בס"ד • A PROJECT OF THE CINCINNATI COMMUNITY KOLLEL • CINCYKOLLEL.ORG תורה מסינסי Cincinnati Vol. VI, No. XXXVI Devarim

A LESSON FROM THE PARASHA A TIMELY HALACHA

The Power CHAIM HEINEMANN Even when an was constructed Of Shabbos properly using proper mechitzos and tzuras hapesach, how does one know that According to Hilchos Tisha b’Av (552:10), and Hashem forever. What’s the significance the eruv is still kosher now? if Tisha b’Av falls out on Shabbos (and we of forever? The Pnei Menachem of Gur In the Chullin (10b) we find the observe Tisha b’Av on Sunday the tenth of explains, based on a Chidushei Harim, that basic concept of chazakah. This principle Av), even though it is already Tisha b’Av, one Shabbos was written on the original luchos dictates that we are to assume that may eat meat and drink wine. One may even that were then destroyed. Shabbos itself was an object’s state of being continues as enjoy a feast like the days of King Shlomo. It not destroyed, and reappeared on the second before, until we have reason to believe says in the Mishna Brurah that one is forbid- set of luchos, because Shabbos is eternal and that something changed. This concept den to withhold from eating and drinking can never be destroyed. comes up in all areas of halacha, and due to mourning. As difficult as the week may be, when it alleviates the need to constantly How does this halacha make sense? Tisha Shabbos comes it infuses us with the power monitor the halachic status of an item b’Av is the saddest day of the year. It is such to be rejuvenated and elevated. How does or circumstance. Based on this concept, a sad day that in Eicha (2:17) it says “bitza that happen? The gemara in Beitza (16a) says once an eruv has been examined and amerasoy” and the medrash explains that even “matana tova yesh lee b’beis genazi v’Shabbos found to be valid at the onset of Shabbos, Hashem rips his royal cloak. If so, how could shema”—Hashem told Moshe that there is a we assume that it remains that way for one celebrate Shabbos if it is supposed to be great treasure being stored in His treasure the remainder of Shabbos. In fact, one Tisha b’Av? house and it will be gifted to B’nei Yisroel. Shabbos afternoon Rav Shemos (31:16-17) says ”Veshamru B’nei Yis- Shabbos is that treasure. Only a gift like Shab- was presented with a question on how to roel es haShabbos l’dorosom...os he l’olam”— “and bos that comes from such a lofty place has deal with an eruv that has become pasul the Jewish nation should guard the Shabbos the ability to empower a and strengthen (invalid) on Shabbos. Before responding for the generations to come.” This is because him to overcome life’s challenges. The point to the actual question, he admonished Shabbos is a sign between the Jewish people of the gift was to grant us the opportunity to the individual for checking the status of stop and focus on what is the true purpose the eruv in middle of Shabbos! of a Jew’s life—to become closer to Hashem Sunday morning full house through Torah and mitzvos. Many eruvin are found to be invalid So yes, it could be the sad- every week and require repairs every dest day of the year, but Shab- Friday afternoon in order to be bos imbues in us the power operable for Shabbos. Depending on to overcome destruction the circumstances, an eruv that is prone and rise higher. It reminds to breakage might not retain its chazakah. us that, just like Shabbos Similarly, some eruvin , especially those will never be destroyed, k’lal which use string excessively, will lose Yisroel will never be destroyed, their chazakah after a severe Friday and we will be zoche (merit) night storm. to see Tisha b’Av turned in Some of the factors that can disqualify to a Yom Tov. an eruv include dry or moist air (cracking

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© 2018 CCK 2017–2018 SEASON SPONSORS GREAT ACTS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE At the Kollel DAILY WEEKLY MORE Motty was the longtime shammas (caretaker) Free brunch! of his local . In addition to being Sunday Wednesday responsible for the upkeep of the building, one Beginner’s Halacha & More à Downtown Lunch-n-Learn of his odd jobs was to prepare coffee and tea (skills-building) at Strauss & Troy for the rabbi’s early morning shiur. Everyone Rabbi Moshe D. Zeffren �9:30–10:30 am Rabbi Yitzchok Preis...... 12–1 pm appreciated that Motty served the drinks, but Shivti (Self-contained learning, Thursday there was one quirk: Motty would never fill geared toward practical halacha) anyone’s cup to the top. He would pour it only Rabbi Avrohom Weinrib �� 10 am–noon Yehoshua/Shabbos a little above half-way. At first, people would in the former Back Office Monday Mechael Soroka and hint, “I’d really enjoy a full cup of coffee.” After Moshe Dovid Zeffren...... 9:10–10 pm seeing that Motty took no notice, some began à Torah Treasures for to ask outright, “Please fill my cup all the way,” Seniors at the Mayerson JCC Leil Shishi to which Motty would respond, “I’m sorry, I Rabbi Yitzchok Preis ����� 10:30–11:15 am Halacha Chabura for boys in grades 7–8, just can’t.” Eventually, one of the members of Tuesday with the occasional kumzits the shiur was unable to control his curiosity Rabbi Moshe Fuchs...... 8:15–9 pm and asked the shammas to explain this behavior. à Partners in Torah at the Mayerson JCC He answered: “Two older gentlemen here can- Rabbi Mechael Soroka...... 8 pm Homemade refreshments served not hold a full cup of tea with steady hands. If I pour them a full cup, they will spill their Chavrusos are available for private and group learning— drinks. On the other hand, if I pour a partial speak to Rabbi Chaim Heinemann! weekdays noon–1 pm • Sun.–Thurs. 8–9:45 pm cup only for them, it will hurt their feelings. Therefore, everyone gets a partial cup.” A TIMELY HALACHA CONTINUED consulted for guidance in maintaining our A RIDDLE FOR YOU eruv and conducts a personal survey of of the lechi tubing), intense storms, What is fulfilled over an entire the eruv every ten years. When a shaila proximity to the street (car accidents) year? come up, we first turn to our Cincinnati and front lawns (weed whackers), and Beis Din which addresses all halachic Look for the answer in two weeks! vandalism. Rabbi Moshe Heinemann matters as they arise. recommends that each city decide for itself how frequently the eruv be The Cincinnati eruv was built very well PREVIOUS RIDDLE: inspected. and is maintained by devoted individuals. It is affected rarely by storms and bad When are we commanded to circumcise Q From its inception in 1986, R’ Heinemann weather. Therefore, one can use the eruv an infant that is less than eight days old? suggested that the Cincinnati eruv be on Shabbos comfortably, regardless of A If a person acquires a Canaanite slave, he is checked weekly (mostly by car) and the weather outside, knowing that the commanded to give a circumcision on the day quarterly (slowly and more thoroughly, chazakah is still intact! he acquires him. (Rambam Hil. Milah 1:3) by foot). R’ Heinemann is regularly

TIDBITS OF CINCINNATI

RABBI MOSHE TZVI CRYSTAL

In the years following the Civil War, a halachic question was sent from Rav Shachna Isaacs of Cincinnati to Rav Ben Tzion Sternfeld of Lithuania, rabbi of the town near R’ Shachna’s former home in Lithuania. During this time period, Cincinnati had become a cen- ter for medical studies, and fresh corpses were needed for anatomy courses. This exacerbated the phenomenon of body-snatching, where freshly buried bodies would be exhumed and sold to colleges of medicine for use in anatomy classes. An entire black market existed in the trade of dead bodies. , in particular, were targeted by body-snatchers because Torah laws dictate that a body be buried as soon as possible; for the purpose of dissection, the fresher the better. R’ Shachna therefore devised the idea of keeping corpses covered in dirt in an aboveground, locked mausoleum until no longer usable for science, and only then burying them. To ensure that his idea was halachically acceptable, he sent his question to Rav Sternfeld, who agreed. A similar question is also found in the responsa of the leading halachic authority Rav Yitzchon Elchonon Spektor, who similarly approved. SOURCE: Reichman, E., “The Anatomy of ,” in Y. Steinberg, ed., Beracha Le’Avraham (, 2008), 69-97.

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