Ask The Rabbi 
6 March 1999
Issue #229
Parshat Ki Sisa
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This publication is available in HTML format at 
http://www.ohr.org.il/ask/ask229.htm 
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Researched at Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem 
This Issue Contains: 
1. To Tell the Truth		5. Falling Leaves
2. A Lot of Salt			6. Yiddle Riddle
3. How to Help			7. Public Domain
4. Hand Wave 
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___To Tell the Truth___

Michael Cavette <mcavette@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Why should we tell the truth?  I realize this sounds like a ridiculous 
question; we have all accepted that we should not lie.  I can find 
instructions to tell the truth, but I cannot find an explanation of why.  
Thank you for your time.  I look forward to your answer.

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

Dear Michael Cavette,

	Obviously you are talking about a lie that does not hurt anyone, 
where the only immorality is that it is not true.  Before we answer why you 
should tell the truth, let me ask another question.  Why are we here?  Why 
is there a world?

	This question is asked by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto in The Way of G-
d, and is also addressed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in Maggid Mesharim.  The gist 
of what they say is the following:  The purpose of Creation is kindness.  
G-d wants to bestow the greatest possible good upon us.  The ultimate and 
greatest good is G-d Himself, and therefore, the ultimate good is closeness 
to G-d.  Closeness to G-d requires compatibility and similarity to G-d.  
Therefore beings must have free will and not be created already similar, as 
this would be dissimilar to G-d (i.e., G-d acts because He chooses to do 
so, not because He is coerced).

	Therefore, we must be in a world in which there is choice so that we 
can try to be as "G-dlike" as possible.  The good has to be internal, not 
external, just as G-d is intrinsically good.  The only way to internalize 
and be intrinsically good is to do it through challenge and free will, and 
therefore this world was created.

	Now, G-d is perfect, which means He is the ultimate reality, i.e., 
True.  Lies, on the other hand, do not parallel reality; therefore, they 
distance us from the reality of G-d, make us incompatible and negate our 
relationship with Him.

Michael Cavette replies:

	Thank you so much for your answer.  I have asked this same question 
of Jesuit priests, theologians, Buddhist teachers, and ethicists, and you 
are the only one who was able or willing to answer it.  Kind regards.


___A Lot of Salt___

Joseph from Athens, Greece <jori@athens.mbn.gr> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

What is the symbolism of Edith, Lot's wife, becoming a pillar of salt?

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

Dear Joseph,

	The previous night Lot's wife  revealed to the inhabitants of Sodom 
that they had guests by asking one of the neighbors for salt to flavor the 
food that she prepared them. In Sodom it was forbidden to invite guests 
into one's house, and Lot's wife was perfectly aware that by asking for 
salt she was placing the lives of the guests in extreme danger.  After she 
looked back, even though she had been instructed not to, she received the 
punishment of being turned into a pillar of salt.

Sources:

* Midrash Rabbah, Genesis 51:5


___How to Help___

Jeff Nelson from Lenexa, KS <Mandella97@aol.com> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Recently a close friend of mine died in a car accident.  He was married 
only six months ago.  My friend was only 20 and his wife 19.  Neither is 
Jewish, and my friend was cremated.  This is the first time someone has 
died that not only did I know, but felt very close to.  Though neither he 
nor his family is Jewish, what is my duty as a Jew to do for them, and 
myself?

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

Dear Jeff Nelson,

	The death of a loved one is always very traumatic.  One is often 
confronted with a sense of helplessness and uselessness in the face of 
tragedy.  Our Torah requires us to offer kindness to any person, and 
comforting friends at a time of loss is a great mitzvah.  The best comfort 
you can offer to people at such a time is to be there for them.  If they 
want to talk, be there to listen.  If they want to be silent, be silent 
with them so that they are not alone.

	Don't just ask "what can I do to help?"  See what needs to be done 
and do it.  Perhaps they need food; perhaps there are errands that need to 
be run or other ways in which you can be useful.

	Often, after a few weeks have passed people forget about the mourners 
and go on with their lives.  The mourners still need to know that someone 
cares.  Be there for your friends when all the fuss is over and everyone 
has gone home.  May you and your friends know no more sorrow.

___Hand Wave___

Email@Withheld wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

I have noticed the custom that when ladies light candles Friday afternoon 
they wave their hands in front of their eyes (3 times I think) before they 
cover their eyes.  What is the reason and source of this custom to wave 
before making the blessing?  Thanking the Rabbi....

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

Dear Email@Withheld,

	The basic idea is that one shouldn't benefit from the Shabbat candles 
until after saying the proper blessing.  Thus, those who say the blessing 
after lighting should hold their hands up to block the light until after 
saying the blessing.  If you light many candles and can't block all the 
flames by simply holding up your hands, you should cover your eyes.

	The "Noheg Katzon Yosef" (first printed in 1718) mentions the custom 
to make a circle around the candles with the hands before reciting the 
blessing; however, the reasons for this circling are unclear.

Sources:

* Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 263:5 -- Rema
* Aruch Hashulchan (ibid.)


___Falling Leaves___

Name@Withheld wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

I would appreciate any help which the Rabbi can give as regards to the 
following point:  When a specific leaf falls off a tree or a specific 
animal is killed by another animal, is there a specific reason or decree 
why that specific leaf fell?  Or is there such a thing as natural 
occurrences which are random and uncontrolled?  I would appreciate any 
information and sources that discuss and explain this philosophical point 
which touches on "bechira" (free choice), etc., and thank you in advance.  
Best regards.

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

Dear Name@Withheld,

	The view that certain events are not individually guided is a view 
that is accepted by Maimonides in the Guide for the Perplexed, and also by 
Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno in his commentary on Chumash.  They maintain that the 
degree of individual Divine Providence is directly proportional to the 
spirituality and G-dliness of the being.  Hence, animals and plants have 
Providence only on a species level.

	The exception would be when the animal or plant interacts with a 
human being, then there is guidance.  For example, the apple falling near 
Sir Isaac Newton is Divine Providence, whereas an apple falling off a tree 
in Cortland NY with no human around is a result of the laws of nature that 
G-d created.

	Others, principally the Kabbalists and the Chassidic thinkers, 
maintain that absolutely everything is a matter of individual Divine 
Providence.

	This argument may not be as extreme as it sounds:  Perhaps the 
Kabbalists agree in principle with Maimonides' concept, however they 
disagree in that they maintain that everything interacts with humanity on 
some level, and that even a very subtle and low level interaction with 
humans requires Divine Providence.

	Regarding how there could be an argument in this area: Just as in any 
area of Torah, different minds see things differently, and as long as they 
use Torah sources and methodology they are both "the words of the living 
G-d."

===========================================================================

Yiddle Riddle

Rabbi R.Y. Eisenman from Passaic NJ <RYE613@aol.com> wrote:

I would like to submit a Yiddle Riddle:  What letter from the Aleph Beis is 
missing from the Bircas Hamazon and why?  Thank you for your wonderful work 
for the klal (community).

* Answer next week...

===========================================================================

The Public Domain

Comments, quibbles, and reactions 
concerning previous "Ask-the-Rabbi" features

Re:  Five Shema Yiddle Riddle (www.ohrnet.org/ask/ask223.htm#YR):

	In a recent Yiddle Riddle (Ohrnet Bo), we asked:  "One Friday evening 
recently, I said the first paragraph of shema five times, and each time it 
was for a different reason.  How did this occur?"  Here are some readers' 
responses that differed from our answer:


	You can read the first verse of shema again in another case:   On the 
night of Simchat Torah, before we take out the sefer Torah we say the first 
verse of shema.

* Zvi Shavit <zvi@hadassah.org.il>


	Someone came knocking at the door that the sefer Torah needed to be 
checked, so he read through the Parsha again.

* Y. Benyowitz <Yahud@juno.com>


	Your Yiddle Riddle regarding the recitation of shema five times for 
five different reasons had a whole corner of our shul in a debate after 
shacharis on a recent Shabbos.  The conversation went something like this:  
"No, it says a `recent' Friday eve;" "No, no, it says `eve', not 
afternoon;" "This isn't a Rashba, you can't be m'dayik (be so exacting in) 
every word!"  Anyway, we came up with another reason one might say shema at 
night.  If there was a bris the next day, the custom is to say shema the 
night before, for extra shmira and protection.

	Yasher cochacha.  My family gets great enjoyment from Ohrnet every 
week.

* Gershon Minkow <minkow@alpha.netvision.net.il>


	The Talmud (Megillah 3a) says:  "If one is frightened, but does not 
know why, then his "mazal" saw something [frightening].  What should he do?  
He should read the shema."  And if someone's "yetzer hara" (evil 
inclination) is overpowering him, then he should say the shema.  Also, if 
he thought that he was about to die, he would read the shema.

* A Jew in Richmond <richseed@juno.com>

**********

Wow for Ohrnet:


	Thank you Ohrnet for your prompt reply to my question.  Wow.  I 
thoroughly enjoy your teachings and lessons.  Often the "typed" word loses 
something; however, you have a way that explains things in such a nice way.  
Thank you again.

* Veronica <norske@webtv.net>

**********

Tu B'Shvat Special: (www.ohrnet.org/special/tubshvat/index.htm)

	Thank you for your Tu B'shvat special.  You're right, as usual.  It 
was special.

* Pesia Bernstein <sidney@netvision.net.il>

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