Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim April 23, 2021

A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul Stay Moral Riding to Success by Dov Holczer Rabbi Asher Arieli is a Hashem commands the Jewish People the surrounding environment of immorality legendary maggid (Acharei Mos 18:3), “Like the practice of encountered by the Jewish People. Even as (lecturer) in the Mir the land of Egypt, in which you dwelled, they were able to remain separate from the of Jerusalem. His erudition you shall not do, and like the practice of the culture, the danger of being influenced by and knowledge in all areas land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you, one’s environment still lurks. you shall not do, and you shall not follow of Torah is stunning and his One must still ask, if a negative environment humility is awe-inspiring. their statutes.” Rashi explains that these two is naturally dangerous to one’s spiritual locations were the most immoral societies of Many hundreds of eager state, why is it then that Hashem chose the students attend his daily the world and yet, these were the two societies two aforementioned places to be the primary Torah shiur, which has a most connected to the Jewish People. Egypt residences of the Jewish People? What could reputation as one of the top was where the Jewish People dwelled for 210 possibly be gained by having such close years, and the Canaanites lived in the land contact with such immoral societies? lectures in the Torah world. promised by Hashem to the Jewish People. Someone once asked Rabbi It is therefore understandable that Hashem The Maharal (Rabbi Yehuda Loew; 1512/1526-1609) in his work Gevuros Arieli why he merited to gives His nation a stern warning not to deliver such a widely popular follow in their ways. Hashem (Chapter 4) explains that it was no coincidence that these were the locations of shiur to so many students. Still, it is a bit strange that the Jewish the Jewish Nation. It is precisely these places With great modesty, he People required such a commandment that contribute to our lofty level of being replied, “I, too, have from Hashem. It is well known, based on the Chosen Nation, intended to exist as the wondered about this. Perhaps the Medrash, that the Jews in Egypt were epitome of morality and righteous behavior the reason is as follows. distinct, as they did not change their names, before the rest of the world. language, or clothing to match that of the “As a teenager studying in Egyptians. This prevented intermingling and The Torah bears witness that throughout yeshiva, my parents would the like and, in essence, they lived separate the stay of the Jewish People in Egypt, only give me some pocket money. lives from the Egyptians. That being the case, one person was involved in any sort of Most boys spent this money what was the imminent danger of “following relationship with an Egyptian, and even that on things like snacks, sefarim practice of the land of Egypt, in which you one, a woman named Shlomis bas Divri, (Torah books), and the like. dwelled,” if they were essentially a separate was tricked into believing the man was her “I saved that money to use nation living in Egypt? The same question husband. for a taxi to go to and from can be asked regarding the Canaanites. The The Jewish People, with their high level of yeshiva, instead of taking the Jewish People were ordered to wipe out moral behavior, are diametrically opposed much cheaper public bus. these nations upon their arrival in Canaan, to such behavior. But, says the Maharal, the I did this to avoid passing so how much danger was there that they only way that Hashem’s promise to Avraham through marketplaces and would be drawn after their practices? that his children would be strangers in a large streets where people The answer is that our surroundings have a strange land could be fulfilled is by being walk around dressed profound impression upon us. The Rambam stuck in a culture opposed to their very inappropriately, so that I (Hilchos De’os 6) explains that a person essence. Finding themselves in a society would not be exposed to such more in line with their values would make is naturally affected by his environment. sights. Therefore, one should live in a positive them more comfortable and would not environment, make sure to have friends who fulfill the decree of being strangers. “Perhaps it is in the merit of are righteous and upstanding, and the like. Rabbi Chaim Friedlander (1923-1986) adds guarding my eyes carefully If one lives in a place and is surrounded by another level of explanation the words of in my youth that Hashem evil, says the Rambam, he must leave. the Maharal. He explains that it is precisely has blessed me with so many As such, Hashem, who created us all and is due to being in such immoral places that students and a well-received aware of this reality, warns us not to stray after are so opposed to the spiritual stature of continued on back continued on back Happenings Halacha Riddles This week’s question: How could Orach Chaim 204:1; see also Mishna THE KOSHER STATUS OF the required blessing on an item be Berura 202:18). If it spoils further to the ARTIFICIAL MEAT AT MAY downgraded twice due to the passage of point that it is inedible, no blessing would 5 T4T ON ZOOM time, with no human intervention? be recited if someone would choose to eat Answer: If a food with a blessing more it (Mishna Berura 204:1). As technology progresses specific than shehakol, such as bread or a This week’s question: How is it possible in creating everything from fruit, becomes slightly spoiled or moldy, for there to be three different proper artificial flavors to artificial but is still edible, its proper blessing is blessings for a fruit (eaten alone) under intelligence, the question of downgraded to shehakol (Shulchan Aruch three different circumstances? artificial meat comes to the fore in the realm of kashrus. Join Kollel Senior Educator Lives of Our Torah Leaders Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher Rabbi Saadia Gaon - Part XXVI as he explores the halachic So extensive was his writing that a later of Rav Saadia’s works were found in view of lab-produced commentator, Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra the Cairo Geniza, a repository of some meat at a May 5 T4T. Visit of 12th century Spain, referred to Rav 400,000 manuscript fragments of denverkollel.org for further Saadia as the rosh hamidabrim bichol sefarim produced from approximately th th details. makom, “the first to speak in every the 9 through the 19 century that was place.” While some of these sefarim are found in a storeroom of the Ben Ezra SPRING-SUMMER AVOS still extant, many of them have been Synagogue in Fostat, or Old Cairo, in UBANIM ON SHABBOS lost over the centuries. Pieces of some Egypt.

AFTERNOON

The Kollel’s spring-summer A Taste of Torah Avos Ubanim program continued from front continues this Shabbos the Jewish People that forces the nation It is related that great Torah leaders of afternoon at the Kollel Torah to raise its collective guard and not allow several generations ago in Europe stated Centers in West Denver and those influences in, thus enhancing the that the final stop of our long exile is Southeast Denver. Learning level of moral behavior within the Jewish America. Unfortunately, the steep decline begins one hour before People. It is therefore a key factor in of morality that has developed in the mincha, followed by nosh the development of the Jewish People. past number of decades surrounds us on and prizes. For sponsorships While the Jewish Nation possesses this all sides in this generation, penetrating trait to start with, being surrounded by homes through all manner of media. It and more info, email info@ immorality causes that trait to become would thus appear that the final leg of denverkollel.org. stronger and to solidify, making it not just our long journey through many exiles MILE HIGH TORAH a natural character trait but an integral, is similar to the very beginning of our key feature of the Jewish Nation. The existence as a nation. An effort must PODCAST FROM THE Torah, therefore, gives a great deal of be made to continuously solidify this KOLLEL attention to relationship-related sins foundation of maintaining our moral A wide variety of Kollel of immorality, as it is part of the very standards despite all that surrounds us. classes and short, inspiring foundation and integral to the essence of Perhaps it is precisely through this that we Torah thoughts are now the Jewish Nation. will merit the Final Redemption.

available on many podcast

platforms such as Spotify, Stories for the Soul Google Podcasts, Apple continued from front Podcasts and Amazon shiur.” being careful in areas of modesty and Music. You can also access In this week’s parsha, Hashem immoral relationships. Every person the latest podcasts at the can strive to safeguard himself, to Kollel’s website, www. command the Jewish People to “be holy,” which Rashi explains refers to some degree, from the immodesty that denverkollel.org. pervades our time. To sponsor Torah Weekly, delivered weekly in print and via email to thousands of Jews worldwide, email [email protected] Denver Community Kollel 5080 W. 14th Ave. 303-820-2855 [email protected] www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, email to [email protected]