Question

Hello Rabbi, 
I saw an interesting article here by Rabbi Zilberstein.
It is interesting in two respects. First, the very fact of taking up the topic. After all, it is not common among people of his type to deal with meta-Jewish law (and in such a systematic way, no less). Second, the substance of what he says. In my humble opinion there is something to it. I would be glad to hear what the Rabbi thinks. (I wouldn’t have troubled you—I would have just drawn out the article’s conclusions. But it seemed to me that it would interest the Rabbi.)

Raised high by the great rabbis, may they live long

With God’s help

Monthly The Treasury Issue 50
The electronic journal for all fields of Torah study
 
 

Overview

 
This issue is blessed with an especially rich blessing, in the section “Captains of Fifty”, which contains articles by renowned rabbis, teachers of Torah who are still with us, who graciously agreed to share with us their Torah insights, to glorify our monthly journal and strengthen us and the writers and readers who join with us, to magnify Torah and make it great. Among them are elders of the generation whose name is greater than any title, outstanding halakhic decisors, heads of yeshivot and judges, each according to his honor and stature. Our thanks to them and to all who assisted in this matter. And our blessing, the blessing of an ordinary person–may their days yet be long in goodness and their years pleasant, to enlighten our eyes with the light of their Torah.
In the Treasury of Hidden Things: From the words of our rabbis of blessed memory on the topic of the day. An explanation of the Talmudic passage “A person is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim” — from Rabbi David Oppenheim, head of the religious court of Prague, from his manuscript commentary on Tractate Megillah. A remarkable article by Rabbi Meir Chadash, of blessed memory, on the wondrous words of the midrash: "As a reward for Agag, who was crying and groaning while he was in prison and said, ‘Woe is me, perhaps my descendants will be lost,’ Haman came forth from him" [and within it"a new teaching from our teacher, the Elder of Slabodka]. Notes and novellae by Rabbi A. Ganchovsky, of blessed memory, on the Scroll of Esther and the Torah portion “Remember”. An article on the book Akeidat Yitzhak by Rabbi Yitzhak Arama, author of the Akeidah, including new excerpts from manuscript.
In the Treasury of Times: On the reading of the Torah portion “Remember,” and the opinion of the medieval authorities regarding the definition of blotting out Amalek, and what emerges from this for resolving the view of the Magen Avraham that one also fulfills the obligation with the portion “And Amalek came”. Appendices to the article on the time for reading the Megillah in the city of Lod–regarding an unwalled-city resident who read on the fifteenth and a walled-city resident who read on the fourteenth, and regarding a city that was destroyed and a city without ten men of leisure. An article arguing innovatively that in Beit Shemesh one should read on the fifteenth as well(also) on the fifteenth. Notes on the laws of “triple Purim” — whether ten are needed for the reading on Friday eve, and whether one must spend the Sabbath in the walled city. Regarding women and Megillah reading and its blessing, and whether fundamentally a woman may read on behalf of a group of women. A clarification of the textual versions of the blessing “Who pleads our cause”, concerning the ancient order at the end of the blessing, "Who exacts vengeance for us from our oppressors and repays all the enemies of our soul" and not the reverse, as is our custom. Regarding a custom mentioned by several great authorities–not to thank someone for receiving a mishloach manot gift. Regarding feasting and rejoicing on triple Purim, and the law of a mourner in this respect. Explanations in Tractate Megillah in light of a piyyut of Rabbi Yehudah Halevi–what is the remedy that the Holy One, blessed be He, prepared before the blow, and the meaning of the word "astehar". Regarding people who were exchanged with demons — and their connection to Esther.
In the Treasury of Orach Chayim: A comprehensive article on the definition of the prohibition of wasteful destruction and the degradation of food. A summary of the laws of the traveler’s prayer from the sources. A comprehensive article on the holiness-status of Levites nowadays. On the rule that one does not pass over commandments when taking out a Torah scroll found behind one, and more. A summary of the various views regarding opening tin cans on the Sabbath. On the question whether there is “cooking after cooking” in a food such as "bulgur" – which was cooked and then dried. A discussion of the definition of indirect causation, the opinions of the medieval authorities and the practical ruling of the halakhic decisors. Regarding two adjacent sanctities — Sabbath and Yom Kippur, the second day of a Jewish holiday, and Rosh Hashanah, in the Land of Israel and outside it, both in the time when the month was sanctified based on sighting and nowadays. Regarding cooking on the Sabbath for the sake of a non-Jew by increasing the quantity for him–from the sources of the Talmudic passage.
In the Treasury of Yoreh De’ah: A comprehensive explanation of the views of the medieval and later authorities on the prohibition due to offerings brought to idolatry, together with a summary of the reality regarding hair coming from houses of idolatry in India, based on new investigations. Regarding the reliability of doctors, an explanation of the dispute among the medieval authorities in Tractate Niddah in light of manuscript versions(which support the textual emendations made here by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin). Regarding separating terumah when it is immediately nullified by majority, and nullification by majority in one of two sisters.
In the Treasury of Sacred Offerings: An explanation of Tosafot in Zevachim 9b, "if he received [in order to complete the receiving] not for their proper intention, it is invalid" and the version in parentheses.
In the Treasury of Research and Analysis: A comprehensive article on the relationship between Jewish law and changes in reality. Regarding the Vilna Gaon’s attitude toward the philosophy of Maimonides, of blessed memory.
In the Treasury of History: The life and work of Rabbi Mordechai Akaler, one of the last rabbis of the Jewish community of Mashhad, written by his descendant.
So much for a partial description of the praise due the words of Torah that have been gathered and included in this issue, with God’s help, and the reader will find abundant treasure.
♦
Our thanks to all the distinguished rabbis, writers, and readers, who have granted us the merit of their Torah words from the beginning of our path until now.
May God continue to do so and add further blessing, that just as we have merited to reach the fiftieth issue, with our rabbis, the “Captains of Fifty,” at our head, so may we merit “the light of the Torah of life in the fiftieth gate”, to the acquisition of Torah, to the ingathering of the exiles, to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and complete redemption.

And our prayer is that we merit to continue realizing the purpose for which the monthly journal The Treasury was founded — to serve as a platform for every Torah scholar, from all communities engaged in the holy Torah for its own sake, to spread their Torah insights, to learn and to teach. And to increase sacred conversation among Torah students, out of unity and love of Torah and those who study it.