Prohibited Becomes Permitted
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Loading ...Today’s Question: Prohibited Becomes Permitted
Name two prohibited acts that when done individually are not allowed, but when done at the same time they are perfectly allowed?
Yesterday’s Question: Patriarch and Matriarch Overlap
Why is it that the three generations of the Avos, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov all had lives that overlapped, they roamed earth together for 15 years, whereas the three generations of Ima’os specifically did not see each other. Sarah died as Rivka was born, and Rivka died before Yaakov brought Rachel and Leah home to meet her. What is the explanation behind this fascinating observation?
Our Answer:
On one foot: Logic vs. emotion!
Please allow me to elaborate.
This brilliant question was posed by R’ Ezra Neuberger to the students of Ner Yisrael on numerous occasions. I humbly offer the following suggestion.
The Chovos Hal’vavos enumerates the two elements of our belief in God. They are logic and emotion. The logical domain is where we prove the imperative existence of God and His choice of our nation based on rationalistic arguments especially revolving around the area of Mesorah, the tradition, our chain to the past. (This is the theme of the Kuzari.)
The second domain is that of the emotional and spiritual connection to God. Yes, we know Him by logic, in our heads, but here we strive to feel Him and connect to Him in our hearts. (This is the theme of the Yesod V’Soresh HaAvoda.)
These two elements are vitally important. They are represented by the male and female personalities. Men are colloquially known as logical thinkers. Women are known have strong emotions. This is each one’s specialty.
At the Pesach Seder we have three Matzos and four cups of wine. Matza is wheat, a nourishing staple for the body, this represents the understanding of God through logic, hence there are three Matzos corresponding to the three Avos. Wine stirs the emotions, it hints to the passionate sensational approach to connecting to God. Hence, it is four in number analogous to the four Ima’os!
Now we understand! The Avos represent the logical path of recognizing God, thus they had to see each other for that is what makes our chain of the Mesorah operational! The Mothers on the other hand represent the emotional and non-intellectually related connection to God, therefore, it was most appropriate that their three generations should not be linked logically, for they are the emotion which is irrespective of any continued chain, it is feelings!
There is certainly what to think about and feel as well!
