‫בס״ד‬ !‫כשר ושמח‬ PIRCHEI ‫חג‬ Agudas Yisroel of America April 11, 2015 - ‫ תשע"ה‬, ‫ כ"ב ניסן‬- Vol: 8 Issue: 25 )‫כז‬:‫ו‬,‫א‬:‫ו‬-‫ב‬:‫ ה‬,‫ז‬-‫ה‬:‫ ויאמר יהושע… (יהושע ג‬:‫כו הפטרה‬:‫טו‬-‫יז‬:‫ שמות יג‬:‫ שביעי של פסח‬- ‫חצי הלל ב ימים אחרונים‬ )‫כה‬-‫ כא‬,‫ט‬-‫א‬:‫ וישלח המלך… (מלכים ב כג‬:‫יז הפטרה‬:‫טז‬-‫כב‬:‫ דברים יד‬,‫ שיר השירים‬:‫אחרון של פסח‬ ‫ כתובות ס״ז‬:‫ דף יומי‬- ‫כה‬-‫יט‬:‫ במדבר כח‬:‫מפטיר ב׳ ימים אחרונים‬ TorahThoughts ‫ּדֹודי ִהּנֵה זֶה ָּבא ְמ ַד ֵּלג ַעל ֶה ָה ִרים ְמ ַק ֵּפץ ַעל ַה ְּג ָבעֹות‬ ִ ‫קוֹל‬ The voice of my Beloved! Behold it came suddenly to redeem me as ִ ‫)ׁשיר ַה ִּׁש‬. ִ if leaping over mountains, skipping over hills (‫ח‬:‫ירים ב‬ ‫ירים‬ ִ ‫ ִמ ְד ָרשׁ ִׁשיר ַה ִּׁש‬on this ‫ ָּפסוּק‬comments that when ‫ מ ֶֹׁשה‬told ‫ְּכ ַלל יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל‬ that their ‫אוּלה‬ ָ ‫ג‬,ְ redemption, from Egypt was imminent, they did not believe him. “How can this be, if we don’t have the ‫כוּתים‬ ִ ‫ ְז‬necessary for ‫אוּלה‬ ָ ‫”?ג‬ ְ they asked. ‫ מ ֶֹׁשה‬replied, “If ‫ הקב״ה‬desires to redeem you, He will overlook your many sins. In whose merit will the ‫אוּלה‬ ָ ‫ ְג‬come? The ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫ ַצ ִד‬among you, including ‫ ַע ְמ ָרם‬and his ‫ּבית ִדין‬.” ֵ The ‫ ִמ ְד ָרשׁ‬adds that ‫ הקב״ה‬says, “If I will analyze their wicked deeds, ‫ ְּכ ַלל יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל‬will never be redeemed. But I will redeem them in the merit of the leadership role ‫ ַע ְמ ָרם‬performs and the fact that the people accept his advice, because whoever heeds the advice of the ‫ ֲח ָכ ִמים‬will not stumble.” ָ ‫ ְג‬to the many in the merit of This ‫ ִמ ְד ָרשׁ‬teaches that ‫ ד׳‬will bring ‫אוּלה‬ the few. A similar idea is found in ‫ֵרא‬ ָ ‫ּפ ָר ַׁשת ַוי‬, ָ when ‫ ד׳‬informed ‫ַאב ָר ָהם‬ ְ that He intended to destroy the sinful city of ‫ ְסדוֹם‬and its neighbors due to the selfishness and bad behavior of its inhabitants. The ‫דוֹמים‬ ִ ‫ ְס‬represented the very opposite of what ‫ַאב ָר ָהם‬ ְ had devoted his life to teaching the world. In their eyes, he was certainly “public enemy number one.” Nevertheless, he began to negotiate with ‫ ד׳‬to try to ַ – Will you save them. ‫ַאב ָר ָהם‬ ְ pleaded with ‫ד׳‬, … ‫?האַף ִּת ְס ֶּפה ַצ ִּדיק ִעם ָר ָׁשע‬ ַ also stamp out the ‫צ ִּדיק‬, ַ righteous, along with the wicked? ‫אוּלי יֵשׁ ֲח ִמ ִּׁשים‬ ‫יקם ֲא ֶׁשר ְּב ִק ְר ָּבהּ‬ ִ ‫יקם ְּבתוְֹך ָה ִעיר ַהאַף ִּת ְס ֶּפה וְ ֹלא ִת ָּׂשא … ְל ַמ ַען ֲח ִמ ִּׁשים ַה ַצ ִּד‬ ִ ‫ – ַצ ִּד‬What if there were fifty ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫ ַצ ִּד‬in the midst of the city? Would You still stamp it out rather than spare the 50 ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫ ַצ ִּד‬within it? ‫ָח ִל ָלה ְלָך ֵמ ֲעׂשֹת ַּכ ָּד ָבר ַהּזֶה‬ … – It would be sacrilege to You to do such a thing … (‫כה‬-‫כג‬:‫אׁשית יח‬ ִ ‫)ּב ֵר‬ ְ ‫ ד׳‬agreed to this concept. Realizing that fifty ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫ ַצ ִּד‬would not be found in ‫סדוֹם‬, ְ ‫ַאב ָר ָהם‬ ְ bargained for forty-five, then for forty, then for thirty, then for twenty and finally ten, but this too was not possible. After that, he stopped, realizing that ‫’סדוֹם‬s ְ fate was sealed. It seems as if ‫’ַאב ָר ָהם‬s ְ efforts were in vain. Nonetheless, according to the Dubno Maggid, he did win an important agreement from ‫;ד׳‬ namely, that He would spare an entire city in the merit of a few ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫צ ִּד‬. ַ This did not help the ‫דוֹמים‬ ִ ‫ ְס‬but it was crucial when ‫אוּלת ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬ ַ ‫ ְג‬took place. There were many in ‫ ְּכ ַלל יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל‬who did not consider themselves worthy of redemption and refused to listen to ‫’מ ֶֹׁשה‬s call to prepare to leave Egypt in ‫נִיסן‬. ָ ‫ מ ֶֹׁשה‬explained to them this concept, that despite the shortcoming of the vast majority of his fellow Jews, many of whom were idolaters, there existed among them a minority of ‫יקים‬ ִ ‫צ ִּד‬, ַ and ‫ד׳‬ had promised to bring the ‫אוּלה‬ ָ ‫ ְג‬in the merit of those few. ‫’ַאב ָר ָהם‬s ְ appeal for the ‫דוֹמים‬ ִ ‫ ְס‬also teaches us the power of our ‫ּת ִפ ָּלה‬. ְ ‫ד׳‬ sees the bigger picture. Quite often, it is better for us that the ‫ ְּת ִפ ָּלה‬we daven is saved and applied at a later time for our future generations! Adapted from: Rav Pam on Yom Tov (with kind permission from ArtScroll) Gedolim Glimpses Yahrtzeits Gedolim of our R' Moshe Halberstam ‫ַצ״ל‬ ַ ‫ ז‬was born in the town of Tshokava, Galicia to ‫ ר׳ ַי ֲעקֹב‬Halberstam. He was a greatgreat-great grandson of the ‫ ִד ְב ֵרי ַחּיִ ים‬of Sanz. As a ‫ּבחוּר‬, ָ he learned under the ‫ נְ ִתיבוֹת ָׁשלוֹם‬of Slonim in ‫אַב ָר ָהם‬ ְ ‫יבת ֵּבית‬ ַ ‫יְ ִׁש‬. Later on, his ‫ ֶר ִּבי ֻמ ְב ָהק‬was R' Shmuel Wosner ‫יט״א‬ ָ ‫ ְׁש ִל‬in ‫לוּּב ִלין‬ ְ ‫יבת ֲח ְכ ֵמי‬ ַ ‫יְ ִׁש‬. He delivered ‫עוּרים‬ ִ ‫ ִׁש‬for decades in a ‫כּוֹלל‬ ֵ for ‫ ֲה ָל ָכה‬which he headed. Later, he became a member of the ‫ ֵּבית ִּדין‬of the ‫ ֵע ָדה ֶה ָח ֵר ִדית‬and ‫יבה‬ ָ ‫ רֹאשׁ יְ ִׁש‬of Yeshivas Tshokava. He founded the ‫ַעד ָה ַר ָּבנִים ְל ִענְ ָינֵי ְצ ָד ָקה‬ ַ ‫ו‬, and was the head of ‫ִח ַּבת‬ ‫שׁוֹמ ֵרי ַהחוֹמוֹת‬ ְ ‫כּוֹלל‬ ֵ ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬. ָ He also served as the ‫ָׂשיא‬ ִ ‫ נ‬of ‫ה ָצ ָלה‬, ַ and was the ‫ ָרב‬of the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital. He was known for his special tolerance and his manner of dealing with all types of Yidden. He authored ‫שו׳ת ִד ְב ֵרי מ ֶֹׁשה‬. ‫כ״ו ניסן‬ 5692 - 5766 1932 - 2006 ‫ ר׳ מ ֶֹׁשה‬Halberstam ‫ַצ״ל‬ ַ ‫ ז‬went with his son on a short trip outside of ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬. ָ As they drove back, ‫ ר׳ מ ֶֹׁשה‬saw the distant buildings of the ‫ ַהר נוֹף‬neighborhood. His son recalled how when ‫ ר׳ מ ֶֹׁשה‬saw these homes, he broke into joyous melody and sang, ‫ע ְֹמדוֹת‬ ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬ ָ ‫היוּ ַר ְג ֵלינוּ ִּב ְׁש ָע ַריִ ְך‬, ָ our feet shall stand inside your gates, ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬ ָ ! This happened whenever he left and came back to ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬. ָ He taught us to imagine the ‫ ִׂש ְמ ָחה‬we will all experience when travelling to ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬ ָ when ‫יח‬ ַ ‫ ָמ ִׁש‬will come! Dedication opportunities are available. If you would like to sponsor or receive this publication via email, please send an email to pircheiweekly@agudathisrael.org SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE! Wishing all of our readers a !‫חג כשר ושמח‬ ‫לע״נ ישראל בן אברהם ז"ל‬ ‫לע״נ הב׳ ישעיהו דוב ע״ה בן יבלחט״א יצחק צבי נ״י‬ To sponsor a week of th‎is publication in honor of a simcha, a yartzeit or any occasion, please contact us at pircheiweekly@agudathisrael.org Living Torah with the … ‫יתנוּ ְּב ָר ָעב זַנְ ָּתנוּ‬ ָ ‫ֲב ִדים ְּפ ִד‬ ָ ‫וּמ ֵּבית ע‬ ִ … (From ‫)נִ ְׁש ַמת‬. … and freed us from the house of bondage. In famine You nourished us … Why was ‫ ִמ ְצ ַריִם‬called ‫ֲב ִדים‬ ָ ‫ּבית ע‬, ֵ a house of bondage? Because it was impossible for a servant to escape the bleak situation. So too, during a famine, the people are lost and desperate. With a strong ‫ ֱאמוּנָה‬in ‫ ה׳‬the situation can change, and what appeared impossible yesterday, happens! * For Jews living in Leningrad during the height of the Cold War, life under Communism was nearly intolerable. Working long hours all week, a man could barely provide for a small family. But when a Jew would try to make a living, he was up against even greater odds. ‫תּוֹרה‬ ָ observant Jews lived in constant terror that their forbidden observance would be discovered. That was a direct ticket to Siberia. All of the pressure forced hundreds of thousands of Jews to stop keeping ‫ ַׁש ָּבת‬and abandon the ‫תּוֹרה‬. ָ But R' Yitzchak Isaac Krasik would not succumb — not from the hunger, political pressure and certainly not from fear. He lived by his own set of rules. But one time his ingenuity got him in trouble. On the first ‫ ַׁש ָּבת‬morning of his new job, he had shown up to work with a fake bandage on his head in order to get excused from work for the day. The next ‫ ַׁש ָּבת‬he came in complaining of another ailment. For the first few ‫ׁש ָּבתוֹת‬, ַ his manager authorized his sick leave. Then he noticed the pattern. Every ‫ׁש ָּבת‬, ַ R' Krasik came in with another excuse. Each time another mysterious ailment prevented him from doing any physical labor. Finally the plant manager called him in and informed him that he knew precisely what tricks he was up to. R' Krasik quickly shifted gears. He pleaded with his boss and the man promised, at least for now, not to report the “crime.” After another few weeks, however, he fired R' Krasik from his job. He was now faced with the daunting challenge of finding a job to help feed his family. But no one was willing to overlook Searching For Survival the fact that he skipped work every ‫ׁש ָּבת‬. ַ Weeks turned into months and the Krasik family was desperate for food. With ‫ֶּפ ַסח‬ approaching, the home was completely bare. Not a morsel of food could be found. As the eve of the 14th of ‫נִיסן‬ ָ was upon them, they were required to check their home for any possible ‫ח ֵמץ‬. ָ The thought was ludicrous. ‫ ָח ֵמץ‬in their barren home? How could he possibly check for ‫ ָח ֵמץ‬at a time like this when his entire family was starving? A thought crossed R' Krasik’s mind: Perhaps this year there was no obligation for him to check for ‫ח ֵמץ‬. ָ Perhaps the entire house was considered a ‫נִיסים ּבוֹ ָח ֵמץ‬ ִ ‫ – ָמקוֹם ֶׁש ֵאין ַמ ְכ‬a place where no ‫ ָח ֵמץ‬could have possibly entered. His nephew, R' Meir Dobrovsky, came over and they discussed the idea of not checking for ‫ ָח ֵמץ‬since there was obviously no food to be found. Nevertheless, the notion of skipping ‫יקת‬ ַ ‫ְּב ִד‬ ‫ ָח ֵמץ‬entirely just did not seem right. We check for ‫ ָח ֵמץ‬because that is what ‫ ה׳‬wants from us and not necessarily because of what we might find. Although his hunger made it feel more like ‫ יוֹם ִּכפּוּר‬than ‫ּפ ַסח‬, ֶ R' Yitzchak was determined to fulfill the requirement to search for ‫ח ֵמץ‬. ָ As night fell and the stars appeared, he began his solemn search. Going through the motions, he walked from room to room searching for ‫ח ֵמץ‬. ָ Though weak from hunger, he kept at it. When he was almost finished, he stumbled across a large roll! He could hardly believe his eyes. Where had it come from. It couldn’t possibly have been there beforehand. But there it was before his very eyes. He sat down upon concluding his ‫יקת ָח ֵמץ‬ ַ ‫ ְּב ִד‬and, together with his family, ate a very special ‫עוּדה‬ ָ ‫יקת ָח ֵמץ ְס‬ ַ ‫ּב ִד‬.ְ As they savored every morsel that entered their mouths, their joy knew no bounds. Together they had upheld a 3000-year-old tradition and now their efforts were being rewarded. R' Yitzchak never forgot that lesson: A person must do what he is required to do, and help will come from the most unlikely of places. Adapted from: One Shining Moment (with kind permission from ArtScroll) *Chaim asked Fischel to come to the dining room after school. When Fischel came into the dining room, he saw that Chaim was wiping away a tear. Chaim told Fischel that he had taken a side alley to get to ‫יבה‬ ָ ‫יְׁש‬. ִ He walked past a non-kosher restaurant and notice that Fischel's 'friend' was standing at the counter ordering a cheeseburger. He walked in to the restaurant and tried to stop the boy from eating the non-kosher food, but the boy was not interested. Can Fischel believe Chaim's story and spread it around? *Stories adapted from Guard Your Tongue, A Daily Companion, A Lesson a Day and various real-life situations. of the 1.Why did ‫ הקב״ה‬make a strong wind blow all night before He split the ‫ ?יַם סוּף‬Would it not have been a greater miracle if the ‫ יַם סוּף‬just split in one instant? 2.What else is compared to ‫יעת יַם סוּף‬ ַ ‫?ק ִר‬ ְ 1. ‫ ד׳‬likes to keep any miracle, even the most obvious one like ‫ְק ִריַאת‬ ‫ יַם סוּף‬disguised in as natural a manner as possible (‫ֵס ֶפר ַה ִחינוְּך ִמ ְצוָה‬ ‫)קל״ב‬. ‫ספר ח״ח הלכות לשון הרע כלל ז׳ סעיף ז׳‬ ‫ ֶּפ ַסח‬Questions week 2. A person’s ‫ָסה‬ ָ ‫ ַּפ ְרנ‬- livelihood - is compared to ‫יעת יַם סוּף‬ ַ ‫ק ִר‬. ְ So too is the finding of a person’s ‫ׁשדּוְּך‬. ִ Can you think of any reason why? Chofetz ChaimMoment Answer : Fischel is allowed to be ‫חוֹׁששׁ‬ ֵ that the story happened, and must keep away from this 'friend' until he is completely convinced that he did full ‫שׁוּבה‬ ָ ‫ּת‬. ְ Of course, Fischel can notify people about the episode if they can help; however, it is ‫ אָסוּר‬to spread the story around to people who can do nothing. FocusonMiddos D ear Talmid, R' Moshe Halberstam ‫ַצ״ל‬ ַ ‫ ז‬was the ‫יבה‬ ָ ‫ רֹאשׁ יְ ִׁש‬of the Tshokava ‫יבה‬ ָ ‫ יְ ִׁש‬in ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬ ָ and one of the most prominent members of the ‫ ֵע ָדה ָח ֵר ִדית‬in ‫יְרוּׁש ַליִם‬. ָ He published a collection of ‫וּּתשׁוּבוֹת‬ ְ ‫ ְׁש ֵאלוֹת‬called ‫ּד ְב ֵרי מ ֶֹׁשה‬.ִ Just two days before his ‫ירה‬ ָ ‫ּפ ִט‬,ְ he discussed with his grandson plans to publish his ‫ֵס ֶפר‬ on ‫יוֹרה ֵד ָעה‬, ֶ examining the ‫ּכ ָת ִבים‬,ְ making a number of corrections and engaging his grandson in ‫ ִּפ ְלפּוּל‬on several halachic points. R' Halberstam was also the ‫ ָרב‬and ‫פּוֹסק‬ ֵ of the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital and as the spiritual authority for the Bikur Cholim Hospital, standing by the hospital during hard times. He would take part in various hospital events and provide staff physicians with an attentive ear. Numerous people would come to his home and to the nearby ‫הוֹראָה‬ ָ ‫ּבית‬, ֵ including many doctors and others, with halachic questions related to medicine. Healthcare professionals were often astounded by his profound understanding of medical matters. Understanding Davening and ‫ ֶח ֶסד‬organizations, including four decades at the head of the ‫ ר׳ ֵמ ִאיר ַּב ַעל ַהנֵס‬Foundation, dedicating hours of his time to help the poor of ‫א ֶרץ יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל‬. ֶ He also served as ‫ָׂשיא‬ ִ ‫ נ‬of ‫ה ָצ ָלה יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל‬, ַ constantly guiding the directors of the organization in halachic matters. R' Moshe was known for his tolerance towards all types of people and treated every Yid with great respect. People remember how he made that extra special efforts to gladden them by attending their ‫ׂש ְמחוֹת‬, ִ despite his full schedule. His ‫ר ִּבי‬, ֶ R' Shmuel Wosner ‫יט״א‬ ָ ‫ׁש ִל‬, ַ said at his ‫ל ָויָה‬,ְ that for over 50 years his ‫ ַּת ְל ִמיד‬would call him every Friday afternoon to wish him a "‫ "גוּט ַׁש ָּבת‬and then the two would converse on halachic matters. My ‫ּת ְל ִמיד‬, ַ with such a special combination of ‫תּוֹרה ִעם ֶד ֶרְך ֶא ֶרץ‬ ָ is it any wonder that the ‫ֲחזוֹן ִאישׁ‬ would honor ‫ ר׳ מ ֶֹׁשה‬with an ‫ֲליָה‬ ִ ‫ע‬, saying that he is destined for ‫ַדלוּת‬ ְ ‫ ּג‬in ‫!תּוֹרה‬ ָ ‫!יְהי ז ְִכרוֹ ָּברוְּך‬ ִ ‫ּביְ ִדידוּת‬,ִ Your ‫ֶר ִּבי‬ R' Moshe was also a ‫ ֶח ֶסד‬machine. He worked to promote various ‫ְצ ָד ָקה‬ A letter from a Rebbi (based on interviews) Halacha Corner 1. There is a requirement of ‫ ָּכבוֹד‬and ‫ עוֹנֶג‬on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫( חוֹל ַה‬e.g. one should not wear weekday clothing). 2.  There is a requirement of ‫ ִׂש ְמ ָחה‬on ‫חוֹל‬ ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫ ַה‬to create a proper mood for service of‫ ד׳‬on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫חוֹל ַה‬. Men should fulfill their requirement of ‫ ִׂש ְמ ָחה‬with a ‫יעית‬ ִ ‫ ְר ִב‬wine and not grape juice. 3.  It is forbidden to garden or plant on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫חוֹל ַה‬. Watering is only permitted if the plant is in danger of dying. 4.  Many forbid fishing or picking fruit for pleasure on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫חוֹל ַה‬. 5.  Brushing one’s hat is permissible on ‫חוֹל‬ ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫ה‬. ַ :‫י�וֹמא‬ ָ ‫ענְ יָנֵ י ְד‬ ִ ‫מ�וֹעד‬ ֵ ‫ִה ְלכ�וֹת ח�וֹל ַה‬ 6.  Polishing one’s shoes is permitted according to some authorities. 7. ‫אַׁש ְּכנ ִַזים‬  ְ forbid cutting one’s nails on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫חוֹל ַה‬, while ‫ ְס ָפ ַר ִּדים‬hold that it is permissible. 8.  Most repairs on a car are forbidden on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫ חוֹל ַה‬and a ‫ ָרב‬must be consulted if the car is needed for ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫חוֹל ַה‬. 9.  It is forbidden to instruct a non-Jew to perform any activity that is forbidden for a Jew to do on ‫מוֹעד‬ ֵ ‫חוֹל ַה‬. *Since we only discuss 1-3 ‫הלָכוֹת‬, ֲ it is important to consider these ‫ ֲהלָכוֹת‬in the context of the bigger picture. Use them as a starting point for further in-depth study. ‫וּבמ ֶֹׁשה ַע ְבדוֹ‬ ְ ‫ַא ִמינוּ ַּבה׳‬ ֲ ‫ַוּי‬ The word ‫ַא ִמינוּ‬ ֲ ‫ ַוּי‬is often translated they had belief or faith. Faith implies complete acceptance of something not supported by reason. Indviduals who witness an event with their own eyes do not need to have faith to believe in the truth of that event. Similarly, ‫ּכ ַלל יִ ְׂש ָר ֵאל‬,ְ having seen with their own eyes the Divine revelations at ‫יעת יַם‬ ַ ‫ְק ִר‬ ‫סוּף‬, did not have to rely on faith to believe in ‫ד׳‬. They knew and experienced ‫'ד׳‬s Mighty Hand as it triumphed over ‫ּפ ְרעֹה‬. ַ Based on this understanding, the meaning of ‫ֶאמוּנָה‬ is complete trust in and dependence on ‫ד׳‬. Our trust is based on the entire nation ָ ‫מ ַּתן‬, ַ personally witnessing the event of ‫תּוֹרה‬ which was then transmitted precisely from father to son. It is as though we ourselves witnessed ‫יעת יַם סוּף‬ ַ ‫ק ִר‬. ְ We reaffirm our trust in ‫ ד׳‬every day. ‫לע״נ ר׳ משה צבי בן הר׳ טוביה הלוי זצ״ל‬ This Week in History ‫ ִה ְלכוֹת ַחג ְּב ַחג‬contest The ‫ ַר ָמ״א‬writes in ‫ימן א׳‬ ָ ‫ ִה ְלכוֹת ְמ ִג ָּלה תרצ״ה ִס‬that it is a beautiful idea that one should begin ִ ‫עוּדת‬ ַ ‫ ְס‬by learning ‫תּוֹרה‬. ָ He explains the ‫פּוּרים‬ that this ‫ ִמנְ ָהג‬is hinted at in the words ‫אוֹרה וְ ִׂש ְמ ָחה‬ ָ ‫הוּדים ָהיְ ָתה‬ ִ ְ‫ – ַלּי‬the Jews had light and rejoicing; the word ‫אוֹרה‬, ָ light, is a ָ Based reference to the spiritual light of ‫תּוֹרה‬. on this ‫ר ָמ״א‬, ַ many have the custom to start ִ ‫עוּדת‬ ַ ‫ ְס‬with one of the ‫ ֲה ָלכוֹת‬of ‫ּפ ַסח‬. ֶ their ‫פּוּרים‬ ‫פּוּרים‬ ִ is exactly 30 days before ‫ ֶּפ ַסח‬and there is a ‫ ֲה ָל ָכה ְלמ ֶֹׁשה ֵמ ִסינַי‬to start learning ‫ִה ְלכוֹת יו״ט‬ thirty days before the ‫יוֹם טוֹב‬. With this in mind, we have chosen the next international contest of the Pirchei Agudas Yisroel of America Newsletter: the learning of one ‫ ֲה ָל ָכה‬in ‫ ִה ְלכוֹת ֶּפ ַסח‬in ‫ִקצוּר ֻׁש ְל ָחן ָערוְּך‬ every day until ‫ּפ ַסח‬. ֶ The 3 ‫ימנִים‬ ָ ‫ ִס‬that are practical for most of us and have 26 ‫יפים‬ ִ ‫ ְס ִע‬are: ‫ימן ק״ז‬ ָ ‫ִה ְלכוֹת( ִס‬ ‫יפים‬ ִ ‫נִיסן וּבוֹ ג׳ ְס ִע‬ ָ ‫)ח ֶֹדשׁ‬, ‫ימן קי״ח‬ ָ ‫ִה ְלכוֹת ַה ָכנַת ַה ֵס ֶדר( ִס‬ ‫יפים‬ ִ ‫ )וּבוֹ י״א ְס ִע‬and ‫ימן קי״ט‬ ָ ‫ִה ְלכוֹת ֵס ֶדר ֵליל ֵס ֶדר( ִס‬ ‫יפים‬ ִ ‫)וּבוֹ י״ב ְס ִע‬. If you are interested in joining this special program this year and of course will continue to ‫ אי״ה‬review the weekly ‫ָּפ ָר ָׁשה‬ as per your grade level, please send a fax every week signed by a parent to 718 506 9633 – include your grade, name, school, city & state, and your contact number and fax number. Your name will be entered into a raffle to win a beautiful set of ‫ִמ ְק ָראוֹת ְגּדוֹלוֹת‬ ‫חוּמ ִשׁים‬ ָ after ‫ּפ ַסח‬. ֶ Learning from our Leaders It was a few before Pesachafter the passing of It was theweeks first erev Shabbos at the Kamenetsky home: Rebbetzin Bluma Dessler and a few of R’ Dessler’s You ask well. I actually Thank you, but stopped eating gebroks please put that small when I was a bochur in kos away and use this Slabodka. In those days, we larger one. didn’t go home for Pesach and would eat ‘taig.’* close talmidim were setting the Shabbos table. Yossi, you might be interested to know that Ah! I see thewhy leichter zeidy, then is to be our minhag Here is not (candlesticks) have you been and the challah stringent with gebroks* Rebbi’sabout kos (Kiddush cup). makpid gebroks cover... on Pesach. Can you please take for all of these them out too… years? *matzoh being in contact with any liquid. I was visiting during Pesach, Rebbe usedsomeone this and wasKos offered something to eat... small all the He looks perplexed. years, why did he I’ll explain to him at change now? Yaakov, the seudah. would you like some matzah ball soup? ‫בס״ד‬ Pirchei Agudas Yisroel of America *literally means ‘days.’ The yeshiva would make arrangements with the community for the bochurim to eat on different days of the week in various townspeople’s homes. ...I night quickly found a safe way out... At the Friday meal… Let me share with you I’m sorry... I why I requestedam the larger Kos. not noheg to The small kos that I have used until now wedding Oh, ok. No eat gebroks onwas a gift from R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, who had problem. Pesach. received it from his wife’s grandfather R’ Yisroel Salanter…I used it for years until I moved to Bnei Brak. ...I wasn’t sure about their kashrus standards, let alone their Pesach kashrus... But I did not want to embarrass the hostess, who had worked hard to prepare the food... Upon leaving, I realized On my first Shabbossomething... in Bnei Brak, I decided to made Kiddush on the larger kos because this is city where the Chazon Ish is the Rov and he holds of a bigger shiur for I the just told kos. Mysomeone wife A”H respectfully disagreed. that I don’t eat gebroks on Pesach. I didn’t say Bli Neder... I would prefer the If I eat gebroks on, so much smallfrom kos. now it means that would beand considered to me, if it was good enough breaking a Yisroel Neder! Salanter and R’ for R’ Chaim Ozer…it’s good enough for us! That was a personal All the years in Bnei kabbalah, and this isthat not Brak I used the becher my minhag, but now myfamily wife A”H preferred, but you understand why you’ve never after her passing I now have me eating gebroks on theseen responsibility to show my Pesach. respect to the Chazon Ish’s opinion. Right then and there I was mekabel on myself not to eat gebroks on Pesach. R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky, ‫זצ״ל‬, grew up in Dolhinov, Poland. He left for Minsk at the age R’ Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler ‫זצ״ל‬, born in Libau, Latvia, was the son of R’ Reuven Dov of 11. In 1905, R’ Yaakov and R’ Aaron Kotler went to learn by ‫דער אַלטער מסלבּוֹדקא‬. He Dessler, a ‫ תלמיד מבהק‬of R’ Simcha Zissel ‫ זצ״ל‬of Kelm. His mother was a granddaughter also learned in Slutzk. During WWI, he took refuge in R’ Yechiel Michel Gordon’s ‫ישיבה‬ of R’ Yisrael Salanter ‫ זצ״ל‬and a niece of R’ Chaim Ozer ‫זצ״ל‬. After learning at Kelm, in Lomza. In 1919, he married Rebbetzin Ita Ettel. In 1937, they left for the USA. At R’ he married R’ Simcha Zissel’s granddaughter. During the Bolshevik revolution, in 1927, Mendelovitz’s request, he became ‫ ראשׁ ישיבה‬in ‫ מתיבתא תּוֹרה ודעת‬in 1945, a position he he moved to London. In 1941, he founded the Gateshead Kollel. In 1948, at the request kept until he retired. Along with R’ Moshe Feinstein, he led American Jewry in issues of of the ‫ רב‬of Ponevezh, R’ Yosef Kahaneman ‫זצ״ל‬, he emigrated to ‫ ארץ ישראל‬to become ‫ הלכה‬and ‫השקפה‬. He was renowned as ‫חכימה דיהוּדאי‬, the wise man of the Jews. He was a a ‫ משגיח‬in the Ponevezh Yeshiva. Many of his shmuessen and thoughts are collected in ‫ בקי‬in many of ‫ תּוֹרה‬but was known for his insightful ‫ דקדּוּק‬and expertise in ‫הלכה‬ ‫מאליהוּ‬ ‫ מכתב‬areas (six volumes). A compilation of some of his ‫ חדּוּשים‬on ‫ ש״ס‬were printed in (especially the 5th ‫) חלק שו״ע‬. His ‫ חדּוּשים‬are printed in ‫ אמת ליעקב‬on ‫ תּוֹרה‬, ‫ ש״ס‬and ‫אליעזר על הש״ס‬ ‫אליהוּ‬ ‫חדּוּשי ר׳‬. ‫שלחן ערוּ‬ . For any inquiries or comments please feel free to call 347-838-0869 • Illustrated by: Yishaya Suval 718-395-9794 5652 5623 -- 5713 5700 1892 1863 -- 1953 1940 ‫טבת‬ ‫כ“ד אדר‬ ‫כ“ט‬ Please be careful to handle this sheet in the proper manner as required ‫על ִּפי ַה ָל ָכה‬. ַ Please do not read this publication during ‫ קריאת התורה‬,‫ קדיש‬or ‫חזרת הש״ץ‬. Printed before Pesach for distribution during Chol Hamoed