Parsha Encounters
[Don’t forget to see the Halacha
Encounters below!]
One of a Kindness
Rabbi Nosson Lederer
We are all constantly warmed and
inspired by the countless stories of people and organizations
who do anonymous acts of chesed. Whether it is the slipping
of an envelope under the door and making a quick get-away,
or a grocer erasing credit accounts, these acts of preserving
the dignity of the recipient is an attribute which is not new
to Bnai Yisroel.
The Bais Halevi, ZT"L,
in this weeks parsha, brings to light for us how Rivka Imeinu
brilliantly balanced her act of chesed with utmost care as
not to embarrass the recipient, Eliezer.
When asked to give Eliezer a drink
she was faced with a dilemma. Eliezer had asked, “Please
give me some water to drink from your pitcher.” (Beraishis
24:17) Could she then carry the rest of this water, which might
have been contaminated by a stranger, back to her house?
To solve this problem, she decided
that she would spill the leftover water in her pitcher into
the trough of the camels, as it says “And she hurried and
she emptied her pitcher into the trough." (24:20)
She realized, though, that giving her leftover water to the
camels might cause Eliezer embarrassment, so she handled the
situation with sensitivity by initially saying, “I
will also draw for your camels until they will finish drinking.” (24:19)
Through this statement Eliezer would
then understand that the purpose of her emptying the pitcher
into the trough was not because she was suspicious of him,
but rather, because she wanted to feed the camels. This way
any embarrassing feelings Eliezer might have would be allayed.
In this episode, Rivka Imeinu combined
her outstanding middah of chesed with great brilliance
in order to save the recipient of her act, a total stranger
she had never seen before, even the slightest bit of embarrassment.
Looking at it from a more halachic
standpoint, the Bais Halevi, in Parshas Terumah,
says that a poor man, at the time of his accepting tzedaka,
is considered a cheftza shel mitzvah, an object of mitzvah,
just like an esrog on Succos, which may not be disgraced. (Shabbos
22a)
Let us hope that we can always emulate
this beautiful harmony of kindness and thoughtfulness which
gives us just another reason to say "Umi k'amcha yisroel
goi echad ba'aretz, who is like your people Israel,
one nation in the land.”
Rabbi
Nosson Lederer, a rebbe at Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi, is a member
of the Zichron Aharon Mechanchim Kollel at the Chicago Community
Kollel.
Halacha Encounters
Kohein's
Kedima II
Rabbi Yisroel Langer
Last week, we discussed some of the halachos regarding how
we must conduct ourselves with Kohanim. It was mentioned
that a Kohein can be mochel (forgive) the honors (ie: receiving
the first portion, leading the bentching, etc.) due to him. However,
when it comes to krias haTorah when the Kohein gets the first
aliyah, the Kohein cannot always be mochel. The Gemarah
(Gittin 59b) relates that besides for the mitzvah of honoring
a Kohein, a Kohein gets the first aliyah in order to preserve
peace. If everyone was permitted to get the first alyah,
people might start fighting to get it. In order to prevent
this, chazal instituted a takana that only a Kohein (assuming
that there is one present) should get the first aliyah. Regarding
this takana, a Kohein cannot be mochel. The Gemarah continues
that this takana was made only for Shabbos and Yom Tov when
the shuls are full, but does not apply on an ordinary Monday
or Thursday. Therefore, on a weekday, the Kohein can
be mochel his zechus to the first aliyah. Tosfos1 says
that this is true for the times of the Gemarah, but in our
days (referring to the times of the Rishonim), everyone
comes to shul during the week, and this takana applies on Mondays
and Thursdays as well. HaGaon R' Moshe Feinstein zt”l2 says
that in our times, not everyone comes to shul during the week,
and it is therefore like in the times of the Gemarah, and there
is therefore no takana for Monday and Thursday.
The Halacha is therefore as follows: On Shabbos and
Yom Tov a Kohein cannot be mochel and he must be given that
aliyah. However, during the week, a Kohein may be mochel
on this kavod and give the aliyah to his Rebbi or one who is
greater than he.3 Likewise, if there are two
Yisroelim that need aliyos (ie: the person has Yahrtzeit, a
chasan, a bar mitzvah bochur and his father, etc.) the Kohein
could be asked to be mochel and give up his aliyah.4 (Note:
The Kohein must willfully give up his aliyah, and he may not
be coerced in any fashion.5) If a Kohein is
mochel and allows the Yisroel to receive the first aliyah,
the Kohein should walk out and not be present when the Yisroel
makes the brocha so people will not think that the Kohein is
passul.6
Shimush with a Kohein
To ask a Kohein to serve you in some fashion is prohibited. Even
a small thing such as asking a Kohein to pass the salt is problematic.7 When
it comes to showing respect to a Kohein, the poskim are in
agreement that the Kohein can be mochel. However, when
it comes to being served by a Kohein, the poskim argue on whether
the Kohein can by mochel. The Rema8 rules
that a Kohein could be mochel, while the Taz9 and
Chidah hold that a Kohein may not be mochel and therefore cannot
be asked to serve a Yisroel. The psak of the Mishnah
Brurah10 is that it is best not to rely on the mechilla
of a Kohein, especially if the request is one that is not so
dignified, for example, taking out the garbage. There
are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. If the Kohein
is receiving a benefit (ie: money) in exchange for his service,
or if the Kohein is serving a talmid chacham, or if the Kohein
initiates the service of his own accord because he wants to, 11 it
is then permissible to perform a service for the Yisroel.
The Aruch HaShulchan12 questions whether a Kohein
has a mitzvah to sanctify another Kohein. If he does,
a Kohein would not be permitted to request another Kohein to
serve him. The Mishna Berurah13 leans toward
the view that it is permissible for one Kohein to serve another. Other
poskim hold that since there is no clear cut ruling on this
matter, one should be strict and a Kohein should not serve
another Kohein.14
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