Volume 37: Number 31
Wed, 17 Apr 2019
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Message: 1
From: Sholom Simon
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2019 12:57:52 -0400
Subject: [Avodah] Shinana
A friend of mine, noticed that R Yehuda is sometime called Shinnana, and
that got him thinking. I'm very impressed with this idea, and wondering
what others think about it, and/or if you've ever heard of this idea before:
============
It is the nick name given to R Yehuda because he had big teeth. But it
also is translated as wise or keen scholar. Apparently that is because
Yehuda?s arguments were so incisive (think incisors).
See Eruvim 54a below but it literally shows up in about a dozen other
places.
https://www.sefaria.org/Eruvin.54a?lang=bi
This got me thinking. If teeth is a metaphor for sharp thinking (or perhaps
persuasive thinking) then this gives a new meaning for the ?blunt the
teeth? command to the rasha [in the hagada]. Perhaps it is not dental
surgery but rather a command to take extra care to counter his thinking -
to blunt his incisive points and arguments - lest it infect others at the
table.
============
Thoughts?
-- Sholom
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Message: 2
From: Micha Berger
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:34:49 -0400
Subject: Re: [Avodah] Shinana
On Sun, Apr 14, 2019 at 12:57:52PM -0400, Sholom Simon forwarded a friend's
thought:
: It is the nick name given to R Yehuda because he had big teeth. But it
: also is translated as wise or keen scholar. Apparently that is because
: Yehuda's arguments were so incisive (think incisors).
: This got me thinking. If teeth is a metaphor for sharp thinking (or perhaps
: persuasive thinking) then this gives a new meaning for the "blunt the
: teeth" command to the rasha [in the hagada]...
Much better known source your friend could have used, "veshinantam
levanekha".
I would think it's definitely sharp thinking. When you go from sharp
to persuaive, the metaphor of teeth fails. But who ever heard of a Jew
being encouraged not to think so much?
In WYT, I repeat a thought from R Cary Friedman (I might have used his
halachic name)... In rabbinic idiom, shein is a kind of nezeq; it's
where A's animal damages B's property in the pursuit of its own desires.
Like eating B's grain. So to them, "shein" is about how the side effect
eaching can overshadow the desire for food.
This son is cynical about the idea of finding holiness in eating a bite of
schwarma. (Think about it -- spit roasted lamb, seasoned with spicy lettus
atop a hastily made flatbread.) "Mah ha'avodah hazos lakhem -- how is
this worship for you?" So he doesn't get why Hashem gave him teeth. That
along the way in satisfying your stomach, you can accomplish other things.
Tir'u baTov!
-Micha
--
Micha Berger Live as if you were living already for the
mi...@aishdas.org second time and as if you had acted the first
http://www.aishdas.org time as wrongly as you are about to act now!
Fax: (270) 514-1507 - Victor Frankl, Man's search for Meaning
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Message: 3
From: Micha Berger
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:45:01 -0400
Subject: [Avodah] KeBeitzah
H/T RYGB
https://rygb.blogspot.com/2019/04/historical-evidence-for-r-chaim-noeh.html
RYGB holds this up as proof that RCN's shiurim are iqar hadin. I think
they're still a shade too large, actually.
And then we have the dessicated olives from Masadah, which say the same
thing about the kezayis of chazal's day being the same as today's olives.
-micha
From JPost
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/First-Temple-era-eggshells-offer-crack-at-historical-eating-habits-586827
First Temple-era eggshells offer crack at historical eating habits -
Israel News - Jerusalem Post
An eggy history mystery has been put back together again in the City of
David, just in time for the Seder.
BY HAGAY HACOHEN
APRIL 14, 2019 17:53
Eggshells from the First Temple period were found during archaeological
excavations in the City of David in Jerusalem, and were recently put
back together again by Prof. Zohar Amar from Bar-Ilan University.
...
Using an algorithm developed by the Israel Antiquities Authority's Dr.
Avshalom Karasik to rebuild pottery vessels, Amar found that the egg
fragments enjoyed by the people of Israel during the First Temple
period showed that eggs then were the same size as the eggs we enjoy
today on the Seder table, where hard-boiled eggs are a traditional
food.
...
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Message: 4
From: Zev Sero
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 09:28:29 -0400
Subject: Re: [Avodah] Exactly when did we leave Mitzrayim?
On 14/4/19 1:27 pm, Akiva Miller via Avodah wrote:
> But at least according to this Ramban, the Yam Suf is almost a week past
> the border of Mitzrayim.
No. After leaving Mitzrayim and going into the desert beyond, they
turned around and came back to Baal Tzefon, which I have the impression
marked the border.
--
Zev Sero A prosperous and healthy 5779 to all
z...@sero.name Seek Jerusalem's peace; may all who love you prosper
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Message: 5
From: Micha Berger
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:33:07 -0400
Subject: Re: [Avodah] Shinana
On Mon, Apr 15, 2019 at 05:34:49AM -0400, Micha Berger wrote:
: On Sun, Apr 14, 2019 at 12:57:52PM -0400, Sholom Simon forwarded a friend's
: thought:
:: It is the nick name given to R Yehuda because he had big teeth. But it
...
: I would think it's definitely sharp thinking. When you go from sharp
: to persuaive, the metaphor of teeth fails. But who ever heard of a Jew
: being encouraged not to think so much?
...
Offlist, R A Zivotovsky mentioned his article in Alei Etzion #18, now
available at
https://www.etzion.org.il/en/personal-accountability-and-blunting-teeth-rasha
Before his own proposed explanation of haqhei es shinav, RAZZ writes
(consider these teasers):
The most perplexing part of the Haggada's formulation, and the focus
of this essay, involves the rasha, whose question is deemed to be
outright heresy and who is met with a bafflingly severe response:
...
The anomalies in the answer are also troubling from a stylistic
viewpoint. Whereas the other three children each receive a
straightforward verbal response, the rasha is treated to two
additional components. The Haggada's response to the rasha includes
the instruction "hakheh et shinav" - do something to his teeth -
and it additionally provides a stinging reprimand for his impudence...
In the remainder of this essay, we will first survey some of the
standard answers offered to these questions, and we will then propose
a novel explanation of the Haggada's message.
Previously Suggested Explanations
The Haggada Sheleima translates "hakheh" as "anger him," and thereby
...
Others similarly explain that "hakheh" is not active, but ...
When we inform the rasha that he will have to watch everyone else
eat the succulent, aromatic Passover sacrifice, while he will not be
permitted to partake, his teeth will "stand on edge."[13] The Ramban
(Bereishit 49:10) similarly explains that the meaning is "to weaken
his teeth with your words."[14]
Most explanations translate "hakheh" as to "blunt" or "dull" his teeth,
and various explanations have been offered to clarify the intent
here. R. Ovadia Yosef in his Haggada offers a creative and beautiful
explanation that views this phrase as an analogy to the rasha.[15]
The rasha is bothered by all of the ritual activities performed at
the seder, which he labels as avoda (work). It seems that he would
rather meditate and think about the Exodus than do...
Interestingly, there is Biblical precedent for "bashing the teeth"
of the wicked, although the word "hakheh" is not used in these
sources. One example is Psalm 58... Psalm 112 ... Psalm 37 ...
Psalms 35:16...
Before moving on to his proposal, let me add another, rather creative
one. (Meaning, nice thought, but I doubt it reflects original intent.)
/KHH/ is a shoresh chazal use when speaking of a pregnant woman feeling
weak from cravings. (Eg Y-mi Sheviis, bottom of vilna 12a.) So, this
suggestion, "make him crave his learning" -- going back to shein -
veshinantam.
Anyway, now on to RAZZ's proposal:
All of the above explanations ring true, but it is unlikely that
they reflect the original intent of the compiler of the Haggada.
There is much more hidden within the unusual word "hakheh" that is
used to describe blunting the teeth. Indeed, the entire response to
the rasha presents an integrated message about Judaism's system of
reward and punishment. The anonymous compiler of the Haggada cleverly
inserted this message, assuming a knowledgeable readership that would
recognize it via particular words and phrases that would serve as
hints or "hyper-links" to broader concepts.[18]
The word "hakheh" is extremely rare in Biblical and liturgical
literature. It is not the common word [hakeh], which means "hit,"
but is rather [haqheh], from the root H.Q.H. It appears in only three
places in the Bible, Yirmiyahu 31:28-30, Yechezkel 18:2, and Kohelet
10:10, and all three citations are relevant to the Haggada's usage.
The verse in Kohelet notes that if one desires to chop wood with an
ax that has a dull blade, he will have to apply additional muscle
in order to accomplish his goal: "Im kaha ([qahah]) ha-barzel." From
this verse, we can deduce an unequivocal definition; in the context
of an ax, "kaha" clearly means "blunt."
Indeed, Metzudot Tzion uses the meaning of ka'ha in Kohelet to derive
its meaning in the less clear context of Yirmiyahu 31:28, where the
word describes teeth. He explains that this refers to the "weakening
of the teeth's ability to cut food, just like the iron [of the ax]
is weakened in its ability to cut wood," i.e., a blunting of the teeth.
The contexts of the word's appearance in Yirmiyahu and Yechezkel
both address the culpability of one generation for the sins of
another, an issue that appears to have conflicting sources in the
Torah. Devarim 24:16 states, "Fathers shall not be put to death for the
[sins of] children and the children shall not be put to death for the
[sins of] fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin."
This seems to clearly dissociate the actions of one generation from the
responsibility of another, be it previous or subsequent. A seemingly
contradictory statement is found in both versions of the Ten
Commandments (Shemot 20:5; Devarim 5:9) and in the Thirteen Attributes
with which Moshe pleaded with God to forgive the Jews after their sin
with the Golden Calf (Shemot 34:7) and after the sin of the spies
(Devarim 14:17-18). For example, Shemot 20:5 describes God as "visiting
the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and
upon the fourth generation of those that hate Me." While the first
source appears to state that Divine punishment does not cross
generational lines, the others imply that it does. Many resolutions to
this apparent contradiction have been suggested.[19]
This same apparent contradiction is found in Nakh as well.
Yirmiyahu 32:18 presents an example of intergenerational merit and
culpability along with the associated reward and punishment: "And who
recompenses the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their
children after them."[20] Additionally, Yirmiyahu 36:31 states:
"And I will visit their iniquity upon him and his seed and his
servants." However, the contrary notion of personal responsibility, as
expressed in Deuteronomy 24:16, is also found in the prophets.
Yechezkel expresses it in a number of places, most prominently in
chapter 18, where he states: "(v.17)... he shall not die for the
iniquity of his father... (v.20) the son shall not bear the iniquity of
the father... neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son ...
(v.26) for his iniquity that he has done shall he die."
One of the clearest statements of individual accountability
is a proverb found in almost identical form in Yirmiyahu 31:28-29
and Yechezkel 18:2-4, and it is in that context that the uncommon
word "hakheh" appears. Yirmiyahu states: "In those days, they shall
say no more: `The fathers have eaten unripe (sour) grapes,[21]
and the children's teeth are set on edge (tik'hena).' But everyone
shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eats the sour grapes,
his teeth shall be set on edge (tik'hena)." In Yechezkel, the proverb
is formulated as a question: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge (tik'hena)?" Thus, in the
Bible, this unusual word appears as part of a parable to teach that
there is no intergenerational accountability.
It seems that the word "hakheh" in the response to the rasha is
designed to recall for the reader the verses and parables from
Yirmiyahu and Yechezkel. Seeing that unusual word is supposed to be
like a hyperlink that reflexively brings to mind the rare Biblical
occurrences of its use and its meaning in that context. Certainly for
Rashi, this association is self-evident. In Ta'anit 7b (s.v. kaha
ha-barzel), Rashi explains the word "kaha" in the verse in Kohelet
by citing the verse from Yirmiyahu 31 and by quoting the response to
the rasha from the Passover Haggada!
The message of the parables is clear - there is no cross-generational
reward or punishment. Merit and culpability are individually accrued
and do not get passed down from previous generations, nor is the next
generation burdened or rewarded with them: "Every man that eats the
sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge." That is the message
transmitted to the rasha in the Haggada.
As noted above, the passage about the four sons in the Haggada is
taken from the Mekhilta. This is the only occurrence of the root
Q.H.H. in the Mekhilta and, indeed, it is rare in all of Rabbinic
literature. The root sometimes refers to its plain meaning of "blunted"
or "bitter." However, it seems that it is more often summoned from
obscurity by the rabbis to link the reader to the Biblical parables
and hint at an intergenerational context, or, more precisely, an
unsuccessful transfer from one generation to another.
In Avot 4:2, R. Yossi bar Yehuda compares the disadvantages of
learning from a young person to eating unripe grapes ("anavim keihot")
and drinking freshly squeezed wine from the winepress. There are
many other ways to say unripe grapes that are used throughout the
Mishna, but the word of choice here is "keha," in the context of an
unsuccessful intergenerational transfer.
In Sota 48b-49a, the Gemara analyzes Zekharia 4:10 and suggests that
the verse refers to the young children of the wicked who died for the
sins of their fathers. The bereavement over their deaths would spare
the wicked fathers additional punishment in the World to Come. The
children petition God that if His intent was to exact punishment from
the wicked in the future, why did He "blunt their teeth" ("hek'heita
shineihem")? Here, children being killed for the sins of their fathers,
i.e., intergenerational transfer of guilt, is termed "blunting teeth."
Later on the same page, the Gemara relates that R. Huna found a
special type of date, which he proudly gave to his son Rabba after
he had established the latter's spiritual purity. Rabba's son Abba
soon arrived, and Rabba gave the date to him without ascertaining
his spiritual level. To this show of generosity, R. Huna responded
that Rabba had blunted his teeth ("hikeita et shinai"), indicating an
attempt at intergenerational transfer of merit. Generally, however,
there is no intergenerational transfer of guilt or merit.
The Gemara in Sanhedrin 109b engages in exegetical analysis of Korach's
name, as the Torah refers to him as Korach ben Yitzhar ben Kehat. As
he was a descendent of Kehat,[22] the Gemara explains that his
name characterizes him as a son who set the teeth of his ancestors on
edge by embarrassing them through his actions. Again, the word is not
merely used as an expression of upset or disappointment, but rather
in the context of a perceived intergenerational relationship.[23]
The Ramban suggests that this same root is actually found in several
other Biblical verses. Commenting on Bereishit 49:10, "ve-lo yik'hat
amim," the Ramban understands the word "yik'hat" differently than
Rashi, connecting it to Yirmiyahu 31:29,where it means weakness or
breaking. The Ramban explains the verse to mean that the scepter
of kingship will not leave Yehuda until his son (i.e., the messiah)
comes and defeats the nations. This understanding of "yik'hat" adds
a multi-generational component that is not explicit in the verse.
The Ramban does not explicitly explain the appearance of the root
?.?.?. in Mishlei 30:17, "tavus lik'hat eim," but he alludes to the
same explanation as Menachem ben Saruk (s.v. kuf heh), writing that
the phrase means something like "He scorns the mother when she is
weakened," i.e., in her old age. In this case, the verse itself uses
the word "keheh" to describe an intergenerational process.
What is the significance of this association between the word "keheh"
and intergenerational relationships in the Haggada? Possibly this:
The rasha excludes himself from all of the Passover rituals, yet he
is seemingly not concerned about his fate. Surely, he thinks, if all
of the ritual that he rejects is truly required, he has no cause for
worry. After all, the people around him are his family, and they are
all engaged in performing God's commandments. In his way of thinking,
some of that merit would transfer to him.
The compiler of the Haggada therefore instructs, "Blunt his teeth!" In
other words, remind him of the "sour grape" verses. Remind him of the
message of those parables. Neither guilt nor merit crosses generational
lines. The code-word "hakheh" reminds him (and us) of the Biblical
parables that teach that there is no intergenerational transfer.
Based on this, the logical conclusion is exactly what the compiler
of the Haggada writes next. If the rasha were in Egypt and had not
behaved properly, he would not have been redeemed. The merit of his
family would not have helped. The universal message is that there is
no transfer of merit.
The prophets in the books of Yirmiyahu and Yechezkel stressed personal
accountability. Each person is responsible for his own deeds and is
capable of teshuva. The burden of one's sins and the suffering that
one might endure as a result of them cannot be attributed to previous
generations. Neither can one sin in the anticipation that the burden
of guilt will be borne by subsequent generations or that he will get a
free ride on the backs of meritorious previous generations. Jews cannot
rest on the laurels of righteous ancestors; rather, each generation
must establish its own merits and legacy. This is the meaning of the
keyword "hakheh" and the Biblical parallels associated with it.
It might be suggested that there is one exception to the rule
of individual accountability - the concept of community zekhut,
merit. That is why, for example, tefilla be-tzibbur is so important.
Someone who falters can continue to be supported by the community
that surrounds him. This is why we stress to the rasha that this
merit will be of no avail to him, because he has removed himself from
the community.
In 1985, I was fortunate to spend the Passover seders in
Odessa, Ukraine at the home of some real Jewish heroes, the
Nepomnaschys. Yehudit, a courageous young woman whose father and
fiance were both rotting in Soviet prisons, explained to me and
Baruch Sterman, my traveling partner, what was an important concept
for these returning Jews of the Soviet Union. Although they were
now practicing Jews, many of their close friends and relatives
were not. She emphatically stated that in Judaism, almost no one is
beyond the pale of hope. At the seder, one of the sons is labeled a
rasha, an evil son, which is not a trivial designation. And yet he
is given a seat at the table and even dignified with an answer to
his insolence! We invite all "children" to the table and respond to
their questions in an appropriate manner.
The new understanding of the blunting of the rasha's teeth makes
Yehudit's insight even more meaningful. We answer the rasha in a
seemingly harsh manner. However, in reality, it is a subtle yet
powerful reminder of his personal responsibility. This individual
accountability has the potential to doom him, as he is explicitly
told, but it can just as readily rescue him, because he is judged on
his actions alone. We tell him that he is not beyond hope, but it is
up to him to rescue himself.
The message to the rasha is a powerful message to us as well - each
person is given free choice and sinks or swims on his own merit.
_______________________
[13] For support for this theory, see the Be'er Miriam commentary in
the Haggada of R. Reuven Margoliot. This also may be what the 18^th
century Moroccan paytan R. David ben Chasin (1727-1792) had in mind
when he wrote, "It is the Pesach, and the teeth of the resha'im will
be blunted when they do not have a portion in it."
[14] The Ramban cites a similar explanation from Shir Ha-Shirim Rabba
(1:12).
[15] I originally heard this idea many years ago from my good friend,
R. Reuven Halpern.
[16] See Sefer Ha-Chinukh, mitzva 16 (the prohibition to break bones of
the korban Pesach), where he first presents his important principle of
"adam nifal kefi pe'ulatav" - people behave based on their actions. In
other words, a person develops a certain personality and attitude based
on the activities that he engages in. The Sefer Ha-Chinukh reiterates
this fundamental tenet again in mitzva 40 (not to cut the stones for
the altar with metal), mitzva 95 (to build the Beit Hamikdash, albeit
with a slight change in the phrase), mitzva 99 (the special garments
for the priests), mitzva 263 (the obligation for a Kohen to become
tamei for relatives), mitzva 266 (a korban must be unblemished),
mitzva 270 (korban musaf on Pesach), and mitzva 285 (lulav). In
mitzva 264, he suggests that observing the rules of mourning leads
to the emotion of tza'ar, pain, once again invoking the principle
of adam nifal kefi pe'ulotav. The Sefer Ha-Chinukh emphasizes the
idea that humans require physical activities via other principles as
well. For example, in mitzva 265 (the Kohen Gadol must marry a betula,
virgin), he writes, "acharei ha-machshavot yimshakh ma'aseh ha-gufot,"
and in mitzva 275 (prohibition of a Kohen with a blemish performing
the avoda), he explains that a person is influenced by external
actions, "lefi she-rov pe'ulot bnei adam retzuyot el lev ro'eihem
lefi chashivut oseihen." This idea, which is beyond the scope of
our present discussion, is central to the Torah view of mitzvot.
Rather than actions that express existing emotions, mitzvot are
intended to instill within us proper ideas. Thus, for example, Chazal
instituted the recitation of Asher Yatzar not because every time one
says it, he feels inspired to acknowledge the wonders of the creation,
but rather because that is an opportune moment in which to remind the
person who has just relieved himself that he should now be aware of
God's magnificent world.
[17] Note that the root used here, ?.?.?., is relatively rare,
appearing in only 5 places in Tanakh: 3 times in the psalms cited here,
in Iyov 16:9, and in Eikha 2:16.
[18] It is unclear whether the Haggada's author expected a similar
familiarity with Rabbinic literature. For example, is a phrase such as
"kol dikhfin" meant to trigger an association with a similar phrase
found in the last line on Ta'anit 20b? There, one of the praises of R.
Huna is that when he would sit down to eat, he would open his door
and declare, "whoever is in need, let him come and eat." Regardless,
it is fairly certain that the Haggada assumes familiarity with Tanakh.
[19] For a survey, see Ari and Naomi Zivotofsky, "Inter-Generational
Accountability in the Torah Judicial System," Young Israel of Cleveland
Torah Journal, vol. 2 (May 1995).
[20] This verse is a paraphrase (with some important variations) of
Exodus 20:6: "Who shows mercy to the thousands and pays the iniquity
of the fathers into the bosom of their children."
[21] See Rashi, Sanhedrin 39a.
[22] The Torah Temima (Bemidbar 16:1, note 2) similarly notes that
the verse that states that Korach was ben Kehat, the son of Kehat,
means that with his actions he blunted the teeth of his parents.
Note that in later generations, the word may have lost its Biblical
and Talmudic meaning. Hence, the Shela posits that the names of Levi's
three sons are intended to show the empathy that the Levites felt
for their oppressed brethren. Gershon indicated that they felt like
strangers, Merari that their lives were embittered, and Kehat that
their teeth were blunted (kehot) by the misery of the exile. (Cited
in Torah Lodaas, vol. 4, p. 156, commenting on Shemos 6:14-16.)
[23] The Gemara (Ta'anit 7b) analyzes Kohelet 10:10, where the
word "keheh" appears, but none of the suggested exegeses relate to
intergenerational issues. Rather, it explains that the verse is either
ascribing lack of rain to a degenerate generation, as describing
a student who struggles because he has not organized his studies,
or as referring to a student having difficulty because his teacher
does not encourage him.
Tir'u baTov!
-Micha
--
Micha Berger "I think, therefore I am." - Renne Descartes
mi...@aishdas.org "I am thought about, therefore I am -
http://www.aishdas.org my existence depends upon the thought of a
Fax: (270) 514-1507 Supreme Being Who thinks me." - R' SR Hirsch
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Message: 6
From: Micha Berger
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:21:04 -0400
Subject: [Avodah] Vaccinations, a teshuvah by Rav Asher Weiss
The RCA is asking people to share this teshuvah by R Asher Weiss.
R Gil Student posted a translation by R Elli Fischer that was reviewed
and approved by RAW.
See https://www.torahmusings.com/2019/04/is-it-permissible-to-refrain-from-vaccinating-children/
Many poskim and communal leaders have asked me whether parents are
obligated to inoculate their children by means of generally accepted
vaccines in order to prevent terrible diseases, because some important
rabbanim recently expressed the following opinion: Since there is
concern that vaccination damages health, not only is it permissible not
to vaccinate children, but it is even recommended not to vaccinate
them.
In my humble opinion, this is an error. Rather, parents obviously have
an obligation to vaccinate their children, and I have ruled that it is
even permissible for parents to organize themselves in order to force
educational institutions not to accept unvaccinated pupils. I will
explain my thinking and my reasoning.
...
However, it seems that even if we would say that an individual can
evade [vaccination] and still claim that he has kept his child safe, it
would nevertheless stand to reason that there is an obligation to
vaccinate children, and for two reasons:
1. I have explained elsewhere that any idea or action that would cause
damage and injustice if done en masse, even if it would cause no
harm, injustice, or evil when done by an individual, may
nevertheless not be done by an individual. It is not just or right
for an individual to do what the masses may not do. Such a person
is a villain with license from the Torah ("naval birshus
ha-Torah"), for due to the honesty of the masses who walk the
straight path in their innocence, this person will conduct himself
differently and derive unfair benefit.
We learn this from the Bavli, the Yerushalmi, and Midrashei Chazal.
...
2. It seems that this halakhah can be derived from the obligation of
all residents of a city to take part in guarding the city and
repairing its walls, as explained in Bava Basra (8a) and in
Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 163)...
This all applies in a case where one can refrain from vaccinating
his children without risking their health, because enough others do
vaccinate. The present situation is far more severe, though, and we
need not resort to creative readings of aggados to determine that
vaccination of children is obligatory. The disease has broken out
already, and every parent who refuses to vaccinate his children is
placing them directly in harm's way.
Tir'u baTov!
-Micha
--
Micha Berger Strength does not come from winning. Your
mi...@aishdas.org struggles develop your strength When you go
http://www.aishdas.org through hardship and decide not to surrender,
Fax: (270) 514-1507 that is strength. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Message: 7
From: Sholom Simon
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 17:12:40 -0400
Subject: [Avodah] Pesach mitzvos at night
Most mitzvos are done by day. Most Pesach mitzvos are done at night. Are
there any deeper reasons for this (beyond halacha and/or "the geula started
at night")?
-- Sholom
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Message: 8
From: Rich, Joel
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:14:29 +0000
Subject: [Avodah] Anonymous Donation
From R' Aviner
Anonymous Donation
Q: I want to donate books to my Shul in memory of a loved one. Am I obligated to write in the book the name of the person for whom it is donated?
A: No. Hashem knows.
Me: Interesting use of the word obligation-how would you understand it?.
Perhaps another question would be are you obligated to put your name in the
book? As I understand it, it may be that the synagogue has rights to
switching if you don't.
KT
Joel Rich
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Message: 9
From: Rich, Joel
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:16:50 +0000
Subject: [Avodah] Smoking Drugs
From R' Aviner
Smoking Drugs
Q: I am a teacher. Should I tell my students that before I became a Baal Teshuvah, I smoked drugs and now - Baruch Hashem - I am far from that place?
A: No, lest they say: We can smoke drugs now and then do Teshuvah.
Me: Another classic type 1/type 2 error case where when asked to make a
decision do we do it based on the good of the whole or of the individual?
How many people will say "We can smoke drugs now and then do Teshuvah"
versus how many people who might have left will realize that there is hope
for them
KT
Joel Rich
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