Parshat Sh'Lach
There is really nothing more that needs to be expounded on in the main theme of the Parsha. No greater lesson can really be learned by expounding, rather than just looking simply at what happened.
The Jews were on the cusp of entering Israel. Any day now and they would be there. They just received the Torah. All cylinders were clicking and everything was going great. They start complaining and decide they need to send in spies to scout out the land. All they see is the bad, whether real or made up.
After they witnessed all the miracles of the dessert, did they really not think Hashem could help them conquer and settle the Land? Yet they spoke badly of the Land of Israel. They tried to dissuade the people from entering and building up the land.
The lesson is clear. We often hear people disparaging Israel. Be it the weather or the politics or the attitudes or the people or whatever. We have to see the good in Israel. Sure, we have to see the bad and try to improve it. But that would be looking at the bad with an eye to improve, rather than an eye to complain and disparage. Don't harp on the bad. See the good and encourage Aliyah, rather than discourage it.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Remember the Provider
Parshat Sh'Lach
The Torah in Chapter 15 describes the commandment of separating Challah from ones dough. In 15:20 and 15:21 it says from "the first of your dough".
The Torah uses the word "Reishit" a number of times. As far as I can remember, it is always in reference to one of the mitzvot hatluyot ba'aretz - a mitzva dependant on being in the land of Israel, generally one that has to do with agricultural aspects of being in Israel. Shemittah, Trumot and Maasrot, bikkurim, challah, etc..
The concept of giving from the first of ones produce or efforts is one of recognizing who is really the provider. The Jews wandered in the dessert for 40 years. They had all their needs taken care of and all their wants provided for. At worst they had to complain a little and then they were given what they wanted..
They are going to enter the Land of Israel and all that is going to end. Nothing will be given to them on a platter. They have to go back to living normal lives. They will have to work for their food. Plant, sow, plow, harvest - a lot of sweat and toil.
A person who works hard and eventually sees results from his labors, often takes the attitude that he has been successful in his efforts. We even say "Yagata U'Matzata, Ta'amin" - if you put forth effort and find success, believe (in your success). God tells us in advance that we should be careful from having such attitudes. When we give ourselves too much credit and forget who the actual provider is, we are headed for trouble. He therefore gave us a number of mitzvot whose goal is (or at leats in part) to protect us from having such thoughts and forgetting where our success really comes from.
After having planted and harvested and worked very hard for our produce, we are told to give the first fruits to the Kohanim and Leviim, or bring to the Bet Hamikdash, or let the land sit fallow for a year, or once a week stop working or separate from the first of the dough, etc. The first thing we do when we see the fruits of our labor is give some to Hashem (or His rep). This right away reminds us who really provided us with our success. It was not the toil of our hands and the sweat of oru brow. It was Hashem who made us successful. Don't forget it.
The Torah in Chapter 15 describes the commandment of separating Challah from ones dough. In 15:20 and 15:21 it says from "the first of your dough".
The Torah uses the word "Reishit" a number of times. As far as I can remember, it is always in reference to one of the mitzvot hatluyot ba'aretz - a mitzva dependant on being in the land of Israel, generally one that has to do with agricultural aspects of being in Israel. Shemittah, Trumot and Maasrot, bikkurim, challah, etc..
The concept of giving from the first of ones produce or efforts is one of recognizing who is really the provider. The Jews wandered in the dessert for 40 years. They had all their needs taken care of and all their wants provided for. At worst they had to complain a little and then they were given what they wanted..
They are going to enter the Land of Israel and all that is going to end. Nothing will be given to them on a platter. They have to go back to living normal lives. They will have to work for their food. Plant, sow, plow, harvest - a lot of sweat and toil.
A person who works hard and eventually sees results from his labors, often takes the attitude that he has been successful in his efforts. We even say "Yagata U'Matzata, Ta'amin" - if you put forth effort and find success, believe (in your success). God tells us in advance that we should be careful from having such attitudes. When we give ourselves too much credit and forget who the actual provider is, we are headed for trouble. He therefore gave us a number of mitzvot whose goal is (or at leats in part) to protect us from having such thoughts and forgetting where our success really comes from.
After having planted and harvested and worked very hard for our produce, we are told to give the first fruits to the Kohanim and Leviim, or bring to the Bet Hamikdash, or let the land sit fallow for a year, or once a week stop working or separate from the first of the dough, etc. The first thing we do when we see the fruits of our labor is give some to Hashem (or His rep). This right away reminds us who really provided us with our success. It was not the toil of our hands and the sweat of oru brow. It was Hashem who made us successful. Don't forget it.
Monday, June 12, 2006
No Comment
Parshat B’Ha’Alotcha
Miriam and Aharon approach Moshe and complain that they heard he has separated from his wife. They say that Hashem does not only speak with him and if he separates from his wife, everyone else will as well. Moshe does not respond, rather the passuk in 12:3 tells us that Moshe was the most humble of men.
Passuk 12:3 seems to be out of place. Why is it here that the Torah decides to tell us that Moshe is the humblest of all men?
I think the reason is because the fact that Moshe was the humblest of all men was exactly the answer to Miriam’s issues and therefore it fits exactly. Moshe separated from his wife because Hashem told him to. He had to be ready at every available moment to talk directly with God. Sure, other people were great as well and spoke with God. However, nobody was doing it at the level of Moshe. Hashem even tells Miriam afterwards that they speak directly while everyone else speaks via dreams, etc..
Moshe was the humblest of all men and he therefore was not going to start bragging about how he had to separate from his wife because he speaks directly to God while everyone else only speaks in dreams. Because he was so humble he had no response available. Any response would have made him look haughty.
The proper attitude for a Jewish educator
Parshat B’Ha’Alotcha
In 11:29 Moshe responds to Yehoshua. Yehoshua had tried to defend Moshe’s honor. Moshe had gathered 70 elders to his tent to bestow upon them the ability to prophesize, thereby lightening the load on Moshe’s shoulders. Eldad and Medad, who had been left out of the group of 70, began prophesying on their own. The midrash tells us that they were prophesying regarding the future death of Moshe, and Yehoshua’s ascent to the leadership of the nation.
When Yehoshua heard this he felt Moshe’s honor had been affected. He stood up to defend Moshe’s honor and called for them to receive capital punishment for the great dishonor they caused to Moshe. Moshe responded that they should be left alone and he wishes that every Jew would be worthy to prophesize.
I had a cousin in a yeshiva for students with little to no background in learning Torah. After he spent two years learning in this yeshiva, it was time for him to leave to go back home to begin University. His rebbi asked him if he would consider sending his future children to learn in this yeshiva. He responded effusively that of course he would. He wants his children to learn in this yeshiva. It was great, they helped him grow so much, and he loved the rebbi and wants his kids to have the same rebbi.
The rebbi responded that if so, he was not successful. His goal in teaching this young man was to create a situation of growth so that he will not need to send his children to such a yeshiva, rather he would give his children a good yeshiva education and they would go to a yeshiva for kids with more background!
Moshe was not interested in his own personal honor. He was concerned with leading the Jewish Nation and effecting their growth. His highest goal was they should each and every person grows to the point that they no longer need Moshe telling them what to do and what Hashem wants. They should each be great in their own right and talk directly to God with no need for Moshe. When Yehoshua tried to defend Moshe’s honor, Moshe corrected him and said the fact that they are prophesying is making me deliriously happy! He wished everybody would reach that level of greatness!
That is a Jewish leader! That is a Jewish educator!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Don't Beat a Dead Horse
Shavuot - Ruth
In Megillat Ruth, Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law return to their homes as they have no reason left to remain with her. Orpah went home, but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. She said, in what has become famous, "Where you go, I go, Where you sleep, I shall sleep. Your nation is my nation and your God is my God, etc..". In 1:18 we see Naomi's response. The passuk says, "She saw that Ruth was insistent on remaining with her and she stopped talking with her."
Naomi saw that Ruth was insistent on remaining with her as a convert to Judaism. She realized it is pointless to continue arguing about it as Ruth was adamant. She realized there is no point in beating a dead horse. If Ruth really wants to come along and be Jewish, so be it.
In Megillat Ruth, Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law return to their homes as they have no reason left to remain with her. Orpah went home, but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. She said, in what has become famous, "Where you go, I go, Where you sleep, I shall sleep. Your nation is my nation and your God is my God, etc..". In 1:18 we see Naomi's response. The passuk says, "She saw that Ruth was insistent on remaining with her and she stopped talking with her."
Naomi saw that Ruth was insistent on remaining with her as a convert to Judaism. She realized it is pointless to continue arguing about it as Ruth was adamant. She realized there is no point in beating a dead horse. If Ruth really wants to come along and be Jewish, so be it.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Shock to the system
Parshat Naso
In 6:2 the Torah moves on from discussing the concept of Sotah and moves to the topic of the nazirite. Rashi, commenting on the proximity between the sections regarding a Sotah and a nazarite, explains that a person who saw a Sotah in her disgrace will be shocked and become a nazir to separate himself from the worldly pleasures of wine..
There is nothing wrong with partaking in the pleasures of olam ha'Zeh, this world. As a matter of fact, it is explained that the reason why a nazir must bring a sin offering upon completion of his nezirut is because he prohibited from himself the pleasure of worldly items (wine) that Hashem permitted. In a sense it is a type of sin for him to have done so.
However, when a person sees the shock of a Sotah in her disgrace, her shirt being torn, her hair being cut, her korban, and in her disgrace her womb collapsing and legs failing, it will cause him to think about what happened. A person cannot live as a pedestrian/bystander. We are affected by what happens around us. This person saw the depravity of the Sotah and reacted by restricitng himself from certain pleasures that commonly cause immorality.
A person has to react to what happens. Seeing a Sotah is a shock to the system and deserves a reaction. Seeing anything deserves some sort of reaction. One cannot be passive.
In 6:2 the Torah moves on from discussing the concept of Sotah and moves to the topic of the nazirite. Rashi, commenting on the proximity between the sections regarding a Sotah and a nazarite, explains that a person who saw a Sotah in her disgrace will be shocked and become a nazir to separate himself from the worldly pleasures of wine..
There is nothing wrong with partaking in the pleasures of olam ha'Zeh, this world. As a matter of fact, it is explained that the reason why a nazir must bring a sin offering upon completion of his nezirut is because he prohibited from himself the pleasure of worldly items (wine) that Hashem permitted. In a sense it is a type of sin for him to have done so.
However, when a person sees the shock of a Sotah in her disgrace, her shirt being torn, her hair being cut, her korban, and in her disgrace her womb collapsing and legs failing, it will cause him to think about what happened. A person cannot live as a pedestrian/bystander. We are affected by what happens around us. This person saw the depravity of the Sotah and reacted by restricitng himself from certain pleasures that commonly cause immorality.
A person has to react to what happens. Seeing a Sotah is a shock to the system and deserves a reaction. Seeing anything deserves some sort of reaction. One cannot be passive.
positive way of thinking
Parshat Naso
In 5:19 we see the Koen dealing with the Sotah woman and making her take an oath that she did not sleep with the accused man and the bitter waters will thereby be cleansed of the curse.
Rashi says that we state the oath by saying to swear that she did not sleep with the man and is clean, and we do not mention the other possibility - that she did sleep with him and is guilty and will get her punishment. Rashi says that when dealing with life or death laws, we begin with the zechut and not the chiyuv, even though it is obvious to all.
We are to look for optimism and merit all the time. Even when, or especially when , dealing with such serious matters. A persons attitude can make all the difference. If we go into the judgement or any situation we are dealing with with an attitude of optimism, the chances of success are greatly improved.
In 5:19 we see the Koen dealing with the Sotah woman and making her take an oath that she did not sleep with the accused man and the bitter waters will thereby be cleansed of the curse.
Rashi says that we state the oath by saying to swear that she did not sleep with the man and is clean, and we do not mention the other possibility - that she did sleep with him and is guilty and will get her punishment. Rashi says that when dealing with life or death laws, we begin with the zechut and not the chiyuv, even though it is obvious to all.
We are to look for optimism and merit all the time. Even when, or especially when , dealing with such serious matters. A persons attitude can make all the difference. If we go into the judgement or any situation we are dealing with with an attitude of optimism, the chances of success are greatly improved.
It'll come from one pocket or the other
Parshat Naso
In 5:12 the Torah begins telling the laws of Sotah. Rashi comments on the proximity of the Sotah section to the previous section discussing giving the priestly gifts. The previous section concluded by saying one who gives to the Kohen hsi portion, will have what to give, meanign he will be blessed with wealth and will have more to give in the future.
Rashi comments on the proximity of these two sections and says that the lesson to be learned is if you give your priestly gifts, you will be blessed with wealth, but if you try to aabstain from giving your gifts and keep it for yourself, you will end up needing to come to the Koen and bring him your Sotah (your wife for judgement of Sotah and the korban of sotah).
This is a lesson we commonly find in Judaic tradition. We were always told as children and as students that if one does not give the charity he is supposed to give and tries to get away with giving less, something will happen that will make you lose that money anyway. If you "owe" $500 to charity but only give $100, your fridge will break down and you will spend a lot of money in repairs, for example.
If we think that the money is ours and we earned it and can do with it as we please, then we also feel why should I give it away. I will be charitable and give a little, but why give so much? I need it to! If that is how you feel, then Hashem will find ways to take it away and show you that it is not yours, rather He gives us money but wants certain things in return.
If you do not give what you are supposed to, God will take it from your other pocket.
In 5:12 the Torah begins telling the laws of Sotah. Rashi comments on the proximity of the Sotah section to the previous section discussing giving the priestly gifts. The previous section concluded by saying one who gives to the Kohen hsi portion, will have what to give, meanign he will be blessed with wealth and will have more to give in the future.
Rashi comments on the proximity of these two sections and says that the lesson to be learned is if you give your priestly gifts, you will be blessed with wealth, but if you try to aabstain from giving your gifts and keep it for yourself, you will end up needing to come to the Koen and bring him your Sotah (your wife for judgement of Sotah and the korban of sotah).
This is a lesson we commonly find in Judaic tradition. We were always told as children and as students that if one does not give the charity he is supposed to give and tries to get away with giving less, something will happen that will make you lose that money anyway. If you "owe" $500 to charity but only give $100, your fridge will break down and you will spend a lot of money in repairs, for example.
If we think that the money is ours and we earned it and can do with it as we please, then we also feel why should I give it away. I will be charitable and give a little, but why give so much? I need it to! If that is how you feel, then Hashem will find ways to take it away and show you that it is not yours, rather He gives us money but wants certain things in return.
If you do not give what you are supposed to, God will take it from your other pocket.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Bris and Pessach
Bris on Hol Hamoed Pesach
I said this Dvar Torah yesterday at the bris of my son Shlomo Simcha.
It is a very interesting experience making a bris on pesach. Just trying to figure out what you can serve and what needs to be done is an experience, aside from arranging the bris itself.. But we see many connections between bris milah and pesach. The Torah right away when commanding us about pessach, connects the two. The Torah tells us that an "orel" (uncircumcised) cannot eat from the Paschal Lamb. It does not say someone who does not keep shabbos, it does not say someone who worships idols, or any other sin. It says an uncircumcised person cannot eat. What is the connection?
We see many other connections when looking at the midrashim and other sources. For example, at the shalom zachor, R' Dan Segal showed me a tosefos in Bava Kamma (80a) that says the reason we make a seuda for a newborn baby (he said this was referring to the shalom zachor, but tosefos just says seuda) is because the baby escaped (hebrew word was "nimlat") from the mothers womb, so we make a seuda to celebrate that. That is similar to pesach, he said, when the Jews escaped from mitzrayim.
Another midrash I saw says that Hashem gave two mitzvot for us to busy ourselves with and thereby bring the geula - pesach and Mila.
We have to understand why these two mitzvot are connected.
I think the reason is that these two mitzvot have a certain uniqueness about them. Their purpose. The mitzva of Pesach is twofold - the korban pesach which is eaten while fulfilling another mitzva - relating the story of the Exodus to your children, the next generation. It is all about tradition and continuity. We remember the past in order to find the way to continuing it to the future. We relate the traditions of Judaism to our next generations, who will relate it to their children..
Bris milah as well. Bris milah is about separating ourselves from the gentiles (among other reasons). By performing the bris milah, we are separating ourselves from the goyim and showing we are different, but we are also connecting ourselves to the past. We are connecting ourselves to Abraham our forefather in the exact limb of our body that promises us the future. We are dealing again in tradition.
When we deal honestly in tradition and pass it on to our children, that gives us the opportunity to bring the geula.
May we be zocheh to bring the geula very soon and eat from the zevochim and pesachim in the beis Hamikdash, the way we were meant to celebrate Pesach.
I said this Dvar Torah yesterday at the bris of my son Shlomo Simcha.
It is a very interesting experience making a bris on pesach. Just trying to figure out what you can serve and what needs to be done is an experience, aside from arranging the bris itself.. But we see many connections between bris milah and pesach. The Torah right away when commanding us about pessach, connects the two. The Torah tells us that an "orel" (uncircumcised) cannot eat from the Paschal Lamb. It does not say someone who does not keep shabbos, it does not say someone who worships idols, or any other sin. It says an uncircumcised person cannot eat. What is the connection?
We see many other connections when looking at the midrashim and other sources. For example, at the shalom zachor, R' Dan Segal showed me a tosefos in Bava Kamma (80a) that says the reason we make a seuda for a newborn baby (he said this was referring to the shalom zachor, but tosefos just says seuda) is because the baby escaped (hebrew word was "nimlat") from the mothers womb, so we make a seuda to celebrate that. That is similar to pesach, he said, when the Jews escaped from mitzrayim.
Another midrash I saw says that Hashem gave two mitzvot for us to busy ourselves with and thereby bring the geula - pesach and Mila.
We have to understand why these two mitzvot are connected.
I think the reason is that these two mitzvot have a certain uniqueness about them. Their purpose. The mitzva of Pesach is twofold - the korban pesach which is eaten while fulfilling another mitzva - relating the story of the Exodus to your children, the next generation. It is all about tradition and continuity. We remember the past in order to find the way to continuing it to the future. We relate the traditions of Judaism to our next generations, who will relate it to their children..
Bris milah as well. Bris milah is about separating ourselves from the gentiles (among other reasons). By performing the bris milah, we are separating ourselves from the goyim and showing we are different, but we are also connecting ourselves to the past. We are connecting ourselves to Abraham our forefather in the exact limb of our body that promises us the future. We are dealing again in tradition.
When we deal honestly in tradition and pass it on to our children, that gives us the opportunity to bring the geula.
May we be zocheh to bring the geula very soon and eat from the zevochim and pesachim in the beis Hamikdash, the way we were meant to celebrate Pesach.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
dressing up - amalekite sheep
Purim
King Saul had been commanded to kill out all the Amalekites. He did most of them but decided to spare the sheep. It was a moment of mistaken compassion, which he rationalized by saying he would use them as sacrifices in the mishkan. It turned out that the sheep were really Amalekites in disguise (whether by magic or not) and Shaul was punished because of his mistake.
Why do we dress up on Purim?
A common answer is that on Purim we recognize that hashem saved us in a hidden fashion and we dress up to show that we understand sometimes the ways of Hashem are hidden from us and we need to look further into things to see Hashem's presence.
I would like to suggest another answer, along a similar vein. That we dress up to show that not everything is as it appears to be. The amalekites "dressed up" like sheep and that fooled us originally, for which we paid a dear price. We need to recognize nto to take someone's appearance at face value. The external appearance is just that - external. We need to look behind the person's mask and see what is the makeup of the person. Who he really is and what he really is all about. We dress up on Purim to remember the first "costune" of amalek and internalize the lesson that we should not just look at the externals of a person.
King Saul had been commanded to kill out all the Amalekites. He did most of them but decided to spare the sheep. It was a moment of mistaken compassion, which he rationalized by saying he would use them as sacrifices in the mishkan. It turned out that the sheep were really Amalekites in disguise (whether by magic or not) and Shaul was punished because of his mistake.
Why do we dress up on Purim?
A common answer is that on Purim we recognize that hashem saved us in a hidden fashion and we dress up to show that we understand sometimes the ways of Hashem are hidden from us and we need to look further into things to see Hashem's presence.
I would like to suggest another answer, along a similar vein. That we dress up to show that not everything is as it appears to be. The amalekites "dressed up" like sheep and that fooled us originally, for which we paid a dear price. We need to recognize nto to take someone's appearance at face value. The external appearance is just that - external. We need to look behind the person's mask and see what is the makeup of the person. Who he really is and what he really is all about. We dress up on Purim to remember the first "costune" of amalek and internalize the lesson that we should not just look at the externals of a person.
Sometimes appropriate is better than righteousness
Megillat Esther
The Midrash relates a story regarding Zeresh telling Haman to build a gallows to hang Mordechai. At that time, Hashem called out to the trees and asked, "Which of you wants to be the one to be zocheh to supply the wood to hang Haman ha'Rasha upon?"
The Midrash goes on to say how each and every tree came forth with a very good reason why it should be selected as the supplier of the wood. The Grape vine, because Jews are compared to the grape, similarly the olive and pomegranate. The Etrog because a mitzva is dobe with it. the fig because bikkurim are brought from it, the cedar and fir because the Bet Hamikdash and mishkan were built from it, etc., etc. every type of tree came forth with a good reason.
The Kot (thorn bush) then came forth and said, there is nothing great and righteous about me. No reason to select me over anyone else. However, I am a Kotz. A thorn that causes pain. It is appropriate that this thorn (Haman) who causes pain and disturbance to the jews should be hung upon a kotz.".
Hashem accepted that argument and selected the kotz.
(this story is eerily similar to the storty of the selection of Har Sinai as the mount upon which the Torah was given - possibly similar lesons can be learned).
I think the idea is that nto always does one need to be the most righteous to do something, or the most worthy. There are some things which are appropriate and fitting to be done in certain manners. The Kotz hangs the Kotz, even if there are better and more worthy trees. The Jews are matim for eretz Yisrael (the midrash and gemara bring many times), as are other nations for their lands. We should nto always look for the most worthy to do things, rather for what is appropriate.
The Midrash relates a story regarding Zeresh telling Haman to build a gallows to hang Mordechai. At that time, Hashem called out to the trees and asked, "Which of you wants to be the one to be zocheh to supply the wood to hang Haman ha'Rasha upon?"
The Midrash goes on to say how each and every tree came forth with a very good reason why it should be selected as the supplier of the wood. The Grape vine, because Jews are compared to the grape, similarly the olive and pomegranate. The Etrog because a mitzva is dobe with it. the fig because bikkurim are brought from it, the cedar and fir because the Bet Hamikdash and mishkan were built from it, etc., etc. every type of tree came forth with a good reason.
The Kot (thorn bush) then came forth and said, there is nothing great and righteous about me. No reason to select me over anyone else. However, I am a Kotz. A thorn that causes pain. It is appropriate that this thorn (Haman) who causes pain and disturbance to the jews should be hung upon a kotz.".
Hashem accepted that argument and selected the kotz.
(this story is eerily similar to the storty of the selection of Har Sinai as the mount upon which the Torah was given - possibly similar lesons can be learned).
I think the idea is that nto always does one need to be the most righteous to do something, or the most worthy. There are some things which are appropriate and fitting to be done in certain manners. The Kotz hangs the Kotz, even if there are better and more worthy trees. The Jews are matim for eretz Yisrael (the midrash and gemara bring many times), as are other nations for their lands. We should nto always look for the most worthy to do things, rather for what is appropriate.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Half the Kingdom!!??
Megillat Esther
The Megilla tells us in 5:3 that esther approached the King (to invite him to the first of 2 meals with Haman, at which she woul devetually reveal her requests). Ahashverosh asked what she wanted and he said, "Until half the kingdon you can ask and it will be given to you".
Rashi tells us (in hist first explanation), that Ahashverosh was saying you can ask anything aside from permission for rebuilding the Bet haMikdash. The Bet HaMikdash sat in the middle of his kingdom and he said until the item which is in the middle of my kingdom, you can ask and it will be granted.
My question is: Why did he assume she was going to ask for permission to rebuild the Bet HaMikdash? He did not know she was Jewish!!
We know when Esther originally went to the King to be selected as Queen, she hid her background from him. She never told him until now, and only at the second meal which would later take place does she actually reveal her Jewishness!! So how did Ahashverosh assume she would ask for the rebuilding of the Temple??
I, up tunil this point, have not thought of nor found an answer to this question.
If you have an answer, please post it in the comments, or email it to me at israeli.jew@gmail.com
After speaking to a couple of Rabbonim over the past couple of days, I have come to an answer. Rabbi's Malinowitz and Leff shlit"a have both given me similar answers (and Tal benschar in the comments section also quoted the same idea from a shiur he heard). I will elaborate on their answers.
The answer is that the bet hamikdash was not really a jewish issue. True the Bet Hamikdahs was most dear to the jews, but really all the nations benefitted from the Bte hamikdahs and it was really an "international issue", so to speak. It seems it was common for all sorts of people to request the permission for continuing to build the Bet Hamikdash. In Rav malinowitz's words, " it is like if Bush would give someone an audience and the guy would ask for a request. Bush might likely say, sure, whatever you want, just do not ask me to take the troops out of iraq". Iraq is Bush's issue and brings it up at every occassion. The Bet Hamikdash was Achashverosh's issue.
In Rav leff's words, the stopping of construction of the Bet Hamikdash is what defined Achashverosh's reign. That was the whole point of the party - to celebrate his control over it and that is why he used the vessels of the Bet hamikdash at the party. To show that he had the control to stop it. It was his issue and whenever anybody spoke to him, he likely said anything but the Bet Hamikdash.
The Megilla tells us in 5:3 that esther approached the King (to invite him to the first of 2 meals with Haman, at which she woul devetually reveal her requests). Ahashverosh asked what she wanted and he said, "Until half the kingdon you can ask and it will be given to you".
Rashi tells us (in hist first explanation), that Ahashverosh was saying you can ask anything aside from permission for rebuilding the Bet haMikdash. The Bet HaMikdash sat in the middle of his kingdom and he said until the item which is in the middle of my kingdom, you can ask and it will be granted.
My question is: Why did he assume she was going to ask for permission to rebuild the Bet HaMikdash? He did not know she was Jewish!!
We know when Esther originally went to the King to be selected as Queen, she hid her background from him. She never told him until now, and only at the second meal which would later take place does she actually reveal her Jewishness!! So how did Ahashverosh assume she would ask for the rebuilding of the Temple??
I, up tunil this point, have not thought of nor found an answer to this question.
If you have an answer, please post it in the comments, or email it to me at israeli.jew@gmail.com
After speaking to a couple of Rabbonim over the past couple of days, I have come to an answer. Rabbi's Malinowitz and Leff shlit"a have both given me similar answers (and Tal benschar in the comments section also quoted the same idea from a shiur he heard). I will elaborate on their answers.
The answer is that the bet hamikdash was not really a jewish issue. True the Bet Hamikdahs was most dear to the jews, but really all the nations benefitted from the Bte hamikdahs and it was really an "international issue", so to speak. It seems it was common for all sorts of people to request the permission for continuing to build the Bet Hamikdash. In Rav malinowitz's words, " it is like if Bush would give someone an audience and the guy would ask for a request. Bush might likely say, sure, whatever you want, just do not ask me to take the troops out of iraq". Iraq is Bush's issue and brings it up at every occassion. The Bet Hamikdash was Achashverosh's issue.
In Rav leff's words, the stopping of construction of the Bet Hamikdash is what defined Achashverosh's reign. That was the whole point of the party - to celebrate his control over it and that is why he used the vessels of the Bet hamikdash at the party. To show that he had the control to stop it. It was his issue and whenever anybody spoke to him, he likely said anything but the Bet Hamikdash.
watch what you say against Israel!
Megillat Esther
In 9:10 the Passuk tells us the Jews killed the 10 sons of Haman. Rashi says it is brought down in Seder Olam that these 10 sons of Haman had disparaged Israel, when Koresh had allowed the jews to return and begin rebuilding the Temple, then Ahashverosh took over and Haman came to power and he wrote accusations against the jews to stop them from returning and rebuilding.
The Megilla is indicating that they are singled out here as having been slain by the jews, despite many other people having been killed as well, specifically to tell us that they were slain as retribution for their false accusations against the jews and Israel.
Gods got our back, You want to mess with us, you are also messing with God. he particularly takes offense at those who disparage His nation and country. Do so at your own risk.
In 9:10 the Passuk tells us the Jews killed the 10 sons of Haman. Rashi says it is brought down in Seder Olam that these 10 sons of Haman had disparaged Israel, when Koresh had allowed the jews to return and begin rebuilding the Temple, then Ahashverosh took over and Haman came to power and he wrote accusations against the jews to stop them from returning and rebuilding.
The Megilla is indicating that they are singled out here as having been slain by the jews, despite many other people having been killed as well, specifically to tell us that they were slain as retribution for their false accusations against the jews and Israel.
Gods got our back, You want to mess with us, you are also messing with God. he particularly takes offense at those who disparage His nation and country. Do so at your own risk.
rebounding when down
Megillat Esther
After Haman leads Mordechai on horseback through the streets of Shushan, Haman goes home shamed. He tells over what happened to his wife Zeresh and family. They all tell him that being that Mordechai is a Jew you will surely fall before him.
Rashi explains their words to Haman. She said to him “This nation has been compared to the stars and to the dust. When they descend, they descend to the dust, and when they ascend, they ascend to the sky and the stars.”
In other words, previously you had a chance. The Jews looked like they were down for the count. But that's the thing with the jews - they are never down for the count. They can have momentary lapses where they can be overcome by their enemies, but they always rebound and when they do, nobody can overcome them.
It is a lesson repeated throughout history. The Jews get oppressed, but eventually God picks us up and we recover. Once that happens we overcome and emerge victorious over our enemies.
That is the story and lesson of Purim, in brief. if we take this lesson from Purim, we have gotten the point.
After Haman leads Mordechai on horseback through the streets of Shushan, Haman goes home shamed. He tells over what happened to his wife Zeresh and family. They all tell him that being that Mordechai is a Jew you will surely fall before him.
Rashi explains their words to Haman. She said to him “This nation has been compared to the stars and to the dust. When they descend, they descend to the dust, and when they ascend, they ascend to the sky and the stars.”
In other words, previously you had a chance. The Jews looked like they were down for the count. But that's the thing with the jews - they are never down for the count. They can have momentary lapses where they can be overcome by their enemies, but they always rebound and when they do, nobody can overcome them.
It is a lesson repeated throughout history. The Jews get oppressed, but eventually God picks us up and we recover. Once that happens we overcome and emerge victorious over our enemies.
That is the story and lesson of Purim, in brief. if we take this lesson from Purim, we have gotten the point.
Going like sheep to the slaughter? all in the attitude!
Megillat Esther
When Haman convinced King Ahashverosh to issue a decree allowing the people to attack and plunder the Jews, it says nothing about not allowing the Jews to defend themselves. Yet near the end of the megilla, after Esther and Mordechai issue a new decree that Jews should defend themselves (because they could not repeal the previous decree), the Megilla relates the joy among the Jews that they could defend themselves, and how they gathered together to fight against the attackers and how nations feared the Jews because of their right to defend.
Pretty amazing the metamorphasis the jews went through. They were about to be slaughtered and obviously felt they could not defend themselves. they would have gone like sheep to the slaughter, excuse the terminology. Yet suddenly they have a boost of confidence. Suddenly they are defending themselves and valiantly at that! The goyim are afraid of the Jews!! Amazing! The goyim were about to walk over the Jews with no problem, and suddenly the tables have turned.
All it takes is some confidence and a change of attitude.
When Haman convinced King Ahashverosh to issue a decree allowing the people to attack and plunder the Jews, it says nothing about not allowing the Jews to defend themselves. Yet near the end of the megilla, after Esther and Mordechai issue a new decree that Jews should defend themselves (because they could not repeal the previous decree), the Megilla relates the joy among the Jews that they could defend themselves, and how they gathered together to fight against the attackers and how nations feared the Jews because of their right to defend.
Pretty amazing the metamorphasis the jews went through. They were about to be slaughtered and obviously felt they could not defend themselves. they would have gone like sheep to the slaughter, excuse the terminology. Yet suddenly they have a boost of confidence. Suddenly they are defending themselves and valiantly at that! The goyim are afraid of the Jews!! Amazing! The goyim were about to walk over the Jews with no problem, and suddenly the tables have turned.
All it takes is some confidence and a change of attitude.
For the love of Israel!
Megillat Esther
The Megilla tells us in 2:6, "Asher hagla m'yerushalayim im hagola asher haglsa im y'chonya melech yehuda, asher hagla nebuchadnezzar melech Bavel." (my translation) That [Mordechai] was exiled from jerusalem with the exile that was exiled with ychonya the king of judah, who was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar king of Bavel.
The Gr"a points out that the passuk repeats the term "was exiled" three times in that same verse to indicate to us how beloved Israel and Jerusalem were to Mordechai. He was exiled 3 times (!) from Israel. He was exiled and went back and exiled again and went back and exiled again! He did not want to be outside of Israel so badly that he kept going back and trying to live there.
The Megilla tells us in 2:6, "Asher hagla m'yerushalayim im hagola asher haglsa im y'chonya melech yehuda, asher hagla nebuchadnezzar melech Bavel." (my translation) That [Mordechai] was exiled from jerusalem with the exile that was exiled with ychonya the king of judah, who was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar king of Bavel.
The Gr"a points out that the passuk repeats the term "was exiled" three times in that same verse to indicate to us how beloved Israel and Jerusalem were to Mordechai. He was exiled 3 times (!) from Israel. He was exiled and went back and exiled again and went back and exiled again! He did not want to be outside of Israel so badly that he kept going back and trying to live there.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Becoming a partner in the Mikdash
Parshat T'rumah
The Torah relates Hashem telling Moshe to take donations from the people Mikol Asher Yidvenu Libo (from all whose hearts donate) you should take the donation.
The purpose of this donation is for the building of the Mishkan.
The use of the term "Whose heart donates" is very unusual. Just say that from whoever gives a donation you should take it? Why Asher Yidvenu libo?
I think the idea is that this is not the same as the regular mitzva of tzedaka. Normally you have a mitzva of tzedakka and you give sometimes reluctantly and sometimes happily. A guy shows up at your door and asks for tzedaka and you either give him or don't, but if you do he takes it and you have fullfilled your mitzva of tzedaka, even if you gave it reluctantly.
Here we are dealing with the building of a sanctuary for Hashem. A mikdash. This applies to the Mikdash, as well as to the mikdash me'ats we are obligated to build, in the form of shuls, yeshivos, day schools, and our own homes dedicated to the ideals of the Torah. This is not like the average mitzva of tzedakka. This is special. this is the foundation of the Jewish nation. Everything comes from the Mikdash in all its forms.
Donations cannot just be accepted from anybody who was pressured into donation and coerced into giving. This has to come from the heart. People have to want to participate in the building of the foundation of the jewish nation. Not be coerced into it. When the building of our mikdashei me'at are done from goodwill and desire of participation, they have the greatest chance of success and continuation, as that makes everybody a partner in the mikdash.
The Torah relates Hashem telling Moshe to take donations from the people Mikol Asher Yidvenu Libo (from all whose hearts donate) you should take the donation.
The purpose of this donation is for the building of the Mishkan.
The use of the term "Whose heart donates" is very unusual. Just say that from whoever gives a donation you should take it? Why Asher Yidvenu libo?
I think the idea is that this is not the same as the regular mitzva of tzedaka. Normally you have a mitzva of tzedakka and you give sometimes reluctantly and sometimes happily. A guy shows up at your door and asks for tzedaka and you either give him or don't, but if you do he takes it and you have fullfilled your mitzva of tzedaka, even if you gave it reluctantly.
Here we are dealing with the building of a sanctuary for Hashem. A mikdash. This applies to the Mikdash, as well as to the mikdash me'ats we are obligated to build, in the form of shuls, yeshivos, day schools, and our own homes dedicated to the ideals of the Torah. This is not like the average mitzva of tzedakka. This is special. this is the foundation of the Jewish nation. Everything comes from the Mikdash in all its forms.
Donations cannot just be accepted from anybody who was pressured into donation and coerced into giving. This has to come from the heart. People have to want to participate in the building of the foundation of the jewish nation. Not be coerced into it. When the building of our mikdashei me'at are done from goodwill and desire of participation, they have the greatest chance of success and continuation, as that makes everybody a partner in the mikdash.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Bribes affect even the most moral of people
Parshat Mishpatim
The Torah tells us in Mishpatim 23:8 not to take bribes, as bribes "blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the words of the righteous" (my own translation).
Rashi tells us some interesting points, that even if you are being paid off to judge righteously it will corrupt and even if you are a great scholar and a righteous person you will be affected.
The Gemarah is replate with stories about Judges and Rabbis who refused to judge cases that came before them from people they had received favors from, even the most inane and indirect, for fear of not being able to judge objectively.
Nowadays people feel they are better and more moral and more objective and they can apply their objectivity despite having received small or large favors from people. Just look at all the investigations going in in our political scene. The Torah tells us that that is not the way ti works. no matter how objective you think you are, the moment you take a penny, even indirectly, your judgement is clouded.
The Torah tells us in Mishpatim 23:8 not to take bribes, as bribes "blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the words of the righteous" (my own translation).
Rashi tells us some interesting points, that even if you are being paid off to judge righteously it will corrupt and even if you are a great scholar and a righteous person you will be affected.
The Gemarah is replate with stories about Judges and Rabbis who refused to judge cases that came before them from people they had received favors from, even the most inane and indirect, for fear of not being able to judge objectively.
Nowadays people feel they are better and more moral and more objective and they can apply their objectivity despite having received small or large favors from people. Just look at all the investigations going in in our political scene. The Torah tells us that that is not the way ti works. no matter how objective you think you are, the moment you take a penny, even indirectly, your judgement is clouded.
Get the "Juke" out of your head
Mishna Megilla 4:8
The Mishna says that one who insits he will only lead the services dressed in colored clothes , should not be allowed to lead in white clothes either. If he says I will not lead in sandals (i.e. only barefoot), he should not be allowed to lead barefoot.
The reason explained is twofold: First of all, these are specific issues the apikorsim of those times were stringent about, and we therefore suspect him of being an apikores for insisting on such behavior. Second of all, because he is insisting on conditions that people are generally not specific about, we suspect him of Apikorsus because a "Juke" must have entered his head and gave him crazy ideas.
We commonly find this practice nowadays where people insist they will not lead the davening unless they are wearing a jacket, or hat or tallit, etc.. The Mishna tells us not to be so finicky and get the "juke" out of your head. If it is not a requirement, you have no right to insist on it. Do what needs to be done and get the crazy ideas out of your head.
The Mishna says that one who insits he will only lead the services dressed in colored clothes , should not be allowed to lead in white clothes either. If he says I will not lead in sandals (i.e. only barefoot), he should not be allowed to lead barefoot.
The reason explained is twofold: First of all, these are specific issues the apikorsim of those times were stringent about, and we therefore suspect him of being an apikores for insisting on such behavior. Second of all, because he is insisting on conditions that people are generally not specific about, we suspect him of Apikorsus because a "Juke" must have entered his head and gave him crazy ideas.
We commonly find this practice nowadays where people insist they will not lead the davening unless they are wearing a jacket, or hat or tallit, etc.. The Mishna tells us not to be so finicky and get the "juke" out of your head. If it is not a requirement, you have no right to insist on it. Do what needs to be done and get the crazy ideas out of your head.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Sheva Brachos drasha
The mishna in Taanis says that Tu B'Av and Yom Kippur were the 2 happiest days of the year. Tu B'av for a number of reasons - mostly to do with marriage: the girls would go out dressed in white and offer themselves for marriage, also that is the day the shevatim were allowed to intermarry (between shevatim), among other reasons.
Regarding Yom Kippur it brings a passuk that says "Daughters of Israel go out with the crown on the day of the wedding and the day of happiness." "The day of the wedding" refers to Yom Kippur, as that is the day Hashem married the Jews (because of mattan Torah taking place on Yom Kippur) and the day of happiness because on Yom Kippur our sins were forgiven (by receiving the second Luchos on Yom Kippur, Hashem showed us that he had forgiven us for the golden calf).
This is a very interesting juxtaposition between Tu B'Av which is obviously a happy day and Yom Kippur, on which one rarely sees a smile on anybody's face and can hardly be thought of as being described as a happy day. But the happiness is similar and they are both based on the ideas of marriage. on Tu B'Av we are happy because of marriage and on Yom Kippur because of a metaphorical marriage.
Another point is that on the day of one's wedding, it is brought down in the seforim that all of his sins are forgiven and he fasts (similar to Yom Kippur).
I think the connection between these different days is this idea. Marriage is an opportunity. It is similar to the opportunity we are given on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur we repent and we are given a new start with a clean slate. On Yom Kippur, the day we start with a clean slate, we were given the Torah. The Torah is the users manual for a Jew's life. It tells us how to live and how to act. When you are starting anew, you should be coming without any pre-conceptions and pre-existing ideas of how things should be done. You must read the users manual for instructions how to live properly.
Marriage is the same. You are being given a fresh start. Your past is behind you and your future is what lies ahead of you. Until now you were a single guy without a care in the world. You could wake up late, you could hang out all day, you could be productive or not. It affected mostly just yourself. Now you have someone else in your immediate circle. You are starting anew, with your wife. Everything you do now will affect not just you, but her. When you are considering doing something, you have to think about it differently than you did previously. You have to consider if it is appropriate and proper for your wife as well.
The new beginning, presenting you with new opportunities, is what effects the great simcha.
Regarding Yom Kippur it brings a passuk that says "Daughters of Israel go out with the crown on the day of the wedding and the day of happiness." "The day of the wedding" refers to Yom Kippur, as that is the day Hashem married the Jews (because of mattan Torah taking place on Yom Kippur) and the day of happiness because on Yom Kippur our sins were forgiven (by receiving the second Luchos on Yom Kippur, Hashem showed us that he had forgiven us for the golden calf).
This is a very interesting juxtaposition between Tu B'Av which is obviously a happy day and Yom Kippur, on which one rarely sees a smile on anybody's face and can hardly be thought of as being described as a happy day. But the happiness is similar and they are both based on the ideas of marriage. on Tu B'Av we are happy because of marriage and on Yom Kippur because of a metaphorical marriage.
Another point is that on the day of one's wedding, it is brought down in the seforim that all of his sins are forgiven and he fasts (similar to Yom Kippur).
I think the connection between these different days is this idea. Marriage is an opportunity. It is similar to the opportunity we are given on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur we repent and we are given a new start with a clean slate. On Yom Kippur, the day we start with a clean slate, we were given the Torah. The Torah is the users manual for a Jew's life. It tells us how to live and how to act. When you are starting anew, you should be coming without any pre-conceptions and pre-existing ideas of how things should be done. You must read the users manual for instructions how to live properly.
Marriage is the same. You are being given a fresh start. Your past is behind you and your future is what lies ahead of you. Until now you were a single guy without a care in the world. You could wake up late, you could hang out all day, you could be productive or not. It affected mostly just yourself. Now you have someone else in your immediate circle. You are starting anew, with your wife. Everything you do now will affect not just you, but her. When you are considering doing something, you have to think about it differently than you did previously. You have to consider if it is appropriate and proper for your wife as well.
The new beginning, presenting you with new opportunities, is what effects the great simcha.
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