Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Vayelech Shabbat Shuvah Volume VI/Number 51 (285) 6 Tishrei 5752/October 2, 1992 The Gemara (Rosh Hashana 16b) teaches: R' Cruspedai said in the name of R' Yochanan, "Three books are opened on Rosh Hashana - one for the righteous, one for the wicked, and one for those who are in between. The names of the perfectly righteous are written in the "Book of Life"; those of the completely wicked are written in the "Book of Death"; those who are in between are left in limbo. If they repent, they are given life; if not, death." Why, asks R' Reuven Bengis (1865-1954), are there three books? Would not two books suffice, since those who are neither righteous nor wicked will eventually (on Yom Kippur) be awarded life or sentenced to death? The answer may be as follows: The Gemara (Berachot 34b) states, "In the place where a 'Ba'al Teshuva' (one who has repented) stands, even one who is perfectly righteous cannot stand." In some respects, the Gemara teaches, a Ba'al Teshuva - one who has confronted the "Yetzer haRa" and defeated it - is considered to be superior to a Tzaddik - one who has not been tested so. Thus we can understand the purpose of the third book; when Yom Kippur is over, the names of those who have repented are inscribed in this book, and it becomes the Book of Ba'alei Teshuva. (quoted in Nedivut Lev, p.24) ************************************ "I am on hundred twenty years old today." (31:2) Rashi comments: "[Moshe said,] 'Today my years and days are completed; today I will die'." Chazal teach that Tzaddikim often die on their birthdays, and so Moshe did. The Zohar teaches that that day was Shabbat. Specifically, Moshe (as well as Yosef and David) died on Shabbat afternoon, and that is why we recite the prayer "Tzidkatcha" which states our recognition that Hashem is just. This, however, presents a problem. Later in Parashat Vayelech we read that on the last day of Moshe's life, he wrote thirteen Torah scrolls. If that day was Shabbat, how did he do so? Commentaries suggest two answers. First, perhaps Moshe did not really die on Shabbat, but was only buried on that day. How is that possible? Moshe actually died on Friday, an instant before Shabbat began. In our observance of Shabbat we add extra minutes before the day begins and extra minutes afterwards because, among other reasons, we do not know exactly what defines the beginning or end of a day. Hashem, however, does know, and it was He who buried Moshe. He knows when Shabbat ends, and He was able to bury Moshe while our ancestors were still observing Shabbat. Thus, it appears as if Moshe was buried on Shabbat. Alternatively, suggest R' Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, there was no Shabbat that week, for the Midrash states that within Bnei Yisrael's camp, the sun shone for 36 hours that Friday. Thus, Moshe was able to write, while for the world-at-large, it was Shabbat. [Ed. note: The second answer provided above takes one side of a Halachic dispute whether a day can pass independent of sunrise and sunset. For example, how often does Shabbat occur at the North Pole where day and night last six months each. Those who disagree with R' Yosef Chaim state that every seventh 24-hour period would be Shabbat.] ************************************ Yom Kippur Although all year long the phrase, "Baruch Shem Kevod...," is recited after the first verse of "Shma" quietly, on Yom Kippur it is recited aloud. R' Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook explains this as follows (based on Ye'arot Dvash): Chazal say that we are greater than angels, for they utter G-d's name after three words, while we do so after two. This refers to the prophecy of Yeshayahu from which we learn that the angels prayer is, "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Hashem...." We, on the other hand, pray, "Shma Yisrael Hashem...." Nevertheless, because we know our own shortcomings and are wary of appearing to have too high an opinion of ourselves, we immediately say, "Baruch Shem," which is the formula which one recites if he has inadvertently taken Hashem's name in vain. Yet, because we don't want to plant any ideas in the mind of the prosecuting angel, we are careful to recite that formula in an undertone. On Yom Kippur, however, the prosecuting angel has no power over us. (Chazal note that the Gematria of "haSatan" - "the prosecutor" - is 364, representing the fact that on one day of the year he is powerless.) Therefore, on Yom Kippur we are not afraid to recite "Baruch Shem" aloud. (Olat Re'iyah, II p.345) ************************************ The story is told of a young American Yeshiva student who paid a visit to the Gerrer Rebbe (probably R' Simcha Bunim Alter, who passed away this past summer). "Where do you learn?" the Rebbe inquired. The young man named a certain well-known Yeshiva for beginners, but quickly added, "But I'm not a 'Ba'al Teshuva'." "Why not?" was the Rebbe's immediate response. ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit: Taharot 2:6-7 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit: OC/MB 490:2-4 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi: Yevamot 97 (Learn two sides of a page every day) ************************************ The hard copy distribution of this weeks Hamaayan is sponsored by: Rochelle Dimont, Sahra and Yale Ginsburg and family Yocheved and Jonathan Neuman, and Chayim Dimont, in memory of their husband and father, Rabbi A. Dimont Mr. and Mrs. Sam Markovitz on the Yahrzeits of their fathers, Yisroel Moshe Markovitz and Yitzchak Mordechai Gross Bert Anker, Judy Gabel, and Harvey Anker on the third Yahrzeit of their father, Moe Anker A"H Esther and Jacob Edeson and family on the Yahrzeit of Esther's aunt, Ms. Mathilda Bucher ************************************ Donations to Hamaayan are tax deductible