• June 7, 2014
• Bahaaloscha 5774

A Taste of Torah

Stories For The Soul

It’s Not About Me

Waiting to Show Appreciation

By Rabbi Dovid Schwartzberg

Rabbi Aharon Karliner (1736-
1772) was learning in his study one day, when he heard a knock at his door. He paused and asked, “Who is it?” The man at the door replied, “Ich (“It’s me”; literally, “I”).” Rav Aharon did not respond. Again, a knock at the door. Again, Rav Aharon said, “Who is it?” Again, the reply: “Ich.” Several more times the same exchange, until Rav Aharon opened the door.
The man at the door exclaimed,
“Why wouldn’t you open the door?! We studied together at the Maggid of Mezritch (Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch, a prominent early Chassidic leader; d. 1772). I’m on my way back from the Maggid and I stopped in to stay hello.”
Rav Aharon replied, “I asked who was knocking and you answered, “Ich.” How can you refer to yourself as “I”? Did the Maggid talk like that?
“We were taught that there is no “I”, only one Anochi (I) that belongs to G-d. Hashem cannot dwell with an individual who feels that he is an “I” and has his own space.”

Back in my days of singlehood when it doesn’t work out, our minds are elsewhere,
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 suggested for me with a girl from from steps back and to remain there for the time Brooklyn, N.Y. Now, the way it works is it takes to walk four cubits. It’s a way to show that after a regular morning seder (learning appreciation for the opportunity to spend session) and a partial afternoon second seder, time together. you head off to get a ride to the rental car

• place. There, you rent a car, drive back to
• In this week’s parsha, we find, twice, an

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 on time. Speak with the parents. Travel to away from the “Har Hashem” (Mountain Manhattan to find a nice hotel. Pray that of G-d), referring to Mount Sinai. And the you find a parking spot. Have an enjoyable second time, it is placed before the verse two-hour schmooze. Bring the girl back (11:1) that tells us that the Jews complained home. Drive all the way back to Lakewood, about all the traveling they had to do enroute return the rental car, have someone pick to the Land of Canaan. In between those you up and take you back to yeshiva. And two inverted letters is a small break of two 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 Physically exhausting, yes, but that’s not all; say when the Ark would journey. Clearly,

• it’s emotionally draining, as well.
• these two letters and the verses, which seem

to have no connection to the surrounding
Back to my story. I take this girl out to verses, require explanation. the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

• This clearly was not going anywhere, she,
• Rashi explains that the purpose of

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 headed back to Brooklyn. As we neared her the purpose of the two nuns is to note that home, I saw her hand was already on the these two verses don’t belong here, but were door handle and, as soon as I reached her placed for the aforementioned purpose. The house, her door was open and she was out. Ramban questions Rashi’s approach: the I was stunned, just sat there thinking how second situation was troublesome, for they I spent my entire afternoon and evening were complaining. But what was wrong with trying to give this person a nice time, still the first situation; all it states is that that 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 me for all the effort it took, let alone to even Hashem.

The man sighed and said,
“Aharon, you’re right. I have yet to learn something from the Maggid. I’m going to head back there.”
Moshe was the humblest of all men because, despite his greatness, he understood his insignificance in relation to G-d.

wish me a good night. As I sat there, I had

• an insight into something that we do three
• The Ramban, based on a Medrash,

times a day, every day. We know that when explains that when the Jewish People we recite the Shemone Esrei prayer, it is our began to travel, they had a surge of glee, time with Hashem, one on one; He takes out like a child running away from school. the time to meet with us. And yes, sometimes They thought to themselves that if they

continued on back

Kollel Happenings

THE FAR SIDE OF THE TALMUD

Interpersonal Issues

Rechilus has numerous applications approach the individual and say, “I sided where lashon hara would not apply. For with you, but the other judges ruled against example, if one is a member of a Jewish you.” Since revealing this information will Court, and the court decided against an cause the individual to be upset at the individual, a judge on the court may not judges on the court, it is forbidden to do so.

The Laws of Lashon Hara (Slander)

The Talmud is the repository for halacha, assembled by our Sages. The Talmud also contains the wisdom of our Sages on all matters of Jewish thought and outlook, keen insights into human nature, and advice on how to live our lives. Understanding the true intent of these passages is no small feat, but the knowledge and wisdom hiding beneath the surface is ample reason to make the effort. Get ready to think out of the box and be fascinated and inspired as Rabbi Moshe Heyman presents a whole new dimension in Torah learning based on the classic work Ain Yaakov: The Far Side of the Talmud. Tuesdays, 2-3 pm at the Kollel Torah Center, 9550 Belleview Ave. For more info, contact [email protected].

Ask the Rabbi

Immunity in the Jewish Community

Jeff Levin from Lakewood, New Jersey wrote: find a doctor with sufficient expertise in the

subject such that his opinion may be relied upon.

Dear Rabbi,

Are we required to immunize our children? Since the scientific knowledge is not 100% accurate and there is ample proof that vaccines in fact damage children permanently and sometimes they can cause death ... are we allowed to vaccinate children?
There’s no blanket answer concerning all vaccines, but certainly many childhood diseases have been practically eliminated or reduced since their introduction. Smallpox, for example, once a great killer of children, is today extremely rare. On the other hand, some vaccinations are of highly questionable value. Find a doctor whom you trust to help select the proper immunizations for your child.

Dear Jeff Levin,

Our Sages teach that in medical matters we should rely on the experts in each generation. Today, there are differences of opinion among doctors concerning which immunizations are helpful, safe or advisable to receive. Therefore, as with any medical issue, you are required to

Reprinted with permission from Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem, www.ohr.edu

SAVE THE DATE! RABBI MALKIEL KOTLER IN DENVER JUNE 15TH

A Taste of Torah

would remain at Mount Sinai any longer, Mount Sinai were on a far higher plane than Hashem would give them more mitzvos. the boy in the story, and were not jumping Says the Ramban, this is the first record of for joy, a slight imperfection in their mood trouble that occurred. Therefore, the Torah upon leaving was, at their level, equal to a wanted this to be separated from the next child gleefully leaving school, and that was a scenario of upcoming trouble when the claim held against them. Jews complained. To have one misfortune

Waiting to Show Appreciation

Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Hayeshiva/Dean of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, NJ, will be in Denver for the inaugural event of the Kollel’s Southeast Torah Center. Stay tuned for events with Rabbi

continued from front

• Kotler
• throughout
• Denver.

For more info, contact rmh@ 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

• be dealt with.
• hand is already on the door handle before

the meeting has even finished, she is

A DEEPER LOOK AT THE PARSHA

• WITH
• RABBI
• MORDECHAI

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 happened with a boy in his yeshiva. This boy her. This can play out when praying or when received an urgent telegram to come home studying Torah, or any other opportunities right away. After reading the letter, the boy to come closer to Hashem. So next time your jumped for joy and broke out into a dance prayer or learning session is over, don’t run that he was able to take a short vacation out the second it ends; wait a bit, for then from yeshiva. Clearly, this boy didn’t care you’re showing that you truly want spiritual too much about learning in yeshiva and growth and long to have a relationship with was excited for the opportunity to depart. Hashem.

FLEISHER Join Rabbi Fleisher as he traces the halachic sources and follows through to the practical application of a fascinating sugya based on the weekly Torah portion. Class takes place at EDOS on Sunday, shacharis at 7:30 AM followed by breakfast and shiur at 8:15.

Although the Jews who traveled away from

The Torah Weekly is made possible through a generous grant from the
Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, NJ, in memory of Harry H. Beren, z”l.

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