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One of the most difficult stories for me to understand in Tanach is when Uza was punished for steadying the Aron Kodesh as it was teetering on a wagon (Shmuel Beis 6,6-7). Who among us would not steady a Sefer Torah during hagbah and gelilah if we saw it about to fall Chas Vshalom, or if it was leaning over precariously in an Aron during hotzaah and hachnasah? Why was he punished so severely? Why was he expected to rely on a neis?
When a man is called up to the Torah, he is supposed to touch the Torah only with his Talis, not with his bare hand.
Right, Joseph. Nonetheless, I’m sure that any Rav will tell you that if you are faced with the choice of the sefer falling (which is what Jewishfeminist was talking about) or catching it with your bare hands, the better option is to catch it.
The Wolf
Rabbi Avigdor Miller said he did the right thing. nevertheless there was a very small lack in his Emuna, and for a man of his greatness, there needed to be punishment. he also states that his death was a KiddushHashem for it demonstrated the great sanctity of the Aron, and he was certainly rewarded for this in OlamHaBah.
if you find some contradictions in the above, it is not a quote but only my memory of what R’ Miller said, and please attribute any innacuracies to my faulty memory
“When a man is called up to the Torah, he is supposed to touch the Torah only with his Talis, not with his bare hand.”
I am well aware of this. However, Pashuteh Yid’s question refers to Hagbah and Glilah, when the Torah is already wrapped up and a person catching it would touch only the velvet covering and not the actual parchment.
“However, Pashuteh Yid’s question refers to Hagbah and Glilah, when the Torah is already wrapped up and a person catching it would touch only the velvet covering and not the actual parchment.”
the Sefer Torah is not wrapped up during Habboh and Glilah. it is exposed, that was his question.
it is not wrapped up until after Hagboh and Glilah are completed.
The Jews were forbidden to touch the Aron Kodesh. Period. They had seen enough miracles to know that Hashem would not let the Aron Kodesh fall unless He wanted it to fall. It was an issue of bitachon, and also proved the idea that even well-intentioned people can err.
I heard from one of the ziknei roshei hayeshiva in eretz yisroel that the pshat is that the aron was nosei es nos’av, it carried those who appeared to be carrying it. His mistake was to think that without his help the aron would fall and he is the one who is preventing the fall. By a sefer torah in a shul this wouldn’t seem to apply, only the aron of the mishkan had this attribute that it carried those who carry it.
oomis & charlie have the right answers.
l’chora that’s pashut pshat.
feivel – your answer from R’ Miller Ztz”l is a tzorich iyun gadol.
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