HaMaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Ki Tetze Volume V, Number 44 (230) 14 Elul 5751/August 24, 1991 "Chamishi D'Nechemata" Parashat Overview The Midrash on this Parasha (Devarim Rabbah 6:3) states that the verse (Mishlei 1:9), "For they are a beautiful accompaniment ('Liviat Chen')," refers to the many Mitzvot of the Torah, and especially to those that are found in this Parasha. The Midrash says: "Whenever you go, the Mitzvot accompany you. If you build a house, build a fence around the roof (Devarim 22:8). "When you install a door, put up a 'Mezuzah' (Devarim 6:8). "When you put on new clothes, make sure they have no 'Sha'atnez' - prohibited mixture of wool and linen (Devarim 22:11). "When you get a cut your hair, do not cut the 'Pe'ot - corners (Vayikra 19:27). "If you have a field and you wish to plow it, make sure that your team does not have an ox and donkey together (Devarim 22:10). "When you sow, do not plant 'Kilayim' - forbidden mixtures (Devarim 22:9). "When you harvest your fields, make sure to leave gifts for the poor (Devarim 24:19-21). "Even if you are doing nothing, but merely walking down the road, the Mitzvot accompany you, as it is written, 'If you will chance upon a bird's nest...' (Devarim 22:6). R' Gedalya Schorr writes that this Midrash is explaining the purpose of Mitzvot. When a host accompanies a guest down the road, he shows that he feels a continuing relationship with the guest, even if the host and the guest must now be separated for a time. Similarly, the Mitzvot that Hashem gave us are an "accompaniment" for us. Although in this world we are relatively distant from Hashem, the Mitzvot demonstrate our continuing relationship to Him. When we go about our business in this world, there is a natural tendency to become more distant from G-d. Therefore, we are surrounded by Mitzvot which draw us back to Hashem. This can be understood on a deeper level. We are used to thinking, for example, that because we have houses, G-d gave us the Mitzvah to Mezuzah to sanctify the house. In fact, the cause-and- effect relationship is the reverse. G-d created the concept of housing in order to give us the Mitzvot associated with it. In everything we do, we can find, if we look below the surface, a hidden spiritual message which can aid us in our service of Hashem. This is alluded to in the verse quoted above, "For they are a beautiful accompaniment ('Liviat Chen')." The word "Chen" is the abbreviation of "Chochmah Nistarah" - "hidden wisdom", for every action that we take has hidden Mitzvot accompanying it. Elul, concludes R' Schorr, is a particularly appropriate time to look for the hidden wisdom in creation, for creation began in Elul. (The sixth day of creation was Rosh Hashana.) In this way, all of our actions in the coming year can achieve their deeper religious significance. (Ohr Gedalyahu, "Elul" section 3) ************************************* "Do not observe the donkey of your brother or his ox falling and ignore it - you shall surely help it up." (Devarim 22:4) In Parashat Mishpatim, the same Mitzvah is given, but there the Torah refers to the animal of "your enemy." Why this difference? With regard to the verse in Mishpatim the Gemara asks: How does one have an enemy? Is it then permitted to hate another Jew? The Gemara explains that "your enemy" refers to one whom you have witnessed sinning. If he refuses too repent, you are obligated to hate him. However, writes R' Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, that was only before the sin of the Golden Calf (which is found in the Torah after Parashat Mishpatim), for then all Jews were on such an exalted level that they were able to hate someone merely because he had sinned. But today, who can make such a claim?! Rather, we are all brothers. (Meshech Chochmah) *********************************** Although Midrash Rabbah is not considered to be one of the "Halachic Midrashim", the excerpt quoted on the previous pages demonstrates how much care is needed to appreciate every nuance of a Torah scholar's words. Rambam and other "Poskim" argue whether a doorway which does not have a door requires a Mezuzah. Is the sage of our Midrash expressing an opinion when he says, "When you install a door, put up a Mezuzah"?! ************************************* The Study of Kabbalah The 16th and 17th centuries saw many developments in the area of Torah study, some of which we have examined over the past several weeks. The next area which we will cover, albeit briefly, is the study of "Kabbalah", which saw a resurgence in the 16th and later centuries. The Torah consists of four levels: "P'shat" (literal meaning), "Remez" (hints, e.g. through "Gematria"), "D'rash" (exegesis and allegory), and "Sod" (secrets). The last of these is what is commonly known as "Kabbalah". The literal meaning of the word Kabbalah is "that which is received," and the word is often used to refer to the Oral Law as a whole. This is because the Oral Law, being largely unwritten (as the Talmud once was) is passed from generation to generation and "received" by the student from his teacher. Because the secret part of the Torah is the least written about area of knowledge, it too is often called "Kabbalah". Kabbalah consists of several parts. "Ma'aseh B'reishit ("The Workings of Creation") describes how the upper and lower worlds were created, how they are directed, and how our observance of Mitzvot helps to fulfill the Divine plan. "Ma'aseh Merkavah" ("The Workings of the Chariot") deals with the way that a person perfects himself until he becomes a "chariot" for G-d's glory, and perhaps, a prophet. There is also "Kabbalah Ma'asit" ("Practical Kabbalah") through which the sages of generations past performed miracles for the Jewish people. (R' Yaakov Hillel, Shlita: Tamim Tiheyeh) Unlike the P'shat, Remez, and D'rash levels of Torah which have been continuously and widely studied in every generation, the study of Kabbalah was nearly lost due to the suffering of the exile. (Since it is known to fewer sages than other parts of the Torah, it is more easily lost.) Many sages of the Mishnah were experts in Kabbalah, most notably R' Akiva, R' Shimon bar Yochai, and R' Nechuniah. The latter two wrote the Zohar and the Bahir, respectively, two of the foundation works for later study of Kabbalah. However, as Roman persecution of the Jews increased, the concentration necessary to master the secrets of Kabbalah became more difficult to attain, and only the most select sages possessed this wisdom. The secrets of the Kabbalah were nevertheless handed down from teacher to select student, some of the best known of whom were "Ramban" (1194-1270), "Ramchal" (1707-1797). Additionally, tradition records that after some sages attained all that man can attain on his own, "Eliyahu HaNavi" and other angels appeared to them to instruct them further. The city of Tzefat (Safed), Israel, in the 16th century may well have witnessed a greater concentration of Torah sages than any place since the end of the Talmudic period. Alongside sages such as R' Yaakov Bei Rav, R' Yosef Caro, R' Shlomo Alkabetz, and R' Moshe Alshich, were two men on whose teachings nearly all later study of Kabbalah is based. These were R' Moshe Kordevero ("Ramak") and R' Yitzchak Luria ("Arizal"). The latter in particular, through the writings of his leading student, R' Chaim Vital, has influenced the study of Kabbalah and our daily lives in ways that cannot be measured. (Even a cursory reading of the Mishnah Berura and other Halachic codes would reveal that more often than most people realize, the Halacha which we follow is based on Arizal's teachings.) The Chassidic movement, in particular, was influenced from its inception (ca.1740) by Kabbalah. ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Daily Mishnah Temurah 1:1-2 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Please join Mishnah Yomit participants in beginning a new tractate today Daily Halacha Orach Chaim (Mishnah Berura) 303:21-23 (Learn three paragraphs each day) Daf Yomi Yoma 21 (Learn two sides of a page each day) Pirkei Avot Chapters 1-2 (Learn two chapters each Shabbat afternoon until Rosh Hashana) Rambam Chapter/Day: Hilchot Tumai Mishkav v'Moshav - Chapter 4 3 Chapters / Day: Hilchot Malveh v'Loveh - Chapters 19 - 21 Sefer Ha'Mitzvot Sh: N236, Su: N237, M: P198 Tu: P246 W: P246, Th: P246, F: P246 ************************************ The hard copy distribution of HaMaayan is sponsored this week by: The Vogel family in honor of their first granddaughter, Miriam Elana Mandelbaum ******************** Posted by Alan Broder, ajb@grebyn.com (uunet!grebyn!ajb), who should be contacted to request back issues of HaMaayan or to get on or off the direct email mailing list. Shlomo Katz can not receive EMAIL, however I will pass on any comment forwarded to me, or alternately, send your comments care of yehuda@gwuvm.bitnet