Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Kedoshim Volume VI/Number 30 (264) 6 Iyar 5752/May 9, 1992 Parasha Overview The subject of this Parasha, a theme repeated or alluded to throughout it, is "Kedushah" - holiness. What is "holiness"? It is being set apart for the service of G-d. Hashem created the physical and material pleasures of this world for our use, but this Parasha calls upon us to draw a line between necessary pleasures and excessive pleasures. In Ramban's famous words, "One could be a degenerate without violating any laws of the Torah, but the Torah also demands, 'Sanctify yourself through that which is permitted to you'." Set yourself apart from the rat-race of the world - from "keeping up with Joneses" - in order to better serve Hashem. There are several customs regarding the Haftara to be read this week, among them Amos 9:7-15 and Yechezkel 22:1-16. These two share a common theme, a favor that Hashem has done for Bnei Yisrael to further their pursuit of Kedushah. In the words of Yechezkel (22:4), "Therefore I [Hashem] have made you shameful [in the eyes of] the nations." (A similar idea is expressed by Amos 9:7.) Why did Hashem do this? R' Yehonatan Eyebschutz explains: Hashem desires that we keep the true purpose of our existence in sight, and not be distracted and led astray by unlimited opportunities for satisfaction in the outside world. Thus we will remain "Kedoshim". However, this situation is not meant to be permanent. The Parasha concludes with the promise that Hashem will bring us to "the land flowing with milk and honey." The Haftara too states (Amos 9:133-14), "'Days will come,' says Hashem, '[when] the mountains will drip with juices, and hills will melt [in the flood of milk and honey (Radak)]. I will repatriate the returnees of my nation, Yisrael... and they will plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit." How may we understand this? Are these blessings which are consistent with the Parasha's injunction to limit our enjoyment of this world?! Yes, they are! Commenting on the promise of "a land flowing with milk and honey," R' Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook writes as follows: This promise will, appropriately, be fulfilled when Hashem's other promises to the Patriarchs are also fulfilled. A lowly nation has no need for such expansiveness, and may even be harmed by it. Hashem's unlimited blessings would cause laziness in such a nation, and would lead it astray. However, after that nation has risen to a state of "Kedushah" [and to the stature promised the Patriarchs], then a pleasurable lifestyle devoted to aiding lofty spiritual goals will be a worthwhile aspiration. When we are ready for that state, Hashem will send us a sign - the promise of such a land will be made a reality. (Olat Re'iyah I p.288; Eretz Chefetz p.19) ************************************ Pirkei Avot Torah which is not accompanied by work will eventually be lost. (2:2) Chazal recommend (Berachot 35b) that most people live their lives within "Derech Eretz" - the ordinary ways of the world - and thus they must engage in some business or occupation in order to support themselves. However, this might lead a person to the conclusion that he must work on Shabbat as well; otherwise how will he be sustained? Similarly, during a period of mourning (G-d forbid), how will a person be supported, since he is forbidden to work? The latter is no question, for although the mourner is not at work, the rest of the world is, and Hashem will send the mourner's sustenance "incidentally" to theirs. However, what happens on Shabbat, when all Jews are [hopefully] not working? The answer is that this is the nature of the special blessing which Hashem gave Shabbat: The world will be sustained even while it rests. And thus we may understand the Midrash (commenting on Mishlei 10:22): "'The blessing of Hashem makes rich' - this refers to the period of mourning." On Shabbat, the whole world is sustained by Hashem's special blessing, a blessing which does not extend to periods of mourning, for then their is no need. (Bnei Yissachar; Lev Avot, p.35) ************************************ "You shall be holy!" (Vayikra 19:22) The Gemara (Chullin 7b) states: "Bnei Yisrael are holy. Some want but don't have; some have but don't want." R' Meir Shapiro of Lublin once approached a wealthy but miserly Jew to request support for his Yeshiva, but neither his arguments nor his entreaties did any good. Before leaving, R' Meir commented, "Now I understand that difficult comment of the Gemara Chullin. It is understandable that a pauper, one who wants but doesn't have, should be called holy. He doesn't have, and he makes the best of it. Why, however, should a miser, one who has but doesn't want [to share], be called holy? "The Gemara (Shabbat 118b) asks: 'Why is R' Yehuda the Prince called "Rabbenu Hakadosh"? Because his hands always stayed above his belt.' The same is true of a miser - he is 'Kadosh' (holy) because his hand never touches the pockets below his belt." (Iturei Torah) ************************************ How can such a miser be called "Kadosh"? Tosfot writes that even such a person will achieve a level of holiness because he will do acts of kindness out of embarrassment and concern for his social standing. R' Tzadok Hakohen states, however, that every member of Klal Yisrael has an inborn Kedushah which never departs from him. This Kedushah is not found in equal measure in each person but it is present nevertheless, just as we find that every part of Eretz Yisrael has a certain level of holiness, although not all parts are equal. In fact, each member of Klal Yisrael necessarily possesses some Kedushah in order that he may inherit a place in Eretz Yisrael, a part of which is reserved for each person. (Yisrael Kedoshim) ************************************ This week we leave the Yeshivot of Lithuania, and turn to some of the Chassidic Torah centers of Hungary and Poland. We begin with the Yeshiva of Vishuva (Viseul-de-Sus), one of the largest in Hungary between the World Wars. For two decades, the Yeshiva in Vishuva was headed by R' Menachem Mendel Hager (1886-1941), oldest son of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, R' Yisrael. R' Yisrael Tabak, an alumnus of the Yeshiva, describes the Yeshiva as follows: "We did not spend most of the day in the Yeshiva....We came to the 'Shiur' (lecture) every day from about ten to one. The rest of the time we were supposed to learn in our rooms....[The lectures] concentrated on [Halacha]. We were expected to cover the Gemara [] by ourselves. The Yeshhiva had its supervisors who used to go from house to house, especially at night, checking how we were spending our time. [On Thursday nights, students were expected to remain awake through the night. O]nce, about 3 a.m., R' Mendele [the Rosh Yeshiva] walked into our room unannounced... Fortunately, we were sitting and learning, reviewing the Shiurim of the week. "It was [R' Mendele's] custom to conduct an examination every Friday morning. [Everybody] would line up in the study hall early, before day-break. The Rabbi would... ask each student, as he passed by, a few questions...and would enter a grade... in a certificate similar to a report card." (Three Worlds, pp.68-69) For a time, R' Mendele delivered two lectures each day, one in the morning, before Shacharit, the other in the evening, continuing into the late hours of the night. Each lecture began with the study of a chapter from a Mussar (ethical) work. At its height, the Yeshiva had 400 students. (R' Natan Elya Roth: Nezer Yisrael, p.346) (The Jewish community of Vishuva was placed in a ghetto and then deported to Auschwitz 48 years ago this month. This "biography" is dedicated to the memory of Reb Avigdor Moshe Ben Avraham Abba Hakohen Katz, one of Vishuva's thousands who did not return.) ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit: Ohalot 9:15-16 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit: OC/MB 391:1-392:1 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi: Moed Katan 4 (Learn two sides of a page every day) Rambam Chapter/Day: Hilchot Melaveh V'Loveh - Chapter 6 3 Chapters/Day: Hilchot Shear Avot Hatumot - Chapters 12-14 Sefer Hamitzvot Sh:P105; Su:P105; M:P105; Tu:P98; W:P98; Th:P98; F:P98 ************************************ The hard copy distribution of this week's Hamaayan is sponsored by: Helen and Abe Spector wishing Hamaayan a belated happy birthday