Eikev 5775 August 7, 2015

A Taste of Stories For The Soul A Steal Of A Deal Who Is Stronger? By: Eli Mozes A rabbi once came to the great Chofetz Chaim (Rabbi Yisrael A gnarled hand firmly knocks on to man and not to the beasts? Meir Kagan; 1838-1933). He the door, next to a brass nameplate The Medrash (Bereishis Rabbah that reads “Howard Wilson, Esq.” was the leader in a community 70) contrasts the seven daughters of beset by secularism, and he was “Come in,” a voice calls from inside Yisro, who were chased away from in need of encouragement in his the office, and Satan quietly walks in the well, with , who was able to and takes a seat. “I have a proposition draw water from the well unharmed, struggles. for you,” says Satan. “Go ahead,” says even though she was only one girl The rabbi detailed the travails the lawyer. “I will make you the most surrounded by numerous other male he was experiencing, asking successful lawyer in all of Colorado. shepherds. The Medrash explains the Chofetz Chaim for advice You will be rich and famous, a private with a verse, “The of Hashem on how to confront those who jet and luxury yacht will be available at camps around those who fear him wished to uproot Torah your beck and call. In exchange, all I (Psalms34:9)”; since Rachel feared from his town. ask of you is your soul, your wife’s soul, Hashem, no one would start up with “If there is a civil war,” asked the souls of your two children and that her. The Dubno Maggid expounds on the Chofetz Chaim, “and you of your dog.” The lawyer coolly looks this with an analogy; yiras shamayim Satan up and down and says, “What’s (fear of Heaven) is like a candle. When are debating which side to join, the catch?” one lights a candle for oneself, all those what criteria would you base In this ’s parsha, Moshe around him will have illumination. your decision on?” discusses the Jewish People’s So, too, one who has yiras Shamayim “Whichever side has the obligation to Hashem: “Now, O Israel, will radiate it until all those around best chance to win,” replied the what is it that Hashem your G-d asks him are affected. He brings another rabbi. of you? Only that you fear Him, go in analogy from the Vilna Gaon (Rabbi “Correct,” replied the sage. all His ways… (Deuteronomy 10:12)” Eliyahu Kramer; 1720-1797), who says “So fight for the stronger side!” The word “only” seems to indicate that a person has an internal storage that we ought to be asking, “What’s vessel which fills as one’s yiras Shamayim “But the secularists are far the catch?” In truth, fear of G-d is no grows, until it overflows onto those stronger than the religious!” small feat. The (Megillah 25a) around him. With this, explains the protested the rabbi. “Are you brings up this very question: “Is fear of Dubno Maggid, we can understand suggesting I give up the battle?!” Hashem a small matter?” it asks. And why Hashem told Noach, not the The Chofetz Chaim replied, the answer it provides is mystifying. beasts, that his fear would be imposed “Hashem is stronger than “Yes,” says the Talmud, “for Moshe, upon the animals. Hashem was telling everyone else. Whichever this is a small matter.” This doesn’t Mankind to grow in yiras Shamayim to side Hashem is on, that is the seem to make any sense; for Moshe it the point that it would illuminate and stronger side.” may be a triviality, but he isn’t talking overflow, so that even the beasts of the to himself. He’s speaking to the Jewish field would be affected. In this week’s parsha, Moshe People, for whom this is a tremendous We can now understand the tells the Jewish people not to challenge. Talmud’s answer. Since for Moshe fear the might of the inhabitants The Dubno Maggid (Rabbi Ya’akov yiras Shamayim was a small matter of the Land of . As long Kranz; c. 1740-1804) explains this in and something which his every action as Hashem is fighting for the a most meaningful fashion. Hashem expressed, the of his generation Jewish People, they needn’t fear tells Noach, “And your reverence and were powerfully affected, to the defeat. fear will be on all the beasts of the field point where they could look at their (Bereishis 9:2)”; why is this being told “contract” with Hashem and say, Continued on back side Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ By: Rabbi Yaakov Zions LEARN 2 LEARN You have long dreamed of acquiring Last week we asked: When do we prostrate occurs during the chazzan’s recitation of the tools to achieve proficiency ourselves during prayer, and why is it not Aleinu. While this prostration is mentioned in learning on your own. considered adding bows? by the Rema (O.C. 621:4) for Yom Kippur, its origins for Rosh Hashana are a later custom. But how? The Denver Community A: The general custom is to prostrate once on Kollel offers a comprehensive, step- This prostration is permitted the same as our each day of Rosh Hashana and four times on daily bowing during Aleinu is permitted. by-step, level-by-level program Yom Kippur. Three of the four times on Yom crafted for people just like you. Kippur are when we discuss the prostration of This week’s question: On the seven Shabbosos All you need is the ability to read those in attendance at the Temple during the following Tisha B’Av, we read special Hebrew; we will teach you the service of the Kohein Gadol. This prostration is known as the Dinechemta (the Seven of rest. For more information, contact not regarded as “additional” as we are simply Consolation) that focus on consolation after [email protected]. Class will “joining” the prostration of those in the the tragedies of Tisha B’Av. What part of our resume on August 17th following Temple. prayers are based on these seven haftarahs? summer break. A DEEPER LOOK AT THE The fourth time on Yom Kippur, as well as To submit an answer to Rabbi Zions, email PARSHA WITH RABBI SHACHNE the one time on each day of Rosh Hashana, [email protected] SOMMERS Join Rabbi Shachne Sommers as he discusses a number of Ask the Rabbi difficulties encountered in the , and develops Faith & Folly a comprehensive approach to Michael wrote: resolve the issue, simultaneously Dear Rabbi, conveying a deeper understanding Since there are many religions and Saying that “ultimately, everyone is of the material being discussed. faiths around the world with contradictory right” is the logical equivalent of saying that Sunday nights, 7:40-8:30 pm, at beliefs, but all believing in one or multiple “ultimately, everyone is wrong,” because the the Kollel for men, 1516 Xavier, and supreme beings, are they all personifications other religions don’t agree that “everyone is Tuesday nights at the Southeast of one ultimate reality? right.” They all say they’re right! Kollel Torah center, 8-9 pm, for men So, for example, by saying “Christians, and women. Class will resume on Dear Michael, Moslems, and Buddhists all have a piece of August 17th following summer No. The fact that people believe break. one reality,” you are espousing yet another something doesn’t necessarily make it true. philosophy, one - like the others - which THE M.B. GLASSMAN For centuries, Western man believed everyone else disagrees with! You’re adding FOUNDATION GOLD ADOPT-A that blood did not circulate, that heavy to the noise of people shouting “We’re BUBBY PROGRAM objects fall faster than light ones and that right!” Do you know of a senior – a iron could not float. Many believed the Reprinted with permission from Ohr Somayach, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, earth was flat. Some still do, such as the , www.ohr.edu neighbor, fellow congregant – members of England’s “Flat Earth Society.”

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thought on the parsha or Jewish A Taste of Torah calendar, or just say hello? Do Continued from front side you have a few minutes a week “What’s the catch?” by how much yiras Shamayim one has. to call a senior in the community Practically speaking, one of the most We are thus faced with a difficult and make a difference in the important things for a Jew to possess is challenge of increasing our yiras life of another? Contact the yiras Shamayim, as the Talmud (Brachos Shamayim. But the Dubno Maggid Denver Community Kollel’s M.B. 33a) teaches us, “All is in the hands of teaches us that a means to achieving yiras Glassman Foundation GOLD Heaven except for yiras Shamayim,” which Shamayim is to choose our friends wisely. Adopt-A-Bubby program! the commentaries explain to mean that Before I decide that this is someone I Call Joyce Litzman at the all is preordained except for that which want to spend time with, I need to ask Denver Community Kollel is left up to free will. Which way one myself: Is this someone who will increase at 303-820-2855, or email chooses, right or wrong, is determined my yiras Shamayim? [email protected]. The Torah Weekly is made possible through a generous grant from the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, NJ, in memory of Harry H. Beren, z”l. Denver Community Kollel: 1516 Xavier Street, Denver, CO 80204 Tel: 303-820-2855 Fax: 303-820-2806 Email: [email protected] Web: www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, send an email to [email protected]