The Secret of Shimon and Levi's Bar Mitzvah and the Transition to the Status of Yisrael

Tuesday, Parashas Vayishlach, 13 Kislev 5764 - Distribution of Certificates at Shaarei Torah, Part 2

This article explains the spiritual and halachic transition the holy tribes underwent upon reaching the age of thirteen. According to the Chiddushei HaRim, the incident in Shechem was actually the 'Bar Mitzvah sermon' of Shimon and Levi, during which they transitioned from the status of 'Bnei Noach' (Children of Noah) to the status of 'Yisrael' (Israel), which affected the laws of marriage, dietary laws, and their spiritual standing.

When Shimon and Levi arrived in Shechem, they were exactly thirteen years old. The calculation of the years, together with the time they spent in Sukkos where Yaakov built a house for himself, brings us exactly to this age.

The Chiddushei HaRim reveals a tremendous foundation here: The entire action of Shimon and Levi in Shechem was actually their Bar Mitzvah sermon. Up until that moment, the holy Patriarchs and the tribes had the halachic status of "Bnei Noach". However, upon reaching the age of thirteen, Shimon and Levi introduced the novel concept that they were now transitioning to the status of "Bnei Yisrael".

The Secret of the Marriage to Dinah: "They Removed Themselves from Brotherhood"

This transition from the status of Bnei Noach to the status of Yisrael explains a tremendous difficulty regarding Dinah. After the incident in Shechem, Dinah did not want to leave until Shimon swore to her that he would marry her. The Torah calls the son born to them "Shaul the son of the Canaanite woman," and Rashi explains that this refers to Shimon, who acted like a Canaanite by killing Shechem, and then married Dinah.

But the question arises: How could Shimon marry his maternal sister? After all, for Bnei Noach, a maternal sister is strictly forbidden!

The answer lies in that very "Bar Mitzvah sermon." The moment they reached the age of thirteen and accepted upon themselves all 613 mitzvos, they underwent a spiritual conversion. Halachah dictates that "a convert who converts is like a newborn child." Therefore, Rashi hints at this regarding the verse in Parashas Vayeshev:

"And they journeyed from there..." Rashi says: "They removed themselves from brotherhood."

The moment they received the status of Yisrael, their previous familial relationship as Bnei Noach was nullified. They declared: "There are no brothers and there are no sisters here under the previous law," and consequently, it became permissible for Shimon to marry Dinah in a situation of pikuach nefesh (saving a life), in order to rescue her.

The Transition from the Holiness of Bnei Noach to the Holiness of Yisrael

This novel concept introduced by the tribes affected all their ways of life, including the dietary laws and the flocks they raised. As Bnei Noach, they were warned against the prohibition of "ever min hachai" (eating a limb from a living animal). But the moment they received the status of Yisrael, new halachos opened up before them, such as the law of a "ben pekuah" (a fetus found in its mother's womb after she is slaughtered), which is exempt from ritual slaughter.

Since they accepted upon themselves the status of Yisrael, they were permitted to raise entire flocks of "ben pekuah" and eat from them without regular ritual slaughter. This was the depth of the discussion and the novel insight of the tribes upon reaching the age of mitzvos—an elevation from the strict holiness of Bnei Noach to the supreme holiness of the Nation of Israel, which is obligated in all 613 mitzvos.

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