Page 8 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

ASK THE RABBI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Thanks to the Sleepers

of Hebron

ach morning, before beginning merits of our forefathers” and “our the people of Israel is a G-dly choice,
the work in the Temple, the forefathers’ covenant”? and the G-dly decision to choose
EKohanim would check if dawn Avraham and his descendants is not
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had arrived by asking if the light had Rav Kook explains that there are two related to Avraham’s previous acts.
reached Hebron yet. sides to the Jewish people’s: the merit Therefore, even if the people of Israel
of our ancestors and the covenant sin, their innate virtue still remains
Why? made with the ancestors. intact and they are still the Chosen

According to the Talmud Yerushalmi, 1 The merit is associated with choice, People.
this is meant to remind us of the with our forefathers’ actions, while the
merits of our forefathers. In our Seli- covenant expresses the unique aspect HEARING THE CALL
chot prayers, we also mention: ה ָ ר ְ כָז [an innate virtue] that never changes. The Sfat Emet says that G-d’s call to
ןֹור ְ ב ֶ ח יֵנ ׁ ֵ שְי, “Remember the sleepers of Avraham – “Lech Lecha” – has always
Hebron,” and ask for atonement by Rav Kook emphasizes that “the unique reverberated in the world! Since the
virtue of the merits of our forefathers aspect is infinitely greater; greater time of Creation, G-d has declared
buried there. and holier than the aspect dependent
on choice.” When we pray, we are how to carry out His Will in the world.
Moreover, every day in the Amidah, attempting to connect to the unique He has declared the mission to repair
we say: יֵנ ְ בִ ל ל ֵ אֹוג אי ִ ב ֵ מּו תֹוב ָ א י ֵ ד ְ ס ַ ח ר ֵ כֹוז ְ ו aspect of the relationship between the world in the Kingdom of G-d.
ם ֶ היֵנ ְ ב, “Who remembers the good Israel and G-d, a relationship that Avraham was the first to follow “Lech
deeds of the fathers, and brings a never ever changes. Lecha” and worked hard to act on
Redeemer to their children.” G-d’s call in the world.
MERITS OF THE FOREFATHERS AND “Lech Lecha” resonates with us to this
HAVE THE MERITS IF OUR COVENANT OF THE FOREFATHERS day. G-d states His Will, He gives us
FOREFATHERS EXPIRED? a mission to act and do good in the
The Or Zarua explains that when a
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Rabbi Acha believes that “the merits of person prays and recalls the merits world, to be kind, to observe mitzvot,
our forefathers exists forever.” How- of our forefathers, he is asking to be to study Torah, and to fill the world
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ever, the Talmud states that this is not included in those merits, and is auto- with goodness.
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so clear, and there are Amoraim who matically entitled to the merits of his So when we remember the deeds
believe that “the merits of our forefa- forefathers. of our forefathers, “the sleepers of
thers have expired.” But if that is true, Hebron,” we are reminding ourselves
why do we mention “remembers the MAGEN AVRAHAM of this very precious mission.
good deeds of the fathers” in our daily Although the opening blessing of the
prayers?
Amidah is called Birkat HaAvot – the 1 Yoma 3:1.
The Tor writes that even if the merits Blessing of the Forefathers – it only 2 Vayikra Rabbah 36:5.
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have expired, Redemption will still mentions one of them, Avraham Avinu 3 Shabbat 55a.
come. Tosfot explains that even if our – “Magen Avraham.” 4 Orach Chaim 113.
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forefathers’ merits have expired, the Why is Avraham chosen above 5 Shabbat 55a.
covenant made with our foreathers Yitzchak and Ya’akov? 6 Iggrot HaRe’iya 2.
has not. Therefore, we pray that G-d 7 1:106.
should remember His covenant with The Ramban explains that Avraham 8 Bereishit 11:28, 12:2.
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our forefathers, and by virtue of that was chosen following the story of Ur 9 Netzach Yisrael 11.
covenant, He will remember us and Kasdim and the ‘tests’ that G-d gave
redeem us. him which he successfully completed. Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of Mizrachi’s
Shalhevet Educational Advisory Board and
What is the difference between “the The Maharal explains that choosing Chairman of Sulamot
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