~~~~~ Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 1 of 8

Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 1 of 8

In This Issue

Letter From A Parent "A Parshat Terumah Surprising Visit"

HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Terumah "THOUGHTS FOR PURIM"

Staff Dvar Torah By Rav Yitzchak Landa "DONATIONS TO THE MISHKAN...- FROM THE HEART"

Netiv HaChinuch - For Parents and Teachers "FIRST WORK ON YOURSELF"

Dedications, Visitors, Mazal T ov' s, T ehilim List

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Alumni Update Form

Rabbanit Malke Bina´s Parsha Glimpse

THE ANNUAL YNA ALUMNI SHABBATON IN WOODMERE WILL BE MARCH 23-24 PARSHAT VAYIKRA AT DRS. The Rabbanim attending will be HaRav Aharon Bina, Rav Yaakov Darmoni, Rav Amos Luban, Rav Yoel Rackovsky, and Rav Zvi Ron. To register click here.

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Alumni Shiurim In Israel

"Preparing for Purim"

Next Thursday night March 1st, Erev Parshat Tetzaveh (Shabbat Zachor) there will b'ezrat HaShem be shiurim for alumni at the Yeshiva. Rav Yoel Yehoshua will speak at 9 PM followed by HaRav Aharon Bina. Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 2 of 8

Shabbat Schedule "Out" Shabbat with Rav Kenny Hirschhorn and family 4:57 Candlelighting 5:15 Mincha on our porch overlooking the Kotel 5:35 Vatikin 8:30 Second Shachrit 4:15 Shiur by Rav Hirschhorn 5:00 Mincha ~~~

70 Students, HaRav Aharon Bina and HaRav Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl are in Meron for an optional Shabbaton

Letter From A Parent

A LETTER OF RECOGNITION

I am on my way back from the land I love the most, the land that I am connected to with my soul, a land that Jews from all over the world pray every day to be able to live in, a land that one day - if I will be fortunate enough and have sufficient zechuyot- I will live in myself.

I came for a five day visit in Jerusalem to see my son Ben whom I miss so much. Ben is currently a "Shana Alef" student at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh. I wanted to meet the people he has been talking about day and night for the past few months.

I am on my way back to my temporary home in the USA, and to my wonderful family. My soul is overwhelmed with feelings and thoughts like never before.

During my short stay I was in and out of "YNA" at all hours of the day and night - I was there as early as 9:30am and as late as 2:30am. I felt so much genuine warmth, I felt so welcome every hour I visited, from every person that I met, starting from the young men studying in "Shana Alef, Bet and Gimel", the secretaries Tova and Dina, the madrichim, Executive Director Uri Kari, the distinguished Rabbanim, HaRav Chanan Bina, and of course the Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Aharon Bina (I am wondering if HaRav Bina ever sleeps...it's a mystery).

When an institution's doors are open round-the-clock - this means that they are not hiding anything - that they feel confident in the way they are carrying out their "mission".

I feel so fortunate and blessed that Hashem directed my husband and myself to choose "YNA" as a home this year for our son Ben. During my visits I witnessed current and past students as well as their parents being drawn to visit again and again by invisible and magic "magnets" called "love and being loved".

Rav Bina in his own special way assisted by his son Rav Chanan with his great wisdom and warm smile, understand that students have been endowed with different strengths and weaknesses, different talents and gifts. Every student receives what is fitting for them to insure their positive development as a devout Jew and as a future family man.

Rav Darmoni, Rav Chizkiya, Rav Refael, Uri Kari and the madrichim Yossi and Yonathan are just some of the people that I met during those few days. I was very taken by the passion they had for teaching and taking care of all the students. The homes of the Rabbanim are open, their wives are very supportive in welcoming students as well as their parents to their most private place- their home!

I have returned to my family, having said goodbye to my son leaving him to complete Shana Alef at Netiv. I now understand that the views and expectations I had at the beginning of the year were mistaken. I thought that I was sending my son to strengthen his Jewish identity, to make sure that he will walk with a kippa over his head and put on his teffilin everyday. Now I know that Rav Bina was RIGHT! The main purpose of this year is NOT to become a "black hat".

The main purpose of this year in the opinion of Rav Bina, Rav Chanan and all the Rabbanim and counselors is to give "a final touch" (while it's still possible) to our boys so they will know how to become better Jews, better human beings, givers to their future communities, Jews with good values, dedicated family members, and husbands and fathers that Klal Yisrael can be proud of. Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 3 of 8

I thank Hashem for having been granted the opportunity to experience the "ruach" in Netiv, and I bless every person at Netiv who touches my son's life with good health, happiness, and nachat. May you grow from strength to strength!

God bless you.

Final note: I welcome any parent that has in mind to give the gift of a year in Israel to their son to call me at 516-967-5520 and hear about my experience as a parent visiting in "Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh".

Sincerely, Shifra Yehoshua.

Send Shalach Manot in Israel

If you want to send Shalach manot to someone in Israel, here are two suggestions. (For informational purposes only- they are not affiliated with the Yeshiva.)

Gili's Goodies and Purim-Paks

HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Terumah

HaRav Nebenzahl asks that his Divrei Torah are not read during Tefillah or the Rabbi's sermon.

Parshas Terumah 5772

THOUGHTS FOR PURIM

This week's parsha details the commandment to construct the Mishkan. One of the vessels in the Mishkan is the Shulchan for the Lechem HaPanim. There were three vessels in the Mishkan which had a golden crown - the Shulchan, the Aron, and the Mizbeach. Chazal teach us that these correspond to three crowns - the Shulchan corresponds to the crown of Malchus, the Aron corresponds to the crown of Torah, and the Mizbeach corresponds to the crown of Kehuna.

I believe that the allocation of these three crowns can answer a question that had puzzled me. The Tanach, and later the Gemara, describe how Dovid escapes from Shaul who is seeking to kill him and how he finds refuge in Nov Ir HaKohanim which was the home of the mishkan. Dovid, who was fleeing for his life, had not eaten in a very long time and was ravenously hungry. He approached Achimelech the Kohen Gadol and asked him if there was any bread to spare. The only bread available was that of the lechem hapanim which was always placed on the shulchan on Erev Shabbos and eaten on Shabbos a week later by the Kohanim. Under normal circumstances, of course, a non-Kohen is forbidden to partake of the lechem hapanim. However, realizing that Dovid was in a state of pikuach nefesh Achimelech gave David the lechem hapanim because the saving of a life takes precedence.

Dovid HaMelech arrived in Nov on Shabbos, the day of the changing of the duty roster of the Kohanim. There were therefore twenty-four loaves on the shulchan - twelve for the mishmar which had just finished and twelve for the new mishmar. From the fact that Dovid ate a huge amount of bread we can deduce that he must have been extremely hungry. Why did Hashem make Dovid HaMelech so hungry that he was forced to consume bread generally forbidden to one who is not a descendant of Aharon HaKohen? Did Hashem not wish to keep him alive? Furthermore, could Hashem not have produced bread other than the Lechem HaPanim for Dovid to eat?

I believe Hashem engineered things in order to hand Dovid HaMelech the keser malchus in this manner. As we mentioned, because he was not a descendant of Aharon, David was not Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 4 of 8

entitled to partake of the bread on the shulchan. By placing him in a state of pikuach nefesh, he now had the right to the food on the shulchan, in this way also taking possession of the crown adorning it - the keser malchus.

Every korban which is offered brings blessing. The Lechem HaPanim brings bracha to our food, while we find in the Gemara in Rosh Hashana that the Omer offered on Pesach brings bracha to the wheat, the Shtei HaLechem of Shavuos brings bracha to the fruits, while the nisuch hamayim of Sukkos brings bracha to the water. These and other korbanos bring bracha to the entire world. We find in the Gemara that while the Beis HaMikdash was standing the wine of Yehuda used for nisuch hayaayin was blessed.

We find in the Zohar that a person should have 12 challos on Shabbos corresponding to the twelve loaves of the Lechem HaPanim. There were many Chassidic Rebbes who had this practice. The Vilna Gaon cites the Gemara which states that we should use two challos. The Gaon claims that the Zohar and the Gemara differ on only one issue and this is not it. How then does the Gaon reconcile the Zohar which states that one should use twelve challos on Shabbos with the Gemara which requires two challos? He claims that at each meal both challos should be cut (not only the bottom at night or the top during the day as is the general practice). When both challos are cut it is as if there are four challos on the table. Four challos at each of three Shabbos meals means a total of twelve for the entire Shabbos.

Parshas Emor details all of the moadim beginning with Shabbos. This section of the parsha is followed by details concerning the menorah. The Rokeach comments that the juxtaposition teaches us that this alludes to a future Yom Tov M'D'Rabbanan referring to Chanukah. We then find a description of the Shulchan and the Lechem HaPanim. Some commentaries claim that this is an allusion to a Yom Tov relating to the Shulchan - Purim.

What is the connection between Purim and the Shulchan? The miracle of Purim came about through Esther's two feasts Esther made. To commemorate this, Purim was established as a Yom Tov of feasting.

The Gemara cites the following discussion:

"The disciples asked R' Shimon ben Yochai: 'why did the enemies of Israel of that generation deserve extermination?' He said to them: 'You say the reason'. They said to him: 'Because they derived pleasure from the feast of that wicked one (Achashverosh)'. R' Shimon ben Yochai replied to them: 'if so, if Haman's decree was a punishment for their enjoying the king's banquet, only the Jews of Shushan should have been ordered killed for only they partook on of the fest. However the Jews in the rest of the entire world should not have been ordered killed.' The students said to him: 'since our answer is not satisfactory, you tell us why all the Jews were liable'. He said to them: 'Because they prostrated themselves to an image in the days of Nebuchadnezzar'" (Megillah 12a).

The decree was even approved and accepted in Heaven. Following the people repenting and having accepted the leadership of Mordechai and Esther the decree was annulled.

The Chassam Sofer explains why the transgression of eating from the feast of Achashverosh was worthy of such severe punishment. The seudah in itself, as Chazal teach us, was Glatt Kosher - all hechsherim were available. In today's terms we would say that one who insisted on Bada"tz Eida Chareidis was able to find food as was one who only ate Bada"tz Beis Yosef. The problem was that the basis for the seudah was "not kosher" for two reasons. Firstly, the feast was Achashverosh celebrating the fact that the Beis HaMikdash was not yet constructed. He went so far as to adorn the celebration with vessels from the Beis HaMikdash. A Jew should certainly not join such a celebration. Secondly, Achashverosh's plan was for the Jewish people to assimilate among the non-Jews.

Mordechai told them not go. Not only did they not heed Mordechai's directive but they blamed his not bowing down to Haman for all their troubles. The Chassam Sofer states that the idol bowed down to during the days of Nebuchadnezzar was not a real avoda zara but was a statue which Nebuchadnezzar erected in his honor as a symbol of his kingship. Had they refused to bow they would have created a great Kiddush Hashem. The fact that only Chananya, Mishael, and Azaryah wished to make such a Kiddush Hashem angered Hashem.

According to the first reason, that Purim is the people's repenting for having partaken in the feast of Achasheverosh, we fast on Ta'anit Esther as a tikkun for perhaps having eaten too much.

The Rambam writes about the importance of having a seudah on Purim, but says that more should be spent on Matanot LaEvyonim. Those who speak English can find an allusion in the Megillah itself: "these days were called Purim - al shem haPur - for the lottery." If we spell haPur - as hapoor - this means that the name Purim was given on account of the poor.

We mentioned that the Jewish people were angry at Mordechai for not bowing down to Haman and blamed him for Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 5 of 8

all their troubles. They then repented and the decree of Haman was retracted - they acknowledged that Mordechai had been right all along.

We find another well-known question posed by the Chassam Sofer. Purim is a celebration of the days in which the Jewish people rested after having defeated the enemy - the prazim on the fourteenth and Shushan along with the walled cities on the fifteenth. The Chassam Sofer wonders why we do not celebrate Purim on the thirteenth of Adar when we achieved victory over our enemies, that way the entire nation would celebrate together. The Chassam Sofer explains that if the entire nation would celebrate Purim on the same day then there would be an entire day in which Torah is not learned - this would be disastrous for the Klal Yisrael and for the entire world. Now that we divide it up over two days, when the prazim are drinking and feasting then the mukafim are learning, and the following day when the mukafim are drinking and feasting the prazim are learning Torah.

This is a beautiful answer, but I would like to suggest another explanation. In Shushan the Jewish people issued a "modaa raba l'Oraysa" that their acceptance of the Torah had been under duress when Hashem placed a mountain over them and threatened to annihilate them should they not accept the Torah. The acceptance of the Torah was therefore not out of their own volition but out of being forced.

It appears from Yechezkel that following the destruction they wished even less to observe the Torah. They were told that the destruction would last for only 70 years. At the conclusion of 70 years Coresh ordered the construction of the second Beit HaMikdash. They all were happy to see that the prophets were right. However, then came a decree to stop the construction, fearing that they were planning a revolt against Coresh. He therefore issued a letter instructing them to cease construction. For the following 18 years, during the reign of Achashverosh, construction was halted. The people now thought that perhaps the prophets were mistaken.

They therefore issued a "modaa rabba l'Oraysa" that they do not wish to accept the Torah, for they see no end to the churban. Following the miracle victory when they saw Hashem's hand, they accepted the Torah this time out of free will. In the words of the Gemara, which has become a popular Purim song: "hadur kibluha bimei Achashverosh" "they accepted it again during the days of Achashverosh." We are unable to celebrate on the day of the victory of the war because until the victory was complete they were still accepting the Torah out of fear. It was only after the war ended, when they no longer were under the threat of their enemies that the acceptance of the Torah was out of free will. Celebrating the days in which they rested from their enemies means that the prazim celebrate on the 14th while the people of Shushan celebrate on the 15th.

The Purim celebration is not only for having rested, but for having accepted the Torah out of free will which took place on the day they rested from the enemies. Our simcha is not only because Hashem saved us from Haman and his cohorts but due to our having accepted the Torah out of our own free will. We therefore feast, send mishloach manos, give matanos laevyonim to show that we are not only thankful for being saved from the evil Haman but for having reaccepted the Torah out of our own free will. Purim is a third kabbalas HaTorah, the first was on Shavuos, the second after the chet haegel, and the third was on Purim.

Staff Dvar Torah By Rav Yitzchak Landa

DONATIONS TO THE MISHKAN

- FROM THE HEART

In this week's Parsha, we learn about the building of the mishkan. The pasuk says (Perek 25, Pasuk 3-9) "Vezot Haterumah asher tikchu mei'etam, zahav, vachesef u'nechoset...avnei shoham v'avnei miluim".

The Ohr HaChaim asks why it is that the most expensive, rare and precious items, the avnei choshen and avnei miluim (the stones for the eiphod and breastplate) are mentioned after all the other items donated for the mishkan - we would think that they should be listed first, not last!

One answer given by the Ohr HaChaim is that these precious stones were attained without any toil. They were donated by the leaders of the tribes who received the stones as a gift from Hashem. The Gemara (Yoma 65.) says that they were delivered to their doorsteps by clouds.

Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, ztz"l, the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, expounds on this Ohr HaChaim. When discussing the gifts Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 6 of 8

brought for the mishkan, the Pasuk says "Kol asher yidvenu libo" - whatever your heart encourages you to bring. Hashem was looking for gifts from the heart. The more a person works for something, the more precious it becomes to him. Gifts or items received without effort are far less meaningful - easy come, easy go. An item for which one worked hard and expended effort is valuable to him; by donating those hard earned gifts to the mishkan, the person was really offering their heart to Hashem. This is the meaning of the Ohr HaChaim - despite the higher monetary value of the stones brought by the elders, they were the least important in the eyes of Hashem, for they did not work for them at all. When it comes to serving Hashem, Hashem is concerned with the effort and energy we put into our mitzvah observance, not the price tag attached.

The poor man who scrapes together $10 for charity is on equal footing with the wealthy individual who donates millions. A person who utilizes small windows of opportunity to learn or perform mitzvos, or who invests a lot of effort into their Avodas Hashem is at least as important as the person who has all day to devote to learning or for whom it comes naturally. They are offering their heart, and that is the most precious gift we can give Hashem.

Netiv HaChinuch - For Parents and Teachers

Netiv HaChinuch shares the insights and wisdom of an adam gadol whom we have recently lost - HaGaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt"l - Rosh Yeshivat Ponovezh l'Zeirim. From his early days in Ponovezh, HaRav Bina Shlit"a maintained an especially close connection with HaRav Lefkowitz zt"l. Our weekly series will contain excerpts from Imrei Da'at - HaRav Lefkowitz' sichot and letters to educators in the area of chinuch.

#21 FIRST WORK ON YOURSELF

The Yaa'vetz in his commentary to the Mishna in Pirke Avos which states that whoever does for the benefit of the public will be protected from sin (Avos 5:21), cites the meforshim which state that Free Choice still exists, rather Hashem protects him from nisayon, thereby protecting him from sin. The Mishna states that Moshe was meritorious and brought merit to the masses and the merit of the masses reverted back to him. The Yaa'avetz explains that "all that he would do was related and credited to him for he is the one who taught them Torah and taught them the will of Hashem, therefore everything relates to him."

To be meritorious, the Rav must work on himself to become be worthy. Commenting on the above Mishna, the Mashgiach zt"l (Ohr Yechezekl) states that being worthy is a prerequisite for being able to bring merit to others. Only one who is meritorious, one who has worked on himself to rise in spirituality - only he is able to be a mezakeh. This is why the tanna made meriting conditional on bringing merit to others. Great effort is demanded in imparting Torah onto others, it must begin with working on yourself - one who strives to rise to a higher level of spirituality has the ability and the privilege of bringing merit onto his talmidim.

Petuchei Chotam on Parshat Terumah

Rav Chanan Bina will be teaching a passage from the sefer Petuchei Chotam each week on the parshat hashavua. The sefer was written by HaRav Yaakov Abuchatzeira zt"l.

Click here to listen.

Dedications, Visitors, Mazal Tov's, Tehilim List Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 7 of 8

Dedications

Thursday Night Ohr Hachaim Shiur is sponsored by an anonymous alumnus (5766) in Hakarat Hatov to Rav Bina for all that he does. This week the shiur is being given by Rav Bina at Kever Rashbi in Meron before Vatikin Friday morning do to the optional Shabbaton in Meron.

The following people visited the Yeshiva:

Ronnie Eisenmann (5746)

Mazal tov's

Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh would like to wish a mazal tov to:

Yossi (Joseph) Pasternak (5768-69) on his marriage to Rebecca Margulies. Eytan Austein (5769-70) on his engagement to Elizabeth Goldstein. Rav Chaim and Aliza Eisenstein on the Bar Mitzva of their son Shmuel Menachem and the Bat Mitzva of their daughter Chaya Dina. Rav Yoel & Ruth Yehoshua on the wedding of their daughter Rena to Yitzchak Steinberg.

Baruch Dayan Emet

Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh regrets to inform you of the passing of:

R' Yosef Rotenberg z"l, father of Tova Tepper (Rav Bina's secretary). The grandfather of Moshe Dechter (Current student) and Nathan Gelman. In the Yeshiva Nathan made a siyum on Mesechet Makot marking the end of the shiva, and his mother spoke a few words to all of the students about her father.

Tehilim List

The following members of our extended YNA family need our tefilot:

Michoel Pinchas ben Frachah Yaakov Dov ben Blima Chana Miriam Rivka bat Adina Leah Ada Bat Miriam Rachel bat Chana Reuven ben Tova Chaya Yehuda Pinchas ben Asna Aharon ben Simah Sagit bat Esther Shayna bat Chava Fruma bat Ita Zev Eliezer ben Chaya Shaindel Chaya bat Grunia Avram Gershon ben Tzippa Tamara Nechama bat Karmela Reuven HaLevi ben Sheina Ester bat Chaya Ari ben Rivka Binyamin Yonatan ben Leikah Yosef ben Golda Chaya Chana bat Alta Rivkah Esther bat Brana Yosef ben Hilda Miriam bat Shulamit Maron ben Hadas Esther Rivka Chava bat Rachel Daniel ben Shira Tzvia Margalit Chaya bat Rachel Chinoam Rina bat Avital Hoday-ya David ben Leah Ditza bat Vardit Tali bat Devorah Bina Elizabeth bat Annette Akiva ben Gittel Yitzchak Shraga ben Chava Chaya bat Chana Shmuel Chai ben Hadassa Evelyn bat Dina Alyza Sarah bat Yehudit Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Newsletter Parshat Terumah 8 of 8

Avraham Elizar ben Chana Pesha Inbal bat Nelya Dovid Halevi ben Emunah Yeshaya Zalman Ben Elka Rivkah Mordechai Eliezer Hacohen ben Esther Rav Avraham Zev (Levi) ben Faiga Miriam Daniel ben Shira Tzivia Yeshaya Zalmen ben Elka Leah bat Malka Chaya Rivkah Bas Sheva bas Devorah

And of course we are always davening for the release of

Jonathan Pollard (Yehonatan ben Malka Pollard)

Submit Names to the list.

Send Us Your Announcements

Please, if you have any smachot or chas v'shalom, less happy occasions, let our office know so we can keep everybody updated. 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