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Legalized Idolatry? בס“ד Parshat Terumah 4 Adar, 5780/February 29, 2020 Vol. 11 Num. 24 (#445) This issue is dedicated in honour of the first yahrtzeit (10 Adar) of Mrs. Marsha Zoltak, Masha bat Avraham z”l, by her loving family This issue is dedicated by Alan and Resa Litwack for the yahrtzeit of Rose Litwack, Rachel bat Meir haLevi z”l Legalized Idolatry? Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner Perhaps the least likely aspect of the 2: Education Hashem’s will.” (Commentary to Shemot Mishkan is the sculpture in the Holy of Rambam contends that the keruvim are 32:19) But why hide this barometer? Holies: on top of the case containing educational, teaching belief in a the luchot (tablets) were statues of celestial realm, as well as the existence 5: Our Representatives keruvim (cherubs). (Shemot 25:18-22) of G-d, communication from G-d via We might suggest one more idea, The same images adorned the giant prophecy, and the presentation of Torah highlighting the human features of the curtains hanging in the Mishkan. (ibid. to humanity. (Moreh Nevuchim 3:45) keruvim. Perhaps, rather than represent 26:1) The Talmud (Chagigah 13b) This is challenging, though, since the G-d to us, the keruvim represent us, to contends that they were winged keruvim in the Holy of Holies were G-d. Specifically, the pair represent two human youths, and so we must ask: hidden from sight! The Talmud (Yoma human beings: Adam and Chavah. Why would G-d want statues of human 54a) does state that they were revealed [Indeed, Rabbi Yaakov Mecklenburg beings in holiest part of the world’s to those who came to the Beit wrote, “The name keruv is a description holiest location? haMikdash for holidays, but why of Adam the First.” ( H aK tav wouldn’t the keruvim on the giant v’haKabbalah to Bereishit 3:24)] A midrash asks this question, pointing curtains have sufficed? out that Hashem specifically forbids us In general, we may observe that the from creating such statues! This 3: Inspiration Mishkan recreates the Garden of Eden midrash answers that this must be Don Isaac Abarbanel offers a third idea: at the moment we were exiled. In Eden, accepted as Hashem’s will, much as G- the keruvim provide inspiration. Adam and Chavah were told “to work it d orders us not to light fires on Specifically, “they were in the form of and protect it,” jobs which then fell to Shabbat, but also orders us to bring youths to hint to youth’s natural powers the tribe of Levi. [Compare Bereishit korbanot on Shabbat. (Pesikta Zutrita of insight and purity from all 2:15 and Bamidbar 3:7-8, for example.] Terumah 25:18, and see Avodah Zarah sin.” (Commentary to Yechezkel 10:13) Adam and Chavah are exiled wearing 43b) But this only explains our By symbolizing our abilities and clothing designed for them by G-d; the acceptance of the mitzvah; what righteousness, the keruvim inspire us. kohanim wore special clothing designed benefit does G-d see in their presence However, as with Rambam’s approach, for them by G-d. Adam and Chavah are in the Mishkan? we must ask: why not suffice with the barred from the “Tree of Life” when they very visible keruvim on the curtains? are exiled; our luchot, representing G-d’s 1: Divine Presence Torah, are also off-limits. Ramban writes that G-d orders us to 4: Barometer create the keruvim as “a Throne of The Talmud describes the keruvim as a If so, then we understand why the Honour for Me, for I will meet with you barometer of our relationship with G-d: keruvim are not for us to see; we craft there, and I will place My Shechinah “When the Jews would ascend for the them for G-d to “see”. They represent upon you.” (Commentary to Shemot holiday, they would open the curtain that hope which has been humanity’s 25:21) This fits Yechezkel’s description and show the Jews the keruvim greatest dream since the week of of keruvim as part of the Divine throne, embracing, and say, ‘See how beloved Creation – to walk the path to the Tree as well as the presence of keruvim at you are before G-d, like the love of a of Life, and return to the Garden of the entrance of the Garden of Eden. man and woman!’” (Yoma 54a) Rabbi Eden. May G-d see our longing to return (Yechezkel 1:10, Bereishit 3:24) Meir Simchah haKohen explained, “The - even in a time when we lack keruvim - Indeed, Tehillim 99:1 describes G-d as Creator made signs and markers to and restore that original bond. “dwelling with the keruvim.” inform whether Israel is performing [email protected] OUR BEIT MIDRASH ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI MORDECHAI TORCZYNER SGAN ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI SAMMY BERGMAN AVREICHIM EZER DIENA, RABBI ALEX HECHT, NETANEL KLEIN SEDER BOKER DIRECTOR RABBI MOSHE YERES ISRAELI CORRESPONDENTS RABBI ADAM FRIEDMANN, RABBI BARUCH An affiliate of Torah MiTzion and YU WEINTRAUB, RABBI JONATHAN ZIRING ∞ CHAVEROT ORLY AZIZA, MINDY CHAPMAN, SOFIA FREUDENSTEIN, ATARA GASNER, Find our upcoming classes on-line at TEHILA HELFENBAUM, AILEEN MORRIS, HADAS MOYAL, TIFERET NICKERSON www.torontotorah.com CHAVERIM NADAV GASNER, ARI KARON, YEHUDA LEVI, COBY LYONS, MORDECHAI ROTH, We are grateful to ILAN SHIELDS, NATAN SNOWBELL, DANIEL SUTTNER, URIEL WEISZ, ELI WELTMAN Continental Press 905-660-0311 Journey Through Tanach: Shemuel I, Chapter 17 Rabbi Alex Hecht Summary dissuade David from taking on the nations, who place their confidence in Our chapter describes the momentous warrior Goliath. David pushed back to brute strength: “These trust in chariots face-off between David and Goliath: Shaul: “Your servant was a shepherd and these in horses, but we mention for his father among the flocks; the the name of Hashem our G-d.” (Tehillim The Philistines gathered to wage war lion and the bear would come and 20:8) Radak (ad loc.) notes Yeshayah’s against Israel. In response, Shaul carry off a sheep from the flock, and I lament: “Ha! Those who go down to assembled Israel to prepare for war. would go after it, strike it down, and Egypt for help and rely upon horses! Each army was camped on a mountain, rescue [the sheep] from its They have put their trust in abundance separated by a valley. Goliath, an mouth...Your servant has slain even of chariots, in vast numbers of riders, incredibly large and strong man, lion and bear; and this uncircumcised and they have not turned to the Holy crossed over into the Israelite camp. He Philistine shall be like one of One of Israel....” (Yeshayah 31:1, JPS was approximately 4 metres in height, them…” (ibid. 17:34-36, Artscroll tr.) tr.) David taught us that turning to and wore approximately 127 kilograms Hashem in times of need must not be of armour and weaponry. [See Shemuel David convinced Shaul to allow him to merely supplemental to pursuing I 17:4-7 for measurement in biblical fight, and even refused armour, since “natural” means. Rather, we must units.] Goliath challenged the Israelites it weighed too much. Miraculously, realize that Hashem is our true source to send a man to fight him, proposing David killed Goliath with a slingshot of success. Consequently, we should the following wager: if the Israelite kills and stone, decapitated him, and not be frightened by our foes - in him, the Philistines will become slaves brought his severed head to whatever form they present themselves. to the Israelites; if Goliath is victorious, Jerusalem. With Hashem’s help, “they kneel and the Israelites will become slaves to the fall, but we rise and gain Philistines. When Shaul and the Insight strength.” (Tehillim 20:9) Israelites heard Goliath’s wager, they In our chapter, David declines armour became very frightened. and weaponry for his battle with [email protected] Goliath: “David said to the Philistine, To everyone’s surprise, David, a You come to me with a sword, a spear, musician and shepherd, and the and a javelin - but I come to you with youngest of Yishai’s sons, stepped up to the name of Hashem…” (ibid. 17:45, the challenge. David’s elder brother, Artscroll tr.) Later in life, David Eliav, accused him of neglecting his expressed that the Jews’ reliance on shepherding duties to spectate the Hashem as the only source of military showdown. Shaul also attempted to victory separates them from other Holy Land Halachah: Liability for Bad Political Decisions? Rabbi Jonathan Ziring As Israel heads back into its third elections in a year, it is While we may not encourage these practices, it highlights worth exploring the extent to which a politician can be that in theory, a government can make painful decisions. personally responsible for decisions they make that may be Admittedly, many authorities assume a king needs some mistaken. This topic was explored by halachic authorities in reason to go to war, but if there is a reason, then the means response to the Rabin assassination, when Yigal Amir was he may use to achieve that goal are, in theory, quite motivated, in part at least, by his conviction that Rabin’s expansive. policies endangered Jews, and thus defined him as a rodef (“pursuer”). Most writers focused on this narrow question. Rabbi Henkin contends, based on the fact that the sinful Rabbi Yehuda Herzl Henkin (Shu”t Bnei Banim 3:33), kings of the northern kingdom were recognized by Tanach - however, dealt with the more expansive issue as well.
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