בס''ד

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SHABBAT SCHEDULE When we start Pesah please look at the WEEKLY SCHEDULE Candle Lighting: 7:16pm Pesah Schedule for all the times BH. SUNDAY Minha 6:00/7:15pm Shaharit: 6:15am Shir Hashirim: 6:20pm BH we will be doing Birkat Hailanot Hodu approx.: 6:35am Shaharit Netz Minyan: 6:20am once we ascertain a place with two fruit Shaharit #2 Hodu 8:30am Shaharit: 8:00am trees blossming. Minha 7:25pm Followed by Arvit. Zeman Keriat Shema 9:47am

2nd Zeman Keriat Shema 10:21am We would like to wish a Hearty Mazal Tov to all those who finished Masechet MONDAY TO Seudat Shelishit should be done FRIDAY at home prior to coming to the Pesahim in Daf Yomi. BH we started Bet Hakenesset. Masechet Shekalim for 22 days. Anyone Shaharit 6:15am Early Minha 2:00pm interested in joining the Daf Yomi with Daf Yomi Recess Shiur 6:30pm the rest of the World Please contact the Shaharit #2 Hodu 8:30am Minha 7:25pm Minha: 7:00pm Rabbi for more details. Don’t miss this Followed by Arvit & Followed by Devar Torah & Arvit golden oppurtunity to jump on the Shiurim Start Pesah 8:16pm Bandwagon! Shiur in Spanish Recess

Shabbat Ends: 8:16pm We would like to remind our Kahal Kadosh to please Donate wholeheartedly towards our Beautiful Kehila. Anyone interested in donating for any occasion, Avot Ubanim $120, Kiddush $350, Seudat Shelishit $275, Weekly Bulletin Rabbenu$150, Weekly Tam Daf Yomi 8:44$180,pm Daf Yomi Masechet $2500, Yearly Daf Yomi $5000, Weekly Breakfast $150, Daily Learning $180, Weekly Learning $613, Monthly Rent $3500, & Monthly Learning $2000, Please contact the Board

Thanking you in advance for your generous support. Tizke Lemitzvot!

בס''ד Donors Column We Sincerely Thank you for your generous contributions this Week! We truly appreciate it! Hashem should Bless you all with Health, Happiness, Parnasah Tova, Success, & All the Berachot of the Torah Amen!

• Dr. Ari Benmergui • Mr. Yaacov Allouche • Mr. David Cohen • Mr. Benjamin Akkad

• Mr. Raphael Akkad • Mr. Alberto Belecen • Mr. Moshe Suissa • Mr. Haim Lahmi • Mr. Yaacov Aronovici • Dr. Jean Jacques Edderai

• R’ Ariel Cohen • Mr. Amram Mouyal

If anyone would like to contact our Synagogue, please feel free to email [email protected]

Torah Teasers (AISH) 1. Besides this parsha, which other Parshat have only two letters in their name? (2 answers) 2. Where does the word for "ash" (deshen) appear in the Torah (5 times)? 3. What commandment involves removing one's clothing? Where else in the book of Leviticus is there a command to remove clothing? 4. What type of a vessel is mentioned for the first time in this parsha? 5. Which offering in this parsha is brought with leavened bread (chametz)? What other offering is brought with chametz? 6. The violation of eating blood is referenced in this parsha (Leviticus 7:26). Where is the first time the Torah mentions blood? 7. In what context is a basket mentioned in this parsha? Where is the first time the Torah mentions a basket? 8. Three parts of the body appear in this parsha, and in two other places in the Chumash. What are there and where do they appear? 9. Which other parsha has the letters of "Tzav" as part of its name? What other Parshat contain the name of another parsha?

Answers 1) In the book of Genesis there is Parshat Noach, and in the book of Exodus there is Parshat Bo. 2) Deshen appears twice in this parsha (Leviticus 6:3-4) and three times in Parshat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:16, 4:12). 3) When the Kohen performs the commandment of terumas hadeshen, removing of a portion of the previous day's ashes from the altar, he first removes his finer clothing and puts on other clothing (Leviticus 6:4). During the Temple service on Yom Kippur (detailed in Parshat Acharai Mot), the High Priest removes his regular eight garments and instead wears plain white linen clothing. This was done whenever he entered the Holy of Holies. When the service is finished, he would remove the white linen garments and puts on his eight garments (Leviticus 16:23). 4) An earthenware vessel is mentioned for the first time in Leviticus 6:21. 5) In this parsha, the Korbon Todah (Thanksgiving offering) is brought with loaves of leavened bread (Leviticus 7:13). Parshat Emor describes the Two Loaves brought on the festival of Shavuot, comprised of loaves of leavened bread (Leviticus 23:17).

(Genesis 4:10). 6) In Parshat Bereshit, after Kayin kills Hevel, Hashem confronts Kayin and says to him: "The blood of your brother cries out to Me from the ground"

7) In this parsha, the consecration of the Kohanim involves taking a "basket with matzot" (Leviticus 8:2). In Parshat Vayeshev, Pharaoh's chief baker

describes a dream where he is carrying three baskets on his head filled with baked goods (Genesis 40:16-17).

8) The three parts are thumb, big toe, and cartilage inside the ear. In this parsha, during the inauguration of Aharon and his sons, some blood from an

offering is placed on these parts of their bodies (Leviticus 8:23-24). These parts also appear in Parshat Tetzaveh, where the inauguration process is first described

(Exodus 29:20). In Parshat Metzora, these same body parts are mentioned with regard to the purification process of the metzorah (Leviticus 14:14-28).

9) Parshat Tetzaveh in the book of Exodus contains the name Tzav. Other pairings include: (1) Vayishlach and Shlach (2) Beshalach and Shlach. (3)

Mishpatim and Shoftim. (4) Bechokotai and Chukat. (5) Pinchas and Noach. One might also include Vayelech, which has the first word of Lech Lecha, as

well as Ki Tavo, which contains Bo spelled without a vav.

Community Announcements בס''ד (It is YOUR Community, make the most of it!)

Miscellaneous Announcements:

• This Week’s Congregational Kiddush/Seudat Shelishit & Breakfast is in Recess.

• This Week’s Daf Yomi has been Kindly Sponsored by Mrs. Jeannine Fuhrmann in memory of her Dear th Mother Hassibah Bat Djamilah z”l the 19 of Nisan. Tihye Nishmata Tzerura Bitzror Hahayim Amen.

• This Week’s Daf Yomi has been Kindly Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Albert Belecen in memory of his Dear

st Uncle Moshe Ben Abraham z”l 21 of Nisan. Tihye Nishmato Tzerura Bitzror Hahayim Amen.

• This Week’s Learning has been Kindly Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Sammy Maya & Family in Memory of th his Dear Grandmother Oro Bat Sinuru z”l the 18 of Nisan. Tihye Nishmata Tzerura Bitzror Hahayim Amen.

• This Week’s Learning has been Kindly Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Salomon Cohen in Memory of her Dear th Father Modejai (Mathias) Bar Hanna z”l the 18 of Nisan. Tihye Nishmato Tzerura Bitzror Hahayim Amen.

• The Community wishes Condolences to our Dear Mr. Salomon Murciano & Mrs. Simi Benmergui on the

passing of their Dear Mother Felicia Amalia Greenberg de Murciano z”l. Tihye Nishmata Tzerura Bitzror

Hahayim Began Eden Amen! Min Hashamayim Tenuhamu!

• We are trying to update our Congregant’s contact information. We would like to start sending texts about different Events and Shiurim.

We would also like to start emailing the weekly bulletin. We would like to start a list of Nahalot/Azkarot/Yahrzeits. We would also

like to make a Refuah Shelema list. Please send your contact information to the Board at [email protected]

Important Message!!!

Eruv Update: Surfside: The Eruv in Surfside now includes the walking paths along the beach. Pushing strollers and carrying is permitted on

the paths, but not beyond the path or onto the beach. Bal Harbour: The Eruv in Bal Harbour included the inner (western) walking path only. The pier at Haulover Cut is not included.

• Before hanging up anything anywhere in the Bet Hakenesset, please seek authorization from the Board. This includes flyers etc. • Please be advised that prior to bringing any food or drinks for any occasion, you must first seek the authorization from the Board.

Special Announcements

• We are pleased to announce that Ness 26 is part of the Amazon Charity Program, which would allow our community to collect 0.5% of all the orders

made by any of you on Amazon.com. In order to register you need to log on smile.amazon.com and select Ness 26, Inc as the Charitable Organization

you want to support, and from then shop on smile.amazon.com instead of www.amazon.com. It won’t cost anything more, and is an easy way to contribute

to our budget needs.

• Anyone wishing to receive the Daily Halacha please send a whatsapp message to Simon Chocron 786-351-1573

Community Calendar:

The program for Teenaged Boys ages 13-18 Started again with Great Succes with Shiur & Supper on Sunday Evenings After Arvit at around at • 6:30 pm With Supper. New Participants Welcome! Anyone wishing to sponsor this Shiur Please contact the Board. Tizke Lemitzvot! In Recess

• We have started the Mishmar Program Every other Thursday evening at 8:00 pm with Chulent, Beer, & Snacks. Everyone is welcome!

Avot Ubanim: This Mosae Shabbat at 7:50pm

Youth Minyan • We are very proud of our YOUTH/TEEN MINYAN lead by our Dear Dr. Ari Benmergui geared to train and teach our future generations on the

different Tefillot and Parashiyot. Please encourage your children to come early & participate. Looking forward to seeing lots of Nahat from them!

Refuah Shelema List

Men Women

• Yosef Zvi Ben Sara Yosefia, • Isaac Ben Mesoda, • Simja Bat Esther, • Sara Ledicia Bat Mesoda,

• Yosef Haim Ben Mesouda • Haim Ben Marcelle, • Rachel Bat Sarah, • Alegria Simha Bat Esther, • Mordechai Ben Brucha Malka Shmalo • Yizhak Ben Simja • Nina Bat Rachel, • Naomie Bat Rarel Adda, • Yizhak Abraham Ben Sheli, • Reuben Ben Eta, • Gitel Rina Bat Yael, • Malka Bat Joyce Simja, • Yosef Yizhak Ben Sara Hana, • Michael Ben Aliza, • Miriam Bat Sofy, • Sivan Simha Bat Yehudit, • Mordechai Ben Miriam, • Avraham Ben Leah • Rahma Bat Simha • Natalie Rachel Bat Nancy, • Meir Raymond Ben Mathilde • Ruben Leib Ben Eta • Esther Bat Fortuna • Abigael Haya Bat Esther • Nathan Moshe Hai Ben Miryam • David Benichu Bar • Malka Bat Dina • Madeleine Bat Esther Jaqueline Sandy Aicha • Raizel Bat Miriam • Nurit Jacqueline Bat • Yaakov Ben Simha Alegria • Menahem Ben Shira • Leah Bat Rivka Rahel • Aviv Ben Luba Miriam • Moshe Ben Rahel • Sol Bat Perla • Marcelle Mesoda Bat • Mordechai Ben Mercedes • David Ben Freha Rina • Chana Bat Bilha Alegria • Yaacov Refael Ben Alegria • Eva Bat Yael Khayat • Yael Bat Rut • Shalom Gibly Ben Fortuna • Camouna Bat Fortuna

בס''ד

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We would like to Wholeheartedly Thank our Dear Friends, Mr. & Mrs. Ronen Cohen for generously Donating the TORAH LEARNING of Nisan 5781 Leiluy Nishmat Shalom Bitton Bar Rachel z”l the 5th of Nisan Tihye Nishmato Tzerura Bitzror Hahayim Amen! We truly appreciate it. In this merit may Hashem Bless you & your wonderful family with all the Berachot of the Torah. Amen.

Happy Birthday To • Eliyahu Benmergui Ben Luna z”l the 19th of Nisan th (Father of Mr. Abraham Benmergui) • Saadia Aquinin – Mon. Mar. 29 ,

th • Mr. Irving Levine – Mon. Mar. 29 , Next Shabbat: st • Mrs. Evelyn Belecen – Wed. Mar. 31 . • Moshe Belecen Ben Abraham z”l 21st of Nisan • Benjamin Cohen – Thurs. Apr. 1st , (Uncle of Mr. Albert Belecen)(Shabbat) • Michael Taieb – Thurs. Apr. 8th , • Hadra Benmergui Bat Sara z”l 22nd of Nisan • Mrs. Batya Belecen – Shab. Apr. 10th , (Aunt of Sr. Mose Benmergui) • Mrs. Tiffany Lemmel (Shoshan)–Shab. Apr. 10th • Donna Alfon Bat Clara z”l • Eden Grace Albergel – Mon. Apr. 13th , (Mother of Mr. Alberto Alfon) • Eliyahu Chocron – Tue. Apr. 14th , • Simon Chocron Ben Perla z”l

• Mr. Sammy Maya – Tue. Apr. 14th , (Grandfather of Mr. Simon Chocron)

rd Happy Anniversary To • David Ben Luisa Murciano z”l 23 of Nisan (Uncle of Mr. Saadia Aquinin.) Nahalot • Luna Chocron Bat Simha z”l 24th of Nisan th • Oro Bat Sinuru z”l 18 of Nisan (Grandmother of Simon Chocron) (Mother of Mr. Shabetai Maya z”l) • Mahluf Rene Bsiri z”l 26th of Nisan th • Freja Bat Rivka z”l the 18 of Nisan (Father of Mr.Stephane Bsiri) (Aunt of Mrs. Ruby Mouyal) • Nathanel Bsiri z”l th • Hassiba Bat Djamilah z”l 19 of Nisan (Brother of Mr. Stephane Bsiri) (Mother of Mrs. Jeannine Furhmann) • Reouven Roger z”l 26th of Nisan (Father of Mrs. Julia Bsiri)

בס''ד single unit. As such, it reflects the drastic WEEKLY INSPIRATION transformation that they had undergone – from the time of Mechirat Yosef, when they turned against their brother, to the point where they Pesah: Earning merged into a single "bundle," bound together Redemption, Then and Now by mutual love and devotion. (Rabbi Eli Mansour itorah) This is the transformation that we, too, are to undergo at the Seder. We are to reflect upon Twice during the Seder on Pesah we take a the cause of the Egyptian exile – internal strife piece of food and dip it into a liquid before and conflict – and on the need to come eating it. First, after Kiddush, we take the together in peace and harmony in order to be Karpas – a vegetable – and dip it in salt water. worthy of redemption. Later, after eating the Masa, we dip the Marror in Haroset. What do these two dippings Rav Eliyahu Dessler (1892-1953), in his represent? Michtab Me’Eliyahu, observes that the current exile which we endure is characterized by The Karpas, it has been suggested, hearkens Sin’a – senseless hatred toward the Jewish back to the early history of the Egyptian exile People. Over the course of the nearly two – to the story of Yosef and his brothers. millennia of this exile, we have been despised Yosef’s brothers despised him, resenting his for so many different reasons. Jews have been favored status, which was symbolized by the despised for being rich, and despised for being "Ketonet Pasim" – the special cloak which poor. It seems entirely irrational, and it is. But Yaakob had made for him. Rashi, in explaining Rav Dessler teaches us the harsh reality about the word "Pasim," writes that this word stems this experience – that the hatred toward us is from the same root as the word "Karpas," a mirror image of the hatred that exists among which means a "fabric that covers." The word ourselves. The Gemara famously teaches that "Karpas," then, is associated with Yosef’s the Second Temple was destroyed because of special cloak. As we know, at the time Yosef’s Sin’at Hinam (baseless hatred), and this brothers assaulted him and threw him into a pit scourge continues to be the reason why our – before eventually selling him as a slave to final redemption has yet to arrive. Our nation merchants who brought him to Egypt – they has suffered baseless hatred from other tore off his "Ketonet Pasim" and dipped it in nations because of our baseless hatred goat’s blood, in order to make it appear as toward one another. though he was attacked by a beast. Therefore, as we begin the Seder, we dip "Karpas" in I once took a trip to the town of Radin in liquid – to commemorate the tragic event of Belarus, and visited the yeshiva of the Hafetz Mechirat Yosef (the sale of Yosef), which Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1839-1933). It resulted in our ancestors’ relocation in Egypt, was there where the Hafetz Haim wrote his thus facilitating the bitter exile. legendary work on the laws of Lashon Ha’ra (negative speech about other people). We The second dipping, which we perform later, then crossed the street to the Hafetz Haim’s after we study the story of the Egyptian grave, and prayed. Not far from the grave, we bondage and the Exodus, commemorates the noticed a memorial plaque. The plaque dipping which occurred on the night our commemorated the liquidation of Radin by the ancestors achieved their freedom. They were Nazis in June, 1941. The Nazis killed 1500 commanded to slaughter the Pesah sacrifice, Jews, and they were buried in a mass grave. I and to then dip a bundle of hyssop in the was struck by the proximity of these two sites blood, and place some blood on their – the yeshiva and grave of the Hafetz Haim, doorposts. The bundle of hyssop ("Agudat who devoted much of his life to teaching the Ezob") represents the nation’s unity, the importance of avoiding negative speech about peace and harmony that prevailed at that time, our fellow Jews, and the senseless hatred their coming together into a single "bundle," a which the Nazis harbored toward the Jews. It

בס''ד is almost as though the Hafetz Haim Toda gives Me honor.” In formulating this prophetically saw the irrational hostility and verse, David employs an unusual term – crimes that would be perpetrated at that site, “Yechabedaneni” (“gives Me honor”). and set out to teach us to combat this hatred According to the normal rules of grammatical by eliminating the hatred among our own conjugation, this word should read, nation, our own families and our own “Yechabedani.” David, however, adds an extra communities. letter “Nun,” yielding the seemingly peculiar The Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534- term, “Yechabedaneni.” 1572) observed that the letters of the name It has been explained that David added an "Pharaoh" spell the words "Peh Ra" – "evil extra “Nun” to allude to the double feelings of mouth." The root cause of the oppression we gratitude that one should feel upon being suffered at the hands of Pharaoh was the "evil rescued from a dangerous situation. Firstly, mouth," the harsh words spoken to and about and far more obviously, one should feel one’s fellow. We rectify this ill, the Arizal grateful for being saved. But in addition, one taught, through "Pesah," which can be read as must thank the Almighty for putting him in the "Peh Sah" – "the mouth that speaks," referring situation that required salvation. Upon being to proper speech, to speaking words of Torah, cured from a serious illness, for example, one prayer, praise of G-d, and expressions of might instinctively think, “Why did G-d put me friendship, love and kindness to our fellow in this situation to begin with? Why should I Jew. thank Him for rescuing me – He was the one The Egyptian exile, and the Exodus, serve as who brought the danger upon me in the first the prototype of all future exiles and place!” David therefore instructs us that we redemption. We sit at the Seder to not simply must not only feel grateful, but feel grateful on recall the past, but to apply the lessons of the both accounts – for both the original crisis, and past to the present. Let us, then, spend some for the salvation. time reflecting on the transformation from the Why should we feel grateful to G-d for putting first dipping to the second – from the tragic us in a situation of crisis? hatred of Mechirat Yosef to the "bundle" that G-d loves each and every Jew like a parent was formed through the people’s friendship loves a child. Just as a parent will not do and harmony at the time of the Exodus. And anything to harm a child, similarly, G-d will not let us commit to making this transformation in do anything to harm us. He might punish us, our own lives, as well, so we will be worthy of as a parent must occasionally punish a child, our final redemption, speedily and in our times, but this, too, is done out of love and concern – Amen. just as a parent punishes a child out of love. In fact, G-d’s punishments are even a greater expression of love than those of parents. When a parent punishes, it might be motivated Double Gratitude by anger, frustration or anxiety, and is not always purely out of concern for the child. (Rabbi Eli Mansour) When G-d punishes us, however, we can be One of the sacrifices discussed in Parashat certain that it is out of love, and for no other Sav is the Korban Toda, or thanksgiving reason. offering. A person who emerged safely from We say in our prayer service before the certain dangerous situations – illness, Shema recitation, “Ahabat Olam Ahabtanu” – captivity, desert travel or an overseas trip – “You have loved us with eternal love.” G-d’s was required to bring this sacrifice to express love for Am Yisrael is eternal; it is not his gratitude to the Almighty for helping him dependent or contingent upon anything. survive the perilous situation. Anything He does that affects us must David Hamelech writes in the Book of Tehillim therefore be attributed to His love for us. Even (50:23) that G-d declares, “One who offers a

בס''ד if it seems harsh, it is undoubtedly for our merely have it "go up in smoke" without benefit. anyone getting any physical benefit from it. Therefore, by the Olah offering, the Torah For this reson, we must thank Him for everything – both for the salvation, and for the says "Tzav et Aharon" -- encourage him, give crisis that preceded it. Even if we cannot him a Tzav -- because a monetary loss is understand how, the crisis was for our benefit involved. and in our best interests. We thus express to Why is that? I saw an interesting observation G-d double gratitude – not only for helping us from Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro. The world get through the hard times, but also for says "Time is money" but the way it should bringing the hard times upon us in the first really be stated is "Money is time" -- meaning place. in order to make money, a person needs to

spend time on it and time is the most precious commodity in the world. Almost anything else can be replaced, but time can never be Aharon Was Hesitant To replaced. Our Sages tell us a strange thing: "For Spend Money On Koban righteous people, their money is more Olah, So Hashem Charged It precious to them than their bodies". This is counter-intuitive. We would think: Tzadikim? (Rabbi Frand from Torah.org) They don't care about their money. The parsha begins with the instruction: The reason that "for righteous, money is more "Command Aharon (Tzav et Aharon) and his precious than their bodies" is because sons saying: This is the law of the olah- Tzadikim realize that in order to gain money, offering: It is the olah-offering [that stays] on they somehow need to invest time. Therefore, the flame, on the Altar all night until the their money is precious to them because "my morning, and the fire of the Altar shall be kept time was invested in acquiring this." This is aflame on it." [Vayikra 6:2] The Olah offering why "in a place where monetary loss is is a sacrifice that was totally burnt. With most involved" even people of the highest stature sacrifices someone eats something. Most of a (like Aharon the High Priest) need to be peace offering (Korban Shelamim) is eaten by charged and encouraged to nevertheless the person who brings the sacrifice; the sin diligently proceed with the mandated offering is eaten by the Kohanim. However, expenditure. the Korban Olah is consumed entirely by the Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro was a disciple of fire of the Mizbayach. Rav Yitzchak Zeev Soloveitchik (the Brisker Rashi says that the connotation of the word Rav) and was himself a Rosh Yeshiva in "Command" (Tzav) is "charge" (lashon Israel. He writes as follows: zeerus). Why was it necessary to "charge" It is known that the people of America have Aharon? He certainly does not need any been blessed with affluence and no doubt G-d special kind of motivation lecture? R. Shimeon rewarded them in this fashion due to the merit states that it is necessary for the Torah to of their generosity and the merit of the emphasize a command through "charging" charities they occupy themselves with. when monetary loss is involved. [Kiddushin However, I believe, there is also another factor 29a] People do not like to waste money or lose here. I have noticed two significant attributes money. When a mitzvah involves cost with no which certainly also merit the bestowal of apparent "payback," the Torah finds it riches upon them: First of all, they are diligent necessary to "charge" those commanded to in their businesses (zerizutam b'iskehem). more fully motivate them and help them From the time they start their task at work until overcome their hesitancy. they finish, they do not allow anything to People find it hard to take an animal, which disturb them. This is different than the workers may have cost them a thousand dollars, and in our country who take coffee breaks every

בס''ד half hour. Americans appreciate their time and (Rabbi Frand) in that merit they have been successful I saw the following thought in the Sefer Tiferes financially. Torah from Rav Shimshon David Pinkus, of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro then mentions Blessed Memory, who was tragically killed in the following very interesting incident. The a car accident on the 11th of Nissan. I share Ponnivitzer Rav and Rav Elchanon this thought in honor of his Yahrtzeit. Wasserman learned together as study The Shela"h Hakodosh (Shaar haOtiyot 30) partners (b'chavruta) in the Kollel in Radin. writes in the name of Rav Moshe Cordevero They wanted to look up something in a certain (1522-1570) that he once heard from an book quoted by the Chafetz Chaim in his elderly Jew that an effective method (segulah) Shaar HaTziyon commentary to Mishneh for removing forbidden thoughts from one's Berura. The sefer was not available in the Bet mind is to repeat the following pasuk [verse] HaMidrash so they went to the Chafetz over and over: "The fire on the altar shall be Chaim's house, knocked on his door, and kept burning on it, it shall not be extinguished." asked "Can we see that sefer you quote in the [Vayikra 6:6]. The Shela"h comments that he Shaar HaTziyon?" is sure that the "elderly Jew" who Rav Moshe The Chafetz Chaim told them he did not have Cordevero heard this from was the prophet, the Sefer. They were surprised inasmuch as Eliyahu [Elijah]. However, due to Rav he quoted it in his commentary. He told them Cordevero's great modesty, he did not want to that when he needed to look up something in reveal the true source, since that would have a sefer he borrowed it from someone and then revealed that he was worthy of conversing with returned it. The Chafetz Chaim told them "I did Eliyahu. not want to buy the sefer because I only buy However, what does this pasuk have to do sefarim I actually need! If I don't need a sefer with forbidden thoughts? I don't buy it." Rav Pinkus addresses this question by At that point, the Chafetz Chaim turned to his reference to a comment of Rabbeinu bookshelf and let out a sigh. They thought he Bechayeh on this week's parsha. Rabbeinu let out the sigh because he had so few Bechayeh cites the pasuk in Proverbs: "Let volumes in his personal library. He corrected your feet be scarce in your fellow's house, lest them: "No. What bothers me is that maybe I he be satiated with you and come to hate you." bought a sefer amongst my collection that I [Mishle 25:17] This is a poetic way of don't use enough and therefore I really expressing the often heard idea that it is shouldn't have purchased it -- I gave out my unwise to wear out one's welcome in his money for something I didn't really need." friend's home. Too much of a good thing is not This is a very interesting story and it is contrary good. Even the best of friends can get tired of to conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom each other if they are always in each other's is that people like to have large libraries. The houses. The Rabbeinu Bechayeh then quotes Chafetz Chaim's opinion was if you do not a Gemara [Chagiga 7a] which says that this absolutely need something you do not buy it, pasuk refers to the Bet HaMikdash. The intent because money was very precious to him -- is that one should make himself scarce in the because time was very precious to him. This Bet HaMikdash, meaning that he should not is in line with the idea that "in a place where have a frequent need to bring Sin Offerings there is monetary loss encouragement and and Guilt Offerings (which may only be 'Tzav' is necessary. brought in the Bet HaMikdash). However, the

Gemara says, that it is permissible to bring Olah offerings as often as a person wants – citing the pasuk in Tehillim: "I will enter Your A Segulah From Eliyahu To House with burnt offerings; I will fulfill to You Protect From Evil Thoughts my vows." [Tehillim 66:13]

בס''ד Rabbeinu Bechaye explains the difference The Korban Todah, Thanksgiving Offering, is between a Sin Offering and an Olah offering. basically a Shelamim, a peace offering But The sin offering (korban chatat) comes from unlike any other Shelamim it is brought with [unintentional} violation of prohibited actions. four different types of flour offerings, ten of A korban olah, on the other hand, atones for each type. Three are types of matzah, and the improper thoughts. Improper thoughts, fourth is chametz. In addition, the normal Rabbeinu Bechaye explains, is something that timespan within which the Shelamim had to be a person can never totally escape from. eaten - two days and one night- is reduced to Unfortunately, they are very prevalent and one day and one night for the Todah. To they are more prevalent at night than during understand the significance of these the daytime. It is for this reason that the Olah deviations from the normal laws of Shelamim, offerings are to burn the entire night. Nighttime we must first analyze the dynamics of is the time when people especially need thanksgiving. atonement from improper thoughts. About this The Gemara (Berachot 7b) relates that from it is written: "Command Aaron and his sons, the day Hashem created the world, no one saying: This is the law of the burnt-offering: It thanked Him until Leah thanked Him for the is the burnt-offering that stays on the flame, on birth of her fourth son Yehudah. At first glance, the altar, all night until the morning, and the fire this Gemara defies understanding. Didn’t of the Altar should be kept aflame on it." Adam, Noach, Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, [Vayikra 6:2] Sarah, Rivkah, and Rachel have countless Now we know what Eliyahu meant when he reasons and opportunities to thank Hashem? told Rav Moshe Cordevero that the segulah for And why didn’t Leah herself thank Hashem for ridding oneself of evil thoughts is recitation of her first three children? the pasuk at the end of the chapter on burnt The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 71:4) sheds offerings: "The fire on the altar shall be kept light on this enigma: burning on it, it shall not be extinguished." [Vayikra 6:6] R’ Berachiah said in the name of R’ Levi, “This can be compared to a Kohen who was given a Just as we say that one who recites the large amount of terumah by one individual and pasukim associated with the sacrifices is did not thank him. He was then given a small credited (nowadays) as if he brought that measure of unconsecrated grain, and he offering, so too if one recites this pasuk from thanked the donor. Said the first individual to the section of the Korban Olah (burnt offering), the Kohen, I gave you a large amount, and you it is as if he brought a burnt offering and he did not thank me; he gave you a very small thereby receives the segulah associated with amount and you thanked him. The Kohen the Korban Olah – namely protection from evil replied, you gave me what rightfully belonged thoughts. to me, so I saw no reason to thank you. He gave me what belonged to him and upon which I had no claim. Therefore, I thanked him. Four Aspects of So, too, our mothers knew that Yaakov would have twelve sons, and each one of the four Thanksgiving mothers expected three. Therefore, when (Rabbi Zev Leff) Leah had her fourth son, she thanked Hashem, for she had received more than her If he shall offer it for a thanksgiving offering, portion. with the feast thanksgiving-offering shall he offer unleavened loaves mixed with oil, Thanksgiving is a recognition of receiving unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and something undeserved and feeling indebted to loaves of scalded fine flour mixed with oil. repay the giver with gratitude. The more one Vayikra 7:12 feels that the bounty received was indeed earned or deserved, the less necessary the show of gratitude. A laborer does not owe his

בס''ד boss a thank-you for paying him his previously calamity to atone and correct the situation. agreed upon wages, but for an unexpected Thus, our gratitude for the salvation can only bonus a thank-you is appropriate. be significant if it includes a confession that From the time the world was created, no one the misfortune and calamity was also ever felt that the bounty given to them by deserved. Full, uninhibited thanksgiving Hashem was totally undeserved. Even the requires both confession of the justice of the greatest people thought that what was given misfortune and admission that the salvation to them was part of G-d’s plan for the world, was undeserved. and therefore not completely undeserved. But There is one final aspect of thanksgiving to be G-d’s plan could have been equally fulfilled if considered. “R’ Levi taught: Leah grasped the the fourth son born to Leah had been born to idea of thanksgiving and all of her any of her sisters. Thus, Leah felt his birth was descendants followed suit. Yehudah totally unearned, and required the full confessed; David [said], ‘Praise G-d for He is measure of gratitude. good and His kindness endures forever.’ “ The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 71:5) links When one recognizes his own guilt in bringing Leah’s thanks to the admission of Yehudah spiritual illness upon himself and G-d’s hesed that he was responsible for Tamar’s in saving him from misfortune, his feelings of pregnancy. In Lashon Hakodesh the same gratitude must be expressed ublicly as David’s verb, lhodot, means “to confess” and “to were. That expression of gratitude then thank.” An admission that what one has becomes a lesson to others in recognizing G- received from Hashem was totally undeserved d’s goodness and intimate involvement in the is the foundation of thanksgiving. events of this world. We say in Shemoneh Usually we offer thanksgiving to G-d for a Esrei: Nodeh lecha- we will thank You, salvation from a misfortune or calamity. But if Hashem; un’saper tefilatecha- and we will we truly believe that everything that occurs in recount Your praises.” It is not sufficient to thank Hashem quietly; one must recount his this world is the result of Divine Providence, then it is hard to understand why we should debt of gratitude to others: “I will sacrifice to thank Hashem for saving us from misfortune, You a thanksgiving offering, and I will call out since He Himself caused that misfortune. and proclaim to others the name of Hashem: Would we thank somebody for paying our (Tehillim 116:17) medical bills if we fell into a concealed trap he Abarbanel explains that the eating time for a had left in a public thoroughfare? Korban Todah is reduced to one day and a The answer is that we have chosen the wrong night precisely to necessitate having others analogy. Consider an orthopedic surgeon who share in its consumption. In this fashion, one’s notices someone walking in a manner that is gratitude and raise of Hashem are made symptomatic of a rare, crippling bone disease. public. The condition can only be cured if the bones The four types of breads represent four are broken and reset before the disease aspects of true thanksgiving. The chametz progresses to the point of no return. Realizing represents the yetzer hara, the confession that that the patient’s gait reveals that not too much even the misfortune and calamity were for our tie is left before his condition is irreversible, the benefit and were brought about by our sins. surgeon takes an iron pole and swiftly breaks The matzah that is boiled first in water so that both of his legs and then proceeds to set them it will absorb and hold in the oil is symbolic of and nurture the patient back to health. In this the ability to contain oneself and admit that the instance the surgeon deserves thanks both for county one received is unearned and breaking and setting the legs. undeserved. The matzah made of flour So, too, when we cause ourselves spiritual saturated with oil is symbolic of the feelings of gratitude that permeate one’s entire being. illnesses because of our sins and shortcomings, Hashem brings misfortune and And finally, the matzah fried in oil from without symbolizes the responsibility to publicize and

בס''ד share with others the enlightenment one all. We tend to hitch our happiness, our receives from experiencing G-d’s Divine growth, our opportunity to connect to God, to Providence. external circumstances. I would really enjoy Today in place of the Korban Todah, we recite Passover if my kids could be with me (how Birchas Hagomel. It too, reflects all four many times did you complain how much work aspects of thanksgiving; “ Hagomel l’hayavim it was having your kids home?!). I would really tovot - G-d grants good to those who are guilty grow from the holiday if there were more and undeserving,” signifies an acceptance of people at my table to participate in the our guilt for the misfortune and admission that discussion… And so on. the subsequent salvation was undeserved; We all have a story we tell ourselves about Gamalnu kal tov - Who benefited us with total who we would be and how we would behave if good” is an expression of total thanksgiving for only… but the very heart of Passover puts a Hashem’s undeserved beneficence. This lie to that rationalization. Two of the most berachah must be said publicly in the important themes of Passover are presence of a minyan and evoke in those our freedom to choose no matter the hearing it the response, “He who benefited you situation we are in and that whatever the with total good, may He benefit you with total physical/emotional circumstances of our life, it good forever. is enough (Dayenu). Instead of lamenting Reprinted with permission from Artscroll Mesorah Publications, ltd. This what’s missing this year, we should instead article is provided as part of Shema Yisrael Torah Network Permission is focus on what we have – on the gifts we are granted to redistribute electronically or on paper, provided that this notice is included intact. For information on subscriptions, archives, and other Shema still receiving, on the opportunities that remain Yisrael Classes, send mail to [email protected] in front of us. #We can’t wait for circumstances to change to Food for thought be happy; we need to be happy right now. Instead of deluding ourselves into thinking that we can only be happy/grateful when Covid is Passover in the Shadow of completely eradicated and our lives return to “normal”, we need to incorporate the wisdom Covid of the Dayenu song into our daily lives – our We don’t need to return to “normal” in situation right now (with all its challenges) is order to be happy. (By Emuna Braverman) enough. We can’t wait for circumstances to change to be happy; we need to be happy right Here we are approaching another Passover, now. another seder not quite like years past. Although many are vaccinated, although the Whatever the Almighty does for us is good and restrictions are starting to lift, although the undeserved. We don’t merit anything; it’s all proverbial light seems to be poking out in the just love and kindness. “If God had split the distance, we are still concerned, there is still sea for us but not taken us through on dry legitimate fear. land, it would have been enough,” we sing. How is that possible? How would it be Many families are still forced to spend the enough? If we’re only focused on achieving an holiday apart, either due to the actual disease end goal, nothing will ever be enough. We will or the fall-out i.e. countries with such have missed the point of the song. But if we restrictive access that visiting or leaving and can sit in the moment and count our blessings then returning have become if not impossible, then I think we will be able to sit back and a bureaucratic nightmare. So once again we sing Dayenu at full decibel. are preparing for an unusual Passover. Of course we want things to change; not only It’s painful and it’s frustrating. And yet the do we not wish to live in the shadow of a essential lessons of the holiday remain potentially dangerous disease but people available whatever our circumstances. And need to go back to work, children need to that is possibly the most important lesson of

בס''ד return to school. But until things do, we have a 3. Your Time choice to make. We can wallow in self-pity, Giving your kids your time is just another way moaning about the dreadful year it’s been – to show them they are your highest priority. and how it still hasn’t ended! – or we can Let’s take advantage of the Passover seder to Dayenu say and find our way to gratitude and forget about mundane work matters which so appreciation even in the midst of a pandemic. often bog us down and focus on our children, Passover reminds us that the freedom to giving them the gift of our time and attention. choose which attitude to adopt is solely in our 4. Stability hands. And Dayenu illustrates for us which attitude to choose. In order for kids to be able to trust the world around them as a secure, stable environment they need a sense of predictability and stability within their own little worlds. When we are true Six Afikomen Presents to to our belief system and set of values, when Give Your Children we establish a consistent routine, set of rules, and methods of discipline, we are raising Items of lasting value to give your kids this stable kids who trust the world around them. Passover. (By Aish.com) 5. Healthy Boundaries We all want to get our kids a special Afikomen In a world where boundaries are so blurred, it’s gift this year, and I’m not saying that we important to remind ourselves that our kids shouldn’t. But keep in mind that sometimes it’s actually want to be taught limits. Maintaining the non-tangible things we give that make the healthy boundaries acknowledges every biggest difference in our childrens’ lives. Here child's right to a unique role and identity within are some things of lasting value that you can the family unit. The “four sons” in the give your kids this Passover. Haggadah reminds us about each child’s 1. Identity unique role in the family system. Your kids want to know what makes them Acknowledge your child's individuality by unique, who they are, and who they are not. respecting his personal preferences and Instilling a strong sense of values and ethics in feelings. Respect his privacy. Don't blur our children helps give them that purpose and boundaries by sharing with your child that direction they need. The Passover Seder which shouldn't be shared or by giving him experience is a great opportunity to give our parental roles or responsibilities. kids the values and traditions which makes up 6. Positivity the family identity. Every family has its own challenges to 2. Communication overcome. But nothing banishes negativity like You want your children to feel that they can the ability to see the good and accentuate the communicate openly with you and trust you positive in our family members. Reminding with their questions, feelings, hopes, and ourselves during Passover that two of our fears. The set-up of the Seder and text of the goals are joy and togetherness can drive away Haggadah put emphasis on communicating some of the inevitable tension and stress with and teaching our children. (The Hebrew associated with the busy season. word Pesach is actually a combination of two Hebrew words, “peh” – mouth, and “sach”, that speaks.) Seven Things to be Grateful Don’t forget to encourage your children to be open about their feelings and questions. for at the Seder Never dismiss your kids’ feelings or questions Especially the handprint on the fridge. as silly, wrong, or insignificant. (By Sara Debbie Gutfreund)

בס''ד I like our home to be neat and organized, and For the guidance that it gives us and the I am usually fairly meticulous about keeping depths of beauty that it reveals. For the the house clean. But a few weeks ago I lessons that it teaches us and the stories that noticed a perfectly formed little handprint on it encompasses us with. For its songs and its our refrigerator and I couldn’t bring myself to journeys, thank You. wipe it off. It is my youngest child’s handprint 6. History. Thank You for giving us this and every time I look at it, I feel an opportunity to tell the story of our nation. To go overwhelming sense of gratitude. I wake up in back to the beginning of where we began and the morning to get milk for my coffee, look at walk in the footsteps of our people. To feel Dayeinu the handprint and think: – it is all their pain and remember their courage. To enough. Thank you for my children. For my connect their stories to our own stories. How home. For my life. For this month and this we began and where we have been. The holiday when we are given the chance to challenges that we have overcome, and the remember all the blessings in our lives. moments that have defined us. The history of Here are seven things to be grateful for at the our nation and of each of our families. The Seder: stories that must be told and retold so that our 1. Freedom. Thank You for taking us out of children can write their own stories. Thank You Egypt, and transforming our slavery into for this, for our history, and the stories that freedom. Thank You for the freedom today keep our journey alive. that we have to live as Jews and choose our 7. Life. Thank You for bringing each one of us beliefs. There are people in parts of the world here, this year at this time. For sustaining us who are still not free, and we pray for them. and giving us life. For the incredible gift of May they be rescued from tyranny, from sitting at our Seder table and hearing the poverty, and from danger. Thank You for blessing of Shechiyanu and looking around us making us free. at a table surrounded by those we love. 2. Spiritual growth. Thank You for this For all these gifts and so much more, thank chance to move from our narrow definitions of You. I can still see the faint handprint of my ourselves to the limitless potentials of who we son’s hand on our fridge. I hope it is still there can become. This opportunity for each of us to when the Seder begins because in his hand, I see ourselves as if we are leaving Egypt, see Your Hand. The Handprint of creation. climbing beyond the constraints of yesterday The Handprint of freedom and growth and life and beginning our own personal journeys that you have poured into our own hands. towards greatness. Dayeinu, it is enough. It is more than enough. 3. Connection. Thank You for bringing all of I look at the handprint on the fridge and think us here together to celebrate this holiday. how blessed we truly are to be Your children, Thank You for the gift of family and friends. children who can see Your Hand in their lives Thank You for the incredible blessing of and leave their own handprints behind as they seeing generations sitting beside each other light up the world with Your blessings. and singing the songs of our ancestors. Thank You for each other. 4. Home. Thank You for giving us shelter. For Ladies, Don’t Lose Sight of this beautiful table overflowing with food and the Essence of Passover drinks. For the chairs, the table and the lights. For the flickering candles and the fragrant I’d rather organize my cupboards than look flowers. For all the material goodness that You at the ways I still need to grow. pour into our lives every moment of every day, (By Emuna Braverman) thank You. How do I know if it’s Passover time? My nails 5. Torah. Thank You for the Torah which are chipped, the skin on my hands is cracked brings light and wisdom and joy into our lives. and bleeding, the kitchen smells like Easy Off

בס''ד and my books shelves are weighted down by ways in which I still need to grow, the ways in about 30 boxes of matzah (18 hand and 12 which I have not yet achieved full freedom, the machine if anyone cares!) The chametz is out lacks in my service of the Almighty and the of my kitchen, my cleaned cabinets are weaknesses in my faith. Much easier to bleach covered with notes about freedom, my freezer my counters and make another batch of is full of meat and new recipes to try scatter brownies. my counter. Everyone is rushing madly to see I mean, of course, we would like to do the work if their perfume is kosher, my boys are getting on our souls, make the spiritual effort, but haircuts and I am reiterating my Grinch-like we’ve having 20, 30, 50 people for our Seders. “no present for the afikomen” policy (I know, The numbers may not increase in inverse wrong holiday!). proportion to our efforts at spiritual growth but But those are not the only signs. I also know they may certainly be a distraction – or even a that Passover is around the corner because competition! spring is in the air, even in California! Actually This year I don’t want to make that mistake. especially in California where it has been an I’m trying to make my meals simpler and my unusually cold winter. There are buds on the thoughts deeper. I can’t resist that new baked trees, the flowers are blooming and, since the apple with charoset ice cream recipe but I also drought is now officially over, the grass is want to read that new Hagadah that focuses green once again. The world is opening up to on faith, on trust, on the missing or weak a fresh start, to a new beginning. elements in my relationship with my Creator. It is not a coincidence that Passover occurs They say that Passover is the New Year of Our simultaneously with the advent of spring. Faith. Rather, it is built into the creation. In order that It is an opportunity to take my trust in the we would feel this renewed sense of hope Almighty to another level. It’s a chance to awakening, of our lives unfurling, of new understand what faith in G-d really means and potential, the Almighty created the holiday of to internalize the concept through the Passover in the springtime. It had to happen experience of the Seder. I’m sure I’ll still make this way. It’s part of the elegant structure of the my pineapple kugels and cabbage soup but universe where no detail is left to chance. The perhaps as I do it (especially these recipes Almighty is the Interior Designer par that I know by heart!) I can do more than cook excellence. (I’m not putting down the cooking – the This setup allows our experience of the physical preparations are crucial to the day, outside world to reinforce our inner spiritual just not the sum total of the necessary experience. It’s not easy to stop and expectations!). introspect. It’s not easy to try to examine all the This year I want to capitalize on the moment ways in which we are enslaved, to look with a and let the sun of the spring shine on my soul, clear and ruthless eye at the obstacles we warts and all. Then maybe I can really be free. have created for ourselves, to acknowledge the ways in which our own egos hamper our relationship with the Almighty. And since it’s not easy, we may try to avoid it. We busy ourselves with the shopping and the cooking Keeping the Spark Alive in and the cleaning (all crucial activities of Your Marriage: A Woman's course) and ignore the thinking (unless it’s about which brisket recipe to try). Guide We rationalize that we don’t have time. Or we Making our marriage the number one don’t even let those niggling concerns surface. priority. (By Emuna Braverman) We push them back down, scrubbing our "How can I possibly keep the spark alive?" you floors but not our souls. I would personally ask. "The house is a mess, there are three kids rather organize my cupboards than look at the pulling on my dress, spaghetti sauce is boiling

בס''ד over and I don't know how we're going to pay and we have infants wailing for attention in the the electric bill. Who has time to even think background), straightening your hair and about sparks?" freshening your lipstick is. This common attitude evinces two serious These small actions say "I'm excited to have mistakes: you home." "I've been looking forward to 1) that it's okay to ignore the need for sparks seeing you." 2) that it takes significant time to generate And just as we enjoy receiving compliments them and keep them alive. (see A Man's Guide), so do our husbands. They need to know how proud we are of how Of course there's no time if creating sparks hard they work, of how responsible they are, involves a major effort. But it doesn't need to. of how they make time to learn and grow, of It begins with not despairing, with not being their commitment to us and the children. resigned to a "spark-less" existence. And with being realistic about how to create them. While there is clearly room for romantic evenings in every marriage -- I certainly don't If you have young children (in fact, if you have want to discourage that -- we shouldn't feel any children at all living at home!) you that we have to wait for those rare moments to probably won't be able to serve elaborate work on keeping our marriage alive. Or that candlelit dinners, but that doesn't mean you there aren't many varied ways of keeping the can't prepare a nice meal. That doesn't mean flame burning. Each couple has to find their you can't cook your husband's favorite foods. unique road. It's not either candlelight or macaroni and cheese. Although a simple act, cooking what It doesn't have to take a lot of effort. It doesn't your husband likes says "I care." It says "Your have to take a lot of time. It doesn't have to be needs matter to me." expensive or elaborate. It just has to be consistent and regular. We can't let the If you care about him, you care about what he demands of our daily existence overwhelm us does. to the point where we forget to connect with Being interested in your husband's day at work our husbands. That's the real secret to can also help keep your marriage vibrant. keeping the spark alive -- making our Maybe you tend to go glassy-eyed hearing relationship with our husbands our number about his job. Snap out of it. Sit up straighter. one priority. If you care about him, you care about what he does. I remember a number of years ago, I tried to organize a social activity for a group of wives whose husbands all worked for the Daily halacha same institution. When I called one woman to ask her to attend, she was very dismissive. "Why should I come? That's my husband's job. Halachot of Pesah It has nothing to do with me." I beg to differ. (Daily Halacha) After a long day -- at home or elsewhere -- Halachot of Maggid everyone likes to get into their most Reciting the Maggid section of the Haggada at the comfortable clothes. But let me make this Seder fulfills the Torah obligation to tell the story of clear: ratty old sweat suits do NOT help keep Yetzi'at Mitzrayim (the Exodus), as the Torah the spark alive. Our husbands deserve that we writes, "Ve'higadeta Le'vincha Ba'yom Ha'hu" devote at least the same attention (actually ("You shall tell your children on that day" – Shemot more) to our appearance that we do when we 13:8). The importance of this Mitzva is expressed join our girlfriends for lunch or another couple in a passage in the Zohar which comments that for dinner. While a complete change of clothes anyone who tells the story of Yetzi'at Mitzrayim on may not always be possible or practical the night of Pesach with sincere joy will one day rejoice together with the Shechina (Divine (especially if we are cooking that nice dinner Presence) in the next world. Moreover, G-d

בס''ד Himself experiences immense joy, as it were, upon Indeed, the Haggada tells of the Rabbis in Bnei- hearing the Jewish people telling this story, and He Brak who spent the entire night telling about the summons the Heavenly angels to come and listen Exodus; this shows that there is enough material to the story. The angels assemble to hear the story relevant to Yetzi'at Mitzrayim itself to occupy a of the Exodus and rejoice over the great wonders person for an entire night. Of course, one who so and miracles performed by the Almighty in wishes is certainly encouraged to remain awake redeeming Am Yisrael, and they give praise to G- after the Seder to discuss the many other aspects d for His great nation on earth that so joyfully of Pesach; the Seder itself, however, should be celebrates His redemption. The Zohar concludes devoted to the story of the Exodus. that we thereby increase G-d's power, so-to- It must also be emphasized that properly fulfilling speak, to deal kindly with Am Yisrael. (Hazon this Mitzva requires preparation. Just as we Ovadia page 56.) prepare for the other Mitzvot of Pesach by cleaning As mentioned earlier, the Torah introduces this the home, purchasing wine and Matza, cleaning obligation by instructing, "You shall tell your the Marror, and so on, so must we prepare for children on that day…" Thus, the essential "Sippur Yetzi'at Mitzrayim" by studying obligation is for parents to tell the story to their commentaries on Maggid before the Seder. children. Ironically, in many families the precise The Ritva (Rabbi Yom Tov Ashbili, Spain, 1250- opposite occurs: children are encouraged to share 1330) writes that one person may recite the with their parents some ideas and insights that Haggada on behalf of the others at the Seder, who they learned about the Haggada. Although it is fulfill their obligation by carefully listening to the admirable for children to share their knowledge, it leader's recitation. This ruling is based on the is the parents who bear the obligation to teach their Halachic principle of "Shomei'a Ke'oneh," which children. allows for fulfilling one's obligation to recite a given Furthermore, in many homes the children go to text by listening to somebody else's recitation. This sleep immediately after asking the questions of the was indeed the practice of the Gaon of Vilna "Ma Nishtana." It must be emphasized that the "Ma (Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 1720-1797). Our practice, Nishtana" consists only of the questions; the however, is for everybody to recite the Haggada in parents must then provide the answer, clearly, unison, with the leader offering explanations and patiently, and in accordance with each child's level insights at various points during the recitation. of understanding. The father must clearly explain (Hazon Ovadia page 47.) to the child the paragraph of "Avadim Hayinu," as The obligation to read Maggid applies to both men well as the section of "Pesach, Matza U'marror," and women. (Hazon Ovadia page 52.) Although where the reasons for these three Mitzvot are the authorities debate the question of whether explained. If a parent sees that the child is falling women are obligated on the level of Torah asleep or losing interest before he reaches the obligation or Rabbinic enactment, all agree that section of "Pesach, Matza U'marror," then he they, too, must recite or hear the Haggada. should quickly explain to him that section so that the child will hear the explanation of these Mitzvot. One must ensure not to begin reading Maggid until nightfall on Pesach eve, or 45 minutes after The obligation to tell the story of Yetzi'at Mitzrayim sundown (in the New York City area). If one began requires doing just that: to talk about the events of reading Maggid before nightfall, he must repeat it Benei Yisrael's subjugation, the plagues, the after that point. One must be particularly careful in Exodus, and the splitting of the sea. One should this regard in years when Daylight Savings Time focus on the Midrashim relevant to these events, begins before Pesach, in which case the Seder and not on other topics upon which many people begins quite late; one may nevertheless not begin make the mistake of elaborating during the Seder. reading the Haggada before nightfall. (Hazon One should not only focus his attention on singing Ovadia page 47.) "Dayeinu" or offering insights into the introductory sections of "Ma Nishtana," the four sons, "Ve'hi One should not lean or recline during the reading She'ameda," and so on. Nor is this the time for of Maggid. Instead, it should be read in an upright reconciling contradictory rulings of the Rambam or position, and with a sense of awe and reverence. explaining complex, intricate passages in The reading of Maggid should be completed Masechet Pesachim. The Mitzva of "Sippur before Chatzot (midnight as defined by Halacha). Yetzi'at Mitzrayim" requires spending time at the This means that one should recite the concluding Seder discussing the events of the Exodus, and Beracha of "Asher Ge'alanu" before Chatzot. this should be the point of our focus at the Seder.

בס''ד BeDiavad, if he finished after Chazot, he still may seem to be attached to the old generation, make the Beracha of "Asher Ge'alanu". After the before Hashem draw us close to his service” Seder, one should continue learning and (Meorot M’Olam HaChassidut). discussing the Exodus and the laws of Pesach until he feels the need to go to sleep. No eating after the Afikomen Many commentators explain the Haggadah's answer as meaning that the wise son must be taught all of the many and varied laws of Pesach Daf yomi and the Seder night, up to and including the very last halachah applicable to the evening — the fact that one may not eat after the afikoman consumed at the end of the meal. We thus

Daf Yomi Masechet Pesahim reward the wise son's enthusiasm in kind, by (Daf Notes) providing him with more and more Torah to learn. This will in turn stimulate him to wish to Hating Evildoers learn and understand even more. Sfat Emet, Rav Nachman states in our Gemara that it is a however, suggests that what we wish to teach mitzva to hate evildoers, as the verse states, the chacham is the reasoning behind the law “The fear of Heaven is hating evil.” Why do we that one must not eat after the afikoman. The have to hate evildoers? Why can’t we merely afikoman must not be followed with any dessert coldly condemn their actions, and refrain from because we want the taste of the matzah to doing as they do? linger in our mouth. This, explains Sfat Emet, is due to the fact that we do not wish the eating of The simple answer is that if someone really the afikoman to simply be the unfeeling cares about someone else (i.e. a spouse or performance of a mitzvah. It is a delicacy to be one’s father), and he sees someone who is savored, not to be quickly forgotten. We must making fun of the person he cares about and teach the chacham, he says, that all mitzvot denigrating him, he will certainly have a harsh must be k'hilchot hapesach — similar to the reaction (in his heart). If we think about it, this is halachot of Pesach — in this sense. Scholarship essentially what people are doing when they is worthy and valuable, but Torah is much more make a mockery of the Torah. than a collection of facts and laws. One must The pamphlet Chomat Ha’Dat regarding Rav hunger for the fulfillment that comes with Baruch Ber Lebowitz cites an interesting test following the path of Hashem, and savor every that Rav Baruch Ber used to do in order to see if time one performs a mitzvah. This approach is he really loved Hashem. He would think how the one that will yield true commitment and fear much he hated evildoers. If he hated them, he of Heaven. Soul Talk, sponsored by Art scroll knew his love of Hashem was as it should be. concludes: In a similar approach, R' Dovid This is as a similar verse says, “Those who love Feinstein suggests that just as the taste of the Hashem hate evil.” afikoman must linger in one's mouth, we remind Old Fashioned the chacham that the taste of the Seder — the simultaneous occurrences of freedom from Once someone came to R’ Shlomo of Vosloy zt”l Egyptian bondage and indenture as servants of to ask for a beracha that his son may pass the Hashem — must also linger in the mind of every entrance exam for an elite gentile school, known Jew, always. For this reason, we tell the for its high academic level. R’ Shlomo tried to chacham, Hashem awarded us with a multitude convince him to send his son to yeshiva instead, of different mitzvot to celebrate in to continue the tradition of our forefathers. commemoration of the Exodus. “Rebbe, that was fine for the old generation. I want my family to be modern, and receive the best secular education possible.” “Quite the opposite,” said the Rebbe. “I am modern and Kidz Corner you are old fashioned. We say in the Haggada that our forefathers were idolaters and now

Hashem has drawn us to his service. You still Interesting Midrash

בס''ד (from Torah Tots) decreed that his hands be cut off as a punishment for his degrading delinquency. Uniform Rules Here's how that decree panned out: One day, You might think that a Cohen would turn in his the Hasmonean king and queen got into a priestly garments for a pair of jeans and a tee- royal dispute. The king insisted that goat meat shirt when it comes to such lowly temple tasks was the best meat around. The queen insisted like removing the ashes from the Mizbayach. that lamb is number one. There was only one But that's not the case. way to settle the dispute - ask the Cohen As a matter of fact, the Torah especially Gadol. He got to taste all the meat left over mentions two priestly garments, the pants and from the daily sacrifices. He'd surely know the tunic (apron) to make sure that there's no which meat was superior. mistaking the matter. Even though we're So they sent for Yissachar the Cohen Gadol. talking about a mere spoonful of ashes, some When Yissachar heard the nature of the neat-freak Cohen might get the idea that he argument, he waved his hand in the air as if to could spare his tunic and pants from the say, "What is this silly question?" He replied, cleaners if he just changed into a pair of "Lamb, of course, is the better meat. That's overalls or shifts them off to the side. But the why the Torah commands us to sacrifice the Torah teaches us that a little stain in Hashem's lamb twice a day." name is OK. In other words, there are no lowly jobs in the Mishkan, - it's all part of the service Well, the king was willing to accept a defeat to Hashem. over the dispute about meat, but was taken aback by the insubordinate waving gesture. Indeed, every Jew must humble himself in the How dare the Cohen Gadol brush off a royal service of Hashem. Even King David was request as unimportant! The king decreed that known to skip and dance before the holy Aron Yissachar's right hand be chopped off. as it made its way through the streets of Yerushalayim. Similarly, the great sages, Hillel Just as they were about to carry out the and Rabban Gamliel, let down their guard punishment, Yissachar bribed the guard to during Simchat Bait Hashoeva (celebration of chop off his left hand instead of his right. After the drawing of water) on Sukkot, in the Bet his left hand had been cut off, the king got wind Hamikdash and danced wildly during the of the waver's bribe, and in a rage ordered the celebrations. Cohen's right hand to be cut off as well. Now Yissachar had no hands and thus the decree You can also take a lesson from Shevet Levi: of the heavenly court was carried out by the If anyone had a reason to complain about Hasmonean king. lowly jobs, it was the Leviyim. This shevet, which had the highest status in all of Bne This story teaches us that in the eyes of Yisrael, was reduced to a team of 'shleppers', royalty, even the smallest request, packing and carrying the kaylim of the insignificant as it may seem, is of great Mishkan through the desert. This teaches a consequence. If a hand gesture by the Cohen lesson - that one must overlook one's own Gadol could be so severely punished, imagine honor and status in order to honor Hashem. It the honor that we must bestow upon even the also teaches that all jobs in the Mishkan are of most seemingly insignificant commandments equal importance to Hashem. that Hashem places before us. The Talmud tells a story of one particular But don't throw away the old clothes yet. There Cohen Gadol, Yissachar of K'far Barkai, who is, however, one situation where the Cohen decided that his hands were too sensitive to must switch clothes to serve Hashem. touch the blood and meat of the Korbanot. He The Torah tells us that when the pile of ashes insisted upon wearing a pair of silk gloves gets so big that it covers the Mizbayach whenever he performed the Avoda in the Bet completely, and there is no more room for Hamikdash. This silky smooth style, however, Karbanot, the ashes must be gathered up and did not sit well with the heavenly court which

בס''ד transported out of the three camps (or outside Jack, on the other hand, barely knew the Yerushalayim, in the case of the Bet Hebrew alphabet. He found himself sitting and Hamikdash). In this case, since the Cohen will staring at the pages of the Talmud, until he be moving a great deal of ashes, he would be nodded off to sleep on the bench in the very likely to soil his good garments. yeshiva. Cohen Therefore, a must change out of his Kavanah in Prayer regular garments and change into older, more worn priestly garments to do the dirty work. The Torah states that if the kohen has the Once the dirty work is done, he should change incorrect intention when bringing an offering in into his clean garments to perform the other the Temple, the offering is pigul and is services. invalidated. Prayer is a comparable form of serving G-d, one which also requires the As the Sages teach us: It is not proper for a appropriate intention or kavanah. Prayers servant to serve his master in the same which are recited when one is distracted by stained clothes that he wears in the kitchen stray thoughts is like an offering ruined by sweating over a hot stove. When he serves his machshevet-chutz, extraneous thoughts. master he must put on clean clothes. A prayer without proper kavana is similar to From this we also learn the importance of the disastrous switch of the dockworker and changing into our best clothing in honor of the the yeshiva scholar, Instead of the body doing Shabbat, after having worn something else its work while the mind concentrates on while performing the menial tasks in prayer, their roles are reversed. The lips preparation for this holy day. This applies mindlessly form the words of prayer, and the especially to women, who generally do not body sways with movements of prayer; but the attend the synagogue on Friday evening. mind is preoccupied with thoughts of the workplace.... Stand In The North And Spare The Kid’z Korner (Revach) Embarrasment The Talmud Sotah (32b) explains, that the Role Reversal reason the sin offering (Chatat) and the burnt (Adapted from Mishlei Yaakov) offering (Olah) were slaughtered in the same There was once a dockworker named Jack place, by the northern part of the Mizbayach, who had been forced to leave school at an was to save sinners from embarrassment. early age in order to support his family. Jack, Anyone witnessing someone bringing a however, greatly valued the importance of Chatat could assume that it was a Olah, which Torah study. So he made an agreement with is brought as a donation and not necessarily a promising young scholar, that he would help as kaparah for an aveira. Using this as a support the young man in return for sharing source, Chazal were Mitaken that Shmoneh the merit of his Torah study, Esreh must be recited quietly, in order not to embarrass people who confess their averot The agreement worked fine until one day Jack during their tefilah. decided that it was not enough just to support a Torah scholar. He wanted to study Torah Shela HaKadosh - A Ba'al Tshuva's Seat At himself! So he informed the young man that The Table from now on, they were switching roles. Jack In Parashat Tzav the Torah commands us to would take the scholar's place in the study do the Mitzva Trumat HaDeshen, to remove hall, while the scholar would perform his job on ashes of the burnt Korbanot every morning the dock. from the Mizbe’ach. The Shela says that the Of course, the results were disastrous. The reason for this is that the animal that is scholar lacked the strength and stamina sacrificed and burned on the Mizbe’ach is necessary to unload the ships at the harbor. instead of the person who brought it. After we

בס''ד offer up the Korban we have received our trouve l’ordre de retirer les cendres du foyer punishment and our flesh has been burned to de l’Autel. Certaines parties du sacrifice étant ash. At this point it is time to move on and put brûlées, les cendres devaient être retirées par our past out of our mind. We don't dwell on les prêtres chaque jour, avant le lever du our sins forever. soleil. Ceci était la seule et unique tâche du Once we have a kapara we are once again a service du Temple qui répondait à la règle du precious clean neshama. We must respect « premier venu, premier servi ». Toutes les ourselves and our neshamot despite our past. autres tâches du service étaient réparties We must respect the Baal Tshuva and not hold équitablement entre les prêtres. Mais pour le him accountable for his past sins, says the retrait des cendres, si l’on espérait obtenir un Shela. This why the Torah says, "V'Herim Et ticket, il fallait se pointer tôt, et attendre HaDeshen Asher Tochal HaEsh... V'Samo sagement son tour… Etzel HaMizbe'ach" (Tzav 6:3). After we are On pourrait penser que pour cette corvée turned to ash we then take our place right marginale voire humiliante consistant à retirer alongside the Mizbe’ach at the table of les cendres – un boulot d’agent d’entretien Hashem. somme toute – il était difficile de trouver Rav Shteinman Reveals How To Make The preneurs. Il existait des tâches bien plus Wealthy Disappear prestigieuses comme par exemple allumer le candélabre, ou faire brûler l’encens… Rav Dov Yaffe (LiAvdecha BeEmet) relates a story duringa trip to England by Rav Aharon Et pourtant, c’était tout le contraire. Tant de Leib Shteinman to raise funds for Kollelim. In prêtres se disputaient le privilège de retirer les walked a very wealthy man and asked Rav cendres chaque jour qu’ils courraient sur la Shteinman why is it that we need so many rampe menant à l’autel afin d’arriver le boys and men learning in unprecedented premier. D’ailleurs, nos Sages racontent qu’un numbers that no generation has ever had? jour, il y eut tant de coureurs dans ce marathon sacerdotal que l’un d’entre eux Rav Shteinman responded with his own glissa de la rampe et se cassa la jambe… question. Why, he asked, do we have unprecedented wealth in the Frum Moralité... Dans cette génération, nous community? Why in previous generations jugeons généralement les gens d’après there were only a handful of truly wealthy l’importance de leur carrière, ou le montant de people, while today we have an incredible leur fiche de paye... Un avocat qui s’en met amount of people with enormous wealth? plein les poches en défendant la cause de maris violents peut susciter plus de respect Without waiting for an answer Rav Shteinman qu’un autre qui défend ces femmes battues à answered his own question. I will tell you why titre bénévole. Voilà un système de valeurs we need so much wealth, because we need to pour le moins pervers. Défendre des criminels support the masses who have dedicated their peut rapporter des tas de sous, mais cela ne lives to learning. If less people chose to learn fait pas de vous une bonne personne. Hashem will no longer need to make so many wealthy people. Bien entendu, la véritable appréciation d’une personne ne devrait pas être basée sur le montant de son salaire, ou le respect suscité par sa profession. La vraie valeur d’une PAR LA FRANCOPHONE personne se mesure par sa contribution à sa famille, ses amis et la société en général.

(Rav Itshak Nabet) Les prêtres avaient compris que retirer les cendres de l’Autel – qui, si je puis dire, L’être et l’avoir revenait à jeter « la poubelle de Di-u » - constituait un grand honneur. Non pas parce Parmi les commandements mentionnés dans que la société le percevait ainsi, ni parce que la section de la Torah lue cette semaine se

בס''ד ça rapportait gros. Simplement parce que si faisaient la course pour parvenir en premier au Di-u nous enjoint de faire une certaine chose, sommet de l’autel, l’un poussa l’autre qui par définition, il s’agit de quelque chose de tomba et se cassa la jambe. De tels incidents bien. Et s’efforcer de devenir quelqu’un de se répétèrent si souvent qu’il fut décidé bien est ce qui nous confère toute notre d’adopter un système de tirage au sort pour valeur. désigner le Cohen qui serait en charge le En conclusion, si vous souhaitez vous lancer matin de retirer les cendres. dans la compétition, alors faites-le pour le L’enthousiasme des Cohanim est certes Bien, non pas pour les honneurs ni la richesse. remarquable. Mais la manière parfois de Si course il doit y avoir, faites en sorte qu’elle l’exprimer faisait plutôt honte au Temple, se déroule sur l’Autel de notre propre divinité. sainte demeure de D.ieu. Les prêtres firent la course pour jeter les Il existe un principe dans le judaïsme intitulé cendres, non pas parce que cette tâche était Derech Eretz Kadma L'Torah – Une bonne en elle significative, mais parce que c’était attitude envers autrui précède la Torah. Il est D.ieu qui l’avait ordonnée. inconcevable que l’on puisse être grossier Dans la vie, il y a beaucoup de choses que les envers les autres, alors que l’on proclame être gens portent aux nues, mais qui sont pourtant un serviteur dévoué de D.ieu. dépourvues de tout intérêt. Et il y a tout autant Donc, la prochaine fois que quelqu’un vous fait de choses que les gens dédaignent – mais qui une queue de poisson en voiture, rappelez- sont pourtant bons et pleins de sens. Ne vous que chaque être humain est créé à jugeons pas par la richesse. Ne jugeons pas l’image de D.ieu et que respecter l’autre, en ce que les autres pensent. Jugeons par ce que toutes circonstances, est une des plus belles nous-mêmes considérons sincèrement être manières de faire preuve de respect envers bon. Et agissons ainsi, peu importe combien D.ieu. les gens considèrent cette tâche diminutive et « déshonorante ». Au final, c’est souvent celle qui est véritablement digne d’éloges. Chabat Agadol Le Chabat avant Pessah est appelé Chabat Agadol,"le grand Chabat", en souvenir du

La course au sommet "grand" miracle qui se déroula lors de la sortie (Rabbin Shraga Simmons) d'Egypte. Quatre jours avant la délivrance, le Le début de la Parsha Tzav décrit comment samedi 10 Nissan, Hachem ordonna à chaque chaque matin, un des Cohanim (prêtres) avait père de famille de prendre un agneau et de pour tâche de nettoyer les cendres l'attacher au pied de son lit. Et c'est ainsi que accumulées sur l’autel du Temple à Jérusalem les dieux des Egyptiens furent ligotés et prêts Le Talmud explique que les Cohanim se à être sacrifiés le 14 Nissan, la veille de disputaient littéralement tous les matins pour Pessah. Lorsque les Egyptiens apprirent le être celui qui remplirait cette fonction. Ils comportement étrange de leurs esclaves, ils allaient jusqu'à faire la course le long de la s'empressèrent de mettre au clair cette rampe pour arriver le premier auprès du tas de situation. Quelle ne fut par leur surprise cendres. lorsque les bné Israel leur avouèrent leur Ceci illustre le désir profond des Cohanim à intention d'égorger et de manger leurs servir D.ieu. Ils se battaient pour avoir le divinités. Cependant, Hachem les protégea, et privilège de nettoyer l’endroit ! (si l’on pouvait malgré l'immense colère des Egyptiens, seulement réussir à convaincre nos enfants aucun juif ne fut agressé. Voilà le miracle que de nettoyer leur chambre…) nous célébrons tous les Chabat Agadol. Le Talmud poursuit sa description et raconte Le rav Abdallah Somekh zrouto yagen alénou, l’histoire suivante ; alors que deux Cohanim un des grands sages de Babel du siècle dernier, s'interroge sur cette ordonnance

בס''ד divine. Puisque Hachem avait promis à avons l'obligation de chercher le Hametz qui Avraham avinou de libérer les bné Israël après est en nous. Nous devons examiner au fin 400 ans d'exil afin de leur donner la Torah et fond de nous-mêmes, dans les recoins de la Terre Sainte, pourquoi infliger une telle notre être, ce qui n'est pas cacher léPessah. épreuve à nos ancêtres? N'avaient-ils pas C'est- à- dire toutes les mauvaises habitudes, assez souffert lors de ces années les mauvaises pensées et les paroles qui nous d'esclavage? empêchent de sortir d'Egypte et de suivre Ce rav explique que même si Hachem avait dit Hachem dans le désert. Après avoir trouvé ce à Avaham que sa descendance sortirait Hametz, nous devons le brûler la veille de d'Egypte, tout cela n'était valable que si ses Pessah en prenant bien soin de nous en enfants suivaient les traces de leurs ancêtres débarrasser une fois pour toutes. et méritaient de s'appeler "sa descendance". A la lumière de cet enseignement, nous Mais, comme vous le savez, la situation pouvons déduire que le Chabat Hagadol n'est spirituelle du peuple juif à cette époque était pas le simple souvenir d'un miracle qui eut lieu peu glorieuse. La majorité pratiquait l'idolatrie, voilà trois mille ans. Le message de ce s'était éloignée d'Hachem et du chemin de Chabat, c'est que même si Hachem nous leurs pères. Afin de pouvoir accomplir la délivre tous les ans par amour, quel que soit promesse faite à Avraham, il fallait désormais notre niveau spirituel, nous devons cependant que ces gens prouvent qu'ils étaient bel et Lui prouver que nous désirons Le suivre et bien de la lignée d'Avraham, Itshak et Yaacov que nous sommes prêts à sacrifier un peu de avinou. Or l'une des spécificités de nos nous-même. Cette année, nous avons une ancêtres était leur volonté de servir Hachem semaine pour faire ce vrai ménage de Pessah: de tout leur cœur et de toute leur âme. C'est alors ne perdons pas notre temps... Essayons ainsi qu'Avraham n'hésita pas à se jeter dans donc de réfléchir sur cette année qui s'achève, une fournaise ardente pour sanctifier le nom sur l'état de notre service divin et de prendre divin, qu' Itshak se laissa sacrifier par son père quelques résolutions qui nous permettront et que Yaacov partit face à Essav et son d'avancer. Car même si le Temple est détruit, armée sous l'ordre du Créateur. Au moyen de en faisant ce travail d'annulation de nous- cette épreuve, Hachem sonda les coeurs des même le 14 Nissan, nous pouvons chacun bné Israël. Nos ancêtres, en acceptant cette apporter un Qorban Pessah (sacrifice mitsva, prouvèrent qu'ils méritaient leurs noms d'agneau pascal) et mériter les délivrances et l'accomplissement de la promesse faite à que nous attendons. Nous vous souhaitons de Avraham avinou. Car malgré les 49 niveaux très bonnes préparations pour cette grande d'impuretés dans lesquels ils résidaient, ils fête et un Chabat Agadol Mévorakh. surent trouver les forces pour s'écarter de l'idolâtrie au risque de leur vie, afin de suivre le Tout Puissant dans le désert. Reflexion semanal Il est écrit dans la Hagada que c'est Hachem lui- même qui nous libéra, et non un ange et (Rav Yonatan Gefen) non un séraphin. L'admour de Slonim explique que si nos ancêtres avaient été sauvés par un El Simbolismo de los ange, cet affranchissement aurait été limité à cette année car un ange ne peut effectuer Sacrificios qu'une seule mission. Mais puisque que cette En la parashá de esta semana, la Torá nos libération fut l'œuvre d'Hachem, elle est presenta dos de las más importantes clases éternelle et se perpétue tout les ans lors de la de ofrendas: la ofrenda Olá ‘elevación’(1) y la nuit du Séder. Cependant, pour mériter la ofrenda Shelamim ‘paz’(2). La Olá es quemada délivrance finale ou individuelle, il faut dans un por completo en el altar, y “sube” entera al premier temps prouver que nous sommes cielo, mientras que la ofrenda Shelamim sólo nous aussi de La Descendance d'Avraham, arde parcialmente, siendo el resto compartido Itshak et Yaacov avinou. C'est pourquoi nous

בס''ד por el dueño del animal, su familia y el kohén sus principios cardinales están basados en los ‘sacerdote’. seres humanos y en las imperfecciones de este mundo. R’ Uziel Milevsky(3) habla sobre el simbolismo de estas dos ofrendas. Comienza citando el Para entender las aplicaciones prácticas de comentario del Meshej Jojmá (4), que trae una las ideologías de Hilel y Shamai, y cómo se disputa entre Hilel y Shamai, los dos grandes manifiestan en nuestra vida, es importante líderes rabínicos, respecto a las ofrendas Olá analizar varias fuentes rabínicas que y Shelamim. Al presentarse en el Templo en describen otros desacuerdos entre ellos, tanto los tres festivales de peregrinaje, la persona en el área de la ley como en el de la hashkafá debía traer una ofrenda Jagigá, que pertenece (pensamiento judío). Luego podremos a la categoría de Shelamim, y una ofrenda explicar la razón por la que Shamai le atribuyó Reiá, que pertenece a la categoría de Olá. un valor superior a la ofrenda Olá, mientras Estos sacrificios, en particular, no tienen límite que Hilel se lo dio a Shelamim. máximo en su valor, pero sí uno mínimo. De La Guemará en Sanedrín trata una diferencia Olá acuerdo a Shamai, la ofrenda , que era importante entre Moisés y su hermano Aarón, ofrecida a Di-s por completo, debía valer al en relación a la justicia. Cuando llegaba a la menos dos monedas de plata, mientras que la corte una disputa legal, la opinión de Aarón Shelamim ofrenda sólo necesitaba valer una era que el juez debía buscar un acuerdo en moneda de plata. Hilel opinaba lo opuesto, es donde ambos cedan, intentando engendrar Shelamim decir, el valor mínimo de era dos una relación de paz y armonía entre los monedas de plata, mientras que el valor litigantes, incluso si una parte era menos Olá (5) mínimo de era una . Por alguna razón, merecedora que la otra. Como vemos, para Olá Shamai le atribuía más valor a la ofrenda , Aarón mantener la paz era una mayor Shelamim mientras que Hilel a . prioridad que alcanzar la justicia. En El Meshej Jojmá dice que esta disputa indica contraste, Moisés creía que el juez debía una diferencia fundamental en la perspectiva apuntar a la absoluta verdad, dando su de estas dos escuelas de pensamiento (6). La veredicto de acuerdo a la verdad, más allá de fuente de esta diferencia es otro desacuerdo los sentimientos de los litigantes (10). entre Shamai e Hilel, respecto a la creación El Meshej Jojmá nota que Hilel se identifica Yalkut Shimoni (7) del mundo. El nota una con Aarón, como queda demostrado en Pirkei contradicción entre los dos versículos que Avot, donde Hilel nos instruye a estar entre los sugieren el orden en que fueron creados los discípulos de Aarón en lo referente a Bereshit cielos y la tierra: el versículo inicial de promover la paz entre nuestros prójimos (11). declara que, primero, Di-s creó los cielos, (8) La implicancia es que Hilel nos dice que viniendo la tierra recién después . Sin seamos más como Aarón que como Moshé embargo, el segundo capítulo implica que la (12) (9) . La razón no es que haya algún error en el tierra fue creada antes que los cielos . enfoque de Moshé, sino que su nivel es tan Shamai argumenta que los cielos fueron alto que es el de la pura verdad. En tal nivel, creados primero, mientras que Hilel sostiene no hay concesiones para proteger los que primero fue creada la tierra. sentimientos de las personas; la verdad es el Rav Milevsky, basado en el Meshej Jojmá, valor supremo. El enfoque de Shamai está explica que discuten respecto a qué cosa es más en línea con el de Moisés: sostiene que, más central en la creación de Di-s, si el cielo si bien no podemos alcanzar el exaltado nivel o la tierra. Shamai sostiene que el mundo de Moisés, de todos modos, debemos sigue teniendo su centro en el cielo, esforzarnos para alcanzar cualquier verdad implicando que los principios cardinales que lo que tengamos a nuestro alcance. De esta guían son los valores que pertenecen a las forma, Shamai se enfoca más en el cielo que esferas más elevadas: la Torá y el Emet ‘la en la tierra; el cielo, donde no hay lugar para verdad’. En contraste, Hilel cree que el mundo resignar la verdad, donde la verdad es tiene su centro en la tierra, lo cual implica que prístina.

בס''ד Esta diferencia en el enfoque se manifiesta en anunció: “Ambas opiniones son del Di-s un desacuerdo respecto a la verdad y la viviente, pero la ley sigue a Beit Hilel” (15). Esto falsedad. La Guemará en Ketubot habla sobre significa que ambas perspectivas son el caso de una pareja recién casada, donde la correctas, pero que tienen enfoques novia no es particularmente merecedora de diferentes. En este mundo, el enfoque más alabanza. Hilel y Shamai discuten sobre lo adecuado es el de Bet Hilel (16), porque en este que uno debería decirle al novio. Shamai dice mundo el valor de la paz puede estar en que uno debería decirle la verdad tal cual es, conflicto con el de la verdad y, para el nivel de más allá de que al hacerlo, heriría los la mayoría de las personas, la perspectiva de sentimientos del novio. Hilel, por el otro lado, Hilel es la más apropiada (17). argumenta que, por cuanto que hacer eso Una aplicación práctica de esta discusión es causaría incomodidad, uno debería alabarla cuando una persona puede sentir, de manera general. Shamai dice que el erróneamente, que es bueno siempre enfoque de Hilel constituiría una transgresión apegarse estrictamente a la verdad, incluso de la prohibición de mentir, mientras que Hilel cuando hacerlo le cause dolor a otros o pueda sostiene que, en tales casos, mantener la paz llevar a una discordia. y la harmonía entre el novio y la novia es más importante que no mentir, por lo que la El hecho de seguir a Bet Hilel en este mundo prohibición no aplica(13). La opinión de Hilel es nos enseña que, en ocasiones, es imposible que causar dolor y desacuerdo entre las perseguir la verdad absoluta sin causarle personas no está alineado con la verdad. La dolor a otros. Es altamente recomendable que ‘disputa’ provee un ejemplo esclarecedor de cada persona aprenda las leyes respecto a las ramificaciones de las diferentes cuándo está permitido, y cuándo no, alterar la perspectivas de Hilel y Shamai. Shamai se verdad por el bien de la paz. adhiere a un apego estricto a la verdad, Notas: (1) Vaikrá, 6:2. (2) Vaikrá, 7:11. (3) Fue el Gran mientras que Hilel resigna el valor de la Rabino de México y, posteriormente, maestro en la Ieshivá verdad en favor de la paz (14). Or Saméaj. Fue famoso por sus profundas explicaciones de la Torá. Sus clases fueron posteriormente publicadas Con este entendimiento de las opiniones de en dos volúmenes con el nombre Ner Uziel. Este ensayo Hilel y Shamai, podemos entender la razón de se encuentra en el segundo volumen, pp. 16-20. (4) la disputa respecto a qué Korbán debería Escrito por Rav Meir Simja de Dvinsk, uno de los más grandes eruditos de Torá de principios del siglo XX. (5) tener un valor mínimo superior, si la ofrenda Jaguigá, 6a. (6) Meshej Jojmá, Shemot, 20:18. (7) Yalkut Olá o Shelamim. La Olá, ofrecida a Di-s por Shimoni, 1:4. (8) Bereshit, 1:1. El Yalkut también cita un completo en el altar, es una “ofrenda celestial” pasuk de Yeshayá que indica que los cielos fueron para Shamai, cuyo objetivo principal es el creados primero. (9) Bereshit, 2:4. (10) Sanedrín, 6b. (11) Avot, 1:12. (12) Ner Uziel, p. 17. (13) Ketubot, 17a. (14) servicio a Di-s y el apego a la verdad absoluta. Ver Ner Uziel allí, y Meshej Jojmá, Shemot, 20:18, para Sin embargo, para Hilel el objetivo principal es más aplicaciones de la disputa entre Hilel y Shamai. (15) la paz, por lo que le atribuye un valor superior Eruvín, 13b. (16) Los estudiantes de Hilel, que legislaron a la ofrenda Shelamim, que es compartida con en base a la opinión de Hilel. (17) Sin embargo, los comentaristas señalan que, en el Mundo Venidero, las el dueño del animal, su familia y el sacerdote, leyes siguen a Bet Shamai, porque en ese mundo no hay promoviendo así la paz y la armonía entre las contradicción entre Emet y Shalom. personas. Hemos analizado las diferencias fundamentales entre Hilel y Shamai, y cómo Las Tentaciones del Dinero ellas se reflejan en sus legislaciones “Y Di-s le habló a Moshé y le dijo: Ordena conflictivas respecto a la ofrenda Olá y (tzav) a Aharón y a sus hijos, y diles: esta es Shelamim. Vimos que la perspectiva de Hilel la ley de la ofrenda Olá…” (1). enfatiza el hecho de ceder para alcanzar la paz, mientras que Shamai se enfoca en el La parashá de esta semana comienza con Di- apego absoluto a la verdad. La Guemará en s instruyéndole a Moshé que le ordene al Eruvín declara que, después de tres años de Kohén Gadol (Sumo Sacerdote) respecto al debate entre las dos escuelas, una voz korbán Olá, que es un tipo de ofrenda. El

בס''ד Midrash nota el uso de la palabra tzav; la Torá Incluso las personas más rectas sienten el normalmente diría “Dile a Aharón y a sus poder del iétzer hará en relación al dinero, hijos…”. ¿Por qué en este caso la Torá utilizó como lo demuestra la siguiente historia: la palabra tzav, que es un lenguaje más El gran sabio Rav Israel Salanter visitó en una fuerte? Rashi cita un Midrash que explica que ocasión el hogar de un hombre muy la palabra tzav implica un énfasis mayor en adinerado. El dueño de casa salió del cuarto zerizut (presteza), y que había una necesidad por unos minutos, dejando solo a Rav Israel y, extra de utilizar este lenguaje en referencia a para su sorpresa, cuando volvió advirtió que la ofrenda Olá. Rabí Shimón explica que esta Rav Israel ya no estaba en el cuarto. Después ofrenda tiene un factor de pérdida financiera de buscarlo, finalmente lo encontró parado (2) , y por lo tanto existe el temor de que el afuera de la casa. Rav Israel explicó que Kohén Gadol sea más dubitativo respecto a la había una gran cantidad de dinero sin contar mitzvá de la Olá. Consecuentemente, la Torá en ese cuarto y que no quería estar allí solo utilizó el lenguaje “tzav” para advertir a los con él. Él explicó, citando la Guemará de Baba kohanim sobre la mayor necesidad de Batra que la mayoría de las personas (3) presteza para traer la ofrenda Olá . tropiezan con robo mientras que sólo una Rav Iejézquel Levenstein zt"l señala una minoría tropieza con inmoralidad. Hay una destacable lección de este Midrash: El Kohén prohibición de ijud —de estar a solas— con Gadol era, en la mayoría de los casos, el una mujer, por la preocupación de que uno no hombre más recto y santo de la generación (4). pueda superar su tentación. Rav Israel Y no sólo eso, sino que la Guemará nos concluyó que si hay una prohibición de ijud por cuenta que uno de los prerrequisitos para ser temor a la inmoralidad, con lo cual sólo una Kohén Gadol era ser muy rico (5). Por lo tanto, minoría tropieza, entonces obviamente la dada la gran riqueza y rectitud del Kohén prohibición de ijud también debería aplicar al Gadol, ¡pareciera innecesario que la Torá se dinero, que es un área en la cual la mayoría preocupe por una posible falta de presteza tropieza. Consecuentemente, él no quiso como resultado de una pérdida financiera permanecer solo en el cuarto con el dinero relativamente pequeña! Rav Levenstein que no había sido contado (10). explica que la Torá nos está enseñando ¡que Si alguien como Rav Israel sintió una incluso el Kohén Gadol está sujeto al necesidad de poner límites adicionales para (6) poderoso impulso del amor al dinero! . protegerse ante la tentación del dinero, Nuestros sabios enfatizan el poder del amor al entonces es claro que todos nosotros también dinero en muchos otros lugares (7). Un ejemplo deberíamos estar extremadamente atentos sorprendente es la Gemará en Baba Batra ante este poderoso iétzer hará. Hay muchas que habla sobre cuáles son los pecados que áreas en las que esta vigilancia es necesaria. son transgredidos con mayor frecuencia. "Rav En primer lugar, la lección de esta parashá es Yehuda dice en el nombre de Rav: la mayoría que el temor a perder dinero no debe tener un de las personas [tropiezan] con robo, una efecto dañino en el cumplimiento de las (8) (9) minoría [tropieza] con inmoralidad …" . mitzvot. Hay muchas mitzvot que involucran Rashi explica que la Gemará no quiere decir gastos importantes y uno debería tener la que la mayoría de las personas cometen misma presteza para cumplir esas mitzvot que robos descarados, sino que racionalizan tendría para cumplir las menos onerosas. durante sus tratados comerciales para conservar el dinero que en realidad les Otra lección es que uno debería preocuparse corresponde a otros. Esta Gemará nos de ser consistente en su gasto en mitzvot en enseña que todo el mundo es vulnerable a la comparación a sus gastos en placeres materiales. Si uno gasta generosamente en seducción del iétzer hará (inclinación negativa) hacia el dinero para justificar el sus vacaciones, hogar y auto, debería mostrar comportamiento deshonesto que constituye un deseo similar de gastar dinero en mitzvot robo de acuerdo a la Torá. en general y en caridad en particular. El Jafetz Jaim zt"l alentó en una ocasión a un hombre

בס''ד rico que sentía que ya estaba dando una KARPAS - Karpas is a vegetable such as celery, cantidad importante de dinero en caridad a dar parsley, or boiled potato. Passover is the spring más dinero aún. El Jafetz Jaim le mostró a festival, when we celebrate the birth of our este hombre que él en realidad gastaba más nation. These vegetables are a symbol of rebirth dinero en su ropa que lo que daba en caridad. and rejuvenation. Otra forma en la que el amor por el dinero MARROR & CHAZERET - These are the bitter puede entorpecer nuestra Avodat Hashem herbs, which symbolize the lot of the Hebrew (servicio Divino) es que, en las áreas en las que slaves whose lives were embittered by the hard es posible sufrir una pérdida monetaria, la labor. persona se vea tentada a torcer las leyes de CHAROSET - Charoset reminds us of the hard la Torá. Por esto, incluso una persona labor the Jews had to perform by making bricks temerosa de Di-s puede evitar hacer from mortar. Charoset is a pasty mixture of nuts, preguntas halájicas en áreas relacionadas al dates, apples, wine and cinnamon. dinero. ZERO'AH - During the times of the Temple in Podemos aprender a partir de la advertencia Jerusalem, the Korbon Pesach (Pascal Lamb) al Kohén Gadol acerca del poderoso efecto was brought to the Temple on the eve of que tiene el amor por el dinero incluso en la Passover. It was roasted, and was the last thing gente más grandiosa. Que todos ameritemos eaten at the Seder meal. To commemorate this usar el dinero sólo para bien. offering, we use a roasted meat bone with a little meat remaining. Notas:(1)Tzav 6:1-2.(2) Hay diferentes opiniones respecto a la naturaleza exacta de la pérdida financiera. Muchos BETZAH - A second offering, called the comentaristas explican que, a diferencia de otros "Chagigah," was brought to the Temple and korbanot, el Olá era quemado por completo, por lo que no eaten as the main course of the Seder meal. quedaba nada para que comieran los Kohanim. Como Today, instead of a second piece of meat, we durante el tiempo invertido para ofrecer el Olá se hubiese podido ofrecer otro korbán que le permitiera al kohén un use an egg -- which is traditionally a symbol of beneficio material, podría generarse un sentimiento de mourning -- to remind us of the destruction of the pérdida financiera. Or HaJaim, en Tzav 6:2, ofrece un Temple. The Talmud points out that every year, resumen de otras interpretaciones del significado de the first day of Passover falls out on the same pérdida en este caso. (3) Torat Kohanim 6:1, citado por day of the week as Tisha B'Av, the day of Rashi, Tzav 6:2. (4) Una excepción son los kohanim del período del Segundo Templo, que a menudo alcanzaban mourning for the destruction of the Temple. la posición por medio de sobornos y afiliaciones políticas. 2. THE HUNGRY AND NEEDY (By Rabbi Meyer) (5) Yomá 18a. (6) Talele Orot, Parashat Tzav, p.100, citado por Meilitz Yosher.(7) Ver Jagigá 11b y Baba Batra All who are hungry -- come and eat. All who are 165a. Ver también Mesilat Iesharim, Cap. 11, donde needy -- come and join the Passover explica estas gemarot. (8) Traducido como haraiot. Se refiere a formas específicas de inmoralidad que la Torá celebration. prohíbe con gran dureza, como las relaciones con una It's hard to believe that as you're reciting this on mujer casada.(9) Baba Batra 165a.(10) Rav Ierujam Levovits zt"l trae el comportamiento de Rav Israel de Passover night, any hungry, homeless people nunca estar solo con dinero que no ha sido contado, will be hanging around outside your door. So agregando que ni siquiera quería estar solo con dinero what's the point? The message is that we cannot contado, a pesar de la gran posibilidad de ser atrapado have a relationship with G-d unless we care en el caso de decidir robarlo (Dáat, Jojmá uMusar, Tomo about other people -- both their physical and 4, Parashat Shelaj, p. 115b). psychological needs. Judaism absolutely rejects

self-absorbed spirituality. Insights into the Haggadah The Haggadah says: "All who are hungry... All who are needy..." The first one refers to physical A selection of great Haggadah insights you hunger -- if you're hungry, come have a bite. The can use at your Seder. (By Aish.com Staff) second is psychological -- if you're lonely or 1. SEDER PLATE -- EXPLANATION OF depressed, come join us. SYMBOLS (By Rabbi Shraga Simmons) The purpose of the Seder is to bring us closer to G-d. Closeness in the physical world is measured by distance. Closeness in the spiritual

בס''ד realm is measured by similarity. We come closer The Haggadah tells us to respond to him by to G-d by becoming more like Him. Since G-d "breaking his teeth." Teeth break down large provides food for all creatures and tends to all pieces of food into smaller, digestible pieces. their needs, at the very beginning of the The Evil Son's propensity to belittle what is great recitation of the Haggadah we issue an invitation and beyond his ability to digest must be to the poor and needy. Thus we define ourselves checked. as givers, whether or not any poor people rush The third son is the Simple Son. He asks, "What in to accept our invitation. And don't forget: Next is this?" "Simple" here does not mean stupid. year invite needy guests before Passover. The Simple Son is looking for G-d in a 3. THE FOUR QUESTIONS (By R’ Shraga Simmons) straightforward and direct way. According to The Seder is centered on asking questions. The Hasidic interpretation, "What" in his question youngest child asks the Four Questions; we refers to G-d. In whatever situation he finds wash our hands before eating the karpas himself, the Simple Son looks for G-d's because it is an unusual activity which prompts presence. the asking of questions; the Four Sons are The Son Who Does Not Know How to Ask is identified by the type of questions they ask. the fourth. His apathy prevents him from asking Why are questions so important? any questions, thus sabotaging any possibility of learning and growth. In truth, every human being The Maharal of Prague (16th century mystic) has a question. On Seder night, find your explains that people generally feel satisfied with question within and ask it! their view of life. Thus they are complacent when 5. SLAVERY OF THE AIMLESS it comes to assimilating new ideas and growing from them. A question is an admission of some (By R’ Ahron Lopiansky) lack. This creates an inner vacuum that now And they oppressed us. "As it says: "They placed needs to be filled. taskmasters over them, in order to afflict them with At the Seder, we ask questions in order to open burdens. And for Pharaoh they built store cities ourselves to the depth of the Exodus named Pitom and Ramses." (Exodus 1:11) experience. The Torah defines the redemption from Egypt as Got a good question? Ask it at the Seder! G-d saving us from slavery. But many other kinds of suffering characterized the Egyptian 4. THE FOUR SONS (By Sara Yoheved Rigler) exile: torture, infanticide, enforced separation of The Wise Son asks, "What are these statutes?" husbands and wives, etc. In the very first of the In the Torah, statutes (chukim) are laws that Ten Commandments, G-d gives as His calling don't have any apparent rational reason. We do card: "I am the Lord your G-d, who took you out them because G-d asked us to, just like you of the land of Egypt, out of the house of might run all over town searching for purple bondage." (Exodus 20:2) Why the emphasis on roses because your beloved asked you to. slavery rather than the other afflictions? Hebrew has two words to describe work: avodah and The Seder is a service of love and connection. It malacha. Maimonides explains that malacha connects us to G-d, to the other people at the has a finished product as its climax. Avodah table, and to the entire Jewish People. The Wise describes labor without any real purpose or Son doesn't get lost in intellectual sophistry. He accomplishment. The term for a slave-eved--is a asks, "What do I need to do in order to attain this derivative of this word. A slave works for no goal love and connection?" other than to satisfy his master. The Evil Son scoffs: "What's all this Passover The Talmud teaches that the location of the stuff to you?" The opposite of love and store cities which the Jewish slaves built was on connection is exclusion and distance. The Evil marsh land. No sooner did they build a layer Son excludes himself from the Jewish People. than it sank into the marsh. The greatest anguish He distances himself through ridicule, by of their labor was that it was purposeless. When mocking G-d, the Torah, and the lofty process of G-d saved us from purposeless work, He the Seder itself. opened our eyes to the horror of a life that has no sublime purpose. Therefore, G-d at Sinai

בס''ד introduced His commandments to us with the not identify strongly enough with the Jewish ultimate calling card: "I am the G-d who removed people's role and goal. They were too you from the ordeal of life without purpose or assimilated and immersed in Egyptian society. meaning. Now I will show you what life is for: to So they stayed behind. The Haggadah is come close to Me by rectifying yourself through focusing us on the fact that our ancestors were the commandments which follow." among the group that had the courage and foresight to leave. It is always difficult to make 6. MIRACLES TODAY (By Rabbi Shraga Simmons) changes. We may feel that we don't have the "And G-d brought us out of Egypt with a mighty drive, stamina, and determination to make bold hand and an outstretched arm and with awe and decisions. The Haggadah reminds us that we with signs and wonders." (Deut. 26:8) are part of the group that left. It is in our blood. People often ask: "Why are there no miracles 8. THE ART OF SAVORING today? If I saw the signs and wonders of the (By R‘ Shimon Apisdorf) Exodus, I too would believe." The Talmud tells the story of a father who puts his son on his After the Afikomen, nothing else should be eaten shoulders, and carries him day and night for the remainder of the night -- except for the wherever he goes. At mealtime the father drinking of water, tea, and the remaining two reaches up his hands and feeds the boy. Quietly cups of wine. and consistently, the father cares for his son's Would Disney World be worth the trip if you had every need. Then one day as they pass another to come home with no video or photos? In our traveler, the boy shouts out: "Hey, have you rush to preserve every experience on some form seen my father?" We are all prone to take G-d's of tape or film, we are in fact sacrificing a great providence for granted. In truth, miracles deal. As we assume our position behind the abound in our lives. The only difference between camera and begin to stalk the big game of the miracles of the Exodus and the miracles of "Kodak moments," are we not also removing our immune system is frequency. A one-time ourselves from the picture, becoming detached miracle elicits our awe. A repeated or constant observers instead of active participants? miracle elicits a yawn. Sadly, the more constant G-d's miracles, the more apt we are to ignore The law of the Afikomen -- once it's over, it's over them. In the words of Oscar Wilde: "Niagara -- is a hint to the lost spiritual art of savoring, a Falls is nice. But the real excitement would be to sensitization technique which allows us to see it flowing backwards." become completely immersed in an experience. Do we fully appreciate the miracle of trees It means fine-tuning our senses to consciously breathing carbon dioxide so that we can breathe engage every day and every moment; to oxygen? Do we recognize the miracle of a one- celebrate life and to imbibe the totality of every celled zygote becoming a human being with experiential step we take. brain, knees, eyelashes, and taste buds? Upon concluding the Seder, Jewish law bids us Passover teaches us to love G-d for the wonder not to taste anything after the Afikomen. This is of Niagara Falls flowing forward. a night for savoring: ideas, feelings, and images. 7. ASSIMILATION THEN AND NOW Parents teaching, children learning, and all of us growing together. Allow it to become a part of (By Rabbi Stephen Baars) you. Savor this night of connection and freedom. In each and every generation, a person is Only then can you leave. Not with souvenirs, not obligated to regard himself as though he actually with photos, but as a different person. A different left Egypt. Jew. And this you will never forget. The Talmud records that in actuality only 20% of the Jewish people left Egypt. The other 80% did