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Parshat Vayechi 16 Tevet 5773/December 30, 2012 Vol.4 Num. 15 ל"ז Sponsored by Dan and Karen Valter for the yahrtzeit of Dan's father, Yitzchak ben Shalom Valter We want Mashiach whenever Mordechai Torczyner On his deathbed, the patriarch - son (Yeshayah 6:11), Chavakuk (Chavakuk progressing according to a specific plan, and grandson of men who knew the 1:2), Zecharyah (Zecharyah 1:12) and and with a particular end in mind. Almighty intimately, of women whose Daniel sought to know the date of insight mirrored the Divine plan - Mashiach's arrival. He then wrote, "How Perhaps this was the understanding of pledged to entrust to his children the could they fail to seek the Divine human events that Yaakov intended to secrets of the universe. With little message, the time when He will come convey to his children, as he passed to strength or time remaining, Yaakov and be seen, in order to find tranquility them the mantle of leadership. The summoned his children and intoned, for their spirits, to rest from their point was not to have them mark down "Gather, and I will tell you what will struggle, to flee from their trouble?" on some millennia-long calendar that befall you in the end of days." Then, However, this does not explain how the Mashiach would come in Tevet 5773. abruptly, the ancient sage altered his sons of Yaakov, who knew no suffering Perhaps the point was for them to focus, speaking more neutrally, in Egypt, would benefit from knowing understand, as leaders of the Jewish "Gather, listen, sons of the circumstances of Mashiach's arrival. nation, that there is an "end of days" at Yaakov." (Bereishit 49:1-2) He all, that the events of their lives are continued to convey blessings, but We might answer our question with a invested with purpose. [Indeed, Yosef spoke no more of the end of days. closer look at the Jewish view of history. tried to tell them this himself, insisting In his work Zakhor, Professor Yosef that his sale had been according to a Commentators offer a range of Haim Yerushalmi noted that the plan. Of course, even Yosef ("G-d sent approaches to explain why Yaakov modern study of history clashes with me here to provide food") didn't realize changed his plans, but perhaps we the traditional Jewish approach to the scope of that plan ("your children might offer our own answer by first studying history. As he put it, "To the will be slaves in a land not their own").] asking a fundamental question: Why degree that this historiography is indeed did Yaakov wish to inform his children "modern" and demands to be taken Nonetheless, G-d determined that of the "end of days", at all? What seriously, it must at least functionally Yaakov would not share this vision with benefit would there be in telling them repudiate premises that were basic to his children, and perhaps this decision of the end of a story not to play out for all Jewish conceptions of history in the was motivated by their own welfare. thousands of years? Indeed, informing past. In effect, it must stand in sharp People who are told that their lives and them could even be hazardous; might opposition to its own subject matter, actions have automatic and inherent they, or their descendants, abandon not on this or that detail, but historical meaning, irrespective of their the book, knowing that they would concerning the vital core: the belief that personal decisions, might abandon never live the last page? divine providence is not only an themselves to the determinism of Fate. ultimate but an active causal factor in If Mashiach is going to come in Tevet Don suggested that Jewish history, and the related belief in 5773, and my actions in 2255 will the eternal question of "When will he the uniqueness of Jewish history itself." automatically play some butterfly's wing come?" is rooted in our desire to In other words, the modern study of of a role in bringing about that ultimate escape our current suffering. In his history contends that all events in hurricane regardless of my free will, Maayanei haYeshuah (1:2), Abarbanel history occur without an underlying then why should I value my own catalogued the history of the Jewish plan or purpose. Traditional , decisions and choices? Whatever will longing to know when the end will on the other hand, insists that history be, will be! Knowing how the story plays come, noting that such figures as King is a story written by a Hand, out could yield generations of Jews who David (Tehillim 74:10), Yeshayah would view themselves not as actors, but as acted upon; not as eventual redeemers, but as eventually redeemed. THE CHALLENGE OF CONTINUITY And so Yaakov's mouth is closed, and so King David, Yeshayah, Chavakuk, Zecharyah and Daniel were turned YOM IYUN FOR WOMEN back, as was Don Isaac Abarbanel. th 10 AM to 12:45 PM, SUN. JANUARY 13 The information is there. The date is known. For us, though, it would be Shiur / Israeli Film (English subtitles) / Workshop better that we not read the last page of

the book; rather, it would be better that AT BAYT (613 Clark Ave W, Thornhill) we write it.

FREE ADMISSION / REFRESHMENTS [email protected] Please RSVP to [email protected] We are grateful to Continental Press 905-660-0311 Are we allowed to go to a doctor? Adam Frieberg Hitoriri: Jewish Spirituality

While many of us enjoy vacation this doesn’t make it clear if these forbidden Yehudah’s Teshuvah week, many doctors are working, practices worked, he does say that had covering shifts for their colleagues. they been permissible, removing them Hillel Horovitz Being a doctor, or participating in the would have been incredibly ridiculous. בפרשת ויחי קורא יעקב לבניו ומברך ומנחה healing of anyone, is a great act, Rambam stresses the importance of אותם לפני מותו . רש " י מביא לנו את דברי fulfilling the verse, “he shall provide for countering ’s position, saying a complete cure” (Shemot 21:19), that the interpretation that King המדרש לפיו יהודה נסוג לאחור לאחר ששמע among other mitzvot. With that in Chizkiyah buried a book which could את הדברים הקשים שאמר יעקב לראובן mind, the following passage of gemara heal all, simply because it decreased ולשני אחיו האחרים של יהודה , שמעון ולוי . Pesachim 56a) should be quite faith in G-d, is absurd. He proves his) יהודה כביכול לא רצה לגשת ליעקב ולשמוע surprising. point by drawing an analogy between את תוכחתו של יעקב . רש " י מבאר כי הוא healing and eating: Would anyone פחד כי יעקב יוכיח אותו על מעשה תמר . ניתן The quotes an early source that suggest that a hungry person eating a גם לציין שייתכן כי פחד גם מתגובתו של praises King Chizkiyah for doing three piece of bread demonstrates a lack of יעקב למכירתו של יוסף , אולם הניח שיעקב ?things, and admonishes him for doing faith לא יניח את כובד האשמה על אחד מבניו three other things. One of the things he בלבד וכן יישתדל שלא לפתוח פצעים שעודם is praised for doing is hiding away a Our intuition tells us, as the Rambam מגלידים. sefer refuot", seemingly a book of understood, that we must accept the" medicinal remedies. Rashi’s explanation laws of nature, and a cursory glance יעקב מרגיע את יהודה ואומר לו : " אתה of this passage is extremely foreign for through Jewish sources will support יודוך אחיך", ומפרש הכלי יקר , שלפי שהודה the modern mind: Rashi writes that the this position. Yet we also believe in בטעותו , ואמר במעשה תמר " צדקה ממני " , book's secrets were used to quickly heal Divine providence, as seen throughout אל לא לדאוג מתוכחתו של יעקב . הכלי יקר .everyone in need, and it was so effective Tanach and as emphasized by Rashi ממשיך ומפרש כי משום כך , מידה כנגד that sickness no longer humbled These concepts do conflict; if we מידה , יכירו אחיו בזכותו למלכות . יוצא people. Rashi’s interpretation advocates believe a certain event occurs because מכאן שגדולתו של יהודה נובעת מיכולתו for greater trust in G-d. One who is sick of Divine providence, then it cannot be להכיר בבעייתיות של מעשיו, להודות בטעותו ,must pray for healing; the ability to be attributed solely to the laws of nature ואף לפעול בהתאם. perfectly healed by medicine was so and vice versa. However, we must dangerous for society, that King accept both philosophies in some כך נוכל גם לפרש את המשך ברכתו של יעקב , Chizkiyahu, with the support of the measure. We should continue to rely באומרו : " מטרף בני עלית ". המילה טרף Sages, effectively reintroduced sickness on doctors should the need רומזת בצורה בולטת מאוד למילים אותם and disease into the world in order to unfortunately present itself, but increase trust in G-d. remembering the ultimate Healer, and אומר יעקב לאחר שהוא מגלה על העלמותו His ultimate control of the situation, is של יוסף : " טרף טרף יוסף ". ניתן אם כן .To the Rambam, such an approach is prescribed by all להסביר כי יעקב רומז ליהודה שגם מאותו simply untenable. In his Commentary " טרף " מאותו חטא של מכירת יוסף , הצליח to the (Pesachim 4:10), [email protected] יהודה לחזור בתשובה כאשר לקח את Rambam explains that the reason King האחריות על כתפיו והגן על בנימין . ) הרשב " ם Chizkiyahu eliminated the book was מתנגד לפירוש זה ואומר כי המילה " בני " because it contained medical practices מתייחסת ליהודה ולא ליוסף , אך לשיטתנו based on idol worship. While the book אין הדבר סותר שכן ניתן להסביר את הפסוק was originally intended solely for כ"מטרף"- יוסף, "בני עלית"- יהודה(. academic use, people started to practice what they read, which was forbidden, יוצא מכאן כי המסר המרכזי של יעקב and therefore the decision was made to ליהודה היא כי יכולתו לחזור ולתקן את remove the book. While the Rambam מעשיו ולקחת את האחריות לפעלותיו היא היא זו שמאפשרת לו להוביל ולהנהיג את העם . לא ייפלא אם כן שצאצאו של יהודה , Mitzvot: #236 613 דוד, יהיה זה שהגמרא תגיד עליו שהוא תיקן "עולה של תשובה". דוד הוכיח לעולם שמנהיג Gossip או כל אדם יכולים לחזור בתשובה ולקחת Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner אחריות למעשיהם. Mitzvah 236 prohibits “travelling eavesdropping in its purview; I am not בני ישראל נקראים לעד בשמו של יהודה, about as a peddler” and we are allowed to spread a person's secrets to "יהודים". דבר זה בא ללמד אותנו על taught that this refers to talking others, or even to myself. The prohibition מרכיבים שונים באישיות של עמנו. הן ,about people to others. The truth or also includes reading others' written mail יכולתנו להודות לד', והן יכולתנו להודות falsehood of the tale is irrelevant; or electronic communication; Rabbeinu בטעויות ולתקן אותם. יהודה מלמד אותנו כי telling a true story is also prohibited. Gershom's classic edict against reading The prohibition includes telling others' mail was meant to reinforce the הנהגה פרושה תיקון תמידי של מעשינו neutral and even positive information, biblical law which was already on the ובחינה מדוקדקת של יכולתנו להשתפר .if disclosure of that information might books ולהתקדם, כך נזכה לביאת זרעו של דוד lead to harm or embarrassment for its הממשיך את דרכו של יהודה במהרה בימינו. subject. [email protected]

Rabbi Yosef Chagiz (17th century [email protected] Morocco) noted that the prohibition against gossip includes

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com Biography: Rabbi Russell Levy This Week in Israeli History Born in 1235 in , Rabbi Tevet 21 1952 Torah in Translation Shlomo ben Aderet was one of the primary students of both the Ramban The Execution of The Meaning of (Rav Moshe ben Nachman, ) and Rabbeinu Yonah. Yosef Batzri

“Berachah” The Rabbi of the main shul in Rabbi Baruch Weintraub Barcelona, he was leader of Spanish Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Aderet Jewry for more than 50 years. Thursday is the 21st of Tevet

Responsa of Rashba 5:51 The Rashba wrote prolifically; more than Yosef Batzri, an Iraqi Jew, was born Translated by Yair Manas 3000 of his teshuvot are still extant. As in 1923. A lawyer by profession, the leader of the Jewish people, he Batzri was an enthusiastic Zionist, To the wise, complete person: You asked, successfully defended the community in active in the movements "What are blessings? The term 'berachah theological debates with Christians 'HaChalutz' (The Pioneer) and [blessing]' refers to increased good, but what (Shut HaRashba 4:187). 'HaHaganah' (The Defense). He can a servant add to his Master?" made aliyah in 1949, shortly after The turn of the Jewish millennium in the state was established. He was In truth, the word "berachah" is an 5000 (1240) created much messianic recruited into the intelligence expression of increase and multiplication, fervor in the Jewish community. R' service, and soon he was sent back like the expression, "springs [bereichot] of Shlomo ensured the unity of the Jewish to Iraq. water". There is a deep secret regarding community by combating false berachot, and one to whom G-d has granted Messiahs, and most prominently in his In 1951, there was a wave of knowledge of the secrets of the Torah will rejection of Nissim ben Avraham and terrorist attacks against Jewish and understand it. Blessings, and the increase of Avraham Abulafiah when they appeared Western targets in Iraq. These blessings, multiply in two ways, sometimes in the latter half of the 13th century attacks included an incident in from the recipient and sometimes from the (ibid 1:548). which a hand grenade was thrown giver and conveyor of blessing. into a shul's yard, killing four Though the Rashba vigorously defended people, including a twelve-year old This may be compared to a king who gives an the Rambam against his detractors, he boy. The yard had been used as a showers of his good upon his servants. The disagreed with his philosophy and his meeting point for Jews on their way blessing appears to his servants in their approach to Judaism. Similarly, the to the airport, en route to Israel. multiplication and increase, for they were Rashba, as part of the Beit Din in lacking and now they have been made full. Barcelona, forbade those under thirty The Iraqi government of the time However, for the king, it is well known that from learning secular philosophy and declared that the Zionist activists possesses as much as he has given and used sciences. themselves had coordinated the to benefit others, and so the increase and attacks. They reasoned that the multiplication is not seen in him. Still, if the Among the Rashba‟s works are his terror attacks were aimed at king were to constantly give, supplying large novellae on the Talmud, Torat HaBayit, creating feelings of insecurity gifts to his many forces without interruption, Avodat Hakodesh and Sha'ar HaMayim. among the Jews, encouraging them it would truly appears that he is blessed [ie His most renowned students were the to make aliyah. (No explanation was increased and multiplied], such that he never Raah (R' Aharon haLevi), the Ritva (R' given for the fact the Zionsts stops providing for his forces, even for an Yom Tov al-Asvilli) and Rabbeinu themselves were being attacked.) instant.. Behaye. The Iraqi police began to arrest It’s not that the king is made greater by an The Rashba passed away at the age of Zionist activists, and Batzri external source, receiving blessing and 75 in 1310. understood that he was in grave abundance from someone greater than he is, danger. He hid in his uncle's home, who supplied him. Rather, everyone "blesses" [email protected] but on the fifth of June he was the king, meaning that they give blessing and found and arrested by the Iraqi thanks that he is the master of these security forces. Batzri and two others – Shalom Tzalach and Yosef blessings, and his storehouses will never fail. cause G-d to withhold His good from When he adds more good, more people Beit Halachmi – were accused of them. Thus the Sages taught (Berachot executing the terrorist attacks. recognize and know him, for his blessing has 7a), "G-d said to Yishmael: My son, bless neither limit nor end… Batzri was also tried for spying. Me. He answered, 'May it be your will that Your mercy should conquer Your This is the matter of blessings, that we give On the 21st of Tevet 5712 (19th anger, and Your mercy should overtake January 1952), Yosef Batzri was thanks before Him for the food that He Your [other] attributes, and You should provides, and for the good that He gives to executed by the Iraqis. For many deal with Your children beyond the line Jews in Iraq, Batzri's execution, us. We pray that He constantly give blessing, of the law.'" so that everyone will know that He is blessed. together with the execution of two As we say: Blessed, and blessed in the other Iraqi Jews in the same year, mouths of every soul… was the final push to leave Iraq, a land that had been a thriving Also, G-d wants his righteous ones to pray Jewish centre for thousands of before Him, in order to increase His good for years. His creations, and in order that their sins not [email protected]

Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3 Our Haftorah: Melachim I 2:1-12 Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner Who is the prophet of our haftorah? in the first succession of Jewish There is a great deal of disagreement The book of Melachim ("Kings") records leadership. (Yehoshua 1:5-9) Yeravam regarding the correct site, due to the history of Jewish life in Israel from ben Nevat was passed the same archaeological finds as well as the the end of King David's reign until the instruction by Achiyah haShiloni when evidence found in Tanach. A set of Babylonian destruction of the first Beit he splintered the Jewish people to form burial caves excavated north of the Old haMikdash. The Talmud ( the northern kingdom of Yisrael. City in 1863 has been identified as the 15a) says that it was recorded by (Melachim I 11:38) Zecharyah gave a "tombs of the House of David". A ten- Yirmiyah, who lived through the last similar message to Yehoshua, the high acre area in the southeastern portion of decades recorded in the book. In our priest of his day, at the beginning of the the Old City is known as the City of editions of Tanach, Melachim is split second Beit haMikdash. (Zecharyah 3:7) David. There is no definitive answer. into two parts; the first part begins with the end of King David's reign and The second part of the message, with its For more on this question, see: continues until shortly after the death list of figures who should not be  Doron Bar, “Kever David b’Har of King Achav of Yisrael, and the permitted to die of old age, may seem Tzion B’Shnotehah Harishonot shel second part continues from there. odd as the closing words of King David's Hamedinah,” Al Atar 11 (5763): 85-95 life. However, these instructions may be Yoel Elitzur, “Achen! Kivrei Beit What is the message of our haftorah? seen as more than a last set of tasks left  Our haftorah marks the death of King to Shlomo. The fact that King David was David,” Al Atar 11 (5763): 15-27 David, and the passing of the throne to not able to carry out these tasks in his  Gabriel Barkay, “L’ba’ayat Makom his son Shlomo; this parallels the death own lifetime, and needed to leave them Kivrehem shel Malchei Beit David of Yaakov and then Yosef, and the end to his son, was due to a set of religious Ha’achronim,” Bein Chermon L’Sinai: of their era, in our parshah. and practical considerations which Yad l’Amnon (1977): 75-92 restricted his freedom. Perhaps this was  Bargil Pixner, Biblical King David presents two messages to King David's parting message: I am Archaeological Review (May/June 1990) his son: A warning that he must leaving you a kingdom and a Torah, and continue to follow the instructions of with that comes the full force of the  Hershel Shanks, “The Tombs of HaShem in order for his monarchy to Divine Hand. However, even when you David and Other Kings of Judah,” endure (Melachim I 2:1-4) and a list of operate with Divine blessing, remember Jerusalem: An Archaeological Biography King David's foes and advice for how to your limitations, debts and (New York: 1995), 35-43 deal with them. (2:5-10) commitments, and never overstep your  Ora Limor, “King David’s Tomb on bounds. Mount Zion: The Origins of a Tradition,” King David's insistence that Shlomo in D. Jacoby & Y. Tsafrir (eds.), Jews, follow the Torah is consistent with the Where was King David buried? Samaritans and Christians in Byzantine messages that came with other pivotal Melachim I 2:10 records King David's Palestine (Jerusalem, 1988), 11-23 changes of the guard in Tanach. burial in "Ir David", the City of David. [Hebrew]. Yehoshua was given the same message Where is this? when he took up the mantle of Moshe [email protected] Highlights for December 29– January 4 / 16 Tevet - 22 Tevet Many of our weekly shiurim are off this week, but opportunities remain!

Shabbat, December 29 7:45 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Reasons for mitzvot and the parshah, Or Chaim 8 PM R’ Ezra Goldschmiedt, Mesilat Yesharim, Bnai Torah, Derashah Yair Manas, Shaarei Shomayim high school students not this week 10:00 AM Hillel Horovitz, Parshah Shiur, Bnai Torah 9 PM Hillel Horovitz, Rav Kook’s Ein Ayah, Bnai Torah not 10:20 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Parshah, Clanton Park this week 3:40 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Daf Yomi, BAYT 3:50 PM Adam Frieberg, Does one’s burial site really Tuesday, January 1 matter?, Shaarei Tefillah 1:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Book of Daniel, Shaarei After minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Gemara Avodah Shomayim, Mekorot, resumes January 8 Zarah: Talmudic Medicine II, BAYT 8 PM Yair Manas, Chaburah: Sanhedrin, 33 Meadowbrook 6:30 PM Yair Manas, Parent-Child Learning: Movie not this week Night, Shaarei Shomayim 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Rambam’s Laws of Kings, Shomrai Shabbos, men not this week Sunday, December 30

9:15 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Parshah Preview, Wednesday, January 2 Zichron Yisroel, Hebrew (Shacharit 8:30 AM) 10 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Book of Yonah, BEBY, After maariv R’ Baruch Weintraub, Contemporary Melton, resumes January 23 Halachah in Israel, Hebrew, Clanton Park

8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Contemporary Halachah Thursday, January 3 in Israel, Hebrew, 4 Tillingham Keep, mixed 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Sotah, Clanton Park not this Monday, December 31 week 8 PM Hillel Horovitz, Prophets, Bnai Torah not this week

4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim! Visit us at www.torontotorah.com