The Kosher Bookworm: A post Pesach review and a timely tribute

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By Alan Jay Gerber

Issue of April 10, 2009 / 16 Nissan 5769

With the Pesach holiday now in full swing, the classical Jewish “bridge of time,” the Omer season, is upon us. Rabbi Paul Steinberg, cited in a previous review, stated it most accurately: “The Jewish calendar is made up of spiritual ebbs and flows, rises and falls. The gradual buildup to Passover climaxes with the seder, undoubtedly one of the high points of the Jewish year. However, Passover should not be experienced as a spiritual island. It is inexorably bound to the next major festival Shavuot, by seven weeks; and within those weeks are the connecting days that possess their own inherent significance” (Celebrating the Jewish Year, The Jewish Publications Society, 2009).

This segment of time is called Sefirat Ha’Omer and serves as a time link between the two major religious feasts that are framed by the Exodus experience and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

The counting, which begins on the second night of Pesach, forces us to look ahead, to the Sefirah period, to Yom Hashoah, to Yom Ha’atzmaut, to Lag Ba’Omer, to Yom Yerushalayim and ultimately to Shavuot itself. It is a forward moving counting exercise that forces one to view the calendar as if it was a liturgical work itself that assists in the propelling of time.

There are several books that I wish to bring to your attention that should help give you an intellectual and emotional insight into the deeper meanings of these times.

The first is entitled “Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik on Pesach, Sefirat ha-Omer and Shavu’ot,” edited by Rabbi David Shapiro and published by Urim Publications.

According to the editor, each chapter of this book deals with an area of halachic learning in which the Rav made a significant contribution to our understanding of that particular sugya. These chiddushim are presented in a clear English, although the Gemara citations are, for the most part, not translated.

Also, each theme is explored and explained in a manner that demonstrates its relevance beyond its original immediate context, thus giving it a broader meaning and application to Jewish law and observance.

The range of topics starts with an analysis of the relationship between the importance of the Exodus experience as detailed in our daily liturgical regimen to that as practiced at the seder on Pesach. Also, the unique recitation of the Hallel service is analyzed for the inner meanings of its being recited twice during the first two evenings of the holiday.

The whole concept concerning the importance of kavana (deep concentration and devotion) while doing a mitzvah is given extensive treatment. This spiritual mental exercise is placed in its proper perspective and should serve as an apt mussar shmooze for all of us.

This is followed by an analysis of the quantitative as well as qualitative aspects of the numerous laws concerning Sefirat HaOmer.

One fascinating chapter deals with the historical dispute in the proper dating of Shavuot between the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Boethusians, a dispute whose ultimate resolution was to settle all major disputes in Jewish law in favor of the Pharisees.

The last two chapters deal with the 10 commandments, specifically the first through the fourth, and the Rav’s take on the textual analysis, as well as the theological importance that is behind the centrality of these mitzvot to our faith.

A common theme that flows through this volume is the contrast between the spiritual and physical darkness as represented by the Egyptian servitude and the spiritual light as demonstrated at Mt. Sinai.

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner is one of Rabbi Zvi Yehudah Kook, zt”l’s leading disciples and one of Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, zt”l’s leading ideological advocates today. His outspoken demeanor is reflected in an interesting sefer entitled, “Moadim Lesimcha: Explorations into the Jewish Holidays” (Urim Publications, 2002).

Relevant to this review are the chapters that deal with Rav Aviner’s take on such timely issues as the Aish Kodesh’s views and teachings concerning the Holocaust and of Rav Aviner’s own personal quest as to where G–d was during the Holocaust.

Rav Aviner’s treatment of Pesach focuses attention on his commentary on the ma’aseh b’Rabbi Eliezer, the 10 plagues and their theological and historical significance.

The splitting of the sea and its importance to us today, especially when we consider that it is commemorated in our liturgy every day of the year, is dealt with by citing the opinions of Rav Zadok HaKohen of Lublin’s teachings on this sacred event.

Yom Ha’atzmaut, Lag Ba’Omer and Yom Yerushalayim are each given separate treatment, with a chapter detailing the deep contemporary spiritual importance that they have come to signify to the Jewish people. Discussed therein are the concepts of redemption, the birth pangs of the mashiach and the mitzvah of yishuv and kedushat Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Aviner notes that Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Torah, and he uses this as his take off point for an interesting and intriguing Yom Yerushalayim drasha.

Shavuot is dealt with in traditional fashion, with an Aviner touch of his own take on revelation, prophecy and whether the giving of the Torah was a fully voluntary experience. All this truly makes for some very interesting Sefira reading.

A timely tribute

This past Friday marked the 40th yahrtzeit of one of our nation’s most beloved rabbonim, HaRav Aryeh Levin, zt”l. Surely, this writer would be remiss if he did not devote space to the life’s work of this spiritual angel who graced the holy city of Jerusalem with his “bren for chain and ahavat Yisrael” at a time when it needed it the most.

Recently, in anticipation of this commemorative, Feldheim Publishers re-issued one of their greatest biographical classics, “A Tzaddik in our Time” by one of Israel’s greatest writers, Simcha Raz.

Originally published in Hebrew in 1972, it was published in English in 1976 by Rabbi Isaiah Dvorkas and translated by Charles Wengrov. A new, revised and expanded edition was recently published, edited by Deena Nataf with the assistance of Rabbi Binyamin Levene.

It is truly a joy to behold the respect and veneration that the public had and still has for Rav Levin inasmuch as all editions of Simcha Raz’s book have been runaway bestsellers.

Any attempt by me to summarize Rav Levin’s life story would be inadequate. My only effort here will be to focus on my own personal tribute to the man who has come to represent the best that the Israel rabbinate has ever offered in service to all Klal Yisrael through his deed and by his example.

In his forward to the second English edition, Rav Levin’s grandson, Rabbi Levene states that in observing his grandfather he came to learn the following:

“Simple can be deep and profound.

Extremism is not an expression of holiness.

You can serve G-d and be ‘normal.’”

Given all the contention and strife within our people today, we all have much to learn from the legacy of one who passed from our midst four decades ago at this season but whose legacy and spiritual yerusha we can all learn from during this Pesach and Sefira Zeman. “A Tzaddik in our Time’ deserves your undivided attention.