Women and Men and Family

Women more Choshuv than Men?

Dovid Eidensohn

Before he died, the daughters of Tselofchod approached Moshe Rabbeinu with a halacha question. Their father died and left no son; but the daughters wanted a portion of Israel when the Jews went there. Moshe did not know the law and asked HaShem. HaShem  replied that the daughters of Tselofchod were right and were entitled to their portion in the land.  Rashi says, “This shows that the daughters of Tselofchod could see farther into heaven than Moshe could.” Which is an extraordinary thought. But I look at it differently. I feel that this, which took place just before Moshe died, was a great encouragement for Moshe.

Meaning, that if we look at the Torah and the prophetic books, we see great sins from Jews. Moshe, of all people, knew this better than anyone. Regularly HaShem would tell Moshe that He was angry at the Jews for their sins, and Moshe had to pray to Him to forgive the Jews, which He usually did.

Now Moshe was dying, and what would happen if the Jews continued to sin? Who would pray to HaShem to save them from destruction? But now Moshe realized, that in the merit of Jewish women, Israel was safe.

The Gaon Rav Shmuel Taubenfeld zt”l once told me that the Zohar says that women relative to men are special. This is a gemora in Baitsa 17A: “Greater is the trust HaShem has in women than he has in men.” The gemora quotes this from Yeshayeh the Prophet.

The gemora in Sota 11b says that, “In the merit of the righteous women the Jews were saved from Egypt.” The gemora talks about the horrors visited upon the Jewish men and women, and how the women circumvented their portion of the suffering and fed their suffering husbands in their hideous struggles. They visited their husbands during their struggles and had babies from them. And HaShem sustained these babies. These babies became the great multitude of Jews who merited to leave Egypt.

My grandmother once told me that Jewish women in those days always put their energies into Jewish matters such as building up Israel, but the men joined non-Jewish groups. I never forgot it. When I married and began having children with HaShem’s help, I would speak every Shabbos for long periods on the greatness of women. It is they who have the babies and who raise the babies. I thank HaShem for the success we have had with our children who are known to be outstanding.

Just before, my daughter asked me a question she was asked, if a girl needs to help her mother with the children but wants to doven a long time, and these conflict. I told her that a shorter period of prayer with proper thought is greater than much prayer without proper thought. I also told her that raising children is the core of Jewish values and is given over to the women.

My daughter told me that once her teacher was talking about the importance of women. My daughter stood up and said, “My father always says that we must greatly respect women for raising the children and sustaining the Jewish family.” That was consider somewhat shocking.

Well, it is several gemoras, a passage in Yeshasha the Prophet, and the hope of our Jewish future. If only we could truly respect members of our own families, how many happy children would emerge, who would in their time, bring more happy Jews into the world.

A World with Opposing Heavily Armed forces: The only hope after Pittsburg is to talk things over and make peace.

A Time to Talk Not Fight

Rabbi Dovid E. Eidensohn

A time to talk not fight is important in a country with large groups armed and ready to fight. Some of their leaders have feared that this could could destroy the country. They have called not to fight but for dialogue. Understand each other.

In America, and increasingly in other countries, larger populations, stronger communications, and technical improvements, unite people into movements and feelings that are very strong, and invariably, spill out into fear of others and fear of not fighting back.

A friend of mine has for years studied human issues, even as I was busy studying Talmud. I began to realize talking to him that building in the United States was a war between strongly opposed organizations or ideologies. I began studying the issue from various sources and it was obvious that something was gong on out there that had to be studied. At this point, I feel that the quarrels and hate are growing, but wherever they are today, is just the beginning. The important thing now is to somehow address this problem and maybe solve it. Let me explain as I understand it why now, is the critical time to deal with this growing phenomenon.

The forces at war are people who follow how they understand is heavenly values, and people who dismiss the bible and have biological drives they cannot control. Sometimes biblical people cannot control their biblical desires and sin with children or with other people, and sometimes people who are not biblical feel a need to be pure in moral matters. But the rest of us have a variety of what I described, and they are two strong and fanatic forces, growing stronger and stronger, and heading towards pure war. The only hope is to head off this war with some kind of effort.

This is not my idea. I understand that a major leader in one of the groups has suggested that what we need is the ability to talk things over. Yes, it surely won’t be easy for both sides to talk together without solving first their differences, which can’t be done without great struggle. When we know that both sides are matched in populations, share the ability to access weapons, which will surely lead to let’s not discuss it more, this must force us to the table.

I don’t think that the first conference will have a big table, but it will be a beginning. If we can find a couple of leaders on each side, who realize what the cost of failing is, they can get a few more leaders, and eventually, the media will pick up the growing numbers on both sides who want to save their own lives and the lives of their families, and there is some hope, that maybe, some efforts, some sacrifice, and some prayers, things may either be solved, or if not, be held off for as long as we can manage it. After all, we Orthodox Jews await the coming of Messiah, and we hope he doesn’t arrive during the final battle, heaven forfend.

As I said before, I am a Talmudist, not a people person, and don’t have great knowledge of people and surely know nothing of organizations. Perhaps somebody like me who only awaits the wonderful day when I can be finished with this job, can ask others who do want the job, to step up to the plate.

Anyone interested, from any side, call me at David Eidensohn 845-578-1917 (land-line, leave a message where to call you back), or write to me at eidensohnd@gmail.com. After all, I am almost eighty years old, but if you are young man and want to see a proper and peaceful end of this problem, it pays you to give it a try.

Shalom and peace to one and all,

David Eidensohn

Parshas BiShalach in Hebrew

פרשת בשלח – השם מקפיד על יהודים

דוד אליהו אידנסון

פרשת בשלח הוא מלא נסים ונפלאות הריגת הבכורים של מצרים איבוד כל הצבא של מצרים בים סוף וגם נסים אחרים. ובכל זאת היו ג"כ ניסיונות, והיו ישראל מקפידים על הניסיונות, ומשה והקב"ה סבל מזה. והנה תיכף בצאתם ממצרים אומר הפסוק ולא נחם אלקים דרך ארץ פלשתים כי קרוב הוא, כי אמר אלקים פן ינחם העם בראותם מלחמה ושבו מצרימה ע"כ הרי שהגם שראו ישראל הנסים שיצאו ממצרים אחרי שהרג השם הבכורים של מצרים בדרך נס, ואחרי שקיבלו זהב וכסף ומלבושים נאים מן המצריים, שהקב"ה עשה נס שהמצרים עצמם אהבו ישראל ליתן להם מתנות גדולות, בכל זאת ידע הקב"ה שקרוב להם לחזור למצרים ולסבול כל הצרות ובלבד שלא לסמוך על הנסים של השם שהוא מלא ניסיונות כמו שמבואר בפרשה פה.

והנה הנסים של השם גרם לאיבוד המצריים. אבל היו ג"כ ניסיונות. שהרבה זמנים שלא היה ליהודים מים לשתות או מאכל לאכול. והתחילו להרהר על החזרה למצרים שלא היו אז ניסיונות כאלה. הגם שהיו צרות רבות ורציחות במצרים, בכל זאת רואים כסדר שאחרי כל הטובה שקיבלו מהשם היו מרננים שרוצים לא ללכת לארץ ישראל אלא לחזור למצרים. שהם עצמם הבינו שהסדר של השם הוא לעשות נסים ולאבד המצריים. ובכל זאת עומד ניסיונות קשות ליהודים. ולבסוף רואים שהזקנים שהיו ראשי השבטים והיו מרגלים לראות הדרך לכבוש ארץ ישראל חזר ליהודים ואמר שאי אפשר לעשות. פירוש שח"ו אין השם יכול להכניסם לארץ ישראל. ויצא מהשם קצף על זה ונענשו היהודים קשות.

"והשם הלך לפניהם יומם בעמוד ענן לנחתם הדרך ולילה בעמוד אש להאיר להם ללכת יומם ולילה. לא ימיש עמוד הענן יומם ועמוד האש לילה לפני השם."  הרי שגילה השם שהוא שומר ישראל בנסים גדולים. ובכל זאת הזמנין הקב"ה איבוד המצריים על ידי שנסעו ישראל לים סוף ולא תיכף לארץ ישראל. ועל ידי זה חשב פרעה שיהודים מבוכים בארץ ורדף אחריהם. והקב"ה המית החיילים של פרשה. אבל תיכף היהדים שראו שפרעה רודף אחריהם "ויצעקו בני ישראל אל השם. ויאמרו אל משה המבלי אין קברים במצרים לקחתנו למות במדבר. מה זאת עשית לנו להוציאנו ממצרים כו' עכ"ל

ומשה הבטיחם שהשם יעזור להם "כי אשר ראיתם את מצרים היום לא תספו לראותם עוד עד עולם. השם ילחם לכם ואתם תחרשון ע"כ ובתורה כתיב שבאמת מתו כל חיל פרעה לא נשאר בהם עד אחד. ולא נזכר שפרעה מת. ובאמת איתא שהאנשים ואנשים עסקו בשירה על הצלת ישראל וגם פרעה הצטרף לשיר להשם, ואמר אני הוא שאמרתי מי השם, ועכשיו ראיתי שהשם הוא האלקים ובאתי מעכשיו לקבל מלכותו עלי. ונעשה פרעה מאז להיות מלך בנינוה, וכאשר בא להם יונה הנביא וגזר שאם לא יעשו תשובה שיהרוג השם אותם, עמד פרעה מכסאו וגזר שמי שלא יקיים דברי הנביא שפרעה ימיתנו. על כל פנים בתורה פרשת בשלח כתיב שמתו כל חיל פרעה אבל לא כתיב שפרעה עצמו מת. שהקב"ה החיה אותו למען ידעו כולם שהשם עשה זאת, וגרם לפרעה לקבל עבודת השם. ובאמת ברמבם סוף משנה תורה במלאכים כתב שלעתיד בזמן גילוי משיח גם הגוים יעבודו להתפלל להשם.

והנה בפרשה של איבוד חיל מצרים איתא וז"ל ותקח מרים הנביאה אחות אהרן את התף בידה ותצאנה כל הנשים אחריה בתפים ובמחלת ע"כ ופרש"י מהו אחות אהרן הכל יודעים שהיא אחת אהרן וגם אחת משה. פירוש אחד ברש"י שקודם שנולד משה היה מרים נביאה והיתה אומרת שעתיד אמי שתלך בן הוא משה ע"כ ובכל זאת יש לדייק שבשירת האנשים כתיב אז ישיר משה ובני ישראל כו' אשירה לה' כו'. הוא לשון עתיד. אבל שירת הנשים הוא ותען להם מרים שירו להשם כי גאה גאה כו' ע"כ שירו לשון הווה ולא לשון עתיד שהוא חזק יותר מלשון עתיד שהוא עתיד לשיר להשם ולא שרו בפועל אז אלא בשירה בעתיד. אבל הנשים תיכף. עוד שהנשים עשו עם כלים של זמר ריקוד גדול ולא האנשים. רואים מזה הכח של הנשים. ובאמת בגמרא ברכות יז ע"א גדולה הבטחה שבטח הקב"ה בנשים יותר מן האנשים ומביא פסוק מישיעה על זה.

ואחרי כל השמחה של איבוד מצרים איתא ויסע משה את ישראל מים סוף ויצאו אל מדבר שור וילכו שלשת ימים במדבר ולא מצאו מים. ויבאו מרתה ולא יכלו לשתת מים ממרה כי מרים הם על כן קרא שמה מרה. וילנו העם על משה לאמר מה נשתה. ויצעק אל השם כו' וימתקו המים. שם שם לו חק ומשפט ושם נסהו ע"כ פרש"י ושם נסהו לעם וראה קשי ערפו שלא נמלכו ממשה בלשון יפה בקש עלינו רחמים שיהיה לנו מים לשתות אלא נתלוננו עכ"ל  והנה בפסוק שם שאמר משה להם אם שמוע תשמע לקול השם אלקים והישר בעיניו תעשה והאזנת למצותיו ושמרת כל חקיו כל המחלה אשר שמתי במצרים לא אשים עליך כי אני השם רפאך עכ"ל משמע שרק אם יעשו שלימות לעבוד השם ושמרתי כל חקיו אז יהיו ישראל ניצולים מן המחלות הקשות במצרים. אבל אם לא עושים כל כך שלימות ח"ו...

עכשיו היה טענה אחרת מישראל: "וילונו כל עדת בני ישראל על משה ועל אהרן במדבר. ויאמר אלהם בני ישראל מי יתן מותנו ביד השם בארץ מצרים בשבתנו על סיר הבשר באכלנו לחם לשבע כי הוצאתם אתנו אל המדבר הזה להמית את כל הקהל הזה ברעב" עכשיו יש להם מים אלא אין להם מזון. וגם התלוננו רק על משה ואהרן ולא על השם. והשיב להם השם, שיזמין להם מאכל מן השמים. ומשה אמר לישראל "ובקר וראיתם את כבוד השם בשמעו את תלנתיכם על השם ונחנו מה כי תלינו עלינו עכ"ל הרי אמר להם שבאמת התלוננו על השם, שאין למשה כח ליתן להם רק השם.

שוב היה פרשה שלא היה ליהודים מים והם כעסו על משה למה זה העליתנו ממצרים להמית אתי ואת בני ואת מקני בצמא. ויצעק משה אל השם לאמר מה אעשה לעם הזה עוד מעט וסקלני כו' עכ"ל וסיום הפסוקים שם וז"ל ויקרא שם המקום מסה ומריבה על ריב בני ישראל ועל נצותם את השם לאמר היש השם בקרבנו אם אין עכ"ל הרי דבר גדול לדבר כן על השם שהוציאם ממצרים ונתן להם מים ומזון ובכל זאת התלוננו על השם וגם על משה.

ומסיים פרשת בשלח ויבא עמלק וילחם עם ישראל ברפידים. ויאמר משה אל יהושע בחר לנו אנשים וצא הלחם בעמלק כו' ויאמר השם אל משה כתב זאת זכרון בספר ושים באזני יהושע כי מחה אמחה את זכר עמלק מתחת השמים כו' עכ"ל

ויש לסיים הפרשה בקושיא והוא שיעקב אבינו הוא הרבי של אליפז שהוא הבכור של עשו. וכאשר צוה עשו לבנו להרוג את יעקב הלך אליפז אל יעקב לשאול עצה. אמר לו יעקב קח ממני ממוני ועני חשוב כמת, וכן עשה. ומאליפז נולד עמלק. ולכאורה איך זה אלא שקושיא זו שייך גם על יתרו שהפרשה של יתרו הוא הפרשה של קבלת התורה. ובכל זאת יתרו שנתן בתו למשה חזר בו וסגר משה במקום שאין לו מה לאכול עד שימות, אלא שבתו הציל למשה והיה נותן לו לאכול.

אלא שעמלק ויתרו שניהם שוים שהיו מאמינים בהשם אלא שרצו שהשם יקבל הגוי כמו היהודי. וכאשר הבינו שאין זו נכון אלא יהודים הם קרובים מאוד להשם ולא הגוים, שנאו ישראל מאוד עד שעמלק לחם עם ישראל ויתרו רצה להרוג משה. רק כאשר יתרו הבין קבלת התורה וכל המצוות שיהודים עושים שינה את דעתו והלך למשה עם משפחת משה ונעשה בעל תשובה. ולא עמלק.  ועוד שיתרו ידע שמשה יש לו מטה של קדושה וגם זה עזר לו לקבל משה לבסוף וגם לקבל התורה.

How to Read and Understand Exactly What Rambam Meant

To Read Rambam

Dovid Eidensohn

We want here to understand how to read and understand what the Rambam wrote in Mishneh Torah, his great commentary on the basic laws of the Torah.[1] We have selected a particularly difficult passage in the Rambam which seems to fly directly into the teaching of the Vilna Gaon and the Ramban, the greatest authorities[2]. These two greats teach that the Rambam approves of Jewish marriage not only with Kiddushin which is customary but also with Pilegesh. The Vilna Gaon even proves his point by showing a gemora in Sanhedrin 21A that permits marrying with Pilegesh. But the Rambam in the laws of Melochim seems to say just the opposite, namely, that only a king may marry a Pilegesh, not ordinary Jews. The question is dynamite.[3]

This is the Rambam there, “And the king may take from all of the Jews women and Pilagshim. Women with a Kesubo and Kiddushin, and Pilagshim with no Kesubo and no Kiddushin, but by establishing a marriage he obtains her and they are married. But ordinary Jews are forbidden to marry a Pilegesh, other than the Omo Hoivriah [a woman given by her father who has no money to a man who will accept her in his house as a servant and marry her or give him to his son, so she is not left alone in a house without marriage where men will abuse her].”

Yes, the question is explosive. The Rambam clearly writes, “An ordinary man may not marry a Pilegesh” and this defies the gemora quoted by the Vilna Gaon, his stated opinion, and that of the Ramban, both who clearly permit Pilegesh.

I wish to say that I received in writing from the Geonim Reb Moshe Feinstein and Reb Yaacov Kaminetsky both zt”l that they know me as one who can plunge deep into deep Torah commentaries and reveal new light. And now I will try to do that here.

First of all, we refer to what we quoted footnote #1 above, the Teshuva of Ramo in the name of Rabbi Eliezar Ashkenazi, who had new ways of understanding Rambam. How can that be done here? If Rambam says clearly only a king may marry a Pilegesh, how can this be resolved with the gemora, Vilna Gaon and Ramban, if they all say a Pilegesh is permitted to a simple person who is not a king?

It seems that the Ramo had exactly the same problem that we have. The Mishneh in Nedarim 90b says clearly that a woman after the earlier phases of the Mishneh when women would never lie about their husbands were suspected of lying in order to find a better husband and would lie about their husbands. Therefore, the Mishneh itself declares that from now on, hundreds of years before Rambam, women could not force a GET from their husband. But there are those who say that Rambam does permit a woman to force a GET. Ramo quotes Rabbi Eliezar Ashkenazi that this question is asked by major authorities but they simply didn’t know how to read the words of the Rambam. He read the exact words of the Rambam and showed that these great rabbis simply didn’t know how to read the Rambam correctly.

The Mishneh does not say that no woman could force a GET. It says that if a woman demands a GET she is not believed because she might be lying to get a better husband. But the Rambam never mentions the word “divorce.” The wife in his teaching is a woman who stays in her husband’s house, does the dishes, raises the children, and never mentions a GET. She only tells the husband to stay away from her in marital relations. The Rambam adds, however, a critical word that nobody comments on, the word shaato meaning the husband is given time to straighten out the marriage.[4] This word indicates that Beth Din will find out what is going on in the house. Is the husband treating his wife properly, or not? Therefore, a period is set by the husband who is told, “Fix up your marriage, or give a GET. You have one month or whenever the Beth Din says.” If the husband fixes the marriage and the marriage begins to function properly, fine, if not, a GET. And this is exactly what the Mishneh wanted to teach, so the problem is solved.

But what is the solution here with Pilegesh? Again, what extra word did Rambam put into his statement in Melochim?  OMO HOIVRAH. So what? That is the key. When I stared at it a while, a light came into my dull head. This is it! How can Rambam say that a woman sold as a slave may become married without Kesuba and Kiddushin as a Pilegesh, but that no normal man may do it? What kind of logic is that? A slave woman has more rights than regular women and men? That is ridiculous. Okay, it is ridiculous. But what is the logic that a slave woman has more rights than regular women or men? Then I finally figured out the solution to the puzzle. Rambam only allowed a king to marry a Pilegesh, but regular men could certainly marry a Pilegesh. The woman sold by her father as a slave was a Pilegesh but she was not married willingly. Her father sold her. Such a woman is a Pilegesh who can marry a man who is not a king, and the king may marry any woman, as long as she does not marry willingly, but because a king just took her, or her father sold her.

I conclude this by returning to the source of it all, the Ramo’s teshuva 91 by Rabbi Eliezar Ashkenazi. At the end of the lengthy study there, it brings important and exciting ideas about divorce and forced divorce, but none of them is permitted without the permission of great rabbis. Incidentally, even Ramban and other great rabbis only permitted Pilegesh if a prominent rabbi is in control of the marriage, not if two plain people just shack up. If anyone is interested in Pilegesh they can contact me, as I have semicha from the greatest Rabbis of Europe and Israel, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Yaacov Kaminetsky, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashev (to pasken Gittin using his name) and others. A Pilegesh marriage has no Kesubo and no Kiddushin and each can leave when they want. But if anyone violates the marriage, that is the end of it. People who want Pilegesh must first get permission from the senior rabbi and maintain the rules or it is over.

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[1] Based upon Teshuva of Ramo #96 and Rabbi Eliezar Ashkenazi there

[2] Shulchan Aruch Even Hoezer 26:1 Gro #6

[3] See Rambam Melochim Kings

[4] See Rambam Mishneh Torah Noshim 14:8

The Battle over Saying Shema in the evening

The Mitsvah of Shema

Dovid Eidensohn

The Mitsvah in the Torah for a Jew to read Shema Yisroel by day and night is taught in the Rambam in two places. One is in the beginning of Mishneh Torah in Sefer HaMitsvose Mitsvas Eseh Mitsvah 2, and the other is in Sefer HoAhavo Laws of Krias Shema.

In Sefer HaMitsvose there we are taught, “This teaches that HaShem commanded us to belief in the Complete Control HaShem has on everything. That we must belief that He who produces the realities and their first causes are One. And regarding this they have taught, Hear O Israel the L-d our G‑d the L-d is One.” The Rambam continues there to explain our obligation to accept the Yichud of HaShem, that He made and controls everything.

In Mitsvah 3 there we are taught, “The third mitsvah is that we are commanded to love HaShem…The Sifri teaches ‘Because it is said ‘And you shall love the L-d your G‑d, I don’t know how to love HaShem. The Torah then says, And these things that I command you today shall be on your heart, because through this you will recognize He who says ‘Let there be a world.’”

The Rambam continues there in the name of the Sifri “And you shall love HaShem means you should cause others to love him, as we find with Avrohom your father who called upon others to serve HaShem.” Rambam at the end of Mishneh Torah says that at the End of Days HaShem will introduce through Moshiach a level where all people, Jews and gentiles, will worship HaShem.”

We now turn to Rambam:[1] “We recite twice a day Krias Shema, in the evening and the morning, as it is said, ‘When you lie down and when you rise up.”

This Rambam is heavily supported by the commentators on Mishneh Torah, but it is not at all simple. The first page in gemora Berochose[2] brings a long Tosfose that strongly disagrees with the Rambam, and says that we begin reading the Shema before nightfall. This is stated by the greatest Tosafists, Rabbeinu Tam and the Ri. But Rashi agrees with the Rambam to read Shema at night not by day.

To return to the great battle between Rabbeinu Tam and the Ri with Rashi and Rambam, if one can read Shema before night, let us introduce another idea. The Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 58:6 says that the time to say Shema in the morning passes after the first three hours of the day, but one may still say Shema with the Berochose until the completion of the fourth hour. If one did not say Shema by then he can still recite Shema, but with no Berochose.

If so, according to Rabbeinu Tam and the Ri, that one can say Shema of the evening before night in the previous day, in defiance of Rambam and Rashi, why do we not insist that everyone who prays during the day read Shema again at night, maybe with Berochose maybe without, but at least, say Shema. And if the fourth hour we may recite Shema with the Berochose, is this not a Berocho livatolo?

On a simpler level, if we examine the Tosfose in Berochose B1, we see a big problem. Rabbeinu Tam says that we pasken like Rabbi Yehuda, that day ends about two hours before night. And yet, Tosfose and seemingly Rabbeinu Tam concurs that everyone dovens mincha after Rabbi Yehuda forbids it, until night mamosh. If so, the entire teaching of Rabbi Yehuda is botel.

Furthermore, the Ri is left; and he explains that one may pray maariv during the previous day based upon the opinion that night begins with the darkening of the sky when the sun is not in full strength. But this is mentioned in the gemora B2; and Rashi explains it means Bain HaShemoshose, when we assume it is already partially night before the small stars came out. But is that the time that people prayed in shull the evening prayers? And is there a difference between when people dovened in the daytime between summer’s long days and winter’s short days? That is the question.

I am not concluding here with a clear pesak in these matters, because the Shulchan Aruch and the Poskim are filled with a variety of opinions. I know what I do myself, and it is to keep it as safe as possible, to try to find a strict time to doven.

I learned under the great rabbis from Europe and I know that they had their variations with what the Mishneh Berura paskened. One differed about the time to doven Mincha. One differed when to doven on Shabbos. But I try to follow the Mishneh Berura. A posek has stated that on Chanukah there are various customs when to light the candles, and he mentioned that a major Litvisher Rebbe paskened one way, but that the Mishneh Berura said something else, and this is, to him, is an interesting thing. The Chazon Ish held very strongly of the Mishneh Berurah.

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[1] Book of Ahava in Mishneh Torah Laws of Krias Shama chapter One,1

[2] Berochose B1. See Rashi there some read Shema by day and read only one chapter of Shema at night when they sleep. The problem is if they only read one chapter they don’t read about the going out of Egypt, but they read it in the morning and maybe that is enough. See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 239:1 Mogen Avrohom and Bare Haitiv.

Shmose - The Struggles of People and Hope for the Future

The Jews in Egypt – שמות

Dovid Eidensohn

In Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar[1], one of the oldest books, with the commentary of the genius Radal, Rav Dovid Luria, we have some deep insights into the suffering of the Jews in Egypt.[2] HaShem promised Avrohom that his children would inherit Israel. Avrohom then objected, “But I have no children.” Radal explains, “Surely Avrohom knew that HaShem promised him children who would inherit Israel. But he feared, as is known, that a promise from HaShem is contingent that the person promised this not sin. Avrohom suspected that maybe he would sin or his seed would sin, and the promise would not be fulfilled.”

But HaShem did not accept this. He told Avrohom that for his demand to understand how when he has no children his children will merit the land, he or his children will suffer great problems. He originally  assumed that Avrohom would surely accept HaShem’s promise, and not fear anything. But then He made it clear, “You should surely know! Your seed will be strangers in the land.” Furthermore, this time of being strangers begins with the birth of Isaac, Avrohom’s son[3]. Thus, the fear of Avrohom that he would not merit the promise of HaShem was realized from the birth of Yitschok, Isaac, and it lasted for generations, hundreds of years. The Jews suffered terribly as taught in the story spelled out in Shemose.

The Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar teaches further that from the birth of Yitschok who never left Israel, and later in Egypt, Jews were strangers for four hundred years. From the birth of Yitschok until the Exodus of Israel from Egypt was four hundred years. Thus, the period in Israel prior to the going to Egypt was 400-210 years or 190 years. 190 has a numerical value of 190 or KETZ or “the end.” This was the end of the Jews in Israel from the time of Avrohom, Yitschok and Yaacov. They then went to Egypt for 210 years and then they returned to go to Israel. 210 has a numerical value of REDU meaning, “Go down.” This teaches that going to Egypt from Israel was a great decline, resulting in terrible suffering for the Jews. And the period of the final Jewish settlement in Israel prior to going to Egypt, at least at the end with the problems with Yosef, was one of difficulty.

The suffering of Yaacov because of his suffering with Yosef caused him such grief that he died years before his father and grandfather. Yitschok lived 180 years,  Avrohom lived 175 years; Yaacov lived 147 years. In some ways we find that Yaacov was the greatest of the three Avoth. On the other hand, he made terrible mistakes, and these caused him enormous suffering. To treat Joseph as more special than the other brothers was a mistake nobody should every make. To love Rochel and dislike Leah was another great mistake. In the end Yaacov was buried with Leah and Rochel was buried alone somewhere near Israel. G‑d commanded that she be near the Jews when they were exiled to Babylonia to pray for their salvation, and Hashem answered her prayers.

Rebbe Eliezar HaGadol continues with a great Jewish tragedy. When the Jews felt themselves trapped in Egypt the tribe of Ephraim broke out and attempted to escape to Israel. Somebody from Ephraim assured his tribe that miracles would assist them, but that didn’t happen. The Egyptian army slaughtered them.

Another tragedy of the time was when the Egyptians murdered a Jewish man and contaminated his wife. The son born from that eventually cursed HaShem and was put to death. Two parents and their child were murdered in a grisly manner by the Egyptians. The matter came before the heavenly throne and enraged HaShem. He then took revenge on the Egyptians by killing out their first born. Then the Egyptians allowed the Jews to leave Egypt. They then changed their minds, and pursued the Jews. Then HaShem destroyed the entire Egyptian army and the Jews continued on to Israel.

Jews in Egypt after Joseph and his brothers died sinned, but merited to leave Egypt because they guarded their tongues, did not speak loshon hora, and did not change their names.

In Jewish history Jews have often antagonized HaShem. But ultimately, Rambam says, the Messianic Period will produce a world where Jew and gentile will join in the worship of HaShem. Even now, pious Jews who withstand the tests of evil in this world merit to sit in heaven in HaShem’s inner circle. The angels who have nothing to do with evil and are not tested by it, are outside of this circle, and they cry out that people who struggled with evil are higher than they are.

This world offers us problems, but HaShem wants a better world, and it is coming.

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[1] Rebbe Eliezar ben Hurkenuse, a great Tano

[2] Chapter 48

[3]Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar beginning chapter 48

Shmose - The Jews in Egypt, struggled with evil and hope

The Jews in Egypt – שמות

Dovid Eidensohn

In Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar[1], one of the oldest books, with the commentary of the genius Radal, Rav Dovid Luria, we have some deep insights into the suffering of the Jews in Egypt.[2] HaShem promised Avrohom that his children would inherit Israel. Avrohom then objected, “But I have no children.” Radal explains, “Surely Avrohom knew that HaShem promised him children who would inherit Israel. But he feared, as is known, that a promise from HaShem is contingent that the person promised this not sin. Avrohom suspected that maybe he would sin or his seed would sin, and the promise would not be fulfilled.”

But HaShem did not accept this. He told Avrohom that for his demand to understand how when he has no children his children will merit the land, he or his children will suffer great problems. He originally  assumed that Avrohom would surely accept HaShem’s promise, and not fear anything. But then He made it clear, “You should surely know! Your seed will be strangers in the land.” Furthermore, this time of being strangers begins with the birth of Isaac, Avrohom’s son[3]. Thus, the fear of Avrohom that he would not merit the promise of HaShem was realized from the birth of Yitschok, Isaac, and it lasted for generations, hundreds of years. The Jews suffered terribly as taught in the story spelled out in Shemose.

The Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar teaches further that from the birth of Yitschok who never left Israel, and later in Egypt, Jews were strangers for four hundred years. From the birth of Yitschok until the Exodus of Israel from Egypt was four hundred years. Thus, the period in Israel prior to the going to Egypt was 400-210 years or 190 years. 190 has a numerical value of 190 or KETZ or “the end.” This was the end of the Jews in Israel from the time of Avrohom, Yitschok and Yaacov. They then went to Egypt for 210 years and then they returned to go to Israel. 210 has a numerical value of REDU meaning, “Go down.” This teaches that going to Egypt from Israel was a great decline, resulting in terrible suffering for the Jews. And the period of the final Jewish settlement in Israel prior to going to Egypt, at least at the end with the problems with Yosef, was one of difficulty.

The suffering of Yaacov because of his suffering with Yosef caused him such grief that he died years before his father and grandfather. Yitschok lived 180 years,  Avrohom lived 175 years; Yaacov lived 147 years. In some ways we find that Yaacov was the greatest of the three Avoth. On the other hand, he made terrible mistakes, and these caused him enormous suffering. To treat Joseph as more special than the other brothers was a mistake nobody should every make. To love Rochel and dislike Leah was another great mistake. In the end Yaacov was buried with Leah and Rochel was buried alone somewhere near Israel. G‑d commanded that she be near the Jews when they were exiled to Babylonia to pray for their salvation, and Hashem answered her prayers.

Rebbe Eliezar HaGadol continues with a great Jewish tragedy. When the Jews felt themselves trapped in Egypt the tribe of Ephraim broke out and attempted to escape to Israel. Somebody from Ephraim assured his tribe that miracles would assist them, but that didn’t happen. The Egyptian army slaughtered them.

Another tragedy of the time was when the Egyptians murdered a Jewish man and contaminated his wife. The son born from that eventually cursed HaShem and was put to death. Two parents and their child were murdered in a grisly manner by the Egyptians. The matter came before the heavenly throne and enraged HaShem. He then took revenge on the Egyptians by killing out their first born. Then the Egyptians allowed the Jews to leave Egypt. They then changed their minds, and pursued the Jews. Then HaShem destroyed the entire Egyptian army and the Jews continued on to Israel.

Jews in Egypt after Joseph and his brothers died sinned, but merited to leave Egypt because they guarded their tongues, did not speak loshon hora, and did not change their names.

In Jewish history Jews have often antagonized HaShem. But ultimately, Rambam says, the Messianic Period will produce a world where Jew and gentile will join in the worship of HaShem. Even now, pious Jews who withstand the tests of evil in this world merit to sit in heaven in HaShem’s inner circle. The angels who have nothing to do with evil and are not tested by it, are outside of this circle, and they cry out that people who struggled with evil are higher than they are.

This world offers us problems, but HaShem wants a better world, and it is coming.

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[1] Rebbe Eliezar ben Hurkenuse, a great Tano

[2] Chapter 48

[3]Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar beginning chapter 48

HaShem Protects Jews in Difficult Times

The Greatest Sages in the Worst Times

Dovid Eidensohn

The greatest sages in the worst times are Rabbi Eliezar the Great, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zacai, his rebbe, and the genius Rabbi Dovid Luria. These two, Rabbi Eliezar the Great and Rabbi Dovid Luria are the scholars who composed the ancient classic “Pirkei DiRebbe Eliezar.” But the father of all was Rabbi Yochanan ben Zackai, who saved the Jewish people just prior to the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans. It was he who got the head of the Romans who became the Roman king, to give Rabbi Yochanan ben Zackai and his scholars who spent their lives learning Torah, the small city of Yavneh. And from that, the Torah continued and developed the Babylonian and Jerusalemic Talmuds, and a prosperous Torah community for generations.

We turn now to chapter 42 and the miracle HaShem made to save Jewish children thrown into the river by the Egyptians.

“Ben Azai said, ‘Everything has its place. Just as the Egyptians were proud, and threw Jewish babies into the river; so did HaShem fling the Egyptians into the sea, as it is said, I will sing to HaShem, because He has done very great things.”

“Rabbi Shilo said, ‘All of the children thrown into the river by the Egyptians did not die. But the river spit them out and flung them to the Egyptian Desert. And HaShem brought a Sela coin to each child and placed a Sela coin near him. And the Sela in his mouth nursed him with honey. And the Sela next to him nursed them with oil, as an animal does to feed her children. And when the Jews came to the sea, they saw HaShem  and recognized Him, and praised Him and sanctified Him, as it is said, ‘This is my G‑d, and I worship Him.’”

Next the sefer presents that HaShem arranged that the Egyptians He killed would be bobbing around in the water, until HaShem caused a North wind to blow their bodies to the Jews near the water. “The Jews then went and recognized all of the dead Egyptians personally, as it is said, ‘And Israel saw the Egyptians.’”

The sefer continues, that Moshe led the Israelites singing songs of praise to HaShem, and Miriam led the women singing songs of praise to HaShem. The Jews, men and women, had musical instruments they had brought with them from Egypt, as they trusted that HaShem would make miracles for them and then they would sing praises to HaShem.

Then a mighty miracle happened. The angels were singing, the Jews were singing, and then, Pharoah began singing. He who told Moshe, “Who is HaShem that I should listen to Him?” now confessed that he accepts the greatness of HaShem who killed out his firstborn in Egypt and now killed out all of his soldiers at the sea when they went to attack the Jews.

The sefer in chapter 26 near the beginning tells how Pharoah took Avrohom’s wife Soro to be his wife. HaShem then afflicted Pharoah and his household with great plagues, to tell him that in the future He would attack the Egyptians and bring great plagues upon them. Pharoah realized that he had made a terrible mistake to defy HaShem by taking Sora, and he returned her to Avrohom. He also gave Sora a huge amount of money and servants including his daughter Hagar the shifcho of Sora and Avrohom.

HaShem commanded the sea to swallow the Egyptians and it obeyed, but only after HaShem swore to allow the sea to swallow and keep them.

HaShem then discussed the future with Moshe. He concluded, “You will bring the Jews to Israel, and I will plant them there.” Meaning, in the Future, HaShem will make a world of happiness and hope for Jews, and the gentiles will repent. This is discussed at length in Rambam Mishneh Torah the very final passages.

 See also Rambam there in Mishneh Torah laws of Kings at the end of chapter 12: “If the one assumed to be the final Moshiach succeeds and builds the Temple in its place and gathers in the scattered of Israel, this is definitely the Moshiach. And he will succeed in getting the entire world to together serve HaShem, as it is said, ‘For then I will change over the nations to have a clear tongue, so that all of them will call out in the Name of HaShem, and to serve Him, all together.’”

The Baal HaTanyo, the Vilna Gaon and the Chofetz Chaim

The Baal HaTanya Reb Shneur Zalman

Dovid Eidensohn

Today, in Shull and elsewhere, was celebrated the Yartseit of the Baal HaTanya Reb Shneur Zalman, the great Hassidic founder of Chabad.

The Vilna Gaon put the Chassidim in Cherem. Why? Also, not a single one of his disciples, who were completely subservient to him, obeyed. They were all quite friendly with the greatest Hassidic rabbis. These questions require answers.

There are several answers to these questions. One is from the Chazon Ish in Bnei Braq, who explained that in the time of the Vilna Gaon many very great scholars existed, and it was possible to maintain the Jewish world with them, but the Chassidim who went their own way convinced the Vilna Gaon that they were a problem that needed to be improved. As time went on and Jewish deniers increased and great rabbis declined, it was now the time to accept that Chassidim were a great help for the Torah, not a problem. Then the attack on Chassidim ended and everyone worked to fight the deniers of the Torah.

I once heard that the Chofetz Chaim himself had great Hassidic rabbis at the Agudah conventions where he was the leading person. He was once asked about the Cherem of the Vilna Gaon on Chassidim and he replied that the leading Lithuanian scholar Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin performed a marriage with a Hassidic man who was marrying a girl from the family of the Vilna Gaon. This proves that he, the greatest scholar of his time, held that the Cherem of the Vilna Gaon was ended.

There is another opinion I heard years ago, and at this point I can’t trace it exactly who told it to me. It seems that when the soul of the Baal HaTanya, Reb Shlomo Zalman, rose to heaven, the Satan realized who he was, and ran to HaShem and said, “I quit. I can’t make him sin so I quit.” HaShem answered, “Fine, quit. I will take care of it.” From this came the Vilna Gaon, who spent a lot of time in heaven and dealing with heavenly angels, etc. And we can understand why the Vilna Gaon was given the job to attack the Chassidim, because what a tsadik leshaim shomayim does is safer for the attacked person than if the Satan would do it. That is why the chassidim of the Vilna Gaon did not continue attacks on Chassidim.

The person who told me the above story is from a prominent Torah family. He said that his family has a letter from the Chofetz Chaim and Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky but many words were scratched out. The family’s tradition is that the above idea that the Vilna Gaon took over the job of dealing with the Baal HaTanyo by putting him in Cherem is what was erased in that letter.

Something somehow related to the above is something I read about the Baal HaTanyo from a Chassidic source. It seems that the Baal Shem Tov had a disciple the Magid who carried on after the Baal Shem Tov. When the Magid became ill and was dying, the senior Chassidim came to him to say good by. The Baal HaTanyo came also, and the Magid told him, “You will have great suffering, but when I go to heaven, I will defend you.” And he died.

The Baal HaTanyo was recognized as the Rov or the one who ruled on rabbinic questions. But he was younger than the others. The older Chassidim decided to put the Vilna Gaon in Cherem, but the Baal HaTanyo refused, and without him, they could not do it. Finally, they came to his shull and in front of his disciples, they cursed him and turned and left. The Baal HaTanyo said nothing, but walked them politely out to their carriages. Then they made war on him.

One day, the Baal HaTanyo collapsed on the floor. His little grandson leaped on top of him smacking his face, and shouted, “Zeideh! I am here.” Groggily, the Baal HaTanyo woke up, and heard  his grandson shouting, “Zeideh! I am here.” The Baal HaTanyo replied, “Yes, you are here.” This child became a great rebbe and the leader that established Chabad. Thus, the curse of the Vilna Gaon ended with happiness for the Baal HaTanyo, but we don’t know what would have happened if the Satan had not quit chas vishalom. But we do know for sure why none of the great disciples of the Vilna Gaon ever refused the close friendship of Chassidim.

Another story about the Chofetz Chaim is as follows. The Chassidim, at least certain groups of them, had to have the Chofetz Chaim’s seforim. He would therefore go here and there to sell his seforim, and he came to a shull of Chassidim that usually purchased his books enthusiastically. This time he came in with his books, sat down, and nobody noticed him. It seems that two people were screaming about a gemora, and nobody noticed anything but that. Finally, the Chofetz Chaim was noticed, the two screamers were told this, and they rushed to apologize to the Chofetz Chaim. The Chofetz Chaim complimented them on their great diligence in understanding a difficult gemora.

What does this mean? The main disciple of the Chofetz Chaim was Reb Elchonon Wasserman. He once walked down the street of his city and somebody pointed out to him that there were a lot of children in a certain shull who were davening very loudly. He replied, “I don’t usually notice a lot of children in shull.” Maybe these were Chassidic children.

As the Chassidic world grew stronger and the general Jewish community became weaker, many people are happy if they pray in a Chassidic minyan. The Chassidim are mastering the secrets of learning deep Talmudic discussions, and many people are mastering the secrets of the Chassidic world. And thus do we all wait, coming soon, for Moshiach.

A Poem about the Secret of the Chanukah Candles

The Secret of the Chanukah Candles

Dovid Eidensohn

Oy Chanukah! Oy Chanukah! A Yom Tov a Shaina[1]

Light  from darkness, hope and prayer,

HaShem is here,

Hashem is everywhere.

My Chanukah Menorah has eight cups,

Filled with oil and cotton wicks,

Burning brightly in the night,

My heart swells at the Heavenly sight.

There is a silent message speaking to my soul,

The candles shine their light and wait,

That is their goal.

We’re supposed to sit long watching the candles glow,

Waiting, waiting, for a light on high,

To come down to earth to us,

And reveal how to become free.

Free to wait,

 While more lights comes to us from heaven,

If we think of it enough,

We will understand.

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[1] Translation: a beautiful Holiday

Rambam and the Two MoShiachs King David and a son of his

Rambam[1] tells us that there will be two Moshiachs. First, King David who is mentioned many times in the bible, established his reign and drove out the enemies of Israel with a strong hand. Then much later, at the end of Days, one of his sons, who will be the final Moshiach, will organize and establish the Jewish people. He will then prepare them, and the nations of the world, to serve HaShem.

Rambam[2] tells us that if a descendent of King David arrives who is great in Torah learning and is diligent in doing good deeds as did his father David, who knows the Written and the Oral Torah, and who will cause the Jews to follow the Torah and to strengthen their belief in it, and he will wage wars for the honor of HaShem; this person has arrived at a state where we assume that he is Moshiach, even though we are not yet positive.

If he continues and succeeds, and builds the Temple in its place, and gathers in the scattered Jews from their places, then we assume that he is definitely Moshiach.

He will continue to fix up the entire world and teach everyone to serve Hashem together, as it is said, ‘For then I will change over among the nations a clear tongue, so that all of them call out jn the Name of HaShem, and serve Him with one effort.”

We come now in the Rambam to Chapter 12 passage 1.

Here the Rambam makes it clear that the passages in the bible about the wolf lying down in peace with the lamb are not to be taken literally, because these passages simply teach that the nations who were once ferocious enemies of Jews and killed them, robbed them and beat them, will then become one nation with Israel to serve HaShem together. But a wolf remains a wolf, even when Moshiach comes.

The Rayved, a great sage who was older than the Rambam, disagreed. He quotes the biblical passage “And I will destroy wild animals” to mean exactly that. A wolf will not eat a sheep. So he disagrees with the Rambam.

It is important that we note the relationship between Rayved and Rambam. Rambam was younger than the Rayved, and it is possible that the magnificent line of great rabbis and saints in the Rayved’s family were special. Furthermore, the Rambam was not just a great Torah scholar. He spent a lot of time serving the King of Egypt, the mighty warrior Sulleiman, and he was very close to him and honored greatly.

There is a story I once heard: Somebody in the court of the King of Egypt announced that he had trained a cat to sit like a person, not like a cat. Rambam publicly disagreed. So, there was a test. The man produced his trained cat, and encouraged him to climb up and sit like a person and the cat began to eat like a person. Rambam came along, removed a mouse from his pocket, and threw it down. In a flash the cat was away from his chair and chasing the mouse. The Rambam won.

When Rambam noticed the criticism of the Rayved on his Mishneh Torah, he replied, “Nobody ever defeated me who was not an expert in only one type of learning.” Meaning, Rambam was a famous doctor, who served the family of the King and many others, besides being a great Torah scholar. Rayved was not a doctor so he was “an expert in only one type of learning.” But both got along well with respect.

Rambam then says that we don’t know clearly what exactly will happen in the times of Messianic revelations.[3] But from reading biblical passages we sense that there will be a war of Gog and Magog, perhaps a war HaShem makes on the enemies of Israel, but before then a prophet, perhaps Eliyohu, will come to restore peace to parents and children.

Rambam says that nobody knows exactly what Messianic times means, but we must believe in it; and how it appears will only be known then.

Rambam says[4] when the last Moshiach will become established and gather in the scattered of Israel, he will begin designing the roles for the Levites and other Jews, with the power given him by Heaven to obtain Ruach HaKodesh, the holy heavenly spirit.

Rambam continued[5] The sages and prophets did not desire the Days of Moshiach to conquer the world, or to conquer nations, or to be elevated by other nations, or to eat and drink and rejoice, but only to be free to study Torah and its wisdom in order to merit the Higher World.

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[1] Melochim 11:1

[2] Melochim 11:4                                                1

[3] Melochim 12,2

[4] Melochim 12,3

[5] Melochim 12,4