בס“ד Toronto University Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Parshat Ki Tetze 11 Elul, 5774/September 6, 2014 Vol. 6 Num. 2 This issue of Toronto Torah is sponsored by Steve and Leah Roth in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Sonia Roth, Sosha bat Yeshoshua z”l In the Aftermath of War Baruch Weintraub One of the greatest books produced surrender by the Torah to human opening mitzvot of our parshah, our regarding World War I was “The Good nature. For them, it was an example of sages suggest that if one performs one Soldier Schweik”, by Czech author the rule, “It is better to eat the meat of a of these mitzvot, he will be granted the Jaroslav Hasek. Schweik is a Czech slaughtered corpse than the meat of a opportunity to perform the others as soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army; non-slaughtered one.” (Kiddushin 21b) well. as the soldiers depart to the front on Although both are not permitted, we different trains, Schweik invites a prefer bad over worse. In a similar way, Interestingly, just as the first group friend to meet him after the war at his in our case, it would have been began with “seeing”, so does the second favourite bar, shouting, “After the war preferred to avoid the situation group, but instead of seeing the then, at six in the evening!” altogether, but if we see no way to stop beautiful woman, one sees his brother’s the burning desire, at least we should lost property. Just as the first sight This sentence, quoted in different do our best to put it under some leads the observer into action, so the variations, became a trademark of halachic control and supervision. second one must lead him into action – human naivete before the greatest “you shall not ignore it”! The difference terror: war. Schweik does not, and However, whilecomplying with the between the two laws lies in the eyes, cannot know, if after the war he or his halachic rules would make this act and what they seek. A Divinely blessed friend will still be alive and able to legal, it cannot make the act positive. A triumph can quickly degenerate into an meet; if the bar will still exist or – in midrash brought in Rashi (Devairm awful disaster; a lost sheep, on the the age of the atom – the clock will still 21:11) notes the juxtaposition of the other hand, can lead to the exist. Wars, said Machiavelli, begin subjects in the beginning of our strengthening of the social fabric. when you will, but they do not end parshah, and warns us that taking this when you please. Neither do they end woman will result in hatred of her and a Over the last century, our hold on Eretz as you please. dysfunctional household, leading in its Yisrael has been intertwined with many turn to a disobedient and unfaithful wars and struggles. We have been aided Our parshah begins with the same son. by the Divine hand, but the question of situation: a man went out to war. He whether the army’s victories can be may be an ordinary family man, with a The beginning of Parshat Ki Tetze, then, translated into real social and spiritual wife and children praying for his safety describes the unfortunate outcome of advancement depends upon what are and success at home; he may be a the very fortunate war – and so, a war we interested in, and what are looking revered, righteous king and the writer that seems to end with “and G-d gave for. of the holiest psalms (Sanhedrin your enemy in your hands” has in fact 107a). But as he engages in war, even ended with the collapse of the victor’s [email protected] a man who is decent in nature will be family, home and future. The way out of clothed in cruelty and hatred. this trap is outlined, perhaps, by the (Ramban Devarim 23:10) As the war next cluster of mitzvot in our parshah, proves, with G-d’s help, to be which our sages contrasted to the first successful, and captives are taken, our cluster. hero sees a beautiful woman among those captured. Ignoring the man he This second group begins with the was in times of peace, he “desires” the commandment to return a lost object, woman and takes her to be his – and and includes such mitzvot as sending the act is regulated and accepted by away the mother bird when taking its the Torah. chicks, building a protective railing on a roof and seeding a vineyard only in As is well known, our sages saw this certain ways. As they did regarding the regulation as a temporary, localized

OUR BEIT MIDRASH ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI MORDECHAI TORCZYNER

COMMUNITY MAGGIDEI SHIUR RABBI ELAN MAZER, RABBI BARUCH WEINTRAUB

AVREICHIM RABBI DAVID ELY GRUNDLAND, RABBI JOSH GUTENBERG, YISROEL MEIR ROSENZWEIG

CHAVERIM BJ KOROBKIN, RYAN JENAH, JOEL JESIN, SHIMMY JESIN, EITAN MARKUS, MITCHELL PERLMUTTER, JACOB POSLUNS, DANIEL SAFRAN, ARI SHER, ARIEL SHIELDS, JESSE SHKEDY, NOAM SLODOVNICK, KOBY SPIEGEL, YAAKOV SPIVAK, We are grateful to EFRON STURMWIND, GRAHAM TUGETMAN Continental Press 905-660-0311 Book Review: Ishim v’Shitot Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner

Ishim v’Shitot mysticism and philosophy by An ardent Zionist, Rabbi Zevin made by Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin describing a seudah shlishit talk in aliyah in 1935 and served as Rabbi of Published in 1952 in , with which Rabbi Kook explored the the community in Tel Aviv. updated editions published since then metaphysical elements of war and After the founding of the State of by the Kol Mevaser press peace, using them to explain a legal Israel, he held a seudat mitzvah note of Rambam regarding whether the (“mitzvah feast”) on Yom ha’Atzmaut. About this book kohen who leads the Jews to war Rabbi Zevin served on the rabbinical Ishim v’Shitot (“Personalities and bequeaths his position to his son, as council of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, and Approaches”) offers intellectual the kohen gadol does. he won the Israel Prize in 1959, and biographies of leading Torah sages of the Rabbi Kook Prize in 1947 and the period from the late 19th century In another example, Rabbi Zevin 1952. The former Rabbi Kook Prize through the middle of the 20th century: describes Rabbi ’s was awarded for his role in founding Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (a.k.a. style of brevity by recording an the Talmudic Encyclopedia with Rabbi “Netziv”), Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik anecdote in which Rabbi Soloveitchik Meir Bar-Ilan; Rabbi Zevin served as (and Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik was approached by a man who wanted Editor-in-Chief until his passing in (founders of the “Brisker derech” of to visit his ailing father. The man 1978. The latter Rabbi Kook Prize was ), Rabbi Yosef Rosen (a.k.a. pointed out that the train ride would for his role in publishing the first “the Rogatchover Gaon”), Rabbi Meir be expensive, and the mitzvah of modern Israeli edition of the . Simchah haKohen of Dvinsk (author of honouring a parent does not require a “Meshech Chachmah” and “Or child to spend his own funds. Rabbi What makes this book unique? Sameach”), Rabbi Chaim Ozer, Rabbi Soloveitchik replied tersely, “Correct, In a Jewish world drawn toward each Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, you are exempt. Go by foot.” of the opposing poles of saint- Rabbi , Rabbi generating hagiography and tell-all Baruch Ber Leibowitz, Rabbi Avraham About the author muckraking, Rabbi Zevin charts a Yeshayah Karelitz (a.k.a. “Chazon Ish”) Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin is himself third path. In modern Hebrew which is and Rabbi . worthy of biography. [Indeed, the latest poetic but not overly so, he explains edition of Ishim v’Shitot includes a how each of his biographical subjects Rabbi Zevin provides important chapter on his life.] A Lubavitcher added to our knowledge of Torah and biographical information and chasid born near Pinsk in 1884, he established himself as a respected enlightening stories from his personal attended the , where he leader. In essence, Rabbi Zevin teaches interactions with these scholars. More, studied with Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov us why Torah scholars should matter Rabbi Zevin familiarizes the reader with Weinberg (author of Sridei Eish). He to us – how their unique personalities, his subjects’ approaches to Torah was ordained by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman coupled with their extraordinary scholarship, through examples drawn Schneerson (third of Chabad scholarship, affect and influence from their written and spoken oeuvre. Kapust), Rabbi future students of Torah and our For example, Rabbi Zevin praises Rabbi (author of Aruch haShulchan) and the national Jewish identity. Kook’s unique blend of halachah, aforementioned Rabbi Yosef Rosen. [email protected] 613 Mitzvot: #396 Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner Terumat Maaser - The Levi’s Gift

After the collapse of Korach’s rebellion, G-d presents Moshe  Korach’s rebellion may also be seen as rejection of with instructions countering elements of that misguided Divine control, as expressed by G-d’s appointment of mutiny: The tribe of Levi is charged with protecting the the kohanim as leaders. Giving a gift on Divine Temple from incursions by those who are ineligible to enter command, on the other hand, provides a constant (Bamidar 18:1-7); the Jews are told to give special gifts to the reminder that there is an Authority who establishes the Kohanim, recognizing that Korach was wrong for challenging rights and roles of every citizen. (Sefer haChinuch 396; their positions (ibid. 18:8-20, as understood by Rashi 18:8); Horeb 304) and the Jews are to give a tenth of their produce - maaser  Korach believed that holding an elevated position and rishon - to the Levites, enabling their service. (ibid. 18:21-32) receiving a gift is the height of human dignity. Thus Korach did not seek the right to serve as Kohanim do, Within that last item, an eight-verse passage describes the but only to hold their position of authority. (Bamidbar mitzvah of terumat maaser: When a Levi receives maaser 16:3) Giving a gift inverts Korach’s philosophy, rishon, he must separate one-tenth and give it to a Kohen; displaying an understanding that there is great honour until he does so, he may not eat the maaser rishon he has in giving. The requirement to give terumat maaser received. This applies today; we have learned (Devarim 5774) teaches the Levite the stature to be found in generosity. that a non-Levi may eat maaser rishon today, but he must (Sefer haChinuch 396) separate terumat maaser and not eat it. Per Sefer haChinuch, terumat maaser is the Torah’s 396th mitzvah. Taken together, these approaches provide three lessons in generosity: Giving a gift shows respect, giving a gift Three approaches explain how this mitzvah teaches lessons mandated by G-d demonstrates recognition of Divine relevant for Korach’s rebellion: authority, and giving a gift earns true honour. As explained  One may read Korach’s rebellion as a protest against the by the commentators cited above, Korach did not grasp elevated position of the Kohanim; the requirement to give these three points, but the mitzvah of terumat maaser terumat maaser – a tithe paid by the Levite to the Kohen ensured that his Levite descendants, and all readers of the – reinforces the Kohen’s dominance. (Kad Torah, would absorb these lessons for themselves.

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2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com Biography Torah and Translation Radbaz Sacrificing a Limb to Save Another Person’s Life Rabbi Josh Gutenberg Rabbi David ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra Rabbi David ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra Responsa of Radvaz 3:627 (Radbaz) was born in Spain in 1479. After the Spanish Inquisition in 1492, Translated by Rabbi Josh Gutenberg You have requested that I inform you of שאלת ממני אודיעך דעתי על מה שראית his family moved to Tzefat, where he my opinion regarding that which you כתוב אם אמר השלטון לישראל הנח לי לקצץ remained for nearly twenty years. He have seen written: if the government אבר אחד שאינך מת ממנו או אמית ישראל then moved to Fez, Morocco where he would say to a Jew, “Allow us to chop off חבירך . יש אומרים שחייב להניח לקצץ served on the beit din. In 1517, the ,one limb that will not cause you to die האבר הואיל ואינו מת ... והשתא יבוא הנדון Ottoman Empire abolished the beit din in Fez, and Radbaz was hired as Chief or we will kill your fellow Jew,” there are מק “ ו ומה שבת החמורה שאין אבר אחד Rabbi of Egypt. He served in that those who say that he is obligated to דוחה אותה היא נדחית מפני פקוח נפש אבר capacity for forty years. allow them to chop off the limb since he אחד שנדחה מפני השבת אינו דין שתדחה will not die... And this may be deduced מפני פקוח נפש ורצית לדעת אם יש לסמוך Due to his vast Torah knowledge and from a logical [kal vachomer] argument: If , which is very stringent, is על טעם זה: independent wealth, Radbaz had great influence on the Jewish community in not pushed aside to save a limb but is Egypt. He opened a yeshiva which pushed aside to save a life, then saving attracted outstanding students such as a limb which is pushed aside in favour Betzalel Ashkenazi (author of Shitah of Shabbat should certainly be pushed Mekubetzet) and Yitzchak Luria (Ari aside to save another life. You wanted to HaKadosh). His philanthropy supported know if one should rely on this many poor people in the community. He reasoning. also enacted two prominent changes for

Response: [Sacrificing a limb to save a תשובה : זו מדת חסידות אבל לדין יש the Jewish community. The common fellow Jew] is a pious trait, but the תשובה ... ותו דילמא ע “ י חתיכת אבר אעפ “ י practice was to recite the amidah along ...logical argument could be disputeed שאין הנשמה תלויה בו שמא יצא ממנו דם with the chazzan, and he reinstituted the ,Further, perhaps by cutting off the limb הרבה וימות ומאי חזית דדם חבירו סומק practice of reciting the amidah silently even though his life does not depend טפי דילמא דמא דידיה סומק טפי . ואני before the chazzan’s repetition. He also required the community to date their upon this limb, he might lose much ראיתי אחד שמת ע “ י שסרטו את אזנו documents from the time of Creation as blood and die. “Who says that your שריטות דקות להוציא מהם דם ויצא כ “ כ עד opposed to the start of the Seleucid friend’s blood is redder? Perhaps your שמת והרי אין לך באדם אבר קל כאוזן וכ “ ש .Empire blood is redder? (see Sanhedrin 74a)” I אם יחתכו אותו. witnessed one who died resulting from After retiring from his position as Chief small holes pierced in his ear to remove Rabbi in Egypt, Radbaz moved back to blood; he lost so much [blood] that he Israel. He first lived in , but died, even though man has no limb due to high taxes he moved north to smaller than the ear! Certainly [he could Tzefat. He served on the beit din in Tzefat die] if they would cut it off. until his passing; he was held in very Further, it is written [of Torah] “its ways ותו דכתיב דרכיה דרכי נועם וצריך שמשפטי high regard by Rabbi Yosef Karo (author are pleasant ways” (Proverbs 3:17) and תורתינו יהיו מסכימים אל השכל והסברא of Shulchan Aruch), who was the head of the Torah’s laws must be consistent ואיך יעלה על דעתנו שיניח אדם לסמא את .the beit din in Tzefat with intellect and logic. How could we עינו או לחתוך את ידו או רגלו כדי שלא Radbaz authored many scholarly works, believe that one should let someone ימיתו את חבירו and he wrote more than 3000 responsa blind his eye or cut off his arm or leg in dealing with all areas of Jewish life. He order that they not kill his friend? wrote two works related to Rambam’s ;Therefore, I see no reason for this ruling הלכך איני רואה טעם לדין זה אלא מדת : Divrei David is his own rather, it is a pious act and praised is חסידות ואשרי חלקו מי שיוכל לעמוד בזה commentary to Mishneh Torah, and Yekar Tiferet is his response to Raabad’s the lot of one who could withstand this ואם יש ספק סכנת נפשות הרי זה חסיד criticisms of Mishneh Torah. He also sacrifice]. However, if [allowing his limb] שוטה דספיקא דידיה עדיף מוודאי דחבריה. authored Kelalei haGemara, a to be chopped off would present] a methodology of Talmud study, as well as possible risk to his life then such a several kabbalistic books. person would be considered a pious fool, for the doubt [regarding his life] is Radbaz was blessed with longevity. Most greater than the certainty of [saving] his scholars believe he passed away in 1589 friend’s [life]. at the age of 110, although others contend that he passed away in 1573 at the age of 94.

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Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3 This Week in Israeli History: 18 Elul, 1947 - The UNSCOP Report Yisroel Meir Rosenzweig The 18th of Elul is next Shabbat recommendations for the future, one a majority view and the other a minority. The majority view proposed a partition of rd On the 18th of Elul (September 3 ), 1947, the United Palestine into two independent states with an economic unity Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) remaining between them. The minority view focused around a presented its official report before the United Nations single, federal state, with measures to protect the minority General Assembly. The initiative to create UNSCOP was population. launched by the United Kingdom as a result of a growing awareness that the British governance of Palestine had The UNSCOP report represented a concrete step on the part of “proved to be unworkable in practice.” A new approach to the UN toward finding a resolution to the tensions present in the issue of relations between Arab and Jewish populations the region. The report resulted in the acceptance of the was necessary in order to effectuate change in the region. partition plan, creating both an Arab state and a Jewish state UNSCOP was comprised of representatives from Australia, in Palestine. The Arab Higher Committee refused to participate Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, India, Iran, throughout the UNSCOP mission and rejected the UN Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, Uruguay, and Yugoslavia, all resolution to accept the partition plan. Jewish agencies viewed as neutral powers. around the world welcomed the UNSCOP report, in spite of its failure to grant Jewish control over certain territories, Their charge was to investigate the situation in Palestine including the Transjordan region. Ultimately, the report that and present a solution to the General Assembly in three the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine presented months’ time. The UNSCOP investigation produced a to the United Nations General Assembly paved the way for the detailed report that provided insight into the conflict and its creation of the State of Israel. key points of tensions, as well as two primary [email protected]

Highlights for September 6 – 12 / 11 Elul — 17 Elul Many shiurim have not yet re-started, but there are many opportunities below!

Time Speaker Topic Location Special Notes

SHABBAT SEPT. 6

After hashkamah Yisroel Meir Rosenzweig Meshech Chachmah Clanton Park

Before minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner Daf Yomi BAYT

Gemara Avodah Zarah: After minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner BAYT Kosher Locusts in Wine

SUNDAY SEPT. 7

Contemporary Halachah: 8:45 AM R’ Josh Gutenberg BAYT Non-Jews at a Yom Tov Meal

9:15 AM R’ Shalom Krell Kuzari Zichron Yisroel With light breakfast Supporting Member Event at Yeshivat Or Chaim 7:30 PM R’ Confronting Criticism: Modern Orthodoxy and Biblical Criticism 7:15 minchah, 7:30 shiur / Register: www.torontotorah.com/members

MONDAY SEPT. 8

10:00 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner Meaning of Midrash Yeshivat Or Chaim University students

TUESDAY SEPT. 9 1:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner The Book of Job Yeshivat Or Chaim First week!

THU. S4EPT. 11 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim! Visit us at www.torontotorah .com

The Book of Yehoshua: 49 Michael Ct. 1:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner For women War with Yericho Thornhill

FRI. SEPT. 12

Shemitah Today: 10:30 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner Yeshivat Or Chaim Advanced Biblical or Rabbinic?

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