Ask The Rabbi
29 July 1995
Issue #74
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  The Rabbi is taking his annual Summer Holiday...see below for details
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This edition contains:
1.  40 Day Fast
2.  40 Day-Old Cholent
3.  9 Days Without Meat (Answer to Yiddle Riddle)
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Leo from <lssux@salami.bellcore.com> wrote:

>What are you supposed to do if a Torah falls?  Someone told me they were
>in the room with a Torah on a table and someone else was showing it to
>children.  One side of the Torah rolled off the table and onto the floor.
>They said that the Torah itself was OK, but they asked if I know what
>people are supposed to do -- should one person fast for a day, 40 people
>for a day, or one person fast for 40 days?  Or is this a "bubba maisa"
>(tall-tale)?

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Leo,

It's no "bubba - maisa."

Maybe you've heard about the kid who told his mother, "Mom, you know that
3,000 year old vase you always worry about that I'll break it ... Well Mom,
your worries are over!"

The Torah is a very holy object.  To drop a Torah Scroll indicates a
certain lack of care and realization of its sanctity -- you'd be careful
showing some children your 6th dynasty Ming vase, wouldn't you?

When someone does something wrong, certain acts can lessen his
accountability.  Such an act is called a "Tikun." A Tikun usually follows a
rule known as mida kneged mida -- meaning that it is related conceptually
to the transgression.  Fasting 40 days helps atone for the disrespect shown
to the Torah, which was given in 40 days.  Since everyone present sensed
the enormous disgrace and degradation, they too would need to fast.

Now, this forty day fast would not have to be 40 days in a row, and would
only include the daylight hours, but not the night before.

Nowadays, people are not as hale and hardy as they used to be.  Instead of
fasting, therefore, everyone present would give Tzedaka (charity) instead.

In your case, the Sefer Torah did not fall completely to the ground --
rather, only one side fell.  I asked Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg,
shlita, about this, and he said that since the Sefer Torah did not fall
completely, it's not as bad as if it had fallen completely;  Tzedaka should
be given, however, since the Sefer Torah was nonetheless dishonored.

Source:
o  Iggrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 3:3.

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Cholent: Another Portion

Shimon Goldstein from Jerusalem writes:

   I heard that the word Cholent comes from the words "Shul-end," because
   in many communities people didn't have private stoves, so before Shabbat
   they all put their cholent in the baker's oven.  On Shabbat morning
   after shul (synagogue services) finished, everyone went to the baker to
   pick up their cholent.
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Answer to Yiddle Riddle:

Question: In what situation is it a mitzvah to eat, but you may only eat
foods that are Parve?

Answer: At "Malave Malke" during the "Nine Days," after having eaten meat.

The 9 day period from Rosh Chodesh Av until the Tenth of Av is one of
mourning for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, during which we refrain
from eating meat and drinking wine.  On Shabbat, however, eating meat is
allowed.  After eating meat, one must wait a period of time before eating
dairy.  Therefore, someone who ate meat near the end of Shabbat can't eat
dairy for a period thereafter;  but during the "Nine Days" he can't eat
meat either.  So the situation could arise where you are eating Malava
Malka -- "the fourth meal of Shabbat" -- which is a mitzvah, and you are
only able to eat foods that are Parve.  [There is a dispute amongst the
Poskim whether meat left over from Shabbat may be eaten at a Malaveh Malka
during the "Nine Days."  I asked Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita,
about this matter, and he said it's better to be strict.]
"Yehi Ratzon" -- May we soon merit to see the rebuilding of the Beit
HaMikdash!

Sources:
o  Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 551:9.
o  Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 89:1.
o  Shmirat Shabbat K'Hilchata, Vol. 2 63:10.
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The Rabbi is taking his annual Summer Holiday starting with Parshas
Devarim.  Look for his return with Parshas Shoftim.
During this time, you can still receive Ohr Somayach publications via
Internet; but not via print, mail, or fax.

Also, please try to avoid sending in questions during August.
The Rabbi does not want to get beach-sand in his laptop computer ;)
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 For information: send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin: RZCorlin@aol.com
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