Parashat Ki Tisa
Question
In the parsha we read about the ketores:
"(לד) וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה קַח לְךָ סַמִּים נָטָף וּשְׁחֵלֶת וְחֶלְבְּנָה סַמִּים וּלְבֹנָה זַכָּה בַּד בְּבַד יִהְיֶה (לה) וְעָשִׂיתָ אֹתָהּ קְטֹרֶת רֹקַח מַעֲשֵׂה רוֹקֵחַ מְמֻלָּח טָהוֹר קֹדֶשׁ".
Every day we say "Pitum HaKetores keitzad" , but before that, we say;
"Ain Keilokeinu, ain Kadoneinu, ain K’Malkeinu…",
"Mi Keilokeinu, mi Kadoneinu…"
The source to this Halcha is brought by the Rema, this is a quote;
הלכות נשיאת כפים ונפילת אפים סימן קל״ב סעיף ב׳:
ויש לומר פטום הקטורת ערב ובוקר אחר התפלה, ואומרים תחלה: אין כאלקינו וכו'.
Why specifically before the parsha of ketores do we say this tefillah?
We don’t find such an introduction to any other korbonot that we recite during Teffilah, only the Ketores.
We could also ask: what is the connection between this Tefillah and the ketores?
Answer
!A Guten Erev Shabbos
This question was asked to the Noda BiYehuda, and is brought in the Shut Noda BiYehuda Siman 10.
The Noda BiYehuda answers:
Since saying the ketores is a segulah for parnassah and wealth,
there’s a danger, that when a person becomes wealthy, he might chas veshalom forget Hashem by saying: "Koichi v’otzem yodi asah li es hachayil hazeh."
Just like it says: "וישמן ישורון ויבעט."
So in order that the wealth should really be a bracha, and not lead him away from Hashem,
we start by saying "Ain Keilokeinu, ain K’Malkeinu…"
By doing this, a person internalizes that everything is from Hashem,
and now it would not be dangerous for him to say Pitum HaKetores and receive the bracha of prosperity, because he won’t forget Hashem on the contrary, he will recognize that his success is is a blessing from Hashem, and he will thank him for it.
Pitum HaKetores is a Segulah for Wealth
From the Noda BiYehuda we see how powerful the segulah of ketores is, so strong that Chazal instituted a special Tefiilah to prepare a person for the great Bracha.
But what’s the actual source?
It says in Parshat Vezot Habracha when Moshe Rabbeinu blessed Shevet Levi:
"יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ וְכָלִיל עַל מִזְבְּחֶךָ… בָּרֵךְ ה' חֵילוֹ וּפֹעַל יָדָיו תִּרְצֶה."
It is brought in the Gemara in Mesechet Yumah that from here we learn:
"ישימו קטורה באפך . whoever is maktir the ketores, is zocheh to, "ברך ה' חילו ופועל ידיו תרצה."
(See Rashi there.)
Ketores and Sandekus in Halacha
From this, the Remah learns another halacha:
Just like ketores is a segulah for wealth,
and therefore they would only give it to “chadashim la’ketores” kohanim who never had a turn, so that everyone should have a chance to receive the bracha, so too with sandekus, the honor is given only to someone who has not yet been a sandek in that family.
But the Gra argues with this comparison:
He writes that the reason cannot be because sandekus is like ketores, since we never saw that a sandek becomes rich because of it.
And if that were the reason, it should be assur for someone who already had it to ever be a sandek again.
Instead, the Gra says the source for this Halacha is Tzava’as R’ Yehudah HaChassid.
(ע"ע שו״ת נודע ביהודה מהדו״ק יו״ד סימן פ״ו.)
This is a quote of the Tzava’as R’ Yehudah HaChassid;
לה. לא יעשה לחבירו סנדק לשני בניו אלא אם כן מת אחד.
Halacha Le’maaseh:
We asked Moreinu Hagaon Harav Fried Shalita if the Ketoret needs to be said specifically from a parchment?
Harav Fried Shalita answered:
“Saying Pitum HaKetores brings wealth, even if it is not read from a klaf.
In the sefer Seder HaYom, it is written that saying it from a klaf has a special power to bring wealth. See also Kaf HaChaim Siman 132. However, even if one does not say it from a klaf, it is still a segulah for wealth. See Kol Bo Siman 41, Beis Yosef Siman 132, and also the Zohar Hakadosh at the end of Parshas Vayakhel, daf 218.”
With regard to giving the honor of sandekaut to the same person for two children in the same family:
:Harav Fried Shalita said
“The Rema writes in Yoreh Deah 265:11 that a person should not be honored to serve as sandek for two sons in the same family. The Birkei Yosef also brings this as the halacha.
However, a father or a grandfather may serve as sandek even for two of his own sons or grandsons, as explained in the Hagahos Yad Shaul there.
Also, if the person is a great talmid chacham, someone very distinguished in Torah, it is permitted to give him sandekaus even for two sons. See Shu”t Chasam Sofer Orach Chaim 158.
There are those who are not concerned at all with the Rema’s ruling. See Noda BiYehudah, Yoreh Deah siman 86. Among Sefardim as well, some are careful about this, and some are not.”
On behalf of the entire sheilot team we wish you a Shabbos Shulem Umevoyroch
