HALACHA OF THE WEEK: THE TOCHACHAH Due to the horrific nature of the section in this week's parasha known as the Tochechah, deciding who would receive the "honor" of the aliyah for this portion was a serious point of contention. Many people, among them great scholars, felt that being called to the Torah for this portion was a bad omen that would result in tragedy and misfortune [Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chaim, Magen Avraham 428:8; Kaf Hachayim 428:34]. In fact, in the community of Belz, they used to hire someone to accept this aliyah [Chelkat Yaakov 3:174] while in other communities, no one was called up for this aliyah [Shoel Umaishiv 5:9].
However, despite these concerns, there is no halachic ruling to limit anyone from requesting or receiving this aliyah. [Shulchan Aruch ibid., Biur Halacha]. In fact, in some German Jewish communities, they would actually announce (based upon the wording of the Rema, ibid.) “yaamod mi she’yirtze” - inviting anyone who “wanted” to receive this aliyah to come forward. (For those who did respond to that unusual call, there was a special “mi sheberach” prayer that followed this aliyah (http://kayj.org.il.googlepages.com/MiSheberachTochocho.pdf).
In modern times, it has become the custom in many shuls that the Torah reader himself receives this aliyah. (In such an instance, since he is already standing next to the Torah, it is unnecessary to "call him up" - but nevertheless, most shuls do so [Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim 139:3 and Mishna Berura, ibid. note 8].)
When the Torah reader is a Kohen, there is a custom to rearrange the length of the aliyot, so that seven aliyot precede the Tochecha, and the Kohen-Torah reader receives the "hosafa" (the additional aliyah, which can be given to a Kohen) [Mishna Berura 428:17 and Biur Halachah].
Finally, (and as noted above) the custom is to read the Tochecha in an undertone [Magen Avraham, ibid. 428:8]. However, care must be taken not to read it so quietly that the people in shul have difficulty hearing it [Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 78:4 and Kaf Hachayim 428:38].
DVAR TORAH If you walk in My laws and keep My commandments ... However, if you will not listen to Me, and do all of these commandments ...
Come and see how The Holy One, Blessed is He, is not like flesh-and-blood: The Holy One, Blessed is He, blessed them with twenty-two and cursed them with eight. He blessed them with twenty-two, from "If you walk in My laws ..." until "... make you upright." He cursed them with eight, from "And if you despise My laws ..." until "... your soul will loathe My judgments ..." Moshe Rabbeinu, however, blessed them with eight and cursed them with twenty-two ... (Bava Batra 88b)
According to Rashi, the meaning of this is that not only is G-d's mercy so great, that His blessings are always more abundant than His curses. And as proof, explained Rashi, the Talmud offers the fact that "from the aleph of 'if' until the tav of 'upright' there are twenty-two letters of the aleph-bet ... and from the vav until the mem there are eight letters."
But what does THAT mean? Isn’t the selection of those letters merely arbitrary points within the Torah?
According to the Maharal, the answer is that, there are twenty-two blessings in all the verses of the section dealing with the blessings, and only eight curses. But to do this, the Maharal has to group the blessings and the curses and not count them individually.
However, the Maharsha suggested that this section of the Talmud is not meant to be taken literally. Rather, it is an allusion, as if to say that when it comes to blessings, G-d will never limit Himself - the entire alphabet is at His disposal. But, when it comes to curses - G-d WILL limit
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MAZAL TOV * to Jeremy and Rebecca Amster on the engagement of their son, Naftali, to Abby Rosenfeld (Teaneck). Mazal Tov to grandparents Howard and Shoshana Benditzson and Steve and Cheryl Karesh. * to David and Margo Strahlberg on the recent Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Maya. * to Yitzi and Aviva Matanky on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Meital. Mazal Tov to grandparents Rabbi Leonard & Margaret Matanky and Dr. Harvey Rosenbaum & Dr. Bonnie Feldman. Special Mazal Tov to great-grandmothers, Mrs. Trude Matanky and Mrs. Bernice Novick. * to Jim and Terri Rosenwasser on the birth of a grandson. Proud parents are Betzalel and Elana Rosenwasser.
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A donation to the Kiddush Fund was made by: * Cantor Steven and Myrna Dress in honor of their granddaughter, Shalva Batzion. * Rachelle Gold in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of her mother, Harriet Gold - חנה באשא בת אברהם מאיר ומאשע גיטל ז'ל * Yitzi and Avia Matanky in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Meital.
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