This Shabbos we discussed the week’s parsha, known as Devarim. This is the first parsha in Deuteronomy. In the parsha, Moses speaks to the people and gives them a recounting of everything that has happened up until now. Moses recounts to the people how they had committed several sins including the sin of the spies and the sin of the Golden Calf. Moses also recounts some of our mitzvah and accomplishments, including the construction of the tabernacle. We discussed how at this point in time in our history, it was very important for us to focus on the good we had done, and to build on our accomplishments. This would help propel us to continue making progress, eventually entering and settling the land of Israel.
There are several specific details of the Parsha that we discussed. The locations that Moses brings up are the locations in which he transmitted Torah to us. We also discussed how we did a lot of complaining throughout history, but we never complained when it was revealed that we would no longer be taught directly by Moses. This indicates that our priorities were out of line. Learning Torah should be a top priority in our life.
We did some more learning of material from David S father, HaRav Natan Ben HaRav Shmuel. David led the discussion of what his father would say concerning the problem of evil and suffering. Hashem created the most perfect world possible, given that the goal of the world is not to have the most well-being possible, but to have the most moral acts possible that we choose to do.
We discussed moral acts such as compassion, tzeduka, and forgiveness. These are only possible in a world where everything is not so perfect and sometimes there is evil and suffering. We discussed the virtuous response to suffering. One example we discussed, if someone is poor and suffering we can do the mitzvah of providing them with tzeduka and assistance. When the poor realize our help, they see Hashem working through us and this helps them maintain a good relationship with Hashem.
There is some suffering that is so severe, suffering that we are powerless to do much about, such as the holocaust. Maybe Hashem did intervene and the holocaust would have been much worse. There are some events that we just do not know why they happen, or are allowed to happen. We discussed how we should not bring up these events, such as the holocaust, in order to help us with a personal agenda.
We continued our discussion of Shabbos, and what we can ask a goy to help us with. Avishai told a story of getting into an elevator and asking a goy what floor he was going to. The goy gave a floor, and Avishai and his friend then went to the same floor. In this case they did not specifically ask the goy to press a certain floor.
We discussed how we can ask a goy explicitly to do something for us as long as it is not a Torah level violation, and it is absolutely necessary that the violation be done because we are suffering a major discomfort. We can ask a goy to turn off a noisy microphone at shul. Another example we discussed, we cannot ask a goy to light a fire for us as this would be a Torah level violation, however, we could go to the house of a goy and benefit from a fire that he had lit on Shabbos.
We continued our discussion of Shabbos, and what we can ask a goy to help us with. Avishai told a story of getting into an elevator and asking a goy what floor he was going to. The goy gave a floor, and Avishai and his friend then went to the same floor. In this case they did not specifically ask the goy to press a certain floor.
We discussed how we can ask a goy explicitly to do something for us as long as it is not a Torah level violation, and it is absolutely necessary that the violation be done because we are suffering a major discomfort. We can ask a goy to turn off a noisy microphone at shul. Another example we discussed, we cannot ask a goy to light a fire for us as this would be a Torah level violation, however, we could go to the house of a goy and benefit from a fire that he had lit on Shabbos.
Zach told a story of leaving stoves on low, and how it is permitted to turn the stove up and down on Yom Tov, but not on or off. The management of the apartments turned all the stoves off. This was a case in which they were able to use non-Jews to turn the stove’s back on.
We discussed the importance of mourning during the first 9 days of Av. It is very important that we mourn the destruction of the temples and not accept the current state of things. Only those who mourn the destruction of the temples are worthy of the rebuilding of the temples.
We discussed some of the customs we follow during the first 9 days. In the old days bathing was done at bath houses and was only done once a week or so. In the past there would be a total prohibition on bathing during the 9 days. However, today, when we usual bath once a day, we are permitted to continue bathing during the 9 days, but we should do it in a way that is less enjoyable. One thing we should do is turn down the temperature of the water. We should also take quick showers rather than large baths and avoid pleasures such as whirlpools. We should also avoid meat and wine during the 9 days. However there are some exceptions. We are permitted to eat meat on Shabbos. And we are permitted to eat meat during celebrations such as a siyum or bris.
Finally, David talked about how the Kiddush originally started. David was walking home with Alan from the Yeshiva and they decided to go and do some learning together between the end of the services and lunch time. It was great to have Alan at the Kiddush this Shabbos, as well as visitors from the University of Maryland, Zach, Johnathon, Johnathon, and Yakov.
We discussed the importance of mourning during the first 9 days of Av. It is very important that we mourn the destruction of the temples and not accept the current state of things. Only those who mourn the destruction of the temples are worthy of the rebuilding of the temples.
We discussed some of the customs we follow during the first 9 days. In the old days bathing was done at bath houses and was only done once a week or so. In the past there would be a total prohibition on bathing during the 9 days. However, today, when we usual bath once a day, we are permitted to continue bathing during the 9 days, but we should do it in a way that is less enjoyable. One thing we should do is turn down the temperature of the water. We should also take quick showers rather than large baths and avoid pleasures such as whirlpools. We should also avoid meat and wine during the 9 days. However there are some exceptions. We are permitted to eat meat on Shabbos. And we are permitted to eat meat during celebrations such as a siyum or bris.
Finally, David talked about how the Kiddush originally started. David was walking home with Alan from the Yeshiva and they decided to go and do some learning together between the end of the services and lunch time. It was great to have Alan at the Kiddush this Shabbos, as well as visitors from the University of Maryland, Zach, Johnathon, Johnathon, and Yakov.
This is a summary of what we discussed this past Shabbos. No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
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