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Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 21:28:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Shalom Zahar

In response to Erik Shapiro's question (V1 #69) about a Biblical
interpretation I cited the well known fact that certain mitzvoth require a
sort of MENTAL CALMNESS (perhaps there is a better term). The two examples
I cited are (1) Sitting in the Succah--you do not sit in the Succah in a
torrential rain because you are uncomfortable and (2) Reproduction---if you
already have a boy and girl and it is economically hard you have no
obligation to reproduce more because it is uncomfortable. (By contrast if
you are in a hurricane and it is uncomfortable you still have to put on
tefillin--- in other words, tefillin does not require mental calmness but
Succah and reproduction do).

Rabbi Teitz responds (V1 #73) <  <  One can take any two or three mitzvot and
designate self-defined classes in order to arrive at a desired conclusion.>  >

Self defined? The concepts are not my own but the Talmuds---For the
Succah see Rambam Succah 6:2, or the Midrash on Lev 23:42 ("..DWELL in the
Succoth..." but not if you are uncomfortable).  For Reproduction see
Rambam, WIVES, 15:16...>  >  He must reproduce as long as he is ABLE<  <   The idea
that ABILITY comes from URVU (denoting quality) was my own--if Rabbi Teitz
knows a better derivation it is certainly welcome.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
Rhendel @ mcs drexel edu

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