Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in ) 1 of 11

In This Issue Naso (Behaalotcha in Israel) June 17, 2016 Visitors - Life Events

Rav Amos Luban & Rav Yoel Rackovsky in NY next week!

YNA Grand Siyum - Video and Pictures! Dedications Quote of the Week - Rav Bina's Speech at the Grand The Grand Siyum was once again dedicated by Mr. and Mrs. Siyum Abraham Levine l'ilui Rabbanit Taube Korn z"l, Taube Farewell Letter 5776 - Yehudit a"h bat Avraham Yitzchak amu"sh. Ilana Scheiner

MEET RABBI DR. JOHN KRUG A SPECIAL FAREWELL HaRav Nebenzahl on the Parsha - Naso

Staff Dvar Torah by Rav Yitzchak Korn

The Story Of The Jewish People by Rav Shai Gerson - Sefer Shoftim

Tehillim List

Links

yna.edu

YNA .com

Ask Rav Nebenzahl Elisha Porat, our long-time Director of Student Life has decided to Suggestion Box 'graduate' from the . Words cannot adequately express our Alumni Update Form Hakarat Hatov for all of his endless Mesirat Nefesh for the Yeshiva and it's Talmidim over the past eleven years. We wish him Bracha Contact Us and Hatzlacha in all of his endeavors.

RavBeinishGinsburg.com

SephardiParty.com

ShabbosYeshiva .com Visitors - Life Events

Reb Zev's Visitors Parsha Riddle Nati Stern (Yefet, 5766-68) Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 2 of 11

Who am I? Mazal Tov

930 for Adam Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh would like to wish a mazal tov to: 520 for Noach, The Dibrot and Mitzvot, Moe (5764) and Laura Davidovits on the birth of a baby boy. Yosef's Sale and the Avot

~~~ Last week's answer:

Plain and simple, Riddled with hints, Send Us Your Announcements Derived out of context, Secrets within. Please, if you have any smachot or chas v'shalom, less happy occasions, let our office know so we can keep everybody updated. Pardes (Torah)

Contact Reb Zev

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Rav Amos Luban & Rav Yoel Rackovsky in NY next week!

CHUG

Sunday June 19th at 8:30 PM Rav Amos Luban & Rav Yoel Rackovsky will be at the home Sammy Rauch, 155 Harborview So., Lawrence NY.

LUNCH & LEARN IN MANHATTEN

Monday June 20th at 12:00 PM Rav Amos Luban will be giving a shuir at a Lunch & Learn in Manhattan at 200 West Street. For more information and to reserve your Lunch please email [email protected]. Advance registration by 8:00 AM Monday morning required. (It takes a few minutes to get through security, so please come a few minutes early.)

They will be in for a few days and would love to hear from you; please call them at:

Rav Amos 1-646-217-9551 Rav Yoel 1-646-220-2017

YNA Grand Siyum

This past week, YNA traveled to Mitzpe Yericho to celebrate their annual Grand Siyum.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 3 of 11

CLICK HERE FOR THE PICTURE GALLERY

STUDENTS WHO FINISHED MAKOT 8 TIMES STUDENTS WHO FINISHED A MESECHET FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR

Quote of the Week Rav Bina's Speech at the Grand Siyum

Birshus Harabbnim Shlit"a, birshus Moreinu veRabeinu Harav Yaakov Katz Shlit"a, all the Rabbanim, Yeshiva staff, talmidim, donors, and alumni,

My speaking to you now after such beautiful dancing can only destroy the evening. Oren Neiman Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 4 of 11

had a very good line: tonight is like Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah combined. I would like to add that this is also a Matan Torah. As Harav Katz said, when you arrive you did not even realize that you had a Jewish soul, you did not understand the meaning of the commentary on the Sefas Emes: Elokai Neshama shenatata bee tehorah hee: "my G-d the soul You placed within me is pure". There is something very pure about each of you regardless of how well you may or may not have done this ear. Each one of you has within him a very special soul, the "chochma" is to recognize it.

Yom Kippur can only be performed by a Kohen Gadol like Moreinu veRabeinu Harav Katz. As my Haredi friend said to me, G-d is not in Ponovezh at Neilah but in only one place - in Netiv Aryeh. It never fails, but every year one of the boys comes over to me and asked me how much I pay Rav Katz to cry. Simchas Torah, the Zohar writes is each of us being in the cheder yichud with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The second year guys understand what this means, the first year guys do not understand and they run away for the second night claiming "I only keep one day". Shavuos is the "hadran" for the entire year. At this gala siyum I would like to announce that thanks to the Rabbanim and more and more and more thanks to you guys, in the thirteen years of Netiv Aryeh there has never been such intense learning after Pesach. Seventeen guys (gimmatria of "tov") finished the massechet seven times. Now we are on the level where we do not need Rav Chaim's sefer, but thanks to the sefer and the Rabbanim's hard work we all understand that this is the only way to come close to Hashem. We now understand the words of the Sefas Emes in the name of the Zohar which was quoted on Thursday night - if one properly prepares himself between Pesach and Shavuos then he need not worry about Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

Please capture the high level of ruchniyus you you have achieved this year and especially this evening. Thanks go to everyone - to the Rabbanim without whom no one else can do the job, to the office staff whom without which we would also be unable to accomplish what we have, to Uri Kari. You guys have no idea what all of these people are doing and how hard they are working to insure that you can develop into fine Bnei Torah. You cannot possibly understand and I give you a bracha that you will never understand. For you to understand what I am doing you will have to become a schnorer yourself. I am sure that you are not interested in being in charge of the bathrooms which means having to clean them. When you get to Camp HASC you will understand, those who are not going I hope you do teshuva and go next year.

In Camp HASC you will learn to appreciate your parents for what they are. Rav Ami spoke this morning about continuing to go to shul, to daven, to learn. I would like to add that first and foremost - do not fight with your parents, they are equal to G-d. If your father does not give you the right credit card but instead gives it to your brother and sister - do not say a word, keep quiet. This is the basics of Torah, Neviim, Kesuvim, Rashi, and Chassidus - there is no arguing this point. This is the basics of "Hashem Echad uShmo Echad".

To all of you guys, all the thank you in the world will not be enough - you give us the strength to continue. It is not easy, some of you call us crazy and some of you drive us crazy. It is not easy but this is our job. How are we going to do this again next year - I truly don't know, but with Hashem's help we will manage. Everything in the world requires Siyata d'Shmaya. Thank you very much - I am very impressed with those who finished the massechet, while we all know that people from New York run the world, the ones who made the siyum were "out-of-towners".

I ask you do not forget for a second the pure soul you have been granted. I wish to thank not only to the Rabbanim but their wives who open their homes to our guys either for chugim or for Shabbos. I know that not all of the guys behave nicely - the Rabbanim are used to it which is why I cannot thank the wives enough. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wife for putting up with her Israeli husband for so many years.

I would like to conclude by saying that the heart of the job at Netiv Aryeh is not the Rabbanim but the madrichim. I don't think anyone truly understands what it means to be a madrich. It frightens me to think of the punishment people will receive for the way they treated the madrich. The one who suffered for so many years is Elisha. He came to the decision that eleven years is enough and it is time to go into business. I bless him that he is very successful, whether he gives to Netiv or Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 5 of 11

not is his decision. I wish the best for him and Yedida, may G-d bless them - it has not been easy. I do not believe that he moved to Ir David for Zionistic reasons but rather so that the boys do not bother him day and night. In the name of myself and all the Rabbanim I would like to ask for mechila if we ever treated him in a way that was not befitting who he is. In the end of the day we are only human beings, and as Shlomo Hamelech said: "for there is no man so wholly righteous on earth that he always does good and never sins" (Koheles 7:20). I love you Elisha and may Hashem repay you for any difficulties you may have had here.

Thank you once again to the guys for choosing Netiv Aryeh - thank G-d Hashem gave you the sense to choose our Yeshiva and not to listen to what everyone out there is saying. Leshana habaa biYerushalayim habenuya - thank you.

Farewell Letter 5776

A Farewell Letter or 'Who' Was at Your Shavuot Table?

My Shavuot table was full this year. My husband and three boys were all there although the all too caloric eggplant parmesan was missing this year, as was the cheesecake.

As I was heating everyone's thoughts on that subject I quickly pointed out that these two absences paled in comparison to the empty chair at your table. As I gazed at my full table set with my Grandmother's china, I could not help but wonder aloud about the Nebentzhal family who suffered the loss of the wonderful and warm Rebbetzin Shifra Nebentzhal this year, and what strength HaRav Avigdor Nebentzhal must have in continuing to host and envelop his students in what his Rebbetzin lovingly called "Avigdor's Torah."

Then the answer came to me (as truthfully I too was lamenting the eggplant situation) Seated at my table were generations of my family before me, their memories pre and post Hitler, the YNA student body who are constantly on my mind, and all of you - waiting for the end of the year and a 'full' table. All together in one overwhelming casserole of memory and the future.

So who was at your son's table this year? What did he eat and who did he share the holiday with? Chances are that 6,000 miles away from home and even though he may not have verbalized it, you were there too, your families and his siblings were there, all in his mind's eye.

By the time this newsletter hits your inboxes, perhaps you will have already hugged your child at the door or fallen over his shoes inevitably left in the middle of the floor! No matter what the case is, thank Gd that he is home, able to write the next chapter of his life.

We say thank you to the young men - your sons who chose to join us. Who grew taller, who finished a Masechet once, twice or even thrice. Thank you to our wonderful student body - those who chose YNA and came to us fresh with hopes, dreams and goals. We hope that we were able to jump start your Jewish journey into the collegiate world and beyond and that the YNA building blocks serve you and yours well into the future.

To our Shana Aleph we note that this year was hard with adjustments having to be madeon both ends of the globe. Many of you have shared your thoughts with us along the way and we gladlywelcomed your input and opinions. As always, we continue to do so. Students adjusted to Yeshiva life and parents adjusted to empty beds at home. Neither was easy and we hope that as you put the key into the door at 'home,' you will have newfound appreciation for how challenging it was for parents to stand at the departure gates at the airport a year ago, or to see an empty chair at the table on Yom Tov.

Thank you to the women of Yeshiva. The women who open their doors to feed, listen to, host and enjoy the students; who always invite you back, whose children play and bond with those who approach them, and whose husbands - your Rebbaim - spend countless hours away from family life Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 6 of 11

on behalf of their students. I am sure that just as the Nebentzhal family will always have Rebbetzin Shifra at their table, you will always have a cheescake waiting for you on Shavuot at the YNA table. The (almost) last thank you goes to you - our parent body who entrusted us with their sons. We have cherished and guided them as our own and we ask you to keep us in the loop as they grow. Your sorrows are ours, your smachot are ours - share! Our website is full of not only interesting Torah, photos and videos, but of a myriad of ways you can keep in touch - so please do so!

One of the over-arching principles of YNA has always been "G-D RUNS THE SHOW - NOT YOU AND NOT ME" (can't IMAGINE who says that) From the time we wake to the time we sleep (those of us who sleep) the greatest thank you goes to Hakadosh Baruch Hu: For everything we were, we are and we hope to be - Have a wonderful and restful summer.

Ilana Scheiner, Executive Director American Friends of Netiv Aryeh

Alumni Affairs

MEET RABBI DR. JOHN KRUG

Every one of our alumni knows that our yeshiva's educational philosophy is characterized by complete devotion to the principle that the Rebbe's relationship with his students should reflect the same degree of love and commitment that a parent has for a child. Similarly, members of the yeshiva faculty share a unique approach to our student body, providing guidance, encouragement and constant attention, and enjoying their roles as devoted mentors, true confidantes and sincere friends. The commitment of our entire staff and faculty to the students knows no bounds. Modeled and led by our Rosh HaYeshiva, HaRav Aharon Bina, Netiv Aryeh's staff relates to the students with genuine warmth and honest affection, and it is these traits make Netiv Aryeh the unique and special place that it is.

The Netiv Aryeh experience does not end with a student's return to chutz la'aretz because Netiv Aryeh is a place where Torah Judaism is the linchpin of day-to-day life, thriving not only within its walls but also within the hearts of its alumni.

To this end, the yeshiva is proud to have on its staff a Director of Alumni Affairs whose job it is to continue the personal concern and professional caring that is the hallmark of our yeshiva. Whereas most alumni affairs offices focus on matters of fundraising and finances, our office is primarily occupied with providing services.

Rabbi Dr. John Krug, a clinical psychologist and himself an alumnus of the yeshiva, is based in theNew York City area, primarily at Yeshiva University. He spends his time with both individuals and groups of our alumni. He can be seen on the YU campus at unusual hours sitting with students, handling a near-crisis situation, clarifying vocational concerns, assisting in interpersonal relationship skills development, running a chug or just providing a ready ear, soft shoulder, willing hand and understanding heart.

"My position with the yeshiva is a practical manifestation and application of Rav Bina's philosophy and pedagogy that we are all family. And, caring for family extends to each and every member of the family. A student's association and affiliation with our yeshiva does not terminate - and we attempt to seek and nurture life-long life-lines with each of our alumni," says Dr. Krug. Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 7 of 11

Dr. Krug believes that the transition from the time spent in Israel to a university campus is a time of tumultuous transition. "Suddenly thrust into a world with demands and rigors, schedules and assignments, midterms and finals, projects and papers presents, at the very least, a challenge of change, and, in some cases, provokes turbulent transformation," claims Dr. Krug. "You no longer look out the windows and see The Kotel. You're no longer physically present at the spiritual heart and soul of our people. You no longer glance over, while in the beitmidrash and behold a Rav Neventzhal or a Rav Katz, who by virtue of their presence and existence, serve as role models and motivators."

Dr. Krug spends several nights a week working with the students. Once a month there is some form of get-together for our alumni. It might be a chug, a shiur, a lecture, a special program (such as forChanukah, Purim, Yom Hashoa, Yom Yerushalayim, etc.) a visiting "rahm" or a kumsitz that will bring dozens of our alumni out for an evening. Lectures may focus on study skills techniques, managing time and resources, dating ethics, parenting skills or a host of other relevant topics. Much time is devoted to one-on-one sessions with students who seek advice and counsel on a myriad of topics: personal and interpersonal, social and vocational, religious and spiritual. "No day goes by without contact with our students. What an honor it is for me to be, and remain, a part of people's lives," reiterated Dr. Krug, during a recent interview.

Rabbi Krug attempts to visit the yeshiva several times a year, not only to "recharge his own batteries," but to develop a kesher with the students before they leave the yeshiva to return tochutz la'aretz. In this way, Dr. Krug is able to continue, rather than begin, a relationship with the alumni.

In addition to Dr. Krug, the yeshiva has others on staff, based at Yeshiva University, to assist our students. This provides the opportunity for a team-based approach to meet alumni needs.

In addition to his responsibilities to Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, Rabbi Dr. John Krug is also the Dean of Student Life and Welfare at The Frisch Yeshiva High School in Paramus, NJ, serves as an adjunct professor in two of Yeshiva University 's graduate schools and maintains a small private practice in clinical psychology.

He holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and speech/drama, Masters Degrees in both Jewish Education and psychology, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Bar Ilan University in Israel, where he also served as an adjunct professor. His doctoral dissertation, "Empty Nest Syndrome Among Holocaust Survivors" was the culmination of years of study on that population and added significantly to the understanding of the survivor population. His master's thesis was on, "Psychopathology and Nomenclature in Biblical Literature and Talmudic Lore." He received his smicha from Yeshiva University 's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.

In addition, Dr. Krug was the Assistant Producer of the off-Broadway show, The Fantasticks, the longest-running show in American theatrical history, having served twenty-nine years in that position, until the show's closing in January 2002. He has more than 250 professional credits in theater, film and television, and has written and produced dozens of programs and films for Jewish education. He continues to do consulting for Jewish-themed and Jewish-oriented professional productions.

For the past thirty years he has been most active in informal Jewish education, and has authored such articles as "Set The Stage For Jewish Education" and "The Use of Creative and Theatrical Techniques in Informal Jewish Education." He has produced more than two dozen source books for various schools and programs. For five of the six past summers, as he did three times in the mid-1970's, Rabbi Krug has been spending his summers "Down Under" and coordinating the ATID program for The Liebler-Yavneh College in Melbourne, Australia. Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 8 of 11

All these talents Rabbi Krug gladly brings to the yeshiva. Rav Bina and Dr. Krug eagerly welcome and encourage any one of our alumni to contact our Office of Almuni Affairs, and "to stay in touch." The yeshiva maintains an exclusive telephone number for direct access to Dr. Krug. He can be reached in the New York office by calling 201-441-4108.

HaRav Nebenzahl on Naso

PARSHAT NASO (CLICK HERE FOR PARSHAT BEHAALOTCHA)

"THE NAZIR AND MATAN TORAH"

One of the mitzvoth discussed in Parshas Naso is the mitzvah of the nazir. On the one hand the Torah refers to him as "kadosh", holy, on the other hand he is referred to as a "chotei", a sinner and therefore must bring a Korban Chatas at the conclusion of his term of nezirus. In the fact the Gemara on the one hand derives that if a nazir who has abstained only from wine is holy then certainly one who takes upon himself and does not eat anything is classified as holy. On the other hand, if a nazir who abstains from wine is a sinner then certainly one who abstains from eating entirely has committed a sinful act. Of course this is not speaking of one who is required to fast but one who takes a private fast upon himself.

We find in the Gemara that Shimon HaTzaddik, as Kohen Gadol, would never eat from a korban that a nazir brought because he considered his actions to be sinful. There was, however, one exception.

One day, while Shimon HaTzaddik was doing the avodah, a very handsome tall, young man whose appearance betrayed the fact that he was a nazir approached him. He had beautiful hair which had grown very long because as a nazir it was forbidden for him to cut his hair until the conclusion of his term of nezirus. The young man approached Shimon Hatzaddik and told him that his term was over and the time had now come to cut his hair. Shimon HaTzaddik could not understand why a young man with such beautiful hair would become a nazir knowing that he would one day have to cut the hair. He asked the young man why he became a nazir knowing that he would eventually have to take the beautiful hair and burn it in the fire.

The young man explained that he became a nazir in order to defeat the yetzer hara. He continued by explaining that he was a shepherd for his father's flock and one day when bringing the sheep to drink he noticed his reflection in the water and realized that he was a very handsome man. As he admired his appearance and beautiful shiny hair, the yetzer hara encouraged him to enjoy the pleasures available to him and not to waste the opportunity.

The yetzer hara managed to tempt him to the point that he was ready to leave the sheep and go "enjoy life". He then looked in the water and realized that this world is temporary and how could he give up eternal life for a few moments of worldly pleasure. He then vowed to become a nazir, now the term was up and he has come to cut his hair praying that he will never again be tempted to leave the ways of Hashem.

When Shimon HaTzaddik heard these words, he jumped up, kissed the young man on his forehead crying: "May the A-lmighty increase nezirim like you in Israel!" And for the first time in his life, Shimon HaTzaddik ate from the sacrifice brought by a nazir for this young man's motives were pure and holy.

Nezirus with the intent of breaking the yetzer hara is certainly for a good cause. Another example is Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 9 of 11

found in the words of the prophet: "I established some of your sons as prophets and some of your young men as nezirim (Amos 2:11), from which it is clear that a nazir is compared to a prophet - certainly something positive. Shimshon was a nazir from which he derived the strength to battle the Plishtim, in fact when his hair was cut then his strength was gone as well. Chana, according to one opinion, prayed that her son become a nazir. Chana came to the Mishkan not long after the fall of Shimshon and she wished for son to continue and become a leader in the ways of Shimshon and battle the Plishtim. On the other hand, one who takes a vow of nezirus for the wrong reasons such as out of anger, has not acted in a positive manner and in this case nezirus truly is sinful.

Kedoshim tihyu - you shall be holy (Vayikra 1:2). What does it mean to be holy? Hashem "explains" - "you are to sanctify yourselves and you shall be holy, for I am holy" (Vayikra 11:44). A person should desire holiness because this is the way of Hashem. Similarly, the Sefer achinuch writes that a person should channel his love completely for Hashem. A person must eat because it is good for the body which Hashem gave him, if he eats purely for pleasure's sake then he has violated "you shall love Hashem with all your heart". Every step a person takes, any mitzvah a person performs must be because he loves Hashem and Hashem commanded him to do so. Even regarding the Torah, a person must love the Torah because Hashem commanded him to.

The Rav (Hagaon Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach) zt"l was once asked if a person has two types of food each requiring the same bracha, one of them is healthy and one he finds more tasty but less healthy upon which one should he recite the bracha? The Rav responded that it should be the healthy one, because a Jew must eat for his health and not in order to fulfill his desires. Perhaps Shabbos would be different because on Shabbos there is the additional consideration of the mitzvah of "oneg Shabbos", thus eating is also fulfillment of a mitzvah.

Shavuos is approaching. Regarding Yom Tov, the Gemara cites two opinions on how to resolve a seeming contradiction between psukim - one opinion says that one may spend Yom Tov either entirely involved in the physical world of eating and drinking for the sake of rejoicing on the Yom Tov or he may spend the day purely in spiritual pursuits such as prayer and learning Torah, the other opinion states that the day should be divided in half - half for the physical and half for the spiritual. The Gemara continues that this is regarding the other Yom Tovim, regarding Shavuos all agree that celebration with the physical body is required. One explanation is that on Shavuos by eating and drinking we are thanking Hashem for the physical world as well as for having given us the Torah. Of course we must not overdo it, but the idea is that the Torah affects our physical body as well. Had we not had the Torah then we would be nothing more than a two-legged animal. We must thank Hashem for having given us the Torah, for giving us the opportunity to become holy people, and for granting us life in this world and the Next World.

Staff Dvar Torah by Rav Yitchak Korn

Among the korbanos offered by a nazir at the culmination of his nezirus is a sin-offering, a chatas, in the form of a lamb. This appears curious, after all a chatas-offering is associated with a sinful act and presumably while the nazir has performed a mitzvah.

This anomaly is noted by Ramban who offers his own understanding based on the simple meaning of the psukim. Until this point the nazir had removed himself from this world, so to speak, and sanctified himself for the service of Hashem. Why did he not remain on that level and continue serving Hashem in this sanctified manner for the remainder of his life? The Ramban cites a pasuk from the prophet Amos which compares the nazir to a prophet. Just as prophets do not resign or retire, we would have expected the nazir to continue practicing his "nezirus". Returning to ordinary life and the physical and material desires of this world therefore requires atonement.

We have reached the end of the academic year. Our dear talmidim, have spent many months learning Torah while absorbing the holiness of the Torah and of the holy city of Yerushalayim. Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 10 of 11

Presumably this has sanctified each person's being and brought them closer to Hashem.

If so, should our return to "the real world" require a chatas similar to the nazir's return to "ordinary life"? Are we, the staff of the Yeshiva, to look askance at our students for returning to chutz la'aretz? Are we to question of what benefit was all their achievement if in the end they are leaving the Holy Land?

I believe that the Ramban's comment elsewhere may shed some light on this dilemma? After delineated the Torah's 365 negative commandments, Ramban adds a few more that, in his opinion, Rambam "forgot". The second of these is the prohibition not to forget the great gathering at Har Sinai, the great event of the giving of the Torah.

In describing this mitzvah, Ramban exquisitely tells us that our eyes and hearts should remain focused on that paramount event which serves as the basis for our Emunah and Torah-observance.

Our hope and our expectation is that our talmidim remain focused on their experience of having "received the Torah" at Netiv Aryeh for the remainder of their lives. If they can accomplish this then they will be able to retain their great spiritual gains and will continue to grow. With Hashem's blessing may each of you in the very near future build true Torah homes.

n their great spiritual gains and will continue to grow. With Hashem's blessing may each of you in the very near future build true Torah homes.

The Story Of The Jewish People by Rav Shai Gerson

The story of the Jewish people as told by Tanach through the eyes of Chazal.

SHOFTIM - CHAPTER VIII Part 3

Bnei Yisroel understood the implication of Gideon's actions as if he had a quest for the monarchy. Immediately he realizes his error and tries to rectify it, first in words then in actions. He goes and collects the spoils of Midian (this reminds us of Moshe having consecrated the spoils of Midian to Hashem - see Parshas Matos). The expressions used by the prophet here reminds us of the chet haegel - the incident of the Golden Calf. Gideon's intent was to show that Hashem is King, thus the spoils of Midian were gathered in order to make an ephod.

Rashi explains that this was a symbol, a memorial to the salvation. Perhaps we can add that this is also a monument indicating that Hashem is King. The nation, however, erred and began to worship it. Perhaps, in line with the commentary of some of the Rishonim such as Kuzari or Ramban that the intent of the worship of the egel was really for Hashem, we can explain that here too the intent was for Hashem. The area became a place of rituals and became a "snare for Gideon and his household" (8:27).

We then read of the background to the destruction of the house of Gideon. On the one hand Gideon had seventy children, including a son from a concubine from Shechem whom he named Avimelech - a name symbolizing a kingdom which his father had actually rejected. At first the people continued to worship Hashem but this error in their ways opened the door for a total downfall after Gideon died culminating in actual avoda zara - worshipping the baal.

Ofrah, where Gideon lived, became a religious center, and it was later controlled by Gideon's children. Presumably they had some sort of governmental authority even if it was not literally a monarchy (comparable to the chief rabbinate of a city, the authority vested in them as Torah leaders, grants them a certain amount of governmental authority). The religious center then moved to Baal-Berit, we will later read about the sanctuary of Baal-Berit in Shechem which was run with the Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Naso (Beha'alotcha in Israel) 11 of 11

support of the authority of Avimelech.

The prophet then emphasizes the Jewish people's lack of gratitude to the household of Gideon.

Tehillim List

The following members of our extended YNA family need our tefilot: Chana bat Bina Tzipporah bat Tzirel Sara bat Devorah Eliyahu Haim ben Chana Raizel Alter Mordechai Tzvi ben Eka Bryna Esther Miriam bat Chana Raitza Chana bat Rochel Leah Ora Leah bat Haya Rachel Rivka bat Esther Yitzchak bat Hinda Mazal bat Hanna David Zev ben Perl Yerachmiel Dovid ben Leah Rivka bat Leah Yisroel Aron ben Zisel Avital Yentel bat Reizel Shmuel ben Rachel Chaim Eliezer ben Shira Tzivia Yaakov Eliezer ben Yocheved Leebah Nechama bat Leah Tova Channah bat Baila Rivka Yehoshua Reuven ben Elisheva Keren Yitzchak ben Victoria Moshe Ben Miriam Sara

Malka Bat Chana Leah Chaim Avishalom ben Blanka (the Chalban) Dovid Tzvi ben Feigy Frimit Shimon Ben Miriam Hendal Chaim Dovid ben Deena Shaindel

Submit Names to the tehillim list.

Are you visiting Israel? - Let us know ! We'd love to host you for a Shabbat meal, davening, a shiur and would love for you to stop by.

Shabbat Shalom, Rav Bina, Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh