Author: Gindi

Tefillin, Mezuzot and Megilat Esther – Are They Really Kosher ?

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Shalom,Rabbi Steve Bar Yakov Gindi

Now is the time to order Tefillin for your son’s Bar Mitzvah, Mezuzot and Megilat Esther. This year is a leap year, very many people order Megilot Esther. Call 00972544572366 or email steve@milknhoney.co.il

Our Torah website http://torah.milknhoney.co.il/ has been redesigned. You can find hundreds of Divrey Torah Discussions there.

You can see samples of my Sofer Stam work at https://milknhoney.co.il/gallery3/

For many years you  have been taught to be very careful about from whom you purchase Tefillin, Mezuzot,  Megilat Esther and Sifrey Torah from. They say ninety-nine percent kosher equals one hundred percent passul (not kosher)

I am often called upon to check people’s Tefillin. I and the honest Sofrim that I know  rarely find Tefillin that aren’t kosher!  When I have found Tefillin that are unkosher they are always over 30 years old, written before the Jewish world became more careful in these issues. Indeed, thrity years ago all the honest sofrim would not charge people for checking Tefillin. This is because it was pretty guaranteed that they were clearly not kosher. Today an honest Sofer will always charge to check Tefillin. Sewing up the modern Gassot Tefillin in a manner that will look nice, in the same condition received is a lot of work. So much so that I, personally, contract someone else to sew and seal them.

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Chaye Sarah – Blessed with Everything

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Our forefather Avraham was one of the few fortunate people in this world who had monetary wealth, health, social mobility, power, a happy family life and anything else which could be included in “the good life.” He received all of this after many trials and difficulties. We know that he was so fortunate from one Pasuk that is:

וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים וַה’ בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל:  כד, א

Abraham was elder, coming of days, G-d blessed Avraham in everything.

In one of the many explanations from our rabbis of blessed memory it was said that his life was so good that during his lifetime he tasted what existence is like in the world to come. The following are different elucidations on the word בַּכֹּל Bakol – everything.

The opinion of Rabbi Levy in Midrash Rabbah and other places is that Avraham was blessed with three things: 1) he ruled over his evil inclination. That is to say that he was in mental control of every situation. Many might consider this a boring lifestyle even calling it mind control. The real explanation of this is that if you are in control of your shadowy Evil Inclination, you can always be happy and satisfied. That is why being in control is such a great blessing. 2) His son Yishmael repented during his life time. It was great happiness to see a son who was a real creep become a good person. 3) Nothing was missing from his wealth, material wealth is unquestionably a great blessing.

His wife respected him. The Midrash says that four things cause premature aging: living in fear; being angry at children; a bad wife; and war. This Midrash finishes off by saying that Sarah respected Avraham and even called him “sir.” It is very important for a husband to respect his wife. It is no less important for a woman to respect her husband. Happy family is indeed being blessed with “everything”

Another midrashic explanation of the word Bakol is that Avraham kept all of the precepts in the Torah. Instead of getting involved in a discussion about the historic validity of this Midrash let us examine what our rabbis of blessed memory are trying to teach us. The lesson behind this is that it is a blessing to be able to keep the commandments of the Torah like keeping Shabbat as well as being honest.

The Talmud Yerushalmi says that Bakol – everything means that Avraham lived in a town that had a doctor, a bath house, and a court which has jurisdiction to incarcerate and punish people. Some add that it must have a vegetable store. From here we see that living in a healthy environment is a great blessing.

The Gemarah adds that in addition to this Avraham Avinu was famous around the known world for his hospitality and was respected as a powerful person. Many kings and warriors came to him for advice. He also understood the science of medicine.

I have not discussed all of the explanations which can be included in this Pasuk: Abraham was elder, coming of days, G-d blessed Avraham in everything.

Chayeh Sarah – Yitzchak and Yishmael

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It is always interesting to discuss the brotherly relationship between Yitzchak and Yishmael. The Torah gives us few clues as to how they got along. The only thing which is certain is that Sarah Imeinu did not have a particular affinity towards Yishmael.

Sarah was afraid of the negative influence which Yishmael might have on Yitzchak. She saw Yishamel “playing.” She said that Hagar his mother and Yishmael must be sent away because Yishmael can not inherit from Avraham with her son Yitzchak.

Their are several opinions about what Yishmael was playing with that made Sarah want to get rid of him. Some say that he was involved in Idolatry, others that he was involved in licentious behavior and others say that he was involved in murder.

The Tana Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says that it is impossible to entertain the thought that such behavior occurred in the same home as Avraham Avinu. Instead, the games which were being played were ordinary sibling rivalry ones. Yishmael felt that he was the first born so he would receive an inheritance double the size of Yitzchak. When Yitzchak was born people were happy that Avraham now had a son who can inherit from Avraham. Yishmael said that Avraham already has a first bor son. When Sarah found out she decided the son of her Maid Servant had gone too far.

The book, Torah Temimah discusses how half brothers, like Yishmael and Yitzchak are often bitter rivals when it comes to inheritance from their mutual father.

We should take into consideration the Statement of Our Rabbis of Blessed Memory who said that Maaseh Avot Siman Lebanim – The action of the forefathers is a sign of what will happen with the children. Yishmael and Yitzchak made the claim over the same inheritance. G-d had decided that Yitzchak will inherit the land of Canaan and that Yishmael will also father many nations.

Before Yishmael was born Sarah had oppressed Hagar. She did this because it was improper that a maid should look down upon her mistress. In her despair she escaped from her oppression. G-d sent an angel to console her. He told Hagar that she would have a son whom she would call Yishmael. He was Called Yishmael because G-d had heard her Suffering.

The Midrash, Perkey Derabi Eliezer has a very interesting additional explanation on the name Yishmael. It says that G-d will hear the suffering of the nation [of Israel] when oppressed by the children of Yishmael. Although throughout history the descendants of Yishmael have oppressed the Jewish people they have never before tried to conquered Israel from the Jewish people. One version of this Midrash says that this oppression will be “in the end of days.”

Towards the end of our Perasha of Chaye Sarah we see Yitchak and Yishmael together with seemingly no animosity. They got together in the city of Chevron to bury and mourn the death their father Avraham Avinu.

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History of the Bar-Mitzvah – Tefillin, Aliyah, Mitzvot

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Tefillin

 

“A youngster who knows how…to care for Tefillin his father [should] give him Tefillin.” Traditionally this was the practice, however, Tefillin has a special rule that a child must not only understand the importance of the mitzvah of Tefillin but he must keep himself very clean and can not pass gas while he is wearing them. Therefore educating a child to wear Tefillin is at an older age than education of other mitzvot, some have even done away with educating a youngster and prevent them from wearing Tefillin until the day of their Bar-Mitzvah.

The above source is cited by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the Shulchan Aruch and explains that care for Tefillin means that he should not sleep while wearing them and will not pass gas  The Ramah adds from the Itur that a “youngster” here is one who is 13 years and one day. He adds that such is the custom and none should differ. The Mishna Brurah adds that before this time he certainly can not properly watch his Tefillin.

Rivkindcommented on this trend with regards to the singular opinion of Itur and the decision of the Mishna Brurah that the Magen Avraham said that still many are accustomed to teach a child to wear Tefillin several months early. Rivkind further says that people who are pious follow the custom to don Tefillin on the day that a child is Bar-Mitzva. This obviously only applies to Ashkenazim, the Sephardic customs will be discussed.

According to Rivkind Moroccans celebrate Bar-Mitzvahs at twelve years old. He goes on to say that this is indeed a kosher custom a cites several interesting sources. I have personally never seen or heard about such a custom and those Moroccans I have asked said that they never heard of such a thing.

In Jerusalem the custom is that from when a child is ten his father teaches him about Tefillin, if he can properly take care of them Others are accustomed to teach a child to wear Tefillin several months before he turns thirteen. On this day the feast would be made like the feast of wedding.  Keter Shem Tob adds that if the family is wealthy they make an additional feast when the lad is exactly thirteen. I personally grew up knowing nothing other than this custom: that Tefillin are donned several months before and all of the feasts are done then. This was traditionally called “Yom HaTefillin” – The day of Tefillin, while the actual thirteenth birthday was called “Yom Hashlamat Haminyan” – the day of completing a quorum.

I have seen only one family of old Jerusalemites which purchased Tefillin for a child of ten. They purchased a simple pair of Tefillin with the intention of buying a nice pair for the Bar-Mitzva. They did not make a great feast.

Continue reading “History of the Bar-Mitzvah – Tefillin, Aliyah, Mitzvot” →

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Inside Tefilin – Shema Yisrael Unity and Education

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Inside Tefilin – Shema Yisrael Unity and Education Vaetchanan

Shema Yisrael A-donai E-loheynu A-donai Echad.

Shma Yisrael
The prayer of Shema Yisrael is a universal declaration of the Unity of  G-d. Each Jewish person declares to his friend that G-d is One.

The prayer of Shema Yisrael is a universal declaration of the Unity of  G-d. Each Jewish person declares to his friend that G-d is One. This is like saying, Hey! Jewish people, The G-d, who created the universe is our G-d and He is One. The concept of universally declaring this concept demonstrates the centrality of education. We need to teach it to our children and regularly ponder it ourselves.

The prayer of Shema Yisrael is written in the Torah in the book of
Devarim, Ch. 6 4. There is an oft-quoted Midrash from the Sifri on
this. The Sifri mostly contains halachic discussions, however, on this pasuk the discussion is very Aggadic. In other words it tells us a story about the prayer of Shema Yisrael.

Rabbi Akiva says that the prayer of Shema Yisrael refers to Yisrael,
Yisrael being another name for Yaakov Avinu, and not to Avaraham or Yitzhak. The reason is that Avraham and Yitzhak had children who were waste products. Avraham had Yishmael; Yitzhak Esav. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai totally disagrees with this interpretation.

The Midrash further states that Yaakov constantly worried that one of his children will be a waste, like some of his fathers€ children. He constantly prayed and educated his twelve boys in the ways of G-d. He was especially concerned when he learned that his son Reuven had slept with his concubine / maid Bilhah. He then learned that Reuven had repented through fasting and prayers.

Yaakov Avinu was on his deathbed in Egypt. He called in his sons one by one and rebuked them. After this he called them all in together and asked them, Do you have any issues with the One whose statement created the universe? They answered, Listen Yisrael our father, just as you do not have anything against G-d neither do we have such an issue, rather G-d is our L-ord and he is One. Yaakov was very thankful at this unified statement by his sons, including Reuven, as to the absolute Unity of G-d.

One cannot determine whether this Midrash has any historical value. However, it seems to make clear statements regarding the
interconnection between the unity of the Jewish people in their total acceptance that G-d is One. As a side note it points out that even if people are not perfect they can always repent. Since G-d is One there is no bureaucracy in heaven in accepting anyone€s repentance.

Yaakov’s constant effort, worry and prayers helped to educate and
unify his children in their acceptance that G-d is One.

The Pasuk of Shema Yisrael is followed by several Pesukim that tell us that we need to internalize the Unity of G-d and to teach it to our
children and constantly ponder Him.