Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Mishpatim-Shekalim 5773

(From the archives)

Shabbos in the Parasha the money to pay back what he had stolen. Is it possible that a person would In this week’s parashah the descend to the nadir of spirituality informs us of the laws regarding an Eved merely because he has stolen and could Ivri, the Jewish slave. It is said (Shemos not afford to rectify his sin? Although 21:4) im adonav yitein lo isha viyaldah the Torah’s ways are hidden from us, it lo vanim oh vanos haishah viladeha is apparent from the words of the Baalei tihiyeh laadoenaha vihu yeitzei vigapo, HaTosafos that slavery is not merely a if his master will give him a woman and form of punishment. Rather slavery is a she bears him sons or daughters, the wife lifestyle change. We see that Yosef was and her children shall belong to her sold into slavery and if not for HaShem master, and he shall go out by himself. protecting him every step of the way, he Rashi, quoting the Gemara (Kiddushin could have been lost from the Jewish 14b) states that this woman that the People forever. Slavery could be defined Torah refers to is a shifcha kinaanis, a more as freedom, albeit freedom from non-Jewish maidservant. One must HaShem and His Torah. The true king, wonder how it is possible that the Torah writes the Ibn Ezra (Bamidbar 6:7) is warrants that the Jew have a relationship one who is free from his physical with a gentile. What is it about this desires. All week long we struggle with Jewish slave that forces him to bear such slavery, as the Evil Inclination and the conditions? The Baalei HaTosafos (in servitude towards the non-Jewish Otzar Pirushei Baalei HaTosafos) influences allow us to lose our grip from answers this question by offering us an the aristocratic status that we are all born amazing insight into the sanctity of a into. On Shabbos, however, when all Jew. The Baalei HaTosafos posit that harsh judgments depart and we are one when a Jew is subjugated to his master, with HaShem, we have truly regained his body is sold to the master, thus our freedom and independence from the excluding him from the sanctity of being evil forces. Thus, just like the slave who Jewish. Thus, even if the matter was not must serve for six years and then he is to offer the Jewish slave a non-Jewish granted his freedom, so too we are maidservant, his new status would allow required to be enslaved for six days of the slave to take the woman on his own. the week, and on Shabbos, we are This concept is truly profound. granted freedom to indulge in the Holy According to Rashi, we are discussing Day of Shabbos, and to be alone with here a Jew who was sold into slavery our Creator. because he had stolen and did not have

1

Shabbos in the Zemiros that we learn from this verse that on every neshamah, breath, one should Eishes Chayil praise G-d. Although this may sound nearly impossible, one is required to Composed by Shlomo HaMelech in praise HaShem as much as he can, and Mishlei the more that one recognizes the good with that HaShem bestows upon him, the ,חָגְרָ ה בְעֹוז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְאַמֵּץ, זְרֹועֹתֶיהָ strength she girds loins, and invigorates more he will bless and praise HaShem. her arms. Continuing the theme of these verses alluding to Shabbos, we can Shabbos Stories suggest that this verse alludes to the idea that the Gemara (Avoda Zara 3a) states The Rav Mendel of Rimanov that one who toils on Erev Shabbos will used to say that only on the eve of eat on Shabbos. We see once again that Shabbos, after immersing in the waters in order to truly delight in the Shabbos, of the mikveh, could he understand a one must make the necessary shtikel, a piece, of the Noam Elimelech preparations so that he or she can eat ( Elimelech 92) from the fruits of his or her labor. It is Before Rav Mendel Rimanover was חָגְרָ ה בְעֹוז מָתְנֶיהָ fascinating that the words is equal in gematria to the וַתְאַמֵּץ, זְרֹועֹתֶיהָ revealed as a Tzaddik and Rebbe אִם הוּא טֹורֵּ חַ בְּעֶרֶ ב הַֹשַבָּת יִזְכֶּה וְיֹאכַל word possessing hakodesh, divine .בְֹּשַבָּת intuition, he appeared at Rebbe Shabbos in Tefillah Elimelech’s table as just another Chassid, a regular devoted follower. Constantly praising HaShem with One Shabbos, the Rimanover was sitting every breath that we take with all the other Chassidim when the Shamash brought in the Rebbe’s soup Umivarchin umishabchin umifaarin and placed it in front of the Rebbe. The umaaritzin umakdishin umamlichin, and Rebbe took the bowl of soup in his bless, praise, glorify, revere, sanctify and hands, overturned it, and spilled its declare the kingship of- … While these contents onto the table. Suddenly are all expressions of blessing and gripped with fear, the Rimanover praise, it is noteworthy that the angels shouted, “Oy! Rebbe! Surely they will are constantly praising HaShem. The put us all in jail. You must stop Jewish People have the opportunity to immediately!” praise HaShem in Shul three times a day, but in truth we are also capable of The other guests almost burst out praising HaShem constantly. It is said laughing at hearing such strange remarks (Tehillim 150:6) kol haneshamah tihalel coming from Reb Mendel, but they Kah, let all souls praise G-d. The restrained themselves in the presence of Medrash (Bereishis Rabbah 14:9) states their holy Rebbe. Rebbe Elimelech said

2 to Reb Mendel, “Relax, my son, we are Once, Reb Mendel of Rimanov told his all safe. We are all here right now.” The teacher, Rebbe Elimelech, that he others were astonished at the Rebbe’s actually saw the angel who removes the remarks until Rebbe Elimelech light before the darkness and the explained what had transpired that had darkness before the light (as described in led him and Reb Mendel to say what the first blessing of the Maariv service). they did. The Rebbe Reb Elimelech responded: “But I have already seen this angel in my “A high-ranking government official had youth!” decided to pass a harsh decree against the Jews. He had tried many times (Ohel Elimelech 156) before, unsuccessfully, to write out charges and have the king stamp and Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov seal them with his ring. Today he wrote once related to Reb Moshe Chaim out the charges once again, determined Efraim of Sudilkov, the author of Degel that this time nothing would stop him Machaneh Efraim and grandson of the from carrying out his wicked plan. He Ba’al Shem Tov: was about to use sand to blot the ink and “My holy master and teacher Rebbe dry it when I overturned my soup bowl. Elimelech of Lizhensk used to meditate The official became momentarily on the awe and fear of the Almighty confused, picked up the inkwell instead, every day. Each day when he would do and proceeded to spill ink all over the this, his whole body would shake and accusatory letter he had just written! tremble, and fear and trepidation would This young man,” the Rebbe concluded, seize him. Everyone present could see indicating Reb Mendel, “was able to him trembling violently from the sheer witness what I did, but only by divesting awe of Hashem and the majesty of the himself fully from the physical world. Almighty. All his tendons and ligaments He forgot that we were in fact here in could be seen, thick and taut as ropes; this room. He imagined that I had his face would change colors and a actually used my hand and physically certain vein below his ear would begin overturned the inkwell. He became bulging. I received a tradition from my frightened, and in his terror he called out Rebbe that there is a vein located below for fear that we would be arrested for my the ear that only trembles from fear of actions.” the day of death. With my Rebbe, this Now everyone understood what lofty a vein trembled daily from his great fear level of ruach hakodesh this young man of Hashem.” (Eser Tzachtzachos 2; could perceive. (Ohel Elimelech 185) Seder Doros HaChadash, part 4)

3

Once, in his youth, Reb Menachem Zisha and asked him to be their new Mendel of Rimanov was studying in the leader. beis midrash under Rav Daniel Yaffe in Berlin. He studied the works of Rav Reb Zisha declined. This is what he told Alfas (the Rif ) on the diligently, them: and his soul thirsted longingly for self- “The Torah is eternal and alludes to perfection. Once, he learned so much in everything that has happened and will one sitting that his tongue stuck to his happen for all generations. The pasuk palate. He began to pray deep in his ‘And a river went forth from Eden to heart and cried to Hashem to enlighten water the garden, and from there it split him and brighten his darkness. He into four paths’ (Bereishis 2:10) alludes prayed and prayed, until he fell into a to the paths of Chassidus and great deep sleep and dreamt. In his dreams he Tzaddikim of our times. ‘Eden’ alludes saw the Rif himself! The Rif showed to our holy master the Ba’al Shem Tov. him an image of Rebbe Elimelech of The river is his disciple, the holy Lizhensk and told him to travel to the Mezritcher , and the garden Rebbe, for there he would succeed in refers to my brother, the Rebbe Reb attaining his goal. (Ohel Elimelech 183) Elimelech. The Torah flows as water Before the Rebbe Elimelech passed from the Ba’al Shem Tov by way of the away on the twenty-first of Adar in the Mezritcher Maggid to the Rebbe year 5547 (1787), he lay his hands on his Elimelech. From there it separates into students and gave to them of his own four paths, and they are the holy Rebbe splendor. To the holy Rebbe Yaakov the Chozeh of , the holy Rebbe Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin, he gave the Koznitzer Maggid, the holy Rebbe the light and power of his eyes. To the Reb Mendel Rimanover, and the holy holy Rebbe Yisrael, the Maggid of Ohev Yisrael the Rav. You need no Kozhnitz, he gave the power of his heart. Rebbe other than them.” To the holy Rebbe Mendel of Pristik (https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fro (later known as the Rimanover), he gave mgroups#!topic/beermayimchaim/0bffJa the spirit of his mind, and to the holy rb2Pw) Rebbe of Apt, he gave his power of speech. And after his passing, the land shined with their glory. (Ohel Elimelech 186)

There is a story told of the Rebbe’s brother, the Rebbe Reb Zisha of Hanipoli. After Rebbe Elimelech passed away, his disciples approached Reb

4

Shabbos in Navi would study before the meal. The Imrei Emes once asked the Pinei Shmuel I Chapter 26 Menachem, who was then a child, if he was hungry, and the Pinei Menachem On Shabbos Hashem’s Name is known responded in the negative. The Imrei throughout the world Emes told the Pinei Menachem that the Gemara (Pesachim 99b) states that one should enter into Shabbos with an In this chapter we learn how Shaul again appetite. His words were, “one must be pursued Dovid and Dovid and Avishai hungry.” Apparently, related the Pinei went to Shaul’s camp and found Shaul Menachem, the intention of my father and his men asleep. Avishai wished to was that one must have an appetite for kill Shaul but Dovid did not allow him to the mitzvah. The desire of tzaddikim is do so. Rather, Dovid took the spear and mitzvos and good deeds, as it is said the flask of water that was next to (Yeshaya 26:9) nafshi ivisicho, my soul Shaul’s head. Dovid then woke up desired You, and it is also said (Ibid Avner and Shaul, and Shaul again verse 8) lishimcho ulizichricho taavas declared that he would not harm Dovid nafesh, Your Name and Your mention, anymore. It is fascinating that despite the the yearning of [our] soul. fact that Shaul was seeking to murder Dovid, Dovid himself refused to kill Shabbos in Halacha Shaul, claiming that he was anointed by Two types of insulation HaShem. This sign of respect should be not lost on us. Shabbos is the day that There are two categories of material that HaShem anointed His beloved nation, so is used for insulation. One category is a how could one even contemplate any material that is used simply to retain form of desecration on this Holy Day? heat. The second category is materials Hashem should allow us to observe the that intensify the hat of the food that Holy Shabbos properly and we should they cover. We will detail next week the witness the arrival of His anointed one, Halachic differences between these two Moshiach Tzidkienu, speedily, in our types of insulation. days. Shabbos Challenge Question Shabbos in Agadah Shabbos Challenge Question Desire for Shabbos and mitzvos Last week we posed the question: why The Pinei Menachem said that his Holy do we not recite the verses that are said Father, the Imrei Emes of blessed regarding the Shabbos Mussaf offering memory, would delay reciting Kiddush for the haftorah on Shabbos? The Pinei on Friday evening, as the Imrei Emes Menachem cites the Tur and the

5

Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chain 283) who Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim write that the reading of the Shabbos Mishpatim-Shekalim 5773 Mussaf offerings only contains two verses and this is an insufficient amount Is sponsored in memory of the Rav of verse to read from the Torah. The Tur Eliyahu Habachur Halevi “the Ba’al writes that an alternative reason why we Hatishbi,” famous Hebrew grammarian do not read the verses that are said (1549). regarding the Shabbos Mussaf offering for the haftorah is because normally the Rav Yitzchak Yerucham Diskin (1839- reading of the verse regarding the 1925), born in Valkovisk, Russia, the son offerings atones for sins, akin to the of Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin of Brisk and offerings themselves. This idea applies Rebbetzin Hinda Rochel. He started to Yom Tov and Rosh Chodesh when studying Gemara on his own at the age of the Mussaf offering was brought as an 5. After his Bar Mitzvah, he studied in atonement, whereas on Shabbos the seclusion for 14 hours a day. At 16, he left Mussaf offering was only brought as an for Volozhin. After his father’s petira in olah offering. The Pinei Menachem 1898, he was asked to succeed him as himself suggests that the reason why we president of the Diskin Orphanage and do not read the verses that are said head of the Ohel Moshe . At first, he refused, but in 1908, when he saw that regarding the Shabbos Mussaf offering Yerushalayim’s Torah institutions were in for the haftorah is because the reading danger due to Zionists’ efforts to destroy normally is an arousal for that specific them, he decided to make aliya. Together time period, and on Shabbos this is not with Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, he necessary. The reason for this is because fought against the Maskilim. Both of them Shabbos itself elevates everything, and were elected honorary presidents of the the Gemara (Shabbos118b) states that charedi Vaad Ha’ir, which soon became even one who worshipped idols like the known as the Eida Hachareidis. generation of Enosh, if he observes the Shabbos properly, he will be granted Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of atonement for his sins. Slabodka (1849-1927). Born in Rasei, Lithuania, he was orphaned at an early age This week’s question is what is the and was raised by a relative in Vilna. He source for eating meat of an animal on became a devoted follower of Rav Simcha Shabbos?? If you have a possible Zissel, the Alter of Kelm. Rav Nosson answer, please email me at Tzvi organized a kollel of ten men in [email protected] and Slabodka in about 1877. He began a your answer will be posted in next yeshiva katana there and was later week’s edition of Shabbos: Ta’am instrumental in starting the yeshiva in Telz HaChaim. and having Rav appointed as . He founded the Slabodka Yeshiva in 1884. In 1897, the

6

Yeshiva split over the teaching of mussar. Rebbe of . By 1941, 10,144 Jews Seventy of the 300 students sided with the lived in Sighet, comprising 39% of the Alter and formed a new yeshiva, Kenesses town. The town was liquidated via Yisrael. In 1897, he founded the yeshiva deportation to Auschwitz. But, the in Slutsk and appointed Rav Isser Zalman community lives on in America and . Meltzer its Rosh Yeshiva. After World War I, the yeshiva in Kletzk developed, Rav Zalman Sender Kahana-Shapira, born headed by Rav Nosson Tzvi’s disciple, in Nisowiz, in the Minsk region of Russia, Rav Aharon Kotler. He also helped Rav to Rav Moshe Shapira, av beis din of Lida develop yeshivos by and son-in-law of Rav Chaim of Volozhin. sending his own students. In 1909, a Rav Zalman sender learned under the Beis yeshiva was set up in Stutchin, led by his HaLevi and his son, Rav Chaim Brisker, disciple, Rav Yehuda Leib Chasman, and in Volozhin. He married and lived in the Lodz yeshiva was the first outpost of Kobrin, where he raised 5 children (4 boys mussar in . His influence was also and a girl). When his wife tragically felt in long-standing yeshivos, as his passed away, he married the widow of Rav disciples became parts of them. His son, Binyamin Wolf Hayahalomstein, Rav of Rav Eliezer Finkel, became rosh yeshiva Maltsch, and moved to that city. He of Mir, for example. In 1925, he fulfilled a eventually became Rav of Maltsch and long-standing personal vow by moving to started a yeshiva there, Anaf Eitz Chaim, Eretz Yisrael, settling in Chevron. His modeling it after Eitz Chaim of Volozhin. discourses are collected in Or Hatzafun. In 1902, he moved the yeshiva to Kriniki where he became Rav. Among his Rav Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum students there were Rav Yaakov (1836-1904), author of Kedushas Yom Kamenetzky and Rav Aharon Kotler. In Tov. Born in Stropkov, Slovakia, to Rav 1921, he moved to the Shaarei Chesed Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (author of section of Yerushalayim. (1851-1923) Yitav Lev), who was a grandson of Rav Moshe Teitelbaum, the Yismach Moshe. Rav Nosson Horowitz (2001), Rav of Rav Chananya’s primary teachers were K’hal Sheiris Yisrael of Williamsburg, Rav Chaim of and Rav Yitzchak then Rav of Kehillas Bais Yisrael of Eizik of Ziditchov. At the age of 28, he Monsey. He was born in Vienna, the son became Rav of the small town of Tesh, a of the Riglitzer Rav and grandson of the position he held for 19 years. After his Altshteter Rav and the Liminover Rav (the father’s petira in 1883, he succeeded him Meoros Nosson), for whom he was נפטרו כ"ט שבט, זכר צדיקים וקדושים .in Sighet, Hungary. Rav Chananya had no named לברכה, זכותם יגינו עלינו ועל כל ישראל לטובה children with his first wife, a marriage that lasted 14 years. He remained childless for many years with his second wife as well, until Rav Chaim of Sanz gave him a bracha. Indeed, he had two sons, Rav Chaim Tzvi of Sighet, and Rav Yoel, the

7

Daf Yomi Schedule at Maor Torah Center

Monday-Friday 6:00 AM followed by Shacharis at 6:55 AM.

Sunday following Shacharis of 7:30 AM

Shabbos morning 8:00 AM followed by Shacharis at 9:00 AM

Shabbos afternoon 45 minutes before Mincha

______

Have a wonderful Shabbos

Prepared by Binyomin Adler.

For sponsorships please call 248-506- 0363

To subscribe weekly by email, please email [email protected]

View Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim and other Divrei Torah on www.doreishtov.wordpress.com

8