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The
Pesach Edition ll
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AT 20 FORSHAY DURING THE MORNING DAVENING,
ON FRIDAY-YOM TOV & SHABBOS FROM 10:15 AM-11:45 AM
‫אחרון של פסח‬
April 9 - 11 2015
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PESACH ZMANIM
THURSDAY EVE APRIL 9TH EREV Y’T
ERUV TAVSHILIN
Candle Lighting ..................................................7:12PM
Mincha ................................................................7:22PM
Shkiya....................................................................7:30PM
Mincha @ Bais Chabad........................................7:40PM
FRIDAY APRIL 10TH DAY 7
Shachris Vasikin followed by the Daf
Shachris...........................................9:30 (Hodu 9:40PM)
Sof Zman K’S........................................9:05AM & 9:41AM
Shachris @ Bais Chabad.....................................10:30PM
Mincha .................................................................1:45PM
Candle Lighting...................................................7:13PM
Daf Yom................................................................ 6:30PM
Mincha ..................................................................7:23pm
Shkiya....................................................................7:31PM
Mincha @ Bais Chabad.........................................7:40PM
SHABBOS APRIL 11TH ACHRON SHEL PESACH
Shachris Vasikin followed by the Daf
Shachris.......................9:30AM & Yizkor (Hodu 9:40AM)
Sof Zman K’S .......................................9:04AM & 9:40AM
Shachris @ Bais Chabad.....................................10:30PM
Daf Yomi................................................................6:15PM
Mincha.................................................1:45PM & 7:00PM
Shkiya....................................................................7:32PM
Seudah Shlishis and Neilas Hachag
Maariv.....................................................8:12PM & ?????
SUNDAY APRIL 12TH ISRU CHAG
Daf Yomi...............................................................7:00AM
Shachris Vaasikin.................................................5:50AM
Shachris.........................8:00AM, 9:00AM, and 10:00AM
Mincha.................................................................1:30PM
Mincha and Maariv.............................6:00PM & 7:25PM
Maariv only at......9:00pm, 9:45pm, 10:30pm, & 11:00pm
MONDAYAPRIL 13TH – FRIDAY APRIL 17TH
Shachris Vaasikin.................................................5:50AM
Shachris...6:30AM, 7:00AM, 8:00AM, 9:00AM, 10:00AM
Mincha..................................................................1:30PM
Mincha and Maariv.............................6:00PM & 7:25PM
Maariv only at......9:00pm, 9:45pm, 10:30pm, & 11:00pm
Rabbi Daniel Aron Coren
WHEN A PERSON IS FOCUSED HE
CAN REACH TREMENDOUS LEVELS
There is a minhag on the last day of Pesach
to have a special meal called the Seudah of
Mashiach. This minhag is based a Gemara that
connects the Chag with the birth and weaning of
Yitchok Avinu which took place during Pesach.
Chazal in Maseches Pesachim ‫ קיח‬describe to us
the seuda of Mashiach. The Gemara bases this
on the pasuk ‫ ביום הגמל את יצחק‬--on the day that
Yitchok Avinu was weaned. The pasuk goes on
to tell us that Hashem will make a meal for the
tzadikim and the Gemara tells us only what will
happen after the meal.
It will be time to bench and someone has to lead
the benching. Who will it be? The Gemara says
that they will offer the cup of wine to Avraham
and Yitzchok and Yaakov and each one will
excuse himself by saying that they are not
worthy of leading the benching because they
have sinned. Avraham will say that the fault is his
because he sired a son, Yishmael. Yitchok will
fault himself because he sired Eisav and Yaakov
will say it is because he married two sisters.
Eventually they will reach David Hamelech
and he will pick up the wine and agree that it is
fitting for him to bench as it says ‫כוס ישועות אשא ובשם‬
‫ה' אקרא‬. An obvious question presents itself here.
Didn't David also have some serious faults? Did
he not take away BatSheva from Uriah Hachiti?
A most brilliant explanation is given in a sefer
‫ דברי יהונתן‬by the Gaon Rav Yonasan Eibishetiz.
When one reads his explanation one can only
marvel at how brilliant and how connected
someone could have been to Torah to come up
with this insight.
Rav Yonasan begins by pointing out that the
midrash implies that David only felt safe enough
that he could lead the benching after he saw
that Avraham Avinu said he couldn’t because
he had Yishmael. What’s the connection?
All his life, David wondered if he did the right
thing on not. On the one hand, Uriah rebelled
against the king when he called Yoav his master
in front of David Hamelech. On the other hand
maybe calling your master and honoring him in
front of the King is ok because after all its still
honoring the greatest master i.e. the King. So
basically the question is ‫חולקין כבוד לתלמיד במקום הרב‬
‫ או אין חולקין‬Should one honor the student in front
of his own master? As long as we paskin that
you’re not permitted to do so and its considered
disrespectful, then David was correct in
punishing Uriah and getting him killed in battle.
When David heard Avrahsm say he had
Yishmael he knew he was right in taking on the
benching. How so?
The Gemara in Baba Basra expounds on the
pasuk ‫ וה' בירך את אברהם בכל‬God blessed Avraham
with everything. One meaning of this is that he
had a daughter in addition to his 2 sons and
another explanation means that Yishmael did
Teshuva.
One can say that this dispute parallels another
machlokes in Maseches Yevamos. Bais Hillel
says that one must have a girl and boy to fulfill
the mitzvah of ‫ פרו ורבו‬. Bais Shamai says a boy
is enough.
The first opinion that says that one must have
a daughter holds like Bais Hillel-- that you
need to have a daughter and son to fulfill the
mitzvah while the latter opinion that says the
Yishmael did Teshuva holds that you don't need
a daughter and therefore the word ‫ בכל‬means
Yishmael did Teshuva.
The fact that Avraham said that he didn't want
to bench because Yishmael didn't do Teshuva
must mean that we paskin that one must have
a daughter and son and the word ‫ בכל‬means
having a girl. Now if this is true then a question
arises as to how Moshe was allowed to separate
from his wife Tzipora (which Hashem agreed to)
if he only had two sons and no daughter?
R Yonasan explains that the answer to this is
given in Maseches Avoda Zara ‫ כ"ד‬and the Tosfos
there. It all depends if Yisro came with Moshe's
wife before or after Matan Torah, meaning if
Moshe separated from his wife before Matan
Torah and we hold like Bais Hillel that one must
have a daughter then the only explanation is
that Yisro didn't show up with Zipporah until
after Matan Torah and the separation wasn't a
physical but rather a spiritual one.
So we know a few things. We know that Yishmael
didn't do teshuva and we know that we must
have a girl and boy to fulfill the mitzvah. We
also know that Yisro didn't show up until after
Matan Torah.
So how does this help explain why David was
willing to do the benching?
There is one more Gemara that solves the
puzzle. The Gemara is in Zevachim ‫ קטז‬asks,
“Is a non-Jew allowed to bring only a korban
olah or also a korban Shelamim?” The Gemara
answers that it depends when Yisro showed
up. Since we know Yisro brought a shelamim
then if he must have showed up before Matan
Torah when he was still considered a non-Jew
and then this shows that a non-Jew can bring
shelamim. But if we say that Yisro came after
Matan Torah then it must mean that a non-Jew
is not allowed to bring a shelamim.
There is one more question that
the Mefarshim discuss regarding
the famous ‫ איוב‬who, as we know,
suffered a tremendous amount of
Yisurim. There are two explanations given why
Iyov was punished. The first possibility may
be because he only offered an olah and not a
shelamim. Another reason given is that he was
a gilgul of Terach the father of Avraham who
worshiped idols. Now we must understand
that Terach and many other idol worshipers
in those days weren't denying God. They
simply felt that it was proper to honor the idols
that had powers under God, like honoring a
student in front of his own master. They felt
that by honoring the student, you could see the
greatness of the real master.
If we go back to our possible assumptions, we
may be able to decide whether or not Terach
did the right thing by worshiping idols or if
it was wrong and he was doing exactly what
Uriah did years later by honoring Yoav in front
of David Hamelech.
When David Hamelech heard Avraham say
he couldn’t lead the benching because he
sired Yishmael David’s life time doubt was
immediately resolved. Since Yishmael didn't
do Teshuva we can deduce that one must have
a girl as well as a boy. If indeed this is true then
Moshe only separated from Zipporah because
Yisro and his wife hadn’t arrived yet, meaning
that Yisro came after Matan Torah.
If he came after Matan Torah, it means that
a non-Jew cannot bring Shelamim and if this
is true then why was Iyov punished since he
was not Jewish? We must conclude that the
reason is that he is the gilgul of Terach. But
wait. What was Terach’s mistake? It must be
that he honored the student in front of the
Rebbi (master). Aha. So now we know: it is not
permitted to honor the student in front of the
master and therefore Uriah deserved to die.
So David Hamelech did the right thing and
therefore he is fitting to be the one to lead the
benching.
RABBI COREN’S LEARNING PROGRAMS
Sunday Morning
7am Daf followed by 8am Tefilah
9am Daf
10 – 10:20am Shnayim Mikra & Rashi/Chok
10:20 – 10:30 Tanach
10:30 – 11 Chassidus and Peirush HaTefila
Sunday Evening
Halacha Semicha Program with Mishna Berurah
(Semicha will be signed by Gedolim-Tests are given monthly !
The goal is to know where in the Mishna Berura are the answers to your
shaylos)
8pm Maariv
8:15 – 9 Shiur Chabura on Mishna Berura Dirshu Track A (bring your own
sefer Chelek Alef and Vav)
9 – 9:15 review Bechavrusa
Monday through Thursday Morning
5:50am- Chafetz Chayim
6am Daf
6:55 Kavana for Tefilah (Meditation) followed by Tefilah followed by Dvar
Halacha and Breakfast
8 - 825 am Chok (Zohar)
8:25– 9 Mishna Berura Track B– Hilchos Shabbos
9am Daf
10am – 10:30 Shnayim Mikra & Rashi/Chok, Tanach
10:30 – 11 Chasidus, Peirush HaTefilah
11 – 11:15 Shesh Mitzvos Timidios/Sefer Mitzvos Hakotzer
11:15-11:30 Maseches Tamid
Monday – Tue-Thursday
6:15- 7 Chosson classes (by appointment) both for single or married
8:15 pm – 9pm Mishna Berura Chelek Alef and Vav
9pm -9:15 review Bechavrusa
Wednesday Nights
815 – 9pm Mishna Berura track C Chelek Gimel Hilchos Shabbos-Rabbi
Kaufman
Other Shiurim and Activities
Monday – Thursday 6:15- 7 Chosson classes (by appointment) both for
single or married
Monday night 9:30 – 10:30 exercise night (to be announced)
Tuesday night 9:30 Likutai Halachos al Hatorah
Thursday night 7:15 – 8pm Special Class for Young Adults – 6th grade to
10th grade
"Memorize A Maseches Program"
Thursday night – 9:30 – 10pm Kavana Betfilah/ Hachana for ShabbosMeditation on the Parsha
Friday 10 min before candle lighting-Shiur for Youth and Parents on
Mishnais Shabbos
Friday night 9pm- 10pm Hashkafa/oneg for teens
Shabbos morning Vasikin-Kiddush- Daf Yomi
Interactive Youth Minyan
Yartzheit of Reb Shaya
Kerestirer
3 Iyar is the Yartzheit of Reb Shaya’la of Kerestirer
(1851-1925) one of the famous chasiddic Rebbes
from Hungary in the early Twentieth century. Many
are making the trip to his Kever and spend Shabbos
at his house in northern Hungary (photos HERE).
His picture is believed by many to be a segulah
and a amulet of protection. Many stores have his
picture to keep away mice.
Here is the The Famous Mouse Story- link.
(see below for story of Rav Aaron Kotler picture)
Affectionately known as Reb Shaya’le (Rabbi
Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir), the Kerestirer Rebbe
lived around the beginning of the 20th Century.
He was a very pious man and extremely humble,
always referring to himself in the diminutive
(Shaya’le). He was known as a “miraculous”
person. His greatest pleasure was to host a very
elaborate Melave Malka, the meal that follows
Shabbos, on Saturday night. Often he would have
his chassidim shecht fresh chickens for his meal.
One motzei Shabbos, while Reb Shaya’le was
eating this special melave malka meal, a chossid
came to him with an urgent request. He was a man
who had a warehouse full of foodstuffs and he
made his living by buying an selling food. For the
past number of months, his warehouse had been
taken over by mice who were eating his grain and
other commodities and his entire livelihood was
threatened. He asked Reb Shaya’le for a blessing
that the mice should leave his warehouse. At that
time, each small town in Europe was ruled by the
local church pastor. Some of the pastors were kind
towards the Jews and others were very harsh.
Reb Shaya’le asked the chossid if the pastor of the
town he lived in was kind or harsh. The chossid
replied that he was very harsh toward the Jews.
Reb Shaya’le then instructed the chossid to go to
his warehouse and to tell the mice, “Reb Shaya’le
says to go to the estate of the pastor.” The chossid
followed the Rebbe’s advice and instantly hundreds
of mice raced out of the warehouse all heading in
the direction of the pastor’s estate. The chossid’s
business was saved and ever since Jews who have
been plagued with this problem have used Reb
Shaya’le’s picture to accomplish the ridding of mice
from their homes.
Reb Yeshayeleh emphasized hachnosas orchim.
There was always plentiful food for those visiting
him. On Rosh Hashanah, when many fast until
after tekiyas shofar, Reb Yeshayeleh personally
sliced kokosh (chocolate) cake so that those
praying with him and electing to eat would have a
plentiful selection to choose from.
Somehow, he always set exactly just enough
chairs for guests that showed up at his Shabbos
tisch. One winter Shabbos night, guests looked at
each other and wondered at a seat that remained
empty. Late into the meal, a straggler showed up. It
was obvious to everyone there that the latecomer
had gone through an ordeal. Reb Yeshayele
enthusiastically welcomed the straggler and told
him he had prayed intensely to assure he survived
the dangerous encounter.
Grandchildren of Reb Shayeleh have come
together and formed an organization called
Ner Lehoshia. The name literally translates into
Light of Assistance, and that is exactly what the
organization strives to do - bring light to homes
that need food, clothing, and whatever other
assistance is needed.
In the tradition of sharing with readers what I’m
reading I bring you this sefer “Mofes Hador about
R’ Shayala - Mofsim, one after the other, sometimes
2 or 3 per page, and most of them fromKli Rishon
or Kli Sheyni. We spoke a short while ago how his
main object in life was to help the unfortunate Yid
in any way possible - even if he was a Mechalel
Shabbos, and that very much is the case, but what
got me was the Mofsim, one after another after
another, Baal Shem’ske mayses one after the other,
for 50 years. And it’s not just that; Every person I
spoke to about it - it seems - has a personal moyfes
that wasn’t even published in the book! I myself
heard from my father, ZG”Z, how he heard from his
shver, my zeide, how my Bubbe’s parents (his wife
- my Bubbe’s - parents) were once evicted from
their home by a non-Jewish landlord. They were
left homeless, out on the street, with nowhere to
go. IIRC they lived in Nyirmada at the time, which
is about 50 miles from BodrogKerestur, whereReb
Shayelle lived. They traveled there and told the
Tzaddik how they were evicted from their home
for no good reason by the wicked landlord and are
homeless, a family with children. Reb Shayelle told
them to write down the Orel’s name on a piece of
paper, and he then proceeded to take that paper
and burn it in a burning candle nearby. He then
sent them home, saying that it was all OK now, they
had no need to worry any further. Sure enough
when they arrived home the landlord had left this
world. And the zeide would always stress that this
wasn’t some old man who you could say could’ve
died anyway - he was “a champion,” big and strong.
And there are hundreds and thousands more of
those - unpublished stories that are kept in families
and passed down from generation to generation. On
the way back from a wedding last week I shared my
thoughts with another Yid of Hungarian descent.
He responded with a story of his own - where his
father’s mother lost TENchildren in various stages
of pregnancy - before she traveled to Reb Shayelle
and asked for his help. The Tzaddik gave her some
Kotzko Tzikker - sugar cubes and told her keep it
with her during the whole term, maybe to wear it
like a Kimeya, I forget that detail now. She had four
children after that, with this man’s father the first
of the four. I could be here all year writing about
the mofsim, but you can save me from doing all
that work by buying or borrowing (like I did) this
sefer’l and reading how G-d name was sanctified
by both Jew and, Lehavdil, Gentile thousands upon
thousands of times over decades
Interesting to note:
Reb Shayale had a brother Herman Steiner who
emigrated to the USA, lived in NYC and is buried in
Staten island. The chassidim have made his grave a
place to visit too. Reb Shayale has descendants who
run the congregation of Keresztur at 48th Street in
Boro Park, Brooklyn, NY.
Reb Shayele married twice:
1) Sara WEINSTOCK (1859 - 1922), daughter of
Yitzchak Yonah Weinstock of Bodrogszegi.
They had 2 sons and 3 daughters.
The first son Reb Avrumele Steiner married Ida
Rothman from Zsurk, Szabolcs County.
They had 3 sons and 6 daughters.
2) When he widowed, Reb Shayele married Sara
ROTH (1863 - 1936), a daughter of the Gyure
Rav R’ Moshe Shimon Roth, who was son of the
Huszt Rav R’ Yoel Zvi Roth, th “Beth Hayotzer”.
Sara Roth’s first husband R’ Yosef Krausz
(1860 - 1915) served as Dayan and shoychet in
Szomotor.
Borough Park, NY - NY Times: In Honor Of
Famed Charity Rabbi Shaya Kerestire Zt’l Masbia
Serves Steak-Vos-iz-Neias-NY Times
Borough Park, NY - The poor and hungry people
at the Masbia soup kitchen in Borough Park
hardly fit a bums-and-bag ladies stereotype. The
storefront, on 14th Street in central Brooklyn, in
one of New York’s largest Hasidic communities,
serves only hot kosher meals. Its operators say it is
the only soup kitchen of its kind in the city, and at
first glance it seems to have a dress code that is also
unique. The men — and it is mostly men — wear
dark suits, white button-down shirts and black
hats. “From a distance, they may look no different
than a rich man, but if you look closer, you can
see the difference,” said Mordechai Mandelbaum,
a co-founder of the soup kitchen who was also
dressed neatly in the traditional Hasidic garb on
Thursday night. Indeed, closer scrutiny of some
of the patrons revealed subtle signs of hardship:
a slightly smudged shirt, a somewhat rumpled
suit, a bruised felt hat. The few women were
generally seated away from the men and dressed
in traditional skirts and wigs, some with small
children. Thursday was more crowded than usual
because the kitchen was serving steaks — juicy,
16-ounce kosher shell steaks. Seconds were even
available. A soup kitchen that serves steak might
sound rather luxurious, but steak night comes only
once a year at Masbia, in honor of Grand Rabbi
Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir, Hungary, who died in
1925 and who was known for feeding the hungry
and other acts of charity. Masbia, the Hebrew word
for “satiate,” serves 160 meals five nights a week.
“We wanted to make it look like a restaurant,” Mr.
Rapaport said, “because people in our community
don’t want to be seen going to a soup kitchen — it’s
highly embarrassing. “But we’ve had people come
in and eat and ask where they pay. We have to tell
them, ‘No, you don’t pay.’ People here are kosher so
they won’t go to any other soup kitchen. It’s come
here or starve.” some of the kitchen’s $500,000
annual budget comes from city and state aid, but
most comes from local donations, Mr. Rapaport
said. Mostly, money is solicited from couples who
are getting married, drawing on an old-world
tradition of donating to the needy just before
marriage. “We remind them that contributing helps
them avoid bad luck,” Mr. Mandelbaum said, lifting
an eyebrow mischievously. “Jewish guilt is very
powerful.” Mr. Rapaport said the kitchen served
Jewish and gentile, rich and poor.
WeeklyQuote
RON OSTROFF
"If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the
ordinary." Jim Rohn
“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in
stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather
than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the
downward spiral begins.” Charles Stanley
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Confuscious
"Find something you would die for, and live for it" Rabbi Noach Weinberg ztl
I am no big follower of Nietzsche but on this point one cannot argue:
"He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and
run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying." Friedrich Nietzsche
On Socialism by a Fascist
Socialism is a fraud, a comedy, a phantom, a blackmail. - Benito Mussolini
Berach’sRCorner
abbi Steinfeld
Chametz Sold to Goy That dies On Pesach?
What happens if the Rabbi sold the chametz to a goy before
Pesach, and during Pesach the goy dies. Is the chametz
considered sold? How can the Rabbi buy back the chametz?
Interesting to note, the Chelkas Yaakov said that every Pesach
he would worry that the goy he sold the chametz to might die
and complicate matters. Another contemporary Rov would daven
throughout Pesach that the Goy he sold the chametz to should
not die.
Let us review the history of selling the chametz to the goy. The
first time it is brought down is in Tosefta Pesachim, Perek bais,
halacha vov discussing the event where a Jew and a Goy are on
a boat before Pesach. The Jew should sell or give the chametz
as a gift to the Goy, and thereafter buy it back from him after
Pesach. This must be a full sale or a full gift. The concept of
mechiras chametz is repeated many times in the Rishonim and
Achronim.
Initially, every person would sell his own chametz to a Goy. After
many mistakes in the procedure, the Chachamim enacted that
every person appoints the Rav as a shaliach (representative,
power of Attorney) to sell his chametz.
The procedure requires that the Rabbi (after getting the power
from all people to sell their chametz) sells it to the Goy having
done many different types of kinyanim. The sale is basically “on
consignment” where the Goy puts down a down payment with an
option to pay the rest of the money after Pesach, or to sell it back
to the Rabbi after Pesach.
Let us explore what happens with the chametz in the event
where there is a breakdown in the sale where the Goy dies. The
Machne Chaim brings down a case where the chametz was sold
to a Goy and the Goy was so impressed by this transaction that
he became a Ger in middle of Yom Tov. The Machne Chaim
says a chiddush that in such cases the first kinyan stays in effect,
and although the Goy changed his status, the chametz remains
hefker. Therefore the new Ger would not be oveir having chametz
on Pesach and neither would all the people who sold it to him.
The Machne Chaim says that this is a great chiddush and since
it is not found in the Gemara and in the Poskim one should not
rely on it Lekatchila.
Away to avoid this problem would be that as part of the Mechira
there should also be a living will with the Goy. This would state
that in the event the Goy dies, the ability to buy or sell the
chametz after Pesach should transfer to the Rabbi a minute
before his death. The culmination of the transfer should take
place after Pesach so the Rabbi would not be oveir on owning
chametz on Pesach. During Pesach, the condition of the chametz
should be in a condition of hefker. Being that this is a complicated
issue one can now understand why the Rabbi would daven for the
welfare of the Goy for the duration of Pesach until the transaction
is complete.
In conclusion, we should all have the Goy in our prayers that he
should not die on Pesach.
Do you have a topic or discussion you want to read about? Please send
comments or questions to berachsteinfeldscorner@gmail.com
1 5 6
from Aish.com
Golf Challenge
The Pope met with his cardinals to
discuss a proposal from Benjamin
Netanyahu, the leader of Israel.
"Your Holiness," said one of the
Cardinals, "Mr. Netanyahu wants
to challenge you to a game of
golf to show the friendship and
ecumenical spirit shared by the
Jewish and Catholic faiths."
The Pope thought it was a good
idea, but he had never held a golf
club in his hand. "Have we not,"
he asked, "a cardinal who can
represent me against the leader
of Israel?" "None that plays golf
very well," a cardinal said. "But, he
added, "there is a man named Jack
Nicklaus, an American golfer who
is a devout Catholic. We can offer
to make him a cardinal; then ask
him to play Benjamin Netanyahu
as your personal representative.
In addition to showing our spirit
of cooperation, we'll also win the
match." Everyone agreed it was a
good idea. The call was made. Of
course, Nicklaus was honored and
agreed to play. The day after the
match, Nicklaus reported to the
Vatican to inform the Pope of the
result.
"I have some good news and some
bad news, Your Holiness," said the
golfer. "Tell me the good news
first, Cardinal Nicklaus," said the
Pope. "Well, your Holiness, I don't
like to brag, but even though I've
played some pretty terrific rounds
of golf in my life, this was the best
I have ever played, by far. I must
have been inspired from above.
My drives were long and true, my
irons were accurate and purposeful
and my putting was perfect. With
all due respect, my play was truly
miraculous." "There's bad news?"
the Pope asked. Nicklaus sighed.
"I lost to Rabbi Woods by three
strokes."
day. By very early the next morning,
a long queue had formed outside of
the butcher shop.
At 8 o'clock an official came out
briefly and announced, "Well,
comrades, I'm afraid there's not
enough meat for everybody here.
Would all of the Jews leave?" They
did, and the line was shortened
somewhat. At 11 o'clock the official
came out again and announced,
"Well, comrades, I'm afraid there's
still not enough meat for all. Would
all of the non-party members please
leave?" They did, and the line was
shortened again. At 2 o'clock, the
official came out again. "There's
still not enough meat for all of you!
Would all those who did not defend
our great country from the fascist
German intruder leave?"
Once
again, the line was considerably
shortened. At 5 o'clock, the official
announcement was, "There's still not
enough! Would all those who did
not participate in the liberation of
our people from the terrors of the
Czar leave!" This included just about
everybody. Finally, at 8 o'clock in the
evening, the official came out again.
The only people left in line were
three half-frozen old men. He told
them, "There isn't any meat."
The old men moved slowly away,
grumbling
among
themselves
- "Those Jews get the best of
everything!!"
How to tell if you are aging:
When my old electric typewriter
needed a new ribbon, I removed
the old one, with its spools, put it
in its' original box and took it to a
well-known office supply store in
midtown Manhattan. I presented it to
a young salesman and asked, "May
I have another one?" The salesman
examined the box, emptied its'
contents and asked, "What is it?"
Amish Jew
A woman is riding a bus in the
Midwest, when a man gets on the
bus and sits down next to her. He's
wearing a black hat, long black coat,
black slacks and shoes, and he has a
long curly dark beard.
The woman looks at him disgustedly.
"Jews like you," she hisses at him.
He looks up at her, puzzled, and
says, "I beg your pardon, madam?"
She says, "Look at you. All in black,
a beard, never take off your hat! It's
Jews like you that give the rest of us
a bad name."
He says calmly, "I beg your pardon,
madam, but I am not Jewish.
I'm Amish."
Russian Jews
One cold winter, a rumor went The woman looks back and smiles,
around that a certain butcher shop "How nice. You've kept your
would have meat for sale the next customs."
Plot Resolution
Two people had a dispute over
a particular burial plot. Each one
claimed the piece of land for
himself. The men presented their
arguments to the rabbi, and left
the final decision up to him.
After a while, the rabbi said to them,
"It is a very difficult case. Each one
of you has very good arguments.
Thus, I decree that whoever dies
first will have the right to this burial
place".
From then on, they stopped
fighting ...
Kids Corner submitted
by Shragie Newhouse
Olomeinu in Chinuch.org
Kids Corner submitted by Shragie Newhouse Olomeinu in Chinuch.org
TECH
SECTION
POPULAR SCIENCE
bird™ is an innovative wearable device which aggregates the
entire spectrum of interactive methods into a ring-like accessory,
comfortably worn on the index finger. With bird, the entire
room transforms into a 3D interactive workspace: the user can
interact with displayed images on any surface as if it were a
touch screen, with accurate control and unparalleled sensitivity.
Further interaction abilities include Remote Touch, Hovering,
Depth Sensing, Gesture control and even mouse functionality.
Developed by MUV interactive
MUV Interactive is a wearable solutions company, developing
technology to provide accurate 3D location and motion
sensing, and enable intuitive and natural interaction with the
surrounding digital environment. Recently acclaimed a “Cool
Vendor in Human-Machine Interface” by Gartner (May 2014),
MUV delivers an advanced and innovative wearable device that
simply fits on the user’s index finger. Intuitive interaction with
displayed content is achieved from anywhere in the room, with
revolutionary technology that aggregates the entire spectrum of
interactive techniques: Touch, Remote Control, Depth Sensing,
Gesture Control, Mouse Functionality, Voice Commands, and
even a Laser pointer.MUV provides users with the true ability to
Own The Room from the tip of the finger.
Mazal Tov to Layla and Dovi Greenspan
on the birth of their Son.
Mazal Tov also to the Grandparents Chani and Fuli Jaffe.
The Shalom Zachor will I"H be at their home located at 4 Celia Court.
‫להבין ולהשכיל‬
Chag HaPesach / Chag HaMatzos
The Yom Tov of Pesach is generally referred to
in the Torah as ‫חג המצות‬. However, in Parshas
Ki Sisa, the pasuk says ‫ולא ילין לבקר זבח חג הפסח‬.
Here, the Torah calls the Yom Tov ‫חג הפסח‬.
Are these just two names for the same thing, or is there an
individual meaning to each of them? The Chizkuni in Parshas
Emor tells us that these two names represent two separate
parts of the Yom Tov. Chag HaPesach refers to the time we
prepare and eat the karbon Pesach – from erev Pesach after
chatzos until the next morning. The rest of the Yom Tov, on
the other hand, is called Chag HaMatzos.
The Rema paskens that if one becomes an avel seven days
before Pesach, unlike other Yomim Tovim, where he would
only be permitted to shower, etc. close to nightfall of erev
Yom Tov, on erev Pesach, it’s already permitted from chatzos.
The Vilna Gaon explains why Pesach is different: since from
chatzos and on was the time of karbon Pesach, it’s already like
a Yom Tov. This can be understood with the aforementioned
idea of the Chizkuni that there is a ‘separate’ Yom Tov called
Chag HaPesach and therefore though Chag HaMatzos
doesn’t start until later, Chag HaPesach starts already from
chatzos on erev Pesach.
The Vilna Gaon proves this idea from the pesukim in Parshas
Emor. While discussing the different moadim, the Torah says
‫’בארבעה עשר יום לחודש בין הערבים פסח לה‬. This implies that from this
point in time, i.e. chatzos of erev Pesach and on, is considered
a moed.
Interestingly, we find times when it was possible to only have
Chag HaPesach and not Chag HaMatzos. The Ib’n Ezra writes
in Parshas Pekudei that while the Jews were in the midbar,
they only kept Chag HaPesach, and not Chag HaMatzos. He
explains that it would have been impossible to obtain enough
matzah for the seven day Yom Tov of Chag HaMatzos. As it is,
it was an amazing thing that they had enough matzah for the
first night alone while wandering in the desert.
Perhaps this idea will give us more understanding of the
essence of Pesach Sheini. Chazal refer to Pesach Sheini as
a regel. This is not a new kind of regel, but rather another
form of a Chag HaPesach – a time we celebrate the bringing
of the Karbon Pesach which is non-dependent on the seven
day Yom Tov of Chag HaMatzos.
We still need to understand: Why are the seven days of
Yom Tov called Chag HaMatzos when the mitzvah of eating
matzah only applies to the first night of Yom Tov?
The Vilna Gaon tells us, that although the Gemara says that
eating matzah on Pesach other than on the first night is
optional, one still gets a mitzvah by eating matzah throughout
all seven days. This is called a ‫מצוה קיומית‬, a mitzvah we don’t
have to do, but get schar for doing it. It comes out that the
whole Yom Tov is a time for the mitzvah of matzah and is
therefore called Chag HaMatzos.
Wishing everyone a beautiful and joyous Yom Tov!
Tuvia
Questions and comments are welcome at lhavinulihaskil@gmail.com.
Nature
God's Wonders In
Sea Urchin Teeth Are Designed to Grind Stone
by Brian Thomas, M.S.
Sea urchins are spiny marine animals. Some of them like to hide in holes
that they dig out of limestone in the ocean floor, using teeth that are
ground down and yet remain sharp. What makes these teeth so special
that they can drill through rock and not go blunt?
Israeli scientists found remarkably precise and efficient construction
when they took a close look at the sea urchins’ teeth. Using various high
resolution imaging techniques, they saw tiny edges of magnesium calcite
crystals exposed on the tooth surfaces. The sea urchins manufacture
these crystals so that as the tooth wears down, it exposes new sharp
crystal corners. These self-sharpening teeth may inspire “the design of
better mechanical grinding and cutting tools.”1
The teeth are composed of crystals in plate and needle patterns
that interlock, “like the fingers of folded hands.”2 In addition, the
concentration of magnesium atoms in the crystals is graded such that
the highest concentration of magnesium is found at the very tip of the
tooth—where the main grinding pressure occurs. Thus, the magnesium
is conserved and used to harden the teeth exactly where the need is
most critical.
In considering what must go into manufacturing such tiny but effective
tools, the researchers concluded in their study published in The
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that “the sea urchin
tooth tip is clearly the product of exquisite control.”1
Sea urchin fossils are found in Ordovician rocks, which are below most
other sedimentary layers. Given the conventional date given to this
lower layer, sea urchins demonstrate stunning “stasis,” a universal
biological observation that each kind of organism remains faithful to its
fundamental form. This is also predicted by Genesis 1, which states that
God specifically made each kind to reproduce after itself.3
The sea urchins that were preserved in rock layers must also have had
these specialized grinding teeth. The sudden appearance in fossils of “the
mature sea urchin tooth [with] incredible structural and compositional
complexity”1 contradicts Darwin’s evolutionary claim that animals
“advance by the shortest and slowest steps.”4
There are no transitional sea urchin teeth, and sea urchins are fully sea
urchins wherever they are found. Their abundance in certain rock strata
need not be interpreted as representing some kind of ancient “time of
sea urchins.” Rather, it represents the catastrophic burial of a sea urchinrich habitat that occurred early in the global Flood described in Genesis.
And the precisely regulated manufacturing process that forms the sea
urchins’ teeth can only be the result of a supreme Designer.
References
Ma, Y. et al. 2009. The grinding tip of the sea urchin tooth exhibits
exquisite control over calcite crystal orientation and Mg distribution.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (15): 6048-6053.
Israeli Scientists: Sea Urchin Teeth Stay Sharp. Arutz Sheva. Posted on
israelnationalnews.com May 5, 2009, accessed May 21, 2009.
Genesis 1:21-22.
Darwin, C. 1859, reprinted 1972. On the origin of species by means of
natural selection: or The preservation of favoured races in the struggle
for life.Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 224.
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
‫‪Can you solve these‬‬
‫‪By Itzik Weinberg‬‬
‫?‪RIDDLES‬‬
‫‪Pesach riddle:‬‬
‫יום טוב ‪ but is allowed on‬חול המועד ‪What is not allowed to be done on‬‬
‫‪Last weeks Answer‬‬
‫‪( What halacha is this? The whole year we avoid it but on the Seder night it's‬‬
‫)‪Mitzva to do allot of it.‬‬
‫‪ that there is a Halacha that says that it is a‬שולחן ערוך סימן תע״ב ‪It says in‬‬
‫‪mitzvah to set the table in beautiful, expensive dishes. However, on the other‬‬
‫‪hand it writes that we should limit the amount of dishes on our table in order‬‬
‫‪ we ignore the Halacha of limiting the‬ליל הסדר ‪. But on‬חורבן ‪to remember the‬‬
‫‪expensive dishes because it is a night of freedom.‬‬
‫‪As you can probably imagine, pesach has‬‬
‫‪always been a good holiday for a guy like‬‬
‫‪me, not just because I had a nice big break‬‬
‫‪from school, but because I was finally free,‬‬
‫!‪and aloud to ask all the questions I want‬‬
‫‪Unfortunately, this year I didn’t have many questions during‬‬
‫‪the Seder, but after I got an email about the journal, and thought‬‬
‫‪a little about pesach and matzah, B”H I thought of something. Now‬‬
‫‪this may not sound like a great question, but try to take it a step‬‬
‫!‪deeper, and let it get into your kishkas‬‬
‫‪Every holiday has its main idea, it’s picture under its name, and‬‬
‫‪it’s mascot you think of when you hear someone say it. Chanukah,‬‬
‫‪candles. Purim, costumes! (or for some DRüÑK!) But WHY when I say‬‬
‫‪Pesach, you think “Matzah!?” Theirs so much more... Why is matzah‬‬
‫!?‪such a big deal, because we had it when we ran out of EGYPT‬‬
‫‪Maybe we should have running games, where we go out side‬‬
‫‪(boys on one side girls on other) and run down the street with‬‬
‫‪freedom, wouldn’t that give you a better feel. I can think of many‬‬
‫!‪things that can help us relate a lot better than just matzah‬‬
‫‪This may sound funny, but especially if your a member in‬‬
‫‪Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, you would understand that food is not‬‬
‫‪just a four letter word. How many people can say they can come‬‬
‫‪home from shul with out a kiddish and enjoy their shabbos just‬‬
‫‪as well, as they do after our beautiful “lavish” kiddish every week.‬‬
‫‪Food is very powerful, if we ran around, we would have fun, but‬‬
‫‪we might not actually think about the miracles or the matzah.‬‬
‫‪But by eating some good matzah, and letting it rest in your belly,‬‬
‫‪it gives you the opportunity to think about all about pesach and‬‬
‫‪its amazing miracles.‬‬
‫‪For all those still eating matzah, think about that, while you‬‬
‫!‪eat tonight‬‬
‫‪Think about it,‬‬
‫‪Yehuda Grodko‬‬
‫‪Hmmm......‬‬
‫"‪"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.‬‬
‫‪" Our greatest teacher really is ourselves. Only we are the ones who make up‬‬
‫‪our mind to accept something and learn - no one else. We can listen to others,‬‬
‫"‪but in the end it is our choice to learn.‬‬
‫"‪"Weak People revenge. Strong People forgive. Intelligent people ignore.‬‬
‫שביעי של פסח‬
‫בענין יציאת מצרים ושירת הים‬
‫״ גוי מקרב גוי ״ הוציאנו השם יתברך ממצרים ‪ ,‬הוא ולא מלאך הוא ולא שרף‬
‫‪ ,‬אלא הוא בכבודו ובעצמו ‪ ,‬וכתב המהר״ל זיע״א שזה היה ממש בבחינת לידה‬
‫חדשה ‪ ,‬לידה של עם ישראל ‪ ,‬להיות עבדים עליו יתברך ‪ ,‬ולא עבדי פרעה ‪ ,‬להיות‬
‫משועבדים לו למצותיו ולתורתו ‪ ,‬שכך נתקרב עליו ‪ ,‬להיות דבוקים בו ‪ ,‬כל ימי‬
‫חיינו ‪ ,‬ועל ידי זה חיים כולכם היום ‪.‬‬
‫במצרים ראינו את כח האלוקים ‪ ,‬שהוא בעל הכוחות כולם ‪ ,‬בורא ומנהיג לכל‬
‫הברואים והוא לבדו עושה ויעשה לכל המעשים ‪ ,‬על ידי העשר מכות ראינו בעליל‬
‫את כוחו יתברך בבריאה ‪ ,‬שהוא הוא יסוד אמונתנו וביטחוננו בו ‪ ,‬ואין על מי להשען‬
‫אלא על אבינו שבשמים ‪ ,‬וזהו מצות ליל הסדר של והגדת לבנך להעביר את זה‬
‫לבנינו ולבני בנינו ‪ ,‬שהיא יסוד הדת כולה ‪ ,‬ובלי זה שייך הרבה ספיקות רח״ל ‪.‬‬
‫ובכן עם ישראל יצאו ממצרים ‪ ,‬ונקרע להם ים סוף ‪ ,‬ואיתא במדרשים שהיה זה‬
‫ממש פלאי הבריאה ‪ ,‬עצם הקריעה של הים שהיה לי״ב חלקים ‪ ,‬ולא רק הים‬
‫התחלק אלא כל מי העולם מתחלקו ‪ ,‬וראו כל העולם את הכח האדיר של האלוקים‬
‫‪ .‬הפלא ופלא ‪.‬‬
‫יש הרבה לימודים שחייבים ללמוד מהנעשה לעם הישראלי אז ‪ ,‬ראשית כל עצם‬
‫המחזה שהיה ‪ ,‬כמו שאמרו רז״ל שראתה שפחה על הים מה שלא ראה יחזקאל בן‬
‫בוזי ‪ ,‬איזה מחזה היה הפלא ופלא ‪ .‬ואמר בזה הדרשן הדגול רבינו שלום שבדרון‬
‫זיע״א שהיא עדיין נשארה שפחה זהו החילוק ‪.‬‬
‫ויסוד הדברים הוא כדי לקבל ולהחזיק שפע צריך להיות ראוי לקבל הך השפעה ‪,‬‬
‫והגם שהשפחה ראתה את המחזה האדיר ולכאורה היתה אמורה להעלות ממצבה‬
‫לדרגה של נבואה ‪ ,‬אבל עדיין נשארה שפחה ‪ ,‬והיינו שבכדי לקבל ההשפעה הגבוה‬
‫של קירבה להקדוש ברוך הוא ‪ ,‬הוא רק במי שמוכשר לזה ‪ ,‬וכמו שהתורה נקנית‬
‫במ״ח קניינים ‪ ,‬והיינו שבכדי שישפע כוחה של תורה על האדם ‪ ,‬מוכרח הוא למ״ח‬
‫קניינם של תורה ‪ ,‬כמו כן הוא בכל דרגה ברוחניות ‪ ,‬צריך להיות בר מעלה וכלי‬
‫להשיג את ההשגה של המושג ‪.‬‬
‫ובענין הזה זוכרני ווארט מימי נעורי שאמרתי על מה שמצינו במדבר שהיה את‬
‫המתלוננים ‪ ,‬ותמוה דהא במדבר היה זה הדור דעה ‪ ,‬ואיך שייך שבאו להתלונן על‬
‫אבטיחים ודגים וקישואים ???? ואלא שהדרגה שבאו עליו שהיו ממש דור דעה באה‬
‫להם במהירות שלא היה שייך שיהיו שייכים לדרגה שלהם ממילא מובן מה ששיך‬
‫שהיו באים למצב של מתלוננים ‪.‬‬
‫וזה עוד לימוד אדיר שמי שבמצב מסויים יש לו התחייבויות להתנהג אחרת לגמרי‬
‫‪ ,‬זהו מחייב גדול ‪ ,‬ועיין רש״י שבת לג‪ .‬מש״כ בד״ה חילול השם ‪.‬‬
‫עלה בליבם לומר שירה ‪ ,‬פתחו כולם ואמרו אז ישיר משה ובני ישראל את השירה‬
‫הזאת ‪ ....‬אין אדם שר שירה אלא מתוך שמחה ‪ ,‬כלי השירה של האדם הוא משמחה‬
‫‪ ,‬והיינו שמחה פנימית שהיא היא השמחה האמיתית שיש לו לאדם ‪ ,‬ויותר שדבוק‬
‫בבוראו ‪ ,‬יותר שמח האדם‪.‬‬
‫וזהו הזמן שביעי של פסח אחר שנפדנו מחיי החומר ‪ ,‬על ידי אי ההחמצות ולראות‬
‫את עצמנו שיצאנו ממש ממצרים ‪ ,‬בזה באים לדביקות של זמן רעוא דרעוין ‪,‬‬
‫נעילת הפסח ממש דביקות בו יתברך בזה פותחים ממש בשירה ‪ ,‬שנובע מתוך‬
‫שמחה של מצוה ‪ ,‬שהוא מהשראת השכינה ‪ ,‬וממילא עצם השירה יוצא כמעיין‬
‫ממנו הנובע משמחתו בו יתברך ‪ ,‬כמו שכתוב במדרש שיר השירים ״ זה היום עשה‬
‫ה׳ נגילה ונשמחה בו ״ בו בישועתו בו בתורתו ‪.‬‬
‫ונסיים בפשט יפה הרמב״ם (בהלכות חמץ ומצה פרק ז׳ הלכה א׳ ) וזהו תוכן‬
‫דבריו מצות עשה של תורה לספר בניסים וישועות שנעשה לאבותינו במצרים‬
‫ביום חמשה עשר בניסן ‪ ,‬שנאמר ״זכור את היום הזה אשר יצאתם ממצרים״ כמו‬
‫שנאמר ״ זכור את יום השבת ״ ‪ ,‬ומנין שבליל ט״ו שנאמר ״והגדת לבנך ביום ההוא‬
‫לאמר בעבור זה עשה השם לי בצאתי ממצרים״ בשעה שיש מצות ומרור מונחים‬
‫לפניך עכת״ד ‪.‬‬
‫וצריך ביאור אמאי לא למד הרמב״ם גם עצם מצות חיוב סיפור יציאת מצרים ‪,‬‬
‫מקרא דוהגדת לבנך שנאמר בו גם לספר את סיפור יציאת מצרים ?‬
‫והפשט יש לומר ברמב״ם שהדין דוהגדת לבנך היינו תשובה למה שאמרה תורה‬
‫״כי ישאלך בנך למחר״ והיינו התשובה לזה והגדת לבנך ביום ההוא לאמר ‪ ,‬וממילא‬
‫הדין של סיפור נלמד מקרא ד״זכרת את יום הזה אשר יצאת ממצרים״ ‪ ,‬שבו נאמר‬
‫עצם חיוב מצות סיפור ודו״ק ‪.‬‬
‫ומה שייחסו דין זה לזכור של שבת היינו שכל השבוע דעת הרמב״ם שיש מצוה‬
‫לזכור את שבת ‪ ,‬וממילא גם לנו יש דין לזכור מה שנהיה לאבותינו במצרים וזהו‬
‫הדין לזכור בפה לחזק בלבבנו מה שנעשה להם במצרים ‪.‬‬
‫חג שמח‬
‫דוד יהודה פיירסטון מיושבי בית המדרש‬
Cash Torah
from Brother Shlomo !
So it was mamash clear; what a message before you want to commit
suicide. So you know what he did? He took that sefer, put the candle on
the table, and just looked at the page all night long. He says, “Rebono
Shel Olam, if you send me this message, I am begging you, Rebono
Shel Olam, don’t disappoint me. I am not committing suicide tonight,
please let a miracle be tomorrow.”
Compiled and edited by Ziv Ritchie
In Odessa, there was a Yid, a banker. He was a little bit religious. I
don’t know the way assimilated Jews would live in those days. He
had a bank, he was very rich, but he was a little bit connected to
Yiddishkeit.
One day his accountant brings him all the books. He looks at the
books… he sees one thing: Unless I have two million rubles in four
days, I am bankrupt.
Today when people are bankrupt, you know what they do? First
thing, they go to Switzerland, and send a letter to all the people they
owe money: “I wish you were here.” What is declaring bankruptcy
today? It is a joke, you declare bankruptcy, and you never pay the
people back. In those days, in Russia, if you are bankrupt, you were
on the next train to Siberia. Heavy. Heavy, heavy.
So it was clear to him. ‘The first thing I am doing after four days
if I cannot get the two million rubles together is, I am committing
suicide. I don’t want to go through Siberia, and I can’t go through this
whole thing.’
So he went to a pharmacy, he got himself some real heavy drugs,
poison. But then he thought, ‘Where should I commit suicide? At
home? I have little children. I don’t want to do it there.’ He decided,
‘I will do it in shul [synagogue].’
He went to shul, and you know, today a shul has sidurim [prayerbooks]
in those days, the shul had sforim [holy books], and there were
mamash Shasim [books of Talmud]. On the highest shelf, he put
the poison under a sefer [holy book]. He waited four days. He tried
everything. Mamash, he thought he has good credit. He didn’t get a
penny. On the fourth night, it was clear to him, ‘Tomorrow morning
they will find out that I am bankrupt, I am committing suicide.’
He goes to shul. In those days, this was a long time ago, maybe one
hundred and fifty years ago, there was no electric light then, just little
candles. He puts a candle on the table, and puts his hand to take out
the poison. He was shaking so much that a lot of books fell down.
Nebuch.
And, if some of you know, Likutei Moharan, Rebbe Nachman’s sefer,
in the first print, there is a whole page. On the page it says, “Reb
Nachman says: Yidden, don’t ever give up.”
The sefer fell down, and he wants to pick it up. He bends down and
he sees; Reb Nachman says: Don’t ever give up.
To make it very, very short, for five days, every day, when he was in his
office, every time there was a knock on the door, he was sure it was
the police. But nothing happened. For five nights, every night he was
sitting in the shul all night long looking at this page.
On the fifth day he gets a letter from a bank in Amsterdam, and they
write to him, ‘Please forgive us a thousand times. Ten years ago we
took a loan from you for two million rubles. We completely forgot to
pay it back, and we just found in our books that we never paid it back.
We are sending it to you.’ Gevalt.
So that night he goes back to the beis medrash [Synagogue study hall],
and takes the book again. Then he thinks, ‘I don’t even know who
wrote this book.’ So he sees;Heilege [holy] Reb Nachman, grandson of
the Baal Shem. And then he opens the book. He knew Hebrew well. He
opened the book to the first torah, ‘Ashrie Temimei Derech. You have
to put in your koach [strength] into davening [praying].’ He thought,
‘Ahh, this is so beautiful, so beautiful.’
And this was the first night he was a little bit relaxed, he fell asleep on
the sefer. In his dream…
You know, Reb Nachman, nebuch, we should all live long, he passed
away when he was thirty nine years old. Reb Nachman did not have
a long beard, he had a little beard, and peyos [sidelocks]. The Heilege
Rishner also did not have a long beard. A little beard, and long peyos.
He sees in his dream this young man, about thirty five, or thirty six
years old. He says to him, “I want you to know, my name is Nachman
from Breslev, and I am the one who wrote this book.”
And you know, Reb Nachman, before he passed away, he was yelling
on top of his lungs, “Yidden, Nisht kin Miyaesh, don’t give up.”
He says, “I want you to know, before I left the world, when I yelled,
‘Yidden, don’t give up.’ I was thinking of you.” Unbelievable.
The Yid, in his dream, says, “So what should I do now?”
He says, “I’ll tell you what you have to do now; I want you to sell your
bank. You have enough money to live in Eretz Yisrael. I want you to go
to Eretz Yisrael, and I want you to print my book in Eretz Yisrael.”
I just want you to know, I met an old Breslover Chossid in Yerushalayim,
who is nearly a hundred years old, and he is a talmid [student] of this
Yid. Unbelievable. He was the first one to print Likutei Moharan. And
he is a talmid of this Yid. I met him somewhere in a beis medrash in
Yerushalayim.
(Excerpt from “Rebbe Nachman Says”, The Teachings of Rabbi Nachman
of Breslev as Taught by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach z”tl)
and wellness tips from
Steven Y. Szklarz, CSP
Lets lose 30 lbs in 30 days!
Now that Pesach is coming to an end- my office gets very busy with people who want to cleanse out their
system. On my program, patients are required to drink whole milk as part of the detox. The minerals in whole
milk are needed to build healthy bones and teeth and to maintain many of the basic functions of the human
body. A diet rich in calcium helps prevent osteoporosis as well. Studies in Harvard have found that people
who made dairy part of their daily diets were less likely to develop insulin resistance and to develop type 2
diabetes. So next time you reach for the blue or green milk on the grocers shelf, give your bones whats best!
Anyone interested in starting immediately after Yontif/Shabbos please call my office at 845.213.1036 to book an appointment or via
email at monsey@sadkhin.com
Wishing all a wonderful Yontif and Shabbos!
Yartzeits
21 Nissan - Fri
Rav Shmuel Shapiro, elder Breslav chosid
Rav Shimon Yisrael Posen, the Shoproner Rav, author of Toras Aleph, 1969.
22 Nissan - Shabbos
Rav Yehuda Rosanes of Constantinople, author of Mishneh Lamelech, (16581727). He also wrote Parashs Derachim.
Rav Yitzchak Kalish (1779-1848), founder of the Vorki dynasty, father of Rav
Yaakov Dovid (founder of the Amshinov dynasty) and Rav Menachem Mendel,
who continued the Vorki dynasty. Through his travels with his teacher, Rav
Dovid of Lelov, he became a disciple of Rav Yaakov Yitzchak (the "Chozeh")
of Lublin and of Rav Simchah Bunim of Peshischa. Some of his teachings and
stories involving him appear in Ohel Yitzchak and Hutzak Chein, others in
Shemu’as Yitzchak.
Dr. Nathan Birnbaum, 1864-1937. A leader in the early Zionist movement, he
is credited for coining the word “Zionism” in 1890. He played a prominent part
in the First Zionist Congress (1897) and was elected Secretary General of the
Zionist Organization. However, ideological differences with Theodore Herzl led
to his leaving the movement. In the years preceding World War I he gradually
abandoned his materialistic and secular outlook, eventually embracing full
traditional Judaism. He may be seen as the forerunner of the modern Baal
Teshuvah movement. His most famous book of this period was Gottesvolk
(“G-d’s People”) first published in German and Yiddish in 1917 (translated into
English in a shortened form by J. Elias in 1947 titled "Confession"). In 1919, he
became the first Secretary General of the new Agudath Yisrael Organization.
He lived in Berlin 1921-1933. After the rise of Nazism, he left Germany for
Scheveningen, Netherlands, until his death.
23 Nissan - Sun
Rav Moshe ben Yosef MiTrani, the Mabit (1505-1585). Son of the famous Rav
Yosef MiTrani (Mahait), Rav Moshe was born in Salonika, Greece. He was sent
to sent to Adrianople (Italy) as a boy to pursue his studies under the supervision
of his uncle Aaron. At the age of 16 he went to Safed and completed his studies
under Yaakov Beirav. He was one of four people to receive the special semicha
from him in 1538, in Safed, along with Rav Yosef Karo, Rav Moshe Cordovero,
and Rav Yosef Sagis. In 1525 he was appointed rabbi at Safed; he held this
office until 1535, when he moved to Jerusalem, where he lived until 1585.
His main work was Kiryat Sefer, a commentary on Rambam's Yad Chazakah.
Hamabit, was an halachic responsa with 841 answers. He also wrote Beit Elohim – a thematic discussion of the elements of prayer. [Hamodia 2005: 25
Nissan; according to introduction to Beis Elokim - the 22nd of Nissan]
Rav Yisrael Shalom Yosef of Bohush, 1923.
24 Nissan - Mon
Rav Moshe of Premishel, author of Mateh Moshe (1606)
Rav Chaim Menachem Heschel of Zhinkov (1837-1893). Succeeded his father,
Rav Meshulam Zusya, and expanded the Chassidus throughout Russia, Ukraine,
and Serbia. Some of his divrei Torah are found in the sefer Shemuos Tovos.
Rav Yosef Friedman of Rimanov (1913)
Rav Eliyahu Akiva Rabinowitz of Poltava (1917)
Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heshel Weinberg, the Slonimer Rebbe of Tel Aviv, 1978.
Rav Chaim Yitzchak Chaikin, rosh yeshiva of Aixes-les-Bains.(1995)
25 Nissan - Tues
Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, author of Divrei Chaim (1793-1876 [some
say he was born 1797]), founder of the Sanzer Chasidim. Born in Tarnograd,
Poland. At the age of 18, he was appointed Rav of the small town of Rudnick,
where he became a close talmid of Rav Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz. In 1830, he
became Rav of Sanz (Tzanz), where he stayed for 46 years. He had 15 children,
including Rav Yechezkel of Shinov. His 3rd son, Rav Meir Nosson, died of an
epidemic at an early age; his only son was Rav Shloime, who would become the
1st Bobover Rebbe. Another scion of Sanz, Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam,
the Klausenburger Rav, has erected several towns, yeshivos, and a modern
medical center in Israel, as well as yeshivos in New Jersey and New York. The
Sanz Chassidim have a yicchus document showing how they are descended via
the Maharal of Prague from Rav Yosef I of Rome and back to King Dovid. [10
Nissan, according to others]
Rav Nachum Tzvi Goldberg (1922-2006). Born to Rav Kalman Avraham
Goldberg, Rav of Vasilkov, he moved with the family to America in 1926. As a
bachur, he learned with Rav Shlomo Heiman for 5 years, then moved to Lakewood
to learn with Rav Aharon Kotler for 9 years (1943-1952). As a married man, he
moved back to the East Side and taught at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef (RJJ)
for over 20 years. After his father was nifter in 1968, he replaced him as Rav of
Adas Yisrael. In 1973, he also became administrator of Ezras Torah and made out
the checks for all the yungeleit.
26 Nissan - Wed
Yehoshua bin Nun. Buried in Timnas Serach in Har Ephraim (1354-1244 BCE)
Rav Ephraim Navon, the Machaneh Ephraim (1677-1735). Born in Andrinople to
Rav Aharon, he married the daughter of Rav Yehuda Ergaz. He served as Chief
Rabbi of Constantinople.
Rav Moshe Halberstam (1932-2006). Born in the town of Tshakawe, Galicia to Rav
Yaakov Halberstam, he was a great-great-great grandson of the Divrei Chaim of
Sanz. As a youth, he studied at Yeshivas Beis Avraham Slonim under the Nesivos
Shalom of Slonim. His rebbi muvhak was Rav Shmuel Wosner. He delivered
shiurim for decades in a kollel for halacha that he headed. He was a member
of the Eida Chareidis Beis Din and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tshakawe. In 1997,
he was appointed a member of Badatz. He published a collection of responsa
called Divrei Moshe. He founded the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedaka, and
was the head of the charity Chibas Yerushalayim Kupas Rebbe eir Baal Hannes.
His son-in-law Rav Mattisyahu Deitch founded the Yad Ramah Institute under the
guidance of the greatest halachic authorities of today, and it deals with solutions
for problems in halacha and medicine. (Yated 2007 says 27 Nisaan; Hamodia 2007
says 28 Nissan)
Rav Moshe Teitelbaum, The Satmar Rebbe (2006). Author of Beirach Moshe, he
is buried in Kiyas Yoel.
27 Nissan - Thurs
Rav Asher Margulies, a Yerushalmi mekubal, author of Kumi V'Roni
Rav Yehuda Kahana, the Kuntres Hasefeikos (1819)
Rav Levi Yitzchak Greenwald, the Tzelemer Rav (1980). He arrived in America in
1939, just before the onset of WW2, after his Beis Medrash was destroyed on
Kristellnacht, and he re-established his Beis Medrash in Williamsburg. He also
established one of the first Chasidishe yeshivos in America, Arugas Habosem,
named after his father, the Chuster Rav, who was known as the Argas Habosem.
Rav Shalom Moshe Ungar, son of Rav Shmuel Dovid Ungar, a descendent of the
Abarbanel (who was himself a descendent of Dovid Hamelech). (1916-2003)
Born in Krumpach, Slovakia. In 1941, he married the daughter of Rav Simcha
Greenberg, an ardent Munkatcher chasid. Supported by his father-in-law, Rav
Shalom Moshe learned bechavrusa with his brother-in-law, Rav Meir Greenberg,
later to become the Kezmarker Rav of New York. Rav Shalom Moshe worked with
another brother-in-law, Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl, in rescue operations during
the War. Deportations from Nitra began in Elul of 1944. The Nitra yeshiva (of 200
bachurim) was the last yeshiva in Europe to remain open and was liquidated on
the 17th of Elul. Hiding in the forest for the remainder of the War, Rav Shalom
Moshe lost his father, his wife, and his three children. In 1947, he was officially
named Rav of Nitra. In 1948, the Nitra kehilla was established in Mount Krisco,
Westchester County, NY.
Rav Avigdor Miller. (1908-2001). Born in Baltimore, Rav Avigdor attended public
school like all the other Jewish boys from religious homes, and he studied Torah
with his grandfather and other local rabbonim. At the age of 14, he left to study at
Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchak Elchonon, which at the time was the only Jewish high
school offering high-level Jewish studies in the U.S. It was there that he met future
leaders of US Jewery, such as Rav Nosson Wachtfogel, Rav Yehuda Davis and Rav
Mordechai Gifter. They met met secretly in Rav Miller's dormitory room in to hear
a shiur in Mesillas Yeshorim by Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman. In 1932, he followed
Rav Aizik Sher to Slobodka, where he spent 6 years learning. In 1935 he married
his life partner for 64 years, Ethel Lessin. The first rabbinical position which Rav
Avigdor accepted was in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In 1945, Rav Miller was offered
a job as mashgiach of Chaim Berlin by Rav Hutner, a position he kept for 19 years.
He was then invited by the Young Israel of Rugby to be their unofficial rov. The
shul, located at East 49 street in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, a position
which became official in 1946-47. He began writing his first book, Rejoice O Youth,
in 1963. In 1964, when Yeshivas Chaim Berlin moved to Far Rockaway, Rav Miller
decided to resign and devote himself full time to his congregation and his writing.
He finished writing the book in 1965.
THE SEDER – A LINGUISTIC INVESTIGATION OF CHAMETZ AND MATZAH
AN APPROACH INSPIRED
BY RAV SHAMSHON RAPHAEL HIRSCH ZT”L
BY DAVID GURWITZ, JD, MBA, CPA
The second of the four questions is - on all other nights we may eat chametz or
matzah, but on this night, only matzah.
Our seder begins with breaking of matzah, putting a piece away - as a slave would
do with uncertainty of any other food coming soon. It also encourages questions
from the children, who know somewhat what the difference is between chametz
and matzah.
Let’s look deeper at these two words and their “phonetic cousins”.
The word chametz means sour, fermented. It is highly instructive to consider many
of the similar sounding words to chametz in lashon hakodesh, according to the
Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew, based on the Commentaries of Rabbi
Samson Raphael Hirsch, zt”l. The patterns are startling.
Kamatz means to grip; camas means to hide; camaz means to clasp; kamash
means to penetrate - all relate to hiding.
Chamas means wrong; amas means load; ametz means courage; hamas means to
liquify - all relate to effecting gradual change.
Kibutz means gather; kafetz means shut quickly; kootz means contract; kabosh
means subdue; yebush means to firm up; gush means to harden; cafash means
to force; kavas means to scrub; kabash means to whiten - all relate to compression
and release.
Chametz and its phonetic cousins, then, are focused on hiding, compressing, and
changing.
Chametz spelled backwards is tzemach, meaning growth, sprouting. Chametz, then,
represents the OPPOSITE of growth - even though it has all the indicia of growth –
bread, and yeast and leaven.
We live with it all year, and get used to having it. For one week, the week representing
freedom, we avoid it like - no pun intended - the ten plagues we relive on the seder
night, which the Maharal teaches us are related to the ten expressions used in
creation in Bereishis. The themes are always overlapping, juxtaposing, on the seder
night.
Hashem spoke the world into existence and we speak the world into further existence
or ... G-d forbid, destruction.
Let’s now look at the word…Matzah.
It is spoken softly. Related words are midah, meaning measure; masah, meaning
melting; mazah, meaning thin; matzah, meaning to draw out; mazach, meaning
to hold in; motzah, meaning to find; meshach, meaning to separate - all involving
separating, prolonging, extending.
Matzah and its phonetic cousins are much more health inducing than chametz.
Matzah backwards spells haztom, meaning the thirst. Related words to haztom are
shema, listen; tzemach, growth; sameach, rejoicing; shima, identify; - all relate to
satisfying a need. Other words are tzemam, compress; tzom, gather.
That is a key aspect of matzah, unlike chametz, which keeps expanding.
One must gather time to make matzah. It makes sense, then, that the word matzah
has a value of 135, which is the value of the word kahal, to gather. The matzah acts
as a gathering point for the nation, the food of faith, of speed - similar to the word
mitzvah.
We end the seder with the taste of matzah as the afikoman, which can be pronounced
afika mann, out comes the mann!
Besides the difference chametz and matzah being a Heh and a Ches, chazal also
tell us the following about matzah: According to the Malbim, there are 190 days from
erev Pesach to Shemini Atzeret. The number 190 represents the value of the word
kaitz, which means end. Our sages say that the four hundred year exile shown to
Avraham was cut short by 190 years.
What is so special about this concept of 190 – kaitz – cutting the decree, in relation
to matzah and to the seder?
It is fascinating that, if you add up the numbers 1 and 2 and 3..up to 18 – the number
of minutes that is the cutoff point of matzah – the result is ….190!
Recall that matzah making involves a CONSTANT focus on the kaitz – the time cut
off or end. This would now make sense in light of the following:
The Bnei Yissascar also points out that the word matzah spelled out – Mem Mem (40
& 40), Tzadi (90 & 4 & 10) and Heh (5 & 1) equals……190! Matzah spelled out is the
value of kaitz. Matzah, then, to its inner core, has still another dimension - a kaitz, or
cutting off of all past negatives. 1 through 18.
As we eat it, we should chew slowly, and have this in mind. It literally cuts us off from
our past – and teaches us the essence of life, which is chai, the value of 18.
Matzah is teaching us many lessons. Perhaps the main one is that the person we
were before – slaves to our desires, to other influences, etc – can be cut off to allow us to
focus on the freedom to connect to and believe more deeply in Hashem taking us out of
Mitzrayim ALL THE TIME, if we look around and see the endless miracles He does for us.
Seder means freedom to plan, to do, and to create.
Finally, let’s look at matzah and compare it to the words avodim hayinu, which have a
value of 207, which is exactly the value of ohr! Admitting to slavery – current slavery -- is a
key to accessing the Torah’s healing light. We see that as well in examining the positional
gematria of matzah – Mem (13th letter), Tzadi (18th letter), and Heh (5th letter) – which is
36. We know that the word ohr is mentioned 36 times in the Torah!
Matzah, besides its many other characteristics, is another expression of the light of the
Torah. Therein lies a hint to the chairus…given us by matzah.
Please read this amazing story from my friend and teacher, Rabbi Dovid Hoffman, in his
weekly Torah Tavlin, directly related to the above drush regarding matzah:
“As a scion of two renowned and prestigious rabbinic families - both on his father and
mother’s side - R’ Avraham Yehoshua Heschel ZT”L - later to become famous as the Ohev
Yisroel (both for the title of his sefer and due to his deep love for every fellow Jew) - showed
great promise even at an early age. Acquiring fame as a talmudic scholar, he studied under
two great Tzaddikim, R’ Elimelech of Lizhensk ZT”L and R’ Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov ZT”L.
Early on his rabbinical career, R’ Avraham Yehoshua was offered a position in the Polish
town of Kolbuszowa where he arrived as a candidate a few weeks before Pesach for a
“Proba” (audition), hoping to impress the townspeople and secure the position.
“As was the custom, on Shabbos morning, R’ Avraham Yehoshua walked up to the podium
and delivered an address on Torah topics for the benefit of the entire congregation. His
masterful discourse was appreciated by scholar and layman alike for its clear and prescient
content, the easy manner in which it was delivered, and the powerful lasting effect it had
on its listeners. As the young rabbi was speaking, many in the audience were smiling and
nodding to one another, agreeing that this candidate was surely a perfect match for the job.
R’ Avraham Yehoshua saw their expressions and understood that he was on solid footing,
and this gave him confidence.
“Of course, all it takes is the comment of one incendiary individual, or ignoramus for that
matter, to bring the young man’s tower of confidence crashing down in disaster. The Rosh
Hakahal, the acting president of the kehilla, was a rich man who believed that his large bank
account and prestigious appointment entitled him to speak at will. He even fancied himself
a Torah scholar on par with the leading scholars and rabbis in the Beis Medrash. Thus, it
came as no surprise to many in the audience when the president loudly cleared his throat
midway through R’ Avraham Yehoshua’s lecture and asked a question.
“Rabbi, if you don’t mind, I have a question on a posuk from a previous parsha. When
describing the plight of the Jewish people in Egypt and the terrible hardship of their slavery,
the Torah uses the words wovhhj ,t urrnhuw (‘and they embittered their lives’). What I find
unusual is that when I was doing oudr, sjtu tren ohba (reviewing the posukim twice and the
Targum/translation once), I realized that the musical cantillation notes (trenv hngy) on these
two words are ‘Kadma V’azla’ which is an uplifting and even happy tune. Since these words
reflect the Jews’ pain and suffering, shouldn’t a sad or downward tune be used? Why does
the Torah employ such a happy tune to describe such a sad occurrence?”
“A slight smile of victory curled up on the sides of the president’s mouth, while the people
in the audience scratched their heads in bewilderment at the random equivocation of the
question. But worst of all, the young man at the podium, who had previously been riding a
wave of confidence and optimism, now felt the pinch of uncertainty threaten to overtake his
entire performance. If he could not come up with a satisfactory reply to the Rosh Hakahal,
how can he expect to get the job? He looked around at the audience but they all knew
better than to take a side opposite their rich and powerful president. R’ Avraham Yehoshua
became tongue-tied and there was a long stretch of uneasy silence in the large synagogue.
“Suddenly, the young man’s face brightened and he straightened his posture. Hashem had
come to his rescue and gave him a brilliant response. “That is a fine question indeed,” he
began, his voice rising with his renewed confidence. “Perhaps we may understand it based
on a concern that our sages have previously voiced. When Hashem spoke to Avraham
Avinu, he forewarned him that his descendants will be ‘a wandering nation in a land not
their own; they will be enslaved and made to suffer for four hundred years.’ However, as we
all know, Bnei Yisroel only slaved in bondage for 210 years. What happened to the other
190 years? Well, Chazal tell us that the harshness of the servitude was such that the pain
and suffering of 400 years was rolled into 210 years. The embitterment of those years and
watching their babies being thrown into the Nile was so terrible that Hashem counted it as
if they had actually served the full 400 years.”
“The Rosh Hakahal was taken aback at the young man’s miraculous rebound and he
sat there spellbound as the spoken words were directed at him. R’ Avraham Yehoshua’s
countenance was shining with a G-dly aura. “Now we can understand the ‘Kadma V’azla’
that you so astutely pointed out,” he said with a smile. “It was through the deep sense of
pain and bitterness that Hashem hurried up and preempted the redemption by 190 years.
Thus, we say ‘Kadma V’azla’ which means to hurry up and go forth, since the word ‘Kadma’
has the gematria of 145 , and ‘V’azla’ is 45. Together, they equal the numerical content of
190, which is exactly how many years Hashem hurried up the geulah! Is this not cause for
a happy, celebratory sound?” Needless to say - he got the job!
WOMEN’S CORNER
5 Love Languages for Children by Gary Chapman
Five Love
Languages:
Physical Touch
BY KRISTEN
CHILDREN NEED TO FEEL LOVED TO BEST SUCCEED. BUT IF YOU AND
YOUR CHILDREN SPEAK DIFFERENT LOVE LANGUAGES, YOUR DISPLAY
OF LOVE MIGHT GET LOST IN TRANSLATION–AFFECTING YOUR
CHILD’S ATTITUDE, BEHAVIOR, AND DEVELOPMENT.
In The 5 Love Languages of Children, Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross
Campbell M.D. have applied the innovative system of the 5 love
languages to children. This easy-to-read resource gives practical
suggestions for understanding how your child gives, receives, and
interprets love.
70 Years, since the
Liberation of
Auschwitz
They thought they buried us.
they didn’t realize
we were seeds...............
Is Physical Touch your child’s love language?
Describes your child: Love to receive hugs and kisses ? High Fives ?
Cuddle ? Asks to be carried ? Physical activity: racing, wrestling, tag,
climbs in your lap ?
Mom Tips: Hold hands - Hug often -Have your child sit in a bean bag
chairs - Family cuddles - Sing action songs - Tickle fun - Plan family
physical activities - Read stories together on the couch or your lap
A note on appropriate touching of children. In this day and age,
parents with opposite gender children can be afraid of touching them
inappropriately. Here are some key points to remember:
1. Teach your child from an early age that “Good touches are ones
that keep us clean and healthy”. Clean (parents) and healthy (doctors)
are easy for children to understand.
2. Practice hugging your child from an early age and it will be more
natural as they get older.
3. Keep up the physical touch as your child gets older so they will not
seek it from others.
Studies have shown that when a Dad hugs his daughter she has higher
self esteem, better self image, and feels more beautiful.
Mom-to-Mom tip: If your child likes to be cuddled and squeezed a
lot, they may need extra pressure on their bodies. I recommend first
talking to an Occupational Therapist. Second I’d recommend looking
into a home bean bag (also sold at Target) or a “Calming Station.
Being squished all over can bring a great sense of calm to a child
who loves to be touched. You’ll hear their breathing slow and their
behavior will improve!
BY TZVI FREEMAN
C H A B A D. O R G
B Y T Z V I F R E E M A N - C H A B A D. O R G
From the Wisdom &
Te a c h i n g s o f t h e
Lubavitcher Rebbe
Celebrating No Matter What and fasting, the Baal Shem
Tov showed his students
Some gripe that they cannot the way of meditation and
reach out for G-d‘s help joy. Every need of the body,
because they are not worthy. he taught, could provide a
channel to carry the soul high.
Others celebrate that they
have a G‑d who answers Not an Angel, Not a Beast
their cries, regardless of how
unworthy they may be.
If you believe you are an angel,
prepare for disappointment.
Working with the Body
If you believe you are a
It used to be that the soul beast, you may well become
fought with the body, until depressed.
one conquered the other by
force.
Best to know you are human.
Stay away from situations
Then the Baal Shem Tov you can‘t handle, and when
came and taught a new path: you fail, pick yourself up, say
The body, too, could come to you’re sorry, and keep on
appreciate those things the going.
soul desires.
That‘s yet higher than the
In the place of self-affliction angels.
Rabbi
Nachum Scheiner Ohr Chaim Night Kollel
THE ESSENCE OF THE MATZA REMEMBERING THE SLAVERY
OR THE FREEDOM?:
I would like to share with you
some of the divrei torah that
I spoke about at the Yeshivas
Bein Hazmanim. Although the
matza is known to be a “simple
food,” there is, however, a big
uncertainty as to what the
matza is really symbolizing. On
the one hand, we find that the
matza is coined as the poor
man’s bread (ha lachma ania),
and it was, indeed, the food
that the Jews ate during their
time as slaves. On the flip side,
we see that the matza is eaten
in a reclining position because
it is a commemoration of the
redemption. In fact, we say in
the hagadah that the matza is
to commemorate the fact that
the Yidden had to rush out of
Mitzra’im and the dough did
not have time to rise. So is the
matza a sign of freedom or is it a
sign of bondage?
There are many explanations
given on this topic. I would like
to share with one beautiful
idea, which can be found in the
Seporno. The pasuk (which is
in the reading of the last day of
Pesach) states that the lechem
oni (poor bread) should be eaten
‘because you left Mitzra’im in a
hurry,’ which again seems to be
an apparent paradox. The pasuk
begins with the fact that the
matza is a poor bread, which is
symbolic of slavery, and yet the
very same pasuk concludes that
the matza is to commemorate
the rush at the time of the
redemption.
Explains
the
Seporno, that this pasuk can be
explained as follows: the matza
is in reality multifaceted. The
matza which is a “poor man’s
bread was baked additionally at
the time of the redemption. This
was no coincidence, but rather
was the orchestration of Heaven
to allow us to remember the
bondage at the very moment of
the redemption.
One more beautiful insight on the topic
of sipur yetzias mitzraim. On the night of
Pesach, there is a mitzvah to talk about
the redemption, with all its intricate
details and fine-tunings. Additionally,
there is a mitzvah - every day - to
mention the redemption (which we do
at the end of krias shma). The Rambam
only counts the mitzvah of sipur yetzias
mitzraim on Pesach, omitting the miztva
of every day. Much has been written to
explain this omission. One explanation
that is given is based on a mashal. There
was a king who had a major salvation
for his entire kingdom. Each year, on the
anniversary of their liberation, he would
throw a big party and retell the entire
story, with all its intricate details. This
would keep them uplifted for the entire
year and subsequently, the rest of the
year, he would tell everyone that it will
suffice to merely mention the salvation
in a nutshell. The same applies to these
two mitzvos; they are inherently one
mitzvah, with two parts. We talk about
the redemption, on the night of Pesach,
with all its intricate details and finetunings. This infuses us with the emunah
and gives us the spiritual strength to
continue through the year with a vivid
depiction of the redemption and it is
therefore suffice to just merely mention
the redemption the other days of the
year.
YESHIVAS BEIN HAZMANIM: Baruch
Hashem, the Yeshivas Bein Hazmanim
has continued into Chol Ha’moed with
a full crowd, with so many starting off
their day with true Simchas Yom Tov. The
melodious sounds of torah are music to
the ears of all who have the privilege
to hear the voices of torah learning
reverberating each morning of Bein
Hazmanim.
The following is a list of the speakers
we had for Chol Hamoed:
1st day of Chol Hamoed, Monday, April
6 - Rav Yitzchok Abba Lichtenstein,
Mora D’Asra Kehillas Bais Avraham,
on the topic of ein maftirin achar
ha’pesach afikoman.
2nd day of Chol Hamoed, Tuesday, April
7 - Rav Moshe Yosef Moldaver, R”Y of
Yeshiva Gedola of East Ramapo on
inyanei Peasch b’halacha u’v’agadah.
3rd day of Chol Hamoed Wednesday,
April 8 - Rav Zev Smith, World Renowned
Maggid Shiur, Irgun Shiurei Torah, on
the topic of Cell phones, Microphones
and Hearing Aids in Halacha.
4th day of Chol Hamoed, Thursday,
April 9 - Rav Elya Brudny, Rosh Yeshiva
of Mir Yeshiva, Brooklyn, on the topic
of sefiras ha’omer b’zman ha’zeh.
As always, CDs of the various shiurim
are available and can be downloaded
from the shul’s website.
For more information about the
Yeshivas Bein Hazmanim or for a
chavrusa @ YBH, or to hear about
our many exciting learning programs including our Kollel Boker, Night Kollel,
Sunday Morning Shiur and Breakfast,
and more - feel free to contact me or
find me at the Yeshiva Bein Hazmanim.
Wishing you a continued
Chag Kasher V’same’ach,
Rabbi Nachum Scheiner
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