From: ajb@access.digex.com (Alan J. Broder)
Subject: Hamaayan / The Torah Spring: Parashat Vayelech
Organization: Express Access Public Access UNIX, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 03:31:12 GMT


[   HaMaayan is published weekly for the edification and enjoyment
of the reader who is lacking the time or ability to study the
weekly Parasha on his own. HaMaayan's goal is to acquaint the reader 
with the broadest spectrum of traditional Torah commentary, from 
the "rationalism" of Rambam (Maimonides) and Abarbanel to the 
"mysticism" of Alshich and the Chassidic Masters.

While the editors hope these brief "snippets" will engender further
discussion of Torah topics ("L'Hagdil Torah U'L'Ha'adirah"), they
unfortunately lack the time to respond to lengthy questions.

Shabbat Shalom. ]


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                    Hamaayan/The Torah Spring
                      Edited by Shlomo Katz

                        Parashat Vayelech
                         Shabbat Shuvah
                    Volume VI/Number 51 (285)
                 6 Tishrei 5752/October 2, 1992

   The Gemara (Rosh Hashana 16b) teaches:  R' Cruspedai said in the
name of R' Yochanan, "Three books are opened on Rosh Hashana - one
for the righteous, one for the wicked, and one for those who are in
between.  The names of the perfectly righteous are written in the
"Book of Life"; those of the completely wicked are written in the
"Book of Death"; those who are in between are left in limbo.  If
they repent, they are given life; if not, death."

   Why, asks R' Reuven Bengis (1865-1954), are there three books? 
Would not two books suffice, since those who are neither righteous
nor wicked will eventually (on Yom Kippur) be awarded life or
sentenced to death?

   The answer may be as follows:  The Gemara (Berachot 34b) states,
"In the place where a 'Ba'al Teshuva' (one who has repented)
stands, even one who is perfectly righteous cannot stand."  In some
respects, the Gemara teaches, a Ba'al Teshuva - one who has
confronted the "Yetzer haRa" and defeated it - is considered to be
superior to a Tzaddik - one who has not been tested so.  Thus we
can understand the purpose of the third book; when Yom Kippur is
over, the names of those who have repented are inscribed in this
book, and it becomes the Book of Ba'alei Teshuva.

                                    (quoted in Nedivut Lev, p.24)

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   "I am one hundred twenty years old today."  (31:2)

   Rashi comments:  "[Moshe said,] 'Today my years and days are
completed; today I will die'."  Chazal teach that Tzaddikim often
die on their birthdays, and so Moshe did.  The Zohar teaches that
that day was Shabbat.  Specifically, Moshe (as well as Yosef and
David) died on Shabbat afternoon, and that is why we recite the
prayer "Tzidkatcha" which states our recognition that Hashem is
just.

   This, however, presents a problem.  Later in Parashat Vayelech
we read that on the last day of Moshe's life, he wrote thirteen
Torah scrolls.  If that day was Shabbat, how did he do so?

   Commentaries suggest two answers.  First, perhaps Moshe did not
really die on Shabbat, but was only buried on that day.  How is
that possible?  Moshe actually died on Friday, an instant before
Shabbat began.  In our observance of Shabbat we add extra minutes
before the day begins and extra minutes afterwards because, among
other reasons, we do not know exactly what defines the beginning or
end of a day.  Hashem, however, does know, and it was He who buried
Moshe.  He knows when Shabbat ends, and He was able to bury Moshe
while our ancestors were still observing Shabbat.  Thus, it appears
as if Moshe was buried on Shabbat.

   Alternatively, suggest R' Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, there was no
Shabbat that week, for the Midrash states that within Bnei
Yisrael's camp, the sun shone for 36 hours that Friday.  Thus,
Moshe was able to write, while for the world-at-large, it was
Shabbat.

   [Ed. note:  The second answer provided above takes one side of
a Halachic dispute whether a day can pass independent of sunrise
and sunset.  For example, how often does Shabbat occur at the North
Pole where day and night last six months each.  Those who disagree
with R' Yosef Chaim state that every seventh 24-hour period would
be Shabbat.]

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                           Yom Kippur

   Although all year long the phrase, "Baruch Shem Kevod...," is
recited after the first verse of "Shma"  quietly, on Yom Kippur it
is recited aloud.  R' Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook explains this
as follows (based on Ye'arot Dvash):

   Chazal say that we are greater than angels, for they utter G-d's
name after three words, while we do so after two.  This refers to
the prophecy of Yeshayahu  from which we learn that the angels
prayer is, "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Hashem...." We, on the other
hand, pray, "Shma Yisrael Hashem...."  Nevertheless, because we
know our own shortcomings and are wary of appearing to have too
high an opinion of ourselves, we immediately say, "Baruch Shem,"
which is the formula which one recites if he has inadvertently
taken Hashem's name in vain.  Yet, because we don't want to plant
any ideas in the mind of the prosecuting angel, we are careful to
recite that formula in an undertone.

   On Yom Kippur, however, the prosecuting angel has no power over
us.  (Chazal note that the Gematria of "haSatan" - "the prosecutor"
- is 364, representing the fact that on one day of the year he is
powerless.)  Therefore, on Yom Kippur we are not afraid to recite
"Baruch Shem" aloud.

                                         (Olat Re'iyah, II p.345)

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   The story is told of a young American Yeshiva student who paid
a visit to the Gerrer Rebbe (probably R' Simcha Bunim Alter, who
passed away this past summer).  "Where do you learn?" the Rebbe
inquired.
   The young man named a certain  well-known Yeshiva for beginners,
but quickly added, "But I'm not a 'Ba'al Teshuva'."

   "Why not?" was the Rebbe's immediate response.

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           The learning schedule for this Shabbat is:

                  Mishnah Yomit:  Taharot 2:6-7
                 (Learn two Mishnayot every day)

                  Halacha Yomit: OC/MB 490:2-4
               (Learn three paragraphs every day)

                      Daf Yomi: Yevamot 97
              (Learn two sides of a page every day)

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            The hard copy distribution of this weeks
                    Hamaayan is sponsored by:

       Rochelle Dimont, Sahra and Yale Ginsburg and family
        Yocheved and Jonathan Neuman, and Chayim Dimont,
     in memory of their husband and father, Rabbi A. Dimont

                   Mr. and Mrs. Sam Markovitz
               on the Yahrzeits of their fathers,
      Yisroel Moshe Markovitz and Yitzchak Mordechai Gross

            Bert Anker, Judy Gabel, and Harvey Anker
      on the third Yahrzeit of their father, Moe Anker A"H

               Esther and Jacob Edeson and family
               on the Yahrzeit of Esther's aunt, 
                       Ms. Mathilda Bucher

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            Donations to Hamaayan are tax deductible


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Posted by Alan Broder, ajb@digex.com (uunet!digex!ajb), who 
should be contacted to request back issues of HaMaayan or to get
on or off the direct email mailing list.

Shlomo Katz can not receive EMAIL, however I will pass on any
comment forwarded to me, or alternately, send your comments care of
yehuda@gwuvm.bitnet