Today's Learning Pesachim 7:3-4 O.C. 32:36-38 Sponsored by Bava Metzia 39 the Meth family Yerushalmi-- in honor of Pesachim 52 the birth of Leah Meth Sponsored in memory of Rose Jacoby A"H by her children HAMAAYAN/THE TORAH SPRING edited by Shlomo Katz PARASHAT EIKEV Vol. VIII, No. 42 (377), 22 Menachem-Av 5754, July 30, 1994 In this parasha, the Torah refers to Eretz Yisrael as "the land in which you will not lack anything." The gemara in Berachot (36b) states that this is because the Land itself lacks nothing. Rav Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook zatz'l writes: The ultimate level which the Jews should attain in Eretz Yisrael is that not only will material wealth and luxuries not injure their spiritual standing they (i.e., wealth and luxuries) will strengthen one's service of G-d. Therefore, the Land does not lack a sample of everything, even that which should only grow at the end of the world. Similarly, Rav Kook continues, all of the world's wisdoms also must be present in Eretz Yisrael, even those which should belong to the nations of the world. This is why the midrash (Eichah Rabati) calls Eretz Yisrael, "[The land which is] many in wisdoms." (Ein Ayah) ************************************ "Hashem said to me, 'I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Leave Me alone and I will destroy them'." (9:6) The Sforno explains that this stiff-neckedness is stubbornness. Too often, we do not change our course no matter how clearly the Rabbi proves that our thoughts or actions are incorrect. It is as if our necks are hard as steel and we cannot turn. Rav Chaim Friedlander zatz'l adds: The cure for stubbornness is very difficult. Even Moshe Rabbenu found no means of impressing the stubborn people other than smashing the Tablets. Imagine if our Rabbi would go to the Aron Kodesh, take out a sefer Torah and throw it to the ground, torn in shreds, to dramatize how far we have strayed. That is what Moshe did, except that he used not a sefer Torah but the Tablets which were G-d's handiwork. Even Hashem's first reaction when He saw our stubbornness was simply to destroy us, for stubbornness is so hard to correct. Surely if there were a better way, Hashem would not choose destruction. (Siftei Chaim I p.27) ************************************ "Then I threw myself down before Hashem as the first time--forty days and forty nights. . . ." (9:18) Chazal teach that whoever prays at length is guaranteed a response, so long as he does not study his prayer. Yet in another place, Chazal say that studying the prayers is something for which a person is rewarded in this world and in the next! Rav Yaakov Lorberbaum of Lissa (known as the "Ba'al haNesivos") zatz'l explains that two different kinds of study are meant. Studying the meanings of the prayers is commendable. What one should not do, however, is spend time "studying" for what he should pray. We do not know our own needs, and we should leave that concern to Hashem. (Nachlat Yaakov) ************************************ "You shall teach them to your children. . . ." (11:19) People commonly say that they are raising their children to be "good Jews." However, this is not enough, says Rav Shneur Kotler zatz'l. In explaining what a person should have in mind when making use of material pleasures, Rambam (Hil. De'ot 3:3) writes: He should have in mind that his body should be strong so that his soul will be able to know Hashem, for it is impossible to understand wisdom when one is hungry or sick or if one of his limbs is in pain. And one should hope that he will have a son who may become a wise man and a great person in Israel. Similarly, says Rav Kotler, others write that the obligation which the Torah imposes on a person regarding teaching Torah to his children is to make them into great Torah scholars, not merely to make them into good Jews. This is not a separate or special mitzvah; this is what the basic mitzvah of teaching our children entails. (Noam Siach p.13) ************************************ "In order that your days and your children's days may be prolonged. . . ." (11:21) The halacha states that Bet Din can compel a person to hire a Torah-teacher for his children. Why? asks Rav Yitzchak Hutner zatz'l. Doesn't this violate the basic principle (Chulin 110b) that Bet Din cannot force a person to perform a mitzvah whose reward is stated in the Torah? Rambam teaches that a mitzvah which is coerced has meaning because every Jew wishes to do good, except that the yetzer hara prevents him from carrying out this desire. The coercion which Bet Din applies is simply intended to counter-balance the effects of the yetzer hara. However, says Rav Hutner, when the Torah states the reward for a mitzvah openly, it is indicating that this mitzvah should be performed because of a person's "open" desires, not because of his hidden, innermost feelings. Therefore, Bet Din is instructed not to compel the performance of this mitzvah. The reward for teaching Torah to one's children is openly stated, in a sense, but it is also hidden. This is because the reward is not found in the same verse as the commandment (verse 19), but two verses away (verse 21). Only with Chazal's help do we know that the reward in verse 21 applies to the mitzvah in verse 19. And since the reward is thus "hidden," we can allow Bet Din to bring out a person's hidden desire to perform the mitzvah. (Pachad Yitzchak: Igeret 12) ************************************ Rav Ephraim Zalman Margaliot 19 Kislev 5521 (1761) - 24 Menachem-Av 5588 (1828) Rav Ephraim Zalman Margaliot was a prolific writer and a major posek (halachic decisor), but, except for a brief period in his youth, he never served in the rabbinate. Rather, he was the senior partner in the firm of "E.Z. Margaliot and His Partner, K.K. Privel-- Wholesalers," which dealt in coral and had branches throughout Europe. Rav Ephraim Zalman's vast wealth allowed him to devote the majority of his time to Torah study. His best known works are: She'eilot uTeshuvot Bet Ephraim, a collection of his responsa; Mateh Ephraim, on the laws and customs of the High Holidays. Sha'arei Ephraim, on the laws of the Torah reading; In the introduction to the last-named work, Rav Ephraim Zalman explains that he addressed this subject because it is nearly impossible for a Rabbi to know every halacha which he is asked without researching it, but that questions relating to the Torah reading (e.g., whether the Torah is kosher or who should receive an aliyah) are particularly embarrassing because the entire congregation is waiting and watching while the Rabbi decides how to proceed. As a private citizen, Rav Ephraim Zalman was active in the communal life of the city of Brody. It was he who brought the famed Rav Shlomo Kluger to Brody. Rav Ephraim Zalman would also deliver sermons on occasion. (Sarei haTorah) One of Rav Ephraim Zalman's brothers was Rav Chaim Mordechai Margaliot, author of Sha'arei Teshuvah (which is printed in the Shulchan Aruch and in the Mishnah Berurah). ************************************ DONATIONS TO HAMAAYAN ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE