Avodah Mailing List

Volume 40: Number 59

Mon, 29 Aug 2022

• 1. The Jew in Golus (Prof. L. Levine)
• 2. How does one honor Rosh Chodesh? (Prof. L. Levine)
• 3. Cheshbon haNefesh and Knowing Yourself (Micha Berger)
• 4. Washing Dishes on Shabbos (Prof. L. Levine)

The following is from Rav Schwab on Chumash page 537.

The Rav would elaborate on the fate of the Jew in galus who dwells
among non-Jews, yet lives a totally Jewish life. Our forefather Yaakov
blessed his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe, saying (Bereishis
48:16), And, like fish, may they grow to a multitude in
the midst of the world. The Rav would cite Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch,
who comments that fish live in a different element, quietly, at a depth
unreachable by the human eye. People standing on the shore have no
idea of the happy, fresh, undisturbed life that goes on down below in
rich abundance from generation to generation. Similarly,-in
the midst of the world the generations of Yaakov are to live and achieve
their own quiet, happy lives in their own separate element, of which the
world around them has no conception, -like fish in water, in the midst of
human beings on earth shall they dwell (Targum Onkelos).

Professor Yitzchok Levine
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The following is from today's OU Kosher Halachah Yomis


Q. How does one honor Rosh Chodesh?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 418:1) writes that it is forbidden to fast on Rosh
Chodesh. The Beiur Halacha (418, s.v. Rosh Chodesh) adds that one is not
even permitted to fast for part of the day (taanis sha?os). On the
contrary, on Rosh Chodesh there is a mitzvah to increase one?s meal
(Shulchan Aruch OC 419:1). Although there is no specific requirement to eat
bread on Rosh Chodesh, it is proper to eat a full seuda. The Mishnah
Berurah writes that it is proper to honor Rosh Chodesh by preparing an
extra dish that one would not ordinarily have served. The same is true even
when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos. Furthermore, Chazal tells us that just
as the expenditures for Shabbos do not diminish the portion that Hashem has
allotted to us for the year, so too with the expenditures for Rosh Chodesh.
Women have an additional way to honor Rosh Chodesh, by refraining from
doing certain forms of melacha.

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Generally, I start Elul determined to restart my cheshbon hanefesh,
my personal "accounting of the soul" where I write something about
how I reacted to the events of the day, focusing on what I should be
doing more of, what less of, which middos I could use more or less of.
Kind of like a diary, but not of the events that happen to me, but of
what happens in my nefesh due to those events.

But the "Relationshipful Meaning" chaburah at Zelmele's Kloiz
<http://thekloiz.aishdas.org> recently learned Olam haYedidus by R'
Shlomo Wolbe zt"l. Which frames all of Torah as being about building a
"World of Affection" (as per the title).

It concludes with a discussion of zarus (alienation) and its extreme form
-- akhzarus (cruelty), or as RSW notes that R Hirsch puts it akh+zarus
(literally: nothing but alienation). And how we manage to get ourselves
alienated from each other on a national level, with the people who
should be our loved ones, friends and peers, alienation from our Creator,
and even from ourselves.

One of the beauties of Shabbos is Mah Yedidus Menuchaseikh -- how much
Yedidus inheres in your rest. A day to reestablish Yedidus with G-d,
with family, and with ourselves. R Wolbe laments how we try so hard to
busy ourselves every moment that we have become strangers to ourselves.

And it struck me, even before the cheshbon hanefesh helps me decide
what I think I should be focusing on this year, it's a moment of quiet
self-reflection. And for that alone, connecting with myself, it's
of value.


:-)BBii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 Brains to the lazy
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   are like a torch to the blind --
Author: Widen Your Tent      a useless burden.
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF               - Bechinas haOlam

The following is from today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis


Q. I have a set of 12 Shabbos dishes. I used four of them Friday night. May
I wash the four dirty dishes and reuse them again Shabbos day? I still have
plenty of clean dishes, but I would prefer to wash the dirty ones, so I
will have less to wash after Shabbos. Is this considered hachona (preparing
for after Shabbos)?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 423:6) writes that one may wash dirty dishes on
Shabbos, if they will be needed again for the next meal. The Mishnah
Berurah (323:26) based on the Magen Avrohom writes that even if one used 10
dishes at the first meal and knows that he will only need one dish at the
next meal, it is still permissible to wash all the dishes. Each dish may be
washed, because it is possible that this is the one that will be used.
According to this opinion, even if there are plenty of clean dishes, it
does not matter. So long as there is a need for a clean dish, all the dirty
dishes may be washed. However, the Aruch Hashulchan (323:7) writes that if
one has more clean dishes than might possibly be needed, it is not proper
to wash extra dishes. The Piskei Teshuvos (323:8) writes that the minhag
ha?olom (common custom) is to be lenient, but nonetheless one should avoid
extensive efforts that are strenuous on Shabbos.

Professor Yitzchok Levine
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