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Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Emor – Avos perek 4
16 Iyar (31st day of omer) 5770/ April 30, 2010
My recent trip to Eretz Yisroel afforded me the opportunity to recite and receive certain special blessings:
- The great tzaddik and halachic authority Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlita recently celebrated his one hundredth birthday. He davens Shacharis each morning at 6:15 in his shul on Rechov Admon in the Meah Sharim section of Yerushalayim. I had the merit to daven with him one morning and receive a blessing from him. When he first entered the shul I recited the blessing, ברוך... שחלק מחכמתו ליראיו"- Blessed… Who has apportioned of His knowledge to those who fear Him.”
- Every morning in Eretz Yisroel the Kohanim bless the congregation during Shemoneh Esrei (an abridged version of the blessing recited by the Kohanim outside of Eretz Yisroel during the Mussaf prayer of the major festivals). As a Levi that gave me the opportunity to wash the Kohanim’s hands in anticipation of that blessing each day. It was also fascinating that I received a blessing from the Kohanim together with Rabbi Elyashiv.
- As part of our tour we visited an area known by its Arabic name, Qasr el Yahud (Castle of the Jews). According to historians it is the place (or very close to the place) where Yehoshua led the Jewish people into Eretz Yisroel at the commencement of their conquest of Canaan. It was the spot where the Jordan River miraculously stopped so the Jews could cross. Because of its extreme proximity to Jordanian territory (at that spot the river is extremely narrow and the other side of the Jordan is literally about twenty feet away) one cannot visit the area without an army escort.
At that spot we recited the blessing, ברוך שעשה נס לאבותינו במקום הזה" – Blessed (is He) Who performed a miracle for our ancestors at this place. [Because we are not absolutely sure that this is the exact place where the miracle occurred, I did not recite G-d’s Name when I said the blessing.]
- The Churvah shul in the Old City of Yerushalayim has a long tragic history. It was built to be one of the most beautiful shuls in Yerushalayim but twice during its construction it was destroyed. Merely a few weeks ago the magnificently refurbished shul was opened. When I entered the shul I recited the blessing ברוך מציב גבול אלמנה" - Blessed (is He) Who sets a limit for a widow.”
- Although the blessing recited annually on the budding of a fruit tree is not endemic to Eretz Yisroel and is recited anywhere in the world during the month of Nissan, this year I had the opportunity to recite the blessing on a budding pomegranate tree in the beautiful city of Tzippori.
- Finally, I wanted to recite the blessing upon removing tithes and terumah, which is exclusive to produce grown in Eretz Yisroel. The majority of produce purchased in the Holy Land must be viewed as if it is in a state of doubt known as ‘demai’ because of the possibility that tithes were taken. [Even if one purchases produce from an Arab vendor it is possible that the Arab purchased the produce from a Jew who may or may not have separated the requisite tithes.] Thus, when purchasing most produce in Eretz Yisroel (unless it was purchased from someone known to be scrupulous about separating the tithes) one must separate terumah and ma’aser and recite the special declaration, but the blessings are not recited.
As a favor to me, Rabbi Avi Berman, the director of the Orthodox Union in Eretz Yisroel and a special Jew, brought me almonds from a tree growing in his yard (I didn’t even know almonds grew in such shells), so that I would have the opportunity to separate tithes and recite the blessings.
Chazal teach us that reciting blessings with concentration helps us appreciate the myriad gifts that G-d grants us on a constant basis. Whenever one has the opportunity to recite ‘unusual blessings’ it helps remind us to appreciate the blessings that abound throughout our lives.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum