"ועשו ארון עצי שיטים" (כ"ה, י') -
כל מבנה בית הכנסת וצורתו מכוון כנגד בית המקדש. ארון הקודש ובו ספרי תורה - כנגד קודש הקודשים ובו לוחות העדות וספר תורה שבארון.
(מכתב סופר ח"ב, ס' א')
(מכתב סופר ח"ב, ס' א')
The Aron Hakodesh that fell
Due to concerns of theft, the valuable Torah scrolls that were in the Aron Kodesh before renovations, were securely housed in a massive safe.
One of the workers, Reuven, was near the safe when it fell on him! It appeared to the other workers that he surely must have been crushed to death under its weight. New York Fire department and Hatzoloh raced in. Incredibly, when the rescuers managed to hoist the safe off of him he was found to be alive and well, albeit a bit shaken up.
The story as it was later pieced together was that the locked and impenetrable door to the safe had miraculously opened as it crashed down on him and made a small pocket for his body enabling him to breathe and survive in "one piece".
Does Reuven have to recite the Bracha which is recited when a miracle happens 'ברוך שעשה לי נס במקום זה’?
Answer:
Rabbi Avigdor Neventzal: He may make a Bracha, however, without mentioning Hashem’s name.
The Shulchan Aruch holds that one should recite this Bracha but only if it is for a rescue or recovery that is above and beyond nature. In other words, if the event was truly miraculous (and not merely very fortunate). Examples such as surviving a grave illness or a car accident or burglary may be within the laws of nature (so they may not qualify as miracles according to the Shulchan Aruch interpretation).
A clear example of a miracle that is above and beyond nature is the story, (about a thousand years ago, 1039 on the Gregorian calendar) about the mother of the great Rashi. She was pregnant with him, and an evil man tried to run her over with his horse and wagon. She was saved because the solid rock wall (which she was cornered into) opened and allowed for her safe passage.
Therefore Reuven should say the bracha “שעשה לי נס” but WITHOUT saying Hashem’s name , and he should certainly bench hagomel-ברכת הגומל .
On the other hand, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel believes that Reuven must recite the Bracha 'שעשה לי נס במקום הזה' with saying hashem's name because - a miracle happened to him.
When the Shulchan Aruch writes that one should recite a Bracha on miracles that are above and beyond nature, that also includes any rescue or recovery that is very unusual. Therefore Reuven should say the bracha with hashem's name.
*****
The perfect costume?
From "Shut D'var Chevron"
With Purim less than a month away, 12 year old Shimi was completely preoccupied with what was to be his Purim costume; He constantly thought of his options. But even with parade of ideas (a surgeon, a peacock, a pizza delivery man - to name a few), he ultimately rejected them all. They were either too typical, too juvenile, too boring, or just lacked the “cool” factor.
Finally, one day, in class, he came up with the “perfect” costume. He could barely contain his excitement as he ran home to tell his mother. He wanted to dress up as …a terrorist (replete with a fake gun, knife, explosive vest and even a scarf fashioned as a mask)! He felt it would be cool to scare little kids…
His mother was both appalled and horrified. Besides this being morally reprehensible.
was this even halachically permissible?
Answer:
Rav Dov Lior: Shimi should NOT wear this costume.
The first reason is that to to dress up as a terrorist acknowledges and even bestows some honor on such wicked creatures. Rather those creatures should be humiliated.
Secondly, there is a security and safety issue. Shimi could be mistakenly perceived to be an actual terrorist and this could potentially lead to tragic consequences.
Comment (Rabbi Daniel Kirsch): similarly (although not exactly the same point) - brought in Sichot Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky on Purim - Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, heard from his father, The Stipler zt "l, that in the yeshiva he attended in Novardhuk, they would traditionally reenact parts of the Purim story. Sadly many of the actors who played Haman in these plays (over the years ) went "off the derech" (the righteous path). It can’t be known but it should be considered that one’s life may be adversely affected even by dressing up as a “rasha” (wicked man).
