ืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื
Maran Rosh Hayeshiva V'Av Bais Din Mir Hagaon Rebbi Eliyahu Baruch Kamai Ztvk"l
ืืืื ืืืฉืคืืื ืืฉืจ ืชืฉืื ืืคื ืืื (ืื,ื)
ืจืฉ”ื: ืื ืืงืื ืฉื ืืืจ ‘ืืื’ ืคืกื ืืช ืืจืืฉืื ืื, ‘ืืืื’ ืืืกืืฃ ืขื ืืจืืฉืื ืื, ืื ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืืกืื ื ืืฃ ืืื ืืกืื ื.
ืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืขื ืืฃ ืฉืื ืืืฆืืืช ื ืืืจื ืืืืืชืืื ืืกืื ื ืืคืจืืืื ืืืืื ืืืขื, ืื ืืืื ืขื ืคืจืฉื ืื ืฉื ืืืจื ืื ืคืจืืื ืืกืื ื, ืขื”ืฉ.
ืืฉื ื ืืกืืฃ ืงืื ืื: “ืจืื ืฉืืขืื ืื ืขืงืฉืื ืืืืจ ืืงื ื ืขื ืืืจืฅ ืื ืืื ืฉืืืงืื ืื ืืขืชื ืืืจืคืช ืขืืืื… ืืื ืืงื ื ืชืืจื ืืื ื ืื, ืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืืืงืื ืื ืืขืชื ืืชืืืฉืืช ืขืืืื”, ืืื’. ืืืจ ืืจื ืจืืฉ ืืืฉืืื ืืื”ื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืจืื ืืืืื ืืจืื ืงืืื ืืฆืืง”ื: ืืงื ื ืขื ืืืจืฅ ืืืืืื ืืช ืืฉืคื ืืืืื ื, ืืืื ืืืจ ืื ืืืช ืืืืืงืงืื ืืืจืืข ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืช ืืช ืืืืง, ืืคืืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืชืงืืคื ืืจืืื, ืืืืง ืืฉืชื ื ืืืฉื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืคืขืืื, ืืื ืืขืชื ืืฉืชืืฉืช ืขืืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืขืื ืืืฆื ืขืืืื ืืคืกืืง.
ืืืื ืืงื ื ืชืืืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืืื ืชืืจื, ืืจื ืืชืืจื ืื ืืฉืชื ืืช, ืืคืืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืืชืจ ืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืืขืืืงืื ืืืฉืคืื ืืชืืจื ืฉืืื ื ืืชืืืคืื , ืืืขืชื ืืชืืืฉืืช ืขืืืื.
( “ืืคืจืงืื”)
ืืืจื ืืืืื
Maran Hamashgiach Hagaon Harav Yechezkel Levinshtein, ztโl
ืืขืืืชื ืืช ื’ ืืืงืืื… ืืืกืจืชื ืืืื ืืงืจืื
“ื’ืฉืืขืคืข ืงืืฉืงืข’ ืื ืืชืื”
ืกืืคืจ ืชืืืื ืืืฉืืื ืืจื ืฉืืื ืืืจื ืฅ ืโื: ืืื ืืชืืืืื ืืฉืืืช ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืืจืฅ ืืืืืชื – ืืื ืืจืื, ื ืืงืง ืื ืืชืื ืืืขื ืืขืืืืจ, ืืจืืคื ืืืงืืื ืฉืืืง ืืืชื ืืืืืจ ืฉืขืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืช ืื ืืชืื ืืืืืคืืช, ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืกืื ืช ืืืืช.
ืืืืจ ืื ืืืงืฉ ืืื ื ืฉืืกืข ืขืื ืืืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืขืืจ ืืืื ืื ืืชืื.
ื ืืืฉืชื ืืืจื ืืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืืจื ืืืืงืื ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืืฆืืื”ื , ืืื ืืืงืฉ ืจืฉืืช ืื ืกืืขื [ืืืฉืืืช ืืืจ ืื ืขืื ืืืืจ ืืช ืืืฉืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืจืฉืืช ืืืืฉืืื]. ืืืืืืชื ืืืฉืืื ืขื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืืืจื. ืืชืื ืืืจื ืืืืจืชื ืืช ืืืืจืช ืืจืืคื ืืืงืฉืจ ืืืืืคืืช ืื ืืชืื ืืคื ื ืกืื ืช ืืืืืช ืืืืืืืช ืขื ืืืืืจ.
ืืฉืฉืืข ืืืฉืืื ืืช ืืืจื, ื ืขืฉื ืืืืืจ ืืกืื ืืจืขื ืืืื ืืขืื ื ืืฃ. ืื ืืื ืชื ืืช ืืฉืื ืื ืืคืชืืืื ืฉืื ืื, ืืืฉืืชื ืืชืืื, ืฉืืืฉืืื ืืชืจืืฉ ืืฉืืข ืืืืืขื ืฉืืืืจ ืืืืฉืืื ื ืืฆื ืืืฆื ืืจืืืืชื ืงืฉื ืื ืื, ืขื ืืื ืกืื ืช ืืืืช.
ืืืฉืื ืื ืืชืืืชื ืืืจ ืืืื, ืื ืืคืชืข ืฉืืขืชื ืืช ืืืฉืืื ืืืขืง ืืื ืืืื, โืืกืืจ ืืืืจ ืืช ืืืืจืื ืฉืืืจืช. ื’ืฉืืขืคืข ืงืืฉืงืข’ (ืืขื ืขืืืืจ) ืื ืืชืื, ืืชืื ืื ืืจืง ืืืื!โ – ืืืชื ืื ืืขืงื ืืขืืืง ืืื. ืืจืืฉืชื ืืช ืืืจืื, ืจืืืชื ืฉืืื ืืืืืจ ืืกืื ืืื ืืืคื ืจืืขื; ืืืจืื ืืืจืืช ืืฉืืื ืืขืืืงื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืืจืื ืืืืื ืขืืืง ืืืื. ืืจืืฉืชื ืฉืื ื ืจืืขื ืืคื ื ืฉื ืืฉืืชื ืืืืืืจื ืืืืจืชื ืืืจืื ืฉืืกืืจ ืืืืจื.
ืืื ืขืืจื ืืืจ ืฉืืขืื ืฉื ื, ืืืฉื ืื ืืฉื ืื ืื ื ืืืง ืืืื ืืจืืฉื ืืขื ืฉืขืฉืชื ืขืื ืฉืืื ืื. ืืื ื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืช ืืขืงืชื ืฉื ืืืฉืืื, “ื’ืฉืืขืคืข ืงืืฉืงืข’ (ืืขื ืขืืืืจ) ืื ืืชืื, ืืชืื ืื ืืจืง ืืืื!โ
ืืืืืื ื, ืฉืืฉืคื ืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืืฉืคืืข ืขืื ืืืฉื ืื ืืื ืืื.
ืืชืื ‘ืืืื ืืฉื’
ืืฉืืืื ืืืื
Harav Hagaon Meir Tzvi Shpitzer Shlita
ืืฉืคืืื ืจ”ื ืืืจ ื’
ืืจ ืืฆืื ืืฉื ื ืืขืืืจืช
ื ืืื ืื’ ืฉืื ืืชื ืื ืื ืฆืืื ืกื’ ืงื ”ื ืืืฉืื ืจ”ื ืืืจ ืืื ืืจ ืืฆืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืจืง ืืืืจ ืฉื ื ืื ืืฆื ืืื ื ืืจ ืืฆืื ืขื ืจ”ื ืืืจ ืฉื ื.
ืืข’ ืืฉืื”ื ื”ื ื’ ืืฉืืข ืฉืคืกืง ืืื ืื ืฆืืื, ืืื ืื ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืืืฉ ืืืขืช ืืืจ”ืฉ ืืื ืืจ ืืฆืื ืืื ืืืืจ ื’ ืืื ืืืช ืคืฉืืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืจ ื’ ื”ื ืื ืืื ื’ ืฉืื ืืืจ ืืฆืื ืืจ”ื ืืืจ ื’. (ืืืืืจืื ืืข”ืค ืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืชื ืืืืื).
ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืืืื ืจ’ ืฉืืืื ืกืืื ื ืืืืจืื”ื ืืืืงืื ืขื ืื ืื ืฆืืื.
ืืข’ ืืืฉื ืืฉืจืื ืคื”ื ืกืงื”ื ืืฉื ืืืจืฉ”ื ืืืืฉ ืืื ืื ืฆืืื ืฉืื ืืืฆืื ืืฆืืืืจ ืขื ืืืจ ื’, ืืืขื”ื ืื ืืืืจืืจ ืืืื ืกื’ ื ”ื ืืืืื ืืคื ืฉื”ืช ืื”ื ืงื”ื ืืขื ืื ื’ ืืฉืื ื”ื ืืื.
(ืื ืืฆื ืกืืฃ ืฉืื ืชืฉืก”ื ื ืืืื ืชืืืืื, ืื’ ืืคื ื ืฉืงืืขื ืื”ื ืฉืื, ืืืฉื ื ืืืจ ืฉืงืืขื ืื’ ืฉืื ืจ”ื ืืืจ. ืืืคื ืื ืื ืฆืืื ืืจื ืืฉื ื ืืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืฉ ืืคื ื ืืืื).
ืืื ื ืืื”ื ืืืื ืืืืืฉ ืืื ืฉื ืช ื”ื ืืขืืืจืช (ืืืื ืืื ืฉืชื ืชืฉืค”ื) ืื ืืื ืืืขืืืจืช (ืืืื ืชืฉืข”ื) ืืืืจ ื’ ืื ืืืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืจ ื’ ืืืชื ืืื ืืฉืืข ืืฉื”ืข ืฉื. ืื”ื ืืื”ื ืืฉืืืช ืืขืงื, ืืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืคืืกืงืื. ืืืงืฉื ืืื”ื ืืืฉืชืงื ืืืชื ืฉื ื ืคืฉืืื ืื ืขืฉื ืื ื”ื ืืืืจ ืกืชื ืื”ื ืื ืืืื ืื ื”ื ืฉื ืื ืขื ืืืจ ื’.
ืืืืืฉื ืงื’ ืืื”ื ืืชื ืืืจื”ื ืืืืขืจืืื ืืฆ”ืืืืฉ ืืชืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืฉืืชื ืืฉื”ืข ืืฉื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื’ ืืืจ ื’ ื ืขืฉื ืืืื ืื’ ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื”ื ืืืจ ื’ ืืืชืื ืขื ื”ื ืืืจ, ืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืื ืื”ื ืืืจ ื’ ืื ื”ื ืื ืื’ ืืืจ ื’ ืืื ืืขืืื ืืืื ืืจื ืืืจ ืขืืจื ื”ื ืฉื ืื ืชืืืฃ ืื’ ืืืจ ืืืืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืื’ ืืืจ ื’, ืืืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืื ืืคื ื ืื ืืืืจืข ืืจืข, ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืคื ื ืื ืื ืืฉืื ืืช ืื”ื ืฉื ืื ืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืขืืื.
ืืขืืฆ”ื ืืกืื ืืืฉ ืืื ืืื ื ืื”ื ืฉื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืจ ืืฆืื, ืืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืื”ื ืืจื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืืข ืืืื ืฉื ืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื ืื ื ืขืฉื ืืืื ืืฃ ืฉืืืจ ืขืืจื ื”ื ืฉื ืื.
ืืืื ืืืืฉื ืงื’ ืืื”ื ืืืฃ ืืื ืขืืจ ืฉื ื ืืืฉืชืงื ื”ื ืืืื ืฉืืืืข ืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื ืฉืื ืฉืคืืจ ื ืขืฉื ืืจ ืืฆืื.
ืคืจืฉืช ืืฉืคืชืื
Maran Rosh Hayeshiva Hagaon Harav Refoel Shmulevitz, ztโl
ื
ื. ืงืืืืฉืื ื”ื ื’ ืจืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืืื ืื’ ืืืจืฉ ืืช ืืืงืจื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืจ, ืื ื ืฉืชื ื ืืืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืฉืืืืฃ, ืืืจ ืืงื”ื ืืืื ืฉืฉืืขื ืงืืื ืขื ืืจ ืกืื ื ืืฉืขื ืฉืืืจืชื “ืื ืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืขืืืื ืขืืื ืื, ืืื ืขืืืื ืืขืืืื”, ืืืื ืื ืืงื ื ืืืื ืืขืฆืื, ืชืืจืฆืข ืข”ื. ืืืฉ ืืขื’ ืืื ืื ืืจืฆืข ืืืืืจ ืขืฆืื ืืฉืขื ืฉื ืืืจ, ืืืื ืฉืขืืจ ืื ืขื “ืื ืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืขืืืื”. ืืืคืฉืืื ืฆ”ื ืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืืืืจ ืขืฆืื ืืืืช ืืืืงื, ืื ืืืืืจื ืขืืื ืืชืืจื, ืืจืง ืืฉืขื ืฉืจืืฆื ืืืฉืืจ ืขืื ืืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืื ื ืืจืืฆื ืืืฉืืจ ืืขืืืืช, ืื ืืื ืฉื ืขื ืฉ ืืจืฆืืขื.
ืืื ื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืขืฆืื, ืืื ืืืืจืืื ืื”ื ืฉืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืช ืขืฆืื ืืืื ืืจืฆืข, ืืืคืจื ืื”ื ืืจืง ืืืจืืื ืื”ื ื ืจืฆืข, ืืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืจืฉ”ื ืืคื’ ืืืืืฉ ืจืืฉ ืืฉืคืืื ืืช ืืืืืืชื, ืืืื ืฉืฉืืขื ืขื ืืจ ืกืื ื ืื ืชืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืชืืจืฆืข, ืืื ืืืืจ ืขืฆืื, ืืืื ืฉืฉืืขื ืื ืื ืื ”ื ืขืืืื ืืื’ ืชืจืฆืข. [1]
ืืื ื ืืืืจืืื ืื”ื ืืฉ ืืืชืืื ื, ืืื ืฉื ืจืฆืข ืืื ืขื ืฉืขืืจ ืืื ืชืื ืื, ืืื ืชืืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืืฆืื ืชืืจื ืืืคืจืข ืืื ื ืขื ืื ืืืชื ืืฉืขื ืฉืืืืจ ืืืืชื ืืื’ ืื ืืฆื ืืืคืฉื, ืืืจื ืืฉืขืช ืืืืืจื ืื’ ืื ืืืจืฆืข, ืืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืืืงืฉ ืืืฉืืจ ืืฆื ืืืื ื, ืืื ืฉืื ืื ืืืงืฉ ืฉืื ืืฆืืช ืืืคืฉื ืืจื ืื ืฆื ืื ืืจืฆืืขื, ืืื ืืขื ืืื.
ื. ืื ืจืื ืืื, ืืืืจืืื ืื”ื ืืื ืขืืื ื ืืจืืฆืขื ืืฉืขื ืฉื ืืืจ, ืฉืขืฆื ืืืืจืชื ืื ืืื ืขืื ืฉื ืขื ืื ืืืชื, ืืืื ืฉืืืืข ืืขื ืื ืืืืจื ืืข”ืข ืืื ื ืจืง ืฉืืืืฉื ืชืืจื ืฉืืคืฉืจ ืืืืืช ืืืืคื ืฉื ืืื ื, ืืื ืืื ืขืื ืฉ ืขื ืืื ื, ืืืื”ื ืฉืื ืืขื ืืฉืชื ืชืืจื ืืขืื ืฉ ืื ืืขืฉืืชื ืขืื ืื”ื ืืฉืืื ื”ื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืจื, ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืืกืคื”ื ื”ืข ืจื”ื, ืฉืฆืืื ื ืืืืจืืช ืืืื ืืื ื ืฉื ืงื ืืก ืืืชื ืืืื ืชืฉืืืื ืืคื ืืื’ ืื ื ืืืจืื ืขื”ื, ืืจื ืฉืื ื ืืืืจื ืืข”ืข ืืชืืจืช ืืืง ืืขืืงืจื ืืื ืืื ื, ืืื ืืื ืืืืืืฉ ืืื ืฉืืคืฉืจ ืืืืืช ืืืืคื ื”ืฉ ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื, ืืข”ื ืฉืืื ืขืื ืฉ ืขื ืืื ื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืคื ืืืืืจื ืืข”ืข, ืืจืง ืฉืขืื ืฉ ืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืงืืช ืืืืชื, ืืื ืืขืื ืฉ ืืื ืฉืืืืจืืื ืืืืคื ืฉืืฉืืื ืืืื ืืื.[2] ืืื ื ืจืื ืืืืจื ืจืฉ”ื ืืืืืืจื ืืืืช ื’ ื’ ืืืฉ ืื”ื ืืืืืืจ, ืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืคืฉืจืืช ืืืื, ืืื ืืื”ื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื, ืืื ืืื ื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืืื ืข”ื ืืืืจืชื, ืืข”ื ืืืื ืขืื ืฉ ืืค”ืข, ืืขืื ืฉ ืื ืฆืจืื ืื”ื ืืืืื. ืืขื’ ืืืื ืืืื ืค”ื ืื ืืื ืื”ื ืืฉื ืืืจื”ื ืืืกืงืื, ืืืื ืืื ื ืืืจ ืืข”ืข ืข”ืค ืขืฆืื, ืฉืื ืืื ืืื ื ืขื ืฉ ืข”ืค ืขืฆืื, ืืข”ืฉ, ืืฆ”ื ืืืฃ ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืขืฆืื ืจืฉืข, ื”ื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืชื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ื ืืืชืืืื ืืคื, ืืข”ื ืืืฉืื ืขืฆืื ืจืฉืข, (ืืืืฉ”ื ืืจืืื”ื ืืืืช ื’ ื’), ืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืืืืคื ืฉืืคืฉืจ ืืืืืช ืืื ื ืข”ื ืืืืจืชื, ืืข”ื ืฆ”ื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืขืื ืฉ, ืืืื ืก”ื ืืืืจื”ื ืืืกืงืื ืฉืืฉ ืื ืชืืจืช ืขืื ืฉ ืืืืฃ, ืฉืืื ืืื ื ืขื ืฉ ืข”ืค ืขืฆืื.[3]
ืื ืื ืืฉืขื ืฉืขืืื ืืื ืืฆืืช ืืืคืฉื ืืืืจ ืืืืชื ืืช ืืืื ื ืืื’ ืื ืืฆื ืืืคืฉื, ืืจื ืืืืืื ืืืืชื ืฉืื ืืจืืืฉ ืืขื ืขืื ืฉ ืืืืืจืชื, ืืืืจืื ืขืจืืื ืืื ืขืืืืชื ืขืืื ืืจืืฆื ืืื ืขืื ืืืืฉืื ืื ืืื ืฉืืืื, ืื ืืฆื ืืื ืจืื ืืืืืจืชื ืขืื ืฉ, ืืื ืืืจืื ื ืื ืื ืืขืืืืชื, ืื ืืคื ืื ืืขืื ืฉ ืืฉืืจ, ืืืืืจ ืฉืชืืืืช ืขืื ืฉื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืื ืืืกืจ ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืจืืื, ืื ืืื ื ืืจืืืฉ ืืขืื ืฉ, ืื ื ืชืืืื ืชืืืืช ืืขืื ืฉ. ืื ืงืืขื ืชืืจื ืฉืชืจืฆืข ืืืื ื ืืชืืจืช ืขืื ืฉ ืขื ืฉืื ื, ืืืื ืฉืขืื ืฉ ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืืืขืื ืื, ืืืื ืฉื ืชืืืจ.[4]
ื
ื. ืืืื ืืืืจืื ื ืืฉ ืืขื’ ืืื ืืืืืจื ืชืืจื ืืขืืืืชื ืืืจ ืืจืฆืืขื ืฉืื ืืืขืื ืื ืืจืขืื ืืกืฃ, ืืืฉืืจ ืขืื ืืขืืืื ืฉื ืืืื,[5] ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืขื ืืืจื ืืืืืจื ืจืืฉืื ื ืฉืืฃ ืืื ืืขืื ืฉ ืขื ืื ืืืชื ืื ื ืืืจ ืืื ืืฉืฉ ืืืฉ ืื ืืฆืืช ืืืจืขืื ืืกืฃ, ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืขืื ืฉื ืืขืช.
ืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื ื ืงืฉื ืงืฆืช ืืืืืจ ืขืฆืื, ืฉืื ืขืื ืฉื ืืื ืขื ืฉืขืืจ ืขื ืื ืฉืฉืืขื ืืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ”ื ืขืืืื ืขืืื ืื ืืื ืขืืืื ืืขืืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืงื ื ืืืื ืืขืฆืื, ืืื ืืขื ืืืืืจื ืชืืจื ืืขืืืืชื ืืืจ ืืจืฆืืขื ืฉืชืื ืืืืจื ืืืชืจ ืืขืืืืชื ืืงืืืืช, ืฉืื ืชืื ื ืืฉืืช ืืขืืืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืคืืืช ืขืฆืื ืืืืฆืข ืืืื.
ื. ืืืฉื ืชืืื ื ืืืืจ ื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืชื ืช, ืืื ืชืืขืืชื ืฉื ืืจืฆืืขื ืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืขืื ืืืฉืชืืจืจ ืข”ื ืืจืขืื ืืกืฃ, ืืืื ืข”ืค ืื ืฉืฉืืขืชื ืืืืื”ืจ ืืฆ”ื, ืืื ื ืืชืื (ืืืืืื ื’ ื’ ื-ื) ืืื ื ืขืื ืฉืืขื ืื ืืจื ืืื’ ืืืื ืงืืื ื ืงืืื ื ืืจืฆืช ืื’ ืืืฉืืข ืื ืื’ ืืืืืจ ืื ืืืืชื ืืืจื, ืืขืชื, ืื ืชื ืงืื ืื ืืืฉ ืืื ืืชื, ืืืืขืช ืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื ืื ืืืืจืืช ืืช ืฉืืืชื ืืื ืฉืืื ืข”ื. ืืื ืขืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืืื, ืืืจ ืื ืืฉืืขื (ืฉื ื”ื ืืืืื) ืื ื ืื ืืืช ืืืจืืฉืืื ืืืฉืืช ืฉื ืืื’ ืืื’ ืืืื ืฆืืชื ืืขืืจืช ืืช ื ืื ืงืืืจืื ืืืืข ืชืืข ืื ืืืช ืชืืืช, ืืื ืืื’ ืืจืืฉื, ืืืืืจ ืฉืืขื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืจ, ืืืฉืจ ืืืจ ืืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืขืฉื ืขืืื ืืื’ (ืื ืฉืืข ืขื ืื). [ืืืื ืืงืฅ ืฉืืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืืืจืื ืฉื ื ืขืืืื ืืฉืืขื ืืื’ ืืืงื ืฉืืขื ืืืืืืฉ ืืช ืืืืจื ืืืื ืืชื ืืื’, ืืืฉืืข ืืืื ืืืงืจื ืืฉืืขื ืืืืืจ ืืืื, ืืื ืืฉืืขืชืื ืื’ ืืืขืื ืื ืืื’ ืืชืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืขืชื, ืืืืืข ืื ืฉืืจืช ืืช ืฉืืืขืช ื’ ืืืช ืืืฆืื ืืฉืจ ืฆืืืืชื ืขืืื ืืื’, ืืืืกืืฃ ืืืืชื].
ืืืฉื ืชืืื ื ืืคืจืฉื ืื ืืฉ ืืชืืื ืื ืืืื, ืืื ื ืฉืืื ืฆืืื ืข”ื ืืืื ืฉืื ืื ืงืืช ืืช ืฉืืขื, ืืื ืขืฉื ืืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืืฆืืช ืืืจืืฉืืื, ืื ืืืื ืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืชืืื ื ืืืืจ ืื, ืืื ืืขื ืื ืฉืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืฆืื ืืืจืืฉืืื ืืฉืขืื’ ื ืืืจ ืืคื ื ืืฃ ืืฉืืฉ ืื ืืืจืฅ ืืื’, ืืืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืฉืืขื ืืขืืื ืืฉืืืขืชื, ืืืจื ืืื ืงืืื ืงื ืื ืื’ ืฉืืขื, ืืื ืจืืฉ ืืกื ืืืจืื, ืืื ืฉื ืจืื ืืขืื ืื ื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืื ืขืืงืจ. ืืื ืืืืช ืฆืืง ืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืชืื, ืืืื ืืงืฅ ืืื’ ืืืชืื ืืืขืื, ืืืืืช ืื ืืขื ืื ืื’ ืืืื ืฉืืขื ืืื ืืข ืขืฆืื ืืืขืืืจ ืขื ืฉืืืขืชื.
ืืืืืจ ืืืื”ืจ ืืฆ”ื [ืืฉืืืืช ืืืกืจ ืืืืจ ื’ ืืข”ื], ืืื ื ืงืฉื ืืื ืืฉืืืขื ืฉืืื ืืืชืจื ืื ืฉืืืื ืฆืืชื ืืืจืืฉืืื ืืืืช, ืืืจื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืขื ืืืืชืจืื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืืืจื ืืืืืืช, ืืืืชืจ ืขืฉืื ืฉืืขื ืืืืฉื ืืื ืืฉืืืขื ืืืืชืจืื. ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืืืชื ืื ืจืื ืืืื, ืฉืืฃ ืฉืืจืฆืื ื ืืืื ืฉืืขื ืืืฉื ืืืจืืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฆื ืืื ื, ืืื ืืืช ืื ืืืจืื ืืืชื ืืืฉื ืื, ืืจื ืืฉืืฉ ืื ืืืจืฅ ืื ืชืืืคื ืืืื, ืืืขื ืืจืื ืืืืจื ืืคืจืืฅ ืืืื ืืืฆืืช ืืื ื, ืืื ืื ืฉืืืืื ืขืืื ืืฆืืช, ืข”ื ืืฉืืืขื ืืืืชืจืื, ืื ืืืชืจ ืืจืืืฉ ืืช ืขืฆืื ืืืื ืืืจืืฉืืื, ืืืืชืจ ืขืฉืื ืืื ืืคืจืืฅ ืืช ืืืื, ืข”ื ืืืจืื.
ื. ืืข”ืค ืืกืื ืื ืืืกืืจืช ืื ื ืขื ืืื ื ืฉื ืืจืฆืืขื, ืฉืืืคื ืื ืฉืืืืจ ืืืืชื ืืช ืืืื ื ืืื’ ืื ืืฆื ืืืคืฉื, ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ืืืืจ ืืืืจืขืช ืืขืืืืช, ืืขืจื ืื ืืฆืื ืืฃ ืฉืืื ืืฉืคื ืืืืจืื (“ืขืืืื ืืขืืืื”), ืืืืื ืืืชื ืืชืืจื ืืืกืจ ืข”ื ืฉื ื ืืืจืื: ื) ืืขืฉื ืืจืฆืืขื ืืืืื ื, ืืืืจืืช ืื ืืืื ืฉืฉืืขื ืขื ืืจ ืกืื ื ืืื’, ืืืื ืืื ืืขืื ืฉ ืืืืืกืจ ืขื ืื ืืืชื ืืืืื ืืื ืืจืืืฉ ืืขืื ืฉ ืืืืืกืจ ืืขืืืืช ืฉืืืจืืื ืื”ื. ืื’) ืฉื ืขืฉื ืขืื ื ืจืฆืข ืืขืืืื ืฉื ืืืื, ืืื ืืืื ืืฆืืช ืืืจืขืื ืืกืฃ, ืืืข”ื ืืขืืื ืืช ืืืื ื, ืืืฆืื ืืชืืจื ืืจื ืืืืื ืฉืคืืืช ืืฆืื ืฉื ืจืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืชืืง ืืืขืจื ืืื ืข”ื ืฉื ืืืืฃ ืขืืื ืืช ืืฆืื, ืืืืื ืฉืืื’ ืืืืจื ืืขืืืืชื ืจืง ืื ืืจืืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืืชื, ืืื ืืื ืืฆืื ืฉื “ืขืื ืืขืืืื”. ืืืืขื ืื ืื ืืืืืจ ืขืฆืื ืืืืืจื ืชืืจื ืื ืฆืจืข ืฉืื ืืืฆื ืืืจืขืื ืืกืฃ, ืืื ืฉืืจืืืฉ ืืช ืืฆืื ืฉื “ืขืื ืืขืืืื” ืืืืฉ”ื .
ื. ืืื ืื ืื ืืขืื ืืขืืืื, ืืื “ืืขืืื ืื” ืืืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืืฉืชืขืื ืืงืื ื ืืื ืืืคืฉืจ, ืืืฃ ืฉืืฉ ืื ืืืืจื, ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืืืจื ืืืืืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืขืฉืืช ืจืฆืื ืงืื ื, ืฉืืฉ ืขื ืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืขืื ืืืืจ, ืืืืื ื ืฉืื ืืขืฉื ืืืืช ืืืืจืชื, ืืื ืฉืืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืื, ืืืืฉ”ื ืืืืชื ืืืืืื ื”ื ืขื’ 117, ืืฉื ืจ’ ืืจืืื ืืฆ”ื, ืื ืขื ืื ืืืืืจื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืขืฉื ืืช ืขืฆืื ืืืืืจื, ืืืืื ืฉื ืืฉื ืืืจ”ื, ืื ืืืืืืช ืืื ืื’ ืืืื, ืื ืืื ืืกืจ ืื ื ืืช ืืืืืืช ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืฉืจ ื ืืืจ ืื ื, ืืขืชื ืืืืืืืื ืื ื ืืืืืืจ ืืช’ ืืช ืืืืืชื, ืืืืื ื ืฉื ืขืฉื ืืช ืขืฆืื ืืืืจืืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืจืฆืื ืืืจืื ื.
ืืื ืืชื ืืืืจ”ื (ืืืงืืื ืืืจืืฉ ืขื”ืช) ืืืฉืื ืงืืฉืืช ืืชืืก’ ืฉืืช ืค”ื ื’ ืืื ืืื ืฆืืจื ืืืคืืืช ืืจ ืืืืืืช, ืืืจื ืืืจ ืืืจื ืืฉืจืื ื ืขืฉื ืื ืฉืืข, “ืื ืืืฉ”ื ืืจืฆืื ื ื ืขืฉื ืื ืฉืืข ืื ืืื ืขืืืื ืื, ืืื ื ืืื ืฉืืคื ืขืืืื ืืจ ืืืืืืช, ืืื ืขืืืื ืืืืจืืื ืงื ืืืื ืืืืืืกืื ืืืื ืข”ื, ืืืืืืจ ืืืฉ ืขื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืขืื ืื ืืขืฉื ืืืืช ืืืืจืชื, ืืืืคื ืฉืื ืื ืืจืฆื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืขืฉืืช.
ืืืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืื”ืจ ืืฆ”ื, (ืฉืืืืช ืืืกืจ ืืืืจ ื ”ื ืืืืื) ืฉืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืขืืืืช ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืขืื ืืงืื ื, ืขืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืืฆืืช ืจืื, ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืจ “ืืฉืืื ืืช ืจืืื” ืืืคื’ ืื ืืฉืืื ืืช ืฉื ืืืื ืฉืืื, ืฉืื ืืื ืขืืฉื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ื ืขืื, ืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืขืืฉื ืขื ืืขืช ืขืฆืื. ืืืื ืืืื ืืฉ”ื ืืืจืืืช ื’ ื’ ืืืืืืจ ืืืชืื “ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืงืืื ืืืืช, ืืืจื ืืืื ืืฉืขืืื ืื ืืืืฅ ืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืื, ืื ืืืจ ื’, ืฆื ืืืืชื, ืื ืืช ืืชื ืืื ืชืื'” ืืื’, ืืืืจื ืืื’ ืืื ืืช ืืชื ืืื ืชืื’, ืืช ืืชื ืืขืื”ื ืืื ืชืื’ ืืขืื”ื, ื”ื, ืืื ืืืื ืืื, ื”ื ืืฉืื ืืื ืขืกืงืช ืืคืจื’ ืืจืื’, ื”ื ืืืงืืื, ืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืจืื”ืง ืื ืคืงื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืขืื, ื”ื ืืฉืขืืื, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืจืืื ื ืืื ืื, ืืื ืืืืคืงืืืช ืืืืขื ืื ืืืืขืื, ืืื ืื ืืื ืงืื ืงืื”ื ืืืขืืื ืืื’, ืืฆ”ืข ืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืชืืืื ืืื ืืืชื ืืขืื”ื ืืืจืช ืืืื ืืขืื”ื ืขืืืจ ืืืืื ืืฆืืช ืขืฉื ืืคืจื’ ืืจืื’, ืืืืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืขืื ืฉ ืืืืืจ ืื ืืืจ ืืื ืื ืขื ืืืืื ืืฆืืช ืขืฉื ืืจืืื, ืืื ืขื ืืืขื ืฉื ืชื ืืืืจ, ืืืื “ืืืืื ืืจืื”ืง ืื ืคืงื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืขืื”, ืืืืจ ืฉืืืืช ืืขืื ืื ืืืืงื ืคืืจ ืขืฆืื ืืงืืื ืืฆืืช ืืฉื, ืืืืื ืคืจืง ืขืื ืขืืืืช ืืืงืื ืืขืืื, ืฉืืื ืื ืืขืื ืืื ืืฆืืช ืจืื ืืชื ืื, ืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืกืืืืช ืืขืฆืื ืืืืจืืข ืืืืช ืืงืืื ืืืฆืื ืืืืืช ืืืืื, ืืจื”ื ืืืจืื ืขื ืขืฆืื ืฉืืื ื ืขืื ืืื ืื ืืืจืื, ืืืคื’ ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืชืื ืืฉื ืฉืืื, ื”ื ืืื ืืื ื ืืฉืืขืื ืืฆืืืื ืจืื ืืืืช ืฉืืื.
ื. ืืืฉ ืืืชื ืืขื ื ืืกืฃ, ืืืืืจื ืืชืืจื (ืืืจืื ื’ ื’) “ืื ืชืืกืืคื ืขื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืื ืื ืืฆืืื ืืชืื ืืืื ืืื ืชืืจืขื ืืื ื”, ืืืฉ ืืืชืืื ื ืืืื ืืืจืืข ืืกืืจ, ืืื ืืื ืืกืจื ืืชืืจื ืืืืกืืฃ, ืืื ืื ืจืข ืืฉ ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืื ืืกืฃ ืขื ืฉืืืจืช ืื ืืืฆืืืช, ืืืกืืฃ ืื ืืื ืขืื ืืฆืืืช.
ืืขื’ ืจืืื ื ืืืื ืฉื ืฉืืชื ืฉืืืืืจื ืืชืืจื ืฉืื ืืชืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืฆืืช ืืืืจ ืืืกืืฃ ืขื ืื ืฉืฆืื ืืฉื ืืชืืจื ืืืืฉืื ืื ืืชืืกืคืช ืืื ืชืืื ืขืืืื ืืฉื ืืชืืจื, ืืื ืืืจ ืื ืชืืกืืคื, ืื ืืชืืจื ืฉืืื ืืื ื ืฆืจืืื ืชืืกืคืช ืืืืจืขืช, ืืื ืืืืกืืฃ ืื ืืืจืข.
ืืื ื ืขื ืื ืื ืฉืืืืกืืฃ ืืืจืข, ืืฉ ืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ื ืขืฉื ื”ืืขืืื” ืขื ืืชืืจื ืืืืกืืฃ ืื, ืืฃ ืืจืืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืืจืืข.
ืืืฉ ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืขื ืื ืืฆืืจื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืื ืขืืืืช, ืืื ืืืื ืจืฆืื ื ืฉืื, ืืื ื”ื ืชืืื ืืจืฆืื ื, ืืื ืืจืฆื ืฉืื ืืขืฉืืช ืื ืืขืฉื.
ื. ืืืื ืื ืืืช ืืฉืจืื, ืืืฆื ืืื”ืข ืืฆืื ื ืืืขื”ื ืฉืืืช ืค”ื ื”ื, ืืชืจื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืข”ื ืืืฉื ืฉื ืืฉื ืืชื ืืืฆืจื ืืฉื ืืืืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืืจืืฉืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืจ ืืข”ื, ืืืืืจ ืืืื”ืจ ืืฆ”ื ืืฉืืืืช ืืืกืจ ืืืืจ ืข”ื, ืฉืืข”ืค ืฉืืชืจื ืืืคื ืืขื ืืข”ื ืืืจืืืฉ ืืืคืกืืชื, ืืขืค”ื ืื ืจืฆื ืืื ื ืืช ืืจืขื ืืืืืชื ืืืืื ืช ืืืืช, ืืื ืจืฆื ืฉืืจืฆืื ื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืช ืืืืช, ืืื ืืืื ืืืืจืืื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืจ ื’ ืื ืฉืืฆืื ื ื”ื ืืืืจ ืฉืืกืืืื ืืืืืช ืฉืคืื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืืืจืื, ืืืขืค”ื ืืฉืืืฆืข ืื ืืืืืช ืืืืจื ืืืืช ืื, ืื ืจืฆืชื ืืชืืืื, ืืืืฉ”ื ืื”ื ืืจ”ืจ ืคืจืฉื ื”ื ื, “ืืชืงื ืฉืจื ืืฉืช ืืืจื ืืช ืืืจ ืืืฆืจืืช ืฉืคืืชื, ืืงืืชื ืืืืจืื ืืืจื ืื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืช ืืืืงืช ืืืืฃ ืืงืืืฉ”, ืืืฉืืข ืฉืืืจ ืื ืจืฆืชื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืืจืื, ืืื ืืืขื ืืืืืจ, ืฉืื ืขืื ืฉืืืชื ืฉืคืื ืืืชื ืืืจืืจื ืืืื, ืื ืื ืชืืื ืืฉืชื ืฉื ืืืจืื ืชืืื ืืืืจืืช ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืชื ืฉื ืืืจืื, ืืืืืจืื ืขืฆืื ืื ืจืฆืชื.
[1] ย ืื ืืฉ ืืืชืืื ื ืืื ืืืฆืจืื ื ืืืืจืืื ื”ื ืืืืจ ืฉื ืจืฆืข ืืฉืื ืืขืืจ ืขื ืื ืชืื ืื, ืืืจื ืืืชื ืืขื ืฉื ืืืืจ ืขืฆืื ืฉืืื ื ืจืฆืข ืืฉืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืชื ืืื’, ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืจืืื ื”ื, ืืืืื ืืืจืฆืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืื ืืืฉืืจ ืขืื, ืืื ื ืืืจืฆืข ืืื ืืืืืจ ืขืฆืื.
[2] ย ืืืฉ”ื ืืกื”ื ืฉื “ืื ื ืืจืืื ืื ืื ืืืืชืจืช”, ื ืชืืืจ ืืืง”ื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืชืจืช ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืื”ืง.
[3] ย ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืืช ืฉื ืืขืืื ืฉืืขืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืื ื ืืืืืื, ืกืืจ ืจื ืืื ืื ื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืื, ืืืืจืื ืืืชื ืืข”ืข ืืข”ื ืืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืช ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืื, ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืืืขื ืืฉื ืืืืืจื, ืืืจื ืืื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืืื ืืจืืื, ืืื ืืื ืืืขื ืืฉื, ืืจืง ืฉืืืืื ืืช ืืืื ืข”ื ืืื ืืืืืจื, ืืืื ืืข”ื ืืืฉ ืืื ืืฉืื ืืช ืืืื, ืืืืืื ืื ืืขืื ืฉ, ืืืจื ืฉืืืืืืื ืืขืื ืฉ.
[4] ย ืื”ื ืชืฉ”ืข โ ืืฉื”ืจ ืฉื”ื ืืืืจื”ื ืืืกืงืื ืค’ ืืฉืคืืื.
[5] ย ืืืืื ื ืื’ ืชืืก’ ืจื”ื ืงืืืืฉืื ื”ื ื’, ืืื ืืงื ื ืืื ืืช ืืชื ืืฉืืจ ืืืชื ื, ืืืฆืืช ืืืจืขืื ืืกืฃ ืขื”ืฉ, ืืืืื ื ืืืืจืขืช ืืืฉืืืืช.
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Harav Hagaon Yehuda Wagshal Shlita
Chessed: Itโs Not for Hashem
Parashas Mishpatim
Harav Hagaon Yehuda Wagshal Shlita
We all know that one of the unique characteristics of Klal Yisrael is that we are gomlei chassadim, and there are many mitzvos in the Torah, some of them in this weekโs parashah, that involve various forms of chessed. Now, the simple understanding of the mitzvah of gemilus chassadim is that we are meant to provide needy and less-fortunate people with what they are lacking. But if we look into some of the mitzvos of gemilus chassadim in this weekโs parashah, we will see that they have a deeper meaning as well.
The passuk states, regarding the mitzvah of perikah: ืึดึผื ืชึดืจึฐืึถื ืึฒืืึนืจ ืฉึนืื ึทืึฒืึธ ืจึนืึตืฅ ืชึทึผืึทืช ืึทืฉึธึผืืืึน ืึฐืึธืึทืึฐืชึธึผ ืึตืขึฒืึนื ืืึน ืขึธืึนื ืชึทึผืขึฒืึนื ืขึดืึผืึน โ if you see someone elseโs donkey carrying packages, and itโs buckling under the burden, will you refrain from helping him? You have to help him out! The related mitzvah, teโinah, is that if you see someone loading packages and he needs help, youโre supposed to help him load his packages.
Regarding the mitzvah of perikah, the Torah stresses that even if the donkey thatโs suffering belongs to your enemy โ ืึดึผื ืชึดืจึฐืึถื ืึฒืืึนืจ ืฉึนืื ึทืึฒืึธ ืจึนืึตืฅ ืชึทึผืึทืช ืึทืฉึธึผืืืึน โ you should still help him. The Torah makes it clear that your dislike of the person should not stop you from helping him out in his time of need. So the simple meaning of the passuk is that despite the fact that you hate him and you donโt really want to help him, you should overcome your hatred and help him. The Gemara (Bava Metzia 32b) actually says that if you have the choice of helping with teโinah for an enemy or perikah for a friend, you should do teโinah for your enemy, even though in doing so you are ignoring the donkeyโs discomfort. Why? Because helping your enemy involves overcoming your yetzer hara โ ืืืืฃ ืืช ืืฆืจื โ and is therefore a more important mitzvah.
The Targum Onkelos understands the passuk differently, however, interpreting the words ืขึธืึนื ืชึทึผืขึฒืึนื ืขึดืึผืึน to mean: ืืฉืืง ืชืฉืืืง ืื ืืืืื ืขืืืื ืืชืคืจืืง ืขืืื. The word ืขึธืึนื can mean โhelp,โ but it also means โabandon,โ and Onkelos teaches that you are meant to abandon whatโs in your heart against him, and unload with him. You canโt just remain his enemy and help him despite your hatred for him; you are required to eliminate your ill feelings and help him.
Now, itโs always good to abandon oneโs hatred of another person โ thereโs an issur of ืึนื ืชึดืฉึฐืื ึธื ืึถืช ืึธืึดืืึธ ืึดึผืึฐืึธืึถืึธ โ but this would seem wholly unrelated to the mitzvah of perikah, which applies even if you still hate the person. But Onkelos is teaching that the mitzvah is specifically to stop hating him and then help him.
Rabbeinu Chananel explains that when the Gemara states that itโs better to help your enemy than your friend, in order to overcome your yetzer hara, the point is ืืื ืืืืฃ ืืช ืืฆืจื ืืฉืืื, to compel your yetzer hara to make peace.
We see, then, that the purpose of the mitzvah of gemilus chassadim is not only to give the other person what he needs โ itโs to love him and then give him what he needs. If you give him what he needs without loving him, thatโs not the full mitzvah of gemilus chassadim.
First, Feel His Pain
This idea is also reflected in another mitzvah of chessed in this parashah, the mitzvah of lending money: ืึดื ืึถึผืกึถืฃ ืชึทึผืึฐืึถื ืึถืช ืขึทืึดึผื ืึถืช ืึถืขึธื ึดื ืขึดืึธึผืึฐ ืึดื ืึถึผืกึถืฃ ืชึทึผืึฐืึถื. Regarding the words ืึถืช ืึถืขึธื ึดื ืขึดืึธึผืึฐ, Rashi comments: ืืื ืืกืชืื ืืขืฆืื ืืืื ืืชื ืืขื ื. Look at yourself as if youโre the pauper, and then lend him the money. This means that if a person is asked to lend money to someone, and he doesnโt put himself in the borrowerโs shoes, but instead feels every bit the rich man in the comfortable chair whoโs extending his magnanimity to the needy borrower, he has not fulfilled the mitzvah of lending money in its complete sense. The true fulfillment of the mitzvah is when you view yourself first as the needy person, and then you lend him the money.
Why is that? If youโre the baal chessed, and not the ani, then why do you have to feel like the pauper? The answer is that the real mitzvah of chessed is not just to supply the personโs needs. Hakadosh Baruch Hu has other ways of providing for people โ but He wants us to feel the pain of others in need. We should connect to another Yid and feel what heโs going through. Just as when Iโm in pain I want to relieve the pain, and Iโll do anything I can to get myself out of my predicament, when I see another Yid suffering I have to feel what heโs going through, feel his humiliation, and then help him out. Thatโs the meaning of ืึถืช ืึถืขึธื ึดื ืขึดืึธึผืึฐ.
The mitzvah of chessed is meant to connect one Yid to another. When another Yid is having a problem, and you feel what heโs going through and you want to ease his pain just as you would want to ease your own pain, that is the ultimate fulfillment of the mitzvah of chessed.
Perhaps the same idea applies to the mitzvah of perikah for an enemy. The point is not that the person should continue hating his enemy and help him out anyway saying, โIโm not interested in doing him a favor, but what can I do? The Torah commands me to help him.โ When doing mitzvos bein adam laMakom, it is crucial to do them lโsheim mitzvah. But when it comes to chessed, lโsheim mitzvah isnโt enough. You have to do the mitzvah lโsheim the other person, out of understanding for what heโs going through and empathy with his plight.
The main point of the mitzvah bein adam lโchaveiro of chessed is to do it for him, not to do it for Hashem. Therefore, if you continue to hate him, then even though you supplied his needs and he received the help he required, that defeats the main purpose of chessed, which is to feel for the other person. And the only way to feel with him is by giving up your hatred and make peace. Once you become close again, you can feel his pain and feel the desire to help him. Only then can you fulfill the mitzvah of chessed properly.
Prohibited Even Without the Bite
Another mitzvah related to lending money is the prohibition of ribbis, which the Torah also refers to as neshech: ืึนื ืชึฐืฉึดืืืืึผื ืขึธืึธืื ื ึถืฉึถืืึฐ. The Gemara, at the beginning of ืืืืื ื ืฉื, explains that the term โneshechโ connotes a bite, since interest takes a โbiteโ out of the borrower. The term ribbis connotes increase (ribui), since charging interest causes the lenderโs money to increase, since he is repaid more than he lent. The Torah forbids both aspects: Donโt bite the borrowerโs assets by charging interest, and donโt increase your own assets that way.
Why does the Torah care if the lender increases his own assets? Isnโt the main concern that the borrower shouldnโt be bitten? Accordingly, isnโt the term neshech more apropos than the term ribbis?
Furthermore, the Gemara discusses the ramifications of these two terms, and says that theoretically, if you could have a situation of neshech without ribbis โ where the borrower loses but the lender doesnโt benefit โ that would be forbidden. The reverse scenario, ribbis without neshech โ where the lender would gain without the borrower losing โ would be forbidden as well. The Gemara tries to find ways in which these scenarios could play out, and concludes that it is impossible; whenever thereโs ribbis, thereโs neshech, and vice versa. But even hypothetically, if the lender would only gain while the borrow would not lose, that would be forbidden as well.
Why is that? Isnโt that a classic win-win situation? The borrower received his loan, while the lender received his interest, so everyone is happy!
Clearly, the Torah has a problem with ribbis as well โ and itโs the same problem as lending money just to supply the borrowerโs needs. Thatโs not the mitzvah of halvaah! If the purpose of this mitzvah was just to give the borrower the loan he requires, then ribbis should be perfectly acceptable under those circumstances; I gained, and he didnโt lose. But the mitzvah is to lend him money because you feel his pain and you empathize with his predicament. The man is in trouble, and because you understand his helplessness, you reach out and lend him the money. Youโre doing it for him. If you are gaining through the transaction by earning ribbis, however, then even though the borrower is not losing anything, youโre not doing it for him, and itโs not true chessed.
Donโt Do It Lishmah?
We pasken, regarding mitzvos dโOraysa, that mitzvos tzrichos kavanah โ you fulfill the mitzvah only if you had in mind to be yotzei. The Chofetz Chaim seems to say that this concept of mitzvos tzrichos kavanah applies to chessed and bein adam lโchaveiro as well, so when, say, you lend someone money, you should have in mind to do it lโsheim mitzvah.
The Chazon Ish disagrees, maintaining that not only is there no requirement of kavanah lโsheim mitzvah when doing chessed, if a person does do chessed lโsheim mitzvah, he practically loses the whole mitzvah of chessed. Why? Because if youโre doing it lโsheim mitzvah, that means youโre doing it for Hashem, and Hashem wants us to do chessed for the sake of the other person! When a person is in pain and he seeks to ease his pain, he doesnโt do it lโsheim Hashem โ he does it lโsheim himself, because he’s in pain! Hashem wants our friendโs pain to be our pain, and we should feel a need to solve his problem in order to ease that pain.
Doing chessed lโsheim the friend and not lโsheim Hashem is what we learn from the mitzvos in this weekโs parashah, which teach us the ultimate meaning of the mitzvah of chessed.