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A Taste of Torah

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A Taste of Torah Behar 5776 May 27, 2016 A Taste of Torah Stories For The Soul Business Ethics: A Paradox? By Rabbi Eli Mozes Watch Out Some would posit that so long as you studied by countless yeshiva students based on a story on revach.net don’t steal or cheat, all is fair in business. around the world today. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (1749- The way to strike it rich is to find a cheap As a young rabbi, he applied to a 1821) was once delivering a way to provide something which people prestigious yeshiva for a teaching lecture to his students on the need and market it at a high price, position. After much deliberation by subject of bitachon, trusting G-d. while hoping that nobody else finds out the yeshiva, he was invited to give a At one point during the lecture, your secret formula. A savvy trader will sample lecture before the entire student he stopped and asked if anyone look for an undervalued commodity, had the time. Nobody was able to body and faculty. The discourse he provide the information, as not which he can buy up in large quantities delivered was a rather impressive one and make a fortune. Would anyone one of the students had a watch. which provided much food for thought Rav Chaim continued his lecture. consider a home-flipper unethical for to all those who had attended, but it not informing the owner of the house was missing the “wow factor.” After Suddenly, Rav Chaim interrupted that if he himself would invest $25,000 the lecture, one of the rabbis who himself and said, “ I feel as if we into fixing up the house, he could get an taught at the school approached Rabbi have not yet acquired true bitachon additional $50,000? Leibowitz, rather puzzled. “Just last week in our hearts. If we had the proper Yet the Torah tells us, “And when you I attended a discourse you gave which trust in G-d, He would have sent make a sale to your fellow or make a was an absolute masterpiece. I sat there us a watch - even a gold watch!” purchase from the hand of your fellow, from start to finish with bated breath Just then, a knock was heard on you shall not aggrieve (cheat) each for the next brilliant yet unexpected the door, and a Russian soldier other.” (Behar 25:14) The Talmud twist of logic which would make sense entered the room. The soldier (Bava Metziah 49b-60b) elaborates at of everything. I can honestly say that looked hesitantly around the length on this law. Neither a buyer nor I had never heard a lecture like that room, and then turned to Rav a seller is allowed to take advantage of in my entire life. Why didn’t you just Chaim and said, “Rebbi, I’m a information that the other party is not repeat that lecture? Had you done so, Jew, a lone Jew among many non- privy to regarding the true value of the you would have been guaranteed the Jewish, anti-Semitic soldiers. I’m item. An ethical business transaction, position.” afraid that the other soldiers will according to Torah law, is when both the steal the valuable watch which buyer and the seller are equally aware Rabbi Leibowitz’s reply was something we can all learn from. “I know that the I received as a present from my of the true value of the item. It is also father.” forbidden to dress up your merchandise lecture which you are referring to was to make it look better than it is; examples truly extraordinary. I must have had With that, he handed the watch to given in the Talmud include combing special Divine assistance when I was Rav Chaim. “I would rather give out the hair of your animal to make it composing it. But that is not the typical this watch as a gift to a great rabbi look larger or soaking your meat in water discourse I would give. I am not capable than have it stolen from me by to increase its volume. The minutiae of of producing something like that on a anti-Semitic thugs.” these laws are beyond the scope of this regular basis. Therefore, I chose a class In this week’s parsha, the Torah article and would fill a few books. (In which would represent my standard teaches that we must trust that fact, they fill many.) However, I would level of teaching, one which I can expect Hashem will provide for us even like to share with you a story to drive to deliver to the students every day.” as the lands of Eretz Yisrael lie home the message of what the Torah This does not seem to be common untouched during the Shemittah expects of us. business practice. When a teacher year. Though we may not reach One of the greatest Roshei Yeshiva provides a model lesson or a the sublime level of Rabbi Chaim (Yeshiva Deans) of pre-WWII Europe manufacturer provides a sample of Volozhin, we, too, must strive was Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz (1862- product, it is a given that you can never to inculcate the attribute of trust 1939). His writings, which contain expect them to maintain that level of in Hashem within ourselves. amazing explanations of some of the quality in the long run. A wise potential most complex areas of the Talmud, are client will always look at the sample Continued on back Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ ENSURING YOUR By Rabbi Yaakov Zions PHILANTHROPY ACHIEVES st Last week we asked: After every amidah Ratzon prayer. The Sephardic custom was to ITS GOALS AT JUNE 1 prayer, we customarily add an additional recite an alternate, similar prayer beginning TORAH FOR TYCOONS prayer beginning with “Yehi ratzon.” When “Harachaman.” During the past few Join Bruce DeBoskey, J.D., else is this recited? centuries, most Ashkenazic communities Philanthropic Strategist A: A: 1) The source of this prayer is a adopted the Sephardic custom. (Sources: with The DeBoskey Group, mishna in Pirkei Avos (end of Chapter Tosafos Megilla 20b, Siddur Aizor Eliyahu) and Rabbi Aron Yehuda 5). Pirkei Avos is recited by many during This week’s question: Which perek Schwab, Dean of the Denver Community Kollel, as they the summer months. 2) After counting (chapter) of Pirkei Avos is not actually part generate an approach for Sefiras Ha’omer, the custom is to pray for of the Mishna, and why is it included? your generosity. June 1st, 12- the building of the Temple. The medieval To submit an answer to Rabbi Zions, email [email protected]. 1:15 p.m. at the East Side Ashkenaz custom was to recite this Yehi Kosher Deli. Cost: $25. RSVP [email protected]. LEARN-A-THON & SIYUM Lives of Our Torah Leaders ON JUNE 5TH The Rambam Part II Join the communal The Rambam was born toward the end In 1150, the Almohads arrived in Cordova. completion of an entire tractate of Talmud in the of what is often referred to as the Golden Most Cordovan Jews fled, including course of one hour of Torah Age of Spanish Jewry. During the early 8th the Maimon family. Initially, they went study! Men, sign up and century, most of Spain was conquered by to Southern Spain, but the Almohads study a preassigned section Moslem Arabs from North Africa. Many arrived shortly thereafter. They then fled of Tractate Sotah with a Jews from North Africa settled in the to Northern Spain, where the Christians class or chavrusah. Women, Moslem-controlled parts of Spain. The Jews ruled. In 1160, Rabbi Maimon, his two sons sign up and attend a special in Spain were tolerated by the Arab rulers, Moshe and Dovid, and their families left Spain and arrived in Fez, Morocco. study session. The siyum will and, over time, the Jewish population be part of the completion of flourished. Many Jews moved into positions At the time, Fez was also under Almohad an entire order of Talmud, of economic and political power, and, control. However, the Almohads had not Seder Nashim, that is being as long as they knew their place vis-à-vis offered Fez’s Jew the option of flight; it completed by Daf Yomi was convert or die. Many Jews there made their Arab masters, they continued to be participants around the a superficial conversion to Islam, while successful. world. Sunday, June 5th, continuing to practice Judaism privately. 3:30-5:30 pm at the Ethel In 1149, the Almohads, a group of fanatical The Almohads looked the other way, and A. Beren Auditorium, 1261 Moslems, conquered Spain from their more a strange situation arose: the Jews lived Zenobia.Visit denverkollel. moderate co-religionists. They offered the externally as Moslems, but there existed a org, email info@denverkollel. Jews under their rule three choices: exile, flourishing Jewish society just beneath the org, or call 303-820-2855 to conversion or death. surface. sign up or for more details. LEARN 2 LEARN A Taste of Torah You have long dreamed of Continued from front acquiring the tools to achieve and create a downward estimate to what he ethic which is supposed to permeate our proficiency in learning Gemara believes is a maintainable level. With this in every business dealing is, “I am Hashem on your own. But how? The mind, we can question, why, indeed, didn’t Your G-d.” True, man is required to perform Denver Community Kollel Rabbi Leibowitz give the knockout lesson, his due diligence in supporting himself and offers a comprehensive, step- with the expectation that the management his family.
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