Hertz p.106
Soncino p.164
Shabbat ends in London at 4.46pm
| Sidra Lite | |
| Shimon, the Unloved Son? | Rabbi Z.M. Salasnik |
| Shabbat candles - where they should be lit | Rabbi Daniel Roselaar |
| Ramban, Nachhanides | Dr Michael Harris |
| 11th of Kislev | Rabbi Yisroel Fine |
| Berechat Ram (the Ram Pool) | Simon Goulden |
| Riddle of the Week | Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis & Martin T. Birken |
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When Leah gave birth to her second son, she called him Shimon, because 'the L-d heard (shama) that I am hated (less loved)' (Bereishit 29:33). Shimon himself was to become one of the least loved of Jacob's sons.
Jacob favoured Joseph and disapproved of Shimon. When he sent his sons the second time to Egypt to buy grain, hoping that the Egyptian leader would release Shimon, who had been kept hostage and would not harm Benjamin, he referred to 'your other brother and Benjamin' (Bereishit 43:14). The Midrash suggested that 'your other brother' implied prophetically the missing Joseph as well as the imprisoned Shimon. However, Ramban followed the plain meaning that Joseph refused to mention Shimon by name and had they had sufficient bread, he would have kept Benjamin at home and let Shimon languish in prison.
Even on his deathbed, Jacob rebuked Shimon and Levi, while blessing most of his sons. (Bereishit 49:5-7).
There were several reasons for Jacob's disapproval. He rebuked Shimon and Levi for killing the men of Shechem after Shechem raped their sister, Dinah.
Shimon and Levi were the brothers who wished to kill Joseph. This is not specifically stated, but, as the other brothers had other plans for Joseph or were too junior to carry out such a bold plan in the presence of their seniors, the assumption is reasonable. While Jacob did not know of this at the time, he may have heard later. The Midrash suggests that Jacob's reference to Shimon and Levi maiming an ox (Bereishit 49:6) alludes to Joseph, who Moses was to compare to an ox.
Another reason for Jacob's dissatisfaction was that Shimon fathered a son through a Canaanite woman (Genesis 46:10). The other brothers married within the family or chose wives from other nations. Shimon looked to the very nation that Abraham had been particular not to bring into his family. (Although Judah's father-in-law was a Canaanite, this may refer to his merchant status and not his race.)
It should be acknowledged that the Midrash found a defence for some of Shimon's actions, including a suggestion that he did not father a child from a Canaanite woman, but adopted the son of Dinah, who, raped by the local prince, Shechem, was referred to as a Canaanite.
There is another side of the relationship between Jacob and Shimon. In Ch.42 v.36, on first hearing of his imprisonment, Jacob said 'Joseph is not and Shimon is not'. In an emotional moment, paternal feelings were aroused and Jacob grieved equally for the least favoured and the most favoured.
Although Jacob's dying words for Shimon and Levi were harsh, the phrase achalkem beyaakov - I will divide them in Jacob - implies that each had a separate chelek - a portion away from the other. Shimon's descendants were teachers and scholars, while Levi's serviced the Temple. Each, separated from the other, channeled his talents constructively. In treating each child differently, Jacob succeeded in keeping all his children within the chosen path.
One of the reasons why Shabbat candles must be lit is so that they should enhance our enjoyment of Shabbat. In particular, the Sages were concerned that there should be a tranquil atmosphere (Shalom Bayit) in the home on Friday nights and that people shouldn't need to stumble around in the dark. Though ceremonial candles are placed near the dinner table since this is the focal point of the Friday evening activities, there is also a requirement to ensure that there is adequate lighting in all areas of the house that will be used on Friday night.
Shabbat candles must be lit in every Jewish home, irrespective of whether or not a woman lives in the house. However, it is traditional and proper that the "woman of the house" lights the candles (and though most authorities disagree, the eminent 18th century halachist R' Yaacov Emden was of the opinion that a husband who lights the candles without his wife's consent must pay her compensation for snatching the mitzvah from her). Nevertheless, it is also proper that the "man of the house" play a role in this mitzvah and he should arrange the candles for his wife to light, and he should also turn on the lights in the other rooms in the house.
In many families it is also the custom that the daughters in the family share in the mitzvah by lighting their own candles in addition to those lit by their mother.
Rabbi Dr Michael Harris, Hampstead Synagogue.
Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)
Born in Gerona, Spain, in 1194, Ramban was one of the greatest Rabbis of medieval times, and he remains an enormously influential figure in Torah scholarship.
He remained in Gerona for most of his life. He was considered the leading halachic authority in the Spain of his day, but, like Maimonides, was a physician as well.
The most famous incident of Ramban's life occurred in 1263, when he was ordered by King James of Aragon to hold a religious disputation in Barcelona with the Jewish apostate Pablo Christiani. Ramban was victorious and James awarded him three hundred coins, but soon afterwards, due to the machinations of the Dominicans, Ramban was expelled from Aragon.
In 1267, three years before the end of his life, Ramban settled in Eretz Yisrael.
Ramban's contributions to Torah scholarship were wide-ranging. Inter alia, he penned novellae (chiddushim) on most of the Talmud; a critical analysis of Maimonides' Sefer HaMitzvot; Torat HaAdam on the laws of death and mourning, including a section called Shaar HaGemul which deals with reward and punishment and the resurrection of the dead; Iggeret Hakodesh on the sanctity of marriage; and Sefer HeGeulah on the coming of the Messiah.
Probably the most popular of his works, however, is his commentary on the Torah, widely considered the most important traditional Torah commentary with the sole exception of Rashi's. Ramban's commentary is multi-layered, deploying many modes of interpretation, from the literal to the kabbalistic.
by Rabbi Yisroel Fine, Cockfosters & N.Southgate Synagogue
11th of Kislev
On this day on 20th November 1942 7,000 Jews of the Ghetto of Minsk, Poland were executed.
The most important commercial centre of Belarussia from the 15th century, the Jews first settled in Minsk in the 16th century and suffered greatly during the Chmielnicki revolt in 1648.
During the 19th century, Minsk was one of the largest and most important communities in Russia, its Jewish population rising to 47,000 in 1897 making it the fourth largest community in the Pale of Settlement.
Spiritually enriched by the nearby Yeshiva of Mir together with Yeshivot in the town, Minsk also became one of the centres of Jewish socialism in the 19th century.
Groups of Hovevei Zion (lovers of Zion) were first organised in Minsk in the early 1880s and communal life flourished until the establishment of the Soviet regime. In June 1941 the Jewish population numbered 90,000 and its population swelled through the influx of incoming refugees.
85,000 Jews were confined in the Ghetto and some 10,000 succeeded in escaping. However, of those who escaped, perhaps no more than half survived the war.
by Simon Goulden, Agency for Jewish Education
The story of a cool pool - Berechat Ram (the Ram Pool)
The Israelis who rediscovered this pool of sweet water on the Golan after the Six Day War, saw it as another, deep, volcanic crater which had filled with the Hermon's meltwater. There were many legends that grew up around the pool. Some claimed that it was part of an ancient network of underground channels and springs dating back to the time of The Flood. Others stated that it was the route which Moses tried to use when he found out that he would not be able to enter the Promised Land. He was going to try and use the pool - and the supposed channels to swim into Banias, which is not too distant. Early visitors found an ancient temple on the top of Mount Hermon and imagined that the pool had been dug by local villagers, so that pilgrims could wash their dusty clothes and bodies. A more exotic story recounts that the snow which falls in the Golan acted as a cooling blanket to Hermon's huge bulk. When Spring comes and melts the snow, the mountain is exposed to the glare of the sun. In order to keep the mountain cool and 'comfortable', it bathes its feet in the pool.
As you can imagine, all of these theories are wrong. The water is meltwater which surfaces here, the pool is not a volcanic crater, but is formed in sedimentary rocks and - just for good measure - the pool is actually quite shallow, only some 8-10 metres deep.
Whatever the 'real' story, a visit to the pool and its beautiful surroundings, will be well worth your visit. You can walk all round the pool or along the waters' edge. Take Route 99 from Qiryat Shemona to the Arab town of Mas'ada. Turn south onto Route 98 and, before the junction with Route 978, the road to the car park and observation point will be well marked.
by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
Last week's questions:
1) set by Matthew Weiniger of Finchley.
Which Torah passage is read in Synagogue on three consecutive occasions, all within 24 hours?
Answer:
In the Diaspora, when Shemini Atzeret falls on Shabbat (as happened this year) the beginning of Vezot Haberacha is read for* Shabbat Mincha,* on the evening of Simchat Torah* and the morning of Simchat Torah.
2) EXTRA CHALLENGE Where in the Siddur do you find David's name spelt DaYvid instead of David?
Answer:
At the beginning of Vayevarech David(New Singer's page 51. Old Singer's page 34).
This week's question:
1) There are 12 English names of books of the Bible hidden in this text. They all read forwards and not backwards. Can you work them all out?
"Joe Levy has a most exciting job when formica happens to be chosen for those attics. Judges of his work say: Yes, there is, in truth, a striking similarity to numbers of other jobs. Meanwhile, perhaps alms to the poor will stop those lamentations."
2) EXTRA CHALLENGE set by Martin T. Birken of Willesden & Brondesbury.
Where in the Shacharit service (for both weekdays and Shabbat) do we find three consonants appearing consecutively in one word?
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