בס“ד Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Parshat Beha’alotcha 19 Sivan 5772/June 9, 2012 Vol.3 Num. 34

To sponsor an issue of Toronto Torah, please contact [email protected] or 416-783-6960 Moshe’s Meltdown R’ Ezra Goldschmiedt Previously, we've discussed Moshe's unilaterally abandon his mission. What parental bond, the emotional unparalleled loyalty to Klal Yisrael (see provoked this out-of-character response? connection, was what Moshe felt he Toronto Torah, Shemot 5772). could not provide. In addition to a Particularly for the nation's first and Providing a clue for us is the seemingly master teacher, Klal Yisrael needed greatest leader, this trait of loyalty was unnecessary observation, “In the eyes of 'parents' to guide them – individuals of tremendous importance. With the Moshe, this was bad.” (Bamidbar 11:10) who would, time and again, make nation's numerous failings in the The text seeks to emphasize that this sacrifices for their 'children', displaying wilderness, a special kind of leadership incident, in particular, caused Moshe to and proving their love. was needed to stay the course. Moshe's identify a fundamental flaw in his dedication to serving and developing the current system. Perhaps serving as replacements for an fledgling nation (even when G-d Himself earlier, more aristocratic group of elders seemed ready to give up; see Shemot Without equal as a teacher of Torah, (see Yoma 28b), the seventy men 32:10) was truly admirable. Moshe's primary method for transforming appointed to help Moshe served in this a group of slaves into “a kingdom of parental role. Indeed, a midrash (Sifri This week's parshah however, shows us priests and a holy nation” was education. 92) tells us that these new elders had a side of Moshe that we've never seen Simply teach the nation what they could served as taskmasters over the people before. In Chapter 11, we hear the become, and they would accept their new in Egypt, suffering personal beatings as nation's complaint over a monotonous role with joy! Any problems prior to the a price for not pressuring their fellow diet, and its puzzling desire to return to full realization of Klal Yisrael's mission – Israelites to produce an impossible Egypt. In response, Moshe himself through Revelation at Sinai and through quota of bricks. Having done so much lodges a complaint to G-d over the the construction of the Mishkan to host for their people in the past, these elders, burden that Klal Yisrael has become, the Divine presence – would be mere with the emotional bond they had even requesting death as an escape setbacks, a loss of focus. reinforced time and again, were those from his leadership role! (Bamidbar truly capable of providing this parental 11:15) After these supposedly formative guidance and leadership. moments, though, the people continued Stranger still is the fact that we've heard to revert to their habit of complaining As members of the first Great the people's complaints before, with a about trivial matters. To hear complaints Sanhedrin, these new leaders teach us different reaction from Moshe. In the about food at this point in time was truly a profound lesson: Even the greatest Wilderness of Sin, (Shemot 16) similar disappointing; the nation was supposed teachers and expounders of the law complaints about food, and a desire to to be better than this. At this point, cannot accomplish anything without the return to Egypt, were angrily thrown at perhaps, Moshe realized that education assistance of parents and guardians. Moshe. There, his response was to alone was insufficient, and more was Their message must be transmitted loud calmly consult Hashem and arrive at a needed. In Moshe's complaint, and in the and clear through the loving guidance of solution. In our parshah, however, the Divine response, we see what was parents and other role models, who nation did not even complain publicly, missing: “Was I pregnant with this have earned the trust of the nation. but only at the entrances of their tents nation? Did I give birth to them? You Ultimately, we can trust and learn from (Bamidbar 11:10), and yet here is where have told me that I must carry them in only those we see looking out for our Moshe completely breaks down. This is my bosom, as a nurse carries an infant, own well-being. the only time in the entire Torah that to the land that You swore to their our greatest leader expressed a desire to ancestors.” (Bamidbar 11:12) The Too often, educators and parents fail to see the complementary roles they are to play in a child's development, plunging Come to our free Coming Up: into a despair not unlike that of Moshe st Rabbeinu. May we have the insight to Business Ethics 21 Century Shabbat: learn from this incident, making sure to Lunch & Learn Ancient Roots, provide our children with both the emotional and intellectual resources Modern Meaning at Zeifman’s they need to fully mature and grow.

201 Bridgeland Ave. A Shabbaton at [email protected] Wednesdays at 12:30 PM Congregation Bnai Torah Final Session: June 13 June 16 Creative ? Hitoriri: Jewish Spirituality Mordechai Torczyner Little Things It often seems that there is no room for There is potential for yet more creativity in Judaism; in school, many creativity in Judaism, though. In a R’ Dovid Zirkind of us are trained to emulate the third model, we are actually given the conformity of the gift brought by the opportunity to "roam free" and add Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon went to nesi'im (leaders of the Jewish tribes) at new ideas. Lest one write this off as visit his teacher, Rabbi Yosi Ben Kisma, the dedication of the mishkan. Each heretical, herewith the counsel of who was on his deathbed. There, they nasi brought the same material gift, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chatam Sofer): "All discussed Rabbi Chanina’s decision to from vessels made of precious metals of the halachah contained in the disobey Roman orders and teach Torah, to fine flour to incense to unblemished is that which was a decision which put his life at risk. animals. As noted by Ramban given equally to all Israel, with no one When the conversation ended, Rabbi (Bamidbar 7:2), the only excluded. Yet he who possesses only Chanina asked if he would merit personalization was in the individuals' Torah does not really even possess experiencing the world to come. Rabbi intent in delivering the various Torah, for then his performance Yosi proceeded to inquire if Rabbi elements of their gifts. The outward becomes merely habit and custom Chanina had ever done a significant act mitzvot were identical; only the passed on from generation to that would warrant such a reward. thought involved was creative and generation. Therefore, he who would Rabbi Chanina replied in the positive, unique. So it is that we light the same achieve piety before his Creator will be referring to a situation when his Shabbat candles, eat the same recognized by his deeds – by those personal money had become mixed in matzah, and perform the same practices which he originates for the with Purim matanot la’evyonim and he mitzvot, with differences in personality sake of heaven, and by all that his had decided to give it all to charity, but not in conduct. heart desires. In this no two ensuring he would not mistakenly take individuals are alike, because no two that which was not his. Upon hearing of The model of the n e s i ' i m men love Gd in the same that act, Rabbi Yosi guaranteed that he notwithstanding, though, sometimes way." (Responsa Chatam Sofer 1: 197) would receive great reward. (Avodah we are licensed to be more creative; Zarah 18a) the realm of chesed offers a perfect Certainly, we must always operate example. Rambam (Hilchot Avel 14:1) within the bounds of halachah. Rabbi Chanina’s inquiry, and Rabbi writes that the various ways we help Further, the Torah warns us against Yosi’s hesitation, are both quite other human beings (i.e. visiting the pretending that our practices and surprising. Surely Rabbi Chanina was sick, comforting mourners, gladdening personalizations are part of the mitzvot someone who would merit great reward a bride and groom) are all commanded to us by G-d. (Devarim in Olam Habah! He risked his life for manifestations of the same biblical 4:2, 13:1) Nonetheless, Rabbi Moshe Torah - ultimately he was captured and "Love your neighbour", but that Sofer, a leader renowned for his killed for teaching it. Was that biblical mitzvah is simply a charge to resistance to reckless innovation, insufficient? Furthermore, if his engage in actions which manifest love counseled his followers to take the devotion to Torah was insufficient, why for each other. We find our own initiative and develop their Judaism in did a single act of tzedakah change his creative ways to implement this their own ways. Indeed, failure to fate? command. The same is true regarding innovate means one "does not really honouring Shabbat, or honouring our even possess Torah." It seems, then, In his Michtav M’Eliyahu (Volume 3, pp. parents; the Torah provides the main that along with the traditional 107-108), Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler mitzvah and certain halachic question a Jew asks, "Am I doing suggests that our core personality is boundaries, and then we are charged enough?" a Jew must also ask, "Am I defined not by the way we behave with taking the initiative. doing enough that is truly mine?" during the most dramatic moments of [email protected] our life, but how we deal with smaller, day to day challenges. Very often we 613 Mitzvot: #167 make the big decisions correctly, but in private, we cut corners just to save a The Limits of Spontaneity few bucks. For this reason a midrash says: “Hashem does not grant greatness R’ Mordechai Torczyner to a person until He examines him with something small.” (Shemot Rabbah 2:3) Mitzvah 167 prohibits a person who remind us that even sincere spontaneity When Rabbi Yosi heard how scrupulous brings a korban from eating his has its bounds, and proper preparation is Rabbi Chanina was with even the portion when he is impure. still needed before approaching that smallest amount of his money, only which is holy. then was he completely confident in his Lest one wonder whether this law has student's righteousness. any relevance for a generation This was the lesson taught by the This week, as we move beyond Sefirat unfortunate enough to live without punishment of Nadav and Avihu, when HaOmer and Shavuot, we enter a period the Beit haMikdash, here is one they brought an unbidden gift of incense of the year absent of great fanfare and practical lesson we can learn: There before G-d. It is also the lesson we learn celebration. It is easy to perceive a are limits to spontaneity. when we daven; we wash our hands, we season such as this to be less clothe ourselves properly, we enter a important than other times of the year, Spontaneity signals sincerity, and so space dedicated to prayer, and only but in truth it is our opportunity to the most honest spiritual experience afterward do we convey our heartfelt shine. is a spontaneous outburst of messages to G-d.

unscripted religious fervor. [email protected] Nonetheless, the laws of impurity [email protected]

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com Biography: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein R’ Mordechai Torczyner Ha’Aretz

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein was born in Kiryat Motzkin

Torah in Translation Uzda, Belarus, on the 7th of Adar, R’ Dovid Zirkind 5655/1895. He was born into a rabbinic Attending University family, descendants of Rabbi Yom Tov Born near Kiev in 1867, Leo Lipman Heller. Rabbi Feinstein served Motzkin witnessed pogroms at the R’ Moshe Feinstein as Rabbi of Luban for sixteen years, age of 14. Narrowly escaping the during which time he wrote prolifically, violence, Motzkin headed west, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 4:36 sending responsa to communities far eventually arriving in Germany Translated by Yair Manas and wide and to the Torah giants of the where he was admitted to University day. He also led his community despite of Berlin at just 16. From that time [Note: For other perspectives, see numerous the crushing persecution of the on, Motzkin was an active member articles in the Torah Umadda Journal vol. 1, Communist regime. of the Zionist movement, eventually and Rabbi Rakeffet’s Letter to the Editor in becoming a leader of the World vol. 2, available on YUTorah.org] Rabbi Feinstein fled the Soviet regime in 1936, barely escaping a pogrom in Zionist Congress. Sent by Theodor Regarding teenagers who want to leave the which his home was destroyed. Along Herzl, Motzkin traveled throughout yeshiva to learn in college in order to prepare with his wife Sima and three children Palestine and Europe in support of themselves to study medicine: Should we (another died of whooping cough), Rabbi Zionism until his death in Paris, influence them to stay in the yeshiva? while on one of those missions, in Feinstein came to New York and became Answer: It is certainly good that you are rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Tiferet 1933. The following year, Leo concerned about students who complete Yerushalayim in Manhattan’s Lower Motzkin was honoured as a new their secular studies [in high school] at the East Side. development, eight kilometres north age of about seventeen, who want to leave of Haifa, was named Kiryat Motzkin. Recognized across the broad spectrum the yeshiva because of the incitement of the of Orthodoxy as the generation’s leading The founders envisioned a Haifa yetzer which persuades them that they need halachic authority, Rabbi Feinstein was Bay community close to to about their livelihood. This is based on the consulted on every major issue of his professional opportunities, but with fact that a livelihood earned via Torah as a day. His widely circulated responsa the peace and quiet of a small town. teacher or Rabbi will not satisfy them, and include positions on the role of Jews in With the support of the Jewish even a livelihood from an area like the field of a non-Jewish society, the status of National Fund, Kiryat Motzkin was computers will not be enough for them, and Reform and Conservative approaches to at first occupied by only a few only a livelihood from medicine or a smiliar Judaism, and the evolving roles of hundred Eastern European settlers, field do they desire. This requires great women in the Jewish community. but it later became a critical preparation, attending college first, along destination for Jews fleeing Nazi with studying medicine and the like, a Rabbi Feinstein served as president of Germany during World War II. The process of ten years or more… They are the Union of Orthodox of the city’s population grew to nearly four stringent in this; not limiting their worry to United States and Canada, and he thousand prior to the founding of the time when worrying is necessary, once chaired the Moetzes Gedolei haTorah of the State of Israel. A beneficiary of they are married… Agudath Israel of America for the last the city’s open arms, Israel’s Chief quarter-century of his life. Rabbi Yosef Perhaps the parents will say that on account Rabbi Israel Meir Lau arrived there, Dov haLevi Soloveitchik and Rabbi along with his brother, following of their love for their children they will want Feinstein were first cousins once to teach them a profession that enriches. To their liberation from Buchenwald. removed, and they spoke frequently. Rabbi Lau grew up in the home of this Rabbi Meir concludes (Kiddushin 82b) Rabbi Feinstein wrote a warm that this idea is false - each profession offers his aunt and uncle, the Vogelmans, approbation for a sefer published in who were instrumental in shaping poverty and wealth, for the profession itself honour of Rav Soloveitchik‟s eightieth does not provide poverty or wealth. It is all the community's religious birthday. personality. Rabbi Mordechai according to the merits of the person, and the person must daven to the source of all Rabbi Feinstein passed away on Taanit Vogelman served as Chief Rabbi of Esther 5746/1986, but his writings Kiryat Motzkin until his death. wealth and property. remain a part of every significant Today, Kiryat Motzkin occupies a Learning a clean and easy profession does halachic debate of our day. not require much time in our country, due to 1,000 acre region, home to more than 40,000 Israelis. The city prides G-d’s kindness. Just the opposite: In this Therefore, if you can influence them to country and around the world, almost all itself on a high living standard, a stay in yeshiva to learn Torah and not strong relationship between its wealthy people became wealthy not from a worry about a livelihood at all, like all profession they studied, not from medicine or religious and secular communities others who want to learn Torah for and an array of libraries and engineering or even accounting. Even those Torah's sake, you should attempt to do who are experts in a field do not gain even a museums. The city’s motto is “Kol so. However, if you cannot influence toshav nechshav – Every Citizen is penny more than other wealthy people them to remain as students in yeshiva in possess as a result of their knowledge. All is Valuable.” a way that they will not worry about [email protected] a gift from G-d, according to one’s merits and livelihood for many years and will trust fortune… in G-d as far as livelihood, but you could If you cannot convince the student As far as satisfaction result, it is not clear influence them to remain for a year or to stay, you have no further how this relates to livelihood and other two since they would lose nothing, then responsibility, but if you could find material factors. Satisfaction comes from this requires examination. If they were to someone to watch that the student spiritual matters, from study and knowledge remain in the yeshiva with this mindset, remain Torah observant, setting of Torah…Rather, their request comes from they might negatively affect the other aside time to learn Torah, you their lack of love and attachment to Torah… students… should do so.

Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3 ~ PLEASE JOIN US ON JUNE 19 ~ Do you benefit from Have you been to one Have you been to our Were you refreshed at our Toronto Torah of the 20+ shiurim we Panel Discussions or the UJA Walk with and To-Go articles? offer each week? Shabbatonim? Israel’s Rest Stop 4? Does your shul Might you be among Do your sons attend Are you among the benefit from one of the thousands who the shiurim in which tens of thousands who our four rabbinic listen to our shiurim our avreichim assist watch our shiurim on assistantships? on YUTorah.org? at Yeshivat Or Chaim? Koshertube.com? Are you one of our 40 Have your children’s Was your shul among Did your daughters weekly chavrusas, or teachers attended our the 13 participants in attend our weekly do you learn alongside Professional the Yeshiva University Women’s Beit Midrash us in our beit Development GTA Shabbaton this this fall at Ulpanat midrash? programs? past March? Orot? Is your professional Have your children Have your children Do you believe the life enriched by our benefited from Parent- been a part of our GTA should host a CME classes for Child Learning at shiurim and programs Beit Midrash doctors, our lunch & Shaarei Shomayim, or at Netivot, the promoting Torah, learns for the Family Minyan at Associated Hebrew accountants, or our Israel, Madda and BAYT? Schools or CHAT? programs for lawyers? Community? Then please join us at our Dessert Reception on June 19, to ensure that we will be able to do all of this, and more, in the future. We will pay tribute to honoured founders Eli and Renee Rubinstein, and our beloved Rabbi Dovid and Ariella Zirkind.

8:00 PM Tuesday June 19 at Shaarei Shomayim, 470 Glencairn Ave, Toronto $180 for couples, $100 for individuals, Scroll of Honour dedications available For information and to RSVP please contact 416-783-6960 or [email protected]

Highlights for June 9 - 15 / 19 - 25 Sivan Shabbat, June 9 7:15 PM R’ Ezra Goldschmiedt, Ramban on the Parshah, 7:45 AM R’ Baruch Weintrab, Rav Kook, Or Chaim BAYT 10:20 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Parshah, Clanton Park 7:45 PM Shloshim Siyum and Shiur in memory of Ronny 1 hour before minchah Yair Manas:Gemara Sukkah, Horovitz z”l, father of Hillel Horovitz, at Bnai Torah Mizrachi Bayit 75 minutes before minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Wednesday, June 13 Daf Yomi, BAYT 10 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Dramas of Jewish History: After minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Buying a Parah Where we are, BEBY, with Melton Adumah II: Gemara Avodah Zarah, BAYT 12:30 PM Yair Manas, Business Ethics Lunch 4 of 4: The

Sunday, June 10 Gifted Accountant: The Pitfalls of Swag, at Zeifmans, 201 9:15 AM Hillel Horovitz, Parshah, Zichron Yisroel, Bridgeland Hebrew 8:00 PM Yair Manas, Responsa, Clanton Park, men 6:00 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Halachic considerations 8:00 PM R’ Dovid Zirkind, Gemara Beitza 2nd Perek, Shaarei in actual questions in Israel: Daat Torah, Hebrew, 4 Shomayim Tillingham Keep 8:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Living Midrash: The Deep 40 Min Before Minchah R’ Baruch Weintraub, Halachic and the Hidden, BAYT, women considerations in actual questions in Israel: Daat Torah, 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Hilchot Melachim: Royal Courts?, Shomrei Shabbos, men Hebrew, Clanton Park, men

Monday, June 4 Thursday, June 14 8:30 PM Hillel Horovitz, Siddur: In-Depth, Clanton Park 10:15 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Practical Shabbat 2 of 3: Boreir, BAYT, collegiate women Tuesday, June 5 1:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Habbakuk 2: Gd Friday, June 8 Answers the Challenge, with Mekorot 8 AM R’ Dovid Zirkind, Friday Parshah Preview, Village Shul

4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim! Visit us at www.torontotorah.com