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is a general one decreed by the Sages. It applies in every place and at should try in any way possible to prevent him from being called up to
all times. There is no need to investigate in each case anew the indi- theTorah at his bar mitzvah. For the same reason, it would be good
vidual facts of the case. There is a general assumption, having nothing not to accept him as a student in a Talmud Torah. Only if the mother
to do with the individual case, that a person does not pay off a debt divorces the gentile should one teach him according to halachah and
before it is due (maseches Bava Basra 5a). call him to the Torah reading and make a celebration on the occasion
In the case of a person pursuing his friend into a cave, and then see- of his bar mitzvah. Moreover, if there is concern that he will be a bad
ing him emerge with a sword with blood dripping from it, one must influence on other students in the Talmud Torah, then it is prohibited
investigate the individual details of the cases possible. It is possible by Jewish law to accept him there.
that Reuven only wanted to frighten Shimon, but then Shimon tried The Sefer Hachinuch writes (#582), as follows:
to kill Reuven, who fought back and overpowered him, killing him as
a pursuer. It is also possible that Shimon is depressed and he killed A groom should rejoice with his wife, as it says (Devarim
himself while alone with Reuven to avoid the shame of committing 24:5): “For one year, he shall gladden his wife whom he has
suicide. There may have been other factors present that would cause taken” The root of this mitzvah is because the Holy One,
us to be lenient towards Reuven. blessed be He, thought about creating the world and His
Therefore we have to investigate every case individually. We do not desire was that the world be inhabited by good creations,
use a logical assumption in an individualized case. Our Sages did not born from a male and a female… For that reason, He
measure for us whether or not an assessment is good, and we do not decreed upon us… that we should live with the woman
designated for us, to produce offspring during the first full
know how far to take it. Moreover, as the Rambam wrote, if we permit year from the time he married her, to accustom his nature
ourselves to rule based on assumptions in individualized cases, we to her and to awaken the desire in her and to engrave her
may ultimately kill the innocent. Thus, in the case of the dead camel,
the individual case must be examined; we cannot assume the violent appearance and her actions in his heart so that all the ac-
tions of another woman and all her issues will be foreign
camel killed it. Perhaps there was an ox nearby [that killed the camel] to him... With this, a person will distance himself from a
or perhaps the camel fell and died on its own, or perhaps it slipped strange woman and will turn his thoughts to the woman
and died from cardiac arrest. In short, we cannot ever rule based on
assumptions of what seems to have happened in an individual case. designated to him, and his children that she gives birth to
will be pure, and the world will be full of grace before its
We can however, use general assumptions that apply everywhere and Creator.
at all times, to help clarify the facts.
Now we come to answer our first question. This woman, who lives with a gentile who is distant from mitzvos
It is repulsive for someone who sinned with a gentile woman to and who lives with other women, has children who do not find favor
then perform the mitzvah of circumcision. How can Eliyahu, Malach in the eyes of Hashem. The influence of the parents rests upon their
Habris, work alongside a mohel who does an act of Zimri? It was Eli- children. How, then, can we rejoice in the bar mitzvah of such a child,
yahu himself who killed Zimri for this reprehensible act! How can or allow him to read from the Torah?
the mohel say: Eliyahu, Malach Habris, stand on my right and support It says in Shir Hashirim Rabbah (Parshah 1, passuk 15, os 2): “‘Your
me? Eliyahu, the ultimate zealot for Hashem’s sake, will certainly re- eyes are like turtledoves’- Just as this turtledove, from the moment it
frain from assisting this sinner. Moreover, Avraham Avinu does not recognizes its mate, does not seek any other in its place, so, too, the
352 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Telling a woman that her spouse is suspected of sin 2 373 # 20818
