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"Honor your father and mother, in order that you will lengthen your days"
It had been several years since David had made Aliyah. It had taken him time to adjust, but now that he was happily married, and learning full time in a local yeshiva, he truly felt that he had found his home.
He was just putting the supper dishes into the sink, one evening, when the call came. It was his father on the line. David noticed immediately that his father’s tone was more serious than usual. David’s father went on to say that he had been diagnosed with a serious condition, and the doctors were not optimistic that he would live more than a few weeks.
"David" his father’s voice suddenly took on a pleading tone. "Come visit me. It would mean so much for me to see you."
As David hung up the phone, the reality began to hit. He wished he could go back in time, a few minutes before the phone rang, when everything had been normal. Before his world had crumbled. Somehow he would have to force his mind through the motions of booking a ticket to the United States.
Suddenly, another thought struck David. It was a story that he had heard about the Chatam Sofer. When the Chatam Sofer was already rabbi in Pressburg, Hungary, he received a letter from his mother, stating that she was desperately ill, and she wished that her son would come see her before she passed away. The Chatam Sofer was concerned that his positions as Rosh Yeshiva (yeshiva dean) and acclaimed posek (halachic decisor), required him to remain in Pressburg, and forgo the visit to his ailing mother. Wary of making the decision on his own, the Chatam Sofer asked the beit din (Jewish court of law) in his city to issue a ruling on this matter. The beit din ruled that the Chatam Sofer was obligated to remain in Pressburg. In accordance with that ruling, the Chatam Sofer stayed in Pressburg, and gave up the opportunity to see his mother one last time.
Now, David stood in his kitchen, digesting the information he had just heard from his father, and wondering what to do next. The yeshiva that David attended was in full swing. If he would leave, he would miss out on opportunities to learn Torah. Perhaps his chavruta (study partner) would find someone else to learn with, and David would be left on his own when he would return. Should he act in accordance with the story of the Chatam Sofer and remain in yeshiva, rather than visit his father?
Answer of Rabbi Asher Weiss, shlita:
G-d forbid that David should remain in yeshiva, rather than honor his father, who is lying on his death bed, and wishes that his son come visit him. David cannot follow the ruling issued to the Chatam Sofer, because, although at face value the story seems similar to David’s situation, there are three crucial differences between the two situations:
1. It is impossible to equate the Torah learning of the Chatam Sofer, who was a Torah giant, to the Torah learning of David. The Chatam Sofer was a rosh yeshiva, and the leader of one of the largest congregations in Hungary. Great rabbis learned in his study hall, and all of these people relied on his words. Therefore, it is clear that the loss of the Chatam Sofer’s Torah learning was immeasurably greater than that of David’s.
2. In the past, intercity travel was an inordinately time consuming task. It is possible that the Chatam Sofer would have had to travel for weeks, or even months, in order to visit his mother. This would have caused a tremendous amount of bitul Torah (loss of Torah study), both for the Chatam Sofer, and for all of his students. This is in contrast to transportation today, which allows a person to reach the other side of the world in a matter of hours.
3. The third difference concerns the mother of the Chatam Sofer, who was herself a very righteous woman, and was a recipient of ruach hakodesh (Divine inspiration). Seemingly, if she was to be made aware of the ruling of the beit din, forbidding the Chatam Sofer to visit her before her death, due to the needs of his congregation, she would have been happy, and would have accepted the ruling wholeheartedly.
In summary: There is no doubt whatsoever that David is required to visit his father, and should not stay in Israel, in order to continue learning Torah.
(Based on a class given by Rabbi Asher Weiss, shlita, on the topic of "Torah study is greater than honoring parents)
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
