OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI
Issue #281 July 8, 2000 / 5 Tammuz 5760
Parshat Korach / Chukat (in Israel)
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In this issue:
JEWS IN JULY
TZIM-TZUM
WHO KNOWS 21?
PUBLIC DOMAIN

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JEWS IN JULY

From: Name@Withheld

  Dear Rabbi,
  I know that there are blessings to say in honor of certain non-
  religious things, such as meeting a great secular scholar or seeing
  the king of a non-Jewish state.  With this in mind, I was wondering
  if there is a Jewish way to celebrate the American Independence Day
  on the 4th of July.

Dear Name@Withheld,
Being from England, I am not quite sure why you want to celebrate a
day that commemorates the end of English rule...to each his own!
Having said that, there is no doubt that the Jews in America have much
to be thankful for.  America today is a place of calm where it is
possible for the Jewish community to live in peace and to continue
their Jewish life unhindered.

On the other hand, our Sages point out that tranquillity is not always
positive.  In America, along with the tremendous growth in Jewish life
and institutions of Jewish education, there has been in many
communities the most terrible "relaxation" of Judaism to the point
that millions of Jews are so relaxed about their heritage that they
are almost comatose.

So, how should a Jew in the United States approach the 4th of July?  I
think it would be very appropriate to take a little time for
introspection, to think about how a Jew should use the freedom which
was unavailable to so many of our ancestors.  And, after having begun
the day in the correct way (praying and studying Torah), it would
quite acceptable to celebrate in the traditional fashion -- fly the
flag, go on a picnic with family and friends...

And remember:  Fireworks are dangerous; be careful!

* Thanks to Rabbi Eliya Green for preparation of this answer.

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TZIM-TZUM

From: Dr. Auriel ibn Michell in El Paso,Texas
<rcombs01@elp.rr.com>

  Dear Rabbi,
  I am curious about the concept of tzimtzum in the creation of the
  physical/spiritual universe.  If G-d can constrict Himself to make
  room for creation, why can He not also use the same concept to
  become a man, a rock, or an angel?

Dear Dr. Auriel ibn Michell,
Your question is based on understanding tzimtzum to mean constricting,
that G-d drew inward and made room for the universe.  Unfortunately
this is a common misconception.

Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner, in his book Nefesh Hachayim, specifically
states that this is not the meaning in our context of tzimtzum; rather
it means "hiding."  He cites examples where the word tzimtzum means
hidden and hiding.

The idea is that from G-d's vantage point, nothing exists besides G-d,
and nothing can exist, because He must will it into existence.  So in
essence everything is just a manifestation of G-d.  I imagine it as if
the characters in your dreams would perceive themselves as real.
Tzimtzum is a hiding of G-d that enables a creation that "feels" as if
it has an independent existence.

The Nefesh Hachayim states that we cannot, and should not, try to
delve into understanding the nature of tzimtzum, or G-d before
tzimtzum.

This is an example of how studying books of kabbala can cause harm.
Kabbala is easily misunderstood, which can lead to believing in a
corporeal G-d.  It can bring a person to not performing mitzvot if he
understands that we do not really exist and the whole Torah is just a
hiding of the "real" reality.  Or it can be taken to the other
extreme, that if G-d is equal everywhere, as in before Tzimtzum, then
there can be no difference between holy and unholy things and places,
because all existence is really G-d himself.  This can lead people to
incorrect behavior, as Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner bemoans in his work.


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WHO KNOWS 21?

In the song at the end of the Pesach Seder we describe the
significance of the numbers from one to 13 as they relate to Jewish
life and thought:  "Three are the fathers, Four are the Mothers...12
are
the Tribes of Israel..." What about the next 13 numbers?  And after
those?  What significance do they have in Jewish tradition?

This week we challenge you to answer:

"Who knows 21?"

Write to <info@ohr.org.il>

Here are some reader responses regarding previous numbers:

Lag Baomer is the 18th of Iyar.  People often give charity in
multiples of "18," as 18 is gematria of Chai (life).  And finally, on
the 18th of Av, 18 years ago, I came to Israel from Argentina.  I made
"aliya!"
                                      R.J.
                                      <RaffiAs@shaam.gov.il>

18 is the number of times G-d's name is mentioned in shema (Berachot
28b).
                                      Chezkie Mark, Staten Island , NY
                                      <mark@ateret.org>

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

RE:  JEWISH RULE AT THE KOTEL (http://www.ohr.org.il/ask/ask275.htm#Q2
& http://www.ohr.org.il/ask/ask278.htm#PD):
Recently, a reader commented that photos of the 1967 liberation of the
Kotel (Western Wall) showed no mechitza (partition).  You responded
that we can't make inferences regarding Jewish practice based on that
period, because "for approximately the last 1900 years, up until 1967,
the Kotel was not under Jewish rule.

Even though it wasn't "under Jewish rule," there were times when we
were allowed to act as rulers, notably when Julian the Apostate gave
permission to rebuild the Temple in 363.  And literary sources point
to Jewish religious practices including prayer, Tisha B'Av customs and
reciting of special piyutim (prayer poems) both on the Temple Mount
and at various surrounding locations.  Other locations along the
Western Wall, the Southern Wall and the Eastern Wall served as prayer
sites too.

More to the point, even if there were no mechitzot in those pictures,
as everyone can see the men and the women prayed separately.
                                      Yisrael Medad
                                      <yisraelm@israelwire.com>

JUST WHAT SHE NEEDED:
Hello.  I would like to say that your web page is just what I need in
learning more about what I didn't know growing up!  I was raised
Jewish and Protestant and didn't learn much about either religion.  I
have started to learn for the past couple of years and I must say that
I wish I knew about this web page years ago!  Sincerely, Adina
                                      Amy Coleman
                                      <adinac@student.umass.edu>

RE:  SIMCHA'S TORAH STORIES:
(http://www.ohr.org.il/youth/simcha/index.htm)
Yes, school is out, and again todah & yasharkoach (Thank You!) for the
great help you gave to me to give your "Simcha Torah Stories" to my
kindergarten class.  What a way to bring such lovely Torah ideas to
those pitskelach kids, I cannot thank you enough!  May Hashem give you
health, you did bring happiness and WOW!!!  They really always waited
for your stories, but of course I did too.  Shalom and see you again
in September with the help of Hashem.
                                      Blineder@aol.com

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