Rabbi
Doniel Staum, LMSW
Rabbi,
Kehillat New Hempstead
Social
Worker, Yeshiva Bais Hachinuch
To
receive Stam Torah via email each week, send an email to:
stam-torah+subscribe@googlegroups.com
STAM TORAH
PARSHIOS ACHREI
MOS-KEDOSHIM 5772
“AN INDIVISIBLE
UNION”
“During my second month of nursing school,
our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and breezed
through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name
of the woman who cleans the school?"
“Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen
the cleaning woman several times She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but
how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank.
“Before
class ended, one student asked if the last question would count. The professor
replied that it most definitely would. "In your careers you will meet many
people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all
you do is smile and say 'hello'.”
“I've
never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.[1]”
Parshas
Kedoshim commences with a unique encompassing commandment: “Hashem spoke to
Moshe saying: Speak to the congregation of B’nei Yisroel and you shall say to
them: Holy you shall be for holy am I, Hashem, your G-d.[2]”
Rashi notes that from the fact that the Torah
adds the word, “(speak to the) congregation”
we know that this injunctive was stated at the time of assembly[3], since many fundamental laws
of the Torah were taught in this Parsha.
What does
Rashi mean? There are other parshios in the Torah which mention mitzvos and
laws that would seem to play a more central role in the life of a Jew. In what
way is Parshas Kedoshim so unique that it had to be related at a time of mass
assembly?
The Gemara[4] relates that twelve thousand
pairs of Rabbi Akiva’s students died between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuos,
because they did not treat each other with proper respect and esteem. The
Gemara records that when they died, the world became desolate[5] until Rabbi Akiva gathered
five students and imbued them with the Torah that he had taught his deceased
disciples. Those five students preserved and promulgated Torah ensuring that it
would not be forgotten.
The
Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yehuda Zev Segal zt’l, noted that despite the
fact that the demise of the twenty-four thousands students caused the Torah to
be in jeopardy of being forgotten completely, G-d still caused them to die. It’s
an awesome concept! Torah study, the purpose of all of creation, was almost
rendered obsolete because of disrespect among peers.
Mesillas
Yesharim writes[6],
“Haughtiness, anger, envy, and desire - these are clearly evil character traits
and cause evil behavior. All these traits are refractory to intellect and
wisdom, and each individual trait can lead a person to severe sin.”
Similarly,
Rabbi Chaim Vital wrote[7], “Negative character traits
are worse than sin itself! Chazal say that one who loses his temper is
tantamount to one who engages in idol-worship, which is tantamount to breaching
all 613 commandments. Chazal also say that if one is overly haughty it is like
he denied the fundamental principles of Judaism.” He then proceeds to list
numerous other sayings of Chazal which prove the severity of negative character
traits.
Rabbi
Segal continues that the importance of constantly working to improve one’s character
traits cannot be overstated. It is sobering to realize that the most severe
sins one commits are caused by negative character traits that steer a person
toward the abyss of sin and malfeasance.
With this
in mind, Rabbi Segal explains why Parshas Kedoshim had to be stated
specifically at a time of mass gathering. More than any other parsha in the
Torah, Kedoshim contains mitzvos that obligate a person to challenge his natural
inclination. Setting aside tithes, rebuking a friend, loving one’s fellow Jew
unequivocally, refraining from seeking revenge, or even harboring a grudge, not
to be a peddler of gossip, etc. all require inner strength. One must discipline
himself to transcend his natural selfish proclivities.
It is
intriguing to note the difference between Parshas Achrei Mos and Parshas
Kedoshim. Parshas Achrei Mos is chiefly dedicated to discussing the Yom Kippur
Service in the Bais Hamikdash. It is the unique sacrifices and rituals of the
holiest day of the year, including the entrance of the Kohain Gadol into the
Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur[8]. It is a description of the
epitome of holiness and sanctity. Parshas Kedoshim, on the other hand discusses
laws governing human interaction; the promotion of society and fraternity. Yet,
it is the latter parsha that is titled, “Kedoshim- holy”.
It is
apropos that these two parshios are often read together, to emphasize that the
complete Jew is one who not only serves G-d in meditative and contemplative
seclusion, but also as a functioning member of a society, governed by the Torah.
Parshas Achrei Mos - the parsha of sublime individual service, in tandem with
parshas Kedoshim - the parsha which promotes holiness via interaction and
community.
In other
words, the perfect Jew is not the “Yom Kippur Jew” who divorces himself from
this world and is solely devoted to individual growth. Indeed, on Yom Kippur we
seek to raise ourselves to the level of angels. But after Yom Kippur ends, we
celebrate the joyous holiday of Succos, eating and drinking and rejoicing together
with our fellow Jews. Succos creates an atmosphere of holiness and ‘repentance
out of love’ together with “the congregation of B’nei Yisroel”.
Twenty-four
thousand students of Rabbi Akiva tragically died because they lacked sufficient
respect for each other. The effect of their death and the loss of the Torah
that those students could have taught is still palpable today. That is why we
still mourn their loss.
My Rebbe,
Rabbi Berel Wein, often marvels about the greatness of his European Rebbes and
mentors. He mentions that he had one Rebbe who wouldn’t turn his back on the
Yeshiva’s Spanish janitor when he finished speaking to him. He would back away
from him like we do when we take leave of the Kosel Hama’aravi (the Western
Wall). He had an innate appreciation for every human being that was ingrained
within him.
It is not
sufficient for a Jew to be an “Achrei Mos Jew”; he must be a “Kedoshim Jew” as
well. This is a vital prerequisite to accepting the Torah and it is part of the
reason why we have forty-nine days of preparation and introspection prior to
the holiday of Shavuos.
“Speak to
the congregation”
“Holy you
shall be”
0 comments:
Post a Comment