Volume 27 Number 26
Produced: Fri Nov 28 13:28:17 1997
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Adoption Issues
[Jeffrey Woolf]
Basic Jewish case for vegetarianism
[Richard Schwartz]
Bilhah and Zilpah were sisters and wives
[Joel Goldberg]
Friday afternoon, Shir Hamaalos, and Moshiach
[Akiva G Miller]
Honor Thy Father and Mother
[Harvey Lieber]
Honoring your father and mother (2)
[Eliezer Finkelman, D.A. Schiffmann]
Mazel Tov
[tova taragin]
Merit of the Patriarchs
[Moshe Hillson]
Minchas Yehudah vYerushalayim
[Ezriel Krumbein]
Origins of "world-to-come"
[Howard Gontovnick]
Sheva Na & Nach
[Ezriel Krumbein]
Yesh L'gour Bo
[Zusha Frumin]
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From: Jeffrey Woolf <woolfj@...>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 03:09:52 +0200
Subject: Re: Adoption Issues
Rabbi Maurice Lamm covers alot of issues concerning adoption in his
book, 'Becoming a Jew.'
Jeff Woolf
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From: Richard Schwartz <SCHWARTZ@...>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 10:49:07 -0400
Subject: Basic Jewish case for vegetarianism
I know that issues related to Judaism and vegetarianism have been
discussed previously on this list, but I believe that it could be
valuable to discuss some fundamental issues further. Hence, I would like
to rspectfully pose the following question:
In view of Judaism's strong teachings with regard to preserving
human health, treating animals with compassion, protecting the
environment, conserving resources, and helping the hungry, and the very
negative effects that the production and consumption of meat has in each
of these areas, shouldn't Jews be vegetarians, or at least seriously
consider moving toward vegetarianism?
The above question can be reinforced with the following
comparisons:
1) While Judaism mandates that people be very careful about preserving
their health and their lives, animal-centered diets have been
convincingly found to be a major contributor to heart disease, stroke,
several forms of cancer, and other chronic diseases.
2) While Judaism mandates compassion for animals, most farm animals are
raised for food today under extremely cruel conditions in small confined
spaces, where they are denied fulfillment of their instinctual needs.
3) While Judaism stresses that we are to share our bread with hungry
people, over 70% of the grain grown in the United States is fed to
animals destined for slaughter, as 15 to 20 million people worldwide die
annually because of hunger and its effects.
4) While Judaism teaches that "the earth is the L-rd`s" and that we are
to be partners with G-d in preserving the world, animal -centered diets
contribute substantially to soil erosion and depletion, extensive air
and water pollution related to chemical fertilizer and pesticides, the
destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, and global
warming.
5) While Judaism mandates bal tashchit, that we are not to waste or
unnecessarily destroy anything of value, livestock agriculture requires
far more food, land, water, energy, and other resources than plant-based
agriculture.
Since there is much wisdom on this list, especially with regard to
Judaism, and the effects of our diets are great, I look forward to
responses, whether critical of my position or not.
B'shalom,
Richard (Schwartz)
Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism
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From: <joel@...> (Joel Goldberg)
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 11:24:43 +0200
Subject: Bilhah and Zilpah were sisters and wives
In Vol 27 #25 Sheldon Meth <SHELDON.Z.METH@...> Wrote:
>My understanding is that Bilhah and Zilpah were sisters and also sisters
>of Rachel and Leah, although Bilhah and Zilpah's mother was Lavan's
>concubine. [...] when they were "given" to Ya'akov, he freed
>them, and married them as wives, not concubines.
>I do not have specific references for this, however, kach mekublani
>meRabbosai [so have I received it from my Rebbeim].
This is interesting, because it contradicts the usual explanation of why
Rachel died when Ya'akov and family entered Eretz Yisrael. It is said
that:
1) Ya'akov (as well as Avraham and Yitzchak) kept all the mitzvot even
before the giving of the torah
2) There is a prohibition against marrying sisters
3) The miztvot are only truly in force in Eretz Yisrael
Thus, when Ya'akov and family entered Israel, there was a violation of
the marrying two sisters prohibition and the resolution was Rachel's
death.
Either some part of the above explanation of Rachel's death is not
correct, or Bilhah and Zilpah were not sisters married as wives to
Ya'akov.
Joel Goldberg
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From: <kennethgmiller@...> (Akiva G Miller)
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 21:28:41 EST
Subject: Friday afternoon, Shir Hamaalos, and Moshiach
In Mail-Jewish 27:21, Mike Fischer asked about Shir Ha'Ma'alot and Al
Naharot Bavel, specifically, <<< what about days on which we say Tachanun
during part of the day and the rest of it we don't, like Fridays
(Tachanun in shachrit and none at mincha?) What do we say at "lunch" on
Fridays? >>>
The answer can be found in the Shulchan Aruch. The Mechaber, 267:1,
writes, <<< At mincha on Friday, Tachanun is not done.>>> The Mishna
Brurah, 267:1 adds <<< "The reason is because it is close to the entry of
Shabbos", says the Levush. The Pri Megadim writes, "It seems that the
same applies that one who recites Mincha Gedolah after midday also omits
Tachanun. Similarly, one who eats bread after midday also does not say Al
Naharos Bavel, but rather Shir Hamaalos..." >>> Please note that Shir
Hamaalos is recited even in the first half-hour after midday, even though
it is still too early to recite Mincha; this distinction will become
relevant in my final paragraph.
The above laws clearly put Friday afternoon in a very different category
than the prior 5 3/4 days of the week; specifically a much holier and
festive category, for although Shabbos has not yet arrived, it is rapidly
approaching.
At this point, I would like to quote from an article by Rabbi Benjamin
Blech, published in the March 13, 1974 issue of Hamevaser, the newspaper
printed by the students of the Jewish Studies divisions of Yeshiva
University. At the time, Rabbi Blech was a teacher of Talmud, Bible, and
Philosophy at YU, and was Rabbi of the Young Israel of Oceanside (Long
Island, NY). This short excerpt is but about 1/16 of the entire article.
<<< The story of Creation, in Kabbalistic thought, stands as prototype
for all history that is to follow: "For a thousand years are in Thy sight
like a day," and every day of creation prophetically corresponds to a
thousand year period which is to follow. Adam, the apex of creation,
appeared on the scene on the sixth day. And the Zohar 117-118 makes clear
that it is in the sixth thousand year cycle - that is to say from the
year 5000 forward - that Messiah's coming will of necessity have to take
place.
<<< (Of course, it is always recognized that this longed-for era may be
hastened by repentance on the part of the Jewish people... The dates
projected by Chazal all represent the very latest, outer limits of time
when Messiah must appear... )
<<< Can one be more specific? The Gaon of Vilna cites the Talmud in
Sanhedrin, 38B, concerning the creation of Adam. There it is made clear
that it was on the fifth hour that Adam "stood on his feet". The exact
time in the sixth millenium when the Jewish nation would be able to stand
on its own feet would therefore correspond to the particular hour when
Adam was completed by God and enabled to stand erect. Rabbi Abraham Yelon
in his work Geulat Yisrael made the necessary calculation and prediction:
If a twenty-four hour period equals a thousand years, every hour of a day
of creation is equivalent to 41 and 2/3 years. Adam stood on his feet at
the fifth hour of day. That is to say after twelve hours of night and
five hours following. The twelve hours of night are the equivalent of
five hundred years. The additional five hours of day are another two
hundred and eight. The particular year then predicted for the nationhood
of Israel, the moment most clearly coinciding with God's redemption of
our nation would be in the sixth millenium, i.e. 5000, plus another 708.
The year in English with which that date is identical is of course 1948 -
the very year that witnessed the establishment of the State of Israel.
History confirmed prophecy... >>> [End of quote from Rabbi Blech]
I do not know in what ways the other events of the Sixth Day as listed in
that gemara might correspond to events of this millenium. But I would
like to point out something else: Using the calculations above, the year
5750 corresponds to midday on Erev Shabbos.
With great trepidation, I humbly suggest a new thought to think about:
The Shabbos of Creation has not yet arrived, nor has Moshiach arrived,
though he might at any moment. But Erev Shabbos has indeed arrived, and
not just recently, but eight years ago already. On some cosmic or
kabbalistic level, perhaps we can say that we have entered a new era in
which Tachanun [or perhaps some other thing which corresponds to
Tachanun] is inappropriate. Or perhaps not. But on a very *practical*
level, I think it is safe to say that it is now Erev Shabbos Afternoon!!!
and we had better get our collective acts together, if we hope to be
ready and prepared when Shabbos arrives.
Akiva Miller
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From: Harvey Lieber <lieber@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 13:55:43 -0500
Subject: Honor Thy Father and Mother
The following book fills the bill beautifully: "Honor Thy Father and
Mother: Filial Responsibility in Jewish Law and Ethics," by Gerald J.
Blidsteiln, Ktav 1975.
Good Reading! Tsvi Lieber
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From: <Finkelmans@...> (Eliezer Finkelman)
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 13:17:37 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Honoring your father and mother
>From: Michael Savere <aziz@...>
> Can anyone recommend good sources for a full explanation of the
>commandment to honor your father and mother. I'm looking along the lines
>of exactly what behavior that entails, and how do you honor them if they
>don't respect you and treat you as they should.
Rabbi Gerald Blidstein wrote a fine book devoted entirely to this
Mitsvah, entitled, if I remember correctly, "Honor thy Father and thy
Mother."
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From: D.A. Schiffmann <das1002@...>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 03:08:02 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re: Honoring your father and mother
> From: Michael Savere <aziz@...>
> Can anyone recommend good sources for a full explanation of the
> commandment to honor your father and mother. I'm looking along the lines
> of exactly what behavior that entails, and how do you honor them if they
> don't respect you and treat you as they should.
If you have access to a machine that can play Realaudio files (the
software necessary can be downloaded for free - see
http://613.org/instruct.html for advice on obtaining the required
RealPlayer software), then you may be interested in two online shiurim
on this subject available through 'Jewish Torah Audio, 613.org', the
home page for which is at http://www.613.org
The shiurim are by Rabbi Sauer, the Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva of Los
Angeles; see http://www.613.org/subject.html#p for the actual web
addresses for the shiurim.
Best wishes,
David Schiffmann
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From: tova taragin <tovt@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 18:56:22 -0500
Subject: Mazel Tov
We would like to announce the engagement of our daughter Peninah to Greg
Gershman. Alan and Tova Taragin
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From: Moshe Hillson <xmjh@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 08:20:38 -0500
Subject: Re: Merit of the Patriarchs
In VOL 27 # 11 I asked:
> On the one hand, several places in aggada (Talmud Bavli and possibly more)
> mention that Zechus Avos has been exhausted ("used up") and we will need
> other sources of merit to merit redemption. See also Ramban on Deuteronomy
> chapter 32 verse 27 (Ha'azinu - Lu'le ka'as oyev agur - if not for the
> accumulated anger of the enemy .....) who interprets this verse as saying
> that the final redemption will be merited due to the desecration of G-d's
> name caused by the exile - and brings Ezekiel ch. 36 (haftarah of Shabbos
> Parah) and several other quotations from Isaiah and Jeremiah.
>
> On the other hand, both the selichos ("supplications") and the prayers of
> Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are full of supplications to pardon us on the
> merit of the Patriarchs (Zechus Avos).
>
> Can anyone reconcile the seeming contradiction?
On Hol Ha-moed Sukkos I raised the question orally, and I was referred
to Talmud Bavli tractate Shabbos 55A. Tos. "and Shmuel said 'The merit
of the Fathers has been exhausted'." Said Rabbenu Tam:" The merit has
been exhausted, but the Bris (pact) is valid forever...". A good
explanation of what is "Merit of the Fathers" can be found in Michtav
meEliayu (Strive for Truth) part I.
Moshe Hillson.
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From: Ezriel Krumbein <ezsurf@...>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 19:21:39 -0800
Subject: Minchas Yehudah vYerushalayim
I have been contemplating the last posuk in the yehi rotzon [may it be
Your will prayer - Mod.] following the Shemone Esrei. Does anyone have
a definition of the distintion between Minchas Yehuda [the offering (?)
of Judah - Mod.] and Minchas Yerusalayim [the offering (?) of Jerusalem
- Mod.] or any other good reason for requiring both modifiers of the
word mincha. The only place that I have found that makes any
distinction is the Targum to Micha 3:4.
Kol Tov
Ezriel
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From: <howardg@...> (Howard Gontovnick)
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 15:02:27 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Origins of "world-to-come"
Dear Friends,
Could someone explain or recommend readings that explain the emergence of
the world-to-come in the Torah and in Midrashic writings of the Tannaitic
Rabbinic period.
Sincere appreciation,
Howard Gontovnick
<howardg@...>
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From: Ezriel Krumbein <ezsurf@...>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 19:27:56 -0800
Subject: Sheva Na & Nach
A while back during one of the dikduk discussions, someone asked for a
source showing proper pronounciation of all sheva na & nachs in Tanach.
I recently purchased a new Tikun which has that and more (albeit only
for Torah). It is called Tikun Korim "Simanim". It has many nice
features including showing the sheva na & nachs.
Kol Tov
Ezriel
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From: <frumin@...> (Zusha Frumin)
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 80 19:51:15 PST
Subject: Yesh L'gour Bo
Shalom. Can anyone please help me understand what the mishna b'rura
means in the innumerable places where it says, "v'yesh l'gour bo," and
you need to yell at him? Could that really be what it means? There is a
person in the minyan where I davan who takes it very literally and is
always screaming at people for one reason or another. It is very
upsetting and many people in the shul lose all ta'am for davaning.
toda Zusha Frumin, Moshav Me"or Modi"im
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End of Volume 27 Issue 26
