A Taste of Torah

Bahaaloscha 5774 June 7, 2014 A Taste of Torah Stories For The Soul Waiting to Show Appreciation It’s Not About Me By Rabbi Dovid Schwartzberg Rabbi Aharon Karliner (1736- Back in my days of singlehood when it doesn’t work out, our minds are elsewhere, 1772) was learning in his study one I was learning in Beth Medrash Govoha but at the end of the meeting we don’t just in Lakewood, N.J., a shidduch (match) was run off. Rather, we are required to take three day, when he heard a knock at his suggested for me with a girl from from steps back and to remain there for the time door. He paused and asked, “Who Brooklyn, N.Y. Now, the way it works is it takes to walk four cubits. It’s a way to show is it?” The man at the door replied, that after a regular morning seder (learning appreciation for the opportunity to spend “Ich (“It’s me”; literally, “I”).” Rav session) and a partial afternoon second seder, time together. Aharon did not respond. Again, you head off to get a ride to the rental car a knock at the door. Again, Rav place. There, you rent a car, drive back to In this week’s parsha, we find, twice, an Aharon said, “Who is it?” Again, the dormitory, shower and get dressed up. inverted letter nun. Once, following the verse Travel to Brooklyn, get to the girl’s house (10:33) that tells us that the Jews traveled the reply: “Ich.” Several more on time. Speak with the parents. Travel to away from the “Har Hashem” (Mountain times the same exchange, until Manhattan to find a nice hotel. Pray that of G-d), referring to Mount Sinai. And the Rav Aharon opened the door. you find a parking spot. Have an enjoyable second time, it is placed before the verse The man at the door exclaimed, two-hour schmooze. Bring the girl back (11:1) that tells us that the Jews complained “Why wouldn’t you open the home. Drive all the way back to Lakewood, about all the traveling they had to do enroute door?! We studied together at the return the rental car, have someone pick to the Land of Canaan. In between those Maggid of Mezritch (Rabbi Dov you up and take you back to yeshiva. And two inverted letters is a small break of two Ber of Mezritch, a prominent early the next morning you’re right back on verses that tells us about what Moshe would schedule with shacharis and learning all day. say when the Ark rested and what he would Chassidic leader; d. 1772). I’m on Physically exhausting, yes, but that’s not all; say when the Ark would journey. Clearly, my way back from the Maggid and it’s emotionally draining, as well. these two letters and the verses, which seem I stopped in to stay hello.” to have no connection to the surrounding Rav Aharon replied, “I asked Back to my story. I take this girl out to verses, require explanation. who was knocking and you the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. answered, “Ich.” How can you This clearly was not going anywhere, she, Rashi explains that the purpose of refer to yourself as “I”? Did the clearly not interested. I tried to make the these verses is to create a break between evening as pleasurable as possible and then one situation of trouble and another. And Maggid talk like that? headed back to Brooklyn. As we neared her the purpose of the two nuns is to note that “We were taught that there is home, I saw her hand was already on the these two verses don’t belong here, but were no “I”, only one Anochi (I) that door handle and, as soon as I reached her placed for the aforementioned purpose. The belongs to G-d. Hashem cannot house, her door was open and she was out. Ramban questions Rashi’s approach: the dwell with an individual who feels I was stunned, just sat there thinking how second situation was troublesome, for they that he is an “I” and has his own I spent my entire afternoon and evening were complaining. But what was wrong with space.” trying to give this person a nice time, still the first situation; all it states is that that The man sighed and said, had an hour-plus drive back to Lakewood, they traveled away from Mount Sinai, not on and this girl leaves without even thanking their own initiative, but by the command of “Aharon, you’re right. I have yet to me for all the effort it took, let alone to even Hashem. learn something from the Maggid. wish me a good night. As I sat there, I had I’m going to head back there.” an insight into something that we do three The Ramban, based on a Medrash, Moshe was the humblest of all times a day, every day. We know that when explains that when the Jewish People men because, despite his greatness, we recite the Shemone Esrei prayer, it is our began to travel, they had a surge of glee, he understood his insignificance time with Hashem, one on one; He takes out like a child running away from school. in relation to G-d. the time to meet with us. And yes, sometimes They thought to themselves that if they continued on back Kollel Happenings Interpersonal Issues THE FAR SIDE OF THE TALMUD The Laws of Lashon Hara (Slander) Rechilus has numerous applications approach the individual and say, “I sided The Talmud is the repository where lashon hara would not apply. For with you, but the other judges ruled against for halacha, assembled by example, if one is a member of a Jewish you.” Since revealing this information will our Sages. The Talmud also contains the wisdom of our Court, and the court decided against an cause the individual to be upset at the Sages on all matters of Jewish individual, a judge on the court may not judges on the court, it is forbidden to do so. thought and outlook, keen insights into human nature, and advice on how to live our Ask the Rabbi lives. Understanding the true Immunity in the Jewish Community intent of these passages is no Jeff Levin from Lakewood, New Jersey wrote: find a doctor with sufficient expertise in the subject such that his opinion may be relied small feat, but the knowledge Dear Rabbi, and wisdom hiding beneath upon. the surface is ample reason Are we required to immunize our children? Since the scientific knowledge is not 100% There’s no blanket answer concerning all to make the effort. Get ready accurate and there is ample proof that vaccines, but certainly many childhood to think out of the box and vaccines in fact damage children permanently diseases have been practically eliminated or be fascinated and inspired as and sometimes they can cause death ... are we reduced since their introduction. Smallpox, Rabbi Moshe Heyman presents allowed to vaccinate children? for example, once a great killer of children, is today extremely rare. On the other hand, a whole new dimension in Torah Dear Jeff Levin, some vaccinations are of highly questionable learning based on the classic value. Find a doctor whom you trust to help work Ain Yaakov: The Far Side Our Sages teach that in medical matters we select the proper immunizations for your of the Talmud. Tuesdays, 2-3 pm should rely on the experts in each generation. child. at the Kollel Torah Center, 9550 Today, there are differences of opinion among doctors concerning which immunizations are Reprinted with permission from Ohr Somayach, Belleview Ave. For more info, helpful, safe or advisable to receive. Therefore, contact [email protected]. as with any medical issue, you are required to Jerusalem, www.ohr.edu SAVE THE DATE! RABBI MALKIEL KOTLER IN DENVER JUNE 15TH A Taste of Torah Waiting to Show Appreciation Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, continued from front Rosh Hayeshiva/Dean of Beth would remain at Mount Sinai any longer, Mount Sinai were on a far higher plane than Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, Hashem would give them more mitzvos. the boy in the story, and were not jumping NJ, will be in Denver for the Says the Ramban, this is the first record of for joy, a slight imperfection in their mood inaugural event of the Kollel’s trouble that occurred. Therefore, the Torah upon leaving was, at their level, equal to a Southeast Torah Center. Stay tuned for events with Rabbi wanted this to be separated from the next child gleefully leaving school, and that was a Kotler throughout Denver. scenario of upcoming trouble when the claim held against them. For more info, contact rmh@ Jews complained. To have one misfortune denverkollel.org written after another is labeling them as Perhaps we can better understand this troublemakers, and troublemakers have to with my shidduch story. When a person’s A DEEPER LOOK AT THE PARSHA be dealt with. hand is already on the door handle before WITH RABBI MORDECHAI the meeting has even finished, she is FLEISHER Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz (c. 1873-1936) showing her distaste for the other person, illustrates this Ramban with a story that and that the other party is of no interest to Join Rabbi Fleisher as he traces happened with a boy in his yeshiva. This boy her. This can play out when praying or when the halachic sources and received an urgent telegram to come home studying Torah, or any other opportunities follows through to the practical right away.

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