Week 25 (Book 4): "An Ever-Increasing Wellspring"

STORY OF CHANNAH: 25 And when the bullock was slain, the child was brought to Eli.  

QUALITY OF PIRKEI AVOT: and he becomes as an ever-increasing wellspring

PROVERBS: Chapter 25

Week 25 is the last week of Adar. The verse from the story of Channah speaks about the slaughter of her animal sacrifice, as she brought Shmuel to Eli the Kohen Gadol. The last week of Adar is significantly tied to bringing contributions to the Temple. Those that did not bring their yearly half-shekel contribution by now, Jewish courts had the right to take it by force.

The Talmud (Berachot 31b) teaches that this verse is an indication of Shmuel’s hidden greatness:

And when the bullock was slain, the child was brought to Eli.24 Because the bullock was slain, did they bring the child to Eli? What it means is this. Eli said to them: Call a priest and let him come and kill [the animal]. When Samuel saw them looking for a priest to kill it, he said to them, Why do you go looking for a priest to kill it? The shechitah may be performed by a layman! They brought him to Eli, who asked him, How do you know this? He replied: Is it written, ‘The priest shall kill’? It is written, The priests shall present [the blood]:25 the office of the priest begins with the receiving of the blood, which shows that shechitah may be performed by a layman.26 He said to him: You have spoken very well, but all the same you are guilty of giving a decision in the presence of your teacher…

Adar is a month connected to revealing what is secret. That is the reason the text we read on Purim is called Megillat Esther, revealing (Legalot) what is hidden (Nistar). In this case, the hidden greatness of a little boy is revealed.

Along the same lines, last week’s Pirkei Avot quality was, “the Torah’s secrets are revealed to him.” This week, the quality is, “and he becomes as an ever-increasing wellspring.” A wellspring contains also this idea of revealing the hidden. The wellspring brings water (a metaphor for Torah) from the depths of the earth to the surface. The Hebrew term for wellspring Ma'ayan, is often associated with the hidden aspects of Torah, such as the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. Furthermore, as the story above indicate, Shmuel himself was a living example of an “ever-increasing wellspring.” 

Chapter 25 of the Book of Proverbs, particularly its first verses, contains the same theme as above:

1. These too are Solomon's proverbs, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, maintained.

2. The honor of God is to conceal a matter, whereas the honor of kings is to search out a matter.  

3. The heaven for height, the earth for depth, and the honor of kings are unsearchable.      

4. Remove dross from silver, and a vessel emerges for the refiner.

This week contains the yahrzeits of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk (21st of Adar) and Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Rothenberg/Alter (the "Chiddushei HaRim, 23rd of Adar).

Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk was on of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. He was known as the "Rebbe of Rebbes" of the Jews of Poland/Galitzia. He was the brother of Reb Zushia of Anipoli, and many of his disciples became rebbes in their own right, including the Chozeh of Lublin, the Ohev Yisrael, Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, and the Maggid of Kozhnitz. His also the author of the Noam Elimelech, one of the foundational texts of Polish Chassidism.

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter was the founder of the Ger dynasty, which, in great part because of his inspiring and caring leadership, became the largest of all Chassidic groups. His work, Chiddushei HaRim, is also a Chassidic "classic."

Other yahrzeits this week include Rav Chanoch Henach of Alexander (18th of Adar - He served as the rebbe of Ger for some time after the Chidushei HaRim passed away), Rabbi Nachum Mordechai of Chortkov (son of Rabbi Yisrael Friedman, 18th of Adar), and Rabbi Meir Yechiel of Ostrovtze (19th Adar 1928).

[For Adar I: As mentioned previously, this year there are two months of Adar, and yahrzeits are usually commemorated on the second one, unless the person passed away in the first Adar in a year that also had two. We will therefore, leave the descriptions for the next month, when we repeat weeks 22 through 25.]  

Week 26 (Book 4): The Big Picture

STORY OF CHANNAH: 26. And she said, "Please, my lord! As surely as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here with you, to pray to the Lord.

QUALITY OF PIRKEI AVOT: and as an unceasing river        

PROVERBS: Chapter 26     

TZADIKKIM: Rav Yitzchak Abuchatzera (Baba Chaki, Brother of the Baba Sali, 25 of Adar) and Shlomo Hakohen Rabinowicz (the Tiferes Shlomo, Founding Rebbe of Radomsk, 29 Adar) 

Week 26 is the week of Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Nissan is the “head” of all the months, and is related to the Tribe of Judah, which stands for kingship. In the verse of the story of Channah for this week, she makes a request to Eli the Kohen Gadol. It is unclear from the text what the request is. Rashi clarifies this by interpreting as follows: “Please, my lord - Take care of him that he become your disciple. And according to the Midrash of our sages, not to punish him with death.” As noted regarding the previous verse in Channah’s story, for Week 25, Shmuel had shown great insight, yet in so doing was guilty of making a ruling in front of his master, which is punishable by death. This mistake was particularly grievous given Eli’s status as the Judge, and head of the entire Jewish people. Channah asks Eli to help Shmuel to connect to him and, alternatively, forgive the boy for his mistake.

This week’s Pirkei Avot quality is that he becomes “an unceasing river.” Shmuel’s insight into a certain area of Jewish law is related to the aspect of scholarship connected to “an ever-increasing wellspring” (an ability to discover “new” rulings by concentrating on selected areas of the text). However, Shmuel still needed to obtain a second aspect, that of an unceasing river, someone with comprehensive knowledge of the entire Torah.[1] Channah was therefore asking Eli to take Shmuel as a disciple to teach him this aspect as well.  

Chapter 26 of the Book of Proverbs is primarily about the actions of fools. It also mentions those that are lazy, quarrelsome, deceptive, and wicked. A general theme of the chapter, related to the above, is that it describes actions that could potentially be deemed righteous, in and of themselves. However, given the context (eg. giving honor to fools or being fearful of potential danger, just as an excuse not to get out of bed), they are quite ridiculous. One must have a comprehensive outlook in order to be able to act properly.

This week contains the yahrzeits of Rav Yitzchak Abuchatzera (the “Baba Chaki,” 25^th of Adar) and Rabbi Shlomo Hakohen Rabinowicz (the “Tiferes Shlomo,” founding Rebbe of Radomsk, 29^th of Adar).

The Baba Chaki was the brother of the Baba Sali. Like his brother, he was known for his great holiness and saintly conduct. Also like his brother, he moved from Morocco to Israel, and became the chief rabbi of Ramla-Lod.

Rabbi Shlomo Hakohen Rabinowicz was known as the Tiferes Shelomo due to his authorship of a Chassidic masterpiece under this name. He founded the Radomsk dynasty in 1843. When Rabbi Moshe Biderman of Lelov made aliyah in 1850, he instructed his followers to become Chassidim of the Tiferes Shelomo. The Radomsk court then grew significantly, with thousands upon thousands of followers. Along with his tremendous Torah scholarship and speaking ability, the Radomsker Rebbe was also known for his beautiful voice and his composition of new nigunim (melodies).

Other yahrzeits this week include Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Visiva son of Rabbi Yisroel Hager of Vizhnitz (25^th of Adar) and Rabbi Elimelech of Grodzensk (author of Divrei Elimelech and Imrei Elimelech, father of the Piazeczna Rebbe, 1^st of Nissan)

Rosh Chodesh Nissan is also the birthday of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.

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[1] http://www.frumtoronto.com/Blogger.asp?Articles=expand&ShowAll=Torah&BlogCategoryID=131&page=10

Week 27 (Book 4): He Becomes Modest

STORY OF CHANNAH: For this child did I pray, and the Lord granted me my request, which I asked of Him.           

QUALITY OF PIRKEI AVOT: He becomes modest

PROVERBS: Chapter 27

TZADIKKIM: Rabbi Shalom DovBer of Lubavitch (the Rebbe Rashab, 2nd of Nissan), Rabbi Yochanan Twersky (the first Rebbe of Rachmastivka, 4^th of Nissan) and Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (the Ohev Yisrael, Rebbe of Apt, 5^th of Nissan).

On Week 27, we are in the beginning of the month of Nissan. It includes the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, the Rebbe Rashab, fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, on the second of Nissan. In the verse of the story of Channah for this week, she exclaims, “For this child did I pray, and the Lord granted me my request, which I asked of Him.”  The Rebbe Rashab was known for the great love and care he bestowed on his only son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, the Rebbe Rayatz, particularly regarding his son’s education and training. The Rebbe Rashab stated that, "It is an absolute duty for every person to spend a half hour every day thinking about the education of his children, and to do everything in his power -- and beyond his power -- to inspire his children to follow the path along which they are being guided."[1]

The Talmud teaches us that Eli the Kohen Gadol was willing punish Shmuel and pray to G-d and pray to G-d for Him to give Channah a child even better than Shmuel. Channah did not accept that – this was her child, the one for which she prayed. Furthermore, this was not her child any longer, but Hashem’s (next verse). This is very much symbolic of the month of Nissan and the redemption from Egypt. The Jews at the time were far from perfect – but these were the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which G-d promised to take out of Egypt. Even deeper than that, we were G-d’s children, and He redeemed us independent of our condition. Similarly later, after the sin of the golden calf, G-d offers Moshe to destroy the Jewish people and build a nation out of him. Moshe replies that if G-d were to do such a thing, “erase me from Your Book.”

This week’s Pirkei Avot quality is that he becomes “modest.” One of the ideas of modesty is not to ask Hashem for personal greatness. (Yayin Levanon, commentary on Pirkei Avot) Channah did not want a greater child than Shmuel. She was happy with her portion.

The very beginning of Chapter 27 of the Book of Proverbs addresses the characteristics of modesty and humility:

1. Do not boast for tomorrow, for you do not know what the day will bear.   

2. May a stranger praise you and not your mouth, an alien and not your lips.

Aside from the Rebbe Rashab’s yahrzeit, this week also contains the yahrzeits of Rabbi Yochanan Twersky (the first Rebbe of Rachmastivka, 4^th of Nissan) and Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (the Ohev Yisrael, Rebbe of Apt, 5^th of Nissan).

Rabbi Yochanan Twersky was known for his great humility. His father, Rav Mordechai Twersky, the Maggid of Chernobyl, said that his son had the soul of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai. He was the last of eight brothers, each of which became a rebbe. The following story describes Reb Yochanan’s humility:

When the Maggid of Chernobyl was niftar, his sons gathered to divide his spiritual inheritance. One took his kind heart, another took his sharp mind and so on. Reb Yochanan wanted to take his father’s gornisht, meaning his nothingness — his father’s deep humility. But when his brother, Harav Moshe of Koristchov, took the gornisht, Reb Yochanan was left with gor gornshit, absolutely nothing, and he was pleased. Indeed, he was distinguished by his profound humility and self-negation.[2]

 

Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel was one of the close disciples of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk. He was known as the Ohev Yisrael (“Lover of Israel”) due to his great love for his fellow Jew. Interestingly, a very similar story is told about his spiritual “inheritance:”

It is told that before he died, Rebbe Elimelech bequeathed the sight of his eyes to the Chozeh of Lublin, the spirit of his heart to the Kozhnitzer Maggid, the soul of his mind to Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov, and the power of speech to Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apt.[3]

Other yahrzeits this week include Rabbi Yaakov Yosef son of Rabbi David Twersky, (the Skverer Rebbe, 2^nd of Nissan); Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Bluzhov son of Rabbi David of Dinov (the Tzvi LaTzadik, 5^th of Nissan), Rabbi Moshe son of Shlomo Rokeach (the Kiev-Zlotchover Rebbe, 5^th of Nissan), and Rabbi Mordechai of Neshchiz (disciple of R. Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, 8^th of Nissan).

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[1] Hayom Yom, 22nd of Tevet

[2] http://hamodia.com/features/day-history-4-nisanapril-4/

[3] http://heichalhanegina.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-remember-him-from-rebbe.html

Week 28 (Book 4): Being Patient and "Long" of Spirit

STORY OF CHANNAH: 28. And I also have lent him to the Lord; all the days which he will be alive, he is borrowed by the Lord." And he prostrated himself there to the Lord.

QUALITY OF PIRKEI AVOT: patient (Erech Ruach)  

PROVERBS: Chapter 28

TZADDIKIM: The Shelah, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the Tzemach Tzedek; Rav Yosef Karo, Rav Moshe Alsheich         

Week 28 is the week of the first night of Passover as well as the yahrzeit of the Third Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the Tzemach Tzedek. In the verse from he story of Channah for this week, she states that Shmuel was lent to Hashem all the days he will be alive; he is borrowed (literally, Shaul). It then mentions how “he” (Samuel, but some say Elkanah) prostrated himself there to the Lord. On Passover as well, we give ourselves over to G-d; we completely nullify our ego and, in the times of the Temple, literally went to the Temple to prostrate there. The Passover story itself is about leaving one domain (being slaves in Egypt) and entering another (being servants of G-d), how Hashem took  “Goy MiKerev Goy,” a nation from the innards of another nation.

The Pirkei Avot adjective of this week is that Torah “makes him patient.” The Hebrew words used here are “Erech Ruach,” which can be more literally translated as “long-spirited.” This seems to be a reference to Mashiach, as we read in the Haftorah for the last day of Pessach: “And the spirit of G‑d shall rest upon him.... And he will be permeated with the spirit of the fear of the L‑rd....” (Menachem, as well as Tzemach Tzedek are also names of Mashiach)

The Midrash Shmuel (3:6) states that words of Channah themselves are divinely inspired with Ruach HaKodesh (Divine spirit), even though she did not realize this at the time: “For as long as he lives he is lent [sha’ul] to the Lord,” were uttered under the spirit of divine inspiration, for as long as Samuel lived, so did Saul.[1] The fact that Hashem permitted Shaul to live longer, despite his grave sins and behavior, is also an example of Hashem’s patience.

Chapter 28 of the Book of Proverbs contains many of the above themes. It’s first verses speak of Hashem’s patience:

2. Because of the sin of a land, its princes are many, but because of an understanding, knowledgeable man, so will [its retribution] be delayed (Hebrew: Ya’arich, from Erech).

Along with the yahrzeit of the Tzemach Tzedek, this week also includes at least three other important yahrzeits, of major figures both in the Sefardi and Ashkenazi worlds: the Shelah, the Alshich, and the Mechaber. Like the Tzemach Tzedek, these men were authorities in both the revealed and hidden aspects of the Torah. All three lived in Tzfat.

The 11^th of Nissan is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yeshayahu HaLevi Horowitz, the Shnei Luchot HaBrit (the “Shlah”). He was the chief rabbi of Cracow, Frankfurt and then Prague, and later moved to Israel, where he became the chief rabbi of Jerusalem. He lived his last years in Tzfat, and is buried close to Maimonides’ grave in Tiberias. (Ascent) His major work, the Shnei Luchot HaBrit, is a foundational kabbalistic text, which served as a basis for many Chassidic works, including the Tanya.

The 13^th of Nissan is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yosef Karo, as well as Rabbi Moshe Alsheich. Rabbi Yosef Karo is the author of the Shulchan Aruch, the basic text of Jewish law, which is used until this very day. He was the chief rabbi of Tzfat, and wrote other crucial works such as the “Beit Yosef” and the “Maggid Meisharim,” which relate his conversations with an angel.

Rabbi Moshe Alsheich was a student of Rabbi Yosef Karo and a member of the Beit Din of Tzfat. His interpretations and discourses on the Torah are also well known and widely used to this day. (Ascent)

Other yahrzeits this week include R' Chaim Meir ben R' Yisroel Hager of Vizhnitz, the Imrei Chaim (9^th of Nissan) and Rabbi Asher Yeshaya of Ropshitz (son-in-law and successor of Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz, 14^th of Nissan).

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[1] http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/hannah-midrash-and-aggadah

Week 29 (Book 4): Forgiving of (Personal) Insults

STORY OF CHANNAH: 1. And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart has rejoiced through the Lord; My horn has been raised by the Lord. My mouth is opened wide against my enemies, For I have rejoiced in Your salvation.

QUALITY OF THOSE THAT STUDY TORAH FOR ITS OWN SAKE: and forgiving of insults  

PROVERBS: Chapter 29

TZADIKKIM: Rav Aharon HaGadol of Karlin (19th Nissan) and Rebbe Yitzchak Vorki (22nd of Nissan)    

Week 29 is the week Passover. The verse from the story of Channah for this week marks the beginning of her song. She exalts the Hashem and speaks of His salvation, and how she now rejoices over her enemies. Passover is also a time of great rejoicing, thanking Him for His salvation in the face of our enemies.

The Pirkei Avot adjective of this week is that Torah makes him “forgiving of insults.” This seems like a particularly difficult adjective to compare with the words of Channah above. Channah makes a point of mentioning how she was victorious over her enemies and, as if to add insult to injury, Rashi specifically comments that Channah meant none other than her husband’s other wife, Peninah, who had insulted her constantly for not having children. We also learn that Peninah also paid a heavy price for her insults, eventually losing all her children (may no one ever know of such sorrow). How then can one reconcile these two apparently contradicting trends?

One answer is simply to say that the fact that Channah does not mention Peninah by name shows that she was not bitter, and she had in fact forgiven the insults of her competitor. This seems like a difficult answer because, after all, Channah still calls Peninah her enemy, even after Shmuel is born.

Perhaps a deeper answer lies within Pirkei Avot itself. The Hebrew word for “insult” used is Elbonoh. The word is used again in the next section of Pirkei Avot, and appears to be the only similarity linking the two sections (other than the general importance of Torah study, which is a theme of the entire chapter). The latter statement reads as follows: “Said Rabbi Joshua the son of Levi: Every day, an echo resounds from Mount Horeb (Sinai) proclaiming and saying: "Woe is to the creatures for their insult (Elbonah) to the Torah."

It is the obligation of a sage to protect the honor of the Torah and of those who study it, and while he may forgive the insults to him or herself, he or she cannot forgive the insults to the Torah and to Hashem. 

Rabbi Levi states in Bava Bathra 16a that Peninah’s intentions were pure, and that she simply wished to make Channah pray more fiercely. Nonetheless, to constantly insult such a righteous woman as Channah, wife of one of the leaders of the generation, went beyond personal animosity. It was an affront to the Torah itself.

We see a similar concept in our redemption from Egypt. The punishments the Egyptians received were not simply a quid pro quo for their actions against the Jews. Pharaoh’s lack of knowledge (and acknowledgement) of Hashem was an affront to the Torah (even though the Torah had not yet been given). Similarly, the Jews are told to avenge Midian, not out of a sense of vengefulness, but because the actions of the Midianites (using their own daughters to entice the Jews) was an affront to Torah itself.[1]

Chapter 28 of the Book of Proverbs contains many of the above themes. Many of its verses speak of forgiving insult and calming tension:

8. Scornful men inflame a city, but the wise turn away wrath.                    

9. When a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether he is angry or he laughs, he will have no contentment.                        

10. Murderous men hate the innocent, but the upright seek his soul.           

11. A fool lets out all his wind, but afterwards a wise man will quiet it.                 

Nevertheless, the verses of this chapter also speak of the great punishments that befall those that insult the Torah:

15. A rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left free brings shame to his mother.         

16. When the wicked attain greatness, transgression increases, and the righteous will see their downfall.  

17. Chastise your son and he will give you rest, and he will grant pleasures to your soul.              

18. Without vision the people become unrestrained, but he who keeps the Torah is fortunate.

This week includes the yahrzeits of two well known early founders of the Chassidic movement: Rabbi Aharon the Great of Karlin (19^th of Nissan) and Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish of Vorka (22^nd of Nissan). Both were known for their profound love for their fellow Jews.

Rabbi Aharon of Karlin was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch. Karlin was such a large and prominent Chassidic group in Lithuania that at one point Chassidim in general were referred to as “Karliners.” “He is remembered for the ecstatic and unrestrained fervor of his prayer, for his solicitude for the needy, and for the moral teachings embodied in his Azharos (‘Warnings’).” (Ascent)

“Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish [1779 died 22 Nissan 1848] was the founder of the Vorki dynasty in Poland. Previously, through travel with his teacher, R. David of Lelov, he became a disciple of R. Yaakov Yitzchak (the "Seer") of Lublin and of R. Simchah Bunem of Pshischah. Some of his teachings and stories involving him appear in Ohel Yitzchak and Hutzak Chein. His son R. Yaakov David founded the Amshinov dynasty, while his son R. Menachem Mendel continued the Vorki dynasty.” (Ascent)

Other yahrzeits this week include Rabbi Yitzchak Twerski (First Rebbe of Skver, 17^th of Nissan), Rabbi Meir Abuchatzeira (the “Baba Meir,” son of the Baba Sali, 17^th of Nissan), and Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (the “Rav,” 18^th of Nissan).

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[1]http://www.maplewoodjewishcenter.org/page.asp?pageID=%7B77A39526-C265-4245-BA9A-E472E31418F5%7D