Mazal Tov to Elliezra and Yaron Perez on the Birth and Brit Of
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בס“ד Parshat Ki Tetze 11 Elul, 5777/September 2, 2017 Vol. 9 Num. 2 This issue of Toronto Torah is sponsored by Steve and Leah Roth in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Sonia Roth, Sosha bat Yehoshua z”l G-d’s Immanence: Cause or Effect? Rabbi Jonathan Ziring During wartime, soldiers are not brought to battle, he includes other resolutions” are natural responses when usually afforded the luxury of hygiene vessels, as well as the trumpets, as the the calendar year begins again. or ethics. They can go weeks without a objects which instantiated G-d’s proper shower, food, or bed. Life and accompaniment of the camp. During the period of the High Holidays, death decisions must be made with we engage in many symbolic acts, or barely a moment’s thought. Yet, the A second group (ex. Shadal), however, simanim. Some commentaries (ex. Meiri) Torah demands that those who go to argue that the law is proactive. While it explain that we use objects like the war uphold a high level of sanctity, is true that G-d moves through the apple in honey to inspire ourselves to cleanliness, and morality. It bars camp, this presence is not unique to get into the season’s mood, pushing us certain types of impure individuals war. However, during war there is more to repent. Others (Maharal and Chayei from the camp until they immerse in a of a need to convince ourselves that G-d Adam) argue that these simanim mikvah (Devarim 23:11), as well as is walking among us. Thus, we act with metaphysically get the ball rolling to obligates soldiers to bring a shovel to heightened sensitivity to force ourselves ensure our prayers come true. Based on properly cover their waste. Then, the to internalize that G-d leads us to Rabbi Hirsch, perhaps we can suggest Torah commands the soldier to battle. that both are true. This time of year distance himself from all impropriety. indeed has unique spiritual strength. The Torah justifies these difficult Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch seems to By acting out our prayers, we both demands as follows: take a middle approach. On the one respect the power of these days, and “Since the Lord your G-d moves hand, he assumes that G-d is present in ensure our success by instilling in about in your camp to protect you some unique way in the war camp. On ourselves the recognition of what we and to deliver your enemies to the other, he explains that the purpose can do as the New Year begins. you, let your camp be holy; let Him of the commandments is to ensure not find anything unseemly among victory, which depends more on our May we too embrace morality and you and turn away from remaining morally steadfast than sanctity, so that we deserve a year in you.” (Devarim 23:15, JPS showing courage to our external which it is evident that G-d walks translation) enemies. among us. What does it mean that G-d is in the Elul and the High Holidays force us to [email protected] war camp, such that the army must grapple with a similar situation. On the maintain these standards? one hand, the beginning of the year really is a time when G-d is more Mazal Tov to One group of commentaries assumes immanently present. “’Seek the Lord Elliezra and Yaron Perez that the law is responsive. Meaning, while He may be found; call upon Him the reality is that G-d is in the camp, when He is near’ (Yeshayah 55:6)… on the birth and brit and His presence requires a level of these are the ten days between Rosh of their new baby boy sensitivity. Rashbam claims that the Hashanah and Yom Kippur.” (Rosh Mevaser Yitzchak! aron, the ark which held the tablets, Hashanah 18a) This obligates us to would come to battle. This represented respond with teshuvah, tefillah, and an immanence of G-d which had to be tzedakah. On the other hand, even May he grow to respected. Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor barring that metaphysical reality, the Torah, Chuppah agrees that G-d’s presence refers to the beginning of a new year is a good time holy vessels in the camp. However, to bring G-d deeper into our lives, as uMaasim Tovim! noting that the ark was not always introspection and “New Year’s OUR BEIT MIDRASH ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI MORDECHAI TORCZYNER SGAN ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI JONATHAN ZIRING AVREICHIM ADAM FRIEDMANN, YARON PEREZ CHAVERIM NADAV GASNER, MICHAEL IHILCHIK, ARIEL KELMAN, BJ KOROBKIN, AVISHAI LIGHTSTONE, COBY LYONS, ZACK MINCER, KOBI NAUENBERG, RONI PEREZ, Find our upcoming shiurim on-line at JOSH PHILLIP, MORDECHAI ROTH, DANIEL SAFRAN, URIEL WEISZ, YECHIEL www.torontotorah.com ZOBERMAN We are grateful to WOMEN’S BEIT MIDRASH MRS. ORA ZIRING, MRS. ELLIEZRA PEREZ Continental Press 905-660-0311 והורשתם את הארץ וישבתם בה )במדבר לג( Marking the State of Israel’s 70th Year! Israeli Landmarks: The Knesset, Part 1 Rabbi Baruch Weintraub Dreams of the Jewish Parliament was needed, an appropriate building to Exodus, Isaiah’s visions, and the return Building accompanied the Zionist host the Israeli legislative body. to Zion. movement from its very beginning. Already Herzl, in his visionary book It took seven years to develop the The Knesset is also where some of the Altneuland (The Old New Land), which plans, and another two to find nation’s most important decisions are was published in 1902, imagined a funding. Construction took eight made. The activity in the Knesset halls “monumental building”, which would years, but eventually, in Elul 5726 and corridors is hard to miss. Whether include a “lofty council chamber built of (August 1966) the new Knesset it be the cafeteria, where, it is said, the solid marble and lighted from above building in Givat Ram was most crucial deals are brokered, or the through matte glass.” ceremonially opened. Later, the main plenum, where meetings and original construction was expanded votes take place, or the Government When G-d showed mercy to His people time and again as the Knesset gained Meeting Room, where Israel’s future is and the Jewish State became a reality, employees and administrative units, made, the Knesset is bustling with there was no time to construct a “lofty expanded departments, and gained activity. building.” The young Jewish settlement visitors. Together, these brought the was struggling against five Arab armies Knesset to triple its original size. Upon visiting this junction of past, and the Arabs living in Eretz Yisrael, present and future, it is hard not to be and during the war, the Jewish The impressive Knesset building is filled with both feelings of gratitude to Parliament was in Tel Aviv. saturated with symbols of Jewish G-d that He led us back to the land of history from biblical to modern times. our ancestors, and the prayers and In December 1949, after things had These symbols include the Knesset hope that He should still guide us to somewhat quieted down, the Menorah, situated at the edge of the the complete redemption. Indeed, “we Parliament, now called “Knesset” – after Rose Garden across from the Knesset were like dreamers.” the ancient institution the “Knesset building, engraved with figures and HaGedolah” which guided the Jewish events from the tradition and history [email protected] return from Babylon after the first exile of the Jewish people. There is a – was relocated to Jerusalem, where it monument of the “burning bush” for wandered from one place to another. It fallen soldiers, and tapestries of Marc was clear that a permanent location Chagall in the state hall reflect the The Zionist Idea: Compelling Aliyah? Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner While it is not necessarily advisable, a mishnah (Ketuvot the land remains.” Even in the absence of a religious duty, 13:11) does license a Jew to compel his or her spouse to the magnetism of our land is sufficient. make aliyah. The simplest explanation for this remarkable license is that we have a religious duty to live in Israel, and Finally, Rabbi Eitam Henkin (Techumin 28) noted a fourth one’s spouse should not be entitled to thwart fulfillment of possibility, writing, “An additional reason which seems to be that mitzvah. This is consistent with the view of Ramban at the foundation of our Sages’ enactments in this matter is (Hosafot l’Sefer haMitzvot 4) and Rivash (#101), who the growth of Israel’s population, benefiting the Jewish identified a biblical mitzvah of living in Israel. However, other nation.” He cited Rabbi Avraham Danziger’s explanation for classic halachic authorities, such as Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein the Talmud’s restrictions against leaving Israel, “Because (Terumat haDeshen 2:88), contended that there may not be there are few Jews there, and it should not be left empty of any such mitzvah. According to them, what empowers a Jews. They pray for all of us, and their prayer is more spouse to force a move? accepted than ours.” (Shaarei Tzedek, Shaar Mishpat ha’Aretz, Chochmat Adam 11:14) And Rabbi Henkin saw in Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Chatam Sofer Yoreh Deah 234) this an explanation for why the Talmud (Bava Kama 80a) contended that the value of living in Israel should not be marriage in Israel with purchasing a home there; we expect reduced to a technical obligation. He wrote, “It appears that that marriage there will lead to the introduction of new this power is not because of the mitzvot which depend on Jewish lives in our land.