A Sichah from Maran HaGaon Rav Gershon Edelstein shlita, Rosh Ponevez – Re’eh 5773 #69

Hashana and , they behave differently. I once heard Ben Torah the following story from a man who was witness to it while on a bus. Two non-religious men were conversing when it came We know that everyone would like to grow during bein out that one of them fasts on Yom Kippur. The other was hazmanim, yet the natural tendency is to the contrary. This surprised and questioned the former, given that he is so far reality means that upon the start of the new zman, the talmid removed from Torah, why does he bother to fast? The man tried must start everything anew. This pattern returns again the next to avoid answering, and even said that he fasted for health bein hazmanim. The new zman requires a lot of effort to regain reasons. His friend quickly questioned, “If so, why do you one’s previous place. This pattern results with the person choose Yom Kippur as the day of your fast?” Finally, the man stagnating in his growth. conceded that he fasts because he cannot bring himself to eat on such a holy day. We see that this man still had vestiges of the We know the feeling of a bein hazmanim which passes holiness of a Yid. without a regimented learning schedule. At its conclusion, one is left with a feeling of emptiness. We must, therefore, at the The above analogy of the ship can be applied to bein very least, figure out what are the ways to prevent descent hazmanim. A person who is a ben Torah must have a during bein hazmanim, and ultimately to make it into a time of consistent learning regimen during bein hazmanim. This growth. will be his life boat and he will maintain his status and his level of a ben Torah. If one does not have a learning schedule Let us preface with a story that took place in chutz during bein hazmanim, he loses his life boat and is no longer la’Aretz which involved two non-observant co-owners of a deemed a ben Torah. This is because he no longer has a store. They would keep their store open during Shabbos, yet as permanent connection to Torah. At the beginning of the new Rosh Hashana approached, one wanted the store closed for the zman he will have to build his ship anew; he will need to restart Yom Tov. His fellow owner rejoined by explaining to him that his connection to Torah. Alternatively, he will be in need of his calculations were nonsensical. The desecration of Shabbos “resuscitation” to bring him back from his fallen status. is a very severe prohibition, and it is punishable by the death penalty, whereas the desecration of Rosh Hashana is only a Consistency violation of a Torah prohibition which doesn’t warrant the death penalty. He told him that if he was not afraid to open the I recall from my childhood in Russia, that there were numerous store on Shabbos, he should not worry about keeping it open edicts forcing Jews to go against our religion. There were many during the holiday. Jews who were not able to withstand the trials and ended up not keeping the laws of kashrus. Despite this, on Pesach, They went together to ask a local . He told them everyone kept the laws prohibiting chometz. I heard that my the following analogy. On a large ship there are some smaller father zt”l commented as follows: The Gemara in Kesubos (15a) any “kavua” unclarity is – כל קבוע כמחצה על מחצה דמי safety boats in case of emergency. If there is ever a danger of states that capsizing, and the crew must get rid of their heavy loads, they treated in halacha as any other fifty-fifty scenario, and not based nevertheless do not throw the life boats overboard. The small on probability (this is a halachic term that teaches the way to go boats are their last chance of hope. One who has distanced about deciding the halacha for a scenario in which we do not himself from the ways of Torah and does not keep the Shabbos, know what occurred. “Kavua” – lit. established, means that the observing Rosh Hashana will be considered his life boat. object in question was taken from a specific location that is Without this he is completely hopeless – he is no different than known, yet the halachic status of the location is unknown. We a goy – gentile. now treat the given item (i.e. the piece of meat taken from that We see this phenomenon quite often. People who are store) as a fifty-fifty probability – kosher or treif Ed.). My father unobservant of Torah and mitzvos, yet upon the arrival of Rosh zt”l explained that so too, a Jew who has specific times in which he keeps the laws of the Torah (kavua also means a specific,

1 prearranged time), is no longer deemed a wicked person, after ten generation of people who went against the ways of rather he is judged as half good and half bad. During bein Hashem, the impurity in the world was overwhelmingly great. hazmanim, one who has established, specific times to learn is It was much harder to stand up to the trials of the times. regarded as a ben Torah. Avrohom Avinu was successful in battling these causes and he did so through messirus nefesh – willingness to give up one’s life. We have previously delineated the practical tips for Through this, he corrected all the spiritual damage the people success during bein hazmanim, One must have a regular, of those ten generations caused, thereby granting him all their consistent time to learn, each person according to his strength. potential rewards. As well, he should have a specific topic or sefer to learn. This must be decided upon before the beginning of bein hazmanim. We can take from the above the following principle. A Sometimes, by the time the person decides what he would like time in which it is more difficult to learn has potential for to learn, his allotted time has disappeared. He must also have a much greater rewards. Furthermore, one who learns consistent place in which to learn. This should be a place where during such times will receive the rewards of all those who he knows he will have peace of mind and in which he will be are not learning. Bein hazmanim, is a time in which there is no able to learn uninterrupted. Usually, it is a good idea to have a official framework or schedule to learn, a time in which every chavrusa – learning partner for at least a part of the day. The person chooses how much to learn, and to what extent he will more kvius of Torah – established, fixed Torah learning (which be cleaved to Torah. Man’s nature is to love rest and not to exert includes time, place, and topic, as explained above), the more himself. It is quite difficult to go against our nature. One who one is considered a ben Torah. In this fashion, bein hazmanim does this despite the difficulties, will receive the rewards of all will not be a time of descent, rather of continued growth. those who did not pass this test.

I once heard a bracho given to someone at a simcha. He The Yerushalmi (end of Berachos) also teaches was blessed that he should be what he “could” be, what he the above principle. It states, “If you see that the people have “needs” to be, and what he “must” be. First, he should know his thrown their hands up from the study of Torah, stand up and strengths, and that he “could” be a complete person – adom strengthen yourself in its study. If you do so, you will receive hashalem. Second, he should know that he “needs” to be everyone’s rewards. Why is this so? Because the verse teaches, complete and perfect, i.e., this would be beneficial for him. “(if) They have breached Your Torah – It is a time to do for Finally, he should know that even if he doesn’t want it, he Hashem”. This is the same idea we have been speaking of. At a “must” do so. If he doesn’t fulfil his mission, he is a sinner. Every time in which there is a weakening of Torah study, a situation person should always remember these three ideas; that he which is deemed “they have breached Your Torah”, the trials could be complete and live a joyous life; that this is in his best are more difficult to pass. This is precisely the time “to do for interest, and furthermore, he is obligated to do so. Hashem”. By doing so, one will receive everyone’s rewards.

The Rewards of Everyone With all this in mind, during bein hazmanim, a time in which many ease up on their learning schedule and do not The Mishna in Avos (5:2) tells us that the ten generations learn, as well as during times that people find difficult to learn between Adom HaRishon and Noach demonstrate to us throughout the year, such as Fridays and Shabbos, one who Hashem’s patience and kindness. Even though the ten nevertheless strengthens himself and learns, will merit the generations acted inappropriately and deserved to be rewards that would have been received by everyone else, had destroyed, Hashem had mercy upon them, lest they repent, and they all been learning. waited until Noach to finally bring the flood. The Mishna goes on to use the same idea to explain the ten generations from Consistent Learning Times Noach until Avrohom Avinu. Hashem once more had mercy and did not destroy them. Instead, Avrohom Avinu came onto the During bein hazmanim, there is a danger that one might lose, scene and merited the rewards that everyone else would have chas v’shalom, all that he has achieved during the zman. One received, had they acted appropriately. Hashem waited for the must prepare for bein hazmanim, and set up a system through people of those generations to repent. The first group did not, which this will be a time of growth. If bein hazmanim will be a and hence, Hashem brought the flood. Again, Hashem waited time of stagnation and even descent, one will have to start his for the people to repent. In this case, Avrohom Avinu affected efforts anew at the beginning of the zman. It is a very difficult the people of his time, and they repented. Therefore, there was task to regain one’s previous levels, after plummeting during no need for a flood. bein hazmanim.

My Rebbi, Harav Dessler zt”l, explained the meaning of We have mentioned several times that the best tool for the Mishna, which states that Avrohom received everyone’s continued growth during bein hazmanim is to have a regulated, rewards. The cumulative rewards the people would have consistent learning regimen. One should have designated עשה תורתך קבע (received had they all been righteous, were entirely given to time slots to learn. As Chazal say in Avos (1:15 Avrohom Avinu. The reason for this great reward is because – Make your Torah established (consistent). One should decide

2 upon a given number of hours per day in which he will learn. Aside from a learning regimen, one should also have a One should not over exert himself, rather one should know his plan for the rest of the day. One should plan when he will eat, limits and plan accordingly. One should maintain his health and wake up in the morning, and go to sleep at night. If one stays up not push himself further than he is capable of. These hours late, he will most probably wake up late, sometimes even A law which cannot be overridden”. If one missing the times for Krias Shema and tefila. Even if one wakes“ – חוק ולא יעבור must be is needed in the home, he should arrange for a different time up on time, he might be very tired the next day. Granted, one slot to come and help. It should not be at the expense of these who knows he has the strength to stay up late and keep learning predetermined learning hours. must do so. If he thinks he will be tired the following day, it is preferable that he goes to sleep at an earlier time. One must also have a specific location in which he will learn. Learning in the same place gives a person a sense of One should attempt to learn three sedorim a day during serenity and peace of mind. The Gemara in Berachos (6b) tells bein hazmanim. If one needs to relax during the vacation, he can us that there is a special merit to those who establish a shorten the learning times a little bit. One should not, chas consistent place for their prayers. This is due to the level of v’shalom, spend his days in a state of idle and of prikas ol – the calm that one has while being in a known place. This holds true removal of the yoke of Torah. This is a grave sin. A person for Torah learning as well. Learning in the same place will offer should relax in accordance to his needs. During these times he a person the ability to increase his concentration. This should can still think of Torah ideas or of mussar. He should not, be a place without any distractions and interruptions. It is also however, think of trivialities and of idle matters. advisable that this location be outside the home, preferably in the or a local beis midrash. Zrizus – Alacrity

Furthermore, one must decide upon what he will The way to pass bein hazmanim unscathed is through having a learn during bein hazmanim. He must know which Massechta regimented plan for all of one’s daily activities. One must go to and which Perek he will learn. As well, he must know in which sleep at a specific, consistent time. This is a demonstration of way he would like to learn the given material. Each person alacrity, not of laziness. Some are swayed to stay up and chit- should evaluate the above based on that which captivates and chat until very late, yet one should know that this stems from interests him. This is especially pertinent during bein laziness and a lack of alacrity. The attribute of zrizus – alacrity hazmanim, when one is not forced to learn what the yeshiva has is seen by a person overcoming his drive to stay up. decided upon, rather one can choose whatever his heart desires. All these considerations must be done prior to bein One should also have alacrity in the morning so that he hazmanim, as if one waits until the arrival of bein hazmanim, he can go to daven on time. One who sleeps longer than he should – עד מתי עצל תשכב ,(will undoubtedly end up wasting a lot of time deciding all the is being lazy. The verse in Mishlei states (6:9 above. Until when will you, the lazy person, lie? One must also daven in a consistent place, as we’ve mentioned before. A person should Another important point is that one should make sure strive to pray in a place which allows him to pray with peace of to have a chavrusa – learning partner during bein hazmanim. mind and with calm. This is a different prayer than that of a Yes, some do enjoy learning by themselves, but this can be very person who feels rushed and which is stressed. difficult over a long period of time. Therefore, one should have a chavrusa for at least a part of the day. Each person knows Whatever Your Heart Desires what he needs in his learning and should plan accordingly. One should look for a chavrusa which he feels comfortable to learn Yeshivas Bein hazmanim is a very important thing. Being with, and with whom the learning will be interesting and involved in Torah during this time is a must. The term bein enjoyable. hazmanim – lit. between the times, connotes that it is a time devoid of Torah, chas v’shalom. This is clearly incorrect. The Sometimes one’s learning partner does not show up or Ponevezer Rov zt”l commented that bein hazmanim is actually is late in coming. During this time when one is without his a “zman” called bein hazmanim. Usually, one is in a structured chavrusa, even a period of fifteen minutes or less, if one does framework of sedorim (prescribed learning plan) in the not know prior to its occurrence what he will learn, he will end yeshiva. Bein hazmanim is a zman without a framework. One up daydreaming the time away, as Rav Yisroel Salanter zt”l must utilize this time to its fullest. writes, “man is free in his imagination”. Before he knows it, the time without a chavrusa has gone by and he has wasted that The advantage of this time is that every person can opportunity to learn. Therefore, one should also have a specific choose to learn whatever his heart desires. This is one of the plan what to do during the times in which his chavrusa will ways to acquire Torah. The Gemara in Avodah Zarah (19a) tells not show up. Perhaps he would like to go over the material he us that a person should always learn in a place which his heart is learning with his chavrusa, or maybe he prefers to learn desires. This means that one should learn in accordance to his something new. With this tool in hand, one can accomplish a lot, nature. One should not learn through imitation or mimicry. We and one’s time will be properly spent. learn in Berachos (58a) that people’s opinions are quite 3

כי אם בתורת ,divergent. A person who learns in a way that is foreign to him, acquiesce. When they reached the verse in Tehillim For he desires learning Hashem’s Torah, Rebbi – השם חפצו a way that goes against his heart’s desires, will not be successful. He is actually lacking in his performance of the explained the verse to mean that one cannot learn Torah unless mitzvah of talmud Torah. The ultimate fulfillment of this it’s something that his heart desires. Upon hearing this mitzvah is for one to learn in a fashion that will be beneficial to explanation, Levi arose and went to learn sefer Mishlei. him; a manner that will leave an imprint upon the soul. This is only feasible when one learns in a way that is enjoyable to him. Even Levi, a great Tanna, who knew that leaving meant When one enjoys his learning, it can affect him and leave an not learning with Rabbeinu Hakadosh, knew that he had to imprint. Furthermore, learning in this fashion will allow a leave, so that he will be able to learn Mishlei. If one has an person to remember that which he learned. inkling in his heart to learn Mishlei, he will not be able to learn Tehillim in the proper way. The entire time he is cognizant of The above Gemara in Avodah Zarah goes on and tells us the fact he is learning Tehillim instead of his wish, Mishlei, he of an incident involving Levi and Rebbi Shimon, the son of will not be able concentrate appropriately, or to fully Rebbi. They learned Torah at the beis midrash of Rabbeinu comprehend that which he is learning. During these days of Hakadosh. When they concluded a certain sefer and needed to bein hazmanim we should utilize the time to learn that which choose another to learn, Levi wished to learn Mishlei, whereas we truly desire knowing. Through this we will see success in R’ Shimon desired to learn Tehillim. R’ Shimon forced Levi to Torah.

A letter from the Rosh Yeshiva Shlita to Talmidei Chachomin learning in Yeshivas Bein hazmanim, located next to Yeshivas Chazon Baruch, Bernsi, France.

Peace be unto you,

It is a big zchus – merit to involve oneself in Torah during bein hazmanim. This is the way in which one merits success in If a person says) I have toiled and have) – יגעתי ומצאתי תאמין ,(Torah throughout the entire year. Chazal tell us in Megillah (6b found (succeeded), believe him. Success in Torah is in direct proportion to one’s level of toil. All those who invest more hours into learning, will have greater success in Torah. Not only will they see success in their Torah, but also they will merit success in all their endeavors, physical and spiritual. This growth in spirituality will eventually be expressed as rewards in Olam Habah.

May you be strengthened, for the honor of our holy Torah, and for the honor of Shomayim.

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