Parshas Shemos-How To Become A Gadol

ויגדל משה ויצא אל אחיו וירא בסבלותם

 Moishe became a Gadol by going out to his

brothers and seeing (noticing) their pain and suffering.

Chasam Sofer

Made To Measure-Parshas Shmos

R.Baruch Epstein z”l (Torah Temima) writes that when he came to America, he was invited to a party. They asked him there:

“why do Chareidim , (both men and women) wear long clothes”. 

He answered them:

In this week’s Parsha it says -ושאלה אשה משכנתה

Women should borrow clothes  from their neighbors.

 ושמתם על בניכם ועל בנתיכם .

And you shall dress them on the children..

Why ,only dress  the children and not the adults?

The answer must be, The Mitzrim wore short clothes and  Yidden wouldn’t wear short clothes.

Therefore the Torah tells them to use it to dress the children.

For them, the length would be a perfect fit .

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)

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 ."

סוד הדבר

Five times the word דבר is mentioned  in Parshas Bolok

   אלה ה 'דברים אשר דבר משה

   במדבר כ"ב  כ'   - ואך את הדבר

             כ"ב  ל"ה - ואפס את הדבר

             כ"ב  ל"ח - הדבר אשר ישים אלוקים

            כ"ג ג'   -    ודבר מה יראני

            כ"ג  ט"ז -   וישם דבר בפיו

והיה המחנה הנשאר לפליטה

 This weeks Parsha

ויקרא שם המקום ההוא מחנים

 מחנים =  two sets of מחנות

4 x מחנה 

  

Hashem built the first wall of the Bais Hamikdash    מחנה

=1x 103

 Avraham added  the second wall and called it           הר

=205+1         2 x 103

Yitzchok added  the third wall and called                    שדה

 = 309         3 x 103     

Yackov added the fourth wall and called it   בית             

=412         4 x 103 = 4 x  מחנה

               שור בור מבעה הבער רמ"ע מפאנו

ועשה טוב בקש שלום             

שדה בית מחנה הר

ואני הקטן הוספתי

והיה המחנה הנשאר לפליטה = כותל המערבי  (one wall)

Hachnosas Orchim /Hachnasas Kallah-Parshas Hashevua

According to the Maharil, the Mitzvah of Hachnosas  Orchim is only  for rich

and/or Chashuva  guest.  Having poor people as guest, you are fulfilling the

Mitzvah of Tzedakah .  Avraham Avinu was Mekayam Mitzvahs  Hachnasas 

Orchim with the Malachim who didn’t need his food.

According to the Yosef Ometz, the Mitzvah of Hachnasas Kallah is not

the giving  of money to poor Kallahas but to attend the Chupa/wedding.

Chasam Sofer-Parshas Pinchas

The Likutei Chover ben Chaim writes that he heard the following vort from his Rebbe the Chasam Sofer:

Zimri ben Solu’s  name was  Shlumiel ben  Tzurishadoi.

Why was he named Shlumiel ?

The Midrash says that 12 nisim happened to Pinchas which enabled him to kill Zimri.

Wasn’t he a Shlumiel that all the  12 things  that had to happen, happened.

The Kesonos Pasim

When the Kohanim  chant  during  Birchas Kohanim , It is customary to say 

 ותתננו לאהבה—כשם שנתת את יוסף צדיקך בשעה שהלבישו אביו כתונת פסים לחן

ולחסד ולרחמים בעינך ובעיני כל רואיו *                                                                 

The obvious question is what kind of Chen was there at the time                               when  Yosef received the Kesones Pasim. On the contrary this seemed to be the reason for the hatred of the brothers

I asked this question to Mori V’rabi Hagaon R. Shlomo Miller shlita.

His answer was, that you can’t ask questions on this Tefillah.

R. Shmuel Salant zt"l claimed this to be an unreliable Tefillah.

The  מהרם מרןטנבורג, תרומת הדשן, מהרשל, רמ"א, לבוש, דרישה, של"ה, ב"ח, תוס' יו"ט, מג"א and

 ט"ז

 all hold to say the Ribono shel Olam (for chalomos) three times

(the last one at Shalom)

It makes sense to say it three times rather than two times. To undo

A neder we say three times Muter Loch etc. Undoing bad dreams

too, should be said three times.

The Tefillah of “Yehi Ratzon” printed in most of todays Sidurim, is

from the Sharei Tzion R. Nosson Nota Hanover)

The Sharei Tzion is a collection of Kabalistic Tefilos.  R. Nosson Nota Hanover

writes in his Hakdama that these Tefillos  were taken from R.

Chaim Vital’s writings based on the Ari Zal.

In both Seforim from R. Chaim Vital “Pri Eitz Chaim & Shaar Hakavonos"

The Arizal is quoted to have said “ If one has a bad dream he should

Say the Ribono shel Olam when the Kohanim say Shalom. There

is no mention of the Yehi Ratzon.

                                  

Who Is On First

The Ibn Ezrah (Shmos 20 :1) enumerates the differences between the Aseres Hadibros in Parshas

Yisro and in Parshas Voeschanan.

One of the differences ho points out is , In Parshas Yisro it says Avdo V'Amoso first and then Shoro V'chamoro

and in Parshas Voeschanan it says Shoro V'camoro first and then Avdo V'amoso  .

The last time I checked, Both in Parshas Voeschanan ,and in  Parshas Yisro it says   first Avdo V'amoso

and then Shoro V'chamoro . (no difference)  ????????

GUT SHABBOS

Where is שני this year ?

The Mishnoh Veruroh (428) quotes  the Magen Avraham in

the name of the Sefer Tzeror Hamor, “The 42  מסעות correspond

with the   שם מ"ב*  . therefore you should not be Mafsik  in the

middle of theמסעות  “.

In our Chumashimשני  is in middle of the מסעות. This year

(Matos & Masai are separate) many Shuls have the Minhag not to end the Kohens Aliyah at שני but to continue on until the end of the 42 מסעות .

There are other Shuls where they are Makpid also on the

Kriah of Shabbos afternoon, Monday & Thursday to continue on till the end of the  מסעות .

·         אבג יתץ קרע שטן etc.

Mishkan Vekeilav

Model of the tabernacle in Timna Park, Israel.Photo Credit Wikipedia

Rashi (Shmos 38 : 22 ) says ,” Moshe commanded Betzalel to build the Kli Hamishkan first, and then do the Mishkan. Betzalel argued and said the Minhag is to build the house first and then the Keilim, so you can place them in the house. Moshe agreed that this was the way Hashem originally commanded him.”

The building of the Mishkan was completed on the 25^th of Kislev. The first time it was erected was Rosh Chodesh Nissan, more than three months later. Why should we care if the Keilim would be built before the Mishkan, if it wasn’t stored in it for the first three months?

Possible Answer,

Betzalels  concern , was not , that the Mishkan needs to

be ready first, in order to place the Klei Hamishkan in it.

He knew that both, the Mishkan and the Keilim will  go into storage, for 3 months.

 His argument was, being the Minhag Haolam is, to build

the home first and then the furniture, so too when building a Mishkan, we  should follow the Minhag

 Haolam and build the Mishkan first and then the Keilim.

He  held, when doing Mitzvohs we should act and do it in

a normal manner. We should follow the Minhag Haolom.

From the Loshon of  Rashi  we see that his main complaint was  

The Minhag Haolam .

The practical problem of storage is only  an explanation for the

Minhag Haolam and not for the Mishkan which would be stored

for three months.

R. Elyashuvs Psak

ואלה המשפטים                       

Rochel borrowed an egg from her neighbor. She cracked it,opened it  and found a blood spot, so she threw it out.

Does Rochel have to repay an egg to her neighbor?

Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat  232:19

“If someone sells eggs to his friend and it was found to be

spoiled and inedible, It is considered a Mekach Taous,(mistaken sale)

and the money must be returned. Today we don’t rule

like this. And a Minhag is Mevatel (nullifies) a Halacha”

(The buyer is stuck with the spoiled eggs)

Accordingly we would think, same applies to Rochel.

She is stuck with this egg and has to repay an egg to her

neighbor.

R.Y.S. Elyashuv zt”l ruled, Rochel doesn’t have to pay back

the egg.

R.Y.S.E. said , the Halacha/Minhag in Shulchan Aruch (232:19)

is applicable only where the eggs were sold for profit (business).

In  business the Minhag, is once sold, the buyer is stuck with it.

(buyer beware) The reason is because the seller can always claim

he would have found another buyer who would have accepted it, as is.

In the case of Rochels neighbor, where there no profit

was involved, there we have no such Minhag.

Therefore we go back to the original Halacha of Mekach Ta’ous.

The neighbor had no monetary loss. Had the egg remained with

her, she too would have thrown it away.  Rochel doesn’t have to pay.

[The two reasons to pay, are not applicable.

1.      Rochel needs to pay for the egg that belongs to her.(bought from neighbor)

It doesn’t belong to her It was a Mekach Ta’ous

2.       Rochel disposed her neighbors egg.(damaged neighbors egg)

No loss to neighbor]

Parshas Miketz- Saying Yehi Ratzon For Dreams

The Toras Chaim* (Bava Kama 55a) writes the Tefillah "Ribono shel Olam",  that is said during Birkas Kohanim (for bad dreams) works only on dreams one had the night before. (on yom tov) It won't work for dreams older than a day.

The same way as fasting for bad dreams has to be immediately after the dream, so too must the Tefillah be said  on the day after the dream.

 

Someone asked R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky zt"l on Yom Tov morning

Should I say the Ribbono Shel Olam 3 times as mentioned in the Rema?

R’ Yaakov answered he should say it three times

The man noticed R’ Yaakov saying the Yehi Ratzon(not like the Rema)  and asked him why

He said “ich too vuss mein Tatte hutt getohn”

* R. Avraham Chaim Shur (400 yrs. ago)

Pharoh's Dream-Parshas Miketz

The Gemoro Brachos 55b says:

"No one has ever had a dream of an elephant passing through an eye of a pin."

How did Pharaoh dream the thin cows swallowing up the fat cows?

Upharoh Cholem and not Cholam. Cholem is present Cholam is past tense.

The Chasam Sofer writes the reason it says Cholem (present) to tell us that Pharohwas a dreamer, he always used to dream . He would not get excited with normal dreams.

The reason these dreams did worry him,was because it was unusual and abnormal .

It was like a dream of an elephant walking through a pinhole. He realized this can't be a dream. It must be message coming from a higher up. 

Ponovezher Rov zt"l.dreams -Parshas Mikeitz

In the late 40's Rav. Y.I.Herzog zt"l was in Bnei Brak  and met the Ponovezher Rov zt"l. The Ponovezher Rov showed Rav Herzog  a large hill and told him he plans to build a Yeshiva for hundreds of Talmidim, on top of the hill. Rav Herzog. said just one word "Chalomos" (dreams). The Ponovezher Rov answered back  " Men meg cholomen ober schlofen tor men nit." "You are allowed to dream but sleep,you may not ."

לז"נ הקדושים הרב הגאון והצדיק ר' מרדכי יהודה בן הר' שמואל וכל משפחתו הי"ד

From my father A"H:

                                        

The posuk (Breishis 21 -2 ) says

 “Lamoed Asher Diber Oso Elokim”

Rashi says:

The  Malach  made a scratch on the wall and said that he will return   

the following year, when  the sun will be at the same spot,   and Soroh

will have a child.

 The malochim visited Avrohom  the first day of Pesach.

 Yitzchok was born the following year on the first day of Pesach.

Question:              

The timing is off  by 11 days!

It takes 365 days for the sun to return to the same  spot .  ( solar year).

From Pesach to Pesach the following year is only 354 days.

When the sun returned to the same spot it was 11 days after Yitzchok’s  birth.

 Answer:

The Malach did not return for Yitzchok’s birth. He returned 11 days later.

It is written in the seforim that Malach Refoel visits newborn boys 3 days after their bris .(gimmel lemiloso)  to heal them.

It was Malach Refoel  who  scratched  the wall  and  promised to  return exactly on the day when the sun will be at the same spot.

Malach Refoel   returned  to heal  Yitzchok  3 days after his bris

Yitzchock was born 354 days after the besura (Pesach-Pesach) plus 8 days

for the bris and 3 days (354+8+3=365)

Shabbos 25 Elul

This year, on  Shabbos (Nitzavim Vayelech), not only should you learn the two sidrahs.

(Parshas Hashavua) You should also start a third one and continue on for the next

six days.

The Chida in Bikurei Yosef quotes R. Yisroel Lingo who quotes the Sefer Mesaprim Tehilos Hashem.

On the 25^th day of Ellul (this coming Shabbos) the first day of creation, you should learn from

" Breishis Boro Elokim" until Yom Echad.

On the second day till Yom Sheini and so on every day. 

On Rosh Hashana the day creation was completed you start from Yom Hashishi till end of Parsha.

Don't Forget To Have Kavannah

The Maharam Shick (Mitzva 605) writes, In a year where the upcoming year will be a

Shono Meuberes (leap year- like this year) The Chasam Sofer had in mind to be yotze

the Mitzvah of Zechiras Mechiyas Amalek , when they leined the Parshas Hashavua

of Ki Seitzei.

His reason was, according to the Gemoro people forget after 12 months.

Therefore we have Parshas Zachor once a year, not to be Oiver the Lav of

“Lo Tishkach”.   So as not to have from one Parshas Zachor to the following one,

more than 12 months, he made sure (in a leap year) to have Kavana to be yotze

the Mitzva at the Keriah of the Parshas Hashavua and again on Parshas Zachor.

It is  interesting, in the Teshuvos (E.H. 1: 119) The Chasam Sofer writes that

in a leap year the memory  does last for 13 months instead of 12.

Achron Achron Chaviv (part1)

החביב חביב קודם                                   

                                                                                                                  

   (ספרי)

 ושמחתם – אתם ובניכם ובנותיכם -- 

                               Devorim 12 : 12 The Torah lists who has to be b’simcha in order of importance.

1) yourself 2) your sons 3)your daughters 4)your slaves 5) your maids.

It is customary when you call up the last speaker at a simcha or a function to say

 Achron Achron Chaviv.

It is also customary  to honour special people with Bracha Achrita.

                                Is last, more of a kibud ?

The phrase Achron Achron Chaviv  comes from Rashi in Parshas Vayishlach .

Yakov placed his family to stand in front of Eisav , in the order of his love for them.

Hence, first the Shfochos & their children then Leah & her children and Achron

Achron Chaviv. Rochel & Yosef. ( distanced farthest   from Eisav)

It is very likely that the phrase is used for when we call up the last one, just

to appease him for getting the last (least) Kibud. There is no such thing to

give the last Kibud to the one who is most beloved.

The Gemoro in Gittin 60a & Shulchan Aruch O.Ch. 136 lists whom to call up

to the Torah after Kohen & Levi. The Gemoro says you start with the most

Chashva person (Talmid Chacham& Parnes ) until you get to the last two Aliyos

(Shishi * & Shevi’ie) where everyone can be Oleh.  According to the Gemoro and

Shulchan Aruch , last is the least Kibud.

*The Zohar disagrees with the Bavli and considers Shishi a Chashuva Aliya.