Community Magazine January 2014

16 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE A man named Rabbi Haim lived several centuries ago in the city of Worms, Germany. He had four sons, and when they grew up, he sent three of them to learn Torah under the great sage Rabbi Shlomo Luria (the Maharshal). The oldest, however, he needed at home to take care of him in his advanced age. Sometime later, after an extended period of intensive Torah study, the three younger brothers returned home. The older brother was amazed, and jealous. He marveled at their knowledge, their level of scholarship, and their spiritual growth, and was saddened by having been deprived this opportunity. He wept in bitter anguish, and complained to his father that he was unable to become a scholar like his younger brothers. “My dear son,” Rabbi Haim said, reassuringly, “because you stayed behind to care for me with such devotion, I bless you that you shall have children who will illuminate the earth!” Sure enough, this young man would have a son named Rabbi Yehuda Loew, more commonly known as the Maharal of Prague, who was one of the important Torah figures in our history. This story is just one of many that demonstrate the value and importance of the mitzvah of kibbud av va’em – honoring parents. Rabbi Haim was confident that his older son would not be denied any blessings by caring for his aging father instead of devoting himself to fulltime Torah learning, because he knew the Torah’s promise that honoring parents is rewarded with arichut yamim – “long life.” In his son’s case, he achieved “ arichut yamim ” in the form of a son whose Torah works would illuminate and inspire the Jewish world for centuries. But in truth, we should not have to resort to such stories to appreciate the importance of this unique mitzvah. As even schoolchildren know, kibbud av va’em is included among the Aseret Hadibberot – the Ten Commandments – of which we read in Parashat Yitro and again later, in Parashat Vaethanan. Although we have 613 mitzvot to observe, the Ten Commandments are regarded as the foundation and basis of all the other commands. Indeed, the text of the Aseret Hadibberot contains 620 letters, as these 10 commands form the cornerstone of the 613 Biblical commands and the seven mitzvot enacted by the sages. So significant are these 10 mitzvot that, as the Gemara in Masechet Berachot tells, the sages initially sought to institute the daily reading of the Aseret Hadibberot . Although they ultimately decided against this provision, the fact that it was under serious consideration testifies to the singular importance of these mitzvot . This should give us some sense of the importance accorded to kibbud av va’em , which is included among this “elite” group of foundational mitzvot . A “Misplaced” Mitzvah? In order to begin to understand the reason why this mitzvah is so significant, let us turn our attention to a question that was RABBI ELI J. MANSOUR ? What Would You Choose? The Fastest Jet, a Magical Screen, or a Special Apple? A better understanding of the Fifth Commandment will help you make the right choice...