Vayigash 5785

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Night visions and exile assurances[1]

ויאמר אלקים במראת הלילה ויאמר יעקב יעקב
G-d spoke in a night vision, and He said: “Yaakov, Yaakov”[2]

We don’t find that Hashem spoke to Avraham or Yitzchak in a night vision. We only find it in this instance with Yaakov, as well as when he had his famous dream about the ladder going to heaven. The reason is because in both instances he was ready and prepared to move to outside the land of Israel, to dwell there. The ladder case, when he was going to live with Lavan, and now, when he was going to live with Yosef in Egypt.

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Vayeishev 5785

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Names, visions, and important stones[1]

…ויבא הביתה לעשות מלאכתו ואין איש מאנשי הבית שם בבית
[Yosef] went to the house to “do his work”, and there was no one else in the house [2]

While Yosef was a slave in Egypt, his master Potiphar’s wife was relentless. She wouldn’t give up on trying to seduce the attractive teenager. Day in and day out she would try different tactics to gain his attention. Yosef wouldn’t budge, as he knew that adultery was a terrible crime. One day, the Torah says that Yosef went to his house to “do his work”. Some say[3] that this is literal, and he was going to work on some bookkeeping for his master. Others say[4] that this is a euphemism for him finally caving into Potiphar’s wife’s seduction. However, even according to that opinion, Yosef took hold of himself and abstained.

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Vayishlach 5785

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Capital conflict and circumcision[1]

ויהי ביום השלישי בהיותם כאבים ויקחו שני-בני-יעקב שמעון ולוי אחי דינה איש חרבו ויבאו על-העיר בטח ויהרגו כל-זכר: ויאמר יעקב אל-שמעון ואל-לוי עכרתם אתי להבאישני בישב הארץ וגו’‏
And it was, on the third day, when [the residents of Shechem] were in pain, the two sons of Yaakov, Levi and Shimon, the brothers of Dina, each one took their sword and went to the city, confident. They killed every male. Yaakov said to Shimon and to Levi: “You have disgraced[2] me, causing enmity between me and the dwellers of the land”…[3]

The tragic episode of the violation of Dina is unfortunately well known. Shechem, a prominent Canaanite, kidnapped Yaakov’s daughter after violating her, intending to marry her. He tried to convince Yaakov’s family to accept this opportune arrangement. The sons of Yaakov cunningly demanded that the entire city of Shechem first circumcise themselves, and then they can discuss. The inhabitants agreed, and on the third day of their recovery, when they were in the most pain, Shimon and Levi killed all those in the city. They rescued their sister Dina, and Yaakov rebuked them. What were Shimon and Levi thinking? How was it justified to kill everyone? Why didn’t Yaakov agree?

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Toldos 5785

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Evading enslavement, harboring heresy[1]

ויזד יעקב נזיד ויבא עשו מן-השדה והוא עיף
Yaakov stewed a stew, and Eisav came from the fields, exhausted[2]

When Avraham died, Yaakov made a lentil stew to comfort his father Yitzchak[3]. Our Sages tell us[4] that when Eisav, Yaakov’s brother, came from the field, he inquired to the nature of this lentil stew. Yaakov informed him that Avraham had died. Eisav asked that Hashem’s attribute of judgment even had its way with Avraham? Yaakov replied that yes, that was the case. Eisav responded that if so, there’s no Judge, there’s no Justice[5]. Meaning, Eisav at that moment denied the reality of Hashem. This is a very difficult teaching. Why did Eisav choose now, of all times, to become a heretic? Did he really think that Avraham would live forever? Hashem made a covenant with Avraham that, “You will come to your forefathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age”[6]. What then was so surprising[7]?

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Chayei Sarah 5785

 

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Proper pet precedence[1]

ותמהר ותורד כדה מעליה ותאמר שתה וגם-גמליך אשקה ואשת וגם הגמלים השקתה
She hurried and lowered her jug from upon her and said, “Drink, and also I’ll give water to your camels.” I drank and she also gave water to my camels.[2]

There’s an interesting law we derive from the language of a verse in Shema. “I will give the grass of your fields to your animals, and you will eat and you will be satiated.”[3] From here[4] our Sages teach that it is prohibited to eat before feeding one’s animals. This is how the teaching is expressed. As a result, some[5] want to infer that only a prominent eating session is prohibited, meaning a bread meal, before feeding one’s animals. Having a light snack would be permitted. In other contexts, our Sages expressed forbidden tasting, but here they mention eating. This is also inferred from the verse which is the source of this prohibition, as it says “you will eat and you will be satiated”. Only eating to satiation is forbidden before feeding one’s animals. A light snack would be fine.

The problem is, this teaching is repeated in a different context[6]. There, the text as we have it says it is forbidden to taste anything before feeding one’s animal. True, there seems to be an inconsistency in the proper text, but the prominent halachic authorities[7] quote this version of the text. Even according to the text which says, “it’s prohibited to eat”, we can deflect the inference that tasting is permitted.

The Sefer Chassidim derives[8] from a verse in our parsha that even though it is prohibited to eat before feeding one’s animals, it is permitted to drink before giving a drink to one’s animals. When Eliezer went to find a mate for his master’s son Yitzchak, he brought along his camels on his journey. He quickly found Rivka, who promptly offered him water, as well as his camels. Rivka was exceedingly righteous, and we see from her behavior that drinking isn’t included in this prohibition. She first offered Eliezer, and only afterwards offered the animals.

One could say then that this is the reason why the gemarra says it is prohibited to eat before feeding one’s animals. True, one cannot even have a snack, but if it said it’s prohibited to taste before, I would think even drinking is included. It explicitly said eating, to exclude drinking from the prohibition. However, even the tiniest snack would be included in this prohibition[9].

The problem is, as we said, the accepted text is that the gemarra does say it is forbidden to taste before feeding one’s animal. This would include drinking, precluding the innovation of the Sefer Chassidim. Even logically, it’s hard to discern what should be the difference. It’s harder when one is thirsty than when one is hungry. If we’re supposed to take care of our animal first, if it’s thirsty, all the more so we should give it to drink before ourselves!

How then should we understand the actions of Rivka? The renowned Chasam Sofer suggested the following distinction. The difference isn’t food and drink. Rather, it’s whose food and animal are we discussing. When it comes to my food and my animal, the animal comes first. My animal is my responsibility, and my food is there to provide for the animal before even myself. However, when someone gives me food or drink as a gift, I have no obligation to give that food or drink to the animal first. The giver has the right to decide what happens with the food or drink. Since Rivka was giving water to Eliezer, he had the right to drink first[10].

Either way, we see the sensitivity the Torah has towards all creatures[11]. Although in many ways human beings take precedence over animals, the Torah requires us to inculcate within ourselves the attitude of thinking outside ourselves. We often are responsible for others, be it our children, students, or even animals. Sometimes our needs need to be pushed aside for those who are dependent upon us. May we always be able to learn the proper attitude from our forefathers and foremothers.

Good Shabbos

[1] Based on Teshuvos Kesav Sofer Orach Chaim § 32

[2] Genesis 24:46

[3] Deuteronomy 11:15

[4] Berachos 40a

[5] Taz to Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 167:7

[6] Gittin 62a

[7] Rif and Rosh to Berachos loc. cit. This is pointed out by the Mesoras HaShas ad. loc.

[8] Sefer Chassidim § 531, brought by Magen Avraham ad. loc. § 18

[9] See Kesav Sofer, who also addresses the other inference of “you will eat and be satiated”

[10] Tangentially, there’s a somewhat similar prohibition of eating or drinking before praying (Berachos 8b; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 89:3). See Teshuvos Beis Naftali § 8-9, who also derives a leniency in this matter from Rivka’s behavior

[11] See Rav Asher Weiss’ analysis if this prohibition is from the Torah, Rabbinic, or merely the behavior of the pious: https://m.torahbase.org/pdf/Chayei_Sarah_he_85.pdf

Vayeira 5785

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Dust and ash[1]

ויען אברהם ויאמר הנה-נא הואלתי לדבר אל-אדנ”י ואנכי עפר ואפר
Avraham answered and said, “Behold, now I have begun to speak to the Lord. I am but dirt and ash”[2]

Our Sages tell us[3] that in the merit that Avraham called himself “but dirt and ash”, his descendants were given the mitzvos of the dirt of the Sotah procedure[4] and the ash of the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer[5]. Now, it’s true, we see that Avraham said dirt and ash, and these two mitzvos are with dirt and ash. Still, is there any deeper significance with this reward?

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Lech Lecha 5785

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Proclaiming the greatness of Hashem[1]

ויאמר אברם אל-מלך סדם הרמתי ידי אל-יקוק קל עליון קנה שמים וארץ: אם-מחוט ועד שרוך-נעל ואם-אקח מכל-אשר-לך ולא תאמר אני העשרתי את-אברם
Avram said to the king of Sedom: “I raise my hand to Hashem, the Supernal G-d, the Owner of Heaven and Earth. I will take neither a string nor a shoe strap, nor anything that is yours, so you will not say that I made Avram rich”[2]

Avraham heroically rescued his nephew Lot who was kidnapped by the mightiest kings of the time. Simultaneously, Avraham rescued the king of Sedom. The king offered Avraham the spoils of the war, but Avraham vehemently refused. He announced he wouldn’t even take a string or a shoe strap from the spoils. Our Sages teach us[3] that in the merit of this proclamation, his children merited the mitzvah of the string of techeiles on their tzitzis, and the mitzvah of the strap of tefillin. How can we understand the midah k’neged midah, the measure for measure of this reward? Meaning, why did Hashem find these mitzvos to be an appropriate response to this act of piety? Rashi clarifies[4] that part of the merit was that Avraham didn’t want to benefit from theft, but what theft was there here? Avraham was the victor of the battle…

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Sukkos 5785

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Anti-agent activities[1]

בסוכות תשבו שבעת ימים…‏
You shall dwell in Sukkos for seven days[2]

In Jewish law there’s the concept of Agency[3]. Meaning, I can appoint an agent to perform certain acts on my behalf, such as betrothing a wife, ending a marriage, separating tithes, and slaughtering offerings. A question that is asked[4] is that logic would dictate that agency shouldn’t work for the mitzvah of Sukkah, but why not? Why can’t I have someone else dwell in the Sukkah on my behalf? Why should it be different than the above mitzvos? Similarly, why can’t I have someone else wear Tefillin for me?

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Rosh Hashanah 5785

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Hashem’s unusual listening conduct[1]

כי אתה שומע קול שופר ומאזין תרועה ואין דומה לך. ברוך אתה יקוק שומע קול תרועת עמו ישראל ברחמים
For you hear [שומע] the sound [קול] of the shofar, and hear [מאזין] the broken sound [תרועה], and no one is like You. Blessed are you Hashem, Who mercifully hears the broken sound of His nation of Israel[2]

The Mussaf service on Rosh Hashanah is unlike any other Yom Tov. Usually, the silent prayer, known as the Shemoneh Esrei, consists of seven blessings. Three praising G-d, one corresponding to the day, and three blessings of thanks. Rosh Hashanah, instead of just one blessing in the middle, has three, known as Malchiyos, Zichronos, and Shofaros. Blessings declaring Hashem’s Kingship, Hashem’s “recollection” of events, and the famed shofar blasts. These three, perhaps, correlate to the three principles of Jewish faith: There is a G-d, the Torah is of Divine origins, and there’s reward and punishment[3]. Malchiyos obviously correspond to the fact there is a G-d. Zichronos correspond to reward and punishment, for Hashem recalls our good and not so good deeds. Shofaros correspond to the Torah, which was given at Sinai with Shofar blasts[4].

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Nitzavim/Vayeilech 5784

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Beyond our capabilities? Impossible[1]

לא בשמים הוא לאמר מי יעלה-לנו השמימה ויקחה לנו וישמענו אתה ונעשנה

It’s not in the heavens, such that you would say, “Who will bring us up to the heavens, that he’ll take it for us, that he’ll have us hear it and perform it”[2]

The subject of our verse is Torah[3]. The verse tells us that it’s not in the heavens. Rashi tells us[4] that the implication is that if the Torah were in the heavens, we would be required to go up there and learn it. The question is, how would we get up there? We have to say that if we really would be required to go up to the heavens to learn the Torah, Hashem would provide for us a way[5]. The main point is to say that Hashem would never command us to do something that is beyond our abilities. Now that the Torah is in our domain, we have to seek after it and learn it.

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