Weekly Halacha Yomit: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

We begin studying many of the laws concerned with funerals and mourning of the dead. I, for one, struggle with the idea of death and how we can cope with the death of a loved one. In 2002, a friend of mine, Yoni Jesner z"l, was killed in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. As the news of the attack filtered through to me in London, I went through many different emotions. Upon hearing of his death as a result of his injuries, it was extremely difficult to focus on anything. So many questions were floating in my head – primarily, WHY? While one cannot begin to fathom why and formulate an answer, we can receive much comfort from what Yoni DID achieve in his short life. I would like to share with you the thoughts of Yoni's cousin and best friend, Gideon Black, who was also injured in the attack. Gideon describes here Yoni's final day:

I would like to share with you the final two acts that Yoni did on that Thursday morning, before we departed on our journey to Tel Aviv. In the morning, Yoni, Natan Rickman and I, davened at a shiva house for one of our friends who lost his father to cancer. When it came to Kriyat HaTorah, there was nobody to lein. Yoni stepped forward and leined Vzot HaBracha flawlessly. I thought this was very symbolic and very fitting, that Yoni read the last parsha in the Torah on his last day.

Three weeks before Yoni’s death, we were learning together one day. He was spinning a pen in his hand, and upon realising it wasn’t his, became very concerned as to whose pen it was. He then remembered that a day earlier, he was in a second hand book shop with his father, and after signing a cheque to pay for the books must have accidentally slipped the 5 shekel pen into his pocket. Three weeks later, on the way home from the shiva house, we were walking near the centre of town. Yoni asked us to wait on the street corner for five minutes as he had something he needed to do. He returned five minutes later with a smile on his face, so glad he had returned the pen. He had kept in with him whenever he was in Jerusalem for the last three weeks, and thus on his final morning he fulfilled the mitzvah of Hashavat Aveida - such was his concern for other people, and their property…

Yoni’s life was a continuous Kiddush Hashem and he was killed Al Kiddush Hashem. And even after his death, through organ donation he saved the lives of 2 Jewish men and an 8 year old Palestinian girl, and thus again, he made a Kiddush Hashem…

G-d decides the quantity of our lives – it is up to us to decide the quality.
[Hesped by Gideon Black ]

While hearing about the acts of an incredible young man cannot bring him back, they certainly help us through the mourning or grieving process. This is how the halacha helps a mourner, primarily through the means of the shiva. By visiting the mourner and allowing people to discuss the bereaved's good deeds and life, this is a real source of comfort – for both the mourner and the visitors. Above all, this all reminds us that "G-d decides the quantity of our lives – it is up to us to decide the quality."

If you have any comments or feedback, please email daniel@worldmizrachi.org .

• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with English linear translation: http://www.geocities.com/yona_n.geo/index.html
• Hebrew Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with nekudot: http://www.kitzur.net
• Hebrew Kitzur Shulchan Aruch without nekudot: http://www.shofar.net/Content/Kitzur_Shulchan.htm?id=5417
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch project, calendars and order books: http://www.kitzuryomi.org/
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with Misgeret HaShulchan: http://www.hebrewbooks.org/9214
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with She'arim Ha'Metzuyanim B'Halachah:
  • Part 1 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14621
  • Part 2 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14622
  • Part 3 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14619
  • Part 4 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14620
• Selected chapters grouped by theme: http://www.torah.org/learning/halacha/
• New Artscroll Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Sample available at: http://www.artscroll.com/Books/ksa1.html