Torah starts with Bereishis - Why?

Darash Moshe (Bereishis 1:1) In the Beginning G-d created – Rashi explains this according to its plain meaning that in the very beginning of Creation … Furthermore it seems that this is to be understood as the Introduction to the entire Torah. This implies that  it is not considered performing a mitzva unless the person believes that G-d created everything that exists because without this faith there is no fulfillment of mitzvos. And even concerning a nonJew the Rambam (Melachim 08:11) states that observing the 7 mitzvos of the descendants of Noah requires the nonJew as a minimum to have the belief  that they were commanded by G-d through Moshe in the Torah.  One who lacks this basic faith is not considered a wise or pious person – and surely this is required of Jew. Consequently it is necessary to begin the Torah with this critical fact

Rav Sternbuch Relationship of Science to Torah (Authorized translation)

Some have claimed that I have issued a ruling, that one who believes that the world is millions of years old is not a heretic. This in spite of the fact that our Sages have explicitly taught that the world is no more than 6000 years! Furthermore some have cited isolated statements from traditional commentaries as proof that it is acceptable to believe that the world is very ancient.

These assertions are not random but are the result of an agenda to establish the belief that the world is entirely natural. By asserting that the world was created millions of years ago and that it developed very gradually, they are trying to make our holy Torah compatible with the views of scientists that everything that occurs is the result of mechanical natural processes.

However the Ramban (Exodus 13:16) has clearly expressed the Jewish view: “A person does not have a portion in the Torah of Moshe unless he believes that everything that happens in this world is miraculous.” If a person believes in miracles than obviously there can be no doubts and questions at all concerning how the world developed as we will demonstrate.

The truth is that even according to their view that the world is very old, nevertheless at some point they agree that G-d created it. Of necessity this act of creation had to have been unnatural i.e., miraculous occurrence. Nevertheless their concern is to make even this miraculous event as close to nature as possible. In other words, they much prefer to make the world as natural as possible and to minimize the miraculous. Thus they want to minimize the greatness of G-d in the creation of man. This attitude has been explained by the Brisker Rav based on a comment of Rashi. Rashi (Genesis 25:19) noted that the cynics had claimed that Sarah had become pregnant in her old age from Avimelech and not from her 100 year old husband Abraham. The Brisker Rav pointed out that either way Sarah’s pregnancy at the age of 90 was obviously miraculous. The goal of the cynics was to minimize the miracle by claiming that the father was not an old man. We find another expression of this attitude in the Torah when Moshe said that Redemption from Egypt would occur approximately at midnight. The Talmud (Berachos 4a) explains that in fact Moshe knew exactly when the Redemption would occur. However he knew that the  cynics — despite all the miracles that occurred in the Redemption — would demean the event if they mistakenly thought it hadn’t happened exactly as Moshe had prophesized. Their desire was to minimize G-d’s role in this world. Thus it is with these scientists. While they obviously have to admit to the fact of Creation — they want to minimize the role of miracle and maximize the role of nature. This is entirely to minimize the acknowledgment of G-d’s power and to move instead in the direction of heresy. They mistakenly think that it is possible to come to understand G-d’s activities and wonders.

It is in fact obvious to everyone that man is extremely limited and is not capable of understanding the act of Creation. In other words, why He created it then and not earlier  prior to 6000 years ago — or according to their words millions of years. What was the necessity of one time compared to any other? They answer what they can comprehend and the rest they agree they have no answers. We also say that we are merely human and that we do not have the ability to understand everything. However, what we can’t understand we rely on our faith. It is obvious that man’s thoughts are not comparable to G-d’s in the ability to understand Nature. Similarly we acknowledge we can’t comprehend or adequately explain G-d’s ways concerning good and evil in each generation. In these issues we simply rely on our faith in G-d’s greatness. In contrast they prefer to explain that man is the product of millions of years of development. As evidence they cite what appears to be ancient bone fragments that have been discovered in Madagascar and other places. Their evidence is total nonsense since prior to the Flood,

Nature was totally different than we have today. Prior to the Flood man lived for a 1000 years. This difference in what was normal growth and development makes the bones appears as if they are a million years old. With this type of shaky evidence they want to refute the words of our Sages and undermine the faith that exists amongst the Jewish people. Their main concern is to try to shake the faith in G-d — which has been accepted by us generation after generation. They want to replace this faith with the acceptance that events are determined primarily by the laws of nature.

If you think for a moment, you will readily notice G-d’s great wonders. For example there are countless stars which are greater in size than the earth. There are billions of stars like this that G-d placed in the sky that cause one to ask, “Who created them?” In fact they all testify that G-d created them. The Rambam (Foundation Principles of the Torah 4:12) stated, “When a person thinks carefully about the nature of the world — from angels to man and other creature — he sees G-d’s wisdom in all creatures and the creation. This awareness adds to his love of G-d and consequently his love of G-d becomes very passionate. He also becomes fearful as he recognizes his lowliness and insignificance… He comes to recognize that he is only an embarrassingly insignificant creature.” These comments are also of significance regarding the actions of the scientists.

They are fully aware of the astounding details of G-d’s wisdom in creating the world.  Nevertheless they strive to minimize the role of G-d in the creation of man and to say that  he is the result of natural processes over the course of millions of years. They do this in  order to make our traditions and faith compatible with the worthless views of scientists.

They do this despite the fact that there is no clear proof for their views — they are merely conjecture and fanciful guesses. Scientists — even those who are described as religious — are ashamed that we don’t agree with the views of the leading scientists that man is descended from the apes. They rush to find isolated statements of our Sages, rabbis and commentaries that seem consistent with contemporary scientific view. This attempt to make Judaism consistent with science occurs in spite of the fact that the idea that man came from the apes is itself utterly shocking. Nevertheless it is totally acceptable to these scientists. They will accept  anything that enables them to avoid acknowledging that G-d created man with His wisdom. Therefore they use misleading and distorted citations from Torah literature to claim justification for such scientific beliefs in the words of our Sages.

Regarding this strategy, it is important to candidly acknowledge that in a number of instances the Torah itself seems to contradict principles of our faith. For example in Genesis (1:26): G-d said, “Let us make man in our image.” The verse is stated in the  plural grammatical form. That implies that the G-d did not make man by Himself but rather with other entities! We also find such anthropomorphic expressions in the Torah such as “the hand of G-d” (Exodus 9:3) — which seems to say that G-d has a physical hand. Rav Chaim Brisker explained that G-d knew that there would always be heretics who would cite verses in the Torah to try and prove the validity of their deviant thoughts. If they didn’t have these particular verses they would find others. Therefore G-d wrote the Torah without concern whether the verses would be misused to justify heresy. In fact the reason that G-d describes the creation of man in the plural form is to teach us the importance of consulting with others. We should always seek advice and feedback — even from people who are less knowledgeable and wise. G-d felt it was important to convey this message in this way even though it might provide heretics with “proof” for their false theories. We thus learn an additional important lesson — that we are not obligated to constantly worry that the heretics will take verses out of context and thus have a false faith. No matter how the Torah would be expressed, they would still find “proofs” for their views.

Our faith is based on the traditions that have been passed down through the generations. The Rambam (Foundations of the Torah 8:1) states that the validity of our faith is not because of miraculous signs. Rather it has been validated by the fact that the Jewish people witnessed the awesome events of the Revelation of Sinai with their own eyes and ears. The Rambam (Foundations of Torah 9) goes into detail concerning this matter. Furthermore the Rambam (Laws of Disobedience 2:2) states that even a custom which has been accepted by the Jewish people under the guidance of the sages — should be considered equivalent to a ruling of the Sanhedrin itself. This is true even if the  custom doesn’t have a clear origin. 

Therefore a person who violates such an accepted custom violates the Torah prohibition of not disobeying the rulings of the Sanhedrin. If a mere custom is viewed as equivalent to an explicit ruling of the Sanhedrin and therefore can not be rejected, then surely the accepted view of the age universe can not be  disregarded. This required acceptance of the traditional age of the universe is all the  more obvious since every man and woman and child knows that the world was created 5765 years ago. An additional reason why we must accept the traditional age of the universe is that the calendar system is based on this fact. Consequently a person who casts doubts on this accepted tradition — even if he is widely respected person by the Jewish people — must be carefully investigated. This is because is possible that he might  have doubts concerning the foundation principles of faith — like the academic scholars. It has already become established by the rulings of the great rabbis throughout the generations, that if a person has doubts concerning faith — he is to be considered as a non-believer. That is the halacha.

The obvious truth is that the order and nature of creation is concealed. For example,  how did man come to inhabit all the continents and islands in the ocean — thousands of years ago? However we who have the Torah, know that G-d scattered man to all the lands of the earth after the Generation of Dispersion. In contrast, the scientists have no answer to this question. The fact is that the scientists have decided - without having faith – to establish answers. Nevertheless even with all their genius and knowledge, they are unable to resolve many questions. It is necessary to acknowledge that G-d created the world and man and that man has limited understanding. As a general rule, G-d gives His creatures the amount of intelligence they need to survive — but not more. Just as an animal only has enough intelligence to avoid danger, similarly man was given enough intelligence for the needs of live in this world. However our intellect is not adequate to determine the exact nature of the world, how this world is connected to the higher spiritual realms and surely it is insufficient to comprehend the nature of the higher worlds.

Concerning the time of the creation of the universe and its development into its present form, it is important to know that time does not exist at all in Heaven. That is what the ancient commentators have explained. The Vilna Gaon noted that when the Torah states that “ In the beginning G-d created”, it means that He created in this world beginning” i.e., time. The scientists have only recently discovered that time has a different meaning in the realm of the stars and galaxies. Nevertheless they still don’t understand that there is no time at all in Heaven, just as they don’t have any true understanding of creation. This ignorance has led them to the ridiculous and nonsensical idea that man developed from the apes. This absurdity is so firmly accepted by them that they view with contempt anyone who doesn’t accept their ideas. They scornfully insist that such a person is primitive and backwards since he doesn’t understand their views. Those Jewish scholars who agree with the views of the non-Jews and heretics that the world is millions of years old, rationalize that early man was primitive and lacked the ability to read and write. In fact they view early man as similar to the animals. 

However  our view is totally the opposite. When we look back in history to those early generations,  We can go from the Gra to the Arizal, the Arizal to the Ramban, the Ramban to the Gaonim, the Gaonim to the Amoraim, the Amoraim to the Tannaim, the Tannaim to the  Men of the Great Assembly, to the prophets and then to the holy Patriarchs. Following  this path one sees clearly that we are actually descended from angelic men – not beasts as  they assert. Consequently we must give praise to the Master of All who has separated us  from them and their views — they who live like animals to satisfy their lusts. G-d made  the separation by giving us His holy Torah. The Torah enables us to be attached to the  upper spiritual worlds even while we are in this material world. Through the Torah we  are able to fulfill G-d’s Will in this world.

There is an astounding observation relevant to these issues. Modern scientists have absolutely established that the earth rotates every day. The rotation indicates that there is a power which causes the rotation. That power is our G-d, blessed be His name. If the  scientists would reflect for a moment about this they would come to agree with the words  of our Sages. Our Sages have taught us that G-d did not just create the world but is  constantly creating it. He did not just form light but is constantly forming it and darkness.  Consequently creation would not continue to exist without the continually renewal in obedience with G-d’s command (Psalms 119:89): Forever, O L-rd, Your word is  established in Heaven. It is only these scientists who deny the dominion of G-d because  of their desire — similar to that of the Biblical Generation of Dispersal — to be like G-d  and to have His understanding.

This attitude is the reason why today there are astounding advances in science such  as space travel and many other things that we benefit in our daily lives — while at the  same time many suffer from terrible illnesses. The negative consequence of not being  guided by the Torah, is that man is totally dominated by his lusts like the animals and he  is even worse. His animalistic behavior has resulted in the HIV-Aids epidemic. There are  other illnesses which have been caused by the lack of satisfaction and meaning in life.

Unfortunately, due to our many sins, numerous of our youth have been pulled into these  things. These scientists view that they are saving mankind while in fact there is no  difference between “modern” man and the animals. It is only in fulfillment of G-d’s  Torah that man find the reason for life and the truth wealth — even though it involves many trials and difficulties.

Let me return to where we started. I do not know whether all those who accept the view of the scientists — that the world is very ancient — are heretics. However I do know that only heretics have such views against our Sages — who are fully accepted by us. I want to note in addition that those who accept that the world is ancient, also prefer to hear and accept the words of the scientists. Furthermore these people mistakenly think they have found support for their views amongst our traditional sources. In fact, however, we are obligated to always give precedent to Daas Torah. These are the accepted mainstream Torah views expressed in the Talmud as well as the writings of the great rabbis through the ages. Only those views which have been widely accepted are valid –   and not minority views that have been rejected or ignored. Only after we fully accept the Torah understanding of an issue, can we consider the words of the scientists and accept that which is compatible with the words of our sages.

Furthermore having scientific writings in your house, that are incompatible with the Torah, violates the prohibition (Deuteronomy 4:26): “Do not bring disgusting things in your house.” Simple calculations from the Bible concerning the generations from Adam lead to the clear conclusion that the world is less than 6,000 years old. Having such heretical scientific books in the home causes much troubles to those who possess them and it is obligated to get rid of them. Furthermore the author of such unacceptable  scientific writings must retract such views and subordinate himself to the authority of contemporary rabbinical authorities — according to what has been traditionally accepted.

G-d willing, I hope to offer an expanded explanation of these issues when I publish the fourth volume of my work, “Know What to Reply.” G-d should help that His promise will be fulfilled (Zechariah 14:9), “G-d will be the King over the entire world. On that day G-d will be one and His name one.” Amen!

Rav Moshe Sternbuch - Authorized Translation

A number of months ago, I had been asked to host a young man for Shabbos by a kiruv organization. During the Shabbos meal he expressed great interest in everything Jewish. When I asked him about his background, he mentioned that even though he had been raised as a non‑Jew by his non‑Jewish mother - but since his father was Jewish he knew he was Jewish. I was shocked by the revelation but said nothing to the young man. After Shabbos I asked the director of the program why he had sent me a non‑Jew for Shabbos? He replied that he had received a halachic ruling from an American rav who allowed participation of a non‑Jew – who viewed himself as Jewish. This was so even though the program had a mixture of boys and girls and there was a danger of intermarriage of the participants. I have since found out that this is not an isolated incident but in fact reflects the decision by certain individuals in kiruv to proselytize those who have a Jewish father. I mentioned this information to Rav Moshe Sternbuch. After gathering information from other sources, he wrote the following psak which he requested me to translate and disseminate. Daniel Eidensohn

HaRav Moshe Sternbuch shlita

Kiruv for someone with a Jewish father and a non‑Jewish mother

You ask what are the guidelines for kiruv programs - that encourage Jews to fully observe the Torah - which take place in religious schools or organized events. In particular should a person who is not halachically Jewish - because his mother is not Jewish but his father is - be encouraged or even allowed to participate? I have heard that there are rabbis who not only permit it but even encourage it, They assert that especially those people who already view themselves as Jewish – even though they are mistaken - should be encouraged to participate because they might eventually convert.

My view is that it is absolutely forbidden to try to proselytize a non‑Jew even if he mistakenly views himself as Jewish. One obvious reason is that such an approach actually encourages intermarriage. If people with only a Jewish father are encouraged to participate in Jewish educational events it will convey the message that in some sense they are actually Jewish. That is because it is commonly accepted that only Jews are allowed to participate in these events. Thus this innovation crosses the red lines that have always been accepted by Torah true Jews. Typically the intermarried couple does not realize that they are constantly transgressing prohibitions which carry the punishment of kares [Rambam Hilchos Issurei Bi’ah 12:6]. But at least they need to be aware that intermarriage cuts them off completely from the Jewish people. If we allow and even encourage their non‑Jewish offspring to participate in Jewish educational events, they will feel that they still have an intimate connection to the Jewish people – G‑d forbid!

Another basis of concern is that I see this as a violation of following non‑Jewish practices (chukas akum). These rabbis are showing mercy to the Jewish father by a de-facto acknowledgment of the non‑Jewish concept of patrilineal descent. According to the unanimously held Torah view - any person with a non‑Jewish mother is completely non‑Jewish. Also the gratuitous granting of Jewish status and benefits to this non‑Jewish child violates the Torah prohibition of Lo Techanem.

These rabbis also try to justify their innovation by claiming that it is a solution to the massive problem resulting from the intermarriage of Russian Jews. They assert that one should encourage the conversion of the child of a non‑Jewish mother because the Russian Jews intermarried because of the unfortunate circumstances under the Communists. Therefore they are to be regarded as innocent children who grew up in captivity (tinok shenishba). They feel it is appropriate to show special mercy on these unfortunate people. I agree that they should be shown special sensitivity and leniencies. However this is only when they have at least distanced themselves from their intermarried parents or have already indicated an interest in genuine conversion. However if the parents insist on continuing their intermarriage, there is no halachic basis to be sorry for them. The child in that case is a non‑Jew and will remain as such.

Concerning the specific case that you mentioned of a student whose father is Jewish but the mother is a non‑Jew. One of the kiruv programs wants to include him – even though he still lives with his parents. You mentioned that a number of American rabbis have given halachic rulings that his participation in the program should be encouraged because he might convert. Do not associate yourself with their programs. You will receive much greater reward by disassociating from them than the possible benefit that might result.

I am being deliberately brief in my comments here - even though there is clearly much more to mention. That is because the plague of intermarriage has already spread here to the Holy Land – the palace of the King. The Holy One Blessed be He should help us and quickly bring into actuality our Redemption. Eliyahu should come and purify our camp so that we are fit to receive the countenance of our righteous Moshiach.

Aguna receives divorce after 2 years because her husband wanted to fly to Uman

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skrud4eyjg

The man realized that due to the travel ban issued against him by the rabbinical court, he would not be able to make a pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov for Rosh Hashanah and as a result he granted his wife a get, or Jewish legal divorce; 'It seems his love for the tzaddik was greater than his so-called love for his wife,' women's advocate says

Does the Sun Really Revolve Around the Earth?

 https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/letters/default_cdo/aid/2046989/jewish/Does-the-Sun-Really-Revolve-Around-the-Earth.htm

Thirdly, it follows that anyone declaring that a person who chooses to accept one of these systems in preference to the other is a fool, while one who accepts the other is a wise man—such a judgment shows that the person making it is ignorant of the conclusions of modern science, or that he has not advanced beyond the science of Ptolemy and Copernicus. Obviously, a person not versed in the development of science in the course of the past half-century or so is not qualified to make any judgment pertaining to science.

Trump makes false claims about hurricane relief

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/04/trump-hurricane-helene-fema-money-misinformation/

Speaking at a news conference after a state disaster briefing, Trump again falsely said the U.S. government is unable to fund the storm response because it used the money on people “who came into the country illegally” — claims that the White House slammed in a memo Friday as “poison.”

Harris does not disburse FEMA funding as vice president. The claim about using disaster relief funding to house immigrants is false, a Washington Post fact check found.

Moshiach will come only after we give up hope of natural Salvation

 Emes L'Yaakov (Devarim 32:36) (לו) כי ידין ה' עמו גו' ואפס עצור ועזוב.

הנה בסנהדרין [דף צ"ז ע"א] ילפינן מהכא שאין בן דוד בא עד שיתייאשו מן הגאולה כביכול אין סומך ועוזר לישראל, ועיי"ש. והנה מאמר חז"ל זה טעון ביאור, וכי תנאי הוא שחס ושלום ישתכח עיקר א' מהשלש עשרה עיקרים, והלא הרמב"ם מנה תקות הגאולה בין העיקרים. אבל הכוונה בזה הוא שכל זמן שכלל ישראל מצפה לגאולה שתבוא באופן טבעי, והיינו שירחמו עלינו אומות העולם ויתנו לנו איזה מקום לבנות לנו מולדת וכדומה, ודאי לא תבוא הגאולה, כי חסד לאומים חטאת ובאמת שנואים אנחנו מכל יושבי תבל, ורק אם נתייאש לגמרי מאשליות כאלו ונבין כי אין לנו לישען אלא על אבינו שבשמים אז יבוא בן דוד ויגאלנו גאולה אמיתית, והבן. 

Daas Torah: Parnossa Bitachon Luck

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Survey of sources dealing with orthodox Jewish views to Parnossa (Earning a living) from Talmudic times to the present

Shanah Tovah!

Parnossa book on Amazon in 3 days

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Available  now on Amazon 

New sefer Parnossa Bitachon Luck

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Table of contents to my new Sefer on Parnossa

Amulets 17

Beis Din Judges Poskim Rabbinical Authorities 18

Bitachon 20

Acquiring and Strengthening Bitachon 20

Advice from Gedolim? 24

Benefit and Harm are only with G-d’s Permission 25

Choice of Life with Bitachon or Effort 27

Combining Torah and Work 28

Competence – Significant for Success? 31

Definition 32

Different concepts – Ramban vs Chovas HaLevavos 35

Everything that happens is good? 36

Life Insurance 38

Luxuries also 40

Protects from Harm 41

Questioning G-d – Don’t 44

Rely on it 45

Righteous not relying on Bitachon 72

Righteous Suffer even with Bitachon 74

Sinners also helped? 75

Talking 78

Types and Levels of Bitachon 79

Yakov was afraid 83

Yosef was the epitome of Bitachon yet was punished 84

Blessing 86

Berachas Cohanim- Priestly Blessing 88

Consequences - Significance 95

Mitzvah 101

Pleasure 102

Source of Beracha – Good/Evil 104

Torah 104

Tzadik 105

Curses 106

Blasphemy- Cursing G-d 106

Consequences 111

Examples 113

Father or Mother 114

Forgive 115

Harmful 115

Harmless 116

How 117

Jew 119

Oneself 119

Prohibition 119

Punishment 122

Reason 123

Removing 123

Ordinary person curses 123

Talmid Chachom 123

Talmid Chachom or Tzadik curses 124

Why 124

Working 125

Charity 125

Amount to give 125

Benefits - Consequences 129

Mitzva 133

Damages 141

Divination and Darchei Emori – permitted for health 146

False Belief 146

Permitted 146

Prohibition 150

Used For Medicine permitted 153

Economic Competition or Interference - Hasagas Gevul 156

Examples 156

Rabbinic or Torah Law? 163

Teaching Torah 163

Effort – Hishstadlus 164

Amount - Type 164

Bitachon – shows lacking? 169

Bitachon results from Effort 169

Blessing 169

Choice of Life with Bitachon or Effort 170

Curse 171

Definition 172

Dependency 174

Difficult 175

Father obligated to Teach Son 175

Indicates importance 177

Insurance 178

Love Work 178

Male vs Female 179

Man was created to toil 179

Medicine 179

Minimize 180

Minimum or no effort with bitachon 180

Miracles are minimized 189

Motivation 190

Move to Another Place 190

My Strength 191

Prayer 197

Punishment 201

Secular Studies 202

Stops Sin 205

Success always requires? 207

Success and knowledge 220

Success not dependent on amount or type of effort 221

Success Always Attributed to G-d 230

Trade is Important 239

Trade desirability is individual 245

Working vs Fearing Heaven 246

Evil Eye- Good Eye 246

Avoid because of Evil Eye 246

Good Eye 248

Harmful 249

Protect Against 252

Why harmful? 255

Honesty 255

Lending Money 266

Leniency if there is financial loss –chosoron kis or hefsed merubah 269

Permit Torah Prohibition 269

Large loss only 269

Lost objects – returning 270

Mazel luck 271

Accuracy 271

Astrology is prohibited? 272

Astrology connected to Witchcraft 274

Bad Luck 275

Children Livelihood Lifespan 275

Divination 277

Everything guided by mazzal 278

Fortune shines Shaah mesachat 283

Good luck - Mazel Tov 284

Jews influenced by mazel 286

Obligation 292

Outdated and Worthless belief 293

Palm reading 294

Success dependent on mazel 294

Medicine 298

Best Doctors Destined for Gehinom 298

Book of Cures – Why it was concealed 298

Chazal – Disagree 300

Errors 300

G-d cures 300

Good vs Bad Doctor 301

Natural effort – need to go to doctor 301

Need for doctors – Sin causes Illness 309

Medical Views of Chazal differ from Doctors 314

Permission to heal 315

Permitted cures 318

Pikuach Nefesh – Life Threatening 319

Prayer 320

Suffering is desirable 320

Testing 321

Miracles 322

Appreciation 322

Beracha 323

Deserving a Miracle 325

Effort of Man required before Miracle can Happen 326

End of Miracles 327

Everything is miraculous 327

Hidden vs Open 327

Laws of nature 328

Minimize 330

Miracles are built into creation 331

Miracles that happened 341

Mitzvos protect if danger is not common 352

More Common in Previous Generations 353

Natural laws violated 353

Need for Miracles 354

Proof – not to be viewed as Proof 356

Praying for miracle is prohibited 356

Relying on a miracle is prohibited Even for Tzadikim 357

Salvation through Miracles 363

Sign a miracle will happen 364

Sun Standing Still 364

Types 365

What is a miracle 365

Tzadikim can make 368

Oni Mehapech BCharara Interfering with another’s Purchase 369

Definition 369

Parnossa 370

Advice for success 370

Determined on Rosh HaShanna 387

Effort Desirable 389

Everyman’s trade is fine in his eyes 393

G-d Provides all Parnossa 393

How Provided 401

Not Easily Obtained 405

Predestined or Free Will 407

Same as Father’s 410

Spirituality 410

Test 410

Wife : profession compared to loving wife 411

Working vs Fear of Heaven 412

Poverty 412

Always exist 412

Causes 413

Decreed before Birth 417

Definition - Nature 417

G-d Loves the Poor 419

Helping 420

Mocking 424

Poor are considered dead or sick 424

Problems and Benefits 425

Robbing 436

Torah Scholars 437

Tzadik 437

Wheel which impacts everyone 438

Ribis – Usury - Prohibition 439

Segula - Parnassa and Abundance 469

Simonim – signs or omens 479

Permitted 479

Parnossa 488

Prohibited 489

Rosh HaShanna 489

Temimos being Whole Hearted with G-d 491

Bitachon 491

Chanufah is opposite of temimos 491

Definition 492

Mitzva 497

Prohibition 498

Theft 498

Common – most people 498

Consequences 499

Definition - Examples 508

Debts non payment 518

Fraud 518

Mitzva 530

Predestined? 533

Repentance - Restitution 533

Steal from Parents 539

Steal from poor 540

Steal from Rich? 540

Steal from Dead 540

Steal from Non-Jews 540

Steal from Thief 541

Talmid Chochma not a robber 542

Tempting 542

Thief vs Robber 542

Trade 543

Withholding Wages 544

 Segula 587

Torah Study and Working 544

Benefits 544

Chazal also worked to earn living 544

R’ Gamliel gave poor students jobs 545

Hillel was a laborer 545

R’ Yehoshua was a charcoal maker 545

Torah study should be combined with working 545

Choose life of bitachon or effort 548

Charity 550

Combining Necessary? 550

Cruel to family as a raven 562

Diaspora only 564

Exclusive Torah Study & Bitachon 565

Financial security required to study 575

Honor Torah 581

If son learns Torah doesn’t have to learn profession 581

Intellect from Torah Study 581

Poor in Torah 581

Poor Scholars 582

Rambam received financial support from brother 582

Rambam would allow if no other way 583

Rich 583

Scholars in early times didn’t have to work 583

Scholars in early times only 586

 Secular Studies 466

Taking money for Torah is prohibited? 588

Torah and derech eretz 590

Torah is Primary Work is Secondary 600

Torah Study - without work - is obligatory for the minority 602

Torah Study is Difficult 605

Torah Study is Important 606

Torah Study supported by community 612

Torah Study with charity profanes G d’s name 613

Torah thoughts while working 613

Work interferes with learning 616

Work is a Curse 618

Yisachar Zevulen partnership 619

Tzadikim - Righteous 622

Alive – Truly 622

Angels Greater than 622

Ascetic? 623

Attachment to Tzadikim 623

Atonement Needed? 624

Avraham 624

Baal tshuva is Superior? 625

Become Wicked? 626

Bitachon  only for high level 626

Blessing 627

Bounty Source 628

Called by Name of G-d 629

Cancel Merits of Wicked 632

Cannot become poor - law of nature 632

Chanoch Enosh 633

Chariot of G-d 633

Chasidic rebbe 634

NOAM ELIMELECH: 635

Compared to G-d 637

Confronting Wicked 638

Counterpoint to Wicked 639

Create 639

Curse 639

Death of tzadik brings Atonement 639

Decree Against Houses 640

Death Decreed 641

Death – Minimized Pain 641

Death difficult for World 641

Definition - Nature 641

Described as G-d 654

Dies Another Replaces 655

Die Before Time 656

Disobey G-d 656

Doctors not needed 656

Doesn’t suffer from poverty 657

Don’t lack food even without effort 658

Doubts 658

Faith in Tzadik 658

Faith - Lives By 659

Few in Number 660

Finding What was Lost 660

Flourish 660

Forced to be righteous? 660

Foundation of World 661

G-d is Crown 662

G-d is Sanctified through Them 663

G d nullifies decrees because of Tzadik 663

G-d Sees Actions 665

G-d’s Chariot 666

Give Money 667

Good Natured? 667

Greater after Death 667

Greater person has greater lust for evil 667

Handiwork greater than Creation 668

Heresy 668

Imitating? 669

Ish Elokim – Man of G-d 669

Life is only Good for the Tzadikim 670

Many reasons for the suffering of the righteous 671

Miracles - Nature Change- 672

Miraculous protection is only for compete tzadik 672

Misfortune 674

Money is precious to him 675

No fear of judgment either in this world or the next 676

Noach 676

Opposition 677

Partners With G-d 677

Powers similar to G-d 678

Prayers 679

Predestined 679

Protected from all sin and error? 680

Protected if as spiritual as R’ Pinchas’ donkey 683

Protection from Harm 684

Punished 685

Reason World Exists 686

Rebuke Giving 687

Rely on miracles 687

Revealed before Creation 688

Reward 688

Rich 690

Rosh Hashanah 691

Sarah 691

Say little and Do Much 691

Seeing 691

Serving the Tzadik 692

Son of Tzadik 692

Son will not lack sustenance 693

Suffer 693

Suffer first 694

Suffering of Love 694

Suffering is beneficial 694

Suffer for Sins of Generation 696

Tempting 696

Tests 696

Thirty Six or Thirty 696

Too Righteous 697

Tzadik Decree G-d agrees 697

War conducted in natural way - except for tzadikim 698

Wicked Son Prospers 699

Wicked Interfere 699

Women 699

Work not needed so Much 699

Working vs Fear of Heaven 699

Yakov 700

Yashar vs Tzadik 700

Yosef 701

Wealth- Money 701

Acquiring - causes 701

Amount 712

Avoid being Dependent on Others 714

Consequences 714

Decreed before birth 715

Definition - Nature 716

Desire for Wealth 720

Determined on Rosh HaShanna 722

Honor 723

Israel only 724

Money 724

Other people’s Money 727

Predetermined 727

Preserve 728

Problems and Benefits 729

Prophets 737

Rescue by destroying another’s  property 737

Solomon- Shlomo 737

Spirituality 738

Steal from Rich? 738

Test 738

Tzadik’s money is more precious to him 739

Undesirable 740

Dedication of my sefer on Parnossa and Luck

 Dedication

This volume is dedicated to Rabbi Ronnie Greenwald. He was active in many areas, despite being a successful businessman he devoted his life to the well-being of other Jews. While he ran Camp Sternberg and other business activities, he served as the go to person for anything requiring wise negotiating skills, love of fellow man and patience. He was involved at the highest levels of secular politics as well as with Torah leaders, despite this he was a gentle highly approachable person who was available to all those in need. He was intimately involved in freeing not only Nathan Sharansky from Russia and but others such as Lori Berenson who he visited while she was jailed for life in Peru for alleged terrorist activities. 

He traveled the world to provide people in impossible difficulties with real help. He was often called on to negotiate in difficult divorce cases.  He was a pioneer in dealing with youth who were on the fringes of society. He even founded a school which dealt directly with young ladies with difficult backgrounds. In short he was a true Torah Jew who was a servant of G-d. He remained a humble and pleasant and easily accessible person despite his many accomplishments. 

I met him many times when he came to family simchas in Israel from his home in Monsey. I also corresponded with him by email regarding the issue of divorce.  He told me he had had a discussion with Rav Dovid Cohen about the lack of awareness in the Orthodox community about child abuse as indicated by its absence in the Rabbinic responsa literature. Rav Cohen assured him that there must be significant discussions of this important topic but after much effort was able to find only two from 100 years ago. 

I also mentioned Rav Dessler’s view that there needed to be universal single minded devotion to only Torah study even if it causes harm to the majority, He agreed that  was the dominant view as expressed by the Chazon Ish and Rav Aharon Kotler, but noted this seems to have come about as a reaction to  the devastation to not only the nature of Orthodoxy but also the lack of competent leaders by WWII. He added that now after several generation of Torah only that perhaps the emergency situation no longer existed and it might be possible to return to the norm of Torah Study and working.

His wisdom and devotion is sorely missed

Preface to my new sefer on Parnossa and Luck

 Preface

About a year ago I was approached by a young kollel man. (In my neighborhood most of the men belong to a Kollel). He had a simple request. What does the Torah say about Parnossa (earning a living  or having a job – as opposed to learning full time) and had I written anything about it in my sefer Daas Torah?. This was similar to Hillel being asked by a prospective convert to teach him the entire Torah while he was standing on one leg (Shabbos 31a). As with my previous research. I found most issues are not resolved to a single cogent view, As I have noted before I asked Rav Eliashiv about publishing diverse views since this can cause confusion and upset that there is more than one answer. He answered there is no problem as long as I use widely accepted sources He said any confusion should be discussed with one’s rebbe I also asked Rav Moshe Shapiro and he added just quote the original language without adding interpretation

As I investigated the matter directly it soon became obvious that until relatively recently,. the original sources indicated that having a job was obligatory, And the Chasam Sofer adds that this is especially true in Israel.  In fact Rav Kook has stated that the existence of the Jews in the Desert for 40 years after leaving Egypt was one big Kollel devoted to Torah learning while they were sustained and fed by miracles. They didn’t want to leave this existence to be workers. farmers and shepherds in Israel. So their leaders spoke lashon harah about Israel as an excuse to not to settle the land   In fact the gemora in Berachos (35b)says it is a fundamental dispute between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai as to whether a person should combine work with Torah study. It concludes that only a minority can survive with exclusive Torah Study. This is also stated clearly in the Mishna Berurah, The Netziv adds from Chazal that only those with guaranteed parnossa can properly study Torah. Other views state that Parnossa will be provided to all that Trust in G-d (bitachon). That those engaged in  exclusive Torah Study will be provided with parnossa while other sources say one should be prepared to live in poverty to study Torah, In fact one should be cruel to the needs and cries of your family to learn Torah exclusively. Rav Dessler says that even if most are harmed by an exclusive focus on Torah, we must pay that price

Today it has become accepted that most need to be devoted to exclusive Torah study – even if this means your wife supports the family and the children are raised by babysitters  and even if most people are not suited for full time lifelong learning  At one time it was assumed that people would work– usually before the age of 13.  There was no childhood as we know it today.  This changed around 1877 when the Kovno Kollel was started and Rav Chaim Volshner founded a yeshiva system that was independent of the local community, There was great concern for the haskala and government pressures to assimilate. The members of the Kollel were expected to dessert their families for a number of years. In America Rav Aharon Kotler founded the Lakewood yeshiva devoted to exclusive pure Torah learning in 1943. Since then the Torah school system has raised generations of boys and girls to the reality of exclusive Torah. Something which was not the norm even in prewar Eastern Europe