3 June 2000; Issue #276

Contents:

• Courage & Cowardice
• Whoops!
• Man From Ground
• Who Knows 16?
• Public Domain
• Subscription Information
• Back issues are indexed both by issue no. and by subject
• Ohr Somayach Home Page

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Contents

Dear Smile,

The best place to go to get an answer to this question is the Mishna in Pirkei Avot: Ben Zoma said: "Who is a strong person? Someone who subdues his evil inclination, as we find expressed in the verse: 'Someone who doesn't lose his temper is better than a strong man, and someone who controls his spirit is better than someone who conquers a city.' "

The Mishna is describing a trait that applies only to people: Courage. Animals exhibit physical strength. But courage, spiritual strength, only applies to people.

Physical talent can be developed, but the potential is basically inborn. Either you have the potential to play professional basketball or you don't. The basic talent must be there.

But when it comes to spiritual strength, everyone has the same opportunity to excel. Wherever you stand spiritually, there is a challenge. Though some people, due to place of birth, education, etc., would seem to have it easier, in actuality each person has his own tests which are perfect for him.

An amazing story is recorded about Rabbi Chaim Vital (16th century) and the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria). The Arizal was the great teacher of Kabbala in modern times. Rabbi Chaim Vital was his primary student, who recorded almost all of the Arizal's teachings. Once Rabbi Vital asked the Arizal the following question: "If the Talmudic Sages with all their greatness and levels of holiness weren't able to bring the mashiach (messianic era), then how are we going to be able to?"

The Arizal's answer is even more understandable today that it was then. He answered: "In the time before the mashiach it will be so challenging to correctly observe mitzvot that the mitzvot done in those times will have more power than they did in the earlier times. Even though those mitzvot may not be done as completely, but because they will be so difficult they will have the power to bring the mashiach."

Dear Anonymous,

I spoke with the head doctor of the emergency department at Israel's Ma'ayanei Hayashuah Medical Center about your question. He said that complications are very rare. The most common problem is excessive bleeding, which needs sutures. He classified this as rare. Infection, he said is very, very rare, and he has never seen a case.

The danger of the mohel (certified ritual circumcisor) cutting too much, which is what most people are worried about, is basically unheard of. Nowadays the mohel uses a protective shield that makes this not only unlikely but impossible.

The Jewish people have been circumcising their young for around 3750 years. So far so good.

Dear Rabbi,

Why did G-d fashion man out of the ground?

Dear Keenan,

Because plastic hadn't been invented yet. (Just kidding.)

There are four layers of existence: Inanimate objects, plants, animals, and humans. Each level takes the level of life which is below it and elevates it. A plant derives its nutrition from the ground, elevating the ground and incorporating it into a higher level of existence. The same is true of all the levels. One reason we were created from the ground is to remind us that we can constantly strive to elevate every aspect of existence, even the lowly dirt.

Last time we asked: Who knows 15? Here are some reader responses:

Fifteen steps leading up to the Temple.

The 15 Psalms the Levites sang on the 15 stairs in the Temple.

Rosh Hashana for fruit trees is 15th Shevat (known as Tu B'shevat)

Fifteen words in the bircat kohanim, the priestly blessings.

The 15 sections of the Pesach Seder, 15 morning blessings.

15 cubits that the flood waters covered the mountain tops.

15 is the numerical value of G-d's name (yud and hey).

15 steps in the song "dayenu."

Fifteen generations from Abraham to King Solomon; then 15 generations from Solomon until the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple).

Fifteen categories of women exempt their rivals from yibum and chalitzah.

The Haggadah only goes up to 13 because the next number, 14, is "dalet yud" -- which in Hebrew means "enough!"

Contents

Regarding your definition of a bagel: I've been told that to "sleep a bagel" in slang means to sleep a full 12 hours; the shape the hour hand of the clock makes during this time would look like a bagel.

Another view of the bagel: To complement the optimist's and the pessimist's view of the ubiquitous bagel (the most beneficial invention ever invented), permit me to express the following: As you wander through life, Let this be your goal, Keep your eye on the bagel, And not on the hole.