בס"ד • A PROJECT OF THE CINCINNATI COMMUNITY KOLLEL • CINCYKOLLEL.ORG תורה מסינסי Cincinnati Torah Vol. V, No. XII Vay’chi A HALACHA DELVING DEEPER RABBI ZALMY EPSTEIN FROM THE PARASHA RABBI CHAIM HEINEMANN THE CHILDREN OF MACHIR, SON OF Taken with Kindness MENASHE, WERE ALSO BORN ON YOSEF’S KNEES. (50:23) [Yaakov] called his son, Yosef, and if counterintuitive, insight. When someone Acording to Targum Yonasan, this means said to him, “Please, if I find favor in does a favor for his friend, he should not say, Yosef was Sandak at their circumcisions. your eyes… do kindness and truth “Don’t worry—you don’t have to pay me back with me—please don’t bury me in for this favor.” If he does say that, he may A Sandak is the person who holds a baby Egypt.” (47:29) make his friend feel forever indebted to him, boy while the actual circumcision is per- which can be a very uncomfortable position! formed. The Hebrew “Sandak” comes Doing kindness for the deceased Instead, says R’ Yerucham, when some- from Greek—either the word suntekos, true kindness is , because the bene- one does his friend a favor, he should be which means “companion of the child,” factor does not expect reciprocation. willing to accept something in return. This or sundiko, “patron of the child.” (Rashi, quoting the Midrash) way, he will clear his friend’s “debt” to him. Being designated Sandak is considered Rabbi YeRucham Levovitz zt”l extends this Only then will his favor be considered a true the preeminent honor at a b’ris mila (cir- notion of “true” kindness with a powerful, kindness! cumcision). Indeed, the Sandak is often referred to as “Ba’al haB’ris” (the person THIS WEEK IN JEWISH HISTORY making the b’ris). Aside from donning a Tallis, he should wear Shabbos clothes, RABBI MOSHE TZVI CRYSTAL since the day of the b’ris is like a holiday On 15 Teves, 5623 (1863), General Order No. 11 was rescinded. General Ulysses for him—even if the b’ris falls out on S. Grant had issued the General Order in December of 1862, expelling all Jews from Tish’a b’Av! (O.C. 559:7) Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, states under his command at that point in the The Sandak should be a G-d-fearing, Civil War. Grant falsely claimed that Jewish merchants were organizing a black market righteous man, pure of thought and to sell Southern cotton to Northern textile mills without the required trade licenses, worthy of sitting next to the prophet which were issued by the local commander. Jewish protest rallies were held in St. Eliyahu, who attends every b’ris. (Migdal Louis, Louisville, and Cincinnati, and telegrams were sent to the White House from Oz 9) Our Sages also teach that the the Jews of Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. Cesar Kaskel, one of the Jews evicted Sandak’s good qualities are passed to the from Paducah, Kentucky, went with Cincinnati Congressman John A. Gurley directly to baby. (Maharil) Therefore, many honor the White House. President Lincoln immediately demanded that Grant revoke his or- the grandparents or the rabbi with being der. Three days later, Grant sent out a telegram: “By direction of the General in Chief Sandak. In many Sephardic communities, of the Army at Washington¸ the General Order from these Head Quarters expelling the father himself acts as Sandak. Jews from this Department is hereby revoked.” The Vilna Gaon (Y.D. 265:44) cites a Mi- drash, which explains that the Sandak’s role is patterned after King David, who said to G-d, “With every part of my Rabbi Yitzchok Preis body I serve you. On my head I wear studies with tefillin… with my lips I pray… upon my Sandak Barry Wolfson neck I wear tzitzis… and, as , I place children on my knees during their & Brian Friedman circumcisions…” L55 CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE p Sponsorship & feedback: sponsored by Cincinnati Torah [email protected] the Preis family is distributed weekly to local shuls in memory of Rabbi Preis’ father, R’ Shlomo Aryeh ben Moshe z”l and the community e-mail list. © 2016 CCK 2016–2017 SEASON SPONSORS A HALACHA FROM THE PARASHA At the Kollel EVERY DAY EVERY WEEK (CONTINUED) Sunday Free brunch! Monday Furthermore, the Rama (Y.D. 265:11) tells us that the role of the Sandak at a Boys’ Learning à Torah Treasures for Vol. V, No. XII Vay’chi B’ris is equated with that of a Kohein of- Program Seniors at the Mayerson JCC fering the daily Incense in the Temple. for fourth, fifth, & sixth graders— Rabbi Yitzchok Preis ....... 10:30–11:15 am Mishnayos (Mas. Pe’ah and Sukkah), This comparison of a Sandak to a Kohein and Sh’muel I Tuesday has led to a dispute between halachic Rabbis Moshe Fuchs authorities. The Rama rules that, just à Partners in Torah and Izy Newmark ..............................9–10 am as a Kohein was only allowed to offer at the Mayerson JCC Parents who are interested can e-mail the Incense once, a father should not Rabbi Michoel Soroka .............................8 pm Rabbi Fuchs—[email protected] appoint someone as Sandak for two of Wednesday his children. Other authorities, however, Beginner’s Gemara have no problem with it at all. (Noda (Maseches Sukkah) à Downtown Lunch-n- b’Yehudah Y.D. 86) Some differentiate Rabbi Ezra Stettin ...................... 9:10–10 am Learn at Strauss & Troy (for various reasons) between a com- Rabbi Yitzchok Preis ........................12–1 pm Beginner’s Halacha & More munity’s rabbi, who may be honored (skills-building) more than once, and a layman, who is Thursday 9:30–10:30 am Chassam Sofer Rabbi Moshe D. Zeffren .. limited to one time. ( O.C. Halacha 158-159) Shivti (Self-contained learning, in the former Back Office geared toward practical halacha) Aruch haShulchan (Y.D. 265:34) writes Rabbi Chaim Heinemann .......9:10–10 pm 10 am–noon that this last opinion seems to be the Rabbi Avrohom Weinrib ..... Homemade refreshments served. common custom, and that it has roots in Kabbalistic teachings. Indeed, I have KEY: Beginners Intermediate Advanced à for men and women heard from reliable sources that many Chavrusos are available for private and group learning— recent, late Torah luminaries would speak to Rabbi Chaim Heinemann! weekdays noon–1 pm • Sun.–Thurs. 8–9:45 pm often act as Sandak for two brothers. Perhaps it also explains why Yosef could davening times can be found at cincykollel.org/minyan-schedule/ be the Sandak for multiple great grand- children—he was both the Viceroy and a great Torah scholar. GREAT ACTS OF SIMPLE PEOPLE a weaLthY man LaY on his deathbed, with dividing it up, that, in the end, you can’t A RIDDLE FOR YOU his children surrounding him. take any of it with you—not even your socks. reprinted with permission from ohr.edu— “I have two last requests,” he said in a Love, Dad.” Ohr Somayach Institutions (Jerusalem) weak voice. (Source: Impact! Vol. 4) “The first is that you don’t open my will Name three couples in the Torah, whose until the sh’loshim (one month after his Hebrew names start with the same letter burial). (one letter per couple). “The second is that you bury me with PARASHA The answer will appear next week’s edition. my socks on.” PONDERABLE “But Dad,” one son protested, “halacha RABBI CHAIM HEINEMANN LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: doesn’t allow such a thing.” YAAKOV SAID TO YOSEF… “WHEN I CAME Q In what prayer do we say 24 words “l don’t care,” he said. “That’s what I FROM PADAN, RACHEL DIED… AND I BUR- in a row that end with the Hebrew want.” IED HER ON THE ROAD. (28:11) letter chaf? When he passed away, soon afterward, Rashi explains that Yaakov told Yosef the children consulted their Rabbi, who told A Kiddush Levana that he had buried Rachel there so that, In , the Sanctifica- them that their father’s wish could not be “Baruch centuries later, she would beseech G-d tion the New Moon, we say fulfilled. He was buried without the socks. Yotzraych, baruch Osaych, baruch on behalf of the Jewish people as they The children remained perplexed. Konaych, baruch Boraych,” passed by on their way into exile. (“Blessed is At the sh’loshim, they opened his will. your Fashioner, blessed is your Maker, “My dear children, l left you a lot of Why wouldn’t Rachel intervene for the blessed is your Owner, blessed is your money and a large estate,” their father’s Jewish people if she were buried in the Creator”) three times. will read. “I wanted you to realize, before land of Israel? SPONSOR CINCINNATI TORAH! See Rabbi Heinemann or Rabbi Crystal, or e-mail [email protected] . Cincinnati Community Kollel 2241 Losantiville Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45237 • 513-631-1118 • [email protected] • cincykollel.org.