As Moshe completed the thought, Rav Olshin grew excited. “This is in the back of the Gemara?” he exclaimed. “Can you show it to me?”

Living Higher

P

opular singer and musician Moshe Katz attended a sheva brachos held in a Lakewood home where he put his musical talents to work, bringing joy to the chassan, kallah, and their families. The guest of honor was Rav Yeruchem Olshin shlita, rosh yeshivah of Beis Medrash Govoha, and he spoke about reiach — the spiritual significance of the power of scent. Before he left, he approached Moshe to thank him for his wonderful music.

“I have an addition to the Rosh Yeshivah’s devar Torah,” Moshe said. Rav Olshin listened intently. “I once saw one of the mefarshim in the back of the Gemara say the following insight,” Moshe began. “Why is it that when someone eats a new food he makes a shehecheyanu, but when he smells a new scent and says the brachah borei minei besamim, he does not make a shehecheyanu?” Rav Olshin nodded, acknowledging the question, and Moshe continued.

“The answer provided is that the brachah of shehecheyanu is an expression of gratitude to Hashem for granting us life, which allows us to engage in this particular pleasure. However, regarding reiach, the Gemara in Berachos (43b) says it’s a ‘davar she’haneshamah nehenis mimenu — something that the soul benefits from.’ Meaning, the power of scent is ethereal in nature; it is a faculty of the soul rather than the body. Thus, one can relate to it even after life, when he exists entirely as a soul. Making the brachah of shehecheyanu is therefore inappropriate, as one does not need life to enjoy the experience of reiach.”

As Moshe completed the thought, Rav Olshin grew excited. “This is in the back of the Gemara?” he exclaimed. “Can you show it to me?” Moshe retrieved a large, old volume of Gemara from the shelf, and together, the singer and the rosh yeshivah poured over the yellowed pages. After reviewing the piece, Rav Olshin looked toward the guests. “The singer has a greater bekius (breadth) than all of us!” he declared.

As he once again prepared to leave, he turned to the owner of the home with a broad smile. “It was worth it to come tonight just to use one of those old Gemaras!”

The Rosh Yeshivah left the home, having illuminated all those present with his display of love for fellow Jews, Torah, and the seforim that contain its words.

Like the power of reiach, it was truly an experience that touched the soul.

Happening in... Indianapolis

In the heavenly map charting the world’s spiritual layout, Indianapolis just underwent a quantum expansion. The community there has begun its first kollel, housed in the B’nei Torah shul led by Rabbi Yisroel Teitelbaum. The pioneering group consists of four distinguished rabbis, all from Ner Yisroel: Rabbi Yaakov Perlow as rosh kollel, and Rabbis Moshe Marks, Moshe Segal, and Noam Posner.

Rabbi Michael Hasten has donated some 15,000 seforim to the kollel’s library, a collection he amassed over fifty years.

As with every new Torah institution, this is truly a giant leap for mankind.

Meals of Fortune

The Rosh Hakahal of Gateshead, Mr. Meir Menashe Bodner, was returning from Eretz Yisrael together with his wife. During a Cyprus stopover, they noticed a young couple with a baby, along with another Jewish woman, waiting anxiously to catch a connecting flight to Eretz Yisrael — but no seats were available. They had all been stuck there for hours, and their kosher food supply was quickly running out.

Without hesitation, Mr. and Mrs. Bodner handed over their sandwiches and snacks. “We’ll manage the flight to London without food,” they insisted. “You need it more than we do.”

When the Bodners boarded their flight, they weren’t expecting kosher meals — British Airways had stopped providing them on short-haul economy flights. But to their surprise, the stewardess appeared at their seats carrying two hot kosher meals, served on china plates with real cutlery and napkins. Two business-class passengers had ordered kosher meals — and hadn’t boarded the flight.

By giving to another, one never loses.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1078)