Ask The Rabbi 
20 March 1999
Issue #231
Parshat Vayikra
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This publication is available in HTML format at 
http://www.ohr.org.il/ask/ask231.htm 
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Researched at Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem 
This Issue Contains: 
1. A Slave Nation		5. Angelic Names
2. Sephardi Sources		6. Yiddle Riddle
3. Assisted Suicide Law		7. Public Domain
4. Who's Blessing Whom?
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___A Slave Nation___

Professor William Small, U. of Maine, Orono, ME <wsmall@maine.maine.edu> 
wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

A student came to me the other day with the following question in reference 
to Genesis 15:13:  "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a 
land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them 
400 years."  The young man is a Russian Jew who has become very interested 
in Judaism and is trying very hard to understand things from a Jewish 
perspective.  Perhaps you would be willing to send me an opinion on this 
passage?  He was very disturbed by it, commenting that he could not 
understand how G-d would willingly allow his people to be enslaved for 400 
years.  I would very much appreciate an answer from one of your rabbis on 
this.  Many thanks.

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

Dear Professor William Small,

	The purpose of this enslavement was for the establishment of the 
Jewish nation.  Age-old Jewish philosophy states that there can't be an 
existence without a previous nihilo, like a plant that cannot grow before 
the seed decays.

	First of all, the communal suffering caused solidarity and love 
between people sharing the same fate.

	Second, the enslavement was the catalyst for the salvation and the 
great miracles of the Exodus that brought about the belief in one 
omnipotent G-d and based the Jewish faith.

	Third, the generations of physical work caused a national hunger for 
spirituality which enabled them to receive with vigor the entire Jewish law 
at the Sinai revelation.

	Fourth, dwelling in Egypt, the cradle of ancient culture, the Jewish 
nation learned and excelled in the sciences and the professions of the era, 
which helped them build up the Promised Land.


___Sephardi Sources___

Jo Anne Crowson from California <jamc1907@succeed.net> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Shalom!  Can you please give me some information on the origins and history 
of Sephardic Jews?  Though I am not Jewish, I enjoy your posts, and think 
you have a delightful sense of humor!  Blessings and thanks.

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

Dear Jo Anne Crowson,

	After the Destruction of the First Temple, around 450 BCE, the Jews 
were exiled to Babylon (modern day Iraq).  After the 70-year exile many 
returned.

	However, the majority of the Jews did not return, preferring Babylon 
instead.  The Jews in Israel were again exiled in 70 CE, this time by the 
Romans.  The Roman exile created communities in Europe and North Africa.  
The European communities were mainly in France, Spain and Rome, some in 
Germany as well.  The Jews in France and Germany became known as Ashkenazim 
(Hebrew for "Germans") and the Jews in Spain became known as Sephardim 
(Hebrew for "Spaniards").  The Jews in Spain, which for hundreds of years 
was under Arab rule, had connection and communication with the Jews of 
North Africa and the Middle East, and hence all the Jews of these lands 
became known as Sephardim. Differences in custom developed over many years; 
some had their origin in halachic disputes among the Rabbis of the various 
communities, and some in outside cultural influences. 


___Assisted Suicide Law___

Jonathan from Grand Rapids, MI <Modelcov@aol.com> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

We vote here Tuesday.  There is an "assisted suicide" proposal on 
Michigan's ballot this year.  I know it's not right, but it's hard to say 
it's wrong.  People really do suffer so terribly much at the end of certain 
terrible diseases.  A guy was telling me the other day how much his mother 
suffered, although medication provided some relief.  Your comments, dear 
Rabbi, are welcome; before Tuesday would be nice.

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

Dear Jonathan,

	It is forbidden to commit suicide.  G-d told this to Noach by saying, 
"Even your own blood, that of your own lives, will I demand (accountability 
for)" (Bereishet 9:5).  Our unbroken tradition explains that this was a 
prohibition against suicide and that it is part of the "Seven Noachide 
Laws."

	The idea is basically this:  A person's life isn't "his" -- rather, 
it belongs to the One who created it, G-d.  Therefore, only its true Owner 
may reclaim it.  Despite one's noble intentions, "mercy-killing" is an 
intervention into a forbidden domain.  This does not mean that one should 
be lax about relieving the person's pain.  			

Now, among the laws that G-d gave Noach was a command to set up 
courts to enforce these "Seven Noachide Laws."  Therefore, the "assisted-
suicide law" can't be considered merely a "privacy-of-your-own-home" issue, 
because society as a whole is responsible to enforce the Noachide laws.  
Therefore, the right thing to do is to vote against assisted suicides.  
Voting for them, or staying home on Election Day, would be helping people 
to transgress.

	There are other considerations that are beyond the scope of this 
column, such as passive/active intervention, and the exact definition of 
death.  For these and related topics, see the list of sources below.

Sources: 

* Practical Medical Halacha - Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists," 
Feldheim Publishing
* Medical Halacha for Everyone," Abraham S. Abraham, Feldheim Publishing
* Jewish Ethics and Halacha for Our Time," Basil F. Herring, Ktav 
Publishing
* Judaism and Healing," J. David Bleich, Ktav Publishing 


___Who's Blessing Whom?___

Daniel Haruni of Toronto & Herzelia <dharuni@netvision.net.il> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

What is the meaning of "baruch" in the prayers?  If it is to bless, then 
what does it mean when we mere mortals say "Baruch ata Hashem? -- Blessed 
are You Hashem."  How can we bestow blessings on Him who is the source of 
all blessings?

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

Dear Daniel Haruni,

	The Rashba, Rabbi Solomon ben Abraham Aderet (Barcelona, Spain, 1235-
1310), was asked this question.  He explained that "baruch" means "He is 
the Source of all blessing."

Sources:

* Responsa of the Rashba 5:51


___Angelic Names___

David Levy <dlevy@ee.usyd.edu.au> wrote:

Dear Rabbi

Our group were chatting about angels, their names and their functions or 
duties.  Where can I find out the names of angels and what they do?  Could 
you tell me some of their names?  Thank you.

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

Dear David Levy,

	The Hebrew word for angel is malach, which means messenger, angelos 
in Greek.  According to traditional Jewish sources, angels are the powers 
which fulfill the will of G-d.

	Our Sages say there are four angels who allegorically accompany man 
and protect him.  Michael on his right, Gabriel on his left, Oriel in front 
of him, and Rafael from behind.  The idea is that there are four "fields" 
in which one needs continuous help, and man receives this help via certain 
channels by which G-d conducts the occurrences in this world.

	Michael, "Mi Cael -- who is like the merciful G-d?" is the 
representative of the attribute of mercy.  Gabriel -- "my strength is G-d" 
--  represents the attribute of power and judgment; they are therefore on 
the right and left respectively.  Oriel -- "my light is G-d," represents 
the attribute of knowledge by which man wishes to know what lies ahead and 
how to act accordingly; thus, Oriel "stands before" a man to show him the 
way.  Rafael -- "my healer is G-d" -- is the attribute by which G-d heals 
any ill which befalls a man; that is why he "stands behind" man.

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

Yiddle Riddle

D. Kurtz <dkurtz@internet-zahav.net> wrote:

	In Bereishet 24:28, Rivka is asked if she is prepared to go with 
Avraham's servant, and she responds in the affirmative.  Rashi says that 
she is saying that she will go even if her mother and brother are opposed.  
Commentators on Rashi say that this is derived from the fact that she 
answers:  "I will go!" instead of a simple "Yes."  Of course, this only 
makes sense if there is somewhere in Scripture that we actually do find the 
usage of "Yes" in response to a question.  The question is, do we find in 
the Torah a word meaning "Yes?"  (The word "ken" appears many times in the 
Torah, as in "ken b'not tzeldovrot" and "Lo ta'asun ken," but not with its 
modern meaning of "Yes.")

Answer:

	In Bereishet 30:34 Lavan says to Ya'akov:  "Hen."  Rashi explain this 
as "lashon kabalat devarim," "Yes" in English.  This is an Aramaic word 
which we would have expected Lavan's sister, Rivka to use in answer to the 
question of whether or not she was prepared to go.

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


Re:  Root Riddle (www.ohrnet.org/ask/ask227.htm#YR):

	My name is Shira Grossman from Jerusalem.  In the Yiddle Riddle for 
Parshas Teruma, Catriel Blum from Toronto asked:  "What verse in the Torah 
contains the same root four times in a row?"  In addition to your answer 
(Bamidbar, 4;47),  I found another verse:  "Shofech dam ha'adam, ba'adam 
damo yishafech -- Whoever spills the blood (dam) of man (adam), by man 
(adam) his blood (dam) shall be spilled" (Bereshis 9:6). (This assumes that 
the word adam is from the root word `dam.')  Thanks for your riddle.

* Shira Grossman, Jerusalem <davidg@mofet.macam98.ac.il>

**********

Re:  Top Ten (www.ohrnet.org/humor/top10/topten,htm):

	I just read the Ohr Somayach top ten lists, and am practically in 
tears from laughing -- especially from the top ten reasons to become an 
orthodox Jew.

* <email@withheld> 

**********

Re:  Ask Archives (www.ohrnet.org/ask/page/ask.htm):

	I find the commentary in your archived "Ask the Rabbi" material 
fascinating.  Such as the existence of certain pareve "milk" sources.  I 
hadn't known there was such a thing as almond milk, although, of course, I 
am familiar with coconut milk that I assume has the same status.

	Speaking of which, there is the story, true, of the fabulous kosher 
dinner served in a Chicago hotel under the supervision of a famed glatt 
kosher caterer.  The caterer was congratulated by an attendee after the 
affair was complete, who said, "Your dessert was fabulous; how did you do 
it?  It tasted so much like ice cream!"  The caterer responded, "The 
dessert was ice cream.  But don't worry.  The chicken...it wasn't chicken."  
Thank you again for your work.  Shalom.

* Barry D Bayer <bbayernn@counsel.com>

**********

Re:  Pyramids:

	I learned something the other day and I am anxious to share it "with 
the world."  Contrary to illustrations in innumerable Haggadot, the Jews in 
Egypt did not participate in building the pyramids. Pyramids were built 
during the Old Kingdom about 2600 B.C.E. the departure from Egypt occurred 
during the New Kingdom about 1300 B.C.E. The Torah says the Hebrews built 
storehouse cities.

* Edward Simon<esimon@bilbo.bio.purdue.edu>

**********

Re:  "Concerning the Jews" (www.ohrnet.org/judaism/concern/concer00.htm):

	The cartoon "Concerning the Jews" on your website was the cutest, and 
truest expression of Judaism I have ever seen.  It was brilliant!  The 
final quotation pretty much sums it all up: "Sometimes it doesn't matter if 
you're leading or being chased.  Either way, the one in front chooses the 
direction."  Congratulations once again, on bringing obscure Jewish 
concepts to earth.

* Yosef Ashenberg <YosefAshenberg@torahworld.net>
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