Shalom Friends;
Our Parshat Chayei Sarah vort is being sponsored by Yirmi and Rochelle Gold and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh who dedicate this vort Lilui Nishmas the sixth Yahrtzeit of HaRav Chaim Zev Malinowitz, z”l, as well as dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim and the liberation of the remains ot all deceased hostages and their return home for Jewish ritual burials as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Gold family, many thanks for your sponsorship and your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring (or as the case may be, co-sponsoring) a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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Torah records:
“Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead, and spoke to the children of Hait [B’nei Chait]. ‘I am an immigrant [Ger V’Toshav] and a resident among you,’ he said. ‘Sell me property for a burial place with you so that I can bury my dead, [and not have her here] right in front of me.'” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posukim 3 – 4 as rendered to English in “The Living Torah.” by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan)
“Avraham… spoke to them [the children of Hait] and said, ‘If you really want to help me bury my dead…, listen to me, and speak up for me to Ephron, son of Tzohar. Let him sell me the Machpela Cave which belongs to him, at the edge of his field.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posukim 7 – 9 as rendered to English in “The Living Torah”)
“Ephron replied to Avraham, saying to him, ‘My lord, listen to me. What’s 400 silver shekels worth of land between you and me? Bury your dead.'” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posukim 14 – 15 as rendered to English in “The Living Torah”)
“Avraham understood what Ephron meant. He weighed out for Ephron the silver that had mentioned in the presence of the children of Hait [B’nei Chait]. 400 shekels in negotiable currency.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posuk 16 rendered to English in “The Living Torah”)
On the words, “And Avraham heard” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posuk 16), Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, in his Sefer “Growth Through Torah,” cites Rashi and Rashbam, and comments (pages 56 – 57) :
“A hint is sufficient for a wise man.” Ephron spoke as if he were a man of generosity. He spoke to Avraham with great respect and ostensibly offered him the burial site free of charge. However, Ephron mentioned in passing, “The four hundred shekels … is nothing between friends. Your friendship is more precious than money. Bury your dead.” (Rabbi Zelig Pliskin citing Rashi and Rashbam on Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posuk 15)
But Avraham was perceptive [adjective: having or showing keenness of insight, understanding, or intuition] with his finely-honed intuition, and understood Ephron’s real intentions; he didn’t really want to give the land away for nothing. Avraham responded to Ephron’s real inner wishes, not to the outer, simple meaning of his [Ephron’s] words.
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides a commentary on the above posuk (page 109) :
To Ephron. Throughout the perek, Ephron’s name is spelled with a Vav. but here, where money changed hands and the sale is consummated, the Vav is omitted. Thereby the Torah implies that his stature is diminished — he started out by making grandiose offers of a gift, but then revealed himself as a greedy man who extorted far more than the property was worth…
Conversely (adverb: in a contrary or opposite way; on the other hand), a relationship developed between Avraham and Avimelech, as Torah records in last week’s Parshat Vayeira. Torah records in Parshat Vayeira, as rendered to English in “The Living Torah,” by Aryeh Kaplan:
“Around that time [The Artscroll Stone Chumash, page 99, places the time as having occurred at the time of Yitzchak’s birth], Avimelech and his general Pikhol [Rabbi Kaplan renders as spokesman] made a declaration to Avraham saying, ‘G’d is with you in all that you do. Now swear to me here by G’d that you will not deal falsely with me, and my children, or with my grandchildren. Show to me and the land where you were an immigrant the same kindness that I have shown to you.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posukim 22 – 23)
“‘I will swear,’ said Avraham. Avraham then complained to Avimelech about the well that Avimelech’s servants had taken by force. Avimelech said, ‘I don’t know who could have done such a thing. You never told me. I heard nothing about it until today.'” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posukim 24 – 26)
“Avraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Avimelech and the two of them made a treaty.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posuk 27)
“Avimelech asked Avraham. ‘What is the meaning of these seven ewes [Rabbi Kaplan refers to them as sheep] that you have set aside?” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posuk 29)
“Take these seven ewes from my hand,” replied [Avraham]. It will be my proof that I dug this well.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posuk 30)
“That area was therefore called Beer-Sheva, since the two had made an oath [a treaty] there…. Avimelech and his general Pikhol then left, and they returned to the land of the P’lishtim.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posukim 31 – 32)
Rabbi Goldin provides context and commentary discussing nissayon in his Sefer, “Unlocking the Torah Text (ibid, pages 95 – 96) :
Immediately before the Akeida, the Torah relates that Avraham contracts a covenant with the king of the P’lishtim, Avimelech. This covenant is viewed in Rabbinic tradition as a negative and dangerous step on Avraham’s part. (Rabbi Goldin citing Midrash Rabba, Breish’t 54)
He [the Rashbam] points to one specific phrase in the narrative describing the covenant [between Avraham and Avimelech]. The P’lishti melech [Avimelech] turns to Avraham and states, “And now, swear to me by G’d if you will deal falsely with me or my son or my grandson.” (Rabbi Goldin citing Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, posuk 23). [Author’s Note: The posuk as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash: “…that you will not deal falsely with me nor with my son nor with my grandson…”] Avimelech is clearly suggesting a covenant in perpetuity. Avraham agrees.
Avraham, says the Rashbam, endangers his progeny when he contracts an intergenerational covenant with the likes of Avimelech. While Avraham may make a personal agreement with Avimelech…, he has no right to make a concrete covenant complete with commitments on behalf of his children and grandchildren. Hashem is, therefore, moved to respond: [as presumably surmised by Rashbam and cited by Rabbi Goldin] “You were careless with the son I gave you. You contracted a covenant with them and with their children. Now take that son, offer him as a sacrifice and see what good the contracting of your covenant has done.” (Rabbi Goldin citing Rashbam on Sefer Breish’t, Perek 22, posuk 1)
Later in our history, Chabad.org cites Gemura Sotah: 10a as an example of how the Philistines continually broke their
oath by persecuting the Jews:
[Shimshon’s] parents were being told that the oath of Abimelech, king of the Philistines, was negated, as it is written that Abimelech said to our forefather Abraham: “Now therefore swear unto me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son; but according to the kindness that I have done unto you, you shall do to me, and to the land wherein you have sojourned” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 21, [posuk 23). The oath of the descendants of Abraham was no longer binding since the Philistines broke their oath by subjugating the Jewish people.
It’s a pella for which this author has no answer regarding the contrast of how Avraham Avinu could read and perceive the true motivations behind Ephron’s words of feigned [adjective: pretended, disguised] generosity: “What’s 400 shekels between friends? Bury your dead,” and yet commit to a treaty, a covenant in perpetuity (Noun: endless or indefinitely long duration or existence; eternity) with the infamous P’lishtim (Philistines). The P’lishtim abrogated (Verb – used with object: to put aside; put an end to) their treaty with Am Yisrael through history having “constantly attacked and terrorized their Jewish neighbors,” and having produced Goliath who threatened B’nei Yisrael until he was slain via sling-shot by Dovid who later became Dovid HaMelech.
Shimshon, the Nazarite, grew enormously strong physically and fought a two decade war against the P’lishtim while judging over the Jews until he was betrayed by his wife Delilah, his hair shaved and then captured, eyes gouged out and tortured by the P’lishtim. Shimshon had his final confrontation with the P’lishtim at a feast in honor of their avodah zora. With his hands feeling two pillars, he prayed to Hashem to restore his strength one last time. With his might, he brought the pillars down, bringing the entire dwelling down on its occupants killing them all and himself.
As this Parsha vort is dedicated Lilui Nishmas for the sixth Yahrtzeit of HaRav Chaim Zev Malinowitz, z”l, the Rav held a deep love for Eretz Yisrael, as well as speaking often about the Kedusha of the Land. For a number of years, he encouraged the Kehilla to take annual trips to Hevron and the Ma’arat HaMachpeila on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana. He often visited Kever Yosef. In a Shmitta year, he taught the Kehilla about Shmitta and promoted and worked with organizations such Otzar Ha’Aretz in facilitating the keeping of Shmitta according to Halacha. The Rav celebrated with us in three Hachnasat Sifrei Torah including one in Yesha and one in Gush Katif, in Shirat HaYam (in the months before the expulsion in August of 2005) as well as the celebration in Beit B’nei Rachel in Kever Rachel. He protested against the Expulsion, including giving a passionate talk to the Kehillah about Gush Katif.
As our Melchemet Shel Torah — The War of Simchat Torah, or as it is more commonly referred to: The War of 7 October enters its current phase, we await the return of the remaining deceased hostages, in exchange for
way over one thousand terrorists — many of them stained with the blood of brutally murdered Jews and having committed all forms of atrocities. This author reflects on one of Rav Malinowitz’s p’sakim felt to be most profound: the p’sukim following Aleinu — Al Tira.
In the months before the Expulsion of the Jews of Gush Katif in late August, 2005, Rav Malinowitz gave a p’sak for Beit Tefillah Yona Avraham that not many Shuls throughout the world follow — recitation of Al Tira after Aleinu. In the twenty years since the Hitnatchut, the Shul has continued reciting Al Tira.
The Artscroll Siddur provides notes on Al Tira:
These three posukim… express confidence in Hashem’s protection and are regarded as auguries of deliverance. Do not fear an evildoer’s intention, no matter how dangerous it seems. Let the enemies of Israel conspire and plan — they will fail. Hashem remains the eternal protector of Israel, even though it has sinned.
The Sefer “Aleinu: The Power and the Pride,” by Yisroel Besser contains an entire section providing background and possible origins for Al Tira:
The Midrash (Esther Rabbah 7) tells how during the frightening time of Haman’s ascent…., Mordechai HaTzaddik saw three little boys on their way home from school and he asked them what they had learned that day — Recite to me your posuk, he asked them. [Each of them recited a posuk from Al Tira.
The Vilna Gaon (Kol Eliyahu 141) explains that the three posukim refer to three different encounters with Amalek.
Tzaddikim understood these words as a perpetual message to man: Al Tira: do not be frightened, mipachad, of fear. Fear is a normal human emotion, a reaction implanted within man by the Creator to alert him to potential danger — but a person cannot allow himself to be overwhelmed by that fear.
[Hashem says] It’s My story. I am writing it and I will carry it through to its happy ending.
Having been reminded of our role and destiny and been reassured that the moment is approaching, the Jew gently closes his Siddur, gives it a kiss and steps out to face the day.
This author understands that Rav Malinowitz instituted saying Al Tira after Aleinu so that we not “fear sudden
terror” and that planned conspiracies would be voided, but with the prayer that B’Ezrat Hashem Israel’s government, military or factions of the people would not be duped (adjective: deceived, fooled, or tricked), finessed or conned due to misleading, yet deeply-rooted ideology or agenda over generations as to adversarial intentions.
May our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators and the entire terror cabal, B’Yad Hashem, and become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.”
May we see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May we see our Chayalim totally eradicate Hamas, Islamic Jihad, those so-called “civilians(sic)” who collaborated on 7 October, as well as Hezbollah, the Houthies, the Mullahs of Iran and all their terror accomplices while liberating the remains of all deceased hostages and their return home for Jewish ritual burials, B’Yad Hashem and mandated by a government secure in it’s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Esrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recovery of the remains of Oron Shaul as should the remains of the other chayal from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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