LIVING WITH THE PARSHAH 5778 PARSHAS ACHAREI MOS - KEDOSHIM By Yaakov Feitman, Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi There are two very famous teachings of the Ramban. One of them is at the beginning of our second Sedra this Shabbos. says that “Kedoshim Tihyehu – you shall be holy” refers to avoiding the prohibitions of the . However, the Ramban learns that avoiding what is forbidden only keeps you out of the category of being a sinner. Being holy means sanctifying even those things which are permissible. The Ramban calls those who do not do this “naval bi’reshus Hatorah – taking advantage of what the Torah allows to become disgusting through overindulgence. This leads us to a very important conclusion about the Torah’s view of the individual versus society around him. On the one hand, many mitzvos require our participation and connection with others. These include benching with a mezuman, davening with a minyan, birchas kohanim and, of course, tzedakah and chesed. However, at he same time one must protect and preserve his or her own sense of . Where do we see this concept in the Parshah? At the very beginning of Parshas Kedoshim, the Torah tells us “Kedoshim Tihyehu ki kadosh ani Hashem Elokeichem – be holy because I am holy, Hashem your G-d.” What does it really mean for us to compare ourselves in any way to Hashem, especially when it comes to holiness? The Chasam Sofer teaches that Hashem is telling us that just as He is totally connected with the world He created, watches over it and blesses us with His hashgacha peratis, yet retains His holiness, so must we when interact with the world. It is true that we must improve the world (lesakein olam) when we can, but we dare not forget our own kedushah when we do so. Rav Shimon Shkop zt”l discusses this concept in the introduction to his famous Sefer Shaarei Yosher. “Hashem created us in His image,” he writes “and wants us, like Him, to perform acts of kindness to others…However, it is not possible that our entire purpose in this world is for others. Sometimes, as Rebbe Akiva teaches us (Bava Metziah 62b) we must take the one bottle of water there is for ourselves, since the Torah commands ‘your life precedes that of others.’ Hashem wants us to be kind to ourselves, as well as to others. He, too, could have created a world where everyone was perfect and was given everything for free. But that would have been demeaning to man, for he would be receiving the ‘bread of shame.’ Hashem has built into man the sense of dignity that he does not want to take anything for free, even from Hashem.” Hashem wanted to make sure that above all, every person retains his own sense of worth and kavod. Our gedolim have clearly taught us that, while it is one of the most important parts of being human that we should do chesed, we should not neglect our own ruchniyus. Sometimes in our zeal to do kiruv, help others or improve society, we lower our own sense of self and become pulled down. This ’s Sedra teaches us that even Hashem, Who clearly does not have to worry about such things, protects His kedushah and wants us to do the same. Many people in kiruv, sometimes just relatives and friends of someone on a lower level, find themselves brought down by these associations. Rav Shimon Shkop teaches that this is not chesed or the will of Hashem. Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev, who loved every single Jew, said that the one lowering himself into the pit to rescue someone who has fallen must first anchor himself, or else both will be lost. We would do well to heed the advice of these two gedolim, Litvish and chassidish, in our daily lives. A GUTTEN SHABBOS, PESACH SHENI AND LAG B’OMER HALACHA OF THE WEEK 5778 PARSHAS ACHAREI MOS KEDOSHIM BY RABBI YAAKOV FEITMAN KEHILLAS BAIS YEHUDAH TZVI In honor of Lag B’omer coming this Thursday, this week we will concentrate on its Halachos and minhagim Question: What exactly is Lag B’omer and why do we celebrate it? Answer: Interestingly, many of our greatest Poskim were also puzzled by this question. The usual answers which are given are as follows: 1). The talmidim of Rebbe Akiva stopped dying on that day, which always falls on the 18th of Iyar (Me’iri, Yevamos 62b, page 234) 2). In honor of Rav , either because it is his Yohr Zeit (see Taamei Haminhagim page 272) or because he revealed an important part of the on that day (see Zohar 3:291). 3). In honor of the 5 Talmidim that Rebbe Akiva added after the deaths of his original students (Pri Chodosh 493:2). 4). In recognition of the fact that the Mann began to fall on this day (Chasam Sofer Yoreh Deah 233). The Pri Chodosh (quoted in # 3) asks, “Why would we celebrate the day that Rebbe Akiva’s talmidim stopped dying? Since not one of them was left, where is the simcha? Surely, one does not celebrate on the last day of shiva r”l or when many died and others did not?” However, his answer is that we are actually celebrating the rejuvenation of Torah through Rebbe Akiva’s new talmidim, which is certainly worth celebrating. There are two reasons for this. First of all, whatever the reason was for the earlier 24,000 perishing, apparently did not apply to the new five who revived Torah study. Secondly, the fact that they were able to spread Torah throughout Klal Yisrael is a great achievement worthy of celebration indeed. Question: When on Lag B’omer is it permitted to get married, take haircuts, listen to music etc.? Answer: This important question is the subject of an ancient machlokes. The Pri Chodosh (493:2), basing himself upon the Ramban (Toras Ha’, page 70; new edition page 54) holds that everything begins on the eve of Lag B’omer. The Me’iri (Yevamos 62b), Rama (493:2) and others hold that all these heteirim only begin on the morning of Lag B’omer since we say “miktzas hayom kekulo – part of the day is considered like all day, but not the night before. Thus, we extrapolate the laws of lag B’omer from the law of shivah r”l. Our custom today is to be lenient (see Igros Moshe 1:159), especially regarding weddings and hilulos (celebrations; see Zohar Vayechi page 218) in honor of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. All of this is for Ashkenazim. However, Sephardim follow the ruling of the Bais Yosef that all heteirim begin on the 34th day of the Omer, morning not night (see Yabia Omer 3:26). Question: Pesach Sheini falls out this Sunday. My family has the custom to eat Matzah on this day. Is there any source for this? Answer: Yes. The Shaar Yissachar (12) and the Rav Yaakov Emden Siddur (see also Rivevos Ephraim 3:231) say that one should eat matzah on Pesach Sheini. The Gra (Maaseh Rav 181), however, was careful not to eat Shemurah Matzah after Pesach to indicate that we ate it on Pesach for the , not because we happen to like it. Rav Chaim Kanievsky, also, states that this is a minhag only of Chassidim but others do not eat matzah on Pesach Sheini. A GUTTEN SHABBOS, PESACH SHEINI AND LAG B’OMER