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Published by OHR SOMAYACH INTERNATIONAL • , Israel 22 Shvat 5760 • January 29, 2000 • Parshat Yitro • No. 71

descriptions of Commandment) Light Insight reward and pun- Once upon a time, a prince was ishment, in order captured by his father’s enemies. The Human Jungle to clarify for us the obligation of After a long time, the king man- hy were the Ten upholding them and the benefit of aged to a secret message to the Commandments given doing so, which would otherwise prince encouraging him not to Won two tablets of be unknown to us. give up, and to retain his princely stone? Why wasn’t one enough? The second group of com- manner even amidst the wolves of There’s a difference between mandments are all for the benefit prey among whom the prince was the five on the first tablet and the of people. The prohibitions forced to live. Soon, the message five on the second tablet. A quick against murder, kidnapping, adul- said, the king would obtain his tery and false testimony are fun- examination of the verses detail- son’s release, either through war damental to the harmonious oper- ing the first five show that each or peaceful means. ation of society. When they are one is more than just a simple The prince was overjoyed and explanation of the command- followed, their mere performance wished to celebrate, but he could ment. Included with each com- results in a life of peace, i.e. not, of course, reveal the secret of mandment on the first tablet is the reward is intrinsic to their perfor- his joy. Therefore, he invited his explicit reward for keeping them mance. Similarly, failure to lowly companions to the local inn and/or the punishment for failing observe the commandments and ordered drinks for everyone. to keep them. The second five between man and fellow man cre- commandments, on the second ates a society which is little more They celebrated because of the tablet, are stated without mention than a jungle — a punishment in wine and liquor, while the prince of reward and punishment. Three itself. celebrated because of his father’s out of five of them are just two letter. words long, such as: “Don’t kill.” Similarly on Shabbos, our bod- What’s the difference? Wining And Dining ies feast with the good food and The first five are command- emember the day of drink, but our souls are really the ments regarding a person honor- Shabbos to sanctify ones with reason to celebrate. We ing the Creator: Believing in G-d, “Rit... Because six days indulge a little in a fine candle-lit not making idols, not using G-d’s G-d made the heaven and the meal, a glass of wine, maybe a name for no purpose, observing earth, the sea and all that is in nap... but the main celebration is the . These first com- them, and He rested on the sev- the spiritual festivity of recogniz- mandments are accompanied by enth day...” (The Fourth ing the dominion of our Creator.

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ETHICS of the FATHERS him wise and worth learning from. Another perspective of this is based on a “The is acquired through forty-eight attributes... confession made by one of the Sages of the . (number 46) making his wise...” He admitted that he learned more from his students than he did from his teachers or his peers. A student n order for a student to have a real interest in learn- who challenges his rabbi with questions stimulates him ing from a rabbi he must respect him as a wise and to answer and opens up an opportunity for increased Iknowledgeable teacher. Without a healthy respect wisdom on the part of the teacher. In turn, the stimula- for a teacher, the student will not learn what the teacher tion the student provides by challenging his rabbi has to offer him. One important way to acquire Torah, enables the student to acquire the Torah wisdom he therefore, is by “making his rabbi wise” — considering seeks also.

a child’s hair is sapar,” he said — “I’m not a barber.” rooted in the mitz- Some people weigh the cut hair Response Line vah of ‘.’ and give that weight in gold or silver The Torah says if to charity, especially a charity which you plant a tree, promotes . Snipping Whippersnappers all fruits which grow during the first After everyone takes a snip, the Elazar wrote: three years are ‘orlah’ — off-limits. child is usually taken to a barber to I am looking for source material The Torah is the Tree of Life. Just finish the job. about the Jewish tradition of the as a tree is off-limits in its first three Which reminds me of a story... A ‘’ or cutting a boy’s hair at years, so too, the Torah is ‘off-lim- man and little boy walk into a barber three years old. Where does the its’ to a child until age three, due to shop together. “Billy,” says the man, term ‘upsherin’ originate from, and the child’s limited understanding. At “I’ll get my hair cut first, and then it what does it involve? three, when the child’s understand- will be your turn.” The man sits ing has developed, then his parents down in the barber’s chair and gets Dear Elazar, can start teaching him the Torah and his hair cut. ‘Upsherin’ is a word that he can start doing some of its com- Then the man stands up, picks up means ‘cutting off.’ Cutting a boy’s mandments. He finally gets to taste the little boy and sets him down in hair at age three is a wide-spread the sweet fruits from the Tree of the barber’s chair. “Make it nice and Jewish custom. Three is also when a Life. short,” says the man to the barber. boy usually starts wearing a Some people honor the first hair- Then to the little boy he says, “Billy, yarmulke and , if he doesn’t cut with a festive celebration. They you sit real still while the barber cuts already wear them. express thanks to G-d for allowing your hair. I’m going next door to the By age three, a child usually them to teach Torah to their child. pharmacy for a few minutes.” understands enough to begin learn- Many are accustomed to take their When the barber finishes cutting ing about the commandments. The child to a great Torah scholar who the boy’s hair, he says, “Little boy, first haircut is a way to teach the cuts the first snip. Not everyone has shouldn’t your father be back by child about the prohibition against this custom, however. I found this now?” too closely cropping the hair on the out when my son was about to turn “That’s not my father,” says the sides of the head. three, and I approached a renowned little boy. “He’s just some nice man On a deeper level, the custom to Jerusalem rabbi, asking if he would who said, ‘Come with me little boy, wait until age three to begin cutting like to take the first snip. “Ani lo and we’ll both get a free haircut’.”

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