If I Were A Rich Man

Once on a שבת מברכים I asked מורי ורבי הרה"ג ר' שלמה מילר שליט"א at the start of Davening, we ask Hashem,

"ואל תביאנו... ולא לידי נסיון"

—that we should not be brought to a נסיון. Yet, during ברכת החודש, we ask for עשירות which often brings with it greater נסיונות than those faced by someone who is not wealthy.

He answered,

We begin ברכת החודש with the words,

"שתחדש עלינו את החודש הזה לטובה ולברכה."

The words לטובה ולברכה apply to all the בקשות that follow.

Therefore, when we ask for עשירות, we are not simply asking for wealth. We are asking for עשירות לטובה ולברכה—that the wealth should be a genuine טובה and ברכה, and should not bring with it נסיונות that we cannot handle. We are asking that, together with the עשירות, we also have the ברכה of being שמח בחלקו and of using the wealth properly.

Thus, our request is not merely for עשירות, but for עשירות לטובה ולברכה—wealth that will truly be a ברכה, and not, ח"ו, a source of נסיון.

* Years later, I found the Chasam Sofer on the pasuk, “עשר תעשר – בשביל שתתעשר,” citing the Midrash, which adds, “ובשביל שלא תתחסר.” The Chasam Sofer explains this Midrash with the pasuk in Mishlei,

“ברכת ה׳ היא תעשיר ולא יוסיף עצב עמה”

—the blessing of Hashem brings wealth, without any accompanying sadness or harm.

This was precisely R’ Shlomo Miller's insight that he had conveyed to me: עשירות that comes together with ברכת ה׳ is the עשירות we are asking for at ברכת החודש; it does not bring with it the “עצב” or harm.

* Today I came across the ספר פניני שלמה מאת ידידי הרה"ג ר' עזריאל יהודה גשטטנר שליט"א where he quotes Reb Shlomo Miller's חידוש on עשר תעשר & the Chasam Sofer ושמח לבי

Vort On Parshas Bamidbar -Chasam Sofer

In this week’s Parsha there are two counting's:

1) The counting of the Bnei Yisroel from age 20 yrs.& up.  

2) The counting of the Leviyim from age 30 days & up.

At the counting  of the Bnei Yisrael it says “L’gulgelosom (counting of their heads).

At the counting of the Leviyim there is no mention of  L’gulgelosom.

The Shu”t Chasam Sofer (Y.D. 294) quotes the Sefer Kol Yehuda in the name of R. Shmuel Krakover.

Had it have said at the Leviyim to count the heads, we might have thought that someone who was born with two heads should be counted as two.
Therefore no mention of heads. A two headed child is a single person and counted as one.. 

At the Bnei Yisrael’s counting, such a mistake could not have been made because a two headed person cannot survive for 20 years. Therefore the Torah could mention L’gulgelosom -to count the heads.

R. Menachem Azaryo from Fano (Asarah Ma’amoros) says the reason the Torah mentions L’gulgelosom, is because Moshe looked on the person’s head to see if he will produce
600,000 descendants .
If yes, this person became a Rosh Mishpacha. Moshe also checked how many Gilgulim this person will have to go through

Those Who Understand Will Understand

בתפים ובמחולות- "ענין תף ומחול הוא ההיפך מאקחה פת לחם    

והמבין יבין                                        (דרשות חת"ס ח"ב דף רסז ע"א)

Sof Umochol is the opposite of Pas Lechem.  Whoever understands

will understand. (Chasam Sofer)

Pshat In Chasam Sofer- Maybe?

It’s  possible, this to be the simple Pshat.

Pas Lechem (bread) is Gashmi

Sof Mochol (music) is Ruchni

Avrohom Avinu a zochor (male) took care of Gashmiyos.

Miriam Haneviah a nekeivah (female) took care of Ruchniyos.

(עולם הפוך אני רואה .)

Der Heiligeh Tchebiner Rav zt"l -Chodesh Av

The Machtzis Hashekel (O.Ch.417) quotes the Hagahos Mordechai in the name of the Tosefta, that there is no Rosh Chodesh Bentching for the month of Av.

Many Poskim argue and hold that we do Bentch on Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Av. The Minhag is to bentch Chodesh Menachem Av, even though the month is Called Av (no Menachem). We say it so that we should be zoche to have the

Geulah etc. (Aruch Hashulchan E.H. 126)

There are sheilos if a Get had the word Menachem in it , if it is kosher.

They once asked from The Tchebiner Rav zt”l how to date letters & documents written in the month of Av.

 He told them the answer can be found  in the Teshuvos Chasam Sofer, Orach Chaim.

They came back to the Tchebiner Rav and told him they searched the whole Sefer and couldn’t find any such discussion.

He told them , “when learning a Teshuvas Chasam Sofer, it is not enough to learn the text, but one needs to learn the date as well.

If you check Teshuvos # 32, 33, 35, 37, The ones written before  Tisha B’av the Chasam Sofer dates it as Av. The ones written after Tisha B’av he dates it Menachem

or Menachem Av.

Chasam Sofers Joke

 

The Midrash (פ'פנחס) enumerates the six names of זמרי. and the reason for 5 of the names why he was called by that name. On the name שלמיאל, the Midrash doesn't give the reason because this was his original name. The ליקוטי חבר בן חיים writes, he heard from his Rebbe the Chasam Sofer, Why was he named Shlumiel ? The Midrash (פ' בלק) says that 12 ניסים happened to פנחס which enabled him to kill זמרי. The Chasam Sofer jokingly said "Wasn’t he a Shlumiel that all the 12 things that had to happen in order for him to get killed, actually happened."

 

Mocking the deceased

 

.בהעלתך את הנרות   Having visited today the ציון of the Zaidah the חתם סופר זצ"ל, I noticed people light candles there. I was wondering if this would not be considered לועג לרש. The Chasam Sofer שו"ת ח"ו: כ"ז writes he is unaware of the so-called מצוה רבה (sarcastic) to light a נר נשמה at home or even at the קבר. The Ch. Sofer holds that the concept of a  נר נשמה is only when it is used to light up a Shul or a Bais Midrash.

Did you know? (124)

The Chasam Sofer writes about a kabala He has from his Rebbe- Reb Mendele Lilig Zt"lwho had a Kabbala  from the Shev Yakov :

 "Anybody who learns between the readings of the  night time Megillah and the daytime Megillah is guaranteed to be a Ben Olam Haba"

Reb Akiva Eigers Judenstern Shabbos lamp

 

Parshas Hashavua  שמות כ:כ     לא תעשון אתי In Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 141-8) it says: “You are not allowed to replicate the שלחן and  מנורה etc. of the בית המקדש. The type of metal or size doesn't matter.  You may not make a seven-branch Menorah". R.Akiva Eiger's son in law (R. Shmuel Birnbaum zt"l) writes his  Shver had a silver Judenstern Shabbos lamp with seven spouts. He took it to a silversmith who with great difficulty managed to add  on an additional spout so it wouldn't be a seven-branch Menorah Reb Akiva Eiger seems to hold like the Poskim*  that since we  are dealing with an איסור דאורייתא  (לא תעשון אתי) therefore  all seven branch Menorahs are forbidden, regardless of the  shape (cups are in a straight line or in a circle etc.) The Chasam Sofer (Toras Moshe Parshas Yisro) writes  (based on a Tosfos Yoma 54b)  " Because we  hold  wooden tables would be פסול in the בית המקדש  therefore, we may make and have wooden tables in our homes.   However, metal tables regardless of size shape, or type  of metal are kosher בדיעבד in the בית המקדש, therefore, all metal tables may not be made or held for personal use."   The Chasam  Sofer  continues that he sees no היתר for the  Matzoh bakery to have copper (metal) tables. According to the Chasam Sofer, there is no היתר  to own any metal tables.   The Darkei Teshuva (Y.D. 141-8) argues on the  Chasam Sofer. He writes:  " We find  the Gemoro (Shabbos119a)  R. Chiya b Aba praised the Ba’al Habayis who brought in  L’kovod Shabbos a golden table. Had it been אסור to  make he would not have praised him. בכור שור- פתחי תשובה*

 

 

7 Branch Judenstern Shabbos Candelabra

Two Names

לע"נ האשה רות בת ר' צבי יהודה ע"ה יום השנה – ז' כסלו           

Yaakov Avinu, probably was the first person, who had two names (Yackov & Yisroel)

The Chasam Sofer (Shu”t E.H. 2 :  18) writes:

 “We never  find Yaakov

to be called by both names at the same time"

We also don’t find in all the names of Tanach, Shas and Poskim* ,someone to be called by two names.

Naming someone with two names is a new phenomenon, that didn’t exist in the olden days.

The Yam Shel Shlomo brings a story where a boy was born. The father wanted to name him after his father  Mier. The mother wanted to name

him after her father Yair. The Rov made a compromise to name him

Shneior  (two lights, Mier- Yair). It never occurred to the Rov, to have

the baby named  with both names, Mier Yair.”

*There is a Bal Hatosfos named Yaakov Yisrael (Tosfos Chulin 112a dh Hani)

Drafting Yeshiva Bachurim

 

Parshas Hashavua  כי תצא          לא יצא בצבא דברים כ"ד :ה       Drafting Yeshiva Bachurim  In the times of the חתם סופר, Governments  imposed quotas on communities to supply young men for the military. The community was responsible for supplying a set amount of young men for the draft.  The selection of those to be drafted was in the hands of the community leaders. Officially they would enter all the names in a    גורל  (lottery) and pull out the fortunate ones who would be exempt. Historically the selection process was riddled with corruption. The poor and the defenseless suffered grave injustices. The חתם סופר (Shu"t 6:29) writes that many גדולי ישראל had no choice in the matter and had to turn a blind eye to this.  The חתם סופר rules  " Since the law of the land  is for the community to supply the army with young  men. we have the rule of דינא דמלכותא דינא  Halachically, everybody is equally responsible to serve. Favoritism should not be given to anyone. Even the low lives and non-Frum מחללי שבת etc. must be treated equally and their names entered in the גורל.   Those who exclude even secular Yidden  by not placing them in the lottery depriving them of a fair chance are גונבי נפש ומכרו (kidnappers) The only exception, are the Yeshiva Bachurim. who are exempt מדין תורה from serving in the army (based on the Gemoro Bava Basra 8a.) therefore even if there is no specific exemption from the government we exempt them automatically".  The חזון איש (Bava Basra 7b*) writes that the exemption of רבנן (Yeshiva Bachurim) is only applicable when there are others available to serve.  If however, all are רבנן then the rule of אין סומכין על הנס applies and even  Yeshiva Bachurim need to be drafted. אין סומכין על הנס I am just wondering, according to the חזון איש, a)  If we were to find ourselves in a situation where there aren't  enough non-Yeshivah Bachurim soldiers in the army would there then be a חיוב for Yeshivah Bachurim to join the army? b) A Yeshivah Bachur whose מדת הבטחון is weak and is not fully convinced that תורה מגנת עליהן would he also be exempt? * printed in Ch. Mishpat Siman 5

 

 

תפ ילת הח תם סופר

 בס" ד

בעצרת התפילה שנערכה בבית ה מדרש "היכל אברהם צבי" בשכונת נוה אחיעזר

הורה מורנו הגאב"ד הגאון רבי יצחק ישעיה ווייס שליט"א

לומר תפילה זו המיוסדת על תפילת מרן החתם סופר זי"ע

שתיקן בעת המלחמה הקשה בעירו כמובא בספרו ספר הזכרון

תפ ילת הח תם סופר

אָנָא הָאֵל הַגָדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנוֹרָא הָעוֹנֶה לְעִּתּוֹת בַּצָרָה אֶת יְרֵאָיו, הוּא

אָנָא יַעֲנֶה וְיִּשְמַע עֲתִּירָתֵנוּ וּתְפִּלָתֵנוּ וּתְפִּלַת עַמְךָ בֵּית יִּשְרָאֵל, וּבִּכְלָלָם

יִּזְכרֹּ וְיִּפְקדֹּ בְּרַחֲמִּים אֶת אַנְשֵי אֶרֶץ הַקדֶֹּש, שֶהֵמָה עַכְשָו בְּעֵת צָרָה וְאֵין

לָהֶם עַל מִּי לְהִּשָ עֵן כִּי אִּם עָלֶיךָ אָבִּינוּ שֶבַּשָ מַיִּם. מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִּים

בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּּים תְּפַלְטֵם וּתְחַלְצֵם, וְאַל יִּמְשְלוּ בָּהֶם שוֹנְאֵיהֶם, כִּי לְךָ

לְבַדְךָ תְּלוּיוֹת עֵינֵיהֶם. רַחוּם וְחַנוּן רְאֵה בָּעֳנִּ י עַמְךָ בֵּית יִּשְרָאֵל הַסְחוּפִּים

וּמְדֻלְדָלִּים, וּבְדִּלְדוּלָם הֵם מְבַקְשִּים אֶת פָנֶיךָ וּמְצַפִּים תָּמִּיד לִּישוּעָתְךָ

וּמְיַחֲלִּים לַחֲסָדֶיךָ, גְמוֹ ל לָהֶם חֶסֶד וְיִּכְמְרוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ עֲלֵיהֶם, שַ דַי אָיםֹּ וְנוֹרָא

מִּשְגָב לְעִּתּוֹ ת בַּצָרָה לְאַנְשֵי אֶרֶץ הַקדֶֹּש הְ יֵ ה סֵתֶר לָמוֹ, וְיַעֲמדֹּ לָהֶם זְכוּת

הַצְדָקָה וּגְמִּילוּת חֲסָדִּים וּזְכוּת לוֹמְדֵי תּוֹרָה שֶלֹּא יִּכָשְלוּ חַס וְשָלוֹם

בְּנַפְשָם וְלֹא בִּּמְאוֹדָם, וְאַל תִּּתְּנֵם לְמִּכְשוֹל וּלְפוּקָה וּלְצָרָה, חֲ מלֹּ עֲלֵיהֶם

וְעַל טַפָם וְעוֹלְלֵיהֶם, וַעֲשֵה לָהֶם בִּּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם יִּצְחָק וְיִּשְרָאֵל אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם,

וַעֲשֵה לָהֶם בִּּזְכוּת תִּּינוֹקוֹת שֶל בֵּית רַבָּן, וְתֵּ עָתֵר לָנוּ בִּּתְפִּלָתֵנוּ, וּתְקַבֵּל

בְּרַחֲמִּים וּבְרָצוֹן אֶת תְּפִּלָתֵנוּ, וּבִּ זְכוּת כָל הַצַדִּיקִּים וְהַחֲסִּידִּים וְהַתְּמִּימִּים,

וּבִּזְכוּת הַצַדִּיקִּים הַגְאוֹנִּים גְדוֹלֵי הַדוֹר הַש וֹכְנִּים וְהַנִּטְמָנִּים בְּקִּבְרוֹתֵיהֶם

קִּבְרוֹת צַדִּיקִּים, וּבִּזְכוּת שְלֹש עֶשְרֵה מִּדוֹתֶיךָ שֶל רַחֲמִּים הַכְתוּבִּים

בְּתוֹרָתֶ ךָ כְמוֹ שֶנֶאֱמַר יְיָ יְיָ אֵל רַחוּם וְגוֹ' שֶאֵינָן חוֹזְרוֹת רֵיקָם לְפָנֶיךָ, עָזְרֵנוּ

אֱלֹהֵי יִּשְעֵנוּ עַל דְבַר כְבוֹד שְמֶךָ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ וְכַפֵר עַל חַטאֹּותֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְמֶךָ ,

בָּ רוּךְ יְיָ לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן

Shabbos Chazon/ Shabbos Bamidbar

Shu"t Chasam Sofer (O.Ch. 159) writes, There is a great mourning,* especially in the lands of Ashkenaz.

They are מחמיר on the Shabbos before שבועות like we are מחמיר the Shabbos before תשעה באב."


This is also the reason, most Shuls have the Minhag to say "אב הרחמים" even when Erev Yom Tov falls on 

Shabbos (this year)    (2 reasons not to say  a) Erev Yom Tov  b) ג' ימי הגבלה)

* To commemorate the Gezeiras תתנ"ו

(crusades 1096) 

**weekday clothing etc.

והייתם נקיים מה' ומישראל-Parshas Matos

The Chasam Sofer (Shut 6 : 59) writes.

 "There are two obligations 

1) To come clean from Hashem

2) from Bnei Yisroel. 

It is much easier to fulfill the first obligation than the second one.

The punishment on the second obligation is also much greater.

(Chillul Hashem).

You can have a person doing something which is Halachicly  correct, but isn't careful  and some "שותי שכר" (beer drinkers) mistakenly accuse him of wrongdoing, such a person has not  fulfilled his obligation of והייתם נקיים(מישראל)  .

It is almost impossible to fulfill this obligation. It is very likely Shlomo Hamelech had this in mind when he wrote אין צדיק בארץ

We find  the Bnei Gad etc. followed Moishe Rabbeinu's advice and fought along with the other Shevatim for 14 years.

 They were punished  to be sent to Galus before the rest of Klall Yisroel, because they haven't fulfilled 100% the obligation of והייתם נקיים ."

The advantage of the Am Haoretz-Vort For Parshas Emor

Parshas Hashavua- Parshas Emor 

Sotah 21a

באגרא --- ונטרן להו לגברייהו עד דאתו מבי מדרשא

 The Chasam Sofer( Parshas Emor) writes:

” The Am Haoretz who supports Torah has an advantage over the Talmid Chacham who learns. When he supports Torah he is rewarded even if the Talmid Chacham is negligent and is not learning, what should he have done and why should he lose out" .

The Netziv said Pshat  on the Pasuk שלום רב לאהבי תורתיך- ואין למו מכשול 

Ohavei Toirosecho refers to the supporters of Torah. On them it is said Ein Lomo Michshol. For them things can’t go wrong. They will be rewarded regardless  if the Talmidei Chachamim learns or not.

The Chasam Sofer’s Sevara (logic)  would probably apply also for the wives

who send their husbands to learn and wait at home for them. They too should

be rewarded even if their husbands go to the Bais Hamedrash and Batel

(waste) their time there. What else could she have done?