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Achrei Mot-Kedoshim | 8 Iyar 5780 | May 2nd, 2020 | Issue 841
This edition is dedicated
in loving memory of
Mordechai Yosef ben Yitzchak David Friedland z"l
Menashe z"l ben Mordechai Yosef z"l and Miriam Friedland
David Shlomo Novoseller z"l
Bernard Werthan Jr. z"l
Mazal Tov to Itay (Sydney, 2012-2013) and Naama Bloy, on the birth of a son
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What is in this week's newsletter
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Online learning opportunities
Divrei Torah on the Parasha in English and Hebrew
Beit Midrash Boker in English, every Thursday morning starting 9:00am
Videos from our 'Lilmod' program in Russian, German and French
New Shiur in Hebrew - HaRav Kook and Orot HaTeshuva, by Rabbi Natan Kotlerov
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Dedicated in memory of Yaakov Aharonov z"l
 Rabbi Akiva's Legacy of Love and Respect
By Rabbi Ezer Diena
Member of Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov in Toronto
Click HERE for the PDF version
The Gemara (Yevamot 62b) tells us that the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva all died between Pesach and Shavuot because they did not treat each other respectfully. A Geonic tradition (cited by Me'iri to Yevamot 62b) adds that the students stopped dying on the 33rd day of the Omer (just over a week away).
However, this entire story is hard to understand. Rabbi Akiva was known to champion the cause of love for friends and fellows, most notably writing that “וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ”, “love your neighbour as yourself” (in Parshat Kedoshim, Vayikra 19:18), is a "great principle of the Torah” (cited in Rashi to Vayikra 19:18). How could the students of a teacher who emphasized this teaching so much be so lax in that very same area?
One answer may be that perhaps this famous teaching of Rabbi Akiva’s came as a result of the terrible tragedy that befell his students. After seeing such great Torah scholars punished so forcefully for behaving inappropriately with one another, he felt it necessary to publicize the importance of this Mitzvah by stating that it is a central theme in the Torah. (See https://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/28109/16354).
Another possibility is that “love” and “respect” may not always overlap. It is possible that Rabbi Akiva’s students loved, looked out for, cared for, and helped out one another. But what may have resulted from this camaraderie was that they viewed fellow Talmidei Chachamim simply as ‘friends’, not as other Torah scholars whom they needed to hold in the highest regard. If this was the case, the lack of respect was not simply to their colleagues, but to the Torah knowledge that those same ‘friends’ had gained from Rabbi Akiva.
This understanding sheds light upon a teaching relayed by Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua, whom the Gemara lists as one of the five eminent disciples of Rabbi Akiva after the loss of his original group of students:
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ אוֹמֵר, יְהִי כְבוֹד תַּלְמִידְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלְּךָ, וּכְבוֹד חֲבֵרְךָ כְּמוֹרָא רַבְּךָ, וּמוֹרָא רַבְּךָ כְּמוֹרָא שָׁמָיִם
"Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua says: Let the honor of your student be dear to you as your own, and the honor of your peer like the reverence of your teacher, and the reverence of your teacher like the reverence of Heaven".
As a successful student of Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua realized that the error of those before him was in this regard. No longer could ‘Yeshiva friends’ simply be buddies. They must also respect and fear each other as the students of their distinguished teachers, and as the Talmidei Chachamim that they really are.
During this time of the year, let us take this opportunity to not only make sure to show love to each other, as per Rabbi Akiva’s teaching of וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ, but to also remember that proper respect and reverence for the Torah and its scholars should come along with that love for others.
comments: ediena@torontotorah.com
For more Divrei Torah on the parsha click here
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Dedicated in memory of Yaakov Aharonov z"l
Before Hashem
By Avraham Norin
Currently teaches in Israel at the Machon Meir and Ora conversion program
Click HERE for the PDF version
The theme of Parashat Acharei Mot is the ability to be "before Hashem". The Parsha starts out with the sad fact that Aharon's two sons died "when they drew near before Hashem" unsuccessfully (Vayikra 16:1). To prevent this from happening in the future, the Torah commands the Cohen Gadol to enter the holy area of the sanctuary ("before Hashem") only if he first brought offerings of atonement for the entire nation: "For on this day he shall effect atonement for you to cleanse you- before Hashem, you shall be cleansed from all your sins" (Vakira 16:30)
The Parsha continues to describe how each person can achieve a level of being "before Hashem"; When one brings offerings exclusively to Hashem's house of honor, the Torah writes that he comes to "the Mishkan before Hashem"(17: 4). Similar to the Cohen Gadol's offerings, these offerings bring atonement for those who brought them (17: 11).
The Parsha teaches us that even outside the Mishkan one can achieve a status of being "before Hashem". In the verses 18:1-4 it is written "Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: I the Lord am your God. You shall not copy the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt, or of the land of Canaan to which I am taking you; … My rules alone shall you observe, and faithfully follow my laws: I the Lord am your God!" The multi-repetition of Hashem's name in this section teaches us that the one who follows God's laws is also considered to be "before Hashem".
The Parsha concludes by mentioning the word "before" in a different context: "For all those abhorrent things were done by the people who were in the land before you, and the land became defiled. So let not the land spew you out for defiling it, as it spewed out the nation that came before you" (18:28). By switching the subject from "before Hashem" to "the nation that came before you", the Torah is teaching the following lesson: When Israel follows the value system of other nations, the land will be defiled and the people will be exiled from it; When Israel follows the laws and statues of the Almighty, they will merit to spirituality and the ability to live in the land of Israel.
Therefore, the entire Parsahat Acharei Mot can be summarized with the following message: Although Aharon's sons failed in their attempt, it is possible to be "before Hashem". Only if one has the good of the nation in mind and is dedicated to Hashem's ways, can one reach this state. The rewards of doing so include atonement, a spiritual life, and a lifetime stay in the land of Israel.
comments: harbashan@gmail.com
For more Divrei Torah on the parsha click here
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Tzevet Perth ran an online singing event for the community in memory of the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism
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In order to make sure that the community would feel the festivity of Yom Ha'atzmaut at home, the Bachurim in Memphis went door to door late at night to hand our flags to the families!
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This week, our Shlichim organized virtual ceremonies in order to bring Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut into the homes of the members of the different communities
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So What Did Our Shlichim Plan for Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut?
Rio De Jenairo - "On Yom HaZikaron we had a ceremony in the school and another ceremony for the 'Kollel Kids'. For Yom Ha'atzmaut we had a virtual tour of Israel for the 'Kollel Kids' as well."
Washington - "On Erev Yom Ha'atzmaut we hosted the community's main ceremony online. The ceremony was a transitional ceremony from Yom HaZikaron to Yom Ha'atzmaut. We opened the ceremony with lowering the flag and a siren, Tefilla, a dramatic reading of the story of a fallen soldier by the students of the school, and a video on a fallen soldier that was arranged by the seventh grade classes. Afterwards, we transitioned into the topic of Yom Ha'atzmaut with a speech from Rabbi Kastan, a flash mob from the high school students, a community dance video, a short Tefilla, singing 'Hatikva' and a video we put together with a giant flag made out of numerous pieces of paper."
Montreal - "We organized two ceremonies. One for Yom HaZikaron and another for Yom Ha'atzmaut, both on the topic of 'From the Darkness to the Light'. We focused on those that have risen from the pain of bereavement and did something positive in memory of their loved ones. The ceremonies took place in the format of an already prepared video with a live viewing at a designated time on our Facebook page".
Memphis - "Similarly to what we did for Yom Hashoa, our Yom HaZikaron ceremony took place via Zoom. There was an interview with the father of Max Steinberg hy"d, a Chayal who was killed in 'Tzuk Eitan'. Rabbi Wende has been in touch with the family ever since he was a Rabbi in the army. In honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut we created virtual videos about different places in Israel and arranged a drive-by parade with the members of the community."
Cape Town - "For Yom HaZikaron, we organized a learning Mishnayot program in memory of fallen soldiers. The members of the community received a link through which they could sign up.
In addition to learning Mishnayot, we gave a special session that focused on Yaakov Don Hy"D and Elchai TeharLev Hy"D. At the beginning we told the story of their lives and then went a little deeper and talked about some of their character traits. We then continued to ask the students about which traits they connected to, why it's important to tell the stories of the fallen and what we can do to keep their memories alive. Afterwards we summed up the answers to these questions and talked about how this is what connects us the story of our nation. On Yom HaZikaron there was a ceremony for the school and on Yom Ha'atzmaut we participated in the community's ceremony."
Sydney - "For Yom HaZikaron, we organized a meeting in English through the "Our Brothers" organization so that the members of the community could hear stories of the families of those who fell or were killed in acts of terror. There were also ceremonies through Zoom. We filmed videos where each of us spoke about a different fallen soldier and sent them to the community to watch. We also organized a flag competition in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut. "
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The Negev Brigade Monument, which extends over a large and high area, looking west to Be'er Sheva was created in order to commemorate the brigade.
The Negev Brigade, a.k.a The 12th Brigade, was established in early 1948 and was founded by three Palmach battalions. After the conquest of Hulikat (north of Sderot today) and halting the Egyptian army at the "Ad Halom" bridge, its soldiers were engaged in protecting the remaining supply lines to the Negev. In October 1948, they took part in Operation "Yoav", the breakthrough for the Negev and the conquest of Beer Sheva, and later in Operation "Horev" in which the IDF arrived in Gaza and Sinai and in Operation "Uvda" in which they arrived in Eilat.
At the end of the War of Independence, the Brigade was transformed into a reserve infantry brigade. The monument is engraved with the names of 324 brigade fighters who were killed in the War of Independence. The monument consists of several gray exposed concrete structures, centered at a half-pared shell with a wall at the entrance to the monument.
Embracing the entire sign, her name and symbol appear alongside the words: "A passer-by, you come in the gates of a little temple of our love for the land of the Negev."
Kol HaKavod to
Noam Schlesinger
on providing the correct answer
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Where was this picture taken?
Please send answers to -
arik@worldbneiakiva.org
The answer, further information about this location, as well as the name of the first person to recognize this site will be published in next week's edition.
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Torah MiTzion was established in 1995 with the goal of strengthening Jewish communities around the globe and infusing them with love for Torah, the Jewish People and the State of Israel.
