Why do we say “l’chayim” when we drink wine?
The Daas Zkeinim (a commentary on the Chumash by the Baalei Tosfos) explains as follows. According to one opinion in Chazal, the eitz hadaas was a grape vine, and the first action of eating done with grapes brought death into the world. Therefore, when we access that same fruit, we give a brocha of “l’chayim,” that this wine should bring life into the world!
Why does the Torah begin with the letter beis, rather than aleph?
The Baal HaTurim says the reason is that we want to begin the Torah with the letter that represents brocha. The Meiri adds that this is also the reason that the first masechta in shas in brachos!
Why wasn’t a person created with wings like a bird?
A fascinating reason is brought in the sefer Halachos Katanos. Hashem didn’t create us with the ability to fly for our own benefit, so that if he wanted to pursue an aveira, ch’v, it would take him extra time to get there, and he would have a chance to regret his decision. Also, the need for us to walk to shul, or to our learning seder, or to any other mitzvah, means that we get s’char for every step along the way!
Story
Once, the Baal Hatanya was put into a Russian jail. One of the great Russian ministers came to interrogate him. When he walked into the holy tzadik’s cell, he could tell by the tzadik’s face that he was in a state of deep connection to the spiritual world. It was almost like the Baal Hatanya wasn’t even physically in his body! He realized that he was about to have some time with a great person and decided to ask something that had been bothering him for some time.
“After Adam’s sin,” he asked, “it seems that Hashem goes looking for Adam. He asks “ayecha, where are you?” But clearly, Hashem knew where Adam was, so why did he have to ask him?”
The Baal Hatanya answered, “The Torah was written for all generations, and so, Hashem is talking to every person. He asks everyone this question — where are you? Maybe you were already in this world for 54 years [the exact age of the minister]. Have you been doing good things during those years? Did you ever do anyone a favor?”
The minister was very taken back by the answer and reported to the Czar that the Baal Hatanya was definitely not a criminal!
#1 The Torah says that grass was created on the third day and the sun and the moon were created on the fourth day. But Chazal also say that everything was really made on the first day. So how did it work?
#2 The pasuk says (B’reishis 2:2) “Vayechal Elokim bayom hashvi’i, Hashem finished creating the world on the seventh day.” But I thought nothing was created on Shabbos!?
#3 Which creation didn’t listen to the Creator during the creation of the world?
Answers: 1) Everything was indeed created on the first day. On the other days, all the various items were put in their correct place, so for example, the sun and moon becoming visible only on day four. 2) Menucha, rest itself, was indeed created on Shabbos! 3) Chazal say that the trees didn’t listen. Hashem had commanded that the bark of the tree should taste just like the fruit, and the trees did not grow that way.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 101 – Bardichever Yahrtzeit Edition.