בס''ד
It’s
a common misconception that it is only the Rabbis that apply additional
restrictions in order to safeguard us from prohibitions. In fact precautions of this nature are not
exclusively the realm of the Rabbis. There
are two occasions where the Torah itself imposes limitations to our behaviour
so as to ensure we do not transgress a commandment. One is found in our Parsha with regard to a
Nazir, someone who vows not to partake of wine, along with other self-imposed
constraints. The Torah further limits
this person by disallowing any grape products.
The second instance is with the Kohen Godol who is limited in his
involvement with the burial of a close relative out of the Torah’s concern that
he may come to be defiled by coming in contact with a dead body. The question that is posed here is why it is
specifically these two areas that the Torah feels requires these extra deterrents?
If
one were to examine these two sections of Torah law, one might notice that the
common denominator between them, is that they are both cases where the rest of
the world are not restricted in this way.
It is only the Kohen Godol that can not participate in the funeral of so
close a relative and only the Nozir that is not permitted to imbibe wine. The fact that for everyone else there is no
regulation of such acts, necessitates there being greater boundaries in place
to prevent those individuals from conducting themselves like the rest of the
population. This, explains Reb Aharon
Kotler zt’l, is the reason that these two rulings are singled out for such measures
to safeguard them.
Many
find it difficult to understand why there seems to be such an influx of
stringencies advocated by the Rabbis of our generation. In truth, if we are aware of the moral decline
of the world around us, and the degradation of society, our Sages are in fact
mirroring the precepts of the Torah to enforce blockades to shield us when
those around us are so lax in their observance of even the most basic ethical
principles. This of course requires
tremendous sensitivity to know where and when such restrictions should be
applied and to what degree one need in fact distance oneself from outside
influences. For this we must trust and rely on the understanding of our Rabbis whose
decisions are governed by the Torah. In doing so we are ensuring we live within
the parameters the Torah proscribes allowing for the most meaningful and
beautiful life that there is.
*May the observance of Shabbos help
us appreciate its true value*
לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם
לרפואה שלימה: שרה יעל בת
ברכה אסתר
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