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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Technical problems kept the past month’s
posts from reaching email subscribers. My apologies for both the delay, and this
long resulting email.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>-Micha<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-weight:bold'><a href="http://www.aishdas.org/asp"
title="Link to original website"><span style='line-height:100%'>Aspaqlaria</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
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style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#888888;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
border:none;padding:0in'><b><font size=5 color="#888888" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#888888;font-weight:bold'>Current
Feed Content<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:51.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=black face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span dir=LTR><b><font size=4
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Aspaqlaria/~3/175499975/angry-at-g-d.shtml">Angry
at G-d</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.25pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:4.5pt;margin-left:51.0pt'><font size=2 color="#333333"
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#333333'>Posted:
</span></font><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#666666'>Tue, 30 Oct 2007
20:59:04 -0500<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>A
friend of mine wrote this morning about his three experiences with cancer in
his immediate family. He was equipped to handle his wife’s bout, abut by
the time he had to deal with it for the third time, he tells me that all he
felt was anger, anger at G-d. His </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>tefillos</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> that Rosh haShanah he describes as
mechanically filling the obligation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
this week’s </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>parashah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, Avraham famously riles at Hashem. Upon being told of
Hashem’s plans to destroy the five towns of the <st1:City w:st="on">Sodom</st1:City>
plains, Avraham takes it for granted that there must be </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>someone</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> there worth saving, other than his
nephew <st1:place w:st="on">Lot</st1:place> and his family. “<span
lang=HE dir=RTL>äÇàÇó
úÌÄñÀôÌÆä, öÇãÌÄé÷</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE><span dir=LTR></span> <span dir=RTL>òÄí-øÈùÑÈò</span></span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span>? Would You even sweep away the righteous
person with the evil one?” (18:23) And so it goes for the next two </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>pesuqim</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, when Avraham still assumes there are
50 people among the five cities who are worth saving. Now, admittedly, he
immediately catches himself when he realizes that the assumption was wrong. And
Avraham </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>avinu </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>uses less confrontational language during the rest of his attempt
negotiation. “<span lang=HE dir=RTL>åÇéÌÇòÇï
àÇáÀøÈäÈí, åÇéÌÉàîÇø
‘äÄðÌÅä-ðÈà</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE><span dir=LTR></span> <span dir=RTL>äåÉàÇìÀúÌÄé
ìÀãÇáÌÅø àÆì-ä’,
åÀàÈðÉëÄé
òÈôÈø
åÈàÅôÆø</span></span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR></span>’ — Here, please, I have presumed to speak to
Hashem, and I am but sand and ashes.” (v. 27) But that first outburst is
recorded, and we are never told it was wrong on Avraham’s part.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Doesn’t
Moshe </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>rabbeinu</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, the most humble man in history, express anger at Hashem when he
says “If You would, forgive their sin; and if not, please erase me from
the book You have written” (Shemos 32:32)?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>It
would seem that there is an appropriate time for anger. When someone hears of
something that seems like a great wrong, it would be insensitive of him not to
respond with outrage. Although it’s interesting to note that in both
examples, the injustice would have been aimed at a third party. There is no
personal motive in either case. And Hashem even lauds examples of where that
anger is directed at Him!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Anger
is part of any relationship. We are called into partnership with Him in
finishing His creation — of the world, of ourselves, even of expounding
the Torah. Can a human being participate in a successful partnership without
ever feeling angry at their partner? Marriages are not built on avoiding
fighting, but on learning how and when to fight productively.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>When
someone gets angry at Hashem for something that happens to them, there are a
number of positive assumptions motivating that anger.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>By
getting angry one is participating in a personal connection to the Creator.
Hashem is real, I am relating to Him. He is the Cause of something I
didn’t want to happen. If as part of a healthy relationship, it could be
a positive thing. Far more troubling would be the distance from Hashem implied
by apathy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>After
all, we are the Benei Yisrael. How did we get the name Yisrael? Because Yaaqov </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>avinu</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> battled an angel, and the angel
responded: “<span lang=HE dir=RTL>åÇéÌÉàîÆø</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span>, ‘<span lang=HE dir=RTL>ìÉà
éÇòÂ÷Éá
éÅàÈîÅø òåÉã
ùÑÄîÀêÈ–ëÌÄé,
àÄí-éÄùÒÀøÈàÅì;
ëÌÄé-ùÒÈøÄéúÈ</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE><span dir=LTR></span> <span dir=RTL>òÄí-àÁ-ìÉäÄéí
åÀòÄí-àÂðÈùÑÄéí,
åÇúÌåÌëÈì</span></span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span>’ — And he said, ‘No
longer will they call you Yaaqov, but rather Yisrael; for you have struggled
with G-d and with people, and succeeded.’”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Anger
at G-d may seem inappropriate. But not being motivated to struggle with our
unanswerable questions about His Actions is far, far worse.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:51.0pt;
line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=1dax6RA"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=72 height=24 id="_x0000_i1126"
src="cid:image001.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=x6bwt5A"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=111 height=24 id="_x0000_i1127"
src="cid:image002.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:51.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=black face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span dir=LTR><b><font size=4
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Aspaqlaria/~3/175499977/anger-and-the-golden-mean.shtml">Anger
and the Golden Mean</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.25pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:4.5pt;margin-left:51.0pt'><font size=2 color="#333333"
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#333333'>Posted:
</span></font><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#666666'>Tue, 30 Oct 2007
20:57:49 -0500<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>(I
invite people to visit my analysis of the Orchos Tzadiqim’s psychological
model. Among the points I discuss is the relationship between </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>dei’os</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> and </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>middos</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. In painful brevity: a </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>dei’ah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> is a feature of one’s psyche
— which in turn is something performed by the soul. All people have the
same set of </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>dei’os</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>. A </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>middah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, which literally means measure, is the dimensions it assumes in a
particular person’s makeup. I believe the Rambam uses the term </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>dei’ah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> in this sense.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>When
it comes to anger, the question of whether one should seek the middle path is
more complex. The Rambam’s Hilkhos Dei’os seems to contradict
itself — which is impossible, given the attention he paid every word in
the code. A contradiction in two adjacent chapters is beyond unlikely. So the
question is finding the subtle nuance that distinguishes the two laws.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Emanuel
O’Levy allowed Jon Baker to place <a
href="http://www.panix.com/%E7jjbaker/rambam.html" target="_blank"><b><span
style='line-height:130%;font-weight:bold'>his colloquial translation of the
first three books of Maimonides’ code</span></b></a> on line. So, even
though it’s a far looser translation than I’d like, it’s
available for easy cut-n-paste so I’m using it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>From
Chapter I:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>3)
There are two opposite extremes to each and every temperament (</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>dei’ah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>), one of which will not be a good
mannerism and which is not fitting to follow or to teach to oneself. If one
finds that one’s nature is tending to one of these temperaments or is
being directed by one of them, or that one has already learnt about it and
accustomed oneself to it, then one should return to good and go in the ways of
good - this is the way of the upright.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>4)
The way of the upright is [to adopt] the intermediate characteristic of each
and every temperament that people have. This is the characteristic that is
equidistant from the two extremes of the temperament of which it is a
characteristic, and is not closer to either of the extremes. Therefore, the
first Sages commanded that one’s temperaments should always be such, and
that one should postulate on them and direct them along the middle way, in
order that one will have a perfect body. How is this done? One should not be of
an angry disposition and be easily angered, nor should one be like a dead
person who does not feel, but one should be in the middle - one should not get
angry except over a big matter about which it is fitting to get angry, so that
one will not act similarly again. Likewise, one should not have lust except for
those things which the body needs and without which cannot survive, as it is
written, “The righteous eat to satisfy his soul”. Similarly, one
should not labour at one’s business, but one should obtain what one needs
on an hourly basis, as it is written, “A little that a righteous man has
is better, et cetera”. Nor should one be miserly or wasteful with
one’s money, but one should give charity according to what one can spare,
and lend as fitting to whoever needs. One should not be [excessively] praised
or merry, and nor should one be sorrowful or miserable, but one should be happy
for all one’s days in satisfaction and with a pleasant expression on
one’s face. One should apply a similar principle to the other
temperaments - this is the way of the wise.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>5)
Any man whose temperaments are intermediate is called wise. One who is
particular with himself and moves away from the middle ways to either extreme
is called pious. What does this mean? One who distances himself from pride by
moving to its complete opposite of meekness is called pious, for this is a
characteristic of piety. But if he distances himself only half-way and becomes
humble he is called wise, for this is a characteristic of wisdom. The first
pious people kept their temperaments from the middle ways and towards one of
the extremes - one temperament they would bias one way, and another the other
way [and as appropriate], but this is going beyond what the law requires.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>6)
We are commanded to go in these middle ways, the good and upright ways, as it
is written, “And walk in His ways, et cetera”. As an explanation of
this commandment, we have learnt that just as God shows mercy so also should we
show mercy, that just as God is merciful so also should we be merciful, and
that just as God is holy so also should we be holy. It was with this in mind
that the first Prophets called the Almighty with the Attributes of:
long-suffering, magnanimous, righteous, upright, faultless, mighty, strong, et
cetera, in order to make it known that these are good and upright ways, and
that one is obligated to accustom oneself to them, and to make one’s ways
as similar to them as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>7)
How should one regulate oneself with these temperaments so that one is directed
by them? One should do, change one and change one’s actions which one
does according to the intermediate temperaments and always go back over them,
until such actions are easy for one to do and will not be troublesome for one,
and until such temperaments are fixed in one’s soul. This way is known as
the way of the Lord, for the reasons that the Creator has been called by them
and that they are the intermediate characteristics which we are obligated to
adopt. This is what Abraham taught his sons, as it is written, “For I
know him, that he will command his children, et cetera”. One who goes in
this way will bring upon himself good and blessings, as it is written,
“…that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of
him”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>So,
using the terminology I suggested, the Rambam is saying that the Chakham should
aspire for </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>middos</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> in which each </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>dei’ah</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> is at the middle point between the
extremes. The key tool recommended (so far) for doing so is habituation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>It
also seems that this middle is not only being described as half of each
conflicting </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>dei’ah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, but a mixture, a synthesis, of both. So that a person is using
all of the skills given to him as an image of G-d.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>From
Chapter II:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>3)
There are some intermediate temperaments which one is forbidden to have, but
one should adopt one of the extremities of such temperaments. One of these is
the temperament of haughtiness. It is not good [enough] for one to be just
modest, but one should be meek, and one’s spirits should be low. Therefore,
concerning Moses our Teacher it is written, “…very meek”, and
not just, “meek”. Therefore, the Sages commanded that one should be
very meek. They said further that anyone who raises his spirits is denying the
essence, as it is written, “…then your heart be lifted up and you
forget the Lord your God”. They also said that all those with haughty
airs should be excommunicated, even if they are only slightly haughty. It is
the same with anger, which is an extremely bad temperament and from which it is
fitting for one to distance oneself as far as its opposite extreme. One should
teach oneself not to get angry, even over something about which it would be
normal to get angry. If one wanted to instill fear in one’s sons or
members of one’s household, or in the community if one was their leader,
and one wants to be angry at them in order that they will return to the good
[ways], then one should show them that one is being angry at them just to
correct them, and, when displaying such anger, one should bear in mind that one
is like a man who is similar to being angry, and that one is not really angry.
The first Sages said that if one is angry, it is as if one has worshiped idols.
They also said that when a man gets angry, then if he was wise his wisdom
leaves him, and if he was a prophet his prophecy leaves him, and that the life
of angry people is not [really] a life. Therefore, they commanded us to
distance ourselves from anger until one is accustomed to not getting any angry
feelings at even annoying things. This is the good way. The way of the
righteous is to be humble without being humbled, not to answer back when
disgraced, to do things out of love and to be joyous in suffering. Scripture
says about them, “…but let them who love Him be as the sun when it
comes out in its might”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Rambam appears to be contractictin himself. In 1:4, he advises “one
should not get angry except over a big matter about which it is fitting to get
angry.” But in chapter two , anger is comparable to idolatry, and to be
avoided in all circumstances!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Lechem Mishnah understands the Rambam to be recommending the Middle Path in all
cases. However, since anger and egotism are so dangerous, one end of the
spectrum is far more hazardous than the other. Therefore, the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Chassid</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> chooses to err on the side of caution,
and lean toward avoiding them rather than stay in the ideal, the middle. The
Lechem Mishnah makes a linguistic note. By most </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>dei’os</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, the Rambam refers to pursuing the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>beinonis</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. But here the middle is described as </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>emtza’is</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — it is not the middle distance
between both extremes, but the mean taking into account the severity of either
side. This distinction is the point of chapter 2.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Rav
Moshe Feinstein (Igeros Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:54) explains the seeming
contradiction differently. The Rambam’s apparently conflicting advice
parallels that of our sages.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
Ta’anis 4, the gemara declares that any </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>talmid chakham</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> who is not as tough as iron is no </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>talmid chakham</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. However, in Pirqei Avos (5:11) we are
told that a </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>chassid</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> is “difficult to anger and easy to appease.”
According to Rabbein Gershom Me’or haGolah, the advice is as follows. If
a teacher believes he is right and stands up and fights for his position, but
then backs down, people will assume he wasn’t as sure as he claimed or
realized he was wrong, and is using the anger to mask his incompetence. He will
thereby cause people not to follow the truth, his original position, and it
will lead them to dismiss his wisdom in the future. And thus, we till not be
seen as a teacher (”he is no </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>talmid chakham</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“). In Avos, it’s discussing the
case of someone who actually made an obvious error. And therefore it would be
wrong to become angry and defend his error. Anyone who sees him stand up for
the truth above his own honor would realize, and think more of him.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Similarly,
Rav Moshe understands the Rambam 1:4 as speaking of getting angry over
important matters, so that his display and attitude prevent their repetition.
However, when one can’t readily see the error, the anger just seems inane
and doesn’t help anyone. In this case, one should follow the advice in
chapter 2, and avoid anger.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Unfortunately,
I was unable to satisfy my own frustration at understanding the Rambam since I
couldn’t fit either suggestion into his words.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Rambam’s exact words in 2:3 are “<span lang=HE dir=RTL>àìà
éúøç÷ òã ä÷öä
äàçø</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span>
— but he should distance himself until the other extreme”. Not
“</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>el</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> -
toward”, but “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>ad</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> - until”. That makes it hard for me to embrace the Lechem
Mishnah’s interpretation that the Rambam was saying that one finds an </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>emtza</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, weighted average based on the evil of
anger or egotism even when compared to the opposite extremes. And with respect
to modesty, the Rambam even writes “<span lang=HE dir=RTL>îàåã
îàåã äåé ùôì
øåç</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span> —
be of very very low ego.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Rav
Moshe’s position assumes that the two are discussing different
situations. When anger is productive, in standing up for something right that
others may not otherwise realize is important, then one needs the middle path.
But when someone makes a mistake, standing up for one’s error is
misplaced, and therefore one should avoid anger in the extreme. However, the
Rambam discusses general advice, what should be someone’s approach to the
</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>dei’ah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> in general. In one chapter, follow G-d and assume the middle/synthesis.
In the other, avoid anger altogether because it’s tantamount to idolatry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>A
possible resolution that seemed more straightforward to me is suggested by the
Rambam’s words (also from 1:4). Obviously, advice about how to be a good
Jew carries more weight when informed by the Lechem Mishnah’s knowledge
or Rav Moshe’s, but this is how one person naively read the
Rambam’s approach(es) to anger:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Any
man whose temperaments are intermediate is called wise. One who is particular
with himself and moves away from the middle ways to either extreme is called
pious. What does this mean? One who distances himself from pride by moving to
its complete opposite of meekness is called pious, for this is a characteristic
of piety. But if he distances himself only half-way and becomes humble he is
called wise, for this is a characteristic of wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Maimonides
is defining two possible paths: the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Chakham</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> (Wise), and the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Chassid </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>(Pious). Both laudable ideals. In the
majority of chapter 1, he addresses the path he himself took, that of the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Chakham</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — finding the middle. In chapter
2, when he discusses modesty he clearly describes the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Chassid</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> approach. It would seem the same would
be true of his discussion of anger in chapter 2.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>(Similarly,
the gemara in Ta’anis speaks of the iron-strength of the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>talmid chakham</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, whereas the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> in Avos describes the person as a </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>chassid</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Another
possibility is that chapter 2 isn’t focusing on an ideal, but rather on
how to cure a defect in one’s </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>middos</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. From the previous law in that chapter:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>2)
How do they cure? They tell someone who is of an angry disposition to establish
himself, and that if he is hit or cursed he should not react, and he should
follow this way until his angry disposition has left him. If he was haughty, he
should subject himself to a lot of disgrace and sit low down, and should dress
in torn rags which are a discredit to normal clothes, and do similar things
until his haughtiness has left him and he returns to the middle way, which is
the good way. Once he has returned to the middle way he should follow it for
the rest of his life. Other temperaments should be treated in this manner - if
one was far over to one extreme, one should move oneself to the other extreme
and accustom oneself to it for a long time, until one has returned to the good
way, which is the intermediate characteristic that each and every temperament
has.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Contrast
that to the advice in 1:6, that the person “is obligated to accustom
oneself to them” and 1:7, “One should do, change one and change
one’s actions which one does according to the intermediate temperaments
and always go back over them.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>One
can combine these notions. The ideal, as described in chapter 1, is to follow
the middle path in everything. To live that ideal is described in laws 6 and 7
(above) as “one is obligated to accustom oneself to them” and
“One should do, change one and change one’s actions which one does
according to the intermediate temperaments and always go back over them”.
Habituation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Chassid</span></font></i><span dir=RTL></span><i><font
color=black face=Helvetica><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'><span dir=RTL></span>
Ç</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>adapts
that situationally. When speaking of the more severe possible errors, one
can’t rely on waiting for habit to set in. Instead we focus on a
“cure procedure”, to tend to the other extreme. Training the vine
by pulling it beyond where you want it to settle.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:51.0pt;
line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=KHLUqlA"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=72 height=24 id="_x0000_i1128"
src="cid:image001.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=Ujk378A"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=111 height=24 id="_x0000_i1129"
src="cid:image002.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:51.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=black face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span dir=LTR><b><font size=4
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Aspaqlaria/~3/175499976/yisrael-yaaqov-and-beis-yaaqov.shtml">Yisrael,
Yaaqov and Beis Yaaqov</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.25pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:4.5pt;margin-left:51.0pt'><font size=2 color="#333333"
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#333333'>Posted:
</span></font><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#666666'>Wed, 31 Oct 2007
16:50:09 -0500<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Someone
asked on soc.culture.jewish:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Today
in my Women In Hebrew Bible class we talked about how Yaakov (Jacob) was
renamed Yisrael (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>).
This was a way of redeeming him of all his past trickery. Now, don’t get
me wrong, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Yaakov. He is,
after all, my favorite Patriarch. But he was quite a sneaky fellow in his young
life….<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>She
then repeats the argument that it was therefore appropriate that the
institution was called “Beis Yaakov” rather than “Beis
Yisrael”, since they had to trick the guys into letting them have an
education. First, I can’t help but note the sad state of education this
represents. I hope it is not typical of what goes on as non-Orthodox adult
education. But to get to the point…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Here’s
my reply, from the same forum. Others already quoted the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>pasuq </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“k</span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>o somar leveis Yaaqov
vesagid livnei Yisrael</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> — so you shall say to the House of Jacob, and instruct the
Children of Israel”, which our Sages (as quoted by Rashi) interpret as
gently telling (</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>tomar</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>) the women (</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Beis Yaaqov</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>) and using “words as tough as sinews
(</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>gidin</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>)” (</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>tagid</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>) to the men (</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Benei Yisrael</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>). So I began simply by summarizing the
point.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
sages understood the term “v</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>esomeir leveis Yaaqov</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” as a commandment to Moses to
teach something to the women of his generation. Seems like a pretty solid
argument.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Then,
in reply to the last sentence quoted in particular:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
much the same way Abraham had to go through the Aqeida (the Binding of Isaac).
Jacob’s natural inclination was to be honest, a deep pursuit of truth. As
the prophet begs, “Give truth to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham, as You
promised in days of old.” Look how Isaac’s fatherly blindness kept
him from seeing Esau’s faults. In comparison to Javob, who identified the
strength and uniqueness of each of his sons, and blessed (or cautioned) each
accordingly. Might be why Jacob produced 12 keepers of the covenant, whereas
Abraham and Isaac each failed with one of their sons. (But did Abraham fail? Ishmael,
in the end, repented. But only after mis-raising his own children.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Israel</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> is the name of the Image of Man carved
on the Divine Throne (as described in Ezekiel). After their all-night battle
the angel calls Jacob “<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>”,
meaning the one on the course spiritually upward, on the road toward that
idealization. (And the human ideal is a road, not a final state…)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
renaming is not the redemption of a trickster, but G-d acknowledging that Jacob
broke through that level, passed the test, and was ready to establish the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Priests</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>If
anything, calling a girl’s school “Beis Yaakov” would imply
that they are teaching a group of potential Images of G-d, who are still the
custom there. works in progress. Pretty much true for any school.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:51.0pt;
line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=Zj17IxA"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=72 height=24 id="_x0000_i1130"
src="cid:image001.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=hzRfHBA"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=111 height=24 id="_x0000_i1131"
src="cid:image002.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:51.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=black face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span dir=LTR><b><font size=4
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Aspaqlaria/~3/175499978/gratitude.shtml">Gratitude</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.25pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:4.5pt;margin-left:51.0pt'><font size=2 color="#333333"
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#333333'>Posted:
</span></font><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#666666'>Wed, 31 Oct 2007
16:45:16 -0500<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:51.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:130%'><b><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'>I </span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>I
noticed that there are two types of </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>middos</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — intransitive and transitive. I mean
those terms in the grammatical sense: Intransitive </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>middos </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>have no object, no specific target.
Sadness is what I would call an intransitive </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>middah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, as it’s a state of mind rather
than part of a relationship with another. Transitive ones express an attitude
toward an object. Something close to a transitive version of sadness is
disappointment; we don’t get sad at someone, but we can be disappointed
in them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Admittedly
the line gets blurry when one discusses a transitive </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>middah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> but it’s about the relationship
between me and myself. Is frustration with oneself really transitive? But we do
feel a subtle difference when frustrated with ourselves and frustrated with
“the universe”, with no specific target.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>A
second distinction I would like to draw before plunging into the topic of
gratitude is that between perceptions and responses. We do not respond to the
world, we respond to how we perceive the world. <a
href="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2005/01/free-will-and-environment.shtml"
title="Free Will and Environment"><b><span style='line-height:130%;font-weight:
bold'>A while back I wrote</span></b></a> about the conflict in psychological
circles about the origins of our personalities, the famous debate of
“nature vs. nurture”. I asked what room either option (or both)
would leave for free will. I noted that if one takes the “nurture”,
i.e. the environment side, one is assuming that people respond to the world,
not respond to the word </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>as we choose to see it.</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> Like the famous picture that looks
either like a beautiful young woman or her cronish mother (see the earlier
entry for the picture), we choose how we see the world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>We
can choose to be frustrated with a child not following our directions, or
challenged by the lack of language comprehension or organization skills that we
still need to teach them. The choice is ours. Perhaps not while “in the
moment”; the arena in which we are conflicted enough for the process to
require conscious internal debate. As Rav Dessler would put it, our </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>bechirah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> point may be elsewhere at this moment
in our lives. But we can develop our </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>middos</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> with regard to our perception and change
them in the long run.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Based
on that perception, we respond. Often outwardly, but always there is an
internal reaction. Anger is a response. The perception leads to frustration,
frustration to anger.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Looking
at gratitude, I am tempted to take some of the more discussed </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>middos</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> and break them down into a perception
component and a response component. But I do not know if the generalization
works. Does the term “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>ka’as</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” similarly refer only to the
response, the way the word “anger” does (as I used it above)? There
are so many different elements to anger, not all of which necessarily in play
each time (frustration, blame, an egotistical expectation that I should be
getting my way, etc…) , that I am inclined to believe that it is actually
only about the common element in the response. But I am still unsure.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:51.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:130%'><b><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'>II</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
the case of gratitude, there is certainly both an element of perception and of
response.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
perception, in turn, also has two elements: Intransitive and transitive. In
this section, I want to look at these two elements of the perception of
gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>I
can feel grateful for having this apple. I have </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>hakaras hatov</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, literally, a recognition of the good
that is before me. I am happy because I have something to enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Then,
I can turn it into a transitive feeling, going beyond being grateful for what I
have, to look at who I am receiving from. I make a </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>berakhah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, I thank the One Who made this apple
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Similarly,
when I say </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Modeh Ani</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, the prayer contains both elements: I am aware of the gift a new
day is, having new opportunities. Then I thank Hashem for giving me that
beautiful and precious thing that is a day.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Within
the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>hakaras hatov</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> aspect of the perception, looking at what good we have in our
lives, we can be aware of the same good thing in more or less detail. We can be
grateful for the apple. Or, we can be grateful that Hashem made it possible for
people to plant the tree, sell it to the wholesaler, provide the means for an
open market in apples, all the many elements that go into my wife finding it in
a store display, her loving me and wanting me to have something to enjoy and
eat healthier, and her buying it for me. Notice how, by spelling out the
detail, one realizes more fully the greatness of the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>tov</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. The closer we look, the larger it
looms.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>This
is a primary lesson in </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>meseches Berakhos.</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> The </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>gemara</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> has discussions for dozens of pages
over which </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>berakhah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> to make on what food. Why? Does our thanks for a banana really
depend on whether we thank Hashem calling it the fruit of a tree, or whether we
recognize that a banana “tree” is a perennial, and therefore we
should thank Him for “the fruit of the ground”? I think
that’s just the point — the attention to detail is critical.
Without it, one can not fully recognize the good Hashem does for us.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Along
with recognizing the full extent of the good we receive is acknowledging that
there is a provider.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>This
is a central theme of Sukkos. On Sukkos we relive the Exodus, we again live in
huts to commemorate the huts (man made or clouds) that we had in the desert.
The Exodus was the one time in human history where all of man’s needs
were provided for supernaturally, in a manner obviously of the
“Hand” of G-d. My Sukkah is a reminder that the safety provided by
my home is no less from Hashem than that experience was. And that our thanks to
Hashem must be no less than theirs. This is why Sukkos is </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Chag haAsif</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, a fall harvest festival, involving
the plants of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
at a time when people are bringing crops in before the rainy season. It is not
“</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>kokhi ve’otzem yadi</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — my strength, and the might of my
hand”. My success had a Provider.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Rabbi
Ari Zivitofsky once mailed me a reprint of an article of his which reinforces
this point. When we entered <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
with Yehoshua, we did so at the Yardein. The first plant we encountered were
the “willows of the river”, as the Torah describes </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>aravos</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. Next, we get to Yericho, the
“city of date palms”, and Hashem provides a miracle to enable us to
conquer it. Then, under Yehoshua, the people spread out through the central
plain, where the fragrant bushes including </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>hadasim</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> grow. Last, toward the end of
Yehoshua’s life and through the period of the Judges, we start settling
along the Mediterannian coast, among the </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>esrogim</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> and other citrus fruit</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>. </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Thus, while not all of the four species
are crops, they are very much a reminder to be grateful. By holding the four
species, are reminded of Hashem giving us the land and its flora.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>And
the number of things to be grateful for our countless. A number of years ago,
my daughter fell off a cliff onto a bed of rocks. Through Hashem’s Grace,
she was given a clean bill of health not three months later; the broken bones
rewoven, the torn tissue healed, and no permanent damage (</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>b”H</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> and </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>ba”h</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>). So, my wife an I made a </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Qiddush.</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> But what about every child who ever
day doesn’t fall off a cliff? Every time we cross the street, and no car
comes turning around the corner? Think how many things go right every day that
we so take for granted we don’t think to thank Hashem and other people
for providing; and we would even be immobilized and overwhelmed if we try?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:51.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:130%'><b><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'>III</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Why
is this way of perceiving the world, to be grateful for everything we get, so
difficult? To draw on Rav Shimon Shkop’s thought (<a
href="http://http:/www.aishdas.org/asp/ShaareiYosher.pdf" title="Shaarei Yosher"><b><span
style='line-height:130%;font-weight:bold'>introduction to <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Shaarei Yosher</span></i></span></b></a>):<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>[I]in
the very foundation of the creation of Adam, the Creator planted in him a very
great measure of propensity to love himself. The sages of truth describe the
purpose of all the work in this language, “The Infinite wanted to bestow
complete good, that there wouldn’t even be the embarrassment of
receiving.” This discussion reveals how far the power of loving oneself goes,
that “a person is more content with one </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>qav </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>[a unit of measure] of his own making
than [he would be of] two </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>qavin </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>that are given to him” – even if
from the Hand of the Holy One! – if the present is unearned.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>From
here it should be self-evident that love of oneself is desired by the Holy One,
even though “the wise shall walk because of it and the foolish will
stumble over it.” In my opinion, this is true despite all the evil and
sin that the world is full of because of this </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>middah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>of self-love. Added to the challenge of
wealth, this </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>middah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>will cause him to stumble until the depths, as it is written,
“Lest I grow full and deny.” Because of the greatness of a
person’s attachment to his own </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>qav</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, if Hashem graced him with wealth, and he believes with complete
true faith that everything is the Holy One’s, he is in truth poor. What
he has isn’t his. However, if he denies G-d, then it is all his and he is
in his own mind truly wealthy. Therefore, to satisfy his desire to enjoy his
wealth, he will habituate himself to deny G-d, and then his error is complete.
…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>How
could we not take things for granted? How could we plan our actions, to be
autonomous creative beings, if we couldn’t plan based on expecting things
to go as usual? Our need to be people requires shoving things not under our
control to the mental background, and to focus on and take pride in that which
we can produce. To create, we need to love ourselves and what we create.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>This
in turn explains why </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Chag haAsif</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Sukkos </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>as the holiday of gratitude, is also “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Zeman Simchaseinu</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“, our period of greatest joy.
Rav Shimon, continued:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>With
this one can explain what is said, “</span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Yismach Mosheh… </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Moses will be joyous with the giving of
his portion, because You called him a reliable servant.” There is no joy
in receiving a bit of wisdom unless he is a reliable servant who possesses
nothing, that it is all his Master’s. Only then there is complete joy in
acquiring wisdom. Without this [attitude] it is possible that there is no
happiness in acquiring wisdom, for it through it he is capable of defending to
heresy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Only
through being grateful can we handle being recipients with </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>simchah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>There
are a number of entries <a
href="http://http:/www.aishdas.org/asp/category/mussar/middos/simchah"
title="Aspaqlaria » Mussar » Middos » Simchah"><b><span style='line-height:
130%;font-weight:bold'>on the topic of <i><span style='font-style:italic'>simchah</span></i></span></b></a>,
relating the contentment-happiness of “Who is wealthy? One who is </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>samei’ch</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> with his lot” and the need to be
an idealist in order to properly see one’s lot in life and its value.
Thus, “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>uleyishrei leiv simchah</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — the straight-of-heart have </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>simchah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“. And only the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yishrei leiv</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> have gratitude, can overcome the need
for it to be his </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>qav</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, because it’s the goal that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:
12.0pt;margin-left:51.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:130%'><b><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'>IV</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>When
it comes to responses, gratitude engenders two kinds of changes in how we
relate to the one who provided for us.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
first I would call </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shib’ud</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>. This is the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shif’il</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> conjugation of the root that gives us </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>avodah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> (work, service) and </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>eved</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> (servant). </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Shif’il</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> is an Aramaic conjugation, borrowed
here into </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Mishnaic</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> Hebrew, meaning a minor servitude. In modern terms, since that
metaphor no longer resonates, we would use fiscal language - indebtedness.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Shib’ud</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> is a good response, in that it shows a real
</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>hakaras hatov</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>. However, it is suboptimal — good, not great. </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Shib’ud</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> is the setting up of a favor bank, and
trying to keep one’s balance in the positive. After all, if I can repay
someone’s favor, I am a self-made person again, my self-love
unthreatened. The </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>qav</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> is mine, I paid for it!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>However,
a superior response is “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>todah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>“. First, to return again to the introduction to Shaarei
Yosher:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Although
at first glance it seems that feelings of love for oneself and feelings of love
for others are like competing co-wives one to the other, we have the duty to
try to delve into it, to find the means to unite them, since Hashem expects
both from us. This means [a person must] explain and accept the truth of the
quality of his “I”, for with it the statures of [different] people
are differentiated, each according to their level. The entire “I”
of a coarse and lowly person is restricted only to his substance and body.
Above him is someone who feels that his “I” is a synthesis of body
and soul. And above him is someone who can include in his “I” all
of his household and family. Someone who walks according to the way of the
Torah, his “I” includes the whole Jewish people, since in truth
every Jewish person is only like a limb of the body of the nation of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. And
there are more levels in this of a person who is whole, who can connect his
soul to feel that all of the world and worlds are his “I”, and he
himself is only one small limb in all of creation. Then, his self-love helps
him love all of the Jewish people and [even] all of creation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
my opinion, this idea is hinted at in Hillel’s words, as he used to say,
“If I am not for me, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what
am I?” It is fitting for each person to strive to be concerned for
himself. But with this, he must also strive to understand that “I for
myself, what am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
the ideal, I can acknowledge what I receive from others because I can realize
that they are not outside of my “I”. We are parts of a single
greater whole.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>What
does “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>todah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>” mean? As it stands, it means “thanks”. The
same root conjugated as “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>vidui</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>” means to “confess”. Last, when the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> wants to stress that something is
outside of a dispute, “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>hakol modim</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” — “all agree”.
What do thanks, confession and agreement have in common?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>When
I thank someone, I acknowledge his actions had an impact on me. When I confess,
I am admitting that my actions had an impact on him. And when we are </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>modim</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, we realize that an idea isn’t
mine or yours, but ours. The point in common in the three uses of the root is a
realization of connectedness. <a
href="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2006/04/roads-and-cities.shtml"
title="Aspaqlaria: Roads and Cities"><b><span style='line-height:130%;
font-weight:bold'>I wrote last year</span></b></a>:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Do
roads exist to connect cities, or do cities exist to serve the roads? We
naturally assume the former, that roads are built to allow people and goods to
travel from one center to another.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>However,
historically speaking, it’s usually the reverse. <st1:City w:st="on">Medina</st1:City>,
in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
grew from the crossroads of trading routes. <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>
was at the crossroads of three continents, and its very name comes from the
word for “traders”. This is why the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
of </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Na”kh</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> was so often crossed by the soldiers of Assyria and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, en route
to the other to battle. And being at a traffic center placed us in the ideal
situation to influence world thought. Because of the centrality of shipping, <st1:State
w:st="on">New York</st1:State>, <st1:City w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:City> and <st1:City
w:st="on">Boston</st1:City> all grew around their harbors, and many European
cities are on rivers — <st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City>, <st1:City
w:st="on">Paris</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on">Budapest</st1:City>, <st1:place
w:st="on">Frankfurt</st1:place>, etc…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Moshe
Rabbeinu lacked his full prophetic gift from the time of the Golden Calf until
the rise of the next generation. The Or haChaim explains that this is because
“</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” (Shevu’os 39a, as more
reliably recorded in the Ein Yaaqov), which is usually translated “All
Jews are guarantors one for another”. That’s consistent with
another version of the quote, which ends “</span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>lazeh</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” (for this). However, “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>ba-</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>”, in, implies a different
meaning of the word “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>areivim</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>”, mixture. All Jews are mixed, one
into the other. Moshe’s soul did not stand alone, it is connected and
overlaps those of the rest of the nation. When they lowered themselves with the
calf, Moshe’s soul was diminished.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>We
are called Yehudim because only the descendants of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Judea</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
returned after the Babylonian Exile, and of those tribes, Yehudah’s
perspective dominated. We are Jews because, as Leah said upon naming her son,
“</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Hapa’am odeh es Hashem</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — this time, I will thank G-d”.
To be a Jew is to be a thanker, to acknowledge the connection.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Note
that this implies a strong connection between Yom Kippur as a day of </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>vidui</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, and </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Sukkos</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, the holiday of </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>hoda’ah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> and consequent </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>simchah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Vidui</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> leads to an awareness of my role as a
contributor in the greater whole, from which follows </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>hoda’ah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, an awareness of all I gain as being
part of that whole. And knowing that one lives for a greater good is the key to
</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>simchah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, happiness in the sense of contentment with one’s lot and
role in life.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>And
this is why the founding of what would become the Jewish People had to be with
an Exodus-like experience, leading us to </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>hakaras hatov</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> for our Creator and from there to true
</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>hoda’ah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> and </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>areivus</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> as one community.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:51.0pt;
line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=edlrtkjZ"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=72 height=24 id="_x0000_i1132"
src="cid:image001.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=CM11s152"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=111 height=24 id="_x0000_i1133"
src="cid:image002.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:51.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 color=black face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><span dir=LTR><b><font size=4
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;letter-spacing:-.2pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Aspaqlaria/~3/175499979/shemittah.shtml">Shemittah</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.25pt;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:4.5pt;margin-left:51.0pt'><font size=2 color="#333333"
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#333333'>Posted:
</span></font><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:#666666'>Wed, 31 Oct 2007
16:50:57 -0500<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:7.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>( You will notice that this entry is pretty much
straight <i><span style='font-style:italic'>lomdus </span></i>rather than my
usual fare. When I wrote Rafi’s <i><span style='font-style:italic'>bar
mitzvah</span></i> speech, I ran overly long. Here is an even longer earlier
edition, but one that is more complete in covering my thoughts on the subject.
-mi)</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>parashas </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Behar (25:18), it says:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>“Vesapharta lekha sheva` shabasos shanim
sheva` shanim sheva` pe`amim vehayu lekha yemei sheva` shabasos hashanim teisha
vi’arbai`im shanah.”</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“And
you shall count for yourself seven sabbaths of years seven years seven times
and i shall be for you the days of the seven sabbaths of years 49 years.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Torah here is discussing the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>of </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, of the Jubilee year. The word “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” refers to the blast of the
shofar which is blown on Yom Kippur of the Jubilee year. In that year, any land
that was divided by Joshua amongst the tribes is returned to the family that it
was allotted to. Also, in the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>year, all slaves are freed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>only applies when “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>kol yosheveha aleha</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> — all of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
inhabitants live on it”. Only when the majority of all 12 tribes and Levi
are living within their ancestral borders — again, as Yehoshu’a
divided them — does </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>apply. There has not been a </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>since the fall of the <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Israel</st1:PlaceName>,
or perhaps even since the tribes in Transjordan were exiled, in the first <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Temple</st1:place></st1:City> period.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Torah is being pretty wordy, and that isn’t its normal style. Usually,
the Torah will use the fewest words possible to get the idea across. Extra
words imply extra, not obvious, ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Torah tells us that there is a </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>to count the number of years between two </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovelos</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, two jubilee years. But why does
Hashem spell out that we should count 7 cycles of seven years, and then again
to count 49 years? Do we need Hashem to tell us that seven times seven is
forty-nine? Can’t we do the math ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>When
it comes to the mitzvah of counting omer, the Torah uses similar terms. Omer is
a special grain sacrifice brought during this time of year, every day from the
2nd day of Pesach, of Passover, until Shavuos. During this period there is also
an obligation to count out 49 days. For example, last night we said, in Hebrew,
“Today is 42 days which is 6 weeks in the omer.” There are two
parts, counting 42 days, and counting 6 weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>For
counting omer, the Torah in Vayikra (23:15) says:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>“Vesafartem lachem mimocharas hashabas
miyom havi’achem es omer hatenufah sheva` shabasos temimos tihyenah. Ad
mimacharas hashabas hashevi`is, tisperu chamishim yom.”</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:87.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“And
you shall count for yourselves from the day after the day of rest, from the day
you bring the raised </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>omer </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>offering it shall be seven whole weeks until the day after the
seventh week, you shall count fifty days”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
two are very similar, but we can also see some subtle differences.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
first is that by omer the Torah speaks in the plural — “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>vesafartem</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” is “and you shall
count” when “you” means many people. By </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>our pasuq</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, by </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, the word is “vesaphrta”,
“and you will count” speaking to only one “you”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>This
is because the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>of counting for </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>isn’t on each and every Jew, the way </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is. Each of us count </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. Each person needs to prepare
themselves for </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Shavuos</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, for reliving getting the Torah. </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is one </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>for the entire Jewish people as a
whole. The one “you” counting the years toward </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Since
we can’t all count together, </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Sanhedrin </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>has the obligation to count as the
representatives of Benei Yisra’el.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Hapanim Yafos says that the reason why the math is spelled out by </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is for the same reason as by </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. We learn from the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>pasuq </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>by </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>that we need to count both 49 days and
seven weeks. As we said there are two parts to the count. Similarly when
Sanhedrin would count the years toward </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, they would have to count that it was
“the 39th year” as well as being “the 5th cycle of 7 years,
the 4th year of that cycle”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>There
is a </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>that comes in cycles of 7 years, one that we just started, called </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. In the seventh year, the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>year, farmers in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> are not
permitted to work the land. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">land</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Israel</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> rests. Also, in
that year, all loans are forgiven.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
Torah is combining the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvos </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>of </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>and </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, of the sabbatical and jubilee years.
In fact, it is the opinion of Rebbe (given in the Yerushalmi, Shevi`is, 10:2)
that whenever one does not apply, neither does the other. Since there is no </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>today can not be the real </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. We observe it only as a
commemoration, to keep the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>alive until we do once again live in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>When
Rebbe’s opinion appears in the Talmud Bavli, though, it is cited as part
of a disagreement. Rebbe still says that </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>today is not the biblical </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, but his peers, the other rabbis, say
that it is. That even without </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, the Torah’s idea of </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>still stands.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
later sages, Abayei and Rava, are quoted in the Talmud in three places trying
to explain various rulings about shemittah in light of this debate. As we will
see, Abayei’s position is quite clear — he assumes that the law is
like Rebbe, that shemittah isn’t the biblical shemittah, and therefore
one can take some leniencies. Rava’s isn’t as straightforward.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
first of these discussions is in </span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>MO</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>
(Modern Orthodox)’ed Katan 2b. There the </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>says that one may water a fields that
is on a slope, and must be watered manually, during the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>year. The </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>gemara </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>asks how this is permissible —
how is one permitted to tend a field by watering it during </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>? Abayei answers that the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is like Rebbe. This wouldn’t be
too surprising, since Rebbe is the one who compiled the entire structure of </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Mishnah, </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>including this one. But this means that
the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>mishnah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>permits watering a field on the side of a mountain because it
assumes that </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>today isn’t real </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Rava
says that one can even say that the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>goes like the Rabbanan, the rabbis other
than Rebbe, who say that </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is from the Torah even today. However, the
Torah only prohibited the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>av</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, the actual kind of tending one’s field as framed for the
laws of resting on Shabbos. </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>does not include any </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>tolados</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, other derivatives of the same basic
idea that are close enough for Shabbos to prohibit. What is being permitted in
the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>mishnah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>is only one of these </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>tolados</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, derivatives.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Note
that Rava doesn’t actually say that he holds like the other sages. It is
possible that he personally rules that </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is no longer the biblical </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. However, in explaining the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, he can understand the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mishnah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>even without assuming its author
agrees.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
second </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>gemara </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>is in Gitin (36b). This </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>gemara </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>should help us understand Rava’s
position.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
Gitin, the </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>gemara </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>asks about the justification for the law of “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>pruzbul</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>“. As we said, normally all loans
end at </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>, and can’t be collected any more. Hillel enacted a kind of
loophole, called </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>pruzbul</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>. It’s a contract, by which the loan is handed over to the
court and thereby there is no one person who is obligated to annul the loan. In
this way, people would still be willing to lend money to those who need it
— even late in the sixth year. If they need to collect on the loan, they
can write up a </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>pruzbul </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>and still collect.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
gemara asks how Hillel could have enacted pruzbul — doesn’t is defy
a major point of shemittah?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>And
again Abayei appeals to Rebbe’s idea to explain the leniency. Since this
isn’t the biblical </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, Hillel is not overriding the Torah. Maybe
we can explain Abayei’s idea further by suggesting that since </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>today is a commemoration, one remembers
the Torah’s </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>when he does the pruzbul, and that’s enough.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
gemara continues and asks: but still, you’re overriding an earlier
Rabbinic enactment. Even with our suggested reasoning behind his ruling, how does
Hillel have the authority to do override an earlier and greater court?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Rava
provides an answer, but we’re not sure which question he’s
answering: the original one — how can Hillel override shemittah? Or the
later one — how can he override even rabbinic </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>According
to Rashi, Rava answers the original question. In other words, he is starting
from ground zero, that shemittah isn’t necessarily from the rabbis.
Instead Rava assumes that shemittah is from the Torah even today, and uses a
different principle. Hefker beis din hefker — something a court declares
ownerless is ownerless. One once they make it ownerless, they can give it to
someone else. So, they can make the borrowed money ownerless and hand it back
to the lender. And on those grounds, he justifies </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>pruzbul</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
other words, Rashi says that Rava does hold like the other Rabbis, that the
Torah’s </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>applies even today.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Tosafos
disagree with Rashi. They say he is coming to answer the second question and he
is adding to Abayei’s answer. They say that even according to Rava, the
law is like Rebbe, and we assume </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is NOT biblical.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Rava
is answering how Hillel can overturn the earlier sages, those who said we
should continue to observe </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>as a commemoration. He says that Hillel
doesn’t override them. Instead, the court is using its power to hand
money from one person to another.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Tosafos
therefore have no later sage who upholds the opinion that </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>today is from the Torah, so they
clearly rule that it isn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>But,
Rashi makes this out to be a debate between Abayei and Rava as well. Abayei,
like Rebbe, says that </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>is only a commemoration; while Rava, like the other Rabbis of
Rebbe’s day, says that the original Torah law still applies.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>However,
Rashi states his own position when explaining a third </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>gemara</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. Sanhedrin (25a) again questions a
leniency about </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>. The Romans levied a new tax, and R’ Yanai allowed sowing
during </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>so that people could pay it in the seventh year too. Rashi there
assumes that the law is Rabbinic, and R’ Yannai rules that they never
imposed such a costly commemoration. Much like Abayei’s explanation of
why one can water a field that is sloped.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
contrast to Rashi and Tosafos, the Ramban comments on Gitin, the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>gemara </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>on </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>pruzbul</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, that </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is from the Torah even today. After
all, this is the majority opinion against Rebbe, and we almost always rule like
the majority. This is also the opinion of the 19th century responsa of the Beis
Haleivi and the Netziv.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>On
the other hand, the Me’iri on that </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>gemara </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>in Gitin is MORE lenient than anyone
else we mentioned so far. He says that not only isn’t the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>from the Torah, there isn’t even
a rabbinic </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>mitzvah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>of </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>today! During the 2nd <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Temple</st1:place></st1:City>
period, a rabbinic </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>was observed. The Me’iri understands Rebbe to say that when
that rabbinic </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>existed, there was also a rabbinic </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. However, today </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is only </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>a minhag chassidus</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, a nice custom, not a </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>halachah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>All
this helps us understand our opening </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>pasuq </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>from the Torah. We are told to count “</span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>sheva` shabasos
shanim</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>”
— seven sabbaths, </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittos</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, of years, because </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is inherently connected to </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Perhaps
we can go one step further. There is a debate in Eiruchin (24b) as to when the
eighth </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>ought to be. Should it be seven years after the previous </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, like the weeks, going by sevens
forever? Or, do we not count the yovel year toward the seven for </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
the first opinion, given by R’ Yehudah, one </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>could be the year after the seventh </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. But the next </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>will be only SIX years after that. So
that by the time you get to the 50th year the next time around, it will be the
SECOND year after </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>. </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>Yovel</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>’s place within the </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>cycle will drift.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Going
back to the two quotes from the Torah at the beginning of this </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>devar Torah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, this is actually closer to counting </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Omer </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>too we are told to count 7 weeks, but
we don’t mean starting on Sunday and keeping the weeks of </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>in sync with the weeks of </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>omer </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>counting. Even though the word used in
the Torah for week was “</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>shabbasos</span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>” — Sabbaths. Instead, it is
merely 7 period of 7 days. Whatever day of the week that period might end on.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>So,
when it says by </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>“</span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>shabbasos shanim</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'> — Sabbaths of years” it doesn’t mean 7
Sabbaticals, but merely 7 cycles of 7.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>The
second opinion would not count </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>toward the </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>cycle. The first </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>of every </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>would therefore be the 7th year of the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. Instead of </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>being an independent cycle of 7 years,
it is set up as the 7th, 14th, 21st and so on in the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>cycle. </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>and </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>are parts of the same cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>We
could suggest a reason based on the opinion of Rebbe. He makes </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>dependent on yovel because they are
parts of one bigger picture. Which is why they’re on the same cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Looking
at it the other way, if you say that </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>doesn’t count toward the </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>cycle, what happens to </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>when there is no </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>Yovel</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>? Because </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>isn’t skipped, </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is in a different pattern than it used
to be. Which fits Rebbe, who says it’s only commemorative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>In
which case, we can answer one last question. The Ramban rules that </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>is still a Torah law, following the
principle of ruling like the majority. How then can anyone else rule otherwise?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>However,
in the debate about whether to count </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black;font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>amongst the 7 years toward </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>, it was the majority who said that one
should not. That majority would therefore say that </span></font><i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>today, being every 7th year with no
exceptions, is not the same as the original </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>mitzvah</span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>. It is not Rebbe’s opinion
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:51.0pt;line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>Whatever
the status is today, may we observe the next </span></font><i><font size=2
color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;
font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-style:italic'>shemittah </span></font></i><font
size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'>because of the Torah law; with the
mitzvah of </span></font><i><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-style:italic'>yovel </span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;
color:black'>restored because the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> will have returned to our
homes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:51.0pt;
line-height:130%'><font size=2 color=black face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;line-height:130%;font-family:Helvetica;color:black'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=MfZqo1xM"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=72 height=24 id="_x0000_i1134"
src="cid:image001.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/Aspaqlaria?a=4cT8q8oW"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><img border=0 width=111 height=24 id="_x0000_i1135"
src="cid:image002.gif@01C81BF2.67906110"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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