‫בס“ד‬

Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Parshat Lech Lecha 8 Marcheshvan 5770/October 16, 2010 Vol.2 Num. 7

On the Derech David Teller

This week, on the 11th of Cheshvan, Rashi cites the midrash and uses it in three Shaul fails and serves as a preparation for
thousands of Jews will travel from around separate comments on Yaakov’s attempt to the Davidic Dynasty, the descendants of
Israel to the kever of Rachel, to explain his handling of Rachel’s burial Leah. Our eventual geulah sheleimah will
commemorate the yahrtzeit of Rachel (Bereishit 47:7): “I trouble you to take me commence with Mashiach ben Yosef, but
Imeinu. Those of us who cannot visit the to be buried in the land of Canaan, even it will conclude with Mashiach ben David.
grave of our matriarch may still benefit though I did not do so for your mother… Rachel symbolizes the journey, the often
from contemplating why Rachel was And do not say that rain prevented me painful difficult process, while Leah
buried on that site. from burying her in Hebron, for it was the represents the ultimate destination.
The Torah tells us that Yaakov buried dry season. And I did not even take her to Nonetheless, the importance of Rachel’s
Rachel “‫בדרך אפרת‬,” on the road to Efrat. Beit Lechem… And I know that there are role, the process, cannot be overlooked.
Yaakov chose not to bring her body to (feelings) in your heart against me. But Maaseh Avot siman l’banim: Ramban
‫מערת המכפלה‬, the doubled cave in which you should know that by the word of G-d I explains that the actions of our Avot and
Avraham and Sarah, and Rivkah, had buried her there.” Imahot are an indication of how things
been bured. Yaakov declined to Hashem wanted Rachel to be buried will be for their children in the future.
transport his wife’s body the short specifically on the derech, on the way. But Geulah, redemption, is neither a shortcut
distance to the nearby town of ‫בית לחם‬. why? Chazal filled in that missing link as nor a straight line. The history of the
Instead, Yaakov buried his beloved wife - well: “So that she should be an aid to her Jewish people is filled with moments of
the woman he had earned through children when Nevuzaradan would exile “al haderech,” of being chased down the
fourteen years’ labor - on the side of thethem and they would pass by that path (by road of exile and pogrom, of being
road. Kever Rachel). Rachel would leave her exiled from Spain, England, France, and
Whereas the Torah is brief in the grave, weep and seek mercy for them.” Israel. G-d commanded that Rachel be
description of this story, leaving the Rav Shlomo Aviner explains that all of buried on the road as a symbol of hope to
underlying intentions to our imagination, Rachel’s life and lineage represent “al all Jews, wherever they may be or what
midrashim offer us a glimpse of Yaakov’s haderech,” the journey and the process history throws their way, that ‫רחל מבכה על‬
psychology. Years later, lying on his towards the ultimate goal. We see this in ‫בניה‬, Rachel cries for her children, ‫ושבו‬
death bed, Yaakov made Yosef swear to the relationship that develops between ‫בנים לגבולם‬, and the children will return
remove his body from Egypt and bury it Rachel and Leah: The love that Yaakov home.
in Israel. Chazal identified discomfort feels towards Rachel “paves the road” for Perhaps this is why the grave of Rachel
beneath Yaakov’s request: Knowing that him to marry Leah and to eventually have has been surrounded by controversy and
Yosef had witnessed his mother’s children with her. Hundreds of years, later strife since the Ottoman period. In
roadside burial, how could Yaakov the Jewish people cry for a king to lead February 2010, Prime Minister Benjamin
require his son to make the journey back them. The first attempt is Shaul HaMelech, Netanyahu announced that Rachel’s tomb
to Israel, to bury him appropriately? a Benjaminite, a descendant of Rachel, but would become part of the national Jewish
heritage sites rehabilitation plan. Heavy
protests from the UN and Arab
Parshah Questions R’ Mordechai Torczyner governments ensued. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Erdogan said, “the tomb
(Sources are provided to help the reader research answers) was not and never will be a Jewish site,
Answers are provided on the back page. but an Islamic site.” Perhaps all of this is
 Where was Avraham living when HaShem commanded him, “‫ לך לך‬Leave your meant to remind us that despite the fact
land" ? (Rashi Bereishit 12:2; Ramban Bereishit 12:1; Ibn Ezra Bereishit 12:1) that we are back in the land and there is
much to be proud of, we are still very
 Which laws and customs of blessings are taught in relation to Malki Tzedek’s much al haderech; we are still on the
blessing? (Nedarim 32b; Baal haTurim Bereishit 14:19) road, and have not yet reached our
 Why did HaShem grant Hagar descendants who would become powerful to the destination. Please G-d, may we be
point of harming Yitzchak’s descendants? blessed to experience a time when
(Onkelos Bereishit 16:11; Ramban Bereishit 16:6) Rachel’s long journey will be completed
and we will arrive joyously back home,
 For Children: What miracle did the king of Sodom experience? ‫ושבו בנים לגבולם‬. dteller@torontotorah.com
(Rashi Bereishit 14:10) torczyner@torontotorah.com
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Just Because Dovid Zirkind

Three times in Parshat Lech Lecha, earned this gift motivates Avraham to have done in the past. But the
Avraham Avinu stops his journey bring sacrifices to G-d. Second, highest form of worship is when we
through the land of Israel and builds Avraham realizes that there are put our personal agendas aside and
mizbachot (altars) to Hashem. In consequences to his privileged serve G-d because it is the right
Shechem, where Avraham stops relationship with G-d; he sees that his thing to do.
first, Rashi explains that Avraham children will sin, and that something
builds an altar in appreciation of G- These three motivations in our
must be done to begin the process of
d’s promise of children and of the service of Hashem are reflected in
teshuvah. This is why he brings his
land of Israel. In Beit El Avraham three categories of korbanot as well:
korban in Beit El. But Avraham also
halts and builds again, and Rashi the shelamim, chatat and olah.
learns a greater lesson about mitzvot
tells us that Avraham prophesied in general, and sacrifices in The Gemara teaches us in Ketubot
that his children would fail in that particular: the greatest reason to ‫ מזיח‬- ‫ מזבח‬:‫אמר רבי אלעזר‬
(10b), “
place, and he stopped to pray on perform a mitzvah is because it is the
the ir be half. But r egar ding
‫ מחבב מכפר‬,‫ומזין‬. Rabbi Elazar said:
right thing to do. Indeed, Rashi has
The Mizbeach dislodges [sin],
Avraham’s third altar, in Chevron, no reason to offer for Avraham’s third
sustains, endears and atones.”
Rashi offers no explanation for why itKorban. Avraham stops in Chevron,
was necessary. content with the relationship he has The Shelamim is predominantly for
the owner; the owner eats almost all
T h e Lubavitch e r Reb b e z”l developed with G-d, and he
of its meat. It is a korban that
explained that Avraham constructs demonstrates that with a true mitzvah
“sustains” its owner. A chatat is half
his three mizbachot as a result of lishmah.
for G-d and half eaten by the owner;
three different motivations, impulses We, too, have different reasons for
it “atones” for our sins. The olah,
that all Jews experience in their own performing mitzvot. At times we act
however, is entirely for G-d. It is the
religious lives: First, Avraham is because there is something we want
ultimate korban, a total sacrifice.
challenged to leave the home of his or need, and mitzvot are a way to
This is the korban, above all others,
childhood for the Land of Israel, and earn it. Alternatively, we worship as
that “endears” us to Hashem.
when he does so he is blessed with a part of a teshuvah process and a
promise of inheritance and heirs. commitment to do better than we Each of these forms of worship is
The realization that his actions have independently significant. As
physical beings, we have needs and
wants. The shelamim represents our
613 Mitzvot: Mitzvah 55 ability to convert what is mundane
Vandalism via normal activity and otherwise gluttonous into an
object of religious significance. The
chatat is equally critical, because we
Mitzvah 55 teaches that we are We have noted that today’s batei din are not created as perfect beings; we
responsible for damage we cause [courts] are not eligible to collect will make mistakes even when
in the course of normal activities. fines. Our courts may litigate these striving for flawlessness, and we
For example, if I am walking my cases, though, because they are must respond with an appropriate
dog and it tramples someone’s included within normal restitution and meaningful teshuvah. And we,
garden, I am responsible to pay for rather th an unusual judicial like Avraham, cannot forget the third
the damages. If the harm is extravagance. category of Avodah: To serve with an
sufficiently indirect, though – such intent that is as pure as it can
as if my dog is walking normally, possibly be. The moment when we
and a stone it kicks shatters a need nothing, when we face no
window – then I need pay only half demand for atonement, is the ideal
of the damages. time to get up and act.
torczyner@torontotorah.com dzirkind@torontotorah.com

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com
 Ha’Am V’Ha’Aretz
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz R’ Azarya Berzon Har Hermon
Rav Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz for the next five years. Although living
transmitted Torah in the Mirrer conditions were extremely difficult, the
Yeshiva for more than 40 years, yeshiva prospered. As Rav Eliezer Yehuda Har Hermon is a mountain in the Anti-
in Poland, Shanghai and Yerushalayim. Finkel had gone to Palestine to obtain visas Lebanon mountain range. Its highest
He taught, guided, and inspired for the yeshiva and was forced to remain point is 2,814 m (9,230 feet) above sea
thousands of disciples throughout his there, Rav Shmuelevitz and the mashgiach, level, and it is on the border between
lifetime, by word and deed, with Rav Yechezkel Levenstein, assumed Syria and Lebanon. Although the
summit remains under Syrian control,
legendary diligence and intensity responsibility for the day-to-day running of
the southern and western slopes of
in Torah study. the yeshiva.
Mount Hermon came under the control
Rav Chaim was born in 1902 to Rav A short while after arriving in Shanghai, Rav of Israel as part of the Golan Heights as
Refael Alter Shmuelevitz, the Rosh Shmuelevitz received American visas only a result of the Israeli victory in the 1967
Yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaarei for himself and his family. He refused them, Six-Day War, and were unilaterally
Torah in Grodno, and Ettel (née saying that he would leave only when all the annexed by Israel in 1980.
Horowitz), the daughter of Rav Yosef students had received their visas. This
Yozel Hurwitz, known as the Alter ultimately meant staying in Shanghai for five This mountain is actually a cluster of
of Novhardok. Until the age of 16, Rav and a half years. mountains with three distinct summits,
Chaim was taught by his father Rav each about the same height. The Anti-
In 1947 the yeshiva moved to the United Lebanon range extends for
Refael. In 1919 Rav Refael died States, where Rav Shmuelevitz spent six
suddenly, and his position as Rosh approximately 150 km (93 miles) in a
months before rejoining his father-in-law, northeast-southwest direction, running
Hayeshiva was taken up by Rav Shimon Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, in the Mirrer
Shkop. Rav Chaim Leib developed a parallel to the Lebanon range in the
Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. For the next 32 west.
close bond with Rav Shimon, and when years, until his passing in 1978, Rav
Rav Chaim was a mere 18 years old, the Shmuelevitz remained in Mir-Yerushalayim, Har Hermon has seasonal snow which
Rosh Hayeshiva invited him to deliver disseminating his unique wisdom and covers all three of its peaks for most of
the third-level shiur in the mechina insight to thousands of disciples. the year, including winter and spring.
program at the yeshiva. Rav Chaim held Meltwater from the snow-covered
this position for a few years before Rav Shmuelevitz was well-known for his mountain's western and southern bases
transferring to the Mirrer Yeshiva. Many ability to become totally engrossed in feeds springs at the base of the
of his students of those years later his Torah studies for hours at a time. mountain and forming streams and
became great Torah leaders, and his Traditions about how Rav Chaim reviewed rivers, which merge to become the
own four years in Grodno with Rav major segments of the Torah thousands of Jordan River. Additionally, the runoff
Shkop left a profound influence on his times (!) are legendary. His ethical facilitates fertile plant life below the
approach to lumdus. discourses, many of which have been snow line, where vineyards and pine,
published under the title Sichot Mussar, are oak, and poplar trees are abundant.
At the age of 22, the Mirrer Rosh classics. Rav Chaim taught the Torah world
Yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, set to apply the same rigorous analysis utilized The high places of Har Hermon were
his sights on Rav Chaim as his eventual in the study of Halacha to the understanding apparently used by the Canaananim in
spiritual heir. He set the seal on this of Aggada and Midrash. His novel Canaanite mythological rituals. They
future appointment by offering his talmid interpretations and reveal his penetrating referred to the mountain as Har Ba'al-
the hand of his daughter in marriage. insights into human nature. As a young man, Hermon. When Bnei Yisrael entered
At the age of 31, Rav Chaim was I had the unique opportunity to attend some Eretz Yisrael from the desert, the
appointed as a maggid shiur in the Mir. of these sichot. On one occasion, I visited mountain served as the northern
The hallmark of his shiurim was depth Rav Chaim in his home to ask a Halachic boundary and also was the northern
combined with a fabulous breadth; it was shaila, and both the content and manner in limit of kibush ha'aretz.
not uncommon for him to cite 20 or 30 which he responded has left an indelible Since 1981, the Israeli-held area has
different sources from far-flung corners impression upon my soul. been governed under the Golan
of Shas and Rishonim in the course of a His greatness in Torah was matched only by Heights Law. Mount Hermon houses
single shiur! These shiurim attracted a his sterling character. Possessing an all- Israel's only ski resort, including a wide
wide audience, including some of the encompassing concern for his fellow Jew, range of ski trails at novice,
most advanced students in the Mir. his constant preoccupation with the well- intermediate, and expert levels. It also
With the outbreak of World War II, the being of others was a manifestation of the offers additional winter family activities
Mir Yeshiva was forced into exile. Rav love that poured forth from his great heart. such as sled-riding and Nordic skiing.
Shmuelevitz's shiurim continued virtually A few days after Sukkot 1978, Rav The ski resort has a ski school, ski
without interruption throughout the early Shmuelevitz was rushed to the hospital and patrol, and several restaurants located
period of World War II, while the Jews worldwide prayed for his recovery, on both the bottom and the peak of the
yeshiva was continually in transit. In late but it was not to be. Soon after, Rav area.
1940, hundreds of Mir yeshiva students Shmuelevitz died at the age of 76. Nearly
obtained visas from Chiune Sugihara to 100,000 mourners attended his levaya.
travel via Siberia to Japan. The yeshiva Adapted from an article originally
stayed in Kobe, Japan, for about six aberzon@torontotorah.com published by Torah miTzion.
months, and then relocated to Shanghai

Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3
 Parshah Answers R’ Mordechai Torczyner

Parshat Noach, the family moved prescribed 100 blessings we are

Where was Avraham living when
back to its original home: Charan. to recite daily (Menachot 43b).
HaShem commanded him, "‫לך לך‬
Thus, the instruction to leave his
Leave your land" ? (Rashi Why did HaShem grant Hagar
land, the land of his birth, was
Bereishit 12:2; Ramban Bereishit descendants who would become
appropriate for the city of Charan.
12:1; Ibn Ezra Bereishit 12:1) powerful to the point of harming
Which laws and customs of Yitzchak’s descendants? (Onkelos
 Ibn Ezra was troubled by the blessings are taught in relation to Bereishit 16:11; Ramban Bereishit
Divine command (Bereishit 12:1) to
M a l k i T z e d e k ’ s b l e s s i n g ? 16:6)
“leave your land,” because
(Talmud, Nedarim 32b; Baal
Avraham and his family had  The Torah says that G-d told Hagar
haTurim Bereishit 14:19)
already left their land, Ur Kasdim, He had heard ‫עניך‬, which is often
to travel to Charan (Bereishit  The Talmud (Nedarim 32b) noted rendered as “your suffering.”
11:31). Ibn Ezra explained that the with disapproval that Malki Tzedek Onkelos, though, rendered the
command was recorded late, in blessed Avraham before blessing word as ‫צלותך‬, “your prayer,”
Bereishit 12, but it had actually G-d, and explains that he lost the understanding ‫ עני‬like ‫וענית ואמרת‬
occurred earlier, before the right to serve G-d as Kohen and other biblical usages. Hagar
family’s departure from Ur Kasdim. because of this error. Authorities prayed to G-d, and was rewarded
cite this as a basis for blessing our with this son.
 Rashi was also bothered by this children on Friday night only after
problem, but he maintained the  Ramban contended that G-d
reciting Kiddush (Pele Yoetz citing
Torah’s order, arguing that punished Sarah for her treatment of
Zohar I 227), and for reciting a
Avraham was indeed in Charan Hagar, and Avraham for his
berachah on special foods on Rosh
when he was instructed ‫לך לך‬. G-d complicity, by granting Yishmael
haShanah night (and then eating)
was simply telling him to distance to Hagar.
before reciting the relevant Yehi
himself even further from his land,
Ratzon blessings for our new year For Children: What miracle did the
and to depart from his father’s
(Yechaveh Daat 1:51). This is also a king of Sodom experience? (Rashi
newly Charan-based household.
reason for the popular practice of Bereishit 14:10)
 Ramban rejected the above first reciting a berachah on a drink, Rashi cites a midrash that HaShem
approaches on textual grounds, and then drinking, before toasting, saved the king of Sodom from a clay
and instead applied an idea he had “L’Chayim!” pit, in order to demonstrate that G-d
developed first in his comments to is capable of miraculously saving
 Baal haTurim included Malki
Bereishit 11:28. Building on people from situations which should
Tzedek’s blessing to G-d within
evidence from pesukim as well as be fatal. This helped people believe
seven biblical passages in which G
midrash, Ramban contended that that G-d had saved Avraham from a
-d is blessed. These passages
Avraham was actually born in fiery furnace.
parallel the seven blessings of the
Charan, and that the family had
Shabbat and Yom Tov amidah, and torczyner@torontotorah.com
moved to Ur Kasdim before the
the 100 words which compose
birth of Haran, Avraham’s brother.
these sentences parallel the
Later, as recorded at the end of

Schedule for the Week of October 16, 8 Marcheshvan

Shabbat, October 16
7:40AM R’ Azarya Berzon: Ramban al haTorah, Or Chaim
After Hashkama R’ Azarya Berzon: Parsha Issues, Clanton Park
Hashkama R’ Meir Lipschitz: Parshah, Shaarei Shomayim
One hour before mincha R’ Azarya Berzon: Gemora In-depth,
Mizrachi Bayit
Sunday, October 17
9:00AM LAUNCH - see insert for details
7:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon: Introduction to the Study of Gemora,
Shaarei Shamayim
8:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon: Gemorah In-depth, Shaarei Shamayim
Monday, October 18
8:15PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Sephardic History: Don Isaac
Abarbanel, JUMP (1998 Yonge)
8:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon: In-depth Study of the Rambam’s Mishna
Torah, Clanton Park
8:45PM R’ Meir Lipschitz: Gemara Beitzah Chaburah, Shaarei
Shomayim
9:20PM R’ Azarya Berzon: In-depth Study of the Ramban’s
Writings, 12 Midvale Road
Tuesday, October 19
1:30PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Yoel, Shaarei Shomayim, with Mekorot
8:30PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Minchat Chinuch - “Maachal ben
Drusai”,Clanton Park
8:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon: Halacha and Hashkafa for Life: Lessons from
the Story of Creation, BAYT, 3rd floor, classroom #1
Wednesday, October 20
9:15AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Hosheia, 239 Franklin Women
Babysitting provided.
8:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon: Gemara B’Iyun, Highlights of the week’s
shiurim, 12 Midvale Road
9:00PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Responsa that changed Jewish History,
Week 2: Science vs Halachah, BAYT
Thursday, October 21
8:00PM R’ Netanel Javasky: Landmark Halachic Responsa, Bnai Torah
8:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon, Halachic Issues and the Philosophy of HaRav
Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveichik zatzal, Clanton Park

4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim! Visit us at www.torontotorah.com