DVAR TORAH At the beginning of the book of Bamidbar, the Midrash Tanchuma writes that “Our Sages taught: with three things was the Torah given: with fire with water and in the desert.. in the desert, as it says “And Hashem spoke to Moshe in the desert saying”. And why was it given with these three things? To teach you that that just as these are free to all in the world, so too Torah is free to all in the world.”
But then the midrash continues: “‘In the desert of Sinai’ – why in the desert of Sinai? Anyone who does make himself hefkeir (ownerless) like the desert cannot acquire Torah.”
Rav Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht z”l, the founding Rosh HaYeshiva of Kerem b’Yavneh notes the apparent contradiction between the first half of the midrash, which suggests Torah’s constant accessibility, to the second half, which suggests that Torah is inaccessible unless one engages in enormous effort, making himself or herself hefkeir as the desert.
Which is it, he asked. Is Torah accessible or not?
The answer wrote Rav Goldwicht, is that the first part of the Midrash refers to learning Torah. This is open to everyone and is easily accessible. But the second part of the midrash refers to making a kinyan on Torah, acquiring it, making Torah an inttrinsic part of one’s own being - that requires enormous effort and self-sacrifice to accomplish. As the Rambam wrote:
“Words of Torah do not remain with one who is lax in their study nor with those who learn in a pampered state or through [excessive] eating and drinking. [They] only [last] in one who is prepared to give his life for Torah and afflicts his body constantly refusing to slumber... (Hilchot Talmud Torah 3:12).
Torah is like the midbar - it is both open to all, but a challenge as well!
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: TEARING KRIAH AT THE KOTEL There is a well-known custom that if one has not visited the Kotel for thirty days, when returning to the Kotel one must tear “kriah.” [Moed Katan 26a, Orech Chaim 561:1]. Just as occurs upon the passing of a close relative, this kriah is performed is by ripping the left side of one’s garment, and according to most authorities, to do so for at least one tefach (3-4 inches) in length.
With the reunification of Jerusalem, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, ztz”l felt that kriah is no longer necessary - since Jerusalem and the Temple Mount are under Jewish control [Bet Mordechai 33, Rav Shlomo Aviner -Tal Chermon Moadim, p. 218]. However, most authorities disagree, noting that as long as the Temple is not rebuilt (and especially with the presence of a mosque and a shrine on its site) kriah is still required [Chazon Ovadyah - Arba Taniot pg 438, Igrot Moshe Orech Chaim 4:70:11, Shevet HaLevi 7:78]. However, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tukichinsky did write that the perhaps those who do not rip their shirts rely on the opinion that seeing just the Kotel and not the ground of the Temple Mount is not sufficient cause to perform this custom [Eretz Yisrael 22:5, see also Moadim U'zmanim 7 pp.209-11].
Interestingly, an unusual defense but also a tragic commentary on our people, was suggested by Rabbi Menashe Klein who wrote that perhaps people don’t tear kriah today because they would feel worse about the shirt they tore than the Temple that was destroyed! [Mishna Halachot 6:110]. However, he adds that someone who feels the loss of the Temple should tear kriah and fulfill the halacha.
One final note: If one visits the Kotel on erev Shabbat (Friday after midday) according to most opinions, kriah is not performed. This is because performing kriah, as well as all mourning practices, are forbidden at these times. Some even maintain that doing so exempts a person from tearing kriah on any subsequent visit within thirty days [Piskei Teshuvot 561:3].
This evening, as we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, we look forward to a time when not only will we no longer have to tear kriah, but we will be able to celebrate a rebuilt and glorious third Beit HaMikdash, bim’heira bi’yameinu!
Receive a daily 3 Minute Thought directly to your whatsapp. Click here to enroll
MAZAL TOV * to Robert and Lee Matanky on the wedding of their son, Jack, to Samantha Rothschild (Israel). Mazal Tov to grandmothers, Mrs. Trude Matanky and Mrs. Sharon Frankel. * to Dr. Yigal and Donna Yahav on the engagement of their daughter, Talia to Danny Glick. *t o Avi and Daphna Zisook on the birth of a baby girl. Mazal Tov to grandparents Rabbi Kenny and Shelley Zisook.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Hillel Lipson who is recuperating from surgery at home. * to Rachel Silverman who is recuperating at home. * to Norman Goldberg who is recuperating at home. * to Nancy Gloger who is recuperating from surgery at Swedish Covenant Hospital. * to Esther Meyers who is hospitalized at Alexian Brothers Hospital.
CONDOLENCES * to Cheryl and Dr. Stephen Karesh on the loss of her brother, Alan Rice z’l. Cheryl will be sitting shiva beginning Thursday through Saturday night, Motzaei Shabbat, at her home, 2910 W. Estes. Thursday 12: pm – 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm -10:00 pm. Friday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm. Motzaei Shabbat 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm.
* to Rachel & Dr. David Spindel on the loss of her brother, Dr. Jeffrey Buckman, z”l. Shiva is at the Drapkin residence, 3814 Enfield, Skokie, Thursday, May 18, Shacharit 6:30 am, early Mincha at 1:30 pm - There will be no other minyanim at the Shiva house after Mincha on Thursday. Shiva will conclude on Monday morning, May 22.
* to Dr. Ronald Greenberg, on the passing of his father, Dr. Elliott Greenberg, z”l. Shiva is at at 2908 W. Farwell, Chicago. Thursday & Sunday: Shacharit: 7:00 am and Mincha-Maariv: 7:50 pm. Friday: Shacharit: 7:00 am and Mincha 5:00 pm. Motzaei Shabbat: Maariv: 8:55pm. Monday: Shiva concludes after 7:00am Shacharit. Please no visitors from 11:00 am -1:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 6:00pm or after 9:30 pm.
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
Thank you to all our sponsors for our Scholar in Residence with HaRav Schachter: Anonymous, Shelly and Miriam Aberman, Jeremy and Rebecca Amster, Randy and Robyn Cohen, Freddie and Orlit Goldman, Moshe and Shoshie Kahn, Eddy and Beruria Loew, Rabbi Leonard and Margaret Matanky, Steve and Malka Miretzky, Eric Rothner, Richard and Rachel Silverman, and Reuven and Raanana Stein
The Early Minyan Kiddush extras are sponsored by Jim and Meira Mainzer.
A Donation to the Kiddush fund was made by: * Rachelle Gold in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of her mother, Harriet B. Gold z’l on 29 Iyyar. * Gitelle Rapoport and Gershom Szydlowski in commemoration of the yahrtzeit if Gitelle’s father, Rabbi Shlomo Rapoport z’l – הרב שלמה בן ישראל ז"ל
FROM THE DAYAN'S DESK - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays noon 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA - Wed. 8:00pm/Shabbat 8:30am
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays @ 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 5:00pm - will not meet this week
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha - will not meet this week
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays, 9:00pm - will not meet this week
BIRTHDAYS Mrs. Cynthia Levin (5/20) Mrs. Enid Myers (5/20) Rabbi Ilan Heifetz (5/21) Mrs. Dvora Gold (5/22) Tzippy David (5/24) Mr. Jonathan Stopek (5/24) Mr. Randy Cohen (5/25) Maya Strahlberg (5/25)
ANNIVERSARIES Rabbi Jerry & Jocelyn Isenberg (5/22) Eli and Ayelet Kleinman (5/25)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
FROM THE DAYAN'S DESK - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays @ 8:15pm 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 5:00pm - 
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha - 
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays, 9:00pm - 