וחי בהם

It is always important to know the source of a specific Mitzva. An example of this comes from the words in אחרי מות where it's written ״וחי בהם״, that we are to live by the Mitzvot and not die by the Mitzvot.

Two important rules come from these two words. The first is the concept of פיקוח נפש, that if someone is in danger, one may violate certain commandments such as Shabbat and Kashrut.

The Talmud in מסכת סנהדרין quotes Rav Yochanan who describes an important vote among the rabbis in the city of Lod. It was there that they came out with the ruling regarding Kiddush Hashem based on the words, "וחי בהם".

They ruled as follows: All of the sins of the Torah, if one threatens a Jew with death or violation of the Mitzva, he should violate the Mitzva, and live. However, if the same threat is made regarding murder, idol worship, or immorality, one should allow himself to be killed rather than violate. Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying G-d's name, outweighs the וחי בהם when otherwise, it would be a חילול ה׳, a desecration of Hashem's name.

A great deal of very significant Halacha is learned from those two words, וחי בהם.

Yesterday was 28 with ספירת העומר

Flying Jews of Israel

At the end of both Parshiot, we have the same Pasuk that says ולא תקיא הארץ, that the land should not vomit you out. Based on this, the Rabbis say that the holy land of Israel cannot tolerate unworthy individuals who do not act in a way that is worthy of meriting being able to live here.

This also is the reason why it's written that anyone who lives in Israel is a Tzaddik. If the land did not reject him, it is a sign that he is worthy of partaking in the holiness of Eretz Yisrael. This worthiness gives the Israeli Jews, the title of Tzaddik.

There is a strange Midrash that says that in future times, the Jews who struggled to live here and remained, will be rewarded in that they will be able to fly! When other immigrants come out of necessity in order to escape and survive, they will also want to fly. The Midrash continues and says that because they were "weighed down" with materialism that prevented them from coming, they are still grounded. They are not on the same level as their brothers and sisters who disconnected themselves from the comforts of the Galut, in exchange for the sanctity of what Israel offers.

Yesterday was 27 with ספירת העומר.

קדש עצמך במותר לך

The Talmud in Yevamot 20, says, קדש עצמך במותר לך, sanctify yourself with what is permitted to you. This continues the theme of Parshat Kedoshim of making ourselves holy because Hashem is holy.

The Rambam expands on this idea by saying that it's actually forbidden not to partake of that which is permitted. We are encouraged to marry, to wear nice clothes, and to live in a nice home. This is learned from the Nazir who has to offer a sin offering for the period he did not drink wine or cut his hair.

The point of the Rambam is that we elevate all that we do. We don't eat just to eat. We eat to be rejuvenated so that we will better be able to serve Hashem. The same is true with sleep or exercise that it is for the purpose that we are better able to serve G-d.

A student once told me that he brushed his teeth not only to have clean teeth. He brushed his teeth so that his mouth would be fresh and clean when he offered praises and thanksgiving to Hashem. This is how we explain קדש עצמך במותר לך.

Yesterday was 26 with ספירת העומר

A Lesson from Flies

Shavua Tov. A theme of today's Parsha, is to strive for holiness and to try to separate from materialism and strive for spirituality.

The של״ה הקודש says that the reason why the Shunamite was so impressed with the Prophet Elisha was that she noticed that no flies came near him while he was eating his food. She, therefore, created for Elisha a special upper chamber with a bed, table, and lamp. Elisha ultimately revived her son who apparently passed away and brought him back to life.

The של״ה הקודש tells us that if we notice flies are attracted to us, it could be a sign that one is too much focused on materialism and he needs to work on his spirituality. It could also mean that one has too much גאוה, haughtiness, and he needs to work on his ענוה.

While screens are a good way to keep away flies and this is a strange commentary, we should still try to gain from the message.

Yesterday was 25 with ספירת העומר

Submitting to Hashem

I counted seventy seven Torah laws in the double Parsha of אחרי מות-קדושים. This is more Mitzvot than on any one Shabbat during the year. This number is according to the של״ה הקודש. I haven't checked to see if Torah Tidbits agrees.

The end of the second Parsha seems to sum up what our overall attitude is supposed to be regarding Halacha. Rashi brings the concept of גדול המצוה ועושה משאינו מצוה ועושה, that it is a higher level to observe a Mitzva we are commanded, more than a Mitzva we are not commanded.

Rashi brings a proof of this from a statement of Rav Elazar Ben Azaria, a Tanna. "One should not say that my soul detests the flesh of the swine. But it is preferred that he says he would love to eat pork. But the only reason he won't eat it, is because we are commanded against it.

We must remember that our observance of the Torah comes from our submission and surrender to Hashem's word over what we might think is right and work. As it says in Pirkei Avot, we must make our will coincide with Hashem's will. Shabbat Shalom.

Yesterday was 23 with ספירת העומר

Hashem is Watching

This week is a double Parsha of אחרי מות-קדושים. There are numerous laws particularly in קדושים that deal with laws between man and man.

The Pasuk ויראת מאלוקך, and "You should fear ה׳", is found twice in the Parsha. One example follows לפני עוור לא תתן מכשול, not putting a stumbling block before a blind person. And the second time comes after והדרת פני זקן, that we should glorify the elderly.

The connection between these two cases is that we can act as if we are not putting such a stumbling block (by giving bad advice. And it even applies to a non-Jew by selling him articles of עבודה זרה) Or, we can claim that we are showing proper respect to the elderly, when we are not. We are to remember to fear Hashem.

The overall message is that we cannot fool Hashem. He knows what our true intentions are. We are to remember that we are to act in private as we would in public, in the sense that nothing is hidden from Hashem. It may be a simple message but it is one that we need to be reminded of from time to time.

Yesterday was 22 with ספירת העומר.

G-d and the State of Israel

Another point that Rav Shmuel Eliyahu made regarding Yom Ha'atzmaut, is to see the similarities between the redemption from Egypt and today.

Every time there was an incident of strife in the desert where G-d was questioned, the troublemakers always accused Moshe Rabbeinu of taking them out from Egypt as if it was his own idea.

We see this before the splitting of the Red Sea, and we saw it when they complained for lack of meat, and it was the excuse for creating the Golden Calf. Each time Hashem had to make it clear that Moshe was the messenger and Hashem in His glory, redeemed us.

Today we must never make this same mistake and attribute the miracle of the State of Israel to anything less than it being ONLY because Hashem decided that now is the time to rebuild the House of Israel.

I was deeply saddened to see the prime minister of Israel being unable or unwilling to give gratitude to Hashem, in a brief Independence Day message. Netanyahu claimed that he's often asked by world leaders how to explain the establishment and incredible growth of the State of Israel. Instead of sanctifying the Name of G-d by telling all who will hear that we are enjoying G-d's blessing and that is the only explanation, he praises the citizens of Israel.

It is true that the Jewish people are a great people with intense faith and amazing resilience. However, as we say in the Haggadah, if G-d had not taken us out, we would still be in Egypt no matter how wise and intelligent we were. Now, more than ever, when we have so much to point to and be proud of, we must not forget that without Hashem, none of these achievements would have come to be.

Yesterday was 21 with ספירת העומר

Independence Day 5777

Years ago Rav Meir Kahane used to begin his lecture tour with the following opening statement: "Anyone who has witnessed the events since 1948 and does not see the Hand of G-d, is not a non-believer, is not a scoffer, he is blind!"

This quote has been stuck in my mind this Yom Haatzmaut as Israel celebrates its 69th birthday. The accomplishments of this little country in such a relatively short amount of time, is nothing less than miraculous.

I was privileged to hear Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Tzfat rattle off these miracles in the context of prophecies made over 2500 years ago. Some of his observations:

-The Jewish population in 1800 was only 7000 and in 1920, roughly 50,000. By 1948, the population rose to 650,000 and in 2017, nearly 6,500,000.

-There is a prophecy regarding the widening of the roads to Jerusalem. Our transport minister, Yisrael Katz, told Rav Eliyahu that his purpose in building a Tel Aviv-Jerusalem speed train, and the widening of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, is in preparation of the building of the Beit Hamikdash.

-Israel is considered the eighth superpower in the world militarily, when we had only a makeshift army in 1948.

-According to Rav Eliyahu, the birth rate of Jewish women has surpassed that of Arab women, when once the average for the Arabs was 9.1.

-The number of countries desiring to have diplomatic relations has been rapidly increasing, where the nations of the world want to glean from Israel's wisdom and technological advances.

-A final point that is so significant is that the growth of the State of Israel, proves that G-d has not rejected the Jewish people. On the contrary, Israel is the number one reason for the huge increase in non-Jews flooding our Jewish courts seeking conversion. As a rabbi, it has become easier to prove G-d's existence, by simply pointing to our modern day miracles.

Indeed, anyone who doesn't see the Hand of G-d that we are witnessing today, has to be blind. We must give thanks to Hashem that we have merited seeing the fulfillment of these prophecies in our lifetime. Chag Atzmaut Sameach!

Yesterday was twenty with ספירת העומר

The Miracle of the State of Israel

Y ears ago Rav Meir Kahane used to begin his lecture tour with the following opening statement: “Anyone who has witnessed the events since 1948 and does not see the Hand of G-d, is not a non-believer, is not a scoffer, he is blind!”

This quote has been stuck in my mind this Yom Haatzmaut as Israel celebrates its 69th birthday. The accomplishments of this little country in such a relatively short amount of time, is nothing less than miraculous.

I was privileged to hear Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Tzfat rattle off these miracles in the context of prophecies made over 2500 years ago. Some of his observations:

-The Jewish population in 1800 was only 7000 and in 1920, roughly 50,000. By 1948, the population rose to 650,000 and in 2017, nearly 6,500,000.

-There is a prophecy regarding the widening of the roads to Jerusalem. Our transport minister, Yisrael Katz, told Rav Eliyahu that his purpose in building a Tel Aviv-Jerusalem speed train, and the widening of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, is in preparation of the building of the Beit Hamikdash.

-Israel is considered the eighth superpower in the world militarily, when we had only a makeshift army in 1948.

-According to Rav Eliyahu, the birth rate of Jewish women has surpassed that of Arab women, when once the average for the Arabs was 9.1.

-The number of countries desiring to have diplomatic relations has been rapidly increasing, where the nations of the world want to glean from Israel’s wisdom and technological advances.

-A final point that is so significant is that the growth of the State of Israel, proves that G-d has not rejected the Jewish people. On the contrary, Israel is the number one reason for the huge increase in non-Jews flooding our Jewish courts seeking conversion. As a rabbi, it has become easier to prove G-d’s existence, by simply pointing to our modern day miracles.

Indeed, anyone who doesn’t see the Hand of G-d that we are witnessing today, has to be blind. We must give thanks to Hashem that we have merited seeing the fulfillment of these prophecies in our lifetime. Chag Atzmaut Sameach!

Israel Remembrance Day

Tonight is יום הזיכרון, where we remember our fallen soldiers from various wars. It is a very heavy day as we pay tribute to those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives so that the Jewish people would have a secure Homeland.

I am reminded of King David in the first chapter of Shmuel II, how he laments the fall of King Shaul and his three sons. (His best friend Jonathan among them.) Some of the verses are exceptionally beautiful at expressing the loss we feel today for our modern day heroes.

A few examples: "O precious One of Israel, how have the mighty fallen? Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death not parted. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle? Jonathan, slain upon your heights? I am distressed over you my brother Jonathan; you were so pleasant to me! Your love was more wondrous to me than the love of women! How have the mighty fallen and the weapons of war gone to waste?

May the memory of the fallen on this solemn day be for blessing and may we no longer need to spill the blood of our people.

Yesterday was nineteen with ספירת העומר.

The Leper

Shavua Tov. A big part of today's double Parsha was the discussion about צרעת, leprosy. One who has this disease is quarantined and not allowed to be around other people. The leper has created divisiveness because of his slanderous speech, so that he also has to be separated.

The Torah tells us that the leper has to declare the words, טמא טמא to anyone that approaches. The Talmud explains that the reason he says the word טמא twice is first to warn people not to touch him for otherwise, they, too, will become defiled, and the second טמא is  to ask people to pray for mercy on his behalf. This shows how destructive negative speech can be.

The Talmud further mentions that this is the source for making tomb stones above Jewish graves. Just as the leper gives fair warning not to get defiled, the general public is also warned to stay away from the dead for fear of defilement.

Yesterday was eighteen with ספירת העומר

Holiness in Child Bearing

The discussion of child bearing in the Parsha is a very complex subject. On the one hand, there is so much Kedusha in bringing a child into the world. Parents are considered partners with Hashem in creation. But, on the other hand, the new mother has created a state of impurity upon herself by giving birth.

Some say this טומאה is connected to certain negative declarations the woman might make. She might even swear that she will never want to have another child and have to endure such pain. Later she regrets having made such statements.

Others say that she needs to be separated for a time, because the act of childbirth is a very physical act where it is difficult to think of spirituality at a time of discomfort. She needs a time to get her bearings and get back on track.

As believing Jews, we are meant to try to elevate even the mundane act and bring Kedusha to everything we do. Even from the time of conception, the thoughts of the couple have a big effect on the child they bring into the world.

The אור החיים הקדוש says that this is how we explain that the great King חזקיהו fathered two evil sons. He was married to the daughter of a prophet. Yet, she is blamed for having improper children because of improper thoughts at the time of conception.

The lesson of the Parsha is that we should make a concerted effort to bring קדושה into every act that we do. Shabbat Shalom

Yesterday was sixteen with ספירת העומר

Special Brit Milah Laws

This week we have a double Parsha of תזריע-מצורע. There is a Pasuk that seems redundant regarding Brit Mila. After discussing a woman who has given birth to a male, the Torah says that on the eighth day he should be circumcised. We already know about this from Avraham Avinu.

Here the Torah is teaching that Brit Mila is done even if the eighth day is Shabbat. However, a baby born by Caesarian is not circumcised on Shabbat when it is the eighth day.

It is also interesting that a baby born during twilight time, or בין השמשות on Friday evening is not circumcised until Sunday. If that day was a Chag, then not until Monday. And if it was a two day Chag outside of Israel, then not until Tuesday, the eleventh day from birth.

This is why the Mishna says that a Brit can be on the eighth, ninth, tenth, or eleventh day.

Yesterday was fifteen with ספירת העומר. Chodesh Tov

Special Kohein Laws

We came across an interesting Halacha regarding who a Kohein is allowed to marry. The problem is how we define the word זונה from the Torah. It is clearly written that a Kohein may not take a זונה as a wife.

Any Jewish woman who had relations with a non-Jew is a זונה. The same applies to a Jewish woman who was with a man, who at that moment if they wanted to marry, they could not. This would include an already married woman who had an affair, would also be considered a זונה.

An additional problem is how we view the convert. A Kohein may not marry a convert for the same reason of זונה. However, despite an argument in the matter, Israel's Chief Rabbinate permits the daughter of a convert to marry a Kohein.

However, in a case where one's mother is Jewish but her father is not Jewish, the daughter is forbidden according to all opinions to marry a Kohein. The Jewish woman has defiled herself and it directly affects her offspring.

I hope this clarifies a very confusing matter in Jewish Law.

Yesterday was fourteen with ספירת העומר. And tonight is Rosh Chodesh.

You Are What You Eat

There is an important point to keep in mind as we make our final preparations for the Chag. Rav Pinchas Abuchatzeira שליט״א tells the story of a gentleman who approached him with a question after giving a Pesach Shiur. He asked: If we are celebrating our freedom, why must we be bogged down with so many details connected with the holiday? As free men we should be at ease to do whatever we feel like doing.

Rav Pinchas explained that it's true that the essence of Pesach is to celebrate our freedom. However, we follow חז״ל who say אין לך בן חורין אלא מי שעוסק בתורה. This means that one who is truly free and is not a prisoner to his work or even his lusts, is not really free. Only one whose priority is Torah and Mitzvot down to the last detail is the real free man. We must remember this particularly on Pesach.

We must also remember that tonight is בדיקת חמץ and it is preferable to do the search at the start of the evening from 7:30 onwards. חג כשר ושמח.

Yom Hashoah

Tonight and tomorrow we commemorate Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. We are to pay tribute to our fallen brothers and sisters and the sacrifice they made for Klal Yisrael. Many believe that we would not have a State of Israel if not for the Shoah. The nations of the world were stricken with temporary guilt that allowed them to vote in the United Nations to establish a Jewish state.

This day should be one of giving tremendous gratitude and הכרת הטוב to Hashem for His abundant kindness.

Those under the age of forty have been fortunate to have lived an entire lifetime without witnessing any serious Jewish persecution. Today, Jews are free to practice their religion all over the world. And amazingly, the gates of Aliya are available to any Jew smart enough to take advantage of it.

I remember the persecution of Soviet Jewry, Syrian Jewry, Iranian Jewry, and Ethiopian Jewry. We often forget that our Galut was long and bitter and filled with poverty and every kind of suffering imaginable. The Holocaust was the worst of all persecutions.

This day of Yom Hashoah should be one of recognition as to how fortunate is our lot. And in the words of Rav Meir Kahane זצ״ל, "Never Again!"

Yesterday was twelve with ספירת העומר

Admitting When Wrong

Shavua Tov. After the death of the two sons of Aharon, Moshe Rabbeinu gets angry at Aharon's surviving sons, Elazar and Itamar. He was really upset with Aharon but expressed it to his two nephews.

On that day, the first of Nissan, three sacrifices were offered. One was by the Nassi, or tribal head, Nachshon of Shevet Yehuda. A second sacrifice was for the inauguration of the Mishkan, and a third was the regular sin-offering of Rosh Chodesh.

The Kohanim were to eat a portion of all three sacrifices. Aharon declined eating from the third sacrifice. For this, Moshe was upset and asked why they didn't eat of the חטאת, the sin offering.

Aharon explained that the first two sacrifices were once in a lifetime sacrifices so he agreed to eat from them. But the third sacrifice was a regular monthly sacrifice and he was in a state of אונן, where he was busy with burying his dead. Aharon felt that it would not be pleasing in the eyes of Hashem to partake of such a sacrifice.

Moshe showed his greatness and humility by accepting his brother's argument. In essence, he was admitting he was wrong. This was most praiseworthy and set a great example for all of us to follow. There's no shame in admitting when we are wrong. It takes a big person to do this.

Yesterday was eleven with ספירת העומר

Accepting Adversity

This week's Parsha, שמיני, describes the tragic death of the two sons of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu. Most Kabbalists claim that their intent was pure in their efforts to perceive Hashem on the highest level.

The one deserving of the most praise during this incident, was Aharon himself. The Torah says simply, וידום אהרון, and Aharon was silent. The של״ה הקודש says that he received great reward in accepting Hashem's decree. Later in the Parsha, Hashem spoke to him alone in the merit of his silence.

The של״ה הקודש continues to explain how important it is for all of us to accept with love Hashem's afflictions and strictness with us. The Rabbis of the Talmud discuss how we are to embrace יסורים, suffering, and realize that they are meant to cleanse and purify us.

The Chassidim took such a positive attitude about יסורים that they viewed them as a sign that good things were ahead. The idea was that the נגע, blemish, was really ענג, a delight.

The original teacher of this concept was אהרון הכהן. Shabbat Shalom

Yesterday was nine with ספירת העומר

Our G-d-Like Soul

It has often been said that we need to give more attention to our soul, which is Eternal, than the body that lasts until 120. It has also been said that our נשמה, is G-d like in nature because of its eternal aspect. Just as Hashem is Eternal, so is our נשמה.

The Talmud in Berachot 10 asks why King David said the words ברכי נפשי five times in Psalm 103. The Gemara's answer is that there are five similarities as to how the נפש, also defined as soul, is like Hashem Himself.

Just as Hashem fills the universe, the soul fills the body.

Just as Hashem sees without being seen, the soul sees without being seen.

Just as Hashem sustains the universe, the soul sustains the body.

Just as Hashem is pure and holy, the soul is pure and holy.

And just as Hashem resides in an inner sanctum, the soul resides in the most hidden part of the body.

Perhaps if we realized how important our soul is, we would give it more attention and nourish it with the "soul food" of Torah and Mitzvot.

Yesterday was eight with ספירת העומר.

The Three Oaths

Shir Hashirim has the verse השבעתי אתכם בנות ירושלים, that there was an oath with the daughters of Jerusalem. The Talmud at the end of מסכת כתובות says that this a reference to the "three oaths."

The claim of the Talmud is that there was an agreement between Israel and the nations at the time that Israel went into their lengthy exile. Israel agreed that they would not rebel against the nations that hosted them in Galut. The second oath is that Israel agreed that they would not come to Israel in a mass but a trickle. The third oath was on the part of the nations that they would not oppress Israel "too much." These became known as שלוש שבועות.

In recent years, religious anti-Zionists began quoting the "three oaths" as a justification for not moving to Israel. Mass Aliya constituted a violation of oath number two.

Many Zionist rabbis addressed this question by saying that Israel is no longer obligated to oath number two because the nations violated oath number three by oppressing us too much. This certainly was true with the oppression of the Holocaust as well as other persecutions during our long, bitter exile.

I don't think the three oaths had a practical application. It was more of a Midrashic concept. Therefore, Jews can feel free to make Aliya and need not worry that they are violating any oath.

Yesterday was seven with ספירת העומר.