Shalom Friends;
Our Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim vort is being sponsored by Dov and Bracha Moses of Ramat Beit Shemesh who dedicate this vort Lilui Nishmas for Dov’s Father, Avraham ben Chaim Mordechai, z”l, Lilui Nishmas Dovid ben Shlomo, z”l, Lilui Nishmas Chaya Perel bat Chayim Mordechai, z”l, and Refuah Sheima for Alta Leah bat Rivka and for Shmuel ben Rivka.as well as dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim and for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Moses 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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As our Twin Bill Parshiyot HaShavua Acharei Mos-Kedoshim is being written, Israel’s multi-front Milchemtah Shel Torah: “Roaring Lions” coupled with America’s “Epic Fury” continues (despite any alleged “ceasefire”) against Iran’s Mullahs and IRGC — the benefactors of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad as they emerge from their tunnels in Israeli-controlled sections of Gaza, if necessary — the new government in Syria, as well as the Houthies, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
These two posukim of our Parshat Kedoshim seems soo on-target regarding our on-going multi-front Milchemtah Shel Torah:
“You shall not curse the deaf, and you shall not place a stumbling block before the blind: you shall fear Keilokecha — I am Hashem. ….You shall not be a gossip-monger among your people…” [Sefer Vayikra, Perek 19, posukim 14 and 16 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides commentary on posukim 14 and 16 with citings from Rambam, Rashi and Ibn Ezra (pages 660 – 661) :
“Before the blind.” [In addition to the literal meaning] the verse means allegorically [Adverb: a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another] that one should not give bad advice to an unsuspecting person, particularly if the advisor stands to benefit from the other’s error. [The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rashi: Sifrei] It is also forbidden to cause someone to sin. [The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rambam, Sefer HaMitzvot] The message here is that we are responsible for the welfare of others and may not do anything to undermine it.
“You shall fear Keilokecha.” Someone who gives advice can easily hide his perfidy [Noun: deliberate breach of faith or trust; faithlessness; treachery] by saying that he was sincere and meant well. But the Torah warns him that he cannot deceive Hashem. If he was indeed treacherous to his friend, Hashem can be trusted to punish him. [The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rashi; Sifrei]
One who preys on the deaf and blind should beware. for Hashem can punish him by making him deaf or blind. [The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Ibn Ezra]
“You shall not be a gossip-monger.” It is forbidden to tell someone what others have said or done behind his back, if there is even the slightest possibility that it may cause ill will. The word “rawchil” is related to “rocheil” [Transliterations], peddler, because a gossip goes from person to person and house to house “peddling” slander and gossip. [The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rashi]
“The Sapirstein Edition, The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary” provides additional Rashi commentary on Perek 19, posukim 14 (pages 233 – 234) :
“You shall not curse a deaf person.” From where do I know that I should include cursing any person in this prohibition? To provide this source, the verse in Talmud says; “You shall not curse [a leader] among your people.” If it is so that the prohibition is not limited to cursing a deaf person, why does it say “a deaf person”? To teach us — just as a deaf person has the distinct quality of being alive, so, too, does the prohibition apply to cursing anyone who is alive. A dead person has thus left the category of those whom the verse forbids cursing for he is not alive.
A note on this verse: [“The Sapirstein Edition, The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary” cites Shemos 22:27] The apparently superfluous “among your people” implies that the prohibition applies to cursing anyone among your people. [ibid, citing Mizrachi; Sifsei Chachamim]
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin delves further into Halachot regarding bad advice or misleading information in his Sefer, “Unlocking the Torah Text,” (pages 162 – 163, 174) :
…The Torah’s mandate of “You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind” [Sefer Vayikra, Perek 19, posuk 14] …includes the prohibition of misleading another, even through the passive withholding of vital information [Rabbi Goldin, page 174, citing Talmud Bavli Mo’ed Katan 5a].
A dramatic directive with far-reaching ramifications, …known as the prohibition of “before the blind,” is one of many laws presented in Parshat Kedoshim. [Rabbi Goldin, pages 162 – 163] A review of Rabbinic literature reveals a three-tiered elaboration of this prohibition.
Level 1. Do not mislead. Rashi, quoting a Halachic Midrash, …expands the Mitzvah beyond its literal sense, setting the tone for all Rabbinic commentary that follows: “[The text also speaks of] someone who is [figuratively] blind to an issue. Do not give someone inappropriate advice. [Rabbi Goldin citing Rashi on Sefer Vayikra Perek 19, posuk 14: Torat Kohanim, Kedoshim Perek 19, posuk 14]
Level 2. Do not aid someone even in the conscious commission of a sin [Rabbi Goldin citing Talmud Bavli Pesachim 22b]. ….The Torah forbids aiding a sinner even when he [the sinner] is cognizant of his actions. Torah prohibits “placing a stumbling block” before Gentiles as well as Jews. [Rabbi Goldin citing Ran, Avodah Zara 6b]
The full extent of the Torah’s ban on actively aiding a sinner is reflected in a Talmudic passage concerning the prohibition of lending or borrowing money on interest…. Each participant in [such a] loan is responsible for the role he plays in enabling the other participant to sin through participation in a prohibited transaction. [Rabbi Goldin citing Talmud Bavli Bava Metzia 75b]
Level 3. Do not create an environment that would encourage or lead another to sin. So great is our interpersonal responsibility, the Rabbis maintain, that the Torah forbids not only concrete assistance in another’s sin but even any act that potentially promotes another’s sin.
Another Talmudic passage concerning loans reflects a… striking iteration of this level of “stumbling block before the blind.” “Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rav: Any individual who possesses money and lends it to another without witnesses is guilty of the crime of ‘placing a stumbling block before the blind.'” [The lender’s “trusting” actions tempt the borrower to lie and deny the loan.] [Rabbi Goldin again citing Talmud Bavli Bava Metzia 75b]
Rabbi Goldin goes into great detail as to the differing understandings of scholars and commentators regarding issues of “stumbling block before the blind,” which are subjects for another time. Suffice to say that when military command echelons intimidate and threaten their subordinates, the female border guards in the days leading to the beginning of the War of Simchat Torah, with possible Court Martial proceedings to make them cease in their ominous warnings of Hamas’ preparations for their barbaric, animal-like invasions of Israeli border towns, massive deaths and hostage-taking, it would seem to this author that military commanders involved have both violated halachic levels of putting “stumbling block before the blind” — meaning the border guards, while the commanders, blinded by their own agendas and ideologies, seemingly put a “stumbling block before the blind” — themselves.
Further, seemingly, the same could be said of the lack of proper communication by military command echelons to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the gravity of events in the early morning of 7 October, 2023.
As for the gossip-mongers, there were divisive prominent names who sought, during the entire length of the war in Gaza, sought to undermine Israel’s governance with slanders regarding military strategy and tactics, as well as demeaning the government’s efforts on behalf of the hostages held by Hamas and its terrorist allies.
In the ongoing Milchemtah Shel Torah, there seems to be an unwritten, unspoken Divine Command to utterly defeat and eradicate Amalek.
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, Iran 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, with Operation Roaring Lions — the joint action by our Chayalim and the United States against the Mullahs of what has been the Islamic Caliphate dictatorship controlling Iran, that Islam and its barbarous terrorist tentacles of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, as well as Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Afganistan and all who seek war against the Jews be totally eradicated, both in Israel’s neighborhood, as well as internationally, B’Ezrat Hashem. May we see a government of Israel 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’Ezrat 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. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth 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 recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin 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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