Recap for 6 Lyyar 5776 (parsha Kedoshim)

This Shabbos we discussed parsha Kedoshim, including commentary by Rav Yeager. We discussed the mourning period which occurs between Pesach and Shavuos, known as the Omer. Last Tuesday, we learned some topics from the Mishna and Gemara, which will be included here.  We missed Yaki this Shabbos.  Please keep his mom, Hanah Bat Sarah, in your thoughts and prayers.  David Schlesinger led discussion.

Harold Katz, a regular reader of our learning, pointed out to me prior to Shabbos, that we usually read parsha Acharei and Kedoshin together, however they are read separately this year, as we are in a leap year.  Harold also pointed out that parsha Kedoshin is about being holy.

This Shabbos we discussed that if we follow the commandments in parsha Kedoshin, as well as in the rest of the Torah, this will help us be holy and get closer to Hashem. Norm pointed out that we have to come close to Hashem in order to experience spiritual rewards and receive divine intervention in our lives. Norm compared this to coming to a barber shop to get a haircut. The same way we can’t get haircuts if we don’t come to the barber, we cannot receive divine help and spiritual rewards unless we come to Hashem.   

We discussed how Hashem gave us desires, such as to love and eat, however we need to control our 

behavior with respect to these, in order to grow spiritually.  For example, we have our best foods, such as cholent on Shabbos, in order to enhance the spiritual experience of the day.  If we had it every day it would not have any special meaning to us. We discussed how inappropriate channeling of love and sexual desires can lead towards the break-down of families which results in the break down of society. We discussed how societies in general remain strong if they are those that have strong families, and laws and order and operate according to what is right, rather than what is most powerful.

We discussed the different commandments contained in this week’s parsha. David shared a question from his father, Ha Rav Natan Ben Ha Rav Shmuel (Dr. Rav George N Schlesinger). The question is - what is the commandment that can only be performed while sitting down? Brian Rubin came up with the answer, which is the commandment of standing to honor people, such as scholars.

We discussed how there are 3 different types of mitzvah: those we do for our relationship with Hashem, those we do for our relationship with others, and those we do for our relationship with ourselves. Mitzvahs we do for Hashem include davening and putting on tefillin. Mitzvahs we do for others include giving tzedukah and visiting the sick. Mitzvahs we do for ourselves, include keeping vows we have made.

We discussed how we seem to live in a random world, in which our actions do not have immediate consequences. For example, if we eat non-kosher food we do not get immediately struck with lightening, and it appears there are no consequences. Likewise, if we wake up early and go to daven, we may still have unhappy events occurring in our life. We discussed how Hashem may appear to be hidden, however in the long run whether or not we are holy has a major impact with respect to our well being and happiness, success in life, and how we experience the world to come.

David spoke about how Hashem remains hidden and the reasons for this. It is comparable to training a child to walk. At first we are there to stand next to the child, and to catch him before he hurts himself. Later on, the child is able to walk on his own and we are no longer standing next to him. Likewise, early in our history Hashem’s presence was more noticeable as he “trained” us to follow his commandments and realize the benefits and/or negative consequences. Nowadays, we are expected to know a lot of things, have experience, and no longer need Hashem to train us and dish out immediate rewards and punishments in an obvious way.

This Shabbos we discussed from Rav Malamed, the 49 day period that occurs between Pesach and Shavuos, known as the Omer. This period of the year after we escaped from Egypt up until the time we received the Torah, is the same period of time in which Rabbi Akiva’s students died. We discussed some of the reasons why these students died, which includes lack of respect towards one another.

We observe a period of mourning in order to remember Rabbi Akiva’s students. We take a break from our mourning on the 33rd day of the Omer, when Rabbi Akiva’s students stopped dying. During the mourning period, we refrain from getting haircuts, listening to live music, and getting married. We discussed how customs vary, with the Sephardi generally observing the first 33 days, and the Ashkenazi observing the last 33 days. We discussed that Ashkenazi can go to a Sephardi wedding during the first 33 days if we are invited, and participate fully.

On Tuesday, David led a learning from the Mishna and Gemara on the topic of using agents to carry out mitzvah. We learned how in some cases, it is actually preferable to use an agent. For example, with the delivery of gifts on Purim, slaughtering animals, and performing brit milah. With other mitzvah, it is ok to use an agent as long as the mitzvah is to get something done, rather than the process of doing it. Some examples are giving gifts to the poor, and selling chumatz on Pesach. In these cases it is ok to use an agent. However, there are mitzvahs such as lighting candles, putting on tefillin, and hearing the megillah, in which we actually have to do the mitzvah ourselves.

We discussed how we can use an agent to prepare Shabbos meals, however it is very desirable if we prepare the meals. We can also use an agent to take the first step towards marrying someone, but it is very desirable if we do this ourselves, or we can end up in a situation in which we meet someone for the first time under the kupuh. It is also possible to use an agent to say kaddish for us, however it is much better if we do it ourselves. The only case in which we should use an agent to say kaddish, is when we are unable to get to a minyan within a reasonable distance of where we live.

We discussed how in general, the more effort we put into a mitzvah, the bigger the accomplishment and potential benefit. Using Norm’s analogy, the biggest effort we make to get to the best barbershop, the better our haircut will turn out. Another example, the bigger the effort made to make our own Shabbos meal, the better it will turn out, and the more we have to enhance and channel into the spirituality of the day.

We discussed that if something is mentioned once in the Torah, we are being presented with a general case, however when something is mentioned twice, we are being presented with the only specific cases when something applies.  However, we did discuss some disagreements with this as applied to certain specific cases.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.

Recap for 29 Nisan 5776 (Parsha Acharei)

This Shabbos we discussed Parsha Acharei, including commentary by Rav Yeager. We also took a look at the holidays of Yom HaShoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut, including commentary by Rav Malamed. This Shabbos we welcome back Yaki and David from Israel. David Schlesinger led discussion.

We discussed how we can motivate ourselves by thinking about negative consequences, such as what happened to Aaron’s sons who failed to follow Hashem's directives.  However, it is very important to also use positive motivation, by thinking about how we can become closer to Hashem, and get ready for the world to come, by doing the right thing.  We discussed that the best way to motivate our-self is by being primarily positive, while occasionally considering the negative.

One of the ideas we discussed is the fact that life is finite and does not last forever. It is important that we consider this, occasionally, but not dwell on it too much. It is important to have balance in life. We want to accomplish as much as possible by making the best possible use of time, but not being so obsessive about time that we are not enjoying the gift of life that Hashem gave us.

David talked about his father, Rav George N Schlesinger, being very focused on time. Rav George Shlesinger was the author of many articles about time that can be found on his memorial website, www.georgeschlesinger.org.

Rob discussed how the holidays are laid out in the calendar in order to represent this balance we should have between focusing on rewards and consequences. Rob pointed out that Yom Kippur and Succot both occur during the same week. Rob also mentioned the difference between Yom Kippur and other holidays with respect to whom can be in the temple.  During Yom Kippur, only the Kohen was in the temple.  On other holidays, everyone was there.

We discussed the idea that perhaps Hashem doesn’t dish out punishment, but becomes indifferent to those who turn their backs on him. We discussed how the opposite of love is indifference, and not hate. If we do the right thing, we are rewarded by a closer relationship and connection with Hashem. If we do not do the right thing, we are not necessarily punished – but left to fend for ourselves.

We discussed how when things become routine they lose their meaning. David mentioned that perhaps it would be preferable not to live in Jerusalem, so that visiting places such as the Kottel would always feel as special as possible. In Judaism, we have routine mitzvah such as davening which form our base and a platform in which we can have spikes of spirituality on holidays, and other events such as barmitzvah, brit milah, and weddings.

This Shabbos we discussed Israeli independence day known as Yom Ha’atzmaut. This holiday is coming up this week. We discussed how some do not observe this holiday, as they do not feel we have the authority any more to make new holidays. We discussed what it has meant to us and to the world to have Israel around - a nation of people that stand for doing what is right rather than what they have the power to do. Many nations have benefited from Israeli know how, that Hashem has given to the nation and its people.

It is a great mitzvah to make Aliyah and live in Israel. It is thought that the reason we are commanded to follow mitzvah in the diaspora, is so that we are prepared to follow them in Israel. Short of making Aliyah, visiting and/or helping Israel and its people, is considered a big mitzvah.

We also discussed the recent holiday of Yom Hashoah. Dave W shared that he would not be here today if it were not for certain events that took place. I remember visiting the holocaust museum in Jerusalem and it is an experience I will never forget.

Finally, please keep Yaki’s mother, Hanah bat Sarah in your thoughts in prayers. She has not been well.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.