Page 21 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbi Hershel Schachter

Permission to Celebrate

he Gemara (Sanhedrin 20b) cites days listed all revolved about protecting a Navi or ruach haKodesh, but only
a Beraita that describes a series or fortifying the Beit HaMikdash, the that the event be one that possesses
Tof three mitzvot which must be avodah therein, or its institutions, such a reasonable probability of bringing a
accomplished in a specific sequence. as the Sanhedrin and the Kehuna. These future geula.
First, a Jewish government must be days of Yom Tov could be established We may add that the Purim miracle
established in Eretz Yisrael, which then without being considered a violation did, in the end, enable the building of
organizes a Jewish army. Then, that of bal tosif because they are subsumed the Second Beit HaMikdash. From a
army must wage war against Amalek under the mitzvah the Ramban political perspective, the Persian King,
and eradicate it. After completion of the discussed – to celebrate the building of Daryavesh (Darius, son of Esther and
first two introductory steps in the Geula the Beit HaMikdash. Achashverosh), granted permission
process, labeled atchalta deGeula, there The Netivot, in his commentary to to continue the building of the Beit
is a mitzvah to build a Beit HaMikdash Megillat Esther (Megillat Setarim HaMikdash. Moreover, from a religious
and offer korbanot, which is synony- 9:19), wonders how the Chachamim perspective, the renewed acceptance
mous with Geula itself.
were justified in adding the Yom Tov of Torah SheBe’al Peh engendered by
Commenting on the passuk, תֹ ו ְ צ ִּ מ ַ ה ה ֶּ ל ֵ א of Purim, since, according to Talmudic the Purim miracle was a necessary
– “These are the commandments” (Vay- tradition, the miracle of Purim occurred prerequisite for Ezra’s entry into Eretz
ikra 27:34), Chazal derive the principle, prior to the Second Beit HaMikdash Yisrael and the geula, the building of
ה ָּ ת ַ ע ֵ מ ר ָ ב ָ ּ ד ׁש ֵ ּ ד ַ ח ְ ל יא ַ ׁ ּ ש ַ ר אי ִ בָנ ןי ֵ א – “a Navi period. It must be, the Netivot explains, the Second Beit HaMikdash (Sfat Emet,
is not permitted to introduce anything that the Chachamim felt that the miracle Purim 5638).
new from now on” (Megillah 2b). This of Purim would in some way serve as
prohibition includes the establishment an atchalta deGeula, leading to the Thus, in addition to the Yamim Tovim
that appear in the Torah, we are able
and observance of additional rabbinic building of the Second Beit HaMikdash.
Yamim Tovim if they are meant to be He suggests (as does the Sfat Emet, to institute additional Yamim Tovim
that conform to the above-mentioned
celebrated by all Jews all over the world. Purim 5643) that they may have felt
Such a practice would be a violation of this way because the destruction of rules and regulations of Megillat Ta’anit.
An event labeled as atchalta deGeula
bal tosif, adding on to the mitzvot of the descendants of Amalek, the stage would fit within those rules because
the Torah. The only exception to this immediately prior to the building of
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rule seems to be a Yom Tov related to the Beit HaMikdash, was accomplished such an event is related to the future
building of the Beit HaMikdash. If the
geula, defined as hashra’at haShechina through the execution of Haman and
in the Beit HaMikdash. This is based his sons. event signifies one of the steps in the
three-step process that will lead to the
on the idea the Ramban develops in his It is interesting that the Netivot assumes
commentary to the Torah (Bamidbar it was permissible for the Rabbanim to building of the Beit HaMikdash, it may
be celebrated as an atchalta deGeula.
7:13-17) and in his Hasagot to Sefer establish a Yom Tov merely because
HaMitzvot (shoresh shlishi, s.v. aval), they thought it represented an atchalta
that there is a mitzvah to celebrate the deGeula, even though their conclusion 1 See Pri Chadash, Orach Chaim 496:14, Yoreh
building of a Beit HaMikdash. De’ah 233 and Orach Chaim 191.
was not reached through ruach
The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 18b- haKodesh. Indeed, the Netivot argues
19b) discusses Megillat Ta’anit, a scroll that at a later time, the Rabbanim Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh Yeshiva
that lists many Yom Tov days added revised their original assessment, and Rosh Kollel at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.
by the Chachamim of the Second concluding it was erroneous. We see
Beit HaMikdash period, on which that the determination of whether a
fasting, and on some, eulogizing, were historical event is to be judged as an A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
prohibited. The Gemara explains that the atchalta deGeula does not require mizrachi.org/speakers

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