Ben Torah Consistency a Sichah from Maran Hagaon Rav Gershon

A Sichah from Maran HaGaon Rav Gershon Edelstein shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevez – Re’eh 5773 #69 Hashana and Yom Kippur, 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 Rabbi. 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 Talmud 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.

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