Parshat Vayakhel 5779-Some Shabbat insights

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February 27 2019
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Parshat Vayakhel 5779-Some more Shabbat insights


a)


The Bal Haturim(14th century Germany) wrote a totally unique commentary on the Torah, in  which he develops both the system of gematria(numerical equivalent of Hebrew letters) and juxtapositions between parshiot and even between sidrot, when necessary. A classic example is found at the beginning of parshat Vayakhel:


בעל הטורים שמות פרק לה פסוק א


(א) ויקהל. כתיב לעיל (לד כט) כי קרן עור פניו וסמיך ליה פרשת שבת לומר שאינו דומה קירון פנים של שבת לשאר הימים (ב"ר יא ב). ואמר ויקהל לפי שבא לומר פרשת שבת, רמז שבשבתות וימים טובים נקהלים לשמוע הדרשה (יל"ש ח"א רמז תח)


“in the previous parsha we read of Moshe descending the mountain with a shining countenance. This parsha begins with the law of Shabbat, to teach us that the countenance of the Jew on Shabbat is different to his/her countenance during the week. We also learn from the word ’vayakhel’ that it has been a timely custom to gather on Shabbatot and festivals to hear the lecture of the teacher /Rabbi for that week (an obvious source for our practice of Shabbat morning speeches which are common in most synagogues in the western hemisphere)…………………”


This approach of the Bal Haturim also explains a well-known halacha regarding ‘sheva brachot’ on Shabbat during the wedding week celebrations. We know that on Shabbat we do not need to invite ‘panim chadashot’ (completely new celebrant who has not attended any part of the wedding celebration so far), whereas during the rest of the week this is a requirement. The question is: why is Shabbat different in this instance? We can now understand this with the concept of the Bal Haturim, that a Jew has a different countenance on Shabbat and he/she becomes a different person. In such a case a ‘new face’ is not needed at the celebration as we are all ‘new faces’, due to the new countenance experienced on Shabbat.


This is verified by the statement in Talmud which declares that when we say ‘Mizmor Shir Leyom Hashabbat’(psalm 92) on Friday night, our whole demeanor and countenance changes, as explained by the Bal Haturim in his beautiful observation.


b)



ג  לֹא-תְבַעֲרוּ אֵשׁ, בְּכֹל מֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם, בְּיוֹם, הַשַּׁבָּת.  {פ}


3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.' {P}



 


Although this verse deals with the important prohibition of lighting any fire on Shabbat, I once remember a chassidic interpretation given by Rabbi Jacob Heschel zal(brother of AJ Heschel zal) who was the rav in my shul when growing up in Edgware, NW London. He noted that when people attend shul on Shabbat, there is a different code of behavior which sometimes happens, and petty arguments may develop, such as who will lead davening, or who is entitled to get ‘shelishi’ etc. He explained that the word ‘aish/fire’ can be used as a metaphor for an argument, especially one in which people can be ‘burnt’/offended by the other party’s comments. It is to this situation that the Torah gives a special warning; don’t light any fires /arguments on Shabbat, which can lead to disharmony and even confrontation. I have thought about this idea often and I am glad that this tendency may not be so prevalent today, but the warning still stands.


There is a beautiful story told about R’Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zal(Jerusalem.d.1995) who was the recognized gadol hador of his day.He was walking on Shabbat with some students when he was stopped by a car and asked directions to a certain place. With his usual smile, he told the people to travel a shorter way and they would get there quicker and he wished them Shabbat Shalom and they drove off. His students were dumbfounded that he did not scream’Shabbes!’ at them. His answer was priceless. He explained that his job as a posek is to find the way here to minimize chillul Shabbat, which he did by suggesting the short cut. If he would have reacted badly to them, it would have caused a potential ‘fire/argument’ (as I witnessed a number of times when living in Jerusalem in the 1980’s) and this was to be avoided at all costs. The hope was that they would realize who he was and feel embarrassed enough not to drive on Shabbat again. This was a man who truly took the verse in our parsha to heart. May we all merit to do the same.


Shabbat Shalom               Cherry Hill NJ /SCW         March 2019



Venue: Stern College Stern College

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Some observations and insights regarding the beauty of Shabbat.

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    Learning on the Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah site is sponsored today by Judy & Mark Frankel & family l'ilui nishmos מרדכי בן הרב משה יהודה ע"ה and משה יהודה ז"ל בן מאיר אליהו ויהודית