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Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov בס“ד Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov Parshat Chayei Sarah 22 Marcheshvan 5772/November 19, 2011 Vol.3 Num. 8 To sponsor an edition of Toronto Torah, please email [email protected] or call 416-781-1777 Yitzchak in Conversation with G-d R’ Dovid Zirkind As Eliezer, the ever-faithful servant of chance. Seforno's suggestion seems him, saying that his donation is seen Avraham, returns home with a wife for peculiar. Why would the Gemara derive in so positive a light that he is the his master’s son, the Torah depicts a the source for Tefillat Minchah from equal of one who offered his entire scene that is simple and yet Yitzchak if he was unable to complete soul to G-d. simultaneously full of emotion and the prayer? Tefillat Minchah embodies a similar anticipation. Yitzchak is out in the The title of Tefillat Minchah is equally ethic. While the other prayers are field and when he looks up he can see surprising. The morning prayers are bookends at the start and finish of the camels in the distance. Rivkah, appropriately referred to as Shacharit – every day, the central prayer, the too, looks up, and she sees her future morning; the evening prayers are shortest prayer, is the one regarding husband from afar; she falls from her similarly named Arvit – evening; but which the Talmud (Berachot 6b) camel in excitement! Minchah does not appear to be titled for reminds us to be most vigilant. More, What was Yitzchak doing in the field? the time of day it is recited. The Baalei the Tur writes (O.C. 232) that the The Rashbam assumes that he was in HaTosafot point out (Pesachim 107a) significance of Minchah is a function field for the very same reason any land that the Minchah (a sacrifice offered of its position in the middle of the day. owner would be, to tend to his crops. from grain) was brought multiple times While it may be easy to remember to But our sages saw much more in this each day, and the afternoon tefillah pray first thing in the morning or small detail of the story. A Gemara does not deserve this title any more before going to sleep, remembering (Berachot 26b) tells us that Yitzchak than Shacharit does! Minchah in the midst of a busy day is was there to recite Minchah, the no small deed. Like the Korban Rav Baruch HaLevi Epstein (Pinsk, prayer which he is credited with Minchah, which on the surface seems 1860-1941) suggests that a closer look establishing. Following this relatively insignificant, Tefillat at the Korban Minchah may shed light suggestion, the Kli Yakar (Bereishit Minchah reflects the consciousness of on its unique connection to this middle 24:63) understands that the story the nefesh that stands to recite it: Tefillah of each day. The owner of an conveys the great power of the Nothing in his day can distract him animal who donates from his herd to Minchah prayer; as quickly as from his awareness of and the Beit HaMikdash is typically Yitzchak completed his prayer, he was conversation with G -d. That described as adam – the person who answered with the arrival of his consciousness speaks louder than any donated the sacrifice (Vayikra 1:2); bride.Seforno disagrees with the Kli prayer, regardless of length. however, when detailing the laws of the Yakar, noting the absence of any Minchah, the Torah refers to the nefesh This returns us to Seforno's depiction reference to Yitzchak’s act of prayer. In – the soul who presented it (Vayikra of the original Minchah as an fact, the Torah tells us “And Yitzchak 2:1). Rabbi Yitzchak (Menachot 107a) interrupted experience. While we strive went to pray in the field and he lifted explains that the Minchah, which is a to perfect each of the daily Tefillot, the his eyes…” meaning, the arrival of sacrifice of grain, is brought by the poor Seforno reminds us that the greatness Rivkah was prior to the start of his who are unable to afford a more of Minchah is not in its words but in prayer! According to Seforno, Yitzchak expensive animal. By referring to the the connection with G-d it reflects. intended to go and pray in the field, owner as a nefesh the Torah encourages Yitzchak, the founder of this prayer, is but Rivkah appeared before he had the described by the commentaries both as toiling in his field and as preparing Parshah Questions R’ Meir Lipschitz to pray, because the two enhance one another. He is securing his physical (Answers are found on the back page) existence and providing for the family Who was Keturah? (Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam, Kli Yakar, and Siftei Chachamim to he hopes to lead, all while thinking of Bereishit 25:1) G-d. To focus on whether or not he How old was Rivkah when she married Yitzchak? (Rashi to Bereishit 25:20, Ibn Ezra had sufficient time to daven that day to Bereishit 23:2, Tosafot Yevamot 61b "v'chen") or what exactly he might have said is Did Yishmael repent? (Kli Yakar Bereishit 25:1, Rashi Bereishit 25:9, Bava Batra to miss the point entirely. No matter 16b, [Rashi Bereishit 21:9 and 21:17 with Siftei Chachamim], Rosh haShanah 16b, where Yitzchak was, no matter the Ritva to Kiddushin 68b, Ritva to Yoma 38b) weight he felt on his shoulders, his desire to converse with G-d was never For Children: What do we learn from the way the Torah tells us Sarah‟s age of in question. death? (Rashi Bereishit 23:1) [email protected] [email protected] Hitoriri: Shabbat: Day of Silence? R’ Mordechai Torczyner Jewish Spirituality The Death of Sarah Jewish literature is replete with praise in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim of Shabbat for its regenerative and 307:1, the latter in Shulchan Aruch R’ Baruch Weintraub social elements: Orach Chaim 307:17. [The latter source " נסמכה מיתת שרה לעקידת יצחק , לפי שעל Shabbat is a day of rest from does note that Rashba permitted ידי בשורת העקידה שנזדמן בנה לשחיטה [.'creativity, time to curl up with a reading 'books of wisdom וכמעט שלא נשחט , פרחה נשמתה ממנה .good book, time to recharge ומתה" )רש"י בראשית כג,ב( Dedicating Shabbat to pursuit of G-d is Shabbat is an opportunity to איזה מסר נוכל ללמוד מסיבת מיתתה של connect with spouses, children logical; the origin of the day is in the שרה? ,Divine act which brought our world and friends. נראה , כי חז " ל רצו להדגיש בפנינו כי יש and us, into existence. Would it not Shabbat is a chance to gather as a ללמוד מנסיון העקדה ותוצאותיו שני make sense for us to focus on our שיעורים שונים זה מזה. השיעור הראשון הוא religious community, for study Creator? Should we not use this day to השיעור שנלמד בשבוע שעבר , בעת קריאת and prayer and – of course – mark ourselves as products of that המלאך לאברהם . שיעור זה מתואר על ידי kiddush. Divine deed, and so create a personal In one example of many in our liturgy, הרב קוק )עולת ראיה(: awareness of our createdness – an the song Mah Yedidut, an educational " רחמי אב ואהבתו בנשמה טהורה היא היא awareness which might then remind us poem traced to 11th century Germany, הנה לבת אש קדש , הולכת ישרה מאהבת of our Divine mission during the rest of describes the day as a time for eating, אלקים הטהורה ורחמיו על כל מעשיו" ?our week singing, sleeping and enjoyment. קריאת המלאך באה להוכיח כי אין כל סתירה בין תחושת המוסר הטבעי לבין הצדק Of course, converts to this view of Nonetheless, a significant stream in Rabbi Chanina, Rabbi Shimon bar האלקי . היפוכו של דבר - הרגשות הטבעיים halachic tradition identifies Shabbat Yochai and Rambam would then need של אהבת אב לבנו הם למעשה אחד as a day to retreat from everything and מהאופנים להתגלות אהבת ד' בעולם. ,to identify other time for recharging everyone, and communicate solely bonding with family and connecting שיעור שונה לגמרי לומד הרב סולוביצ ' יק מן :with G-d with community. However, one who העקדה )בסוד היחיד והיחד(: truly valued those purposes could pare " אף על פי שאני תושב אמריקה זה שנים Rabbi Chanina said: Only with רבות , עדיין לא סיגלתי לי את ההשקפה difficulty did they permit greetings on time from the working week to serve הפרגמאטית על הדת . לדעתי אין האמונה Shabbat. Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba said: them; perhaps family time could mean באה לשרת את צרכי בני האדם ... מעולם לא When Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai saw more than the default "time when work ניסיתי לבאר את תורת ישראל בקטגוריות של ".his mother speaking a great deal, he is halachically prohibited would say, 'Mother, it's בריאות הנפש , שלוות הרוח וכיוצא בהן , אף Whether one embraces the Shabbat!' (Talmud Yerushalmi, על פי שגישה זו רווחת כאן... נפשי בוחלת בכל contemplative version of Shabbat in אלו הדרשות הסובבות סחור סחור לנושא (Shabbat 15:3 entirety or not, this view should give us אחד : שמירת המצוות טובה לעיכול המזון , לשינה מתוקה , לשלום המשפחה ולעמדה One may read nothing on Shabbat or pause. On Friday night, at sunset, we חברתית. Yom Tov, beyond the books of the enter more than a day of joy and Prophets and their explanations. This relaxation. We enter a temporal zone ... הקב " ה אומר לאברהם : " קח נא את בנך identified as Divine territory, we את יחידך אשר אהבת את יצחק וכו ' ..". even applies to works of wisdom and כלומר אני תובע ממך את הקרבן הגדול ,knowledge. (Rambam, Commentary to identify ourselves as Divine creations ביותר ...
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