4 replies to this topic

[shifpifer1]

Is it true that everything that happens in the Torah happens to Bnei Yisroel? For example, it could happen in a very weird way. Like Krias Yam Suf could mean for somebody that they had a personal victory that allowed them to be more frum. I mean, I don't really believe this because it doesn't make sense that everyone would have to go through everything. I only heard this once from an unreliable source, however I have heard other things from the same person and they were true.

[TovaLeahGlass]

I did learn a Ramban in school once in Sefer Berashis (don't recall exactly where) that derech avos is a sign of what happens future generations. For example when Avraham went down to Mitzrayim and all the details that happened with going down interactions with paroh and coming up (been awhile since i learnt this ramban sorry) was a sign and way to pave the road for klal yisrael..this is sort of similar i dont know if this is what you were talking about

[Rabbi Shapiro]

Thank you TLG. If that is what you mean, then you're talking about מעשה אבות סימן לבנים. The Ramban says that Avrohom going to MItzrayim was a preenactment of the Jews going into Golus, and similar ideas.

It doesn't mean that every single Jew relives every event in the Torah. It means that the actions of the Avos are preludes to what Klall Yisroel in general will experience. It does not mean every single Jew experiences it in an individual way.

[shifpifer1]

Thank you, yeah I guess this person misinterpreted something they read or something.

[Rabbi Shapiro]

Well I would guess that what he really saw was probably something like this:
.

הנה מתורתם של קדושי עליון למדנו כי כל דברי תורה נוגעים הם בכל הדורות ובכל הזמנים בין בצבור בין ביחיד לכל נפש ונפש מישראל ולא עוד אלא שאין בכלל אלא מה שבפרט הרי כל הענינים השייכים בכלליות הקדושה של כנסת ישראל בצורה כללית יש להם קיום מקבילים בעבודת השם של כל יחיד בצורה פרטית - פחד יצחק פסח נג

.

But that is different than a "personal victory that let you be more frum" being a Krias Yam Suf. In context, he is talking about Klall Yisroel and her different types of enemies, how and why Eretz Yisroel vomits out evil inhabitants, and that these rules, stated about Klall Yisroel in general, also apply to the individual in his Avodas Hashem as well.

.

This means that principles that are stated regarding Klall Yisroel in general, such as Eretz Yisroel reacting to Tumah, apply to the individual as well. This is not the same as saying we reenact historical events through individual experiences.