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Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov בס״ד Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov PARSHAT PINCHAS 23 TAMMUZ 5781 / JULY 3, 2021 VOL. 12 NUM. 39 (ISSUE 500) This special issue of Toronto Torah is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Yitzchak Witty of blessed memory, HaRav Yitzchak Gamliel ben HaRav Noach HaLevi z”l, by his wife, Rebbetzin Shulamit Witty, and his son and daughter-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Aryaih and Laya Witty. A Fusion of Past and Present Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner • Rosh Beit Midrash Ours is a religion of the new; even as we commem- At first glance, the korban tamid – the command- Shemot 29, omits the link to Sinai. But at that time, orate historical events, our mindset is in the here ment, recorded in our parshah, for the Jewish as noted by Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin, we and now. As Rashi writes, “Every day, [the mitzvot] nation to bring a sacrifice to G-d every morning had not yet sinned with the Golden Calf. (Ha’ameik shall be new in your eyes, as though instructed and evening – epitomizes our focus on today. Davar to Bamidbar 28:6) Forty years down the road, that day.” (Commentary to Devarim 26:16) Simi- Twice daily, we initiate a new bond with G-d. Hashem saw a need to anchor our identity in our larly, the Talmud avers that authentic Torah study [Ramban contends that even the morning and formative past. Now we were taught that every day leads to new ideas. (Chagigah 3a) We may offer a evening offerings are separate, unique mitzvot; we must recall what we did in the past, in order to voluntary prayer any time we choose, but only if see Hasagot to Sefer haMitzvot, Shoresh 11.] inform the spirituality of our future. we include a new element. (Berachot 21a) And yet, our parshah chains the korban tamid to I write this in a reflective mood, as we reach the This religion of the new makes spiritual sense; history; the Torah states that we should bring milestone of 500 issues of Toronto Torah. With the prophet Yeshayah (29:13) criticized Jews this offering “as was brought at Mount Sinai.” Hashem leading us every step of the way, we whose reverence for G-d is rote, and Rabbi Eliezer (Bamidbar 28:6) Here we learn that even the most have built on the idea of our avreich Itamar Zol- declared that rote prayer is not prayer at all. (Mish- modern mitzvah must incorporate the historical berg, since Issue #1 appeared for Bereishit in Fall nah Berachot 4:4) Our relationship with G-d must narrative of our nation; we have no Today unless 2009. We have asked and answered Parshah Ques- be current, grounded in our ever-changing iden- it includes our Yesterdays. Or as neurologist Oli- tions, reviewed books, memorialized Israeli Chief tity and circumstances. ver Sacks wrote, “To be ourselves we must have Rabbis, taught laws of Israeli farming, explored ourselves – possess, if need be re-possess, our the entire Sefer haChinuch, discussed Israeli his- life-stories… A man needs such a narrative, a con- tory, examined biographies, journeyed through our beit midrash tinuous inner narrative, to maintain his identity, books of Tanach, published travelogues on Israeli Rosh Beit Midrash Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner his self.” (The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, sites, and so much more. Thank you for learning Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash Rabbi Sammy Bergman pp. 105–106) Recalling our past is more than just with us, in synagogues and online. Thank you to Avreichim Rabbi Alex Hecht, Netanel Klein, George Santayana’s vaccine against recidivism; our many generous sponsors over the years. May Rabbi Chaim Metzger it is how we know whom we are. we learn from our Toronto Torah past, as we chart Rabbi Moshe Yeres a path for the future. Seder Boker Director Fascinatingly, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch Women’s Beit Midrash Mrs. Shira Metzger argued that pursuit of self-knowledge should lead Of course, the idea of incorporating our past into Correspondents Ezer Diena, Rabbi Adam Jews to learn world history: “Here, then, we have a our future is particularly relevant as we enter the Friedmann, Rabbi Baruch Weintraub, people that emerged from the course of world his- Three Weeks. May we finally correct the wrongs Rabbi Jonathan Ziring tory, that was placed into the midst of the nations that are so deeply ingrained in our national psy- Chaverim Nadav Gasner, Shaul Harris, Ari Karon, to advance the goals of world history, and that che – the selfishness, the jealousy, the baseless Yehuda Levi, Shimmy Nauenberg, Natan Snowbell, Akiva Weitz, Eli Weltman was endowed with historical vision. Should not and useless hatred – and build instead a society the sons of such a people understand that his- of respect and love and selflessness and humility. Chaverot Orly Aziza, Mindy Chapman, Shula Diena, Sofia Freudenstein, Tehilla Helfenbaum, Ariella Markus, torical studies of the development of nations are Professor Yosef Yerushalmi wrote regarding the Sylvie Moscovitz, Hadassa Nauenberg, Yejide Omotoso, truly not superfluous, but that they are, in fact, Kinneret Witty Passover Seder, “Both the language and the ges- virtually indispensable?” The( Relevance of Secular ture are geared to spur, not so much a leap of Find Toronto Torah online at Studies, Collected Writings 7:97) tiny.cc/torontotorah memory, as a fusion of past and present.” (Zak- This lesson was not as crucial when Hashem hor, pg. 44) May we fuse past and present in the An affiliate of Torah MiTzion and YU first taught us to bring the korban tamid, when korban tamid we bring each day – in our prayers, www.torontotorah.com we still stood on the sand where we had received in our mitzvot, and G-d willing soon in our Beit the Torah. The first appearance of this mitzvah, in haMikdash – and go on to build a glorious future. toronto torah Welcome to Issue 500! Contents With immense gratitude to Hashem, we present to you the 1 Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner 500th issue of Toronto Torah. We are also thankful to all of Rosh Beit Midrash the members of the Beit Midrash of the past twelve years, who consistently wrote high-quality articles on a broad 3 Rabbi Sammy Bergman range of subjects, on deadline, meeting exacting standards Sgan Beit Midrash, 2019–2021 for both content and style. Additionally, we thank the doz- 4 Rabbi Yechezkel Grysman ens of families and individuals who have dedicated issues Zichron Yisroel Congregation of Toronto Torah. And of course, we thank all of you, the readers who have made our efforts worthwhile – and espe- 5 Rabbi Daniel Korobkin cially those who have taken the time to correspond with Senior Rabbi, Beth Avraham Yoseph of us, evolving and amplifying the discussions which begin Toronto Congregation in these pages. 6 Rabbi Rafi Lipner In this issue, we particularly acknowledge the many syna- Shaarei Tefillah Congregation gogues who have hosted Toronto Torah, making it available to thousands of Jews. Opening your doors to our publication 7 Rabbi Avram Rothman has been a generous act of chesed to both congregants and Senior Rabbi, Aish Thornhill to us, enabling a connection which benefits both teacher Community Shul and student. It has also been an act of trust, which we work to earn with each issue. We hope you have found your trust 8 Joshua Schwartz well-placed. Spiritual Leader, Beth Lida Synagogue To honour our synagogue partners, we invited the commun- 9 Rabbi Baruch Weintraub ity’s Rabbis to publish an article in Issue 500. Despite very Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash, 2011–2013 busy schedules and responsibilities, twelve esteemed com- munity leaders provided the Torah you will see in this issue, 10 Rabbi Jonathan Ziring addressing either Parshat Pinchas or the “Three Weeks” Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash, 2014–2018 th period which began with the fast of the 17 of Tammuz 11 Rabbi Elihu Abbe and continues until Tishah b’Av. Recognizing and valuing Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash, 2018-2019 the range of styles among the Rabbis in our community, we elected to forgo our normal editing policies, and instead 11 Rabbi Messod Azoulay present the Torah of each Rabbi as written. Magen David Congregation To represent past writers of Toronto Torah, we called upon 12 Rabbi Dr. Seth Grauer the Sganim of the Beit Midrash, past and present, to submit The Or Chaim Minyan articles as well. We are glad to be able to present thoughts from many of them. We hope that seeing their Torah will 12 Rabbi Noam Horowitz be an experience of both nostalgia and learning for our Ayin l’Tzion community. 13 Rabbi Yirmiya Milevsky Finally: We are most grateful to Daniel Safran for his inspired Congregation B’nai Torah work on the layout of this special issue of Toronto Torah. One of the lessons of the past twelve years of Toronto Torah 13 Rabbi Yehuda Oppenheimer has been the impact of graphic design, font choice and more The Marlee Shul on our ability to learn. Thank you, Daniel, for helping all of 14 Rabbi Zev Spitz us to learn Torah. Clanton Park Synagogue We look forward to learning with you and publishing Toronto Torah, with Hashem’s constant support, for a long 14 Rabbi Chaim Strauchler time to come. Shaarei Shomayim Congregation 2 toronto torah The Sanctity of the Routine Rabbi Sammy Bergman • Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash, 2019–2021 Hashem describes the Korban Tamid, the repeat the mitzvah of the daily offering at all? However, in Parshat Pinchas, the role of the daily elevation offered in the Temple, in sur- Korban Tamid changed completely.
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