HALACHA OF THE WEEK:V'tain tal umatar - Americans in Israel and Israelis in America According to the Talmud [Taanit 4b], while the rainy season in Israel begins around the time of Sukkot, we wait to recite the prayer for rain ("v'tain tal u'matar") until two weeks later (Cheshvan 7). The reason for this delay is to allow those who travelled to Jerusalem for the holiday to return home before the onset of the rainy season.
However, for those of us who live in the Diaspora we wait even longer, until December 4th (or 5th in the year before a leap year). This difference in practice is based on the custom of Babylonia, a land of abundant water, which did not need rain until the 60th day after the autumnal equinox [Taanit 10a]; which, in a famous responsum of Rabbeinu Asher, he ruled that all of the Diaspora, regardless of their individual needs for rain should follow the custom of Babylonia [Teshuvot HaRosh 4:10].
But what should a person who travels between Israel and the Diaspora do? Should an American visiting Israel between the 7th of Cheshvan and December 4th add "v'tain tal u'matar" to the Shemona Esrei while there? Should an Israeli who has begun adding it stop saying it while visiting the States?
Be'eir Heitev [Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chayim 117:4) presents several possible answers. The first opinion is that as long as the Israeli visiting the Diaspora leaves his family in Israel, he should still follow the custom of Israel (this was the operant halachic opinion of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach [Yom Tov Sheni Chapter 10 note 23]). However, he also presents an opposite view that claims that such a person follows the practice of the place he is in at a given moment, and thus omits "v'tain tal u'matar" if he is in the Diaspora before December 4th.
What about an American in Israel? Rabbi Ovadia Yosef [Yechave Daat 1:73], ruled that a foreigner who comes to Israel after the 7th of Cheshvan but before December 4th must add "v'tain tal u'matar" for the duration of his stay. However, if he leaves before December 4th he should revert to the custom of the Diaspora, but insert this line in the later blessing of "shome'a tefillah".
According to Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, this case depends entirely on when the American Jew is planning on returning to the Diaspora. If he is returning after December 4th, he should follow the Israeli custom. If not, he should just insert that line in "shome'a tefillah" [Yom Tov Sheni Chapter 10 note 23]. This too is the ruling of Rabbi Heschel Schachter, shlit"a.
DVAR TORAH This week's parsha opens with G-d's famous command, of "lech-lecha" - "go forth from your native land, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you."
Why didn't G-d tell Avraham the exact destination of his journey?
According to Rashi the answer is "to make it precious in his eyes and to give him reward for every command" - because traveling to an unknown place adds to the excitement of the journey and creates a longing for more details.
But the Sfat Emet offers a different answer. He explained that knowing where a person is going gives that person a sense of autonomy and control over his life. By contrast, the Sfat Emet wrote, an intrinsic part of a righteous person’s journey through life is the willingness to subjugate himself to the will of G-d. That is, to freely and willing giving up his autonomy and control, and become, in effect, instruments to realize the will of G-d in this world.
That was the reason G-d did not tell Avraham the precise destination of his journey.
Sometimes, concluded the Sfat Emet we may ask: What does G-d want from us? The answer is - to devote ourselves totally to perform the will of G-d, as did Avraham on his journey. And when we do, we will realize that there is no need to even ask the question of G-d!
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MAZAL TOV * to Bernice Novick on the birth of a great-granddaughter, Rochel Sora Billet, born in Israel to her grandchildren Ora and Elimelech Billet. * to Elisha and Robbie Rosenwasser on the birth of daughter, Sadie. Mazal Tov to grandparents Jim and Terri Rosenwasser. Special Mazal Tov to great grandmother Jacqueline Rosenwasser. * to Marc and Miriam Sommer on the upcoming marriage of their grandson, Chezky Nissenbaum to Leah Dahari (Israel). * to Mr. and Mrs. Eric Rothner and Mrs. Elaine Rothner on the bar mitzvah of their grandson Yonatan, son of Daniel and Amy Rothner. * to Rabbi and Mrs. Leonard Matanky and Mr. and Mrs. Hillel Kellerman, on the birth of grandson, born to their children Avi and Sarah Matanky. Mazal tov to great-grandmothers, Mrs. Trude Matanky, Mrs. Bernice Novick, Vicky Praw and Sylvia Kellerman.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab.
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KINS North Kiddush is sponsored by Shmuel and Channa Goldstein in honor of Chosson Torah and by David and Miriam Meyers and Shmuel and Channa Goldstein in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of their father and grandfather, Harry Klavan z’l.
A donation to the Kiddush Fund was made by: The Matanky and Stopek family in commemoration of the yahrtzeits of their beloved parents, grandparents and great grandparents, Celia and Arnold Matanky z’l.
The day of Learning Shabbat October 16th is sponsored by Eva Gertzfeld in memory of her mother in law Sarah Gertzfeld Sarah Fraida bas Moshe Chaim z”l.
DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays, 12pm - will resume 10/6 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA, Wed. 8:00p / Shabbat 8:30am
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat, 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER DANIEL – Sundays 9:00am - will resume 10/10
BIRTHDAYS Mr. Leo Feigenbaum (10/16) Dahlia Matanky (10/16) Shmuel Friedman (10/17) Mr. Jonathan Dress (10/18) Mrs. Naomi Jacobson (10/18) Yonatan Gershman (10/19) Mr. Sheldon Aberman (10/20) Mrs. Aviva Hassan (10/20) Yaakov Neikrug (10/20) Elisah Neikrug (10/21) Julie Perl (10/21) Dana Stein (10/21)
ANNIVERSARIES Michael and Keren Dukes (10/18) Yosi and Aviva Applebaum (10/20) Allan and Rosanne Arnet (10/21)
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TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat, 45 minutes before mincha
