DVAR TORAH "And there went out the son of a Jewish woman, and he was the son of an Egyptian man... and the son of the Jewish woman blasphemed the name of G-d and was brought before Moshe" [Vayikra 24:10-12]
The midrash asked, "From where did he go out?" The answer suggested Rabbi Berachya is that "he went out from the preceding section of the Torah" - the description of the "lechem hapanim."
According to the midrash, the reason the blasphemer did what he did, was because he was troubled by the mitzvah of the "lechem hapanim [lit. the "showbreads"] - the loaves of bread set out in the Tabernacle from one Shabbat to the next, and then eaten by the Kohanim. "Why did the Kohen get week-old bread - this doesn't make sense!"
But why should that have led to his act of blasphemy? And what did the midrash want to teach us via this episode?
Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin explained that if the blasphemer had waited one week - he would have seen a miracle - the bread was not hard and stale but remained fresh for an entire week. If only he had waited a week - he would not have cursed G-d and not been put to death. His fundamental mistake was to question G-d's deed, something that, over time, he would eventually have understood.
But he had no patience to wait. He had to know now! And if it did not make sense to him, then all of Judaism was useless -- and he committed the crime of blasphemy.
Sometimes only with the passage of time do things make sense. Sometimes it is a week, sometimes years, sometimes centuries -- but in the final analysis, we believe that G-d is true and righteous and "All of the G-d's actions are pure, for all His paths are just" [Devarim 32:4]. And THAT is the lesson of this midrash!
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: LAG BA’OMER: The "Hillula d'Reb Shimon Bar Yochai" One of the more interesting customs of Lag Ba'Omer is the "hillula d'Reb Shimon Bar Yochai" - the celebration of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. While many associate this "hillula" with great song and dance, originally, this practice involved learning or praying by his grave in Meron [Ateret Zekainim, Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim 493].
The Chatam Sofer opposed any observance of this event, noting that we should not "invent" new holidays which have no basis in tradition, unless they are in commemoration of a miracle [Chatam Sofer Yoreh Deah 233]. The Sho'el U'Meishiv [vol. 5, responsum 39] strengthens the question, noting that the yahrzeits of Torah scholars should be observed as days of mourning, introspection, and fasting, and not as days of partying. He further opposed the custom (as do many others) of burning clothing in bonfires near the grave, noting that it is a violation of "bal tashchit" (needless destruction of useful things) and that even the practice of burning clothing on the funeral pyres of kings was kept to a minimum and was only done with the clothing of the deceased [see: Chikrei Lev of Rav Hayyim Hazzan, Yoreh Deah vol. 2:11].
While opposing the practice in general, the Shem Aryeh [Orech Chaim 14] offered a defense of this custom. According to him, the basis for the practice may be the miraculous escape of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai from the Roman government. However, Rabbi Shlomo Zevin [Moadim B'halacha s.v. "Lag Ba'omer"] rejects this argument.
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REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Hillel Lipson who is recuperating from surgery. * to Rachel Silverman who is recuperating at home.
CONDOLENCES * to Ilene Galowich on the loss of her brother, longtime KINS member, Sheldon Galowich, z’l.
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The Day of Learning, 14 Iyyar, May 5th is sponsored by Joel & Rachel Maryles, Rabbi Levi & Sandy Schultz and Rabbi Ari & Esther Maryles, in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Ari’s mother, Anne Maryles - חנה בת מרדכי ז״ל
A Donation to the Kiddush fund was made by: * Danny and Alida Harris in honor of Steve Miretzky.
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