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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>>>>>R'
Shalom Kohn:<BR>>In one of the circulars about the Monsey problem, signed by
what I presume to be a broad >swatch of the notable rabbanim in town, there
was the phrase that "as to kashering pots >and kapara, consult your local
rabbi."<BR><BR>>I'd like to raise the hashkafa aspect of this "kapparah" line
for discussion among the >assemblage.<BR><BR>>I am puzzled why anyone
would think "kapparah" is in order. Clearly, oness rachmana >patray,
and unless someone who relied on the kosher supermarket knew of a problem or
>was negligent, this is clearly an oness. Further, since chezkat
kashrut is a halacha -- and >here, I assume there was in addition to that,
some kind of hashgacha which was deceived >-- where is the blame necessary to
require "kapparah"? Is there a suggestion that anyone >in the
community, except those perpetuating the fraud, was at fault?<BR><BR>>I
understand that one ingesting non-kosher may need some kind of "tahara" on the
>principle that non-kosher is me-tamteim es halev, and that one properly
feels violated for >eating non-kosher, even b'oness. But
"kaparah"?<BR><BR>>Thoughts?<BR>>Shalom L. Kohn<BR><BR></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The Rambam in
Hilchos Shgogos 2:6 says that a tinok shenishboh, who had no knowledge that he
was even a yid must bring a chatos for every single aveira he
committed.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>There’s also an
interesting Nesivos discussing a situation where someone sold food to his friend
(I assume with a chezkas kashrus)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>that was non-kosher mid’rabonon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The Nesivos says that we do not consider this person to have committed a
sin or require kapara.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>However, if the food
was non-kosher midoraisa, then the one who consumed the food requires
atonement.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>Seemingly, we have a
precedent for this in Yevamos (87b) where a woman who remarries after two
witnesses testified falsely that her husband died must bring a sacrifice as a
Kapara even though she followed the Torah by trusting these kosher
witnesses.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The Lubavitcher
Rebbe in L’kutei Sichos (Volume 2 pg 623) discusses the reason why a Shogeg
needs Kapara (Rashi, Shavuos 2:1) from punishment because not only the neshama
of a Jew needs to be sensitive to the dangers of a sin but also the body should
be trained to instinctively distance itself from sin as an animal will not
accidentally jump into fire (Choshen Mishpat 383).</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The Rebbe cites
Tanya to explain:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The root of this
insensitivity is from the “strengthening of the animal soul” (which is the cause
for inadvertent sins for which sacrifices of atonement are required) (Tanya,
Igros Kodesh end of ch. 28)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>“with the passing of
time it has gained strength because the man has indulged it considerably, in
eating and drinking and other mundane pursuits” (Tanya Chapter 13)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>The following story
of Reb Shmuel Munkes, a chossid of the Alter Rebbe, R’ Schneur Zalman of
Lubavitch, comes to mind to shed light on this subject:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>One Shabbos
afternoon, the c<SPAN style="mso-bidi-language: HE">hassidim</SPAN> had gathered
for a farbrengen around a table stocked with a variety of cakes and pies.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Reb Nosson, the local butcher, <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>arrived with a hot pie made from flour,
oil, and meat and handed it to Reb Shmuel Munkes to give out portions to
everyone. Much to the surprise of the <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-language: HE">chassidim</SPAN> , Reb Shmuel did not give out any
of the food. Instead, he started to dance and jump around while holding the pie.
The chassidim, who wanted some of this appetizing food, begged him to stop, but
he would not listen. Suddenly he ran outside and threw the pie into the
garbage!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The chassidim began
yelling at Reb Shmuel for being so wasteful when suddenly the butcher came
running into the hall screaming that no one should eat the pie because it is not
kosher! The butcher explained that he had just found out that his wife had sold
some non-kosher liver to the Beis Midrash by mistake. He had put the meat to one
side to be sold to a goy and his wife had then sold it, not realizing that there
was anything wrong with it. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>When the chassidim
accused Reb Shmuel of flaunting such ruach hakodesh publicly, he flatly denied
any knowledge that the pie was made from non-kosher meat.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nevertheless, he said that when the pie
arrived, he remembered his first yechidus (private audience) with the Alter
Rebbe.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Before entering into the
Rebbe’s chamber, for the first time, he resolved that no material desire would
ever dictate to him and trained himself not to allow anything physical to overly
attract him.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>When the pie
arrived he found that his appetite was most powerfully roused and also
noticed that the same was true of many around the table. To be so strongly
drawn by a mere piece of meat?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He
understood that something was not right and decided to do away with
it.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3>May all our zedonos
etc. become zochiyos and merit a KVT.</FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Zvi Konikov<BR></DIV>
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