Dear Shaare Family,
Once again, our hearts ache with the wanton and senseless loss of life in Highland Park, Illinois. A child has become an orphan from both his parents, and many others have been taken from their loving families. This hits especially close to home, as Highland Park is the next suburb over from Buffalo Grove, where Jessica grew up, and she and her family have many wonderful friends that live there. My sister-in-law, Anna Abramowitz, grew up there, and her sister and her family were at that parade. Anna’s sister’s daughter was separated from her family in the ensuing chaos; fortunately, she was reunited with them, but was badly shaken. Just four months ago, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law got married at the Central Avenue Synagogue, the shul where people were brought after the parade to shelter while the gunman was still on the run, and Rabbi Yosef Shanowitz, the tzaddik who has been interviewed extensively over the past few days, officiated their wedding. It was Rabbi Shanowitz who saw the gunman enter the premises over Pesach and asked him to leave- another proof, in case it was needed, that everyone has a role to play in shul security.
Amidst such darkness, it behooves us to add joy to our world. I am grateful to be a part of the group of our Daf Yomi participants who are making a Siyum on Shabbat morning, after davening, on Masechet Yevamot, followed by a gala Kiddush. For a period of several months, we were doing one of these siyumim roughly every month due to the shorter tractates in the second half of Seder Moed. Masechet Yevamot is longer, and considerably more difficult- indeed, it is widely considered one of the most difficult tractates to master in the entire Talmud, because of the discussions of complicated permitted and prohibited relationships used to illustrate various principles of Jewish Family Law. The primary subject of the tractate is Yibbum, or levirate marriage, when the brother of a deceased man who dies childless marries his sister in law. It also discusses, in detail, the laws governing the Chalitzah ritual, performed when the widow and/or her brother in law do not wish to enter into the Yibbum relationship (nowadays, it is performed as a matter of course in Ashkenazic communities). I will discuss this a little more, and share an especially poignant passage from the tractate, in my remarks after davening on Shabbat morning. I hope you will be able to join us and celebrate this significant Torah accomplishment. As a reward for braving the heat, a terrific kiddush awaits!
On Shabbat afternoon, in my responsa class, I plan on sharing with you a poignant Halachic question originating from a remarkable summer camp, that was answered this week by Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon, Chief Rabbi of the Gush Etzion region. Many of you remember Rav Rimon’s remarkable presentation about halachic questions that IDF soldiers ask, that he delivered here in the winter. I think Rav Rimon’s response to the question will engage your mind and your heart equally, as his presentation here did months ago.
Rabbi’s Recommendations
Highland Park is a heavily Jewish suburb. In that vein, I just finished the book Squirrel Hill by Mark Oppenheimer, about the aftermath of the Tree of Life Massacre in October of 2018 and its impact on the neighborhood in Pittsburgh where it took place. Many of you have connections, through family and friends, to Squirrel Hill and if you haven’t yet read the book, I think you will find it meaningful as I did.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
