Page 139 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

ןנברמ אברוצ םנועמו ,ףשכמ ,שחנמ תוכלה · 137

This explanation answers all [the questions], including ךרד פ"ע בשייתי םגו ,לכה בשייתי הז רואב םעו
what Tosafot asked regarding Yonatan how he performed לואש ןב ןתנוימ ךומסב 'סותה ושקהש המ הז
nichush… for he too mentioned Hashem’s name, as is ראובמכ ,'ה םש רכז אוה םג יכ ןעי – שחינ ךיאה
explicit in the verses. :ק"ודו ,ארקב

RABBI BARUCH EPSTEIN – AUTHOR OF THE TORAH TEMIMA (1860–1942)
Rav Epstein was born in Bobruisk in 1860 to his father, Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein, author of the Aruch HaShulchan, who was known as
one of the gedolei hador. In his youth he studied with his father. He excelled in his learning and was known for his incredible memory.
He then went to learn in the Yeshiva of Volozhin under his uncle and brother-in-law Rav Naftali Tzvi Berlin (the Netziv), who gave him
special attention. He refused many positions in the rabbinate and ultimately settled in the city of Pinsk. He worked in a bank to make
a living but most of his time he dedicated to learning and writing his books. His fame is mostly known through his commentary on the
Chumash named the Torah Temima, first published in Vilna in 1904, where he cites quotes of Chazal on each verse in the Torah together
with his own notes and explanations. He also wrote the Mekor Baruch on the Talmud Yerushalmi, Baruch She’amar on Tefilla, and a
Haggada shel Pesach. He died in the Holocaust in 1942 in the city of Karlin.

Another type of action that appears to be permitted is one performed for the purpose of establishing an
auspicious sign (or mazal tov in Hebrew). The Gemara recommends eating certain types of foods for this
reason on Rosh Hashana.

h Masechet Keritut 6a .ו תותירכ תכסמ . 12

Abaye said: Now that you have said that a sign is a ,איה אתלימ אנמיס תרמאד אתשה :ייבא רמא
substantial matter, a person should be accustomed to ,איבורו ארק אתש שיר לכימל שיניא ליגר אהי
eat, at the start of the year, i.e., on Rosh Hashana, gourd, .ירמתו אקליס ,יתרכ
fenugreek [rubia], leeks [karti], beets, and dates, as
each of these grow and multiply quickly, which is a positive
omen for the deeds of the upcoming year.

The Mordechai explains that these types of auspicious signs that are based on precedents from the Torah
are permitted.

r Mordechai, Masechet Yoma, ,אמוי תכסמ | יכדרמ . 13
Chapter 1, 723 גכשת זמר ,םימי תעבש קרפ

It is written in the responsa of the Geonim: That which ונאש םתקחששו םינואגה תבושתב בותכ
you have declared that we engage in [prohibited] omens, ישאר חקיל םיליגר ונאש תושיחנ ישחונ
for we have the custom of taking heads of sheep on Rosh ינימ לכו שבד םילכואו הנשה שארב םישבכ
Hashana, and eat honey and other sweet things, and eat ןילכואו ןמוש רשב םע ינסיט םילכואו הקיתמ
tisni (a dish made from crushed wheat) with fatty meat, ברעב ןילוגנרת ןיטחוש ונאשו יתרכו איבור
and we eat fenugreek [rubia] and leek [karti]; and we לע םכל בישנ …תיבה ינב רפסמל םירופכ םוי
slaughter chickens on Erev Yom Kippur according to the
number of people in the household… We will answer you שוחינה יכ .ןורחא ןורחא לעו ןושאר ןושאר
on the first question first, and the last question last. This תודגאו ארקמה דוסימ ובורו אוה בוט הזכ
type of omen is good, and is mostly based on verses in the ונעמשיש ידכ ןילכוא ונאש םישבכ ישאר לע

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