schechte@csd2.UUCP (asher schechter) (06/05/85)
In this weeks sedra (portion) we have a unique display of punctuation in the Torah. Right after shishey (10,35) we have a two verse segment surrounded by upside down "Nun"s. The two verses inside this "parenthesis" are the Vayehi bnisoa haaron.. (and it was when the ark traveled) and the Uvenucho yomar.. (and when it rested he would say) that we say whenever we open and respectively close the Aron Hakodesh (Holy Ark, holding the Torah scrolls). Rashi is quick to explain this phenomenon by quoting the gemara (shabas 115b) that explains that the Torah placed these verses here even though they did not belong here in order to separate between two unfortunate and sad situations. The first referring to Vayisu mahar hashem.. (and they traveled from the mountain of G-d), and it was a sad day because according to Rashi (shabas 116a) they prepared to rebel against hashem, and according to Tosafos (ibid) they ran away from Sinai as children running away from school. The second referring to the Missoninim (complainers) etc. Now we must understand this point of not placing two sad events together because we don't find this idea anywhere else. In fact in Baba Basra 14b we find that destructions were placed together as were consolations, in the scriptures. So why over here does there seem to be a necessity to break up the two sad events?? Furthermore why is it with these two verses that the Torah decided to use as a buffer ?? The Chanukas Hatorah (authored by The Rebbe Reb Heshel) offers the following answer. In Midrash Mishlay (11,15) we find the verse Ra yeroah ki orav zar (he shall surely receive evil for he co-signed for a stranger), explained as follows. Evil after evil will come upon those who accept proselytes, for proselytes are as bad for the Jews as leprosy. Tosafos in Kiddushin (70b) explains that since proselytes are not of pure lineage they cause G-d not to place his Shechina (omnipresence ??) upon the Jews, because G-d does not associate himself with those who are not of pure lineage. So it seems that proselytes are one of the causes for bad to come onto Yisrael. However the Midrash on the verse Uvenucho yomar, the second verse of the parenthesis verses states the opposite. Since the verse used a language of "tens of thousands" and "thousands" we can deduce that G-d does not rest his Shechina on less than 22,000 Jews. The Midrash continues what if a congregation of Jews is missing just one then if they accept a proselyte they will have the opportunity for G-ds Shechina. So this proselyte has caused that G-d has placed his Shechina on that congregation. So it seems that it is a beneficial act to accept proselytes. The answer however lies in the contradiction because the proselytes that are Leshaim Shomayim (for heavenly reasons) are good and cause G-d to rest his Shechina on the Jews. However those who do so for other motives are surely doing a disservice to themselves and Klal Yisrael. Now over here two calamities befell the Jews and one might wonder maybe this was effected by the acceptance of (nonworthy) proselytes. In fact previously in the parsha we find that Moshe was persuading Jethro to stay and join Klal Yisrael. This would seem to say that Jethro was not worthy of joining the Jewish people and did so for' ulterior motives. However to show that this was not the case the Torah placed a hefsek (separation) between the two calamities to show that they were unrelated. And not only that but it placed the verse in between that proves that righteous gentiles are good for the Jews when they (on their own wishes) join Klal Yisrael. Recently, on the net and in the press there has been much talk about Jewish conversion practices. Who is a Jew ??? What if I must be Jewish to play basketball ??? Is a person (or community) who goes through thousands of years of torture to be "Jewish", Jewish without a thorough investigation and maybe even a tevila ??? However from all these discussions a necessary ingredient of motive must also be addressed. Does the Reform "Rabbi" who converts a nonjew to allow him/her to marry a Jew doing a service to Klal Yisrael ???? Is the person converting to cause G-d to rest his Shechina on us ???? An interesting anecdote I heard in the name of Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz, that once a case of such a convert was brought before him. He said the Cutim (Samaritans) were called "Gerei Arayot" (converts out of fear of lions that roamed Israel at the time) but you also will be a "Ger Arayot" spelled with an ayin (which means a convert for the sake of legitimizing an illicit relationship). The Jewish religion is not a business nor a social club it is a holy tradition to be kept pure until the arrival of messiah. Good Shabbos to all Asher Schechter