Ask The Rabbi
20 January 1996
Issue #92
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This Issue Contains:
1.  For Ever a Yeshiva
2.  About Face
3.  Answer to Yiddle Riddle
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                              Mazel Tovs to:
         Contributing Editor Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair and family
                          on the birth of his son
                                    and
               Production Designer Lev Seltzer and his wife Ella
                on the birth of their "Bachor" (First Born Son)
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Dr. Don Weissman <weissman@netvision.net.il> wrote:

>Recently in your weekly Torah publication you mentioned that Yaakov
>studied in the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever.   What was being studied in this
>`yeshiva' since the Torah was not yet given to B'nei Yisrael?  What are
>the sources that in fact there were schools for `Jewish' studies.  I think
>there is need for answers to these and many many other `rational
>intellectual' questions.

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

Dear Dr. Don Weissman,

Wisdom and righteousness didn't begin at Sinai.  One need look no farther
than the Chumash to see that Mankind had mitzvot and Divine wisdom before
the giving of the Torah:

Example:  Hashem directed Noah to take into the ark seven of every kosher-
type animal and two of every non-kosher animal (Genesis 7:2).  From this
it's clear that Noah understood the idea of `Kosher' 700 years before the
giving of the Torah.

After the flood, Noah and his offspring were commanded not to eat a limb
from a live animal (Genesis 9:4).  This plus the six mitzvot given to Adam
make up the seven `Noachide Laws,'' including prohibitions against
stealing, killing, idol worship, etc.

Today the Talmud contains no less than three tractates -- Bava Kama, Metzia
and Batra -- dealing almost exclusively with property laws.  Isn't it
logical that people in ancient times -- in upholding the prohibition
against stealing -- would need a similar code of property laws?  Just as
today Yeshivot exist where we study the wisdom received at Sinai, it's
quite rational that academies always existed for the study of the seven
Noachide laws and the prophetic wisdom of the time.

Therefore, Noah's son Shem and Shem's grandson Ever directed an academy in
Be'er Sheva where these traditions were studied and upheld in the hope that
they be passed on to future generations.

Ever hear of Hamurabi?  `The Code of Hamurabi' (18th century B.C.E.) is one
of the oldest known legal codes on record.  I heard from Rabbi Simcha
Wasserman, zatzal, that Hamurabi was most likely a dropout from the academy
of Shem and Ever.

Sources:
o  Bereishit Rabbah 26.
o  See Genesis 26:5 that Abraham fulfilled the mitzvot

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I. Frankel <itchie@ibm.net> wrote:

>Our Shul faces east, whereas Jerusalem is southeast from our city.  Almost
>everyone faces east but for one or two people who face south-east.  Is it
>more important to face a bit more in the right direction, or not to be
>different from (and maybe disrespectful to) the vast majority of the
>worshippers?

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

Dear I. Frankel:

During prayer one should face towards Israel; in Israel towards Jerusalem,
and in Jerusalem towards the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount.

However, if the entire congregation is facing the wrong direction --
although they're `out of line' -- one shouldn't differ from them but rather
should face the same way they do.  So in your case where the synagogue and
the congregation face east, one should stand with his body facing east
along with the rest of the congregation.  However, he should tilt his face
southeast towards Jerusalem.

Likewise someone praying at the Western Wall today should turn his face
somewhat to the left so that he will be facing the place of the Holy of
Holies.

And don't forget to point your heart in the right direction.

Sources:
o  Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 94:1,2
o  Mishnah Berurah 10

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Yiddle Riddle:

Last week we asked:  There is a day in the Jewish Calendar when some years
we say Hallel and other years we say Tachanun.  Which day is it?

Answer:  The third of Tevet.  Some years Kislev has 29 days and other years
it has 30.  When Kislev has 29, the third of Tevet is the last day of
Chanukah on which we say Hallel, but when Kislev has 30 days, the third of
Tevet is the day after Chanukah, and we say `Tachanun.'
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