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Authentic Torah in a Modern World Authentic Torah in a Modern World בס״ד LATFORM P Issue One תשרי תשפ״ב – September 2021 Authentic Torah in a Modern World העלון טעון גניזה Torah teachings are sacred – please treat this publication with care. This publication should be disposed of in a Halachically acceptable manner Torah Platform is Dedicated לע״נ ראובן בן רפאל הכהן ז״ל Publisher: Dove Press Ltd for Torah Platform Design: www.dovepresspublishing.com | [email protected] Editor: Raphael Amablo | [email protected] DOVE Website: www.torahplatform.org | [email protected] PRESS Copyright: © 2021 – Torah Platform | All rights reserved. בס״ד Torah Platform – September 2021 In this issue: WELCOME Dayan Yosef-Haim David ............................................................................................................ 5 HALAK BETH YOSEF MEAT Dayan Yosef-Haim David ............................................................................................................ 7 PREJUDICES AND PRECONCEPTIONS Aaron Ambalu ......................................................................................................................................13 ATTAINING A LOVE OF HASHEM Rabbi David Abecasis ....................................................................................................................17 WHO WAS THE FIRST THERAPIST? Rabbi Daniel Nissen .......................................................................................................................20 PLASTIC SURGERY Rabbi Moshe Bengio .......................................................................................................................23 ANSWERING AMEN REMOTELY Rabbi Ya’akov Yisrael Sebbag ...................................................................................................28 TORAH GIANTS Rabbi Eliyahu Hye ...........................................................................................................................32 BLUE CHICKEN EGGS Raphael Ambalo ..................................................................................................................................38 This edition of Torah Platform is kindly sponsored by שליט״א Rabbi Ya’akov Allen from Golders Green תשרי תשפ״ב – September 2021 4 Welcome Dayan Yosef-Haim David ב״ה ׀ תשרי תשפ״ב Issue One – September 2021 מלפנו מבהמות ארץ ומעוף השמים יחכמנו… Who teaches us [more] than the beasts of the earth, and Who makes us wiser than the birds of the skies? (Iyov 35:11) n tractate Eruvin (100b), Rebbi Yohanan says The Mishnah in the beginning of Perek Helek, that if the Torah was not given to us, we would Sanhedrin, gives a list of Jews who do not have I have learnt the concept of modesty from the a portion in the World to Come, and one of the cat, theft from the ant, forbidden relations from examples are those who read ‘Sifrei Minim’. Rashi the pigeon and marital relations from the rooster. explains that the Mishnah is referring to books The Ben Ish Hai questions in his Sefer, Ben that are written by atheists. Yehoyada, that we can still learn all of these There has never been a time like ours where character traits from the animals even after the knowledge is so vast and so easily attainable. Much Torah has been given to us. So, what is Rebbi of that knowledge stems from intellectuals with Yohanan essentially teaching us here exactly? questionable morals and beliefs, which could bring He answers that these animals may have one or about the risk of a Jew also identifying with their two good character traits, but they also possess immoral beliefs or behaviours. negative ones. What Rebbi Yohanan means is Whilst it is permissible and praiseworthy to that if the Torah was not given to us, we would enrich our minds with knowledge of the sciences, run the risk of also learning negative traits from etc., as the Rambam echoes in Hilchot Yesodei these animals. Knowledge of the natural world is never enough, and a Jew will always need a strong Torah foundation to guide and direct him in life. 5 Welcome | 5 HaTorah, Ch. 2, Law 2, we must not forget the The Torah is eternal, and every technological importance of first filling our appetite with Torah innovation, issue, or challenge can be addressed knowledge. through Torah eyes. This is why we have created The Rivash (Rav Yitzhak ben Sheshet of Spain, ‘Torah Platform’: a unique forum to present 1326–1408) says that we should not make a mistake contemporary essays to a broad audience. Whilst when considering the Rambam and his expertise in Torah Platform is geared towards a general secular knowledge. He explains that the Rambam audience, much of what is here will be of interest learnt all areas of Torah fully before he embarked to the scholar as well. on his secular studies. Furthermore, the reason In most cases, the authors’ sources have been why the Rambam wrote certain books like Moreh provided to encourage those who are able, to Nevuchim, was in order to address the many study the topics in greater detail and examine heretical trends that were prevalent in his time. The them for themselves. Be’er Sheva (Rav Issachar Baer ben Israel Leiser Parnas Torah Platform is for the educated Jew Eylenburg of Prague, 1550–1623) says the same about in the modern world – especially those in the the order of the Rambam’s education and warns academic world. that a person who is not Torah knowledgeable, This is an opportunity for the discerning reader yet cares for his soul, should take great care and to gain a genuine appreciation for the Torah’s caution from the influence of secular books that authenticity and beauty. הפך בה והפך בה, דכולה בה .are written by heretics The interface between Torah and secular B’bracha, studies cannot be entrusted to the untrained. Dayan Yosef-Haim David 6 Halak Beth Yosef Meat Dayan Yosef-Haim David eing a meat-eater is no simple matter for a that they could eat all vegetation that produces seed and all trees that have seed-yielding (כל עשב זרע זרע) Jew. It may come as a surprise to learn that 2 (כל העץ אשר בו פרי עץ זרע זרע) .B the Babylonian Talmud requires us to be on a fruits high spiritual level to permit the consumption of meat. There was no mentioning of being allowed to We learn this from tractate Pesahim1 where Rebbi consume the flesh of an animal. Yehuda HaNasi is quoted forbidding an unlearned In fact, the Talmud in tractate Sanhedrin records Jew from eating meat: in the name of the famous Amora'im, Rav Yehuda in the name of Rav, that Adam and Hava were indeed originally forbidden from eating meat:3 תניא ר׳ אומר עם הארץ אסור לאכול בשר שנאמר “זאת תורת הבהמה והעוף”. כל העוסק בתורה מותר לאכול בשר בהמה אמר ר׳ יהודה אמר רב, אדם הראשון לא הותר לו בשר לאכילה, ועוף, כל שאינו עוסק בתורה אסור לאכול בשר בהמה ועוף . שנאמר לכם יהיה לאכלה ולכל חית הארץ – ולא חית הארץ לכם. I T WAS TAU G H T in a Braita, Rebbi says: An Am HaAretz is forbidden from eating meat. R AV Y E H UDA SAID in the name of Rav; Adam A S IT SAY S ; “This is the Torah of land mammals and HaRishon was not allowed to eat meat, as it says birds.” Whoever studies the Torah is allowed to eat [about the fruits and vegetation], “For you it shall be the meat of land mammals and birds, and whoever for consumption and for all the animals of the land.” does not study the Torah is forbidden from eating the [We learn from this that] the animals [themselves] meat of land mammals and birds. were not [permitted] for you [for consumption]. Even though Rebbi Yehuda’s opinion is not an actual The Torah Temimah4 gives an interesting insight on Halachic requirement today, it is interesting why this piece of Talmud. When Adam and Hava sinned this great Sage would require Torah knowledge and with the forbidden fruit, the whole cosmos changed observance as a prerequisite for eating meat? The both physically and spiritually; ‘death’ entered the scene Torah Temimah (Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein, 1860–1941) and permeated every aspect of existence. After several helps answer this question… subsequent sinful generations, Hashem flooded the When Hashem created the Universe He never world and when No'ah finally emerged from the Ark, originally intended for Mankind to eat other creatures. one of his first initiatives was the sacrificing of animals Adam and Hava were fashioned and placed in Gan to Hashem. As a reward, Hashem permitted mankind Eden and they were informed directly by Hashem to eat meat and the reason, the Torah Temimah דף מט: .1 בראשית א, כט .2 סנהדרין דף נט: .3 שם .4 Halak Beth Yosef Meat | 7 explains, is because animals were on a lower level and classify an animal a Terefa and therefore not Kasher.6 no longer immortal in any case. The consumption of Maran, Rav Yosef Caro (Tsfat, 1488-1575), the author of meat was therefore permitted as a Divinely ordained the Shulhan Aruch, categories the list into 8 types of privilege for those who are worthy of it. Eating meat Terefot,7 most of which are uncommon and do not only came with one restrictive caveat; it is forbidden need checking. However, Terefot found specifically in a limb torn from the lungs of cattle are much more common and fall – אבר מין החי to consume meat that is .(”common minority“) מיעוט המצוי a living animal. Gentiles are therefore also bound by into the category of the Noahide law of having to first kill an animal and Therefore, in order to ensure an animal is ‘Halak’ we only then partake of its flesh. have to check its lungs for irregularities, such as cysts For the Am Yisrael, however, higher expectations and adhesions. were bestowed. When the Jewish people became a • How serious are these lung adhesions in cattle? nation at Mount Sinai, a new set of dietary laws were • Do the presence of adhesions really mean the given on that auspicious day appertaining only to animal is going die within 12 months and is therefore us. We were told which creatures are permitted for a Terefa? consumption and which are forbidden. In addition We asked these questions to an expert Veterinarian we of Westpoint Vets in Chelmsford, which is a practice ,אבר מין החי to the universal prohibition of eating were also instructed on the laws of Shehita (ritual that specialises specifically in livestock.
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