Parshas Re'eh
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LIVING WITH THE PARSHAH 5779, PARSHAS MATOS MASSAI By HARAV YAAKOV FEITMAN, KEHILLAS BAIS YEHUDAH TZVI Parshas Matos begins with the Halachos of nedarim – promises and the obligation to keep them. This Parshah was specifically given to the leaders of Klal Yisrael – Roshei Hamatos – so that they can nullify, if necessary, a promise or vow. However, there is clearly another powerful message embedded here as well. When the 6th Gerrer Rebbe, the Pnai Menachem had just been appointed (in 5752, 1992), he explained a crucial phrase in our first posuk. The words roshei hamatos are used here in a unique way, unlike anyplace else in the Torah. The Radomsker Rebbe (Tiferes Shlomo) points out that when Moshe Rabbeinu was first appointed as the shliach to take us out of Mitzrayim and give us the Torah, Hashem asked him “What is that in your hand?” Moshe answered “It is a mateh – a stick.” The Radomsker says that the word mateh means “something which can change or turn the hearts of Bnai Yisrael [toward Hashem].” The Pnai Menachem added that at this moment the Gedolim of all generations were given the ability to mold, influence and inspire Bnai Yisrael to change. When Moshe protested that Bnai Yisrael would not believe him, Moshe was shown the stick which represents the promise that he and his successors would in fact be able to help the people change as needed. The Baal Shem Tov’s grandson, the author of the Degel Machaneh Ephraim (Parshas Pinchas) also teaches this concept upon the Mishnah which rules that “one may immerse a vessel inside of another vessel.” The homiletic meaning of this Halacha is that sometimes one cannot achieve purification on his own and therefore requires someone else to help him through his taharah process. This is the message and mandate of Parshas Matos, that we should all realize when we need help with something and seek out the person who can help us. I had the privilege of meeting the Pnai Menachem several times, both when he was still the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Sefas Emes and later when he became Rebbe. One was always aware of his constant caring, concern and agonizing over the troubles of Klal Yisrael as a whole and every Yid as an individual. Just before his sudden passing, he expressed to several close followers his overwhelming pain at the tzaros Klal Yisrael was suffering. This was the period of the worst of the intifadas in Eretz Yisrael and at some point, it seems that the Rebbe’s sensitive soul could bear the pain no longer. There is a message here for the leaders and for everyone else as well. The leaders must be prepared to reach out and help the spiritually needy, but the individual must ask for help as well. Later in the Parshah there is a famous question raised by many meforshim. Hashem says to take revenge upon the Midianites for Bnai Yisrael and Moshe Rabbeinu says to take revenge for Hashem. Why the change in venue? The Meshech Chochmah says that this represents the age-old partnership where Hashem does everything for us and we try to do things le’shem shomayim – for Hashem. Perhaps this relationship is mirrored in our relationship with our leaders as well, when they are always davening and doing everything for our benefit whereas we are enjoined to give them the proper respect and derech eretz. As we enter into the Nine Days, it is good for us to remember that all Hashem and His representatives in the world want from us is to do mitzvos, learn Torah and be the people they know that we can be. If we just do that part, Hashem iyH will do the rest and give us all of His berachos. A GUTTEN SHABBOS HALACHA OF THE WEEK 5779, PARSHAS MATOS MASSAI BY HARAV YAAKOV FEITMAN, KEHILLAS BAIS YEHUDAH TZVI This week we will continue the Halachos of the Nine Days Question: May a woman give in her sheitel to be washed and set during the Nine Days? Answer: As we discussed a few weeks ago, many Poskim (see Nitey Gavriel 36:31) hold that it is forbidden. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (quoted by his talmid Rav Ephraim Greenblatt in Rivevos Ephraim 6:291:3) allows the sheitel to be washed and set if was impossible to do so before the Nine Days began and she has no other clean sheitel. His reasoning is that a sheitel does not have the halacha of a beged -- a garment – and may therefore be washed and set. Question: May one eat meat at a Bris during the Nine Days this year? Answer: First of all, everyone attending a Bris during the Nine Days may eat meat at the Seudas Mitzvah (but not later at home even if the food came from the Bris). Secondly, although during the “week of Tishah B’Av,” only ten people and the closest relatives may eat meat, we follow the opinion that this year there is no Shavua shchal bo since Tishah B’av falls on Shabbos and the fast is postponed until Sunday. Therefore everyone may eat meat at the Bris. Although you may have heard that some say that this does not include a delayed Bris, there is such an opinion (Ohr Neelam 9), but the minhag is for everyone to eat meat at a delayed Bris during the Nine Days (Shaarei Teshuvah 551:33). Question: Our family has the minhag to make a seudah in honor of a boy putting on tefillin one month before his Bar Mitzvah. Is this considered enough of a Seudas Mitzvah to eat meat during the Nine Days? Answer: Yes, on the condition that the “Bar Mitzvah boy” gives a drashah with divrei Torah. Interestingly, however, in Skver, the minhag is that the Seudah should be held before the Nine days in this situation (Nitey Gavriel page 244). Question: If a boy under the age of Bar Mitzvah makes a siyum on a Masechta of Gemara, does it count as a Seudas Mitzvah so that people can eat meat? Answer: Yes (Teshuvos Tzofnas Paaneach by the Rogatchover Gaon 2:10). Question: May someone who does not generally go to the Mikvah immerse during the Nine Days if he is going to be the Sandek at a Bris? Answer: Yes (Teshuvos Rav Pe’olim 4:29). Question: How should a woman cooking for Shabbos on Erev Shabbos during the Nine Days conduct herself about tasting the fleishig food? Answer: Although some Poskim (Mekor Chaim 551:9) are lenient that she may taste and swallow, the majority (see Hisorerus Teshuvah 169; Leket Yosher page 110; Nitey Gavriel 44:8) hold that she must spit out what she tasted. However, according to one major Posek (Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, Shulchan Shlomo, Hilchos Shabbos 25:1), if one is always makpid – scrupulous – to fulfill the mitzvah of toa’meha – tasting the Shabbos food – one may also do so on the Erev Shabosos of the Nine Days. Question: May one feed very young children meat on Erev Shabbos during the Nine Days? Answer: Some Poskim (Igros Moshe 4:21:4) hold that we may not feed them meat until one or two hours before Shabbos (including early Shabbos). However, others (Eliyahu Rabbah 551:24) hold that we may do so from chatzos (midday). If possible, one should wait until close to Shabbos but if not, one may feed them meat after chatzos. A GUTTEN SHABBOS.