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After fourteen years as gabbai of the shul, Shlomo thought he had seen it all. Extricating membership dues, mediating disputes regarding whether or not to open the window, and, of course, fielding complaints from people who thought they should have gotten aliyahs, were all par for the course. Which is why the events of Shabbat, Parashat Bechukotai, caught him by surprise.
"Ya’amod Menachem ben Yehuda, shlishi" Shlomo called out, using the traditional formula to call Menachem to recite the blessings over the reading of the third aliya.
In response, Menachem got up from his seat and… began yelling at Shlomo! "You lowlife!" Menachem bellowed. "You want to curse me! What did I ever do to you?"
When Menachem stopped yelling long enough for Shlomo to recover from his shock, Shlomo pondered what infraction he could possibly have committed. And then it came to him. Of course! Parshat Bechukotai! The Torah reading contains the Tochacha, which relates dire warnings regarding the curses that will befall the Jewish people if they don’t follow the Torah. Therefore, the accepted practice is to have the person who is reading the Torah get that aliya, rather than selecting a member of the congregation.
Menachem continued his harangue, as he made his way toward the bima. The congregants sat in stunned silence, watching the drama play out. Suddenly, another voice was heard.
"Menachem, it’s OK!" It was David, a good natured fellow, who sat slightly behind the bima. "Menachem, I’ll take whatever curses are meant to befall you, as a result of your getting this aliya!"
Menachem froze in his tracks, and looked at David, stunned. "You, you mean it?" Menachem’s decibel level dropped to the point of almost sounding civil. "So I won’t have any curses from getting the aliya?"
"I mean it. Really," David assured Menachem.
Menachem proceeded with the aliya, and the congregants resumed breathing.
As David walked home, after davening finished, he mulled over the morning’s events. "Did I do a smart thing?" he wondered. "Will I be cursed because of what I said? After all, a person’s words really do have an impact."
David decided to consult with the renowned halachic authority, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt"l, responded by saying "you did a good thing." (adapted from Darchei Moshe).
We asked Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, shlita for further clarification. He explained as follows:
It is true that there are congregations who are concerned that those who are called for the aliya of the Tochacha might have not good things befall them. Therefore, it is accepted practice that the Torah reader is given the aliya, rather than calling up another congregant. This is the practice that we follow. (See Mishna Berura, siman 428, se’if katan 17) However, one should not be overly concerned about this matter. Therefore David acted well, in assuring Menachem that the curses would befall David, rather than Menachem, in order to prevent further conflict. (Incidentally, I read the Torah for the congregation regularly, and therefore I have had this aliya many time, and I’m alive and well until today...)
In addition, because David accepted the curses upon himself in order to bring peace, no curses will befall him.
In summary: David did a good thing, and no curses will befall him.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
