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SHABBOS PARSHAS BECHUKOSAI FOR THE WEEK ENDING 27 IYAR 5758 MAY 23, 1998 VOL. 5 NO. 30 OHRNETO HFOR OUTSIDE ISRAEL:R FOR THE WEEK ENDINGN 5 SIVAN 5758 MAY 30, 1998E T THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET PARSHA INSIGHTS

Bergen-Belsen? For bringing us to ingly hang on to every word of the A CANDLE IN HELL a time like this? blessing: Who did miracles for our But despite all this, while they will be You know said the Bluzhever fathers, in those days at this season. in the land of their enemies, I will not Rebbe I had exactly the same And I thought if now is not have been revolted by them nor will I thought. Thats why I stopped in the place to thank G-d for bringing have rejected them to obliterate them... (26:44) the middle. I was about to ask the us to this time then I dont t was the first night of Rabbi of Zaner and some of my know when is. It my holy duty to Chanukah. The single light of other colleagues if I could really say that blessing now. I make that blessing. But then, I In every generation they rise up Ithe menorah gleamed with a strange radiance. Its light came caught sight of all the faces looking to annihilate us, but The Holy One from neither wax nor oil. For this so intently at that wooden clog rescues us from their hands. A was a very special menorah; a very filled with black camp shoe polish. generation is not a long time. special Chanukah. This menorah I thought, here we are in the Maybe fifteen or twenty years. was an old wooden clog. This can- Our eyes have seen that in every dle was made from boot polish. Take a walk generation they rise up to wipe us This was Chanukah in Bergen- out. Belsen. through the streets Take a walk through the streets The Bluzhever Rebbe chanted of Jerusalem and hear the holy the first two blessings in the cus- of Jerusalem and voices of little children learning tomary festive tune, but the sound hear the holy voices Torah. Thats a sound that echoes of his voice was dulled with pain. down the ages. Thats a sound that He was about to make the third of little children enemies of the Jewish People have blessing but then he stopped. He tried to obliterate in every genera- paused, and for what seemed like a learning Torah. tion. But even in the lands of our long moment he looked around enemies, G-d will not forget His the room at each and every face. Thats a sound that people. In spite of our rejection of And then he made the blessing, his Him, He will not become revolted voice filled with strength: Blessed echoes down the by us. He will not reject us. He are You, Hashem, our G-d, who ages... will gather us from the four cor- has kept us alive, preserved us, and ners of the Earth to His land. And brought us to this time. Amen, He will wipe the tears from our whispered the huddled throng. depths, in the blackest hole that eyes. Later, one of the men came over this world can support. And here to the Bluzhever Rebbe and said are some Yidden lighting Chanukah BUSY BODY May I ask the Rebbe a question? candles. In spite of all the evil that What is your question? said the those murderers are doing, we are Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the Rebbe. How can you possibly lighting candles. And I thought to myself: Master of the Universe! sowing; you will eat your bread to sati- make a blessing thanking G-d for ety and you will dwell securely in your bringing us to this time. Should we Who is like Your people Israel? land. (26:5) thank Him for bringing us to Look how they stand, with death Such will be the fruitfulness of the staring them in the face, and lov- land: You will still be busy threshing continued on page three

1 PARSHA OVERVIEW

he Torah promises prosperity for the Jewish whose purpose is to bring the Jewish People to T People if they follow Hashems command- repent, will be in seven stages, each more severe Tments. However, if they fail to live up to the than the last. Sefer Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus, responsibility of being the Chosen People, then chill- concludes with a detailed description of Erachin the ing punishments will result. The Torah details the process by which someone can make a vow to give harsh historical process that will fall upon them when to the Beis Hamikdash the equivalent monetary value Divine protection is removed. These punishments, of a person, an animal, or property.

HAFTORAH: JEREMIAH 16:19-17:14

daughters. They arrived there, thing you can never take from me: TRUST penniless, after a nightmare journey. My faith in You. Blessed is the man who places his Very shortly after their arrival, his When a person puts his faith in trust in Hashem, and Hashem will wife sickened and died. Then one Hashem, even when it is very diffi- become his trust. (17:7) of his daughters died. Then the cult for him to do so, he receives here was a wealthy trader other. help from Heaven. He will find that TTwho lived in Spain. During Hashem! He cried. You have he comes to a complete trust in the Inquisition he was forced taken everything from me. You Hashem. Blessed is the man who to leave his native Cordoba and flee have taken my home. You have places his trust in Hashem, and to Morocco with his wife and two taken my livelihood. You have Hashem will become his trust. If a taken my wife. You have taken my person trusts Hashem Hashem OHRNET beautiful children. But there is one will become his trust. is now available via email in PDF format LOVE OF THE LAND To subscribe, send the message: sub ohrnet {your name} Selections from classical Torah sources which express the special to [email protected] relationship between the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

O H R N E T PRICE OF PROSPERITY

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Published by Like your days will be gold and silver to flow OHR SOMAYACH TANENBAUM COLLEGE your influx (Devarim to Eretz Yisrael. That is, POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180, Israel 02-581-0315 33:25). Eretz Yisrael will be General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman blessed with a bounty Editorial & Web Advisor: s long as your of crops for which all Rabbi Reuven Lauffer Associate Editors: days are good the hungry nations will Rabbi Mordechai Becher, A ones in which be anxious to pay gold Rabbi Reuven Subar A Contributing Writers: you do the will of and silver in order to Weekly Daf, Love of the Land: Rav Mendel Weinbach Hashem, you will enjoy sustain themselves. Insights, Overview, Haftorah: Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair an influx of prosperity; all lands will cause their Rashi (ibid.) Web Production: Eli Ballon Produced and Designed by the Office of Communications Rabbi Eliezer Shapiro, Director

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2 continued from page one PARSHA INSIGHTS when the time comes to harvest the would want to worship a doll. But the desire for holiness as well; grapes, and when the time comes to had we been living when the urge now we live in a world where we plant next years grain, you will still be for idol worship was alive and have no real idea of what holiness harvesting the grapes. (Rashi) well, we would have cheerfully is. We know something is lacking heres an old saying that hiked up our coattails and run to in our lives, but we just cant put T goes If you want some- prostrate ourselves in front of our finger on what it is. Tthing done, ask a busy per- some piece of wood. After the the Sages killed the son. At the beginning of the Second desire for idols, they attempted to Constant activity is a blessing. Temple, however, the Sages killed end the desire for immorality as When we are busy, we feel ful- the desire for idols. We now live well. For three days no chicken filled and healthy. When we are in a world where we do not know laid an egg. Seeing that the world idle, we look for ways of killing what the desire for idol worship couldnt exist without physical time. We seek amusement and is, and we cannot know. That desire, the Sages restored it to the entertainment to take our minds desire no longer exists. world. off the emptiness we feel. We When the Sages destroyed the The Talmud tells us that become restless and bored. We desire for idol worship, a figure Hashem said I created the yetzer want to travel, trying to make our like a lion of fire came out of the hara (negative urge) and I created life into a glamorous travelogue. Holy of Holies in the Temple. The the Torah, its antidote. The This false sense of movement is prophet said: This is the same word used by the gemara is tavlin but a poor substitute for the real yetzer hara (desire for evil) which which also means spice. Not voyage, which is spiritual. And drew people to idol worship. only is the Torah the only way that that most fascinating and educa- The question remains, howev- a Jew can harness his physical tional of journeys cannot take er, what was this creature doing desire so that it does not run riot place in stagnation or boredom, coming out of the holiest place on with destruction, but it is also the but only in constant activity. earth? Was that an appropriate spice that puts the zing into life, home for such a beast? long after others have become THE SPICE OF LIFE The urge for idol worship had a jaded and spent. holy purpose: that we should Sources: And I will destroy your sun-idols. overcome it. Overcoming the A Candle In Hell - Story heard from (26:30) Ilan Grossman ts difficult for us to understand urge for idol worship was a rung Busy Body - Based on the Haemek Davar the desire that existed once for on the ladder to holiness. When The Spice of Life - Avnei Ezel I the Sages destroyed the lust for Trust - Shir Maon in Mayana Shel Torah Iidol worship. Nowadays it seems unbelievable that someone idols, they knocked the gloss off

I DIDNT KNOW THAT!

And five of you will pursue a hundred [enemy soldiers]. (26:8) This refers to our weakest soldiers; our weakest soldier will be able to defeat twenty enemies. Our strongest soldier will be able to defeat a thousand or more.

Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh, based on Toras Kohanim

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3 Insights, explanations and comments for the seven pages of Talmud studied in the course of the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle. WEEKLY DAF

ERUVIN 14 - 20

in the mishna. Through some apparent printing error the PI IN THE SKY ratio there described is 3:1 1/7 rather than 3 1/7:1 and the n interesting mathematical problem arises in regard conclusion of the discrepancy resulting in a more stringent to a formula put forth in our mishna. A korah cross- requirement leaves the reader baffled!) AA Eruvin 14a beam placed across the entrance to a mavoi must be a tefach wide. If this beam is circular, we view it as if it were rectangular and all of it the width of its diameter. In order to have a diameter of a tefach, concludes the mish- THE PERIMETERS OF PRAISE na, a circle must have a circumference of three tefachim. Tosefos raises the question that the three to one ratio hen one praises another not in his presence, for circumference to diameter is not exact according to W says Rabbi Yirmiyahu ben Elazar, he may praise the mathematicians, and offers no resolution. The math- W him in full. But in his presence, he should ematics to which Tosefos refers is discussed by Rambam in express only a portion of the praise due him. his commentary on the mishna. He states that there is no The source for this rule is the difference between two whole number or even whole fraction to express the ratio of Hashems descriptions of Noachs righteousness. In of circumference to diameter, but that mathematicians Bereishis 6:9 Noach is described as a perfect tzadik rely on an approximation of 3 1/7:1 (what we commonly while in 7:1 he is described as only a tzadik. In the first refer to as pi). He concludes with the explanation that instance the praise of Noach was expressed in his since there is no whole number to use (as students of absence and was therefore complete, while in the second math will recall in regard to the infinite fractioning that case it was addressed to him and therefore had to be lim- goes on beyond 3.14), the Sages instructed us to use the ited. nearest whole number which results in a ratio of 3:1. Rashi explains that exuberant praise in the presence of Although this means that a circle with a circumference even a deserving person gives the impression of being of three tefachim will in reality have a diameter of only flattery for the purpose of finding favor, a behavior which about 0.95 and not the full one tefach required in a rec- is severely criticized in Scripture and in Talmud when it is tangular situation, the commentaries on Rambam point applied to an undeserving person. out that since the korah and its dimensions are of rabbinic Maharsha suggests that the problem with full praise in origin, the Sages allowed for this slight discrepancy in the the presence of the subject is that it may lead to an infla- case of a round korah. tion of his ego. This approach is indeed proposed by one Aruch Hashulchan (Orach Chaim 363:22) goes even far- of the commentaries on Midrash Rabbah. The shortcom- ther. He reads this mathematical mystery into the words ing of this approach, he points out, is that it cannot be of our gemara. Our gemara asks what the source is for the applied to an extension of our gemara which appears in 3:1 ratio mentioned in the mishna, and answers by citing a the Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 32:3), as follows: passage (Melachim I 7:23) which describes the dimensions The Midrash states that even in praising Hashem we find of the pool built by King Solomon for the Beis Hamikdash a difference in the extent of our praise whether we are as a diameter of ten amos and a circumference of thirty. addressing Him directly or speaking of Him in third person. Why does the gemara need to ask for the source of a King David tells us (Tehillim 66:3) Song to the L-rd: How mathematical formula when we can simply ascertain it awesome are Your deeds which prescribes a partial through our own measurement? This question, suggests praise of Divine power which fails to include a tribute to the Aruch Hashulchan, was not regarding the source, but His kindness. But when we speak of Hashem in third rather constituted a challenge to the correctness of the person, which in human terms is equivalent to not being ratio which should really be 3 1/7:1. The gemaras answer in the presence of the subject, we are told (Tehillim is that since the passage insists on describing Solomons 136:1) Praise Hashem for He is good and His kindness is circular pool with a ratio of 3:1 although this was not the eternal. reality, it is a signal for us to employ this ratio in regard to Rashis approach, concludes Maharsha, applies even to all halachic matters where the diameter must be calculat- praise of Hashem, because of the impression it can cre- ed from the circumference. Even though the diameter is ate of flattery. The alternative approach of concern for actually smaller, this is the measurement which the halacha the ego of the praised one is inapplicable to Hashem and requires in cases of circles. (As a final footnote we refer both the curious novice must therefore be abandoned in favor of Rashis explana- and the serious scholar to examine the words of Tiferes tion. Yisrael (footnote 27) in his commentary on the ratio stated Eruvin 18b

4 PARSHA Q&A ?

1. To what do the words bechukosai telechu (walk in My and why? statutes) refer? 12. What positive element is implied by the words and I will 2. When is rain in its season? bring them into the land of their enemies? 3. What is the blessing of vachaltem lachmechem lsova (and 13. In verse 26:42, why is the word remember not used in you shall eat your bread to satisfaction)? connection with the name of Yitzchak? 4. What is meant by the verse and a sword will not pass 14. Why does the Torah say in 26:46 Toros (plural) and not through your land? Torah (singular)? 5. Mathematically, if five Jewish soldiers can defeat 100 enemy 15. What happens when a poor person dedicates the value of a soldiers, how many enemy soldiers should 100 Jewish sol- man to the Beis Hamikdash and doesnt have sufficient diers be able to defeat? funds to fulfill his vow? 6. How much is revava? 16. If a person says The leg of this animal shall be an olah 7. Which progression of seven transgressions are taught in offering the animal is sold and sacrificed as an olah offer- Chapter 26, and why in that particular order? ing. What is the status of the money received for the ani- 8. What is one benefit which the Jewish People derive from the mal? Land of Israels state of ruin? 17. If a person dedicates his ancestral field to the Beis 9. What was the duration of the Babylonian exile and why that Hamikdash and fails to redeem it before Yovel what hap- particular number? pens to the field? 10. How many years after entering the Land were the northern 18. Where must Maaser Sheini be eaten? tribes exiled? 19. When a person redeems Maaser Sheini what happens to 11. In verse 26:42, the name Yaakov is written with an extra the food? What happens to the redemption money? vav. From whom did Yaakov receive this extra letter 20. How does a person tithe his animals?

BONUS QUESTION?

World famous detextive Sherlox Holmes looked up at the their time (Vayikra 26:4). Rashi explains In their time to mean clear blue sky. Walk a bit faster, wont you, Dr. Watstein? he In the time when people usually dont go out, such as Shabbos said. Its about to rain and Ive no umbrella. My new hat will night. be ruined! Sounds like a good time to me, said Sherlox. How do you know its going to rain? asked Watstein. But every farmer knows that late rain can be as bad as no Simple observation, said Sherlox. Notice the smoke ris- rain. Based on the context, a description of agricultural boun- ing flat from that chimney there. That indicates low pressure ty, the simplest explanation would be in the time when the and impending precipitation. Furthermore, Im wearing my crops need the rain, not too early and not too late! new hat and Ive forgotten my umbrella. It always rains under Tell me, Watstein, who owns the rain? those circumstances. No one, I suppose. What a strange question! Speaking of rain, said Watstein, perhaps you could Lets hurry inside and Ill explain it to you. I feel drops. explain the following: The verse says I will provide your rains in answer on page eight PARSHA Q&A!

Answers to this Weeks Questions! All references are to the verses and Rashis commentary unless otherwise stated. 1. 26:3 - Laboring in Torah learning. years. Torah and the Oral Torah were given 2. 26:4 - At times when people are not 10. 26:35 - 390 years. to Moshe on Har Sinai. outside (e.g., Shabbos nights). 11. 26:42 - In five places in the Torah 15. 27:8 - The person whose value was 3. 26:5 - You will only require a little bread Yaakovs name is written with an donated goes before the kohen, who to be completely satisfied. extra vav and in five places the sets the obligation according to the 4. 26:6 - No foreign army will travel name Eliyahu is missing a vav. poor persons ability to pay. through your land on their way to a Yaakov took these vavs as a pledge 16. 27:9 - The money is chullin, meaning different country. that Eliyahu will one day come and it does not have holy status, except 5. 26:8 - Two Thousand. announce the redemption of Yaakovs for the value of the animals leg which 6. 26:8 - Ten Thousand. children. does have holy status. 7. 26:14,15 - Not studying Torah, not 12. 26:41 - Hashem Himself, so to speak, 17. 27:16 - It becomes the property of the observing mitzvos, rejecting those will bring them into their enemies kohanim who are on rotation at the who observe mitzvos, hating Sages, land. This means that even when the beginning of Yovel. preventing others from observing Jews are in exile, Hashem will supply 18. 27:30 - In Jerusalem. mitzvos, denying that Hashem gave them with leaders who inspire them 19. 27:31 - The food becomes permissible the mitzvos, denying the existence of to keep the Torah. This guards the to him outside of Jerusalem. The Hashem. They are listed in this order Jews from assimilating into the host redemption money must be brought because each transgression leads to culture. to Jerusalem and used to purchase the next. 13. 26:42 - Because the image of Yitzchaks food to be eaten there. 8. 26:32 - No enemy nation will be able to ashes (who was prepared to be 20. 27:32 - He passes them through a door settle in the Land of Israel. brought as an offering) upon the altar individually and every tenth animal he 9. 26:35 - 70 years. Because the Jewish is always before Hashem. marks with a rod smeared with red People violated 70 Shemita and Yovel 14. 26:46 - To teach that both the Written dye.

5 WWW.ASKtheRABBI.ORG

is the ultimate weapon against the evil notion, and if not from where do we THREADS ARE RED eye. arrive at the contention that the dove Moshe from Silver Spring, MD Having said that, many great Rabbis and the olive branch are symbols of wrote: frown upon it. peace? Many thanks for your won- What does it mean when it falls off derful and elucidating series. Dear Rabbi, the wrist? It is an extremely significant I have seen some people wearing red sign: It signifies that it was not tied on Dear Barry Pogrund, threads or strings around their wrist properly. Theres no reference in the Talmud and even necks. Is there any source Sources: identifying the dove or olive branch as Michtav MEliyahu V.4 pp. 5-6 for this, or is it superstition? symbols of peace. Thanks. However, Noahs flood is compared DIABETES ON YOM KIPPUR to a war between G-d and Mankind. Aytan Ben-Pelech from Australia This idea is seen in the symbol of the Mom@ wrote: rainbow. After the flood, G-d showed wrote: Noah a rainbow as a sign that there Dear Rabbi, would never again be a world-wide Dear Rabbi, Recently I was in Jerusalem and when flood. The rainbow looks like an My 15 year old daughter was just I visited the Kotel I was approached by archers bow pointing up towards heav- diagnosed with diabetes. One of her a woman who tied a red string around en. The Ramban explains that the first thoughts was, Now I wont be my hand and said a blessing. I have upside-down bow symbolizes that G-d able to fast on Yom Kippur. I asked numerous people for an expla- will no longer shoot arrows at the assured her she would find other nation and I have received just as earth in the form of a flood, just as a war- ways of fulfilling that spiritual pur- many different answers. Perhaps you rior turns his bow towards himself as a pose. I would appreciate suggestions can help. gesture of peace. for her. Thank you. In this sense, the dove returning to Name@Withheld wrote: the ark could be seen as peace symbols, Dear Mom, indicating that the war between G-d Even though some people with dia- Dear Rabbi, and Man had ended. betes dont fast on Yom Kippur some Could you please explain to me the By the way, the olive branch is a do. Before Yom Kippur you and your history of the red bendel. I received misconception. The dove returned to daughter should consult with a compe- one recently from a friend that had Noah with an olive leaf in its mouth, not tent doctor and with an Orthodox traveled to the Wall. What does it a branch. Rabbi. mean when the bendel falls off your Sources: wrist? The Rambam writes that the major Ramban, Genesis 9:12 purpose of fasting is repentance, Dear Moshe, Aytan Ben-Pelech and returning to a more spiritual life. Not Name@Withheld, being able to fast, however, does not SABBATH IN THE SUN One of the items necessary for the preclude the possibility of repentance. Asher Breatross building of the Holy Sanctuary was red According to the Rambam, repentance wrote: thread. The dye for the red thread involves three stages: Regret, verbal came from a type of worm. Rabbi S. R. admission of the sin in prayer, and com- Dear Rabbi, Hirsch points out that the worm was the mitment not to repeat the sin in future. Is it permissible to spread sun screen lowliest form of life, and yet it was intrin- Just as it is a mitzvah for a healthy per- lotion on oneself and on a child on sic to the building of the Sanctuary. son to fast, it is a mitzvah for your Shabbat? Take care and have a nice The red string is thought by some to daughter to preserve her health. day. ward off the evil eye. Rabbi Eliyahu Sources: Dessler explains the evil eye as fol- Mishneh Torah Hilchot Taanit 5:1 Dear Asher Breatross, lows: If a person is blessed with good Memareach smoothing is pro- fortune and he becomes haughty as a OLIVE BRANCH OF PEACE hibited on Shabbat. This applies only to result, this might arouse jealousy in oth- creams or lotions which have the consis- ers. In this sense, his good fortune is tency of thick oil. If your lotion has this negative. This calls his good fortune into Barry Pogrund from Cape Town, consistency, then its forbidden to use it question and may cause him to be re- South Africa on Shabbat. But if your lotion is very judged in Heaven. wrote: liquidy then it is permitted. (Since its The red thread, reminiscent of the not clear exactly what the proper con- lowly worm, can be seen as protection Dear Rabbi, sistency is, one should only use a very against this. Each time a person looks at We often talk about the dove and the liquid lotion.) the string he is reminded that a person is olive branch as symbols of peace. Is there any Talmudic source for such a Sources: really as lowly as a worm. This humility Shulchan Aruch 314:11

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YIDDLE RIDDLE When is the only time one would say Av Harachamim two days in a row? (Av Harachamim is the prayer which, according to the Askenazic custom, is generally said on Shabbat before musaf).

Riddle submitted by Dr. Joel Luber, Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem

Answer next week...

trates the pride required of a talmid chacham; he must appreciate his own merit and not think himself unworthy of proper avodas Hashem (see Maharsha). Hence, Shemini BShemini, PUBLIC an 1/8 of an 1/8, Shemini Shemini, in the eighth verse of Parshas Shemini. DOMAIN Elimelech Meisels, Jerusalem Comments, quibbles and reactions concerning previous Ohrnet features You answer that Shemini BShemini refers to reading Parshat Shemini on the 8th day of Pesach. Couldnt it refer to the first reading, the afternoon of the 8th of Nissan, Shabbat HaGadol Re: Intermarriage (Ohrnet Emor): in such a year? Lawrence Myers, London After reading your article on intermarriage, I thought it was excellent! This, in my opinion, should be circulated through- out the Jewish community. Re: Who first studied Chumash with Rashi (Ohrnet Sandra Block, Scottsdale, Arizona Vayikra): The reason Rashi needed to write his commentary which Re: Psalms Author? (Ohrnet Tazria/Metzora): concentrates on peshat (basic meaning), and such a work was not needed before him, is that these things were already I very much enjoyed the Parasha Insights for Tazria/Metzora. known but were in danger of being forgotten. Thats why But I was unhappy with the reply about how King David could there is a Talmud and much of Jewish literature. So, the Torah write Shir Hamaalot recited before Birkat Hamazon. Firstly, was always studied with the commentary of Rashi, only not in Chazal say there were 10 authors of the Book of Psalms so it his name. did not have to be King David. With bracha from Liverpool (home of the Beatles, BH) The suggestion that King David wrote Psalms 126, 137 with Ben Granat prophetic insight raises difficulties. The prophets of Tanach who foresee the possible destruction of the Temple always qualify their prophecy with the clause If the children of Israel Rashis father wasnt the first person to learn Chumash with do not mend their ways. In the time of King David, the situ- Rashi he was the first person to learn Chumash with ation was much more open, and to suggest that Israel would Shi. go astray would conflict with their free will. Raphael Harris There is, however, a really simple solution, suggested by the late Rabbi Samuel Mirsky, zatzal. In Shir HaShirim Rabbah on Re: Rain on Parade (Ohrnet Acharei Mos/Kedoshim): the verse kemigdal David, the 10 authors listed include Ezra. If we assume Ezra is the author, we have no problem. I hate to rain on your Parade, but Im afraid the Parsha Professor Cyril Domb, Jerusalem, via E-mail Insight Rain On My Parade was a distortion of the Chizkuni whom you cite as a source. You write that one who doesnt Ohrnet Responds: lend his possessions is terminally mean, thus the Torah does- Interesting answer. However, it is implied by Rashi and nt bother to address him. This is not so. There are many rea- explicit in Tosefot (Bava Batra 14) that King David wrote all 15 sonable explanations for not lending an object which preclude of the Shir Hamaalot. the designation mean. And who said the Torah doesnt talk to evil people? Re: Yiddle Riddle explaining Shemini BShemini Shemini What the Chizkuni says is that the first person was not com- Shemini (Ohrnet Acharei Mos/Kedoshim): manded to lend, and refused only because of stinginess, not because of hatred. (Stinginess may not be so nice, but it is not Shemini BShemini refers to the 1/8 of an 1/8 of gaavah forbidden.) The second person, however, is not stingy, and pride that a talmid chacham may have (Sotah 5a). Shemini would lend his object, but his hatred prevents him from doing Shemini refers to the events in Parshas Shemini, wherein so. This is evil, for we are allowing hatred to overcome our Aharon felt unworthy to bring the chatas offering. Moshe told love. The Torah thus commands us to lend the object, and Aharon that he was indeed worthy, and that Hashem had cho- have our love overcome our hatred. Thus we spread love in sen Aharon specifically. In the eighth verse, we are told that ourselves and the world. Aharon heeded Moshe and brought the offering. This illus- Name@Withheld

THE OTHER SIDE SIDE GIVING PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT OF THE STORY

The best way to be convinced of speech for the luncheon. all people should know how impor- the importance of judging favor- The big day arrived, and we tant it is to thank those who helped. ably is to be the one suspected. worked until the last minute to You saw more than anyone how they Being in a position where onlook- ensure that everything would run came through day and night, whenev- smoothly. But a problem with the er needed, and at a moments notice. ers assume we are doing one thing, sound system took almost an hour to They turned this evening into a suc- while we know we are doing some- fix, throwing us off schedule. To cess. When she finally gave me a thing quite different, teaches us make matters worse, the first speak- chance, I explained what had hap- how easy it is to draw wrong con- er spoke 15 minutes over time. I was pened. But what I really wanted to clusions. We learn, hands on, next. As I gathered my notes, the say but didnt was: While what it means to be... president approached me saying that were on the topic of should have the keynote speaker needed to catch known, you should have known that a plane. Since we were behind I do know the importance of appreci- IN THE schedule, I could speak for 5 minutes ation. I know these people should and not more. I became nervous and have been thanked. How could you UN-EASY CHAIR flustered. Everything I had prepared think I would be so neglectful and was important. What could I delete unappreciative not to give credit s co-chairperson of our at the last minute? With no time to where due? Why didnt you credit annual sisterhood lun- think, I simply began at the beginning. me with that understanding? A cheon, I worked with a After 5 minutes I got a wave from the When we are misjudged, thats Acommittee of dedicated president to finish. I sat down. when we begin to really appreciate the women who worked far beyond the At the end of the evening my co- value of judging others favorably. call of duty. I felt they deserved pub- chairperson walked over to me. Im lic recognition, and therefore I cited surprised at you, she said. You of Concept based on The Other Side of the Story each one of them when writing my by Yehudis Samet, ArtScroll Series

BONUS ANSWER! WHAT I DO WITH OHRNET continued from page five I use the OhrNet for three purposes: The verse uses the term your rains. Does anybody 1. Torah study with my son, who reached Bar Mitzvah own the rains? asked Sherlox. last year, so we can stay in touch with Torah and Well, I suppose your rains means, the rains that Yiddishkeit. are necessary for you, the rain that you need. 2. I prepare my Shabbos morning Torah discussion Exactly, said Sherlox. And what rain do we need? from OhrNet. I lead two sessions: ages 4 to 9; and 10 to 15. The proper amount of rain in the proper season. Thats 3. To enable me to participate in the rabbi's class on what we need. Shabbos afternoons. OhrNet helps me come across I see, so the phrase in its time is really redundant. like a real "chochem"! It must refer to some other positive aspect of the rains Thank you! timing. Hence, at a time when people are inside. Brian Serle, Milwaukee, WI, [email protected] The fog is lifting, dear Watstein. What do YOU do with OhrNet? Based on Mizrachi Lets hear your feedback! Recommended reading Dr. Avigdor Boncheks new book Whats Write to: [email protected] Bothering Rashi? Feldheim Publishers