Ask The Rabbi

Ask the Rabbi #129

Become a Supporter Library Library

Ask the Rabbi

7 December 1996; Issue #129

This issue is dedicated in the memory of Brian Lutch - Benyamin ben Berel z"l by his son Joseph Lutch
Contents:
  • Bring 'Em Back Alive
  • Lighting on the Fly
  • Chanuka in Open Spaces
  • Answer to Yiddle Riddle
  • Subscription Information
  • Back issues are indexed both by issue no. and by subject
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    This publication is also available in the following formats: [Text] [Word] [PDF] Explanation of these symbols


  • Bring 'Em Back Alive

    Contents

    Sally Barton wrote:

    If the pit that the brothers threw Joseph into was full of snakes and scorpions, so how could Reuven think he was saving Joseph by throwing him into a pit full of snakes and scorpions? Doesn't it say that Reuven was trying to save Joseph and bring him back alive to their father?

    Dear Sally Barton,

    Yes, Reuven wanted to save Joseph. The Torah describes Reuven's response to his brothers' plan as follows:

    And Reuven said to them, "Don't shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the desert, and you won't have to lay your hands upon him." This was in order to save him from their hands and return him to his father ... The pit was empty, there was no water in it. (Genesis 37:22,24)

    Rashi comments: "The pit was empty of water, but there were snakes and scorpions in it. (ibid.)

    So how could Reuven hope to save Joseph by throwing him into a snake/scorpion pit? Good question.

    The well-known Kabbalistic work, the Zohar, poses the exact same question, and answers: "In a place of snakes and scorpions, if a person is righteous G-d will do a miracle for him and he will be saved; however, once a person is in the hands of his enemies there are very few who will be saved."

    Snakes and scorpions are 'robots': they are 'programmed' to behave in specific ways. If a person is especially righteous G-d will protect him by 're-programming' the snakes not to bite and the scorpions not to sting.

    Humans, on the other hand, have free will; and rarely does G-d interfere with human free will. So sometimes a righteous person is allowed to suffer because G-d doesn't want to hinder free will.

    The commentaries maintain that Joseph's brothers decreed a death sentence on him, acting as a legal Jewish court. A number of reasons are offered for this:

    • Joseph was guilty of false prophecy in his dreams.
    • Joseph's dreams advocated a monarchy, which based on their experience, the brothers felt would be destructive to the spiritual nature of the Jewish people. They had witnessed Nimrod, Avimelech and the Pharaohs - all of them despotic dictators who set themselves up as demi-gods. The brothers felt that Joseph's dreams advocated a monarchy of that type.
    The brothers thought that attempting to kill Joseph held no risk: If he were a true prophet, G-d would protect him, but if they succeeded in killing him, it would be evidence of his evil nature.

    Reuven argued that this would prove nothing, since G-d lets human free-will take its course. The brothers accepted this argument and instead threw Joseph in the pit, leaving his fate to Divine Providence.


    Lighting on the Fly

    Contents

    Nathan Novelli wrote:

    I'm a student of Chief Rabbi of Triest, Italy. My Rabbi ask me to send this question: A family want travel in return from USA to Europe in the 8th evening of Chanuka; they have to leave New York at 3:00pm - which is before the time to light. They plan to arrive at home only in the morning of the next day. At home there are nobody to made agent for lighting. What is the correct way for a fulfillment of mizvah? I'm sorry for my terrible english, thankyou for the answer.

    Dear Nathan Novelli,

    I asked your question to Rabbi Shlomo Fisher, shlita. He ruled that in your case there is no obligation to light Chanuka lights.

    This can be explained as follows: The Talmud describes the mitzva to light Chanuka lights as "a candle for a person and his home" (Shabbat 21b). The obligation to light Chanuka candles applies only if you are based in a home at the appropriate time for fulfilling the mitzva.

    But if you're riding with your family in a car or plane the entire night - and there's nobody residing in your home - you're exempt from lighting Chanuka candles.


    Chanuka in Open Spaces

    Contents

    Alan Shear wrote:

    If a person finds himself camping out in a field during the time of Chanuka with a group of many other people (perhaps 200), and all will be camping outside in tents, what would be the best possible way of fulfilling the mitzvah of Chanuka lighting?

    Dear Alan Shear,

    As we wrote above, someone not based in a home is exempt from the lighting Chanuka candles. A tent is not a home, unless it's big enough to be considered a halachic 'house' (approximately seven feet by seven feet by three feet high).

    However, if there are family members who don't go on the camping trip but remain at home, they should light on behalf of their family member who went camping.


    Answer to Yiddle Riddle

    Contents

    Question: On one historic Yom Kippur, the entire Jewish people ate and drank and were praised for it by Hashem; when did this occur?

    Answer: When King Solomon built the Temple, Yom Kippur occurred during its seven Inauguration Days. The Sanhedrin decided that not only must the Inauguration Sacrifices for the Temple be offered but, moreover, the people must cook, eat, and drink on Yom Kippur or else the happiness of the Inauguration would be incomplete. (See Tractate Mo'ed Katan 9a.)



    © 1995 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.

    This publication is available via E-Mail
    Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

    The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

    Ohr Somayach's Web site is hosted by TeamGenesis


    Copyright © 1995 Ohr Somayach International. Send us Feedback.
    Dedication opportunities are available for Ask The Rabbi. Please contact us for details.
    Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.