בס“ד Parshat Lech Lecha 11 Cheshvan, 5780/November 9, 2019 Vol. 11 Num. 8 (#429) This issue of Toronto Torah is dedicated by Ruth and Gerald Warner in memory of Ruth’s dear parents, מירל צביה בת דוד ז“ל ויחיאל מיכל בן יהושע ז“ל Margaret and Mike Smaye z”l Avraham and the Nature of Faith Rabbi Baruch Weintraub As Ramban notes, the Torah does not Avraham's early life, he proved his conclusion, and later for explain to us why did G-d choose complete faith in G-d by his disseminating it among his Avraham, calling him to leave his land willingness to be thrown into a fire for neighbours. refusing to bow to idols. (Bereishit and family and promising him an 2. According to the second approach, Rabbah 38:13) G-d chose Avraham, eternal reward. (Commentary to the primary focus of faith is not in then, not for his intellectual ability to Bereishit 13:2) Thus, it was left for our 'believing that', but rather in uncover His existence, but rather for sages to fill in the gap, and indeed they 'believing in'. Avraham will indeed suggested various explanations as to his courage to follow this knowledge. prove, in trial after trial culminating why Avraham was chosen. We will 3. A third and distinct view is presented in the Akeidah, that he not only knew survey three main positions: by the second Gerrer Rebbe, in his that G-d existed, but that he was 1. “Rabbi Yitzchak compared Avraham S’fat Emet: ”Ramban asked why the willing to give Him everything that Avinu to a man who was traveling Torah records ‘Go forth’ without first was precious to him. mentioning Avraham's beloved status. from place to place, when he saw a 3. Last, according to the third view, faith In the holy Zohar it appears that castle illuminated. He then asked: is not only knowledge or attitude Avraham was praiseworthy because Could it be that such a castle would towards the Divine; the expression he head this call of 'Go forth', which not be managed? Immediately, the 'man of faith' is understood to refer comes out from G-d to all people at all castle's owner looked out at him and not to specific knowledge or a times, as the Zohar says, 'Woe to said, 'I am the owner of the particular relationship, but to one's those who sleep in their holes (and do castle.’” (Bereishit Rabbah 39:1). personality and disposition. Seen in not hear)!' But our father Avraham According to this midrash, Avraham this light, faith is the virtue of looking heard and accepted.” (S’fat Emet Lech was approached by G-d after he was beyond the here and now, the ability Lecha 5632) According to the S’fat able to deduce G-d's existence. to hear a voice calling when others Emet’s presentation of the Zohar, the Rambam, in his Hilchot Avodah conveniently look away, the main cause for Avraham's chosenness Zarah (1:3), also describes willingness to step up and take was neither his bright mind, nor his Avraham's achievement as mainly responsibility even when it is more complete trust, but instead his intellectual: “After this mighty man comfortable to stay put. This openness to listen and to seek the was weaned, his mind began to characteristic of Avraham will, wander… How is it possible for the Divine call. eventually, be explicitly praised by sphere to continue to revolve without Hashem as the reason to make his anyone controlling it? Who is These different interpretations serve not children the “Chosen People”: “For I causing it to revolve?… Ultimately, have known him, because he will he reached the way of truth and only to enhance the biblical story, but also to highlight Avraham Avinu's command his sons and his household understood the just path through after him, that they should keep to his accurate comprehension. He unique character and special role as the “head of the faithful”. (Pesikta Zutrita Hashem's way, performing realized that there is one G-d who righteousness and justice, so He will controlled the sphere, that He Shir HaShirim 4:8) They represent three different attitudes to the very nature of bring upon Avraham that which He created everything, and that there is spoke concerning him.” (Bereishit no other deity. He knew that the faith itself, and its main virtue: 18:19) entire world was mistaken.” 1. According to the first approach, faith is mainly the belief that a certain 2. A very different approach is [email protected] suggested in another well-known truth is correct. Avraham is praised, midrash. In this version of thus, for reaching the right OUR BEIT MIDRASH ROSH BEIT MIDRASH ABBI ORDECHAI ORCZYNER R M T SGAN ROSH BEIT MIDRASH RABBI SAMMY BERGMAN AVREICHIM ZER IENA ABBI LEX ECHT ETANEL LEIN E D , R A H , N K SEDER BOKER DIRECTOR ABBI OSHE ERES R M Y ISRAELI CORRESPONDENTS RABBI ADAM FRIEDMANN, RABBI BARUCH WEINTRAUB, RABBI JONATHAN ZIRING Find our upcoming classes on-line at www.torontotorah.com UNIVERSITY CHAVERIM NAFTI DIENA, ARI KARON, JAY KARON, YEHUDA LEVI, COBY LYONS, SHIMMY NAUENBERG, MORDECHAI ROTH, ILAN SHIELDS, NATAN SNOWBELL, We are grateful to EYTAN WEISZ, URIEL WEISZ, ELI WELTMAN, BARUCH WISE Continental Press 905-660-0311 Journey Through Tanach: Shemuel I, Chapter 2 Ezer Diena Summary believes that they actually committed Chofni, Pinchas, and Shemuel, there is Chapter 2 opens with “Tefillat adultery. Eli rebuked them. (2:22-25a) a cast of secondary characters as well. Chanah” [Chanah’s Prayer], Chanah’s However, they did not accept this Elkanah, Chanah and Eli are all beautiful song of thanks to G-d for rebuke, since G-d had hardened their mentioned in this chapter, and it is providing her with her son Shemuel. hearts, wishing to kill them for their their influence that really shapes the (2:1-10) Although his family returned sins. (2:25b) [See Radak for a story. While Chanah and Elkanah take home from the Mishkan after this discussion of this “hardening of their a very hands-on approach to their prayer, Shemuel remained behind in hearts”.] Nevertheless, Shemuel parenting, often visiting and bringing Shiloh to serve Hashem under the remained faithful to G-d and acted gifts for their son despite his living guidance of Eli. (2:11) We are later told properly with people. (2:26) away from home, Eli seems to be that Chanah made Shemuel robes for altogether unaware of what his children him to serve in, and that she would A man of G-d, identified as Elkanah by are doing. There is also no mention of bring new robes with her year after various commentators, rebuked Eli for his wife, who seems to be uninvolved as year, when she would come visit. (2:18- the way his sons treated the holy work well. Chofni and Pinchas’ terrible 19) Eli blessed Elkanah and Chanah, of the priesthood. (2:27-30) He also actions go unnoticed until someone and she gave birth to an additional 3 told Eli that due to their sins, his explicitly tells their father about their sons and 2 daughters, who all grew up descendants would die young, his two bad behaviour, and even then, he is without their brother Shemuel. (2:20- sons would die on the same day, and content with a light rebuke. (Rashi and 21) his family line would lose the Ralbag to Shemuel I 3:13) Perhaps for priesthood to a more worthy this reason, Chazal point out that the All that time, Eli’s sons, Chofni and candidate. (2:31-35) Furthermore, his anonymous prophet who came to Pinchas (who were working alongside descendants would have to resort to rebuke Eli and bring the message of his Shemuel) were abusive to those who begging for support from other priests, punishment was Elkanah, who came to bring sacrifices, and angered so that they would not starve. (2:36) demonstrated strength in the area in Hashem through various sins, including which Eli struggled. not properly following the laws of eating Lesson sacrificial meat. (2:12-2:17) In his old Although this episode will not be [email protected] age, Eli heard about how they were also featured in our upcoming “Tanach: acting inappropriately with married Book of Failure?” program, an women. Rashi, following Shabbat 55b, important lesson can be learned from understands that they delayed bringing a clear contrast between success and sacrifices that would permit the women failure in this chapter. While the to their husbands, whereas Radak central figures of our story seem to be Holy Land Halachah: Demanding a Referendum Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg, Tzitz Eliezer 21:9 the majority, but their position on an unanticipated issue 20th century Israel could be overturned. However, Rabbi Waldenberg noted that halachic authorities have generally disagreed with Rabbi Question: A community has elected a council to deal with Trani’s position. Further, the majority sought by Rabbi municipal issues. A new issue has come up, and a member of Trani is not determined through a private ballot, but the community wishes to pursue a referendum rather than through a communal gathering and public vote in the rely on the elected council. Would that be halachically presence of the council themselves. acceptable, or would it undermine the halachically recognized authority of the council? Aside from the power of the community’s election, Rabbi Waldenberg also noted the view of Rabbi Moshe Schick. Certainly, halachah authorizes a community to elect officials (Shu”t Maharam Schick Choshen Mishpat 19) Rabbi Schick whose decisions bind that community, including the minority suggested that all of the members of a community are who did not vote for them.