2426. There it is clearly stated that even though there was an Eruv, because their it is forbidden to ride a bicycle on Shabbat. neighbors were Ashkenazim, and he did not wish Moreover, in Hacham Ovadia’s recent work on to offend them. the laws of Shabbat (vol. 4, p. 43), he writes Some people have tried to advance the claim that explicitly that this is forbidden. In Yalkut Yosef there is already an established custom in the (vol. 3, p. 174), too, it is written, “One should rule community to ride bicycles on Shabbat, or at least as a practical matter not to ride a bicycle on on Yom Tob, and this should suffice to permit it. It Shabbat, and one should not make a breach in should be noted, however, that there are certain this regard.” The Yalkut Yosef adds that one parameters that determine when a widespread should not ride a bicycle on Shabbat even to go p to perform a Misva, in accordance with the ractice obtains the status of an actual “Minhag” (religious practice). Many people eat hotdogs on consensus among the Halachic authorities (listen July 4th, for example, but this does not render to audio recording for precise citation). this practice a formal “Minhag.” Another claim that It is thus clear that Hacham Ovadia forbids is advanced is the fact that the great community bicycle riding on Shabbat, and this is, indeed, the Rabbis did not publicly object to bicycle riding on general consensus among the Poskim. Hacham Shabbat. But this argument, too, is not Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998) wrote compelling, in light of the fact that Rabbis must that children may be allowed to ride tricycles on carefully choose their battles, so-to-speak, and Shabbat, but regarding adults, bicycles should they cannot publicly condemn every improper not be used. practice that they observe in the community. Many factors are considered when determining It is worthwhile to mention that both Hacham which issues should be publicly addressed, and Ovadia and Rav Eliezer Waldenberg (1915- 2006), in his Sitz Eliezer (vol. 7, Siman 30), cite a thus the Rabbis’ silence in this regard certainly does not mean that they approved of bicycle passage from the work She’elat Yaakob that riding on Shabbat. establishes in the strongest of terms that bicycle riding is forbidden on Shabbat (listen to audio Case in point, many years ago I heard people recording for precise citation). The author writes saying that Hacham Yaakob Kassin ZT"L that no serious Halachic scholar would ever permitted bicycle riding on Shabbat even in imagine permitting bicycle riding on Shabbat, places without an Erub, because the bicycle is adding a prayer that anyone who does so should considered an accessory, such that it is not being perform Teshuba. Of course, the Ben Ish Hai was carried, just as one may wear a tie and other a towering Sage equal in stature to all other garments. This rumor sounded strange, so I Rabbis combined, and certainly nobody would phoned the Hacham and asked him to clarify his question his credentials as a Halachic authority. opinion. He assured me that he never issued Clearly, however, the consensus of Halachic such a ruling and would never permit bicycle authorities does not follow his ruling on this riding on Shabbat. subject. It hopefully goes without saying that we in no way We should also note that the Ben Ish Hai issued intend to insult or offend any individuals in the his ruling for the Jewish community of Baghdad, community. We do not judge and we respect where it was customary to ride bicycles on each person’s individual decisions. Our intention Shabbat. It is questionable whether the Ben Ish here is to clarify the position of Hacham Ovadia Hai would apply his ruling in our circumstances Yosef on this matter, and to demonstrate that he nowadays, when we live among Ashkenazic Jews unequivocally forbade bicycle riding on Shabbat.
בס''ד Daf Yomi Masechet better than the horses, surely four would be better... He attached a wagon to four cranes and Menahot (Daf Notes) waited for it to move… and he’s still waiting. We Should Also Give Thanks for Chametz Yichus is a crane to extract one from the mud. A todah includes matzot and chametz bread. One One cannot travel with it and someone who should thank Hashem for the good as well as for thinks that it suffices is just like that fool the bad which became sour (Meorah shel Torah). (La’anavim Yiten Chen, p. 181). Matzah on Pesach and Chametz on Shavuot Holy Thoughts Chametz is forbidden during Pesach and on The Gemara states that one can separate both Shavuot we were commanded to offer chametz. terumah gedolah and terumat ma’aser with a The reason is that on Pesach the Jews attained thought and one does not need to physically or their level due to an enlightenment from above orally designate the terumah. and not due to their own abilities (is’arusa There are certain mitzvot which require one to dil’eila). Therefore we only eat matzah, which contemplate the mitzvah, such as loving HaShem, almost lacks human intervention to prepare it. fearing HaShem and other such mitzvot. There is On Shavuot the Jews attained the level to receive even a situation where if one sought to perform a the Torah by preparah adumahtion – “and they mitzvah and he could not complete it because of will be ready in another three days.” This is extenuating circumstances, it is considered as if hinted by the bread, which needs much preparah he performed the mitzvah. Thus, thoughts play adumahtion and human intervention and an important part in serving HaShem. therefore we were commanded to offer it on Rav Chaim Volozhiner writes in Nefesh HaChaim Shavuot (Bat ‘Ayin). that one who entertains immoral thoughts is A Wagon with Four Cranes worse than the Roman general Titus, who defiled the Holy of Holies, because a gentile does not Rabbi Yechezkel of Kuzmir would say about have the capability of reaching high spiritual someone who prides himself on his yichus and levels, whereas a Jew has the ability to reach very relies on it: What is this like? This is like a loaded high spiritual levels, and improper thoughts defile wagon which sank in the mud and which the the spiritual Holy of Holies. This idea should teach horses couldn’t move. The wagon-driver brought us that not only do we have to be pure in our a crane that extracted the wagon. An idiot stood actions but we must also keep our thoughts pure nearby and saw that a crane is better than horses and holy. and figured out a kal vachomer: if one crane is
Firstly, Avram stuffed Sarai into a suitcase with Interesting Midrash (from Torah clothes. But he knew that the customs agents Tots) would probably force him to open his suitcase. Plus, the fact that even if they got across the “HONDLING” AT THE BORDER border, eventually, someone would see Sarai Besides their reputation for being immoral, the around town. So Avram came up with a backup Egyptians, descendants of Cush, were known plan. He told Sarai to say that she was his for their very ugly women! That¹s why Avram sister. had to come up with a plan to smuggle Sarai Just as Avram predicted, at the border, the across the Egyptian border. customs agent noticed how heavy the suitcase As a matter of fact, Avram came up with two was and got suspicious. He ordered Avram to plans. open the baggage. Avram announced that he
בס''ד was willing to pay any duty they saw fit as long Finally, the customs agents whipped open the as he didn't have to open the suit case. buckles and zipper of the suitcase and discovered socks, shirts, polka dot pajamas "What if the suitcase is filled with gold?", and Sarai! She was so beautiful that her face retorted the agent. "The duty will be very high." seemed to glow in the twilight! "No problem! Just tell me who to make the Of course, in no time at all, the Egyptian check out to!" answered Avram. customs agents began to bid on her: "But maybe you've got precious stones in there! "I'll give you twelve kopeks and a goat!" Double duty!" "I'll give you twenty pesos, four onions and a "Don't worry, I've got my Mesopotamian gucci bag!" express card!" "I'll give you six radishes, twenty-five Kleenex "I suspect you're hiding lots of diamonds! How tissue boxes and a Boss radio!" will you pay duty on those cuties?" Finally, the bidding ended as the customs "Mesopotamian Platinum card! Never leave agents realized that Sarai was too beautiful to home without it!" belong to any commoner. Only Pharaoh, the king of Egypt himself could have this beautiful They went back and forth all day until the sun woman. And so, she was whisked off to the was about to set. Palace. You know the rest of the story.
salary was insufficient. Johnny was a hard (Revach) Kid’z Korner worker and had done an excellent job. The Great Treasure Therefore, he put the silver coins aside, and instead wrote out a check for twice the amount (Adapted from The Maggid and his Parables, pp. 212-213) originally agreed upon. G-d informed Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land, but they The merchant proudly handed the check to Johnny. But to his surprise, instead of with a great" - ברכוש גדול would leave treasure." thanking him for his generosity, the boy unhappily stuffed the check in his pants pocket What was this great treasure? and bolted out the door with teary eyes. It is usually thought to refer to the clothes and The next day, the Johnny's father went to the jewelry that the Israelites picked up from the store. "You have been most generous to my Egyptians before leaving Egypt. The Sages, son, and I would like to thank you. But he is still however, taught that this treasure was in fact young and doesn't understand the value of a something far greater: The Torah that G-d gave check. All he knows is that he was supposed to the Jewish people at Sinai. receive a purse full of shiny silver coins, and instead he got a plain piece of paper. I would But if the "great treasure" is the Torah, why did be most grateful if you could pay Johnny at G-d command the Israelites to ask the least part of his wages in silver dollars." Egyptians for clothing, gold, and silver? The True Treasure The Maggid reconciled this difficulty with the following parable: The great treasure that G-d promised Abraham was in fact the Torah that the Jewish people The Disappointed Worker would receive at Sinai. But this was a gift that 12-year-old Johnny found work doing odd jobs the young and immature nation could not yet at a local store. The storekeeper promised to fully appreciate. In order that the people would pay Johnny 4 silver dollars for each month that not feel they had left Egypt empty-handed, G-d he worked at the store. commanded them to request gold and silver and garments from the Egyptians. This way At the end of the month, they would leave Egypt with a tangible gift that the storekeeper realized that this monthly
בס''ד they could appreciate, like the boy's silver These are pretty valid gripes. However, after dollars. hearing this argument, another fellow wanted to know why he was suddenly so concerned Only after the people became wiser did they about letting inappropriate remarks slip out of understand that the true "great treasure" that his computer, while he doesn't seem to they received was not the coins and trinkets disturbed about comment that roll off the tip of supplied by the Egyptians, but the gift of Torah his tongue. You can't take those back either. -- a priceless, eternal treasure which has Do you have an internal voice editing system, accompanied the Jewish people throughout the the commenter wanted to know? generations. Many thinkers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike,
decry the breakdown of good old The Chafetz Chaim of Email communication. People no longer speak to I saw a very thought provoking exchange each other, they email and text message in between two people, discussing today's terribly impersonal ways. They are curt and communication technology. Until now don't develop their speech. Here is another electronic communication primarily revolved way of looking at it. It is great!!! From a Daas around email. When writing an email most Torah perspective we talk way more than we people write it and then reread it, making should. And when we start, every last technical corrections as well as contextual. comment and then some, come tumbling out of Often after reading an email we will edit out our mouths uncensored. parts deeming them inappropriate. It may have Sure the internet has its dangers, and as per seemed fine when writing it, but when you our gedolim it should be avoided to the greatest judge it as a reader you realized it is better not extent possible. But the telephone was said or at least said in a different way. probably the greatest communication disaster Then there is instant messaging. Unlike email in technology history. It changed the way we when the reader and writer are not speak forever. Not seeing the person we are communicating in real time, and the reader talking with made it that much easier to get reads it whenever he has a chance, the wrapped up in our own thoughts without exchanges here are live and in real time with considering what we are saying or that both people reading and responding as soon as someone is actually listening. Email however the message is received. Even here, however, takes us a century back in time when each person writes their thoughts, edits them communication meant thinking about what we and then hits the send button. As one writes, say, reviewing it to make sure its appropriate the person on the other end just sees a and not hurtful, and lastly only saying what we message telling him that his friend is in middle need to say without rambling on from topic to of typing but he does not know what is being topic, unimpeded. written. So why is it that we are careful with the written Recently a new technology allows the recipient word but not the spoken word? Probably to see each letter as the writer types it. Sounds because we have this notion that words great, doesn't it? You don't need to wait and disappear into thin air. Once we say it, we tend wonder. You watch it happen, as it happens. to move on and we don't realize that just like People all over the world are marveling at this the written word that can be read and reread, communication breakthrough. One fellow the spoken word can scar a person's heart and however was not so impressed. "I am a terrible be replayed over and over again in their mind speller! Do you think I want the other person to after we have long forgotten our hurtful see all my mistake before my spellchecker utterances. An off the cuff response about saves me shame? Besides I write so many another person can have repercussions for dumb sarcastic jokes that I usually end up many generations and alter a person's life and erasing them and saving myself lots of grief. future. Now every word I think of typing will be out We may never be the Chafetz Chaim but now there and can't be taken back!" that we've learned to respect the written word and it forms an essential part of our daily
בס''ד communications, we need to transfer some of entire Shabbat. Watching him eat. Hearing him this accountability to our spoken word. As frum sing. Listening to his divrei torah. Seeing him Yidden we truly believe that each word is interact with his family. recorded and will be replayed to us in front of Motzae Shabbat comes and it's time for you to the Heavenly court. We know that Ozen go but the Chatam Sofer says "You know it was Shomaas, the great ear in Shamayim is such a pleasure having you that we want you to listening. But more than listening, even our stay another day." Wow, how flattering. So you spoken words are being written down on a very unpack your bags and stay for another day. large computer faraway above the land. Not The day is spent learning with flames of fire. only do we need to be careful before we hit the More davening more kedusha, more tahara. send button we need to be just as careful Sunday night the Chatam Sofer asks you to before opening our mouth. Because when non- stay for another week. At this point you've had Jews start giving Mussar about Shmiras as much tziddkus as you can handle for a year. HaLashon, we ought to listen carefully. You just want to go home and live a "normal" Lot vs. Avraham - Can You Put Limits On life. your Religious standard? Lot spent many years with Avraham and his The Medrash tells us that when Lot left adventures. The chesed, the geirim, it was nice Avraham to settle in Sedom he said "I cannot and exciting but he was getting older and it was live not with Avraham and not with His G-d." too much. He just wanted to be a "regular" guy. Maybe this can be explained with something He wanted to live in a nice neighborhood and interesting often said by Rav Shimshon Pincus. relax. He was more than happy to do Imagine you were invited for Shabbat to the Hachnosas Orchim but in his book there were house of the Chatam Sofer. What an amazing limits to kedusha and he didn't want to "over do opportunity to spend time in the presence of a it". The end of Lot we all know. Malach Elokim and observe him up close for an
Tu Trouveras son Coeur de elle vraiment une épreuve ? De plus, il est écrit dans le Midrach Béréchit Raba que Rabi Levi Confiance ne savait pas quel était le Lekh Lekha le plus difficile : celui de notre paracha ou celui de la (Rav Itshak Nabet) fin de Vayéra, ou Hachem demande Au début de notre paracha Lekh Lekha, à Avraham de prendre son fils unique Itshak Hachem ordonna à Avraham de quitter sa terre avinou et d'aller le sacrifier sur une montagne. natale pour une terre inconnue. Cependant, cet Encore une fois, comment comparer ces deux exil sera récompensé : le Créateur lui promet commandements? Existe-il une épreuve plus une descendance, la richesse et la renommée. grande pour un père que de tuer ses enfants ? Tous les commentateurs s'accordent à dire que Alors comment pouvons-nous comprendre ce fut une des dix épreuves d'Avrahamavinou. ce Midrach ? Et pourtant, si Hachem apparaît à une Nos sages expliquent que l'essentiel de personne et lui promet tout cela à la condition l'épreuve d’Avraham Avinou résidait dans le fait qu'elle déménage au Kenya par exemple, il est qu'il ne connaissait pas la destination de son certain que cette dernière serait en droit voyage. Il partit avec sa famille et ses élèves d’hésiter : c'est un pays dangereux et peu pendant des mois et des mois. D'Irak en Syrie, choisiraient cet endroit pour y habiter. Mais si sans savoir où il allait. A son arrivée une personne a la promesse d'Hachem qu'elle en Eretz Israël, il découvre que ce pays est sera là-bas milliardaire, qu'elle aura des frappé par une famine terrible. Il est alors enfants après plus 60 ans de stérilité et qu'elle contraint de se réfugier en Egypte. Or, pendant deviendra président du Kenya, serait-ce pour
בס''ד tout ce temps, Avraham ne possède pas un comme des pauvres alors qu'ils avaient eu la sou en poche. Il est obligé de prendre des bénédiction d'Hachem, et la promesse de crédits dans chaque auberge dans laquelle il se devenir riches. C'est pourquoi il quitta Avraham repose. Enfin, après 1700 km de route, il veut et reniaHachem, nous dit Rachi zal, dès qu'il s'installer en Egypte, Pharaon lui prend sa eut l'occasion de partir. femme... Malgré toutes ces difficultés, La Torah nous apprend cette semaine que la jamais Avraham ne posa de question base sur laquelle repose tout le service divin, à Hachem. Pas une fois il ne leva les yeux au c’est de ne pas poser de question. D'avoir ciel et demanda au Créateur où étaient les confiance au fait que tout vient d'Hachem et récompenses qui lui avaient été promises. que tout est pour le bien. Car si un homme Nous disons tous les matins dans le texte qui commence à poser des questions sur la commence par Vayevarekh David : " Tu es manière dont Hachem dirige Son monde, il Hachem qui a choisi Avram, l'a sorti de Our peut très vite renier Hachem et tout Kasdim et l'appela Avraham. Tu trouvas son abandonner. Cependant, nous devons savoir cœur de confiance et tu établis avec lui une que nous possédons cette force de croyance alliance..." Nos sages expliquent qu'un homme implantée en nous. Avraham ancra tellement peut dire que son associé est de confiance ce comportement en lui qu'il le transmit seulement lorsque son entreprise commence à génétiquement à toutes ses descendances, couler. En effet, lorsque tout va bien, il y a comme nous l'avons vu lors du don de la aucune raison que l’associé quitte le navire. Torah. LorsqueHachem proposa Sa Torah aux Mais lorsque la situation devient critique, si son différents peuples, chacun demanda ce qu'il y associé reste en place et continue à se battre avait écrit. Mais les bnéIsraël ne posèrent, eux, contre vents et marées, là il peut témoigner aucune question. Ils dirent d'une seule voix :" qu'il possède un ami fidele. Hachem testa nous ferons et nous comprendrons”. Les Avraham à travers ce voyage. Il ne lui montra actions de nos pères sont des exemples pour pas de pays, il n'eut pas d'enfant, il passa nous. Même si nous vivons des épreuves d'auberge en auberge tel un mendiant. difficiles tant sur le plan collectif qu'individuel, Cependant, Avraham surmonta cette épreuve tant sur le plan spirituel que matériel, nous avec succès et montra à Hachemqu'il était devons suivre les pas de nos ancêtres, et digne de confiance. En cela, l'épreuve de Lekh marcher fidèlement avec Hachem sans poser Lekha ressemblait au sacrifice d'Isthak. de question. Nous vous souhaitons un très bon Chabat, et vous disons, dans cette Le rav Eliahou Abergel chlitaexplique qu'à cette espérance, à très bientôt. époque la coutume était de sacrifier ses enfants devant des idoles. Lorsque Hachemdemanda à Avraham de sacrifier son fils, il est sûr que c'était difficile. La Première épreuve Mais si déjà des hommes simples le faisaient pour des bouts de bois et de fer, pourquoi ce d'Avraham saint homme ne le ferait- il pas lui aussi pour le Dix générations après la destruction de Di-u Vivant ? Nos sages expliquent que la l'humanité, le monde était de nouveau plongé véritable épreuve résidait dans la contradiction dans l'obscurité. Le nom d’Hachem avait été entre les proposd'Hachem. D'un côté le oublié et les hommes servaient toutes sortes Créateur promit à Avraham qu’Itshak serait d'idoles. C'est à cette époque qu'une lumière son successeur, sa relève. Puis Il lui demanda changea la face de la planète. Avram avinou de le sacrifier. Encore une fois, Avraham fit comprit que ce monde appartenait forcément à preuve de confiance, et ne posa pas de un propriétaire et commença à entraîner ses question. Ainsi la premiere Mitzva qu’Hachem contemporains vers de nouvelles idées. Une ordonna à notre ancêtre, c’était de croire en lui seule ombre entachait le tableau de notre sans poser de question, même si les choses ne ancêtre : à plus de quatre-vingts ans, il n'avait se déroulaient pas comme il le désirait. A toujours pas connu la joie d'être père. Lorsque l’inverse, Loth trébucha devant cette épreuve. Il soudain Hachem s'adressa à lui et lui demanda ne comprenait pas comment ils pouvaient errer de quitter son pays, son lieu de naissance et la
בס''ד maison de son père afin d'être à l'origine d’une Si cela est vrai pour la majorité des mitsvot, grande nation, d'être béni et d'avoir un grand c'est un peu différent pour la mitsva du Chabat nom. Qodesh. En effet, en règle générale, l'homme ne tire pas de jouissance de son service divin. Rachi zal explique qu'un homme qui multiplie Celui qui met ses téfilines, qui donne la tsedaka les voyages s'expose à trois risques : celui ou qui jeûne n'éprouve aucun plaisir à effectuer d'avoir moins d'enfants, moins d'argent et de ces actes. Donc même s'il ne pense pas à faire jouir d'une moins bonne réputation. C'est pour cela pour Hachem, son action prouve qu'il cela qu'Hachem lui promit qu'il bénéficierait de accomplit une mitsva. A l'inverse, lorsqu'il ces trois récompenses une fois arrivé au pays savoure une bonne dafina ou qu'il profite d'une qu'Il lui montrerait. petite sieste à Chabat, s'il ne pense pas qu'il Dans les maximes des pères (5,3), il est écrit agit pour accomplir l'ordre de se réjouir à qu’Avraham avinou fut frappé par dix épreuves. Chabat, son acte perd de son caractère sacré. Tous les commentateurs s'accordent pour Car cela prouve qu'il ne mange que pour son compter cet ordre de quitter son pays au estomac et son palais. Ainsi, dès qu'il y a un nombre de celles-ci. A priori, puisqu' Hachem profit dans une mitsva, il faut absolument agir promit à Avraham qu'il aurait des enfants, de pour Hachem. C'est pourquoi la Torah nous l'argent et une bonne renommée, en quoi ce met en garde : "Souviens-toi du Chabat afin de départ était-il difficile au point d'être qualifié le sanctifier". d’épreuve ? Désormais, nous pouvons comprendre la Afin de répondre à cette question, nous allons difficulté de l'épreuve de "Ler Lera". Avraham expliquer un verset de la paracha Yitro avinou devait partir dans le seul but de faire :"Souviens- toi du Chabat afin de le sanctifier". plaisir à Hachem. Il devait oublier la promesse A première vue, il semble, si la torah nous d'enfants, d'argent et d'honneurs qu'il avait ordonne de nous en souvenir, qu’il existe un entendus. Il devait exécuter l'ordre d'Hachem risque que l'on oublie le Chabat. Or pourquoi, à de façon absolument désintéressée, dans le propos de cette Mitsva, y a-t-il plus à craindre seul but de faire plaisir à Son Créateur. Et c'est un oubli de notre part plus que pour les autres ainsi que la Torah témoigne qu'il réussit son mitsvot ? épreuve et que ses intentions étaient pures, Comme nous le savons, la valeur d'une mitsva comme il est écrit : "Avraham s'en alla comme dépend de son accomplissement. Chacune lui demanda Hachem": juste pour sanctifier Son comporte plusieurs dimensions : l'acte en lui- nom. même, sa compréhension et la volonté Les actions de nos pères sont des références d'exécuter cette action pour accomplir la pour nous, disent nos sages. Nous avons tous volonté d'Hachem... Par exemple, lorsque nous une petite tendance à faire les Mitsvot par lisons le Chéma Israël, nous devons prononcer habitude ou intérêt. Nous faisons la religion tous les mots correctement à l'heure désignée pour ne pas être malade ou pour trouver un par la Torah et nos sages. Puis il faut essayer bon conjoint. Même si cette étape est de comprendre le sens des paroles que l'on indispensable au début, la Torah nous dévoile prononce, en particulier pour les deux cette semaine que pour pouvoir s'élever dans premières phrases. Lors de la proclamation du le service divin, la première étape est Ler Lera. Chéma, nous devons également prendre sur Il nous faut imiter Avraham Avinou et essayer nous le joug divin et reconnaître que Di-u règne d'accomplir les Mitsvot pour faire Sa volonté et sur nous et sur le Monde entier à chaque sanctifier Son nom. Nous devons comprendre instant. Enfin, il faut penser que nous que les Mitsvot ne sont pas un moyen afin accomplissons cette mitsva parce qu'Hachem d'être récompensé, mais qu’elles sont le but de nous l'a demandé. Et, semblablement pour notre vie. Car en les accomplissant, nous nous chaque mitsva, plus la pensée qui accompagne attachons à Hachem, ce qui représente l'action est pure et profonde, plus la Mitsva est l'objectif principal de notre venue sur Terre. valorisée. Cependant, même sans cet Alors n'oublions pas cet enseignement et embellissement, notre mitsva est acceptée par essayons de l'appliquer au quotidien. Pour le Tout puissant. cela, il nous suffit de penser avant chaque Mitsva :" je fais cela pour faire la Volonté
בס''ד divine." Alors qu'Hachem nous donne les sincèrement. Nous vous souhaitons, dans cet forces d'avancer et de grandir dans Ses espoir, un très bon Chabat et vous disons à sentiers afin de pouvoir nous approcher de Lui, très bientôt
explica por qué el pasar por alto la mayoría de Circuncisión: El pacto las mitzvot positivas no genera caret. individual con Di-s ¿Qué hace que el Brit Milá y el Korbán Pesaj sean diferentes? Para comenzar un (Rav Yonatan Gefen) matrimonio, el hombre debe asumir el Al final de la parashá de esta semana1, Di-s le compromiso de unirse con su esposa. Sin ese ordena a Abraham la mitzvá de Brit Milá compromiso, no existe una relación verdadera; (circuncisión). El Séfer HaJinuj nota un aspecto pueden hacer todo tipo de buenas acciones, sumamente interesante de esta mitzvá. Hay pero de acuerdo a la Torá, no estarán casados una gran cantidad de mitzvot negativas cuya sino hasta que hayan realizado la ceremonia transgresión genera el ónesh (castigo) de de bodas según es prescrito por la Torá. De la caret2. Sin embargo, sólo hay dos misma manera, una persona debe hacer un mandamientos positivos cuyo castigo es caret compromiso con Di-s para tener una relación con Él; si no se compromete, es imposible que si uno no los observa: El Brit Milá y el Korbán 5 Pesaj (conocido como el Cordero Pascual), la comience una relación real . El Brit Milá y el ofrenda que se ofrecía en el Templo durante la Korbán Pesaj son pactos con Di-s en los que festividad de Pesaj. ¿Cuál es la importancia de un judío se compromete a respetar la Torá. estas dos mitzvot que las hace únicas en este Podemos ver esta conexión, por ejemplo, en aspecto? un versículo del libro de Ezequiel, en el cual el Para responder esta pregunta, primero profeta le recuerda al pueblo judío cuando eran necesitamos explicar por qué las mitzvot esclavos indefensos en Egipto y cómo Di-s los negativas están más relacionadas con caret sacó de allí. Para recordarles esto, el profeta que las positivas. recurre a una analogía sobre un niño abandonado que es salvado. El versículo En una relación entre dos personas, como por declara: "Y Yo6 pasé sobre ti y te vi cubierto en ejemplo en el matrimonio, hay ciertas acciones sangre, y te dije: ‘Por tu sangre vivirás, por tu que pueden dañar la relación sin causar sangre vivirás’"7. Nuestros sabios explican que necesariamente que ésta se destruya por esas dos menciones de sangre se refieren a la completo. Sin embargo, hay otras acciones que sangre del Brit Milá y del Korbán Pesaj. Di-s son tan serias que pueden terminar acabando redimió al pueblo judío de la esclavitud y lo con la relación. De la misma manera, cometer llevó al Monte Sinaí para recibir la Torá gracias un pecado genera un distanciamiento entre la al mérito de estas dos mitzvot. Al parecer, no persona y Di-s. La magnitud del es ninguna coincidencia que sean distanciamiento está determinada por la precisamente estas dos mitzvot las que 3 seriedad del pecado ; hay algunos pecados Hashem ordenó, ya que estas representan la que dañan la relación tan profundamente que voluntad del pueblo para comprometerse a ser causan un daño irreparable. Estos pecados a la nación de Di-s. menudo generan el ónesh de caret4. Otra conexión entre esas dos mitzvot es que Por otro lado, el no realizar una mitzvá positiva hay dos ocasiones en que el profeta Eliahu puede dañar la relación en el sentido que evita visita al pueblo judío: en un Brit Milá y en la que aumente la cercanía con Di-s, pero sin noche del Séder, la noche en que recordamos embargo, es muy difícil ver cómo la falta de el Korbán Pesaj. Esto es porque Eliahu, acciones positivas podría causar un daño exasperado por el continuo pecar de los judíos, irreparable a nuestra relación con Di-s. Esto dijo que no había esperanza para este pueblo8. En respuesta, Di-s le ordenó visitar todo Brit
בס''ד Milá, lo cual le mostraría que, sin importar sacrificar con alegría parte de su tiempo y cuánto pecaran los judíos, ellos siempre energía —e incluso están dispuestos a respetarían el pacto que había entre ellos y Di- arriesgar sus vidas— por el pueblo judío. s. Y por la misma razón Eliahu viene en la Mucha gente defiende a Israel cuando es noche del Séder, que es cuando ve al pueblo atacado verbalmente por algún antisemita. celebrar su nacimiento como nación9. Pero, sin embargo, el compromiso es mucho 12 Pero hay una pregunta que todavía debemos menor desde el punto de vista individual . responder: ¿Por qué es necesario que hayan Puede que uno se identifique como parte de la dos mitzvot que involucren el compromiso nación judía, pero también debe luchar para básico de hacer la voluntad de Di-s? ¿Por qué comprometerse a mejorar su relación individual no es suficiente con una sola mitzvá para con Di-s. cumplir con este objetivo? La respuesta es que La aplicación práctica de esta lección varía cada una de estas mitzvot representa un para cada persona, pero en términos aspecto diferente del compromiso. generales, cada uno debería analizar cómo El Brit Milá le fue comandado primero a un aumentar su compromiso personal en su individuo, Abraham, para que creara su pacto relación con Di-s. Algunos ejemplos podrían 13 con Di-s. Entonces, vemos que el Brit Milá ser hablar con Di-s , estudiar más de Su Torá, representa el compromiso de tener una esforzarse para observar más aspectos de relación individual con Di-s y de todo lo que Shabat o de cashrut, etc. Lo importante es eso conlleva. Por otro lado, el Korbán Pesaj intentar hacer algo, ya que es vital recordar representa nuestro compromiso con Di-s como que Di-s quiere tener una relación personal con parte del pueblo judío. Las leyes del Korbán cada uno de nosotros. Pesaj enfatizan la importancia de cumplir la 1) Muchas de las ideas de este ensayo están basadas en una clase mitzvá en grupos, acentuando de esta forma el dada por Rav Uziel Milesky. 2) Séfer HaJinuj, Mitzvá 2. Caret es traducido como escisión espiritual. Hay mucho debate respecto a lo aspecto nacional de la mitzvá. Por lo tanto, uno que caret implica exactamente pero, como su nombre implica, debe realizar dos pactos con Di-s: uno como involucra alguna forma de pérdida de conexión con Di-s. Las individuo y otro como parte del pueblo judío. transgresiones que generan caret incluyen comer pan en Pésaj, comer ciertas grasas prohibidas, varios tipos de relaciones Este entendimiento puede ayudarnos a explicar prohibidas, etc. Es importante destacar que una persona que comete alguna de estas acciones debido a una falta de una extraña ley del Korbán Pesaj. Está conocimiento no sufre caret. 3) Hay otros factores que entran en prohibido que un judío no circuncidado juego respecto al nivel del castigo. Por ejemplo, como dijimos antes, 10 el conocimiento de la ley judía es muy importante al determinar el participe del Korbán Pesaj . ¿Cuál es la lógica ónesh que la persona recibe. 4) Cabe recordar que la teshuvá de esto? ¡No cumplir con una mitzvá de (arrepentimiento) siempre puede rectificar el daño causado por los pecados (aunque, en algunos casos, puede que sea necesario un ninguna manera exenta a la persona del grado de sufrimiento). 5) Obviamente esto no significa que esté cumplimiento del resto de las mitzvot!11 La exento de cumplir mitzvot, sino que tiene una muy seria inhibición respuesta es que una persona no puede espiritual. 6) Este es Di-s hablando en las palabras del profeta. 7) Ezequiel, 16:6. 8) Melajim 1, Cap. 19:10. 9) Es comprometerse sinceramente con Di-s como interesante notar que dos de las mitzvot más observadas por los parte de una nación si no se ha comprometido judíos seculares son brit milá y la noche del Séder de Pésaj. 10) Séfer HaJinuj, Mitzvá 17. 11) Ni de esa mitzvá misma, primero en el plano individual. obviamente. 12) Cabe destacar que mientas que la mitzvá de brit milá sólo aplica a hombres, las lecciones derivadas de ellas aplican Esto nos enseña una lección esencial. Mucha a hombres y mujeres por igual. 13) Pese a que hay servicios de gente se identifica fuertemente con el judaísmo plegarias estandarizados, es altamente recomendable que la y como parte del pueblo judío; se comprometen persona también hable con Di-s en el lenguaje y el momento que le resulte más conveniente, y que comparta sus deseos, sentimientos con el Estado de Israel y están dispuestos a y necesidades con Su Creador.
Nahala of Rav Yehuda Zadka this Sunday the 12th of Mar Heshvan Rav Yehuda Tzadka, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef (1909-1991). Born in Yerushalayim, Rav Yehuda was a great-great grandson of Rav Tzadka Chutzin, author of Tzedaka U’misphat. His mother, Simcha, was the Ben Ish Chai’s niece. The Tzadka family lived in the Bet Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim. When he was 12 years old, Yehuda Tzadka enrolled in the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Old City. There, he became very close to Rav Ezra Attia. At the age of only 27 years, he was appointed to teach at the yeshiva. Among Reb Yehuda’s first students was Rav Ovadia Yosef. In time, Rav Yehuda became the menahel ruchani, and with the petira of Rav Ezra Attias in 1970, he was appointed to new Rosh Yeshiva.