LIVING WITH THE PARSHAH 5779, PARSHAS PINCHAS By HARAV YAAKOV FEITMAN, KEHILLAS BAIS YEHUDAH TZVI Over the centuries and millennia, there have been many detractors of the Torah. Despite differing names – Tzedukim, Karraim, Maskilim, Reform etc. – their common theme has always been that the Torah is not divine. We, however, believe completely in Torah min hashomayim. One of the most dramatic proofs is from this week’s Sedra. Rashi (27:16) tells us that when Hashem issued the rules of inheritance, Moshe Rabbeinu seized the opportunity to ask that his children, too, inherit the mantle of Jewish leadership. Hashem, however, decreed that Yehoshua his student, not a relative, should become the ruler. My Rov at the time of my Bar Mitzvah, Rav Shmuel Alter zt”l, author of the classic Likutei Basar Likutei (now out in a new edition) writes that the Mishnah (beginning of Avos) states that Moshe Rabbeinu received the Torah at Sinai. What is the proof? The very succession of Yehoshua and not Moshe’s sons is the greatest evidence. No father would willingly disinherit his children from his position and rightful authority. However, as the Mishnah states Moshe kibeil Torah miSinai umesarah l’Yehoshua. That fact could only have happened because Moshe received everything directly from Hashem at Sinai, including the order of succession. We might add that although there were many dynasties in Klal Yisrael – we are now in the seventh generation of Ger, fourth of Brisk etc. – many Torah giants followed in the footsteps of Moshe Rabbeinu. When Rav Shach zt”l founded the Degel Hatorah party he was over 90 years old. He knew that there would be people who would criticize his decision as political or self-serving. He therefore mentioned that at his age, he had no intentions or aspirations for political leadership. Furthermore, he declared that he didn’t even have any plans for his family to succeed him in his most important position as Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovizh. In fact, his son-in-law who even today is one of the elders of the generation – Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman – has his own Yeshiva and never occupied his father-in-law’s shteller. This kind of credibility has always shined clearly as proof that the Torah is not, as Pirkei Avos states, a “spade with which to dig” but a yoke and a burden which they carry proudly and willingly. This is not to say that a son does not have priority over others (see Mishnas Yaavetz Yoreh Deah 36). It is merely the fact that neither sons, sons-in-law nor anyone else have a guarantee of leadership unless they are personally worthy as well. Dovid Hamelech (Berachos 4a) declares that he “gets his hands dirty” every day with the nitty gritty of Halacha and Shlomo Hamelech does not rest on his father’s laurels but must write his own seforim such as Shir Hashirim, Mishlei and Koheles. Thus the eternity and integrity of Torah leadership is assured by the fact that the child cannot rely upon the father, only upon his own knowledge and originality. Utilizing the dynasties mentioned earlier, the Brisker Rov learned from his father Rav Chaim but established his own credibility as well. The Sefas Emes quotes his grandfather on every page of his eponymous sefer but writes his own chidushim there as well. Our Sedra is a study in both the continuity of the Torah and in the constant testing process which our leaders have undergone thorough the ages. It is the crucible of nezach Yisrael in every generation and our response to the enemies from within who continue to challenge the eternal truth of the Torah. A GUTTEN SHABBOS HALACHA OF THE WEEK 5779 PARSHAS PINCHAS BY HARAV YAAKOV FEITMAN, KEHILLAS BAIS YEHUDAH TZVI This week we will discuss the Halachos of the Nine Days Question: Is Rosh Chodesh Av (this year on Friday) the actual beginning of the Nine Days and does it have all the restrictions? Answer: Yes. However, according to some Poskim (see Toras Chaim 551) if someone always has a meat meal with friends on Rosh Chodesh, he may do so Rosh Chodesh as well. However, the custom seems to follow those (see Rav Reuvein Margoliyos, Nefesh Chaya 551:1) who rule that one should not have a meat meal on Rosh Chodesh Av even if he always does so. Question: What time on Erev Rosh Chodesh do these restrictions begin? Answer: They begin at shekiah, sundown, not as some people mistakenly believe at Tzeis Hakochavim, nightfall (about one hour later). This includes people who usually wait for the Rabbeinu Tam zman on Motzoi Shabbos (Mogen Avrohom 551:26, with Chedvas Yehoshua). Question: Is there a shavua shechal bo Tishah B’av (week of Tishah B’av) this year, since the ninth of Av is on Shabbos and we fast on Sunday? Answer: This question is primarily relevant to Sephardim who do not conduct themselves as mourners until the Week of Tishah B’av. For them, some Poskim (Mogen Avrohom 551:35) hold that the Halacha is that for things which are only a minhag – custom, there is no Shavua shechal bo. However, the majority of Sephardim follow the Ben Ish Chai (Devarim No. 14) that there is no Shavua shechal bo for any matter. For Ashkenazi this is an irrelevant issue, since they began the restrictions in any event on Rosh Chodesh Av (see Minchas Boruch 82). Question: I have heard that it is bad luck to go to court against a gentile during the Nine Days. When is that period over? Answer: It seems from the Zohar Hakadosh (Yisro 78b) that this ends immediately after the Nine Days. However, some Poskim (Chasam Sofer to Shulchan Aruch 551) rule that one should wait until the 15th of Av. Others (Mogen Avrohom 551:2; Chayei Adam 133:9) hold that one should postpone court until Rosh Chodesh Elul. Question: If one began a building job before the Nine Days, may he finish or must he stop on Rosh Chodesh? Answer: Lechatchila – when hiring – one should make up with the gentile not to work after Rosh Chodesh. However, if he insists that he will lose other jobs etc. and he is working because he wants to it is permissible (Mogen Avrohom 551:7; Aruch Hashulchan 6; Mishnah Berurah 12). Question: May one go to contract on a new house during the Nine Days? Answer: Yes. This is considered shema yekadmenu acheir – perhaps someone else will buy the desired house and it is therefore permissible (Levushei Mordechai 1:101). Question: Is it permissible to take the car for a car wash during the Nine Days? Answer: Yes (Nitey Gavriel 29:19, page 174). Question: May we buy large appliances such as refrigerators and ovens during the Nine Days if there is a large sale? Answer: Yes if the savings are significant to you, based upon your own finances. If possible, one can purchase the items and ask that they be delivered after Tishah B’Av. (Mishnah Berurah 551:11; Piskei Teshuvos 551:11). A GUTTEN SHABBOS