Rav Chaim Ibn Attar, the Ohr HaChaim
Below are just a few examples from among the forty-two explanations of Bechukosai that also connect with Pirkei Avos:
Way #6 The Ohr HaChaim cites Avos chapter 2 that an Am HaAretz (ignoramus) cannot be a Chassid. This means that an Am HaAretz is actually forbidden to act like a Chassid and to try and take on various chumros (stringencies), because he does not understand what is appropriate and might decide to act in way he believes is pious and end up transgressing. The example given is that Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year. There are various things that we must forgo on Yom Kippur, including abstaining from food and drink – five forms of affliction in all. The Am HaAretz might misconstrue this and because he knows Yom Kippur is the holiest day, he might transgress some of the five afflictions, thinking he is acting piously and doing holy things on a holy day, when instead his actions would be a terrible sin! Therefore, Im bechukosai seileichu – if you walk in My laws, says Hashem – and safeguard My mitzvos and do them – you shall safeguard the path by adding fences and boundaries to prevent mistaken transgression.
Way #9 Pirkei Avos chapter 6 teaches that the Torah is acquired in forty-eight ways. The Ohr HaChaim sees this hinted at in our pasuk: Hashem says, “If you walk on the path of My laws and wish to acquire Torah, the condition is – safeguard My mitzvos and fulfill them and do them.” This refers to the forty ways of acquisition; if you fulfill these kinyonim you will acquire Torah. There are many barriers and different hindrances that prevent us from acquiring Torah; engaging in and fulfilling the forty-eight kinyonim helps us to overcome those hurdles and to acquire Torah.
Way #12 Pirkei Avos chapter 3 says that whoever has wisdom in greater abundance than his deeds and actions, his wisdom endures; whoever has actions in greater number, however, his wisdom will not endure. The Ohr HaChaim sees this hinted at in our pasuk. Hashem says, “If you walk on the path of My laws” – if you toil in Torah and your mitzva observance complements your effort, then your wisdom shall not exceed your deeds. This is why mitzva observance is written in our pasuk immediately following the toil in Torah: “Safeguard My mitzvos and fulfill and do them”.
Way #21 Pirkei Avos chapter 4 teaches,“You are forced to die against your will and forced to live against your will.” The Ohr HaChaim explains that Tzaddikim and Ba’alei Torah are different; unlike the average people to whom our Mishna in Avos applies, Ba’alei Torah can leave this world for the next world of their own free will whenever they wish. They simply decide to leave and even before their time has come and the King has called for them, they can go. He sees this hinted at in our pasuk: Hashem says, “Im bechukosai – then seileichu – If you toil in Torah, you can go, leaving whenever you wish to leave.”
Way #30 Pirkei Avos chapter 3 says,“If there is no flour, then there is no Torah.” The Ohr HaChaim here and in Haazinu explains that if we see that Hashem has stopped the Heavens from giving rain and withheld a bounty of blessings, if there is no flour, the reason is because there is a lack of Torah study and observance on our part.
This is seen in our pasuk: Hashem says, “Im bechukosai – If you wish to have My chok – chok means food – if you want food, then – seileichu – walk on the path of mitzva observance and Torah study. The amount of rain and food produced depends on your observance and diligence in Torah study.
Praises for the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh
Defending the Honor of Torah and Her Scholars
Last week, we told of the Ohr HaChaim’s Golus and how he revealed forty-two peirushim on Bechukosai. This week we will tell what led the Ohr HaChaim into that Golus to begin with:
The Ohr HaChaim had a gemach, a charity foundation that provided meat and chicken for the poor and Torah scholars. A great plague had struck, and all the animals were sick and suffering. Many of the animals that had been schechted through kosher slaughter were examined and found to be treif because of lung lesions or other internal blemishes that rendered the meat unfit for kosher consumption. There was a severe shortage of kosher meat and many families had to forgo meat even on Shabbos and Yom Tov.
One of the wealthy gevirim, whose desire for meat could not be sated, was at his wits’ end. What was he going to do? He then heard the strangest thing; apparently there was kosher meat available and plenty of it – but only through Rav Chaim ben Attar’s gemach!!!
It turned out that by some miracle, all the animals and fowl slaughtered to supply the Ohr HaChaim’s gemach with chicken and meat were kosher lemehadrin! The gevir approached Rav Chaim ben Attar and demanded that he too be given from this meat. The Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh refused and explained that this meat was designated only for the poor and destitute, such as widows and orphans, and for the support of Talmidei Chachomim. The gevir tried to raise his price and buy the meat but the Ohr HaChaim would not be bribed and stood his ground. Just then, a recipient of the gemach’s generous kosher provisions came in to collect his meat for Shabbos. The sight of this poor Talmid Chochom getting what he was denied enraged the rich man, who was so used to getting his way that he poured out his wrath on the Talmid Chochom. The Ohr HaChaim refused the wealthy man’s demands and he left. However, the damage had been done. A heavenly voice proclaimed that as punishment for seeing and hearing the shame and disparagement of this Talmid Chochom and not properly rebuking the wealthy man’s wicked ways the Ohr HaChaim was sentenced to exile to atone for his sins.
It was this Golus that found the Ohr HaChaim wandering until he was released after suffering imprisonment when he berated himself in his humility, as we told last week. May his merit shield us!
