Special Features
for Parshat Tzav

From the virtual desk of the OU VEBBE REBBE 

The Orthodox Union – via its website – fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... 

Q

I have developed an allergy to wheat. What am I to do regarding eating matza at the seder? 

A

The Talmud (Pesachim 35a) talks about five grains which can be used for making matzot, two of which are in the wheat family and three in the barley family. The important point is not really its botanical name but rather the fact that it can leaven in the way that wheat and barley do (ibid.). However, it is difficult to make assumptions about which grains are included in the list without precedent in classic sources. If there are grains which you are not allergic to, we will try to research whether they can be used for matza. Some are already being marketed (and, of course, should have proper rabbinical supervision).

Those who have trouble eating matza due to its texture may eat it broken into fine pieces (Biur Halacha 461:1) or soaked in water if it hasn't dissolved (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 461:4). (I doubt this helps with an allergy, but it can be useful regarding other health issues.) We tend to be particularly stringent on the amount of matza we eat on Seder night. It may be that the absolute minimum shiur of a Kazayit, according to the letter of the law, will not affect you adversely. [We leave out this shiur in our public discussion, as not to raise unnecessary issues for those who are,Baruch Hashem, healthy and can eat the customary amounts].

What happens if none of this is possible? Certainly if there is even a faint possibility of a violent, dangerous reaction, one should not take chances. However, if the reaction is less severe, the matter is more complex. The overwhelming majority of poskim agree that one does not need to make himself sick by performing a mitzva, even if it is not dangerous (Binyan Shlomo, 47; Mikraei Kodesh Pesach II, 32; Tzitz Eliezer XIV, 27; Chazon Ovadiah I: 32). Some learn this from the fact that one need not spend more than a fifth of one's property (and perhaps less) to fulfill a mitzva (Igrot Moshe, Orach Chayim I, 172). It appears from most of these sources that if only an unpleasant reaction will occur, but it is less than sickness, which is usually described as being bed-ridden (see Shulchan Orach, Orach Chayim 328:1 and Mishna Berura, ad loc.), that one would be obligated. Certainly, one wouldn't give a large sum of money to prevent a mild headache. We find that one is supposed to push himself to drink wine on Seder night even if it effects him adversely (Shulchan Aruch, OC 472:10). (Grape juice was not available in early spring in the era before vacuum packing and refrigeration were developed). The extent of the effect of the wine and the question hether the drinking of wine is unique are discussed (see Mikraei Kodesh and Chazon Ovadia, ibid.). The question of how likely a reaction is, is pertinent as well (Chazon Ovadia, ibid.).

In summary, one should not be reckless and need not be a “hero” in fulfilling the mitzva of matza with expected, significant, negative reactions. However, one should look for alternatives and should be willing to sacrifice a fair measure of comfort if it is required to fulfill a mitzva.

Ask the Rabbi Q&A is part of Hemdat Yamim, the weekly parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at www.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. And/or you can receive Hemdat Yamim by email weekly, by sending an email to lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message: Join Hemdatya - Please leave the subject blank.

Ask the Vebbe Rebbe is partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel 

Hasidic Wisdom from the book by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins) 

"This is the ritual of the guilt offering. It is most holy."
(Vayikra 7:1, Parshat Tzav)
Even the most guilty sinner of Israel is most holy.
- Rabbi Yehoshua of Kutnah

Your descendants shall be strangers in a land not their own." (B'reishit 15:13)

The Jews are better off as strangers in exile, in a land not their own, than always trying to pander to their neighbors in order to achieve citizenship with equal rights.
- Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

P.S. Of course, we are better off still in our own Land - and it would even be better if we didn't have to be subject to pressure from our good friends among the nations of the world.

Those who fail always lay blame on the obstacles in their path: On the potholes in the road, on the shoes on their feet. 

But they themselves... well, they have always behaved impeccably, and are completely blameless.
- Rabbi Leib of Kovel

Rite and Reason by Shmuel Pinchas Gelbard 

On the first day of Pesach, in the Musaf prayer, it is customary to recite the prayer for dew. 

Reason: Our sages relate that on Pesach night Yitzchak summoned his eldest son Esav and said to him, “My son, on this night treasures are opened... prepare for me tasty food,so that I might bless you.” (Continuing along the same line, Yaakov was the one who received the blessing of V'YITEN LECHA ELOKIM M'TAL HASHAMAYIMy for dew on the first day of Pesach.) 

Reason: The Gemara explains the reason of R. Yehuda who maintains that from the first day of Pesach we no longer mention rain the the Amida so that the Festivals should be free from rain. Instead, we pray for dew, which is an auspicious occurrence for the world in the spring.

ArtScroll Series • Mesorah Publications Ltd. WORDS OF WISDOM WORDS OF WIT • by Shmuel Himelstein 

The day before Pesach, R' Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook's house would swarm with all types of people coming to visit him (and ask questions), making it difficult for his wife to prepare for the Seder. She complained to her husband, and he consoled her: “Imagine, Raize Rivkah, that I were a wine merchant. Wouldn't you be thrilled by the large number of people coming to our home to buy wine just before Pesach? Aren't you happier that I'm a Rav and not a wine merchant?”

The Avnei Nezer would not permit his chassidim to join his Seder, no matter how much they implored him. The more brazen asked the Rebbe the reason for his refusal...

“During the Seder”, replied the Avnei Nezer, “every man must feel that he is totally free. If a chassid joins his Rebbe's Seder, there is no way he can feel truly free.”

Excerpted with the permission of the copyright holder

From the Desk of the Director 

Shabbat Hagadol is always a special day of anticipation. Perhaps so because we recall Malachi’s powerful and imminent prophecy: “Behold! I send you Elijah the Prophet, before the great and awesome day of Hashem.” 

Preceding this stirring message - which signs off all the prophecies of the Bible - Hashem cautions, “Remember the teaching of Moshe, my servant…” Our redemption, it appears, is not just a matter of recalling the miracles in Mizrayim. It is predicated on observing the mizvot with the same dedication with which our ancestors took the sheep for Shechita, on that very first Shabbat Hagadol.

Bnei Yisrael were then immersed in the lowest levels of impurity. Even the angels found it difficult to distinguish their sins from those of the Egyptians. However, the Ba’al Me’or Einayim explains that on that Shabbat the Neshama of each Jew escaped from its personal Galut that had been fashioned by the Yetzer Hara. Bnei Yisrael thus emerged from their small mindedness to greatness, in the spirit of the words of Yehezkiel, “Vatirbi Vatigdali” – ‘You increased and grew big.’

On that Shabbat Hagadol, Shabbat was also elevated, as Yisra’el became its partner. And now we would be able to keep Shabbat as a remembrance of our servitude in Egypt, and not “just” as a reminder of Creation. In this spirit, may Hashem guide the Shabbat and us, respectively, to reach our full potential. And then may we have the zechut to witness very soon that “great and awesome day.” 

Shabbat Shalom, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center