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Becoming Human

Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

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R’ Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander Ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. R’ Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.

Becoming Human

The Ohr Hachaim[1] comments that וספרתם לכם; count for yourselves, is related to ספיר; illuminate, as one should refine and purify himself during the weeks of Sefira. In fact, this is hinted to in לכם as it forms an acronym of כדי לטהרנו מקלפותינו;[2] to count Sefira in order to cleanse us from the shells of impurity.[3]

 

The Pasuk states וספרה לה שבעת ימים ואחר תטהר; she counts seven days and then she can be purified.[4] This also alludes to Sefira as after we count seven weeks and improve our ways, then we can be pure![5] Mesachta Keilim concludes אשריך כלים שנכנסת בטמאה ויצאת בטהרה;[6] happy are you, Keilim, that you entered in impurity and departed in purity (referring to the opening and closing words of this Mesachta). This can also be said of one who refines and purifies himself in this world.

 

In this special time of Sefira we are given the opportunity to transform and elevate ourselves from our low animalistic side to becoming a true human.[7] This is how the Beis Avraham explains the difference in Karbanos at this time of year. The Karbon Omer which is brought on Pesach is from barely- animal food.[8] The Karbon Shtei Halechem which is offered on Shavuos is from wheat- human food. This is the purpose of Sefira- to cleanse and transform ourselves from animal to human.[9]

 

R’ Chatzkel Levenstein[10] writes in the name of the Alter of Kelm his explanation on עיר פרא אדם יולד:[11] first, we are a עיר פרא; wild animal, but we need to give birth to the human, to rule over physicality. This requires effort as is indicated in אדם לעמל יולד:[12] to form (יולד) the true human- אדם- we need to toil at it (עמל).

 

R’ Binyamin Rabinowitz was careful to eat the Afikoman before Chatzos.[13] One year, they began the meal (Shulchan Aruch) only 20 minutes prior to Chatzos. As his children rushed the meal so they could eat the Afikoman before Chatzos, R’ Binyamin told them to slow down because the Rebbetzin worked hard to prepare the meal so she may be upset it is rushed without enjoying. Then R’ Binyamin commented, “All the stringencies of the Seder aren’t worthwhile if it causes another Jew to groan.”[14]

 

R’ Yaakov Abuchatzera remarks that והבאתם את עמר ראשית קצירכם;[15] you shall bring an עומר from your first harvest, is called so because we cut off (קציר) the קליפות; shells of impurity, during these days of Sefira.[16] It is, of course, no coincidence that the Parshiyos that come out during Sefira contain טהרה; purity: Shemini speaks about מאכלות אסורות; forbidden foods, which can cause blockage to Kedusha,[17] Tazria and Metzora are filled with טהרה, Acharei Mos speaks of Yom Kippur, the day of purity, Kedoshim deals with Kedusha and so on.

 

We know מואב is from the union of לוט and his daughters.[18] It therefore is no surprise that it yields a Gematria of 49 (levels of impurity) signifying how steeped in impurity they were. Of all people, Dovid Hamelech descends from this union. When is his Yartzheit? On Shavuos.[19] This is because he rose from those 49 gates of impurity to the high level we were on Shavuos- the 50th.[20] We should merit to cleanse and purify ourselves with the special opportunity we have during Sefira.

[1] Vayikra 23:15

[2] In the Tefila רבונו של עולם we say after we count Sefira

[3] The Kotzker Rebbe once commented, “It is not a miracle to change nature- because since the letters of the Torah created the world, if you know Torah, you can change nature. It is, however, a miracle to change your nature (character).”

[4] Vayikra 15:28. Rabbanu Yona (Avos 3:17, s.v. אם אין דרך ארץ) writes that Torah can dwell in one who fixes his Middos.

[5] We must realize we are each diamonds. Just as a diamond can be dirty but it is still a diamond as it just needs to be cleaned off, the same is with each of us.

[6] Keilim 30:4

[7] R’ Bachaye (Yisro 18:21, s.v. בא) writes that wisdom is not what is of main significance but rather good character is. This is just as a tree where its fruit is the main significance. With this, we can explain why when the Torah praises great people it doesn’t describe their wisdom rather their righteousness and character. Concerning Noach, it states איש צדיק תמים; righteous man, perfect… (Breishis 6:9). Regarding Avraham- והיה תמים; be perfect (Breishis 17:1). Moshe- ענו מאד; exceedingly humble (Bamidbar 12:3).

[8] This is shown to us by the Sota in that her Karbon is from barely- animal food- since she did an animalistic act (Bamidbar 5:15, Rashi).

[9] Nesivos Shalom, Emor, Sefiras Haomer. Looking at the Parshiyos of Sefira, we notice it contains the number 7 and 8. In Shemini, it is indicated in its name. In Tazria, we are told a woman who gives birth to a boy is impure for 7 days. The 8th day, he is circumcised (12:3,4). We also see the number 7 when the Kohen deals with Tzaraas later in that Parsha. In Metzora, the one with Tzaraas is sprinkled 7 times, dwells outside the tent for 7 days and so on. On the 8th day, he brings a Karbon. This is just one example in Metzora as these numbers also appear by a Zav, Zava and so on. In Acharei Mos we speak of Yom Kippur which is in the 7th month (16:29). In Emor, we have Succos and Pesach- the 7-day Yomim Tovim- as well as Sefira. The sections of Shemita- which is every 7 years, and Yovel- which is after 7 cycles of Shemita, is dealt with in Parshas Behar. Behukosai is no exception as it says שבע… (26:18). This is the idea of Sefira as through the 7 weeks we rise to the 8th (supernatural) week- Shavuos.

[10] Ohr Yechezkal, Elul, pg 7. He was the famed Mashgiach of the Mir in Poland and moved with them to Shanghai, China in 1941. In 1954 he became the Mashgiach of Ponovich. He passed away in 1974.

[11] Iyov 11:12

[12] Iyov 5:7. It has been said, “If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?”

[13] Orach Chaim 477:1. R’ Rabinowitz was a member of the Beis Din of the Eidah HaChareidis in Yerushalayim.

[14] When a Rav isn’t certain of a Halacha, the tendency is to rule stringently because this seems safer as no one will be transgressing the Halacha. It is said from the Shevet Mussar that by being unnecessarily stringent, one may be transgressing on בין אדם לחבירו. So being stringent, and causing someone a loss or distress may be an even more severe sin than the transgression he attempted to avoid. When a question regarding Kashrus was brought to Reb Moshe Kliers, the Rav of Teveria, he was careful to rule correctly as he would repeat the Shevet Mussar’s lesson and would say that if he makes a mistake ruling the food isn’t kosher, he may be causing a poor person to lose money. That is a sin בין אדם לחבירו that Yom Kippur doesn’t atone.

[15] Vayikra 23:10

[16] Sefer Machsof Halavan, Emor

[17] See Yoma 39a

[18] Breishis 19:37

[19] This is one of the reasons why we read Rus on Shavuos as it delineates his ancestry (It is also Dovid’s birthday as Tzadikim are born and die on the same day).

[20] Parenthetically, the Kobriner (Toras Avos, Avodas Hashem) explains אונס רחמנא פטריה (Nedarim 27a) in the following way: If you force (אונס) yourself above your natural capabilities for Hashem, then רחמנא פטריה- the mercy of Hashem is opened up.

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