Audio Shiurim by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer on Tosefta Bava Kamma have been completed - Tosefta Online

Audio Shiurim by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer on Tosefta Bava Kamma have been completed - Tosefta Online: Audio Shiurim by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer on Tosefta Bava Kamma have been completed through the end of the Masechta, on the Audio page.

Evidence of Sodom? Meteor blast cause of biblical destruction, say scientists | The Times of Israel

Evidence of Sodom? Meteor blast cause of biblical destruction, say scientists | The Times of Israel: 

Multi-disciplinary team of scientists uses 3,700-year-old archaeological evidence from Jordan's Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project to understand end to civilization near Dead Sea.

Amazing!!!

Slavery Marei Mekomos

A brief selection of marei mekomos for those of us who are bothered by the superficial perception that the Torah favors the institution of slavery as practiced in general society through the millenia. The RSR Hirsch and the Meshech Chochmo are most important.

ספר איוב פרק לא 

יג) אִם אֶמְאַס מִשְׁפַּט עַבְדִּי וַאֲמָתִי בְּרִבָם עִמָּדִי

יד) וּמָה אֶעֱשֶׂה כִּי יָקוּם אֵל וְכִי יִפְקֹד מָה אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ

טו) הֲלֹא בַבֶּטֶן עֹשֵׂנִי עָשָׂהוּ וַיְכוּנֶנּוּ בָּרֶחֶם אֶחָד

 תלמוד ירושלמי מסכת בבא קמא דף לה/ב 

א"ר אחא מצווים ישראל לפרנס בני חורין יותר מעבדים. לא כן אמר ר' יוחנן הקוטע ידי עבד חבירו רבו נוטל נזקו צערו ריפיו שבתו בושתו והלה יתפרנס מן הצדקה. אמר ר' אחא מצווין ישראל לפרנס עבדים קוטעין יותר מן השלימין. והא ר' יוחנן אכול קופד ויהיב לעבדיה שתי חמר ויהיב לעבדיה וקרי אנפשיה הלא בבטן עושני עשהו. אמרי תמן במידת הדין ברם הכא במידת רחמים

 רמב"ם יד החזקה - הלכות עבדים פרק ט 

מותר לעבוד בעבד כנעני בפרך ואע"פ שהדין כך מדת חסידות ודרכי חכמה שיהיה אדם רחמן ורודף צדק ולא יכביד עולו על עבדו ולא יצר לו ויאכילהו וישקהו מכל מאכל ומכל משתה חכמים הראשונים היו נותנין לעבד מכל תבשיל ותבשיל שהיו אוכלין ומקדימין מזון הבהמות והעבדים לסעודת עצמן הרי הוא אומר כעיני עבדים אל יד אדוניהם כעיני שפחה אל יד גבירתה וכרן לא יבזהו ביד ולא בדברים לעבדות מסרן הכתוב לא לבושה ולא ירבה עליו צעקה וכעס אלא ידבר עמו בנחת וישמע טענותיו וכן מפורש בדרכי איוב הטובים שהשתבח בהן אם אמאס משפט עבדי ואמתי בריבם עמדי הלא בבטן עושני עשהו ויכוננו ברחם אחד ואין האכזריות והעזות מצויה אלא בעכו"ם עובדי ע"ז אבל זרעו של אברהם אבינו והם ישראל שהשפיע להם הקב"ה טובת התורה וצוה אותם בחקים ומשפטים צדיקים רחמנים הם על הכל וכן במדותיו של הקב"ה שצונו להדמות בהם הוא אומר ורחמיו על כל מעשיו וכל המרחם מרחמין עליו שנאמר ונתן לך רחמים ורחמך והרבך

סמ"ג - חלק מצות עשה - מצוה פז 

מותר לעבוד בעבד כנעני בפרך ואע"פ כן מדת חסידות הוא להיות רחמן ולא יכביד עולו על עבד ולא יכהו לא ביד ולא בדברים לעבדות מסרו הכתוב ולא לבשת וידבר עמו בנחת אף בשעת מריבה וישמע טענותיו וכן אמר איוב (לא, יג) אם אמאס משפט עבדי ואמתי בריבם עמדי הלא בבטן עושני עשהו ויכוננו ברחם אחד, חכמים הראשונים היו נותנים לעבד מכל תבשיל ותבשיל שהיו אוכלין כדאמרינן בפרק אע"פ (כתובות סא, א) דהוה ספי מכל מינא ומינא ומישתעי אליהו בהדיה, ומקדימין מזון הבהמות והעבדים לסעודת עצמן שהרי אומר (תהלים קכג, ב) כעיני עבדים אל יד אדוניהם וכעיני שפחה אל יד גבירתה וגרסינן בירושלמי (ב"ק פ"ח ה"ד) רבי יוחנן אכל קופר ויהיב לעבדיה שתי חמרא ויהיב לעבדיה וקרא עליה (איוב לא, טו) הלא בבטן עושני עשהו וגומר פירוש קופר בשר

ספר ארחות צדיקים - השער השמיני - שער האכזריות 

 ועבד כנעני מותר לעבוד בו בפרך. אף על פי כן מידת חסידות היא להיות רחמן, ולא יכביד עול עליו, ולא יבזהו, לא ביד ולא בדברים - לעבודה מסרו הכתוב ולא לבושה (נדה מז א). וידבר עמו בנחת אף בשעת מריבה, וישמע בטענותיו. וכן אמר איוב (איוב לא יג טו): "אם אמאס משפט עבדי ואמתי בריבם עמדי, ומה אעשה כי יקום אל וכי יפקד מה אשיבנו, הלא בבטן עושני עשהו ויכוננו ברחם אחד". חכמים הראשונים היו נותנים לעבד מכל תבשיל ותבשיל שהיו אוכלים (קידושין כ א), ומקדימים מזון הבהמות והעבדים לסעודת עצמם (ברכות מ א), שהרי הוא אומר (תהלים קכג ב): "הנה כעיני עבדים אל יד אדוניהם כעיני שפחה אל יד גברתה כן עינינו אל ה' אלהינו". והחסיד הקדים ונתן לעבדו מכל תבשיל ותבשיל קודם שאכל הוא, ובזכות זה הקדים אליהו לדבר עמו

רש"ר הירש בראשית פרק יד פסוק יד 

״חניכיו ילידי ביתו״ אלה, קרויים בפסוק הבא ״עבדיו״. יש בכך להאיר את עינינו על טיב ה״עבדות״ בעם אברהם. הייתה זו דרך להציל נשמות מההשחתה האלילית, ולקרב אותם לאמת הברורה של אברהם. עבדים הקנויים ליהודי נעשו ליהודים; ילדיהם נולדו לתוך בית אברהם, והתחנכו לפי דרכו. עבד יהודי נעשה ״בן ברית״. יחס זה מהווה ניגוד חריף לעבדות של העת החדשה, בה נשלל מהעבד כל חינוך רוחני ומוסרי

משך חכמה על בראשית פרק מז פסוק יט 

(יט) קנה אותנו ואת אדמתנו כו' - אולם יוסף שנא מאד את קנין העבדות להיות שליט אדם באדם לרע לו (ע' קהלת ח, ט), לכן אמר ויקן יוסף את כל אדמת מצרים לפרעה אבל לא אותם לעבדים, רק הארץ תהא קנויה לפרעה והם יהיו קנוים לשעה להיות עובדים עבור לחמם ולהיות שכירי ימים לעבודת שדה, ולכן אמר יוסף הן קניתי אתכם היום. פירוש לזמן. ואת אדמתכם לעולם לפרעה. לכן העביר אותם בערים שבל יהיו כמחזיקים באדמתם ובמה יוכר שקנה את אדמתם אם הם לא נמכרו ויושבים על נחלתם ודו"ק

משך חכמה על שמות פרק כא פסוק טז 

(טז) וגונב איש ומכרו כו' - המוכרו לקרובים פטור וכמו שאמרו (סנהדרין פו) עד שיוציאנו מרשות אחיו, שזה גניבה אצל נפש שמרחיקו ממשפחתו ומוכרו, ולזה אמר קרא שאף אם הוא פחות ונבזה רחוק מכל הרגש אחוה וחיי משפחה עד כי הוא ממר ליולדתו ומכה את אביו גם אותו אם ימכור איש מות יומת, ולכן הפסיקה תורה בין מכה למקלל, וזה כי התורה הרחיקה הקנין עבדות לגמרי מהחברה האנושית ודו"ק

Texada approach cessna 172 - Gillies Bay Airport

Just for the fun and frivolousness of it: Gillies Bay Airport is the airport with the code YGB.

Rabbiner Doktor

Many years ago, I took a course in JHU together with Rabbi Zalman Leff shlita, now Rosh Kollel in Boston. My secular name is Robert, and the professor called me Bob. 

Reb Zalman henceforth called me Dr. Bob, and the nickname stuck at NIRC.

Some 40 years later it has become a reality.

As this was a PhD by prior publication, my "dissertation" was my sefer, The Contemporary Eruv. However, I did have to write a journal article and a commentary on my work. The commentary is at 

https://www.academia.edu/37950986/Contextualizing_The_Contemporary_Eruv

the article has been posted here before. It is at

https://www.academia.edu/34608808/The_Non-Territoriality_of_an_Eruv_Ritual_Bearings_in_Jewish_Urban_Life

In the meantime I would like to thank HKBH.

and,

 My in-laws, especially my mother-in-law, for their extraordinary encouragement and assistance,

Rabbi Michael Broyde and Rabbi Shlomo Pill for their guidance and assistance,

My wife, for everything.

I am sad that my mother a"h did not survive to celebrate this moment. She pushed me for many years  to get to this point. May she have much nachas in Shomayim.

Another Answer to the Bais Yosef's Chanukah Question

This was forwarded to me by Reb Yossel Friedman who received it from a group post by Reb Baruch Kelman. All I would like to add is that before seeing this post I told my chevrusa that this can serve as yet another answer to the Bais Yosef's question as to why we celebrate eight days of Chanukah: It is is the zeh l'umas zeh of the Solistice Holiday. V'yesh l'ha'arich!

-------- Original message --------

From: Jeff Bienenfeld 

Hi All,

The Chanukah story took place in the 2^nd Century B.C.E. However, there is a fascinating historical antecedent to this eight-day festival, a primeval Chanukah if you will, that harks back to the dawn of Creation. Here’s how the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 8a) relates the tale (in loose translation):

When Adam experienced the first winter of Creation and saw the duration of daytime gradually decreasing, he said, “Woe is to me; perhaps because I have sinned, it is becoming a darkened world for me and the cosmos is returning to a state of astonishing emptiness, and this then is the form that the death sentence decreed upon me from Heaven will take.” Adam then arose and engaged in fasting and prayer for eight days. However, once he experienced the Winter solstice and saw the daytime gradually increasing, he said, “This phenomenon is evidently part of the natural cyclical occurrence of the world.” In thanksgiving, he went and established eight festival days. The following year (l’shana acheres), he established both these and those as festival days (l’Yamim Tovim).

The phrase, “the following year (l’shana acheres), …” is found almost verbatim in only once other source in the entire Talmud; to wit, when our Sages discuss the miracle of Chanukah (Shabbos 21b), “The following year, they [the Chashmonaim] established these eight days as festival days (l’Yamim Tovim).” The comparison is striking and no mere coincidence. If Chanukah then can be traced back to primordial man, what message inheres in this startling linkage.

An answer might be found in part in an insightful essay by R. Shlomo Volbe (20^th C., Israel) in his acclaimed Alei Shur (Vol.I:22). For all the similarities between these two accounts, there is one clear difference. In the Chanukah of Creation, it is Gd and He alone who establishes the laws of Nature. Man looks on passively, and in perceiving the orderly and fixed cosmos, is consoled by its predictability and undeviating regularity. Gd, the Creator, notwithstanding the periodic darkness, has not abandoned the world. His daylight returns.

In the Chanukah of the Maccabees, the story also begins with an impending darkness. The Hellenistic influence on Jewish life was denominated metaphorically as an ominous, shady period. “Darkness – this refers to the Greek tyranny which imposed terrible decrees upon the Jewish people” (Bereishis Rabah 2:5). However, in this story, the marvelous turnabout, the transition from darkness to light, did not occur by the Hand of HaShem, but rather was a consequence of the intrepid courage of one small priestly family who, by their heroism, inspired their generation to rise up and defeat the overwhelmingly powerful forces of the Syrian Greeks. The famous Chanukah miracle only occurred - Gd only intervened - after these Maccabees acted first.

In this bold display of faith, the Chashmonaim behaved quite differently than the First Man. At Creation, man merged with the natural order, identified with its deterministic laws and, at this stage in his anthropology, viewed his reality as defined by his biological pushes and fantasies. Would he be, could he be anything more than a sophisticated animal? Could he ever apprehend the holy and majestic, the great transcendental experience of an expansive and free will existence through which he could forge ahead and rise to a level of moral behavior which would crown him as a “bit lower than the angelic?” Aboriginal man was comfortable within the natural order, but he was not great. In contrast, the Maccabees, by transcending - I would say, defying - the bounded biological and physical law, triggered the miraculous occurrence. Invited down by man’s seemingly futile effort to rededicate the Temple by an ineffectual act of kindling the Menorah flame with one small bit of pure oil, Gd destabilizes the natural law He created and thus demonstrates that Nature as such can be transcended through man’s daring initiative.[1]

The message then of both the Chanukah of Creation and the Chanukah of the Maccabees is plain. No person should ever feel he is compelled to behavior or act, that “he can’t help himself,” that nothing can change because “he is what he is.” To buy into this bankrupt philosophy is to endorse a Hellenistic view of man as a homo sapiens, just a smart animal and nothing more. Our Chanukah declares that man can be so much more, that he “reach beyond his grasp” because when he attempts to rise above his biology, he sets in motion HaShem’s miraculous interventions and is able to soar to unimaginable heights of greatness and holiness.

Such Godly involvement may not be as dramatic and as openly miraculous as a small cruse of oil lasting eight days, but HaShem’s intimate involvement in the affairs of man should never be questioned. At any moment, man’s valiant and righteous deeds can activate a Divine response - concealed perhaps, but no less real - that in the wink of an eye (k’heref ayin) can turn a bleak and gloomy night of defeat and failure into a bright and glorious day filled with promise and bathed with lasting meaning and worth.[2]

Good Shabbos and Happy Chanukah.

---

[1] Rambam (Hilchos Chanukah 4:12) writes, "The mitzvah of the Chanukah lights is an extremely beloved commandment…" Rambam does not use expression for any other mitzvah. Why should Chanukah be so cherished? The Shulchan Aruch (OH 671:6) rules that the Chanukah lights should be lit below ten tefachim (~3 feet). In Chassidic lore, this halacha implies that HaShem is prepared to come down to our level notwithstanding the fact that the Talmud rules (Succah 5a) that generally the Divine Presence (Shechinah) does not descend below ten tefachim. On Chanukah, however, HaShem chooses to respond to man’s light and happily lowers Himself, as it were, to listen to us, to illuminate us with His light of holiness and elevate us to Him. And with that uplifting, miracles happen!

[2] The Chazon Ish was once approached by a man pleading poverty and desperate for a miracle but sadly understood that “לאו בכל יום מתרחש ניסא, that not every day do miracles occur” (Pesachim 50b). The Chazon Ish corrected him and said that this rabbinic phrase should be read as follows, “לאו, It isn’t so! Miracles do happen every day.” It all depends upon us!

Non-Jewish Music

Part of an extracurricular shiur to girls at YBH. My inexperience with recording with the phone. Sorry the rest of the shiur wasn't captured. But this part is pretty much complete and self-contained.

בין ישראל לאומות

This is a post I recently made on Facebook:

One of our group’s respected members wrote me directly (lightly edited):

“After just reading about the gentile who gave away the prize money I attempted to write a comment three times. Each time I erased it before posting. This needs to stay private. How many of us would do anything remotely close to this for gentiles, other than Jewish federations? Instead we write articles about the failure of the Tikun Olam direction of the non-Orthodox, which has some truth but also creates confusion about being an Ohr LaGoyim. And then there's the actual issur of Lo Sechanem. And in light of things like this, what exactly is meant by Chesed Leumim Chatas? RSRH writes in many places of the light of the Torah influencing the rest of the world. Would he say that such kindness is proof of that and that Chesed Leumim Chatas isn't a blanket statement, but the way it often is, which will ultimately change by the Torah's influence? And what can be said about Lo Sechanem? And while I'm asking questions, if we are an Ohr LaGoyim, why is it assur to teach Torah to gentiles (without creative heterim)?”

These are excellent questions that must be aired and considered. I will leave any answers to these questions to the comments or to later posts. First I would like to include here a recent discussion in which I participated. I believe it is self explanatory, and very pertinent. All names are changed and the conversation is lightly edited.

Sarah

The concept of “Esav sonei Es Yaakov”, is the root where all the hatred of the non-Jews toward the Jews stems from. Throughout my life, I never really felt the hatred. The tension was always in the news, in countries not close to home. The text messages would come through saying “please daven for…. Major attack on the Jewish community in the shul in France…” I would stop, say my Tehillim and move onward with my day. Until one day that all changed. It was an ordinary Tuesday morning in ABC Seminary in Jerusalem. The teacher who was teaching began to wrap up her lesson a couple of minutes early and she said that Rabbi X the school principal would like to speak to the entire school together before the class is dismissed. We all sat in our seats patiently. What can Rabbi X want from us all today? We were anxious to get out and go enjoy our lunch break outdoors. That plan changed during Rabbi X’s speech. “Girls the Arabs are out to get us Jews, this is a serious situation. Stabbings are occurring left and right in our neighborhood to our neighbors. No girl is to leave the school building without my permission. Just this morning in front of the supermarket about three minutes away from our school an Arab stabbed a young Jewish man who is now in critical condition and the Arab was not yet found.” This is when it hit me hard. “Esav Sonei Es Yaakov,” this time it wasn't just in the news or far away. It was my neighborhood where I was currently living, and my fellow neighbors being stabbed. This shook all my classmates and I tremendously. The persecution was felt enormously. All we could do at that point was say Tehillim and daven for the salivation of the Jews.

Reuven

It seems that Rabbi Bechhofer would disagree with the basis of your post. He writes that Esav sonei es Yaakov is not a Maamar Chazal and that Rashi brings it solely to explain the relationship between the brothers....

However I would agree with you. Rashi uses the expression "Halacha Beyadua" that Esav sonei es Yaakov. If Rashi was just mentioning a hatred that was not for generations but just between Esav to Yaakov he would not have gone out of his way to add "Halacha Beyadua." Also the Term Halacha makes it sound like its a binding statement. For example we say Halacha Moshe Misinai, these Halachos are not said for one generation but rather for all generations!

That being said I still believe your use was not entirely correct. The Arabs are not descendants of Yishmael, not Esav. So although they also hate us that use would not be the way to bring it out.

YGB

These are diyukim for Rishonim to make. Not for us. Especially since the "Halacha" is in all likelihood a typo. I don't find the diyuk particularly compelling in any event...

Reuven

Thank you for the comment.

After doing a little bit of research I was delighted to find that Reb Moshe Feinstein in Igros Moshe CM 2:77 makes the diyuk I wrote earlier.

In a responsum to the Jews of England who asked whether or not they should take money for their institutions from their government, Reb Moshe quotes this Rashi. Reb Moshe is troubled by the use of the word "Halacha." Reb Moshe explains that Just like Halacha is binding and never changing so to the actuality of Esav hating Yaakov is binding and never changing!

He cautions the questioners from bringing a lawsuit against the government so as not to spark their hatred for us.

Although It is interesting that this is not something that is found earlier than Reb Moshe, It seems their is some merit to the other side...

YGB

Nice find. Now, tell me, is that what you believe?

הרב יוסף אליהו הענקין תקף בחריפות גישה זו כפי שמובא בספר תשובות איברא סימן קט"ז. "ועוון פלילי מצד אותם המטיפים הפטפטנים שדורשים תמיד 'הלכה הוא שעשו שונא ליעקב', והשנאה עולמית. זה נגד האמת ונגד חז"ל והמקרא, שעשו גופא לא הי' רשע תמיד ושנאתו פסקה על ידי הנהגה מתאמת וכמו עשו הראשון כן הם ג"כ דורותיו שהכנעה מביאה לשלום, וזהו שאמר בן זומא (אבות פ"ד מ"א) 'איזהו מכובד המכבד את הבריות', כונתו גם נגד האומות, כשמכבדים אותם ואומרים להם אוהבי אתה הם נעשים לאוהבים על ידי זה ולהפך כשאומרים שונא אתה נעשים לשונא וזהו מעשים בכל יום". כלומר, לדעתו אין לראות במדרש זה קביעה כאילו ששנאתו של עשיו היא נצחית, אלא עשיו שינה את יחסו ליעקב לאורך חייו, ובאופן דומה גם צאצאיו של עשיו יכולים לשנות את יחסם לישראל מתקופה לתקופה.

BTW, the original is:

וישקהו, שלא נשקו בכל לבו. ר' שמעון בן יוחיי או' והלא בידוע שעשו שונא ליעקב? אלא נהפכו רחמיו באותה שעה ונשקו בכל לבו. (ספרי במדבר סט, עמ' 167 במהד' כהנא)

It is clear that the הלכה is an incorrect expansion of וה that some scribe or printer made in transcribing the Rashi.

Reuven

Wow that is an incredible piece!

Building on the diyuk I made above I do believe there is an inner hatred that many non-Jews have for us. In the Holocaust many friendly Germans turned on their Jewish neighbors once the Nazis came into power. The fact that they are nice today doesn't mean that will continue in the future. I am not saying that all gentiles fall under this category. However I do believe we always have to be suspicious and careful. As we saw in Germany, most friendly Germans either turned on the Jews or did not defend the Jews when they were being mass murdered.

One of the disadvantages of Galus is that we are under the control of the non Jewish nations. We yearn for the Geulah so that we can return to being under the wings of Hashem.

YGB

Two points:

1. If Goyim have an intrinsic hatred for Jews, how exactly is "Ohr laGoyim" supposed to work?

2. Here is a question that disturbs me immensely when I come across Esav sonei l'Yaakov literalism: Suppose the tables were turned and Goyim were being annihilated by some Jewish pseudo Nazi group: How many Orthodox Jews would put their lives on the line to be "Righteous Jews " and save Goyim?

Reuven

Thank you for your questions. I am enjoying this discussion immensely.

As to your first point, I am not so familiar with the sources of "Ohr laGoyim." I understand your question and I hope to do further research over Shabbos.

I do not agree with your second question at all. In the times of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash the Talmud in Gittin (55b) tells us that the Romans laid siege on Jerusalem. The Talmud relates that there was a group of people who wanted to wage war and destroy the Romans.

The Jewish people listened to the sages of those times and did not join the Baryonim. The Baryonim burned all the Jewish supplies in order to push the Jews into war. However this did not change the trust that the Jewish people had in their leaders. The war never came into being. The Orthodox Jewish people will always follow the direction of their leaders, and not follow the lowly people that want to destroy life.

in Germany we saw the opposite.

How could a civilized nation turn into a death machine?

How could a lowly man like Hitler become a role model for a prosperous country?

How could a lowly group like the SS become the accepted law enforcement of an entire country?

I would suggest that this is only possible because of this inner hatred that non-Jews have for us. All they need, is someone to bring that hatred to the surface. Millions of people joined the Nazis in killing the Jews.

The Jews are privileged to be a nation that strives for morality. We care for all people regardless of their religion. We would never allow a lowly group like the Baryonim take control of the morality and ideals that we believe in!

YGB

The mashal is faulty. You are talking about a case where there is an intact sagacious and righteous leadership. I am talking about a case like Nazi Germany where the leadership consists, just for the parallel's sake of, say, an array of Baruch Goldsteins...

Reuven

The point I was trying to make earlier is that Klal Yisroel would never have such a group.

Hitler was a low life that was in prison. The original group of the SS were uneducated gangsters.

Rashi calls the Baryonim lowly individuals. they also were a small group of lowlives. Klal Yisrael would never let a group like this turn into a government of the people!

There would never be a government of Baruch Goldsteins that would want to kill out a country.

In my opinion the fact that Germany let a group of low-lifes turn a country of educated decent people into monsters is an indication that there was a hatred that was brought to the surface...

YGB

I don't blame you for trying to evade the question. It's not easy to come to grips with it.

You don't need to have a government of Goldsteins to face the question. Resistance fighters and other Righteous Gentiles who were governed by hostile invaders risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The question is whether we would stick out our necks to save Christians similarly.

This became a more disturbing question for me a couple of weeks ago when I saw that the Oz v'Hadar and Artscroll Shas'in had eliminated the Shittah Mekubetzes in the name of the Meiri and others printed on 38a and 113a in the bottom left hand corner that had appeared in the Vilna Shas'in. Evidently the notion that Goyim should be treated well was too irksome...

Reuven

The answer to your question is simple.

Although as I explained it would never happen...

If it were to happen I would ask my Rav what the appropriate Halachic thing is to do..

However as I explained earlier even if Jews wouldn't help the gentiles, you would never see thousands upon thousands of people actively helping the Goldsteins in committing mass murders...

In Germany thousands of Germans, Poles, and Ukranians joined arms with the Nazis.

YGB

Still evading...

And if people had no Rabbonim they could reach, or their Rabbonim said there is no chiyuv to place yourselves in sakkonoh...

Reuven

If they said not to put my life in danger than I wouldn't... But as I said I would never join forces with these people....

In Germany they did.

Not sure what you mean that I am evading the q..

YGB

Forget Germany for a minute. Every Pole, every Dutch, every Dane, every Belgian, every French, etc. individual who risked his or her life saving Jews without asking their pastor for a ruling on the issue would seem, by your lights, to be a fool. And those who did not risk their lives were totally justified. The Avenue of Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem might as well be called The Avenue of Foolish Gentiles…

Shimon

Rabbi, with all due respect, please do not talk about past Jewish leaders in such a demeaning fashion. To compare Baruch Goldstein zt"l Hy"d to the Nazis is an atrocity in itself. I ate a meal at Harav's Goldstein's best friend who was his neighbor in Chevron at the time, and he spoke very highly of Harav Goldstein. Harav Goldstein fought righteously for the well-being of the Jews in Chevron, (who were under constant attack by the Arabs,) and stepped up as the "Ish" in the place where there was no Ish. May his memory be a source of merit for us all.

YGB

Not for me. Baruch Goldstein has much Jewish blood on his hands. But if you can give him the appellation of zt"l, then we come from very different perspectives that cannot be reconciled.

Levi

I must say a very interesting topic. Thank you, Rabbi, for educating us about the different approaches to "Esav sonei es Yaakov."

Here are some comments I have about your opinion.

1. Yes as you wrote it is not a Halacha that Esav sonei es Yaakov and everyone has the ability to change there approach. It seems like that they all start with hatred too us.

2. In regards to the talk about the Nazis, how could you compare the massacre that Baruch Goldstein performed to the Nazis? As Shimon wrote the Nazis had many followers and supporters and were slowly making there way to capture the world.

Baruch Goldstein was a psychopath whose acts were condemned by all!

Here is a question I do believe should be discussed. With all the rage about the Nazis, they had beliefs. Many would disagree but they had explanations for there acts. If we were to know who Amalek was today we would have an obligation to murder all the nation of Amalek. So why are we any different than the Nazis ?

YGB

1. I don't think so. I don't think my cleaning lady hates us. I actually think she likes us.

2. I did not draw such a comparison. I posed a hypothetical question.

3. Baruch Goldstein's acts were supported by at least one participant in this discussion.

4. It is a common misconception that there is an automatic obligation to annihilate Amalek. It only pertains if and when we ask them and they refuse to accept sheva mitzvos Bnei Noach. See the Rambam in Hilchos Melachim.

Davening etc.

The Impact of Chanukah 2008-12-24

The Dawkins Delusion 2009-12-28

Can a Baal Teshuva Pick and Choose Minhagim? Part 3 2010_11_17

Can a Baal Tehuva Pick and Choose Different Minhagim? Part 2 2010_11_1

History vs Torah part 3 2009-12-23

Questions and Answers On Jewish History: Education 2008-08-06

The Failings of the Jewish Educational System 2010-09-14

Understanding Tefillah part 2 2011-01-12

The Relevance of the Rebbe In Our Times 2010-06-15

The 12th Principle of Rambam: Mashiach part 5 2009-11-30

Introduction to Christianity and Why We Dont Believe In It (12th Princ...

The 12th principle of Rambam: Mashiach and Misnagdim part 3 2009_11_25

The Jewish Attitude Towards Women Part 2 2008-07-30

The Jewish Attitude Towards Women Part 1 2008-07-29

The Tragedy of The Jewish Observer part 2 2009-05-05

The Tragedy of The Jewish Observer part 1 2009-05-05

The Fundamentals of Judaism 2010-06-02

The 7th of the 13 Principles of Rambam 2009-11-09

The 4th of RAMBAM'S 13 Principles of Belief 2009-09-08

Should a Sefardi Jew Answer to Ashkenazi Brochos? part 2 2010-11-03

Should a Sefardi Jew Answer to Ashkenazi Brochos? part 1 2010-11-02

Sefiras HaOmer 2007-01-01

Questions on: Reincarnations, The Quran and The NewTestament 2010-10-27

Questions and Answers: Moshiach, Slaves, Cholov Yisrael 2009-02-17

Questions and Answers 03 17 09 2009-04-06

Question on Psak Halacha 2010-11-01

Noachides in the Jewish World part 3 2010-12-20

Halachic Dateline Part 3 2009-01-21

Halachic Dateline Part 2 2009-01-20

Halachic Dateline Part 1 2009-01-14

Putting Teffilin On on the Airplane 2010-02-08

Noachides in the Jewish World part 2 2010-10-11

Noachides in the Jewish World part 1 2010-10-11

New Random Questions Oct 18 5771 2010-10-22

Music, Ibn Ezra 2009-05-04

Improving My Prayer. Also: Understanding Tefillah part 1 2011-01-11

Judaism and Shariah Law 2010-09-13

Jewish Meditation 2008-09-30

Insights Into Chabad-Lubavitch 2008-09-28

History vs Torah part 2 2010-08-18

History vs Torah part 1 2010-08-17

Halachic Tidbits Part 2 2010-10-13

Halachic Tidbits Part 1 2010-10-13

Halachic Definition of Death Debate Part 2 2011-01-19

Halachic Definition of Death Debate Part 1 2011-01-18

Halacha and its Acceptance 2009-06-03-1

Free Will and General FAQs 2010-01-04

Emuna Peshuta 2009-06-23

Definition of a Talmid Chacham 2009-06-24

Daas Torah 2009-06-02

Current Themes, Stiff Necked Generation 2011-02-25

Chazal on Physiology vs Psychology 2011-01-26

Can a Baal Teshuva Pick and Choose Minhagim? Part 1 2007-11-17

Bitachon and Dating part 2 2010-05-26

Bitachon and Dating part 1 2010-05-24

Another Set of FAQs 2010-01-06

A Generation of Little Accomplishment and Meaning 2008-12-02

The Mussar Movement 2009-11-11

The 12th principle of Rambam: Mashiach and Chabad part 1 2009-11-23

Chayei Sarah Audio Shiur: Chesed and Gevurah

A talk given via Skype to the students at Shalhevet High School in Vancouver, BC

Stream

Download


A summary of the talk, written by my daughter, Head of School at Shalhevet:

When Eliezer asks Hashem to send him the appropriate wife for Yitzchok, he davens (prays), "V'asisa chesed im adoni - and You will do kindness with my master." What kindness is he referring to?

The Meshech Chochma explains that each of the Avos (forefathers) had a defining middah that represented, as well, their relationship with Hashem.   Yitzchok'sdefining middah (character trait) was gevurah - strength and restraint. This is opposite of chessed, and each trait has its time and place. 

Avraham represented and exhibited the middah of chessed: he was outgoing, and he made active efforts in outreach. Yitzchok represented the middah of gevurah: he was very internal, introverted, contemplative, and restrained. Each of them needed a wife who would balance them out - Sara was considered to have the trait of gevurah and Yitzchok was looking for a wife with the trait of chessed. [Yaakov who had the middah of tiferes - a blend of gevurah and chessed - needed two wives who had each of these middos to balance out his character.]

When Eliezer saw Rivka and realized she was the girl who personified chessed whom he was looking for he said, "B"H asher lo azav chasdo va'amito... - blessed is Hashem Who has not removed  His kindness and truth..." The Meshech Chochma explains that at first Eliezer was asking Hashem to find the character trait of kindness he was seeking, but with this tefilla (prayer), he was thanking Hashem for not forsaking the kindness necessary to make Yitzchok into the person he needed to be.

All of us have all of these middos, and in every situation we encounter in life we have to determine what is tiferes: what is the glory for this situation? There will always be a time when one of these are necessary; often we need to use them in a mixture. More specifically, every relationship has a time for chessed and a time for gevurah, as well. When we determine who are the best friends for us to choose, how to best relate to them, and how to act in general, these are decisions to make with these ideas in mind.

We'll know we're making good choices when we use our middos l'shem Shamayim - for the sake of Hashem. We should always look to live our lives in harmony with those around us, and be"H we will be zoche to meaningful, enriching relationships!

Mrs. Meira Federgrun

Head of School

 

Shalhevet Girls High School

785 16th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1S8

(T) 604-568-9250

principal@shalhevet.ca  

www.shalhevet.ca

   

Misaskim Heading To Pittsburgh To Assist Local Chevra Kaddisha

As I wrote upon posting this in the Orthodox Jews Against Discrimination and Racism group:

Somehow, this seemed to me the most appropriate "commentary" to post here...

HY"D, TNZB"H.

However, for those of us who think TR was the greatest president, courtesy of Fred MacDowell and Ariel Segal, I would like to add, of historical significance (from https://digitalcollections.library.cmu.edu/portal/main.jsp?flag=browse&smd=1&awdid=1):

Also from Reb Chaim, on Yisurin

Also from Reb Chaim, on yisurin. I particularly like the paragraph on gilgulim. Secular research on reincarnation (via hypnosis) also reveals that neshamos are parties to the choice of their circumstances in their next sojourn down here. 

From the Divrei Si'ach to Parashas Noach.

A very interesting perspective on Histaklus from R' Chaim Kanievesky

From this week's Divrei Si'ach. You must read the entire section.

Saying Over What I Said At My Mother A"H's Levaya

This is what I spoke about at my mother a"h's levaya this past Sunday night. Then, it was probably incoherent. I repeated it this afternoon as I was sitting shiva at my house.

Testimonial Letter Written for my mother a"h at age 20

Testimonial Letter Written for my mother a"h at age 20, when she left her first job.

Captures my mother's essence very well!

Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Mrs. Schulamith Bechhofer, 87, OBM • CrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch NewsCrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News

Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Mrs. Schulamith Bechhofer, 87, OBM • CrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch NewsCrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News



Basically the same article as the previous blog post.

Mrs. Shulamis Bechhofer, 87, OBM

Mrs. Shulamis Bechhofer, 87, OBM

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	Oct 9, 2018 Mrs. Shulamis Bechhofer, 87, OBM Mrs. Shulamis Bechhofer, eldest sibling of the illustrious Schochet family who survived the Holocaust, passed away. By COLlive reporter Mrs. Shulamis Bechhofer, a resident of Far Rockaway in Queens, NY, and the oldest of Schochet siblings, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, 28 Tishrei 5779. She was 87. A couple days before her passing she shared parting words with her family, filled with serenity and love, and placed her hands on their heads to bless them. Born in 1931, to her illustrious parents Rabbi Dov Yehuda and Sara Sosha Schochet, the eldest of the 10 Schochet siblings, she was a pillar of strength and support as they lost their grandparents in Telz and Kelm to the horrors of the Holocaust. While her father served the community as the Rav in Basil and later in Holland, Schulamith was her mother's right hand. When the Schochet family immigrated to Canada in the early 1950s, the family picture was on the front page of newspapers, so rare and miraculous was it to see a family with ten children surviving the war and immigrating from Europe. Mrs. Bechhofer deep passion and love of Torah empowered her to raise her four children to continue the legacy of spreading the light of Yiddishkeit and living a life in service of Hashem. Schulamith was a renowned mechaneches, second grade for many years at Torah Academy For Girls, balancing her brilliance in learning with her unique ability to connect to her students with warmth and humor. Her nurturing spirit was visible in her meticulous home, with greenery and plants blossoming all around, tended to with her loving care. A woman so filled with G-dly energy, she used the last decades of her meaningful life as a dedicated shadchan. Amazingly, Schulamith kept up with the advances in technology well into her 80s and had organized lists on her laptop categorized by age group, background, interest and other relevant details. She was tireless and spent countless hours meeting with prospective shidduch candidates in her home and served as their mentor, dating coach and guide. Any earnings from successful shidduchim was allocated to tzedaka in support of Yeshivos and Torah learning so dear to her heart. When it came to material possessions, Mrs. Bechhofer lived with simplicity, her focus was on a life rich with spirituality and the funds she saved enabled her to donate a Sefer Torah in memory of her parents to Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon Chabad in Los Angeles. She was predeceased by her brother Rabbi Dr. J. Immanuel Schochet. She is survived by her children Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, Rabbi Yochanan Meir Bechhofer, Mrs. Shoshana Rachel Ungar, and Mrs. Ariella Brown; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her siblings Mrs. Ruth Averbuch of Crown Heights, Mrs. Batya Wagner of Toronto, Mrs. Amina Newman of Long Beach CA, Mr. Joseph Daniel Schochet of Toronto, Rabbi Dovid Schochet and Rabbi Elisha Shochet of Toronto, Rabbi Ovadia Schochet in Miami and Rabbi Ezra Schochet in Los Angeles. Her sisters are sitting shiva at her home in Far Rockaway at 146 Beach 9th st. Shachris is at 7:30 a.m. and mincha/ma'ariv at 6:05pm. No visits after 10 pm. Rabbi Ezra Schochet is sitting shiva until Sunday at 821 N Formosa Ave. #204 in Los Angeles. Minyanim Times: Shachris: Tuesday-Friday - 9:30, Sunday - 8:30 am. Mincha: Tuesday-Thursday - 3:45, Friday 1:10 pm. Shiva Times: 2:30-3:45 & 6:30-9:30 pm - no visits other times. Rabbi Elisha Shochet is sitting shiva at 5937 Bathurst St. Apt. 3. in Toronto. Minyanim: Shachris 8:45, Mincha 6:20, Mariv 7:15. No visits between 2:00-6:00 pm. Rabbi Dovid Schochet is sitting Shiva at 42 Milner Gate in Thornhill. Minyanim: Shachris 7am. Shiva visits until 11:30am and after 4:00 pm. Minyan for Mincha followed by maariv. Baruch Dayan Haemes. Visit Chabad.org/video for more Jewish videos. What's Your Opinion? Post a Comment Title: Your Comment: Comments must be approved before being published. Thank You!

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