If We Will Only Reach Up, He Will Reach Down And

OShabbos ParshasHH Pekudei For theR Rweek ending 6 AdarNN II 5757 Mar.EE 15, 1997 Vol. 4TT No. 23 THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET PARSHA INSIGHTS and Moshe blessed them. (39:43) its usually the staff who heap praise O.H.M.S. Rabbi Moshe Helfan was a fund- and blessing on the donors? ...stones of remembrance to the raiser for the Telz Yeshiva in Really, it should be the other way Children of Yisrael (39:7) Cleveland. One of his regular donors round. was a Jewish farmer who had a farm For through the efforts of the staff Ask someone from a non-religious in Pennsylvania. The farmer used to in creating a worthwhile charity, they background what its like to wear a give a small yearly donation. give the donors much more than the yarmulke in public for the first time. However, in the 1970s, when the donors have given them. He will tell you it feels like becom- price of petroleum went up, the cost The charity has given the donors a ing an ambassador. An ambassador of the gas needed to drive to deposit in the First National Bank of for the Jewish People. An ambas- Pennsylvania and back was more than Olam Habah (the World-to-Come) sador for Hashem Himself. The the amount the farmer used to give. and thats a bank which suffers nei- entire Jewish People and Hashem Rabbi Helfan was in a quandary: ther from inflation nor poor manage- may be judged by the way you now ment. behave. Five minutes ago it was So why is it the other way round Hey! - Look at that guy pushing in that the staff of the charity thank line! Now its Hey! - Look at that If we will only the donors? Jew pushing in line! The answer is that we follow the A Jew, unlike a person of color, reach up, He tradition of Moshe Rabbeinu, who always has the option to merge into after itemizing the full accounting of the background, to shorten his nose, will reach down the Mishkan blessed the people for all shorten his name. they had brought, even though they But as soon as he comes out and should really have blessed him. wears the signs of his Judaism with and illuminate As they say: You cant take it with pride, his actions reflect not just on you but you can send it ahead. himself, but on the whole Jewish our eyes with People, and on G-d. THE GOLD STANDARD On the Choshen, the breastplate, His Torah. that the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) These are the accounts of wore, were twelve stones. On these the Mishkan (38:21) stones were inscribed the names of In Moshes accounting for the the Tribes of Israel. They were called On the one hand he couldnt use the expenditure of the Mishkan, only the the stones of remembrance before the Yeshivas money to finance a trip silver is reckoned for and not the Children of Yisrael. which he knew would definitely lose gold. For the Jewish People would money. But on the other hand he The reason is that the silver was remember that their names were couldnt deprive the farmer of giving gathered through the mandatory half- inscribed on this holy garment, and his donation. As Rabbi Helfan said shekel donation, which all the Bnei they would thus be ashamed to sin. This farmers supporting Torah study Yisrael had to give. in the Yeshiva is a tremendous merit Moshe realized that, inevitably, for him. How can I deprive him of there would be those among the peo- YOU CANT TAKE that? ple who would be of a suspicious So Rabbi Helfan decided to drive nature seekers of account and IT WITH YOU! to Pennsylvania and he himself would so for this reason he gave an account- foot the bill for the gas. ing for the silver. And Moshe saw all the work, (of the Have you noticed that at a fund- However, the gold was donated Mishkan), and, behold, they had done raising dinner for a charitable cause, only by the open-hearted and the it as the Almighty had commanded...

continued on page four

1 PARSHA OVERVIEW

ter finishing all the different parts, vessels Mishkan should be set up on the first day of the first and garments used in the Mishkan com- month, i.e., Nissan. He also tells Moshe the order of plete accounting and enumeration is assembly for the Mishkan and its vessels. Moshe does AAmade of all of the contributions and of everything in the prescribed manner. When the the various clothing and vessels which Mishkan is finally complete with every vessel in its had been fashioned. The Bnei Yisrael bring every- place, a cloud descends upon the Mishkan indicating thing to Moshe. He inspects the handiwork and that Hashems glory was resting on the Mishkan. notes that everything was made according to Whenever they moved away from the Mishkan, the Hashems specifications. Moshe blesses the people. Bnei Yisrael would follow it. At night the cloud was Hashem speaks to Moshe and tells him that the replaced by a pillar of fire.

EXCERPT FROM PREMIER ISSUE OF WHATS TODAYS NAME? LIGHT LINES

id you ever stop to think Our own English names are adapted Shabbos and each successive day is num- why we call the days of the from the Saxon version while the bered in the same fashion. DDweek by those strange French, Italian and Spanish follow the This goes back to the fourth of the sounding names? And why do Latin of the Romans. Ten Commandments our ancestors Jews in Israel call them by other names? Your Yiddish-speaking great-grand- heard at Mount Sinai 3309 years ago: It all started back with the Romans parents called these days by their Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it who decided to call the days according German names which are translations holy. Remembering is done on the to the sun, moon, and the five known of the Saxon names, with two excep- Sabbath (alias Saturday) by making planets which had been originally tions: Wednesday is Mittvoch (Middle of Kiddush and saying Sabbath prayers. named for pagan deities. The Saxons the Week) and Saturday is Sonnabend Throughout the week it is remembered left the sun and moon for the first two (Sundays eve). (But they never said by referring to all of the weekdays by days but substituted Norse deities as Sonnabend or Saturday instead of their proximity to the Sabbath. names for almost all the other days. Shabbos unless they were talking to their gentile neighbors!) Read this New Publication - Coming Soon - In Israel the days of the week have on the Ohr Somayach Web Site! no names, only numbers. Sunday is Yom www.ohr.org.il O H R N E T Rishon because it is the first day after

THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET

Published by OHR SOMAYACH SING MY SOUL TANENBAUM COLLEGE POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180, Israel 02-581-0315 INSIGHTS INTO THE SHABBOS ZEMIROS

General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Editorial & Web Advisor: Rabbi Reuven Lauffer KOL MEKADESH Associate Editor: Rabbi Mordechai Becher ™ƒ— Œ‹ Web Production: Lev Seltzer Who delay departing from the wrapped up in the holy experience of Contributing Editors: the day that if there is a momentary Weekly Daf, Sing My Soul: Sabbath and rush to enter. Rav Mendel Weinbach lapse in his connection he rushes to Ask the Rabbi: reestablish contact. How does one delay departing Rabbi Moshe Lazerus, We therefore sing the praise of Jews Rabbi Avrohom Lefkowitz, before he rushes to enter? Insights, Overview, Haftorah: who are loathe to leave this total con- Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair This may be a reference to a Jews nection with the Sabbath who Parsha Q&A mental and emotional immersion in Rabbi Reuven Subar delay departing and who therefore the sanctity of Shabbos. rush to enter by re-connecting Produced and Designed by the Office of Communication The Sabbath observer should be so Rabbi Eliezer Shapiro, Director themselves as soon as possible. © 1997 OHR SOMAYACH INSTITUTIONS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN ISRAEL AT OLD CITY PRESS 02-651-1529

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If you have a question about Judaism, you can submit it to ASK THE RABBI. Just send your question using E-Mail to [email protected] and set the subject to ASK THE RABBI. We cant include all questions submitted in the column, but we do try to respond to everyone personally.

2 PARSHA Q&A ?

1. Why is the word Mishkan stated twice in verse 38:21? Mitznefes and the Tzitz? 2. Why is the Mishkan called the Mishkan of testimony? 12. What role did Moshe play in the construction of the 3. Who was appointed to carry the vessels of the Mishkan? Mishkan in the midbar? 13. Which date was the first time that the Mishkan was 4. Who was the officer in charge of the Leviim? erected and not dismantled? 5. What is the meaning of the name Betzalel? 14. What was the tent which Moshe spread over the 6. How many people contributed a half-shekel to the Mishkan (40:19)? Mishkan? Who contributed? 15. What testimony did Moshe place in the Aron? 7. Which material used in the Bigdei Kehuna was not used 16. What function did the Paroches serve? in the coverings of the sacred vessels? 17. Where was the Shulchan placed in the Mishkan? 8. How were the gold threads made? 18. Where was the Menorah placed in the Mishkan? 9. What was inscribed on the stones on the shoulders of 19. Who offered the communal sacrifices during the the Ephod? eight days of the dedication of the Mishkan? 10. What was on the hem of the Meil? 20. On which day did both Moshe and Aharon serve as 11. What did the Kohen Gadol wear between the Kohanim?

BONUS QUESTION?

And the 100 silver kikar were melted for the (100) sockets one kikar per socket .and the (remaining) 1775 shekelim were fashioned into hooks (38:27) Why does the Torah specify exactly what was done with the silver, whereas the Torah is not as specific regarding the gold?

I DIDNT KNOW THAT!

The words as Hashem commanded appear 18 times regarding the Mishkans construction. The Sages instituted 18 blessings in the Shemone Esrei prayer to correspond to these 18 commands. Today, when we have no Beis Hamikdash, the 18 blessings of the Shemone Esrei substitute for the sacrifices offered in the Mishkan.

Vayikra Rabba 1:18 [thanks to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane]

HAFTORAH: MELACHIM I 7:51-8:21

The completion of the Tabernacle in the desert, which That is the hidden meaning of the above verse: Even is the subject of this weeks Parsha is paralleled in the during the celebration of the inauguration of the Mikdash Haftorah by the completion of the First Beis it was revealed to Shlomo the sad vision of the the Hamikdash (Holy Temple) by Shlomo Hamelech. Kohanim left the Holy, fettered with iron chains. The cloud filled the House of Hashem, the cloud which rep- resented the Divine Presence resting on the Temple was THROUGH THE DARK CLOUD SHINING replaced with a somber cloud which filled the Sanctuary. When the Kohanim left the Holy, the cloud filled the The Kohanim were not able to fulfill the Divine service; House of Hashem. The Kohanim were unable to stand and rather strangers went in and desecrated it. minister because of the cloud... Then Shlomo said Hashem However, in spite of this, Shlomo was not dispirited nor has said He would dwell in the thick cloud. (8:10-12) downcast, because Hashem had said He would dwell in the thick cloud. Hashem has promised that He will fter Shlomo finished building the Beis dwell with the Jewish People even in their darkest hour. Hamikdash, he saw through prophecy that in From our vantage point we can see how King Shlomos AAthe future it would be destroyed; that a time vision has been vindicated. The People of Israel live. We would come when a cloud of darkness would live despite pogroms. We live despite holocausts. We descend on the Beis Hamikdash and the Kohanim would live despite assimilation. We continue. be forced to leave. Even in the blackest mists of history Hashem has never, However, he was consoled by Hashems promise that nor will He ever, desert His people. And even though He would not abandon His people Yisrael even in the we dont see Him clearly, if we gaze closely into the darkest and most difficult times; that He would be with gloom we will see Hashem watching over His people them even in the blackest storm-clouds and the most through the darkest night. gloomy mists of world events. Ohr HaMeir, Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Lublin

3 Insights, explanations and comments for the seven pages of Talmud studied in the course of the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle. WEEKLY DAF

BECHOROS 60 - ERACHIN 6 the war against the Midianites which There are two different approach- TWO PERCENT PRECEDENT were divided between the soldiers es towards understanding the mean- If one delegates an agent to take and the rest of the people. From ing of this involvement. Rashbam terumah from his grain without giving their half the non-combatants were (Pesachim 108b) explains that it was a explicit instructions as to how much required to set aside one fiftieth of all woman Esther who was the the terumah should be, the agent the slaves and livestock taken from catalyst of the miracle. Tosefos finds must evaluate what his intention was. the Midianites as a gift for the Levites difficulty with this approach, because Should the agent have no clue as to who guard the Sanctuary of Hashem. the words they too indicate that the what his intention was, he should sep- (Bamidbar 31:30) This was viewed by women did not have a primary role. arate one fiftieth of the amount of our Sages as a guideline in determin- The explanation favored by Tosefos is grain as terumah, because this is the ing one fiftieth as the normative that they too were threatened by the percentage given by the average per- amount for terumah. genocidal decree, and are therefore son. Bechoros 61a equal beneficiaries of the miracle. The Torah commanded us to set Rashi, in our section of the Talmud, aside a portion of our grain as writes that since woman have an obligation equal to that of men a terumah, which is presented to the WOMEN AND THE MEGILLAH kohen. woman is eligible to read the Although the Torah specified no Megillah, and the man hearing her amount, and one could fulfill this com- Even though the reading of reading fulfills his obligation. This mand by giving one kernel of grain Megillas Esther on Purim is a mitzvah opinion, however, is contested by the from an entire warehouse, our Sages restricted to a defined period of time, Baal Hilchos Gedolos, who rules that set some standards. They directed and women are generally exempt the obligation of a woman is to hear the generous man to devote one for- from time-oriented commands, there the Megillah but not to read it, while tieth of his grain to terumah, the aver- is the same obligation for women to a mans duty is to read it. His hearing age man one fiftieth and allowed the hear the reading of the Megillah as it read by another man is, however, miserly one to get away with one six- there is for men. considered as if he read it himself. It tieth. The reason, explains Rabbi is for this reason that women do not Why was one fiftieth established as Yehoshua ben Levi, is because they read the Megillah for men. (Shulchan the norm? too were involved in the miracle of Aruch Orach Chaim 689:2) The Talmud Yerushalmi cites as the rescue from the genocidal plot of source the tax placed on the spoils of Haman. Erachin 3a

continued from page one PARSHA INSIGHTS generous, among whom was no place Where are the hidden secrets of For when a person exerts himself, for suspicion and account-seeking. the world stored? Where in Creation he finds. The Torah is wedded to the are they to be found? Jewish People. The Torah wants to When we study the Mishkan and impart its secrets to those who are AN UNIMPEACHABLE WITNESS its vessels, its ropes, and its fastening worthy, for more than the calf wish- the Tabernacle of Testimony (38:21) stakes, the Menorah, the description es to feed, the cow wishes to nurse. of its setting up and taking down, we Provided we direct our hearts The Tabernacle was itself a testi- are gazing into the secrets of the Heavenwards, we have it within our mony to the accuracy of Moshes world. power to constantly discover new accounting, for had there been even Few are those who are able to insights in the Holy Torah. If we will the merest hint of misappropriation penetrate to the depths of the only reach up, He will reach down of funds, certainly the Divine Mishkan. Maybe one holy and wise and illuminate our eyes with His Presence would never had rested man in each generation. Maybe a few Torah. upon it. more unique individuals with the For this reason it is called the instruction of a great Torah sage will Sources: Tabernacle of Testimony. be able to have some idea of these O.H.M.S. - Meshech Chochma; Rabbi Calev Gestetner hidden secrets. You Cant Take It With You! - Rabbi THE SECRETS OF THE WORLD And yet, it is the obligation of Zalman Sorotzkin; Rabbi Zelig Pliskin in every Jew to delve and to search and Growth through Torah Moshe erected the Mishkan; he put to pray to Hashem that his eyes be The Gold Standard - Ahavas Yonason down its sockets and put into place its An Unimpeachable Witness - The Malbim opened a little to glimpse a fleeting planks, and inserted its bars and erect- The Secrets Of The World - Degel ed its pillars. (40:18) flash of these mysteries. Machane Ephraim

4 ASK the RABBI

nt eat them. The afternoon prayer, the synagogue dates back to Biblical COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS the third meal, and havdalah came and times and is mentioned in the Mel Etra went and still the fruit remained Babylonian Talmud. There are a uneaten. After Melava Malka, the number of reasons given for this: wrote: mystical meal served at the conclu- So as not to cause those who sion of Shabbat, the host could con- are unmarried to feel left out. Dear Rabbi, tain himself no longer. Mustering up We come to synagogue to relate What is the origin of the his courage, he asked his august guest to G-d as Jews, not as spouses, halacha (custom?) that one why he hadnt eaten the fruit. husbands, wives, fathers or must recite at least 100 bless- The Brisker Rav answered that at mothers. With a mechitzah, ings during the course of each first he had needed the fruit because spouses do not sit together. That day? Thank you. he was missing two blessings from the way, we are more of a congrega- required hundred. (An apple requires tion than groups of individuals. Dear Mel Etra, the blessing for fruits of the tree and To prevent there being a light, In the time of Kind David 100 peo- a banana requires the blessing for social atmosphere during prayer. ple were dying every day due to a ter- fruits of the earth.) However, during The atmosphere during prayer rible plague. The Sages at that time the afternoon synagogue service he should be serious. One way to perceived the plagues spiritual was called up to the Torah where he help achieve the proper atmos- essence and instituted 100 blessings a recited two blessings: One before phere is by creating a division day. The plague stopped. the Torah reading and one after. between men and women. Even after the plague, the 100 To promote modesty, and to blessing requirement still applies. Sources: prevent the distraction from Many halachic works make an Tractate Menachot 43b prayer to both men and women Aruch Hashulchan Orach Chaim 46 accounting of exactly 100 blessings from the presence of members which are said in the course of every of the opposite gender, to whom normal weekday. DIVIDED WE STAND there is a natural attraction. On Shabbat (and festivals) the accounting is different. This is David Salvadori from Italy Sources: because the silent amidah prayer on wrote: Tractate Succah 51b, 52a Shabbat has fewer blessings than the weekday amidah prayer. So on Dear Rabbi, Shabbat you need to make up for the YIDDLE RIDDLE missing blessings. You can do so by Please, why can men and eating different types of foods, women not stay near each other in the synagogue? Somebody Last week we asked: smelling various spices, and saying the The name of which Parsha has the appropriate blessing for each one. told me that it is because same gematria numerical value Or, according to some authorities, women can disturb men during as the number of its verses? you can fill in the missing blessings by the prayer with their voices. Is listening to the blessings made during this the answer or there are the Torah reading and saying amen. other matters? Where is writ- Answer: Theres a story told about the ten in the Torah such rule? Parshat Tzav, which has 96 verses. Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yitzchak Zeev Shalom The word Tzav has the numerical Soloveichik, who was once a guest at value of 96. (By the way, Parshat someones home in Switzerland. On Dear David Salvadori, Terumah also has 96 verses.) Shabbat afternoon he asked his host The law requiring a mechitzah, for a banana and an apple, but he did- division, between men and women in GETGET CONNECTEDCONNECTED To OHR SOMAYACH on the WEB OVER HALF A BILLION BYTES OF TORAH LITERATURE AND INFORMATION wwwwww.ohr.ohr.or.org.ilg.il

5 PARSHA Q&A!

Answers to this Weeks Questions! All references are to the verses and Rashis commentary unless otherwise stated.

1. 38:21 - To allude to the Beis Leviim). erected and dismantled the Hamikdash that would twice 7. 39:1 - Linen. (See Rashi 31:10). Mishkan. (Rashi 39:29) be taken as a mashkon 8. 39:3 - The gold was beaten into 14. 40:19 - The curtain of goat- (pledge) for the sins of the thin plates from which threads skin. Jewish People until the nation were cut. (See Rashi 28:6). 15. 40:20 - The Luchos HaBris. repents. 9. 39:6, 39:7 - The names of the 16. 40:21 - It served as a partition 2. 38:21 - It was testimony for the tribes. for the Aron. Jewish People that Hashem 10. 39:24,25 - Woven pomegran- 17. 40:22 - On the northern side of forgave them for the golden ates and golden bells. the Ohel Moed, outside the calf and allowed His Shechina 11. 39:31 - Tefillin. Paroches. to dwell among them. 12. 39:33 - He stood it up. 18. 40:24 - On the southern side of 3. 38:21 - The Leviim. 13. 40:17 - Rosh Chodesh Nissan of the Ohel Moed opposite the 4. 38:21 - Isamar ben Aharon. the second year in the Midbar. Shulchan. 5. 38:22 - In the shadow of G-d. For seven days before this, 19. 40:29 - Moshe. 6. 38:26 - 603,550. Every man age during the consecration of 20. 40:31 - On the eighth day of twenty and over (except the Aharon and his sons, Moshe the consecration of the Mishkan.

BONUS ANSWER!

Because everyone gave exactly half of a silver shekel, the total amount of silver was public knowledge. Therefore, the more relevant question regarding the silver was How was it used? The gold, however, had been a free will offering, each person giving as much as he wanted. Therefore, the most relevant question regarding the gold was How much was donated. Ahavas Yonasan (thanks to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane)