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From: Torah Online - Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim [mailto:torah@...]
Sent: April 30, 2009 9:24 PM
Subject: Parshat Acharei-Kedoshim

Parshat Acharei-Kedoshim
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This week we read another double Torah portion. Acahrei Mot means After
Death and Kedoshim means Holy.

'After Death' refers to the tragic and bizarre deaths of two of the Holiest
people ever to walk the face of the earth: Nadav and Avihu the sons of the
Aaron the High Priest. Two beams of fire entered their nostrils when, in
their longing for G-d, they rashly entered the Holy of Holies without
preparation.

And the name of the second Torah portion, 'Being Holy,' refers to doing the
48 commandments listed afterwards; honoring your parents, not worshiping
idols, loving every Jew etc. which are designed to make us holy.

But at first glance it should be the opposite.

The first Torah portion which talks about Holy people entering the Holy of
Holies should be called 'Holy'. And the second section that gives 48
commandments whose reward cannot be felt in this world but only after we die
in heaven, should be called 'After Death'!

To understand this, here is a story. (Sichat HaShavua #1164)

Some one hundred years ago in Czarist Russia two wealthy Jewish businessmen
decided to make a partnership and finalize it by a great Rabbi, an expert in
monetary laws Rav Yitzchak Yoel Rafalovitz.

The papers were signed and, because there was somuch money involved, they
agreed that each of them would deposit the huge sum of one thousand rubles
with the Rabbi on condition that if either of them purposely broke his side
of the agreement the other would receive all the money.

Now it just so happened to be that it was forbidden for an unauthorized
Rabbi to do such a thing. Large monetary cases were to be judged only in
civil courts. But Rabbi Rafalovitz had no choice. Jewish businessmen did not
trust the civil courts to give them justice and if he didn't act as a judge
there would be no law and order.

But the case turned sour. Several years later one of the partners came to
the Rabbi with the sad news that the other had broken the agreement, and
after investigation it was found to be true.

As per the agreement the Rabbi gave all the deposit money to the jilted
partner (which only covered a portion of his losses) but when the crooked
partner heard about it he immediately reported the entire thing, with papers
and documents as proof, to the police.

Rabbi Raflovitz was in big trouble!! He knew that no lawyer would take his
case. He was too guilty and there was too much evidence against him.

The next day there was a knock on his door and two policemen presented him
with a subpoena to appear in court. In just over a week he was to stand
trial and didn't have a chance! He would be sentenced to life in prison!

And if that wasn't enough, a few days earlier his pregnant wife complained
that she didn't feel the child in her womb and she just returned with the
news that her doctor said that the fetus was dead and they had to operate
and remove it or... But she didn't believe him. Or rather she didn't want to
believe him. But on the other hand, what if he was right?! She was confused
and very scared.

It all happened at once! Worse than the worst nightmare!

Suddenly it occurred to him. He would travel to his Rebbe Maharash, Rebbe
Shmuel of Lubavitch (The forth Lubavitcher Rebbe). It was his only chance.

He got to Lubavitch on Wednesday. He as desperate. In just a week would be
the trial and what about his wife and baby! Every second was precious!

He was lucky! He immediately got an audience with the Rebbe (some people
waited weeks) and before he knew it he was standing in the Rebbe's office
pouring out his heart and breaking into tears when he spoke of his wife. It
was urgent!

"Rav Yitzchak Yoel!" the Rebbe smiled and said in a friendly tone. "What's
the hurry? Why are you rushing so? In any case you will be here for Shabbat.
After Shabbat we will discuss your problem."

Rav Rafalovitz was surprised. But the Rebbe's answer strangely calmed him
down. He was right, the trial would only be next week and maybe his wife's
situation was not so bad. But then again...

The next two days he tried to sit and learn but it was futile. He simply
couldn't get the worries out of his mind and when Shabbat rolled around
although the calm and holiness of the day of rest had a good influence on
him he still was troubled. In fact when the Rebbe said a long complicated
'Mimor'; a Chassidic discourse filled with deep kabalistic terms and
explanations his mind was so turbulent that he almost did not hear a word.

"But after Shabbat it will be different!" he thought to himself. "After
Shabbat I'll see the Rebbe and he will solve everything."

And sure enough, shortly after it was dark and the Shabbat was over he was
admitted to the Rebbe's office and stood there waiting for salvation.

"Did you understand the Mimor I said on Shabbat?" The Rebbe asked him.

"Mimor?" He sheepishly answered. "Ehhh I'm sorry Rebbe but I had trouble
concentrating. You see.."

"Then go learn it," the Rebbe concluded, "and when you know it by heart
we'll talk."

Rav Rafalovitz left the room, found a young man who had written down the
Rebbe's discourse from memory, copied it over and spent the entire night
learning it until the next morning when he entered the Rebbe's office for
the third time it was etched in his memory.

The Rebbe listened to his repetition of the 'Mamor' and blessed him with
success in the trial, success in business and Mazal Tov on the child his
wife would give birth to in another few months.

He thanked the Rebbe profusely. He rushed to the telegraph office where he
sent his wife an urgent message not to make the operation and not to worry.
Then, early the next morning day made his way to Petersburg where the trial
was to take place with no idea what to do to make the Rebbe's blessing work.


In Petersburg he stayed at the home of a good friend who after he heard what
had happened, suddenly shouted, "Ah! I have an idea!! Listen. Every morning
there is an old peasant woman that delivers milk to all the houses in this
area and one of those houses is that of the Judge who will be presiding over
your case.

This milk lady is liked by everyone and she told me that Judge's wife often
consults with her. So this is my plan. Tomorrow morning when she delivers
the milk we'll start crying and when she hears your story I'm sure she'll
help. Or rather G-d will help.


Sure enough it worked. When she heard them weeping and heard the explanation
she told them not to worry. that she would take care of it.

When she brought milk to the Judge's house and was greeted by his wife she
too began to cry. Tears were streaming down her wrinkled cheeks as she
explained to the Judge's wife that a 'relative' of hers, an honest,
upstanding, caring, righteous man was falsely accused because of a mistake
he made and, with no money or powerful friends she is afraid that he will be
found guilty for a crime he did not commit in the trial here tomorrow.

The Judge's wife called her husband, the milk lady repeated her story and
the Judge listened, was impressed and promised he would do what he could.

But the next day the Judge saw it wouldn't be simple. He looked through the
accusations and the evidence and realized that the poor Rabbi didn't have a
chance. None whatsoever! But suddenly he had an idea.

He called the court to order and called one case after another putting off
the Rabbi's case until last. Then, just before he called for the case to
begin he announced a recess. Everyone stood and as he was walking down the
aisle to leave the courtroom he 'happened' to pass the prosecuting lawyer
and witnesses and mumbled to them under his breath, "You clowns don't know
what you got yourselves into!"

The prosecution was stunned! What could he have meant? Perhaps they had made
some mistake!

Knowing that this Judge always took long breaks they left the courtroom to
reconsider.. where had they gone wrong?

But this particular time the Judge returned on time, took his place behind
the desk and called out. "The State versus Rafalovitz! Will the prosecution
step forward! .. WILL THE PROSECUTION STEP FORWARD!!!

When no one answered he looked around, raised his gavel high, brought it
crashing down on a small shiny block on his table and yelled, "The
prosecution has forfeited! Case dismissed!! Court dismissed!!"

He stood, handed the Rabbi the portfolio containing the incriminating
evidence, informed him that he was cleared of all charges and assured him
that he would be sent a letter of permission to judge all monetary cases in
the near future.

Rabbi Rafalovitz was stunned! He was free! He only had to wait a few months
and the third blessing of the Rebbe also came to pass. To the amazement of
the doctors his wife gave birth to a healthy, baby boy!

This answers our question. The reason the first Torah portion is called
'After Death' is that it opens with the story of Nadav and Avihu; two holy,
devoted, spiritual, but after all, very selfish people. They wanted the
highest levels of spirituality for themselves regardless of the outcome. And
this separation from the world is the source of death.

Life can only exist when there is harmony and unity between the soul and
body; spiritual and physical, Creator and the creation. But egotism and
selfishness cause the opposite of life; something like the bad partner in
our story.

But our second Torah portion is called 'Holy' because it contains the main
commandment in Judaism: Loving your fellow man (19:18 see Rashi).

'Holy' in Judaism means 'the source of life'. For instance the Holy Temple
was the source of life for the world and G-d is called the 'Holy one blessed
be He' for the same reason; He is the source of life. above all division.

And what draws this holiness into the world is unity; loving your fellow man
as yourself. As we saw the Rebbe, the Rabbi's friend, the milk lady, the
Judge and his wife did in our story. And it brought life.

But the only way to actually do this; to love everyone, overlook their
faults and see only their loveable traits is to be 'Holy' ourselves; trying
to reveal the Creator's love in the entire creation. like the Rebbe in our
story.

Even one loving thought, word or deed can do it. Before we know it the
entire world will be alive and we will all be dancing with .

Moshiach NOW!!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim
Kfar Chabad, Israel


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