CANDLELIGHTING: 4:23 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7 ד טבת תשע"ד SHABBOS ENDS: AFTER 5:26 72 MIN: 5:53 DECEMBER 4, 2013

PARSHAS VAYIGASH THE REST OF THE

By R’ Yitzi Weiss STORY: ויפל על צוארי בנימן אחיו ויבך ובנימן בכה על צואריו )מה: יד( When Yosef was reunited with his brother Binyamin, the Pasuk states that What’s behind the passuk? they fell on each other’s neck and cried. Yosef fell on Binyomin’s neck By R’ Yosef Dovid Rothbart while Binyamin cried on Yosef’s. Rashi (quoting from Gemara Megilla 16B) Yehudah had been arguing with Yosef regarding Binyomin for a while. He recognized that Yosef was adamant about keeping him back, and comments that Yosef cried over the two Batei Mikdash which would be realized that he had to resort to other tactics. He turned to Naftali, who located in Binyomin’s portion and would be destroyed, and Binyomin cried ran with the speed of a deer, and commanded him to count the about the Mishkan in Shiloh, which was to be located in Yosef’s portion thoroughfares in Memphis, the capital city of Egypt. In a few moments and would also be destroyed. Naftali returned and reported that there 12 main thoroughfares in the How does Rashi derive from the Pasuk that they were crying over the capital city. future destruction of the two Batei Mikdash and the Mishkan? The simple “Very well!” Yehudah addressed his brothers. “I will destroy three of understanding of the brothers crying should be that they were overcome these roads, and each of you will overcome one of them. Together we with raw emotion at seeing their only brother from their mother, Rochel, will annihilate the entire city.” after many years, and were emitting tears of joy and happiness on this “Yehudah, Yehudah,” the brothers replied, aghast at such a suggestion. momentous occasion. “This is not Shechem. If we destroy Egypt, we will be destroying an Furthermore, the Pasuk states in respect of Yosef’s encounter with the entire civilization. Certainly Hashem has no desire to allow such a ”.When devastation .וינשק לכל אחיו ויבך עלהם ואחרי כן דברו אחיו אתו (מה: טו) :other brothers Rashi explains this Pasuk, he follows the simple understanding, that all Yehudah tried to threaten Yosef in another way. In the Palace, there the brothers cried tears of happiness and joy after their brother Yosef was a stone weighing 400 pounds. Yehudah took this stone in his right revealed himself to them and they saw that not only was he unhurt, but hand and hurled it into the air. As it came down, he deftly caught it in he also held a high position in Egypt. Why does Rashi seemingly change his left hand and placed it on the floor. Yehudah then looked at Yosef and, with a well-placed kick, pulverized the rock. the simple meaning when he explains Yosef’s reunion with Binyomin, and But Yosef was noticeably unimpressed by Yehudah’s display of power. not do so in the case of his reunion with the other brothers? He nonchalantly signalled to Menasheh, Yosef’s son, who immediately Towards the end of the Parsha, we encounter another one of Yosef’s duplicated Yehudah’s demonstration with a similar rock. “Are you so meetings. After being told that Yosef was alive and well in Egypt, Yaakov confident to think that only you posses such strength?” Yosef asked. descends to Mitzrayim to see Yosef. The Pasuk describes how Yosef fell on “We too possess men just as strong as you.” his father’s neck and wept. Rashi (in the name of his Rebbi) tells us that “Give us back Binyomin,” Yehudah roared, “or we will demolish the Yaakov was reading Krias Shema when Yosef embraced him. This is entire city.” alluded to by the fact that it is written that Yosef fell on Yaakov’s neck, “Such dedication!” retorted Yosef. “Why don’t you just tell your father but not that Yaakov reciprocated. Therefore, Rashi infers that Yaakov was that a wild beast tore Binyomin up, just as you told him about Yosef?” busy with something else at that moment. But even before Yosef had a chance to finish, Shimon already agreed If so, this strengthens the aforementioned question of how Rashi knew withYehudah. “We can climb up the mountain and take from there that the tears of Yosef and Binyomin were not just tears of happiness. large boulders. We will toss these boulders onto the city and crush its Where is it alluded to in the Pasuk? inhabitants.” Rashi infers this from the shift in the description of Binyomin’s meeting Yosef quickly instructed Menashe to bring the Egyptian army. Menashe with Yosef and his meeting with the other brothers. With the other returned with 50 heavily-armed horsemen and 10,000 foot soldiers. brothers, the Pasuk states “Vayenashek”- and he kissed all his brothers in Amongst these soldiers were 400 warriors so well versed in the art of war that they did not resort to weaponry. The troops came and addition to crying on them. Therefore, we can see clearly that with the surrounded the brothers. Yehudah withdrew his sword and began to other brothers the crying was out of feelings of happiness and love. In laugh. Suddenly he let out a roar. The Egyptians became petrified and contrast, with Binyomin the Pasuk doesn’t describe kissing, despite began to flee from him. Binyomin having the closest kinship to Yosef. Thus, Chazal assert that the Yosef signalled to Menashe, who placed his hand on Yehudah’s central aspect of their interaction was crying, and attribute the crying to shoulder, tranquilizing him completely. Yosef then began to reveal the future destruction of the Batei Mikdash and the Mishkan. himself to his brothers. (Based on the SeferHaYashar)

[We must also ask ourselves this question: How can we go up to our father [in heaven כי איך אעלה אל אבי והנער איננו אתי )מד: לד( and our youth is not with us (i.e we haven’t utilized our young age)? (MayanaShel Torah)

(continued from story column) HALACHA Once outside, he saw his son-in-law waiting for him at the prison entrance. In his heart he knew at once that some accident had Hilchos Krias Shema occurred. However, he did not utter a word, and with the wisdom of silence between them they set off by foot to the Shaarei Chesed neighbourhood, where his married daughter lived. As they reached his daughter’s home, Rav Aryeh saw In this week’s Parsha, we are told about the emotional reunion members of the family and medical doctors gathered there. It between Yaakov and Yosef. Rashi (B’reishis 46, 29) writes that, was then that he learned the news: his daughter had been although Yosef fell on Yaakov’s neck and wept, Yaakov remained stricken by paralysis. The only comfort the doctors could give standing and did not express any emotion. Rashi explains that him was that in their opinion, her total incapacitation would Yaakov was concentrating on reciting Shema. Let us therefore likely give way to partial paralysis over the course of time, and explore some of the Halachos regarding the Kavanah that is perhaps in a number of years she would recover completely. necessary while reciting KriasShema. After an emotional meeting with his daughter, he reminded Before a person begins to recite KriasShema, he should have the members of the family that “the rescuing help of the Lord can intention of fulfilling the Mitzvah of reciting the Shema. The come in the twinkling of an eye.” Mishnah Berurah (O.C. 60: 10) quotes the Chayei Adam, who writes That night, when Shabbos was over, the Arab guard from the that even if one forgot to have this intention he has fulfilled his prison knocked at his door. Burning with curiosity, the inmates obligation and need not recite Shema again. The reason is that at the jail had bribed him to go to Rav Levin’s home and find out when one recites KriasShema as part of his daily davening, he has the reason for his sudden departure. Rav Aryeh explained what an "automatic" degree of intention to had happened and told them not to fulfill his obligation; for why else would he worry. be reciting Shema just now if not because The next Shabbos the prisoners flocked of the Mitzvah to recite KeriasShema? I pledge all the remaining around him and asked how his However, it is proper for one to have daughter was. “As well as can be specific intention to fulfill the Mitzvah. days of my life to the expected,” he said emotionally. A second type of Kavanah that is required complete recovery of our During the Torah reading, an unusual when reciting Shema is to understand the thing occurred during the Mi- basic meaning of the words being said. If ’s daughter! Sheberach prayer recited after each of a person recites Shema but does not the seven Aliyos, in which one asks the understand what he is saying, he has not Lord to bless and protect the man just fulfilled the Mitzvah. called to the Torah. It is customary that the man called to the Torah pledges a sum to charity. The Mishnah Berura(61:1, 4, 5) writes that, L'chatchilah, one should As Rav Aryeh duly recited the Mi-Sheberach for the first prisoner understand the basic meaning of the entire KeriasShema. As he called to the Torah, he was taken by surprise to hear the man pronounces each word, he should have in mind the meaning of the announce that he was pledging a day of his life for the recovery words that he is saying. This requires full concentration, and it is of the good rabbi’s daughter. When the time came for the Mi- the proper and preferred manner in which to perform this Mitzvah. Sheberach of the second called, he announced that he forfeited However, if one is unable to do this, one fulfills the Mitzvah, a week of his life for the sake of the sick woman. The third man B'dieved, even if he only had Kavanah for the verse of called pledged a month of his lifespan; and so it went. At last it ShemaYisrael according to Rav Moshe (Igros Moshe O.C. 5: 5 c.f. was the turn of the seventh man, Dov Tamari, who later became Mishnah Berura 63: 11). a professor at the Technion in Haifa. If a person failed to concentrate during the first verse, he must “What is our life in prison worth,” he cried, “compared to our repeat Shema. Since it is forbidden to repeat a word, or even an rabbi’s anguish? I pledge all the remaining days of my life to the entire verse of ShemaYisrael (c.f. Mishnah Berura 61: 9), Rav Moshe complete recovery of our rabbi’s daughter!” (ibid) advises finishing the first paragraph and then starting again Rav Aryeh looked at the young man and burst into tears. He was from the beginning. Other Poskim allow repetition during moved beyond words to see how devoted these men were to KeriasShema [when one failed to concentrate] if the following two him and how much affection they bore him. Unable to continue conditions are met: 1) it is done quietly enough that no one else with the prayer service, he shook hands warmly with every can hear; and 2) only an entire verse at a time may be repeated; single one of the inmates and went straight home. single words may not be repeated (c.f. Mishnah Berura 61: 22, 23; That evening, after Shabbos, members of his family came to tell 63: 14). him that his daughter was beginning to show signs of recovery: If a person remembered only after he began the second paragraph she had started to move some limbs. A few days went by, and the Mishnah Berura (63: 14) writes that he should finish the her health returned completely, in utter contradiction to the ,(והיה) second Parashah, repeat the first verse and the first Parashah medical prognosis, which predicted a long period of illness and .convalescence .(ויאמר) and continue on to the third Parashah ,(ואהבת) As always, if such a situation does arise one should consult his Rav. (excerpted from A Tzaddik in our times)

Shabbos table discussions  Why did Yosef not inform his father that he was viceroy in Egypt? Would that not have saved Yaakov many years of anguish?  A person is supposed to say Modeh Ani immediately upon waking. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch writes that this applies even if he did not wash his hands and they are still unclean. Does this apply only if the place that he is in is clean, or also if the place he is in isn’t clean?

By R’ Yossi Bergman imprisonment, wrote in a letter to a friend: “Yet there is one As early as 1927, Rav Aryeh Levin began visiting Jewish prisoners who had person in particular to whom I remain grateful first and been found guilty of political crimes like possessing a weapon or smuggling foremost; a dear, precious Jew about whom you told me nothing; contraband into the country. The British overseers of Palestine stiffened their but it was he who stormed heaven and earth for me; and more grip on the necks of the Jews in direct proportion to the Arabs’ penchant for important — it was he who brought me closer to my Maker in stirring up violent riots. In response, the Jewish underground, comprising those fateful days... He left and we remained in the prison. He groups like the , the , and the increased their couldn’t take us with him out into the free world, but he always activities, which led to many of their members being jailed. brought the outside world in to us.” In 1931 the British authorities requested that the Chief Rabbi appoint a One Shabbos the prisoners had the ability to express their great prison chaplain who would visit the captives on Shabbos. Rav Kook turned to appreciation to Rav Aryeh. As Shabbos approached there was Rav Aryeh Levin, who worked as the supervisor in the Etz Chaim Talmud happy anticipation in the air as the prisoners waited for the Torah, and asked him to take the position. Rav Aryeh accepted, on the arrival of Rav Aryeh Levin, who would bring some light and hope condition that he would not receive any compensation for his time. Every into their otherwise drab existence. Rav Levin arrived on time for Shabbos morning Rav Aryeh walked from his house in Mishkenos to the his regular weekly visit. As usual, he had the prisoners join in the , where the main prison was located. He prayed morning prayer service; and as usual, when the time came, he together with the prisoners, sat and talked with each one, acted as an began reading the weekly portion from the Torah scroll. emissary between them and their families, and generally filled the vacuum in As he was in the middle of the Torah reading, one of the Arab their lives. He never tried to force his religious values on them; at most he guards approached and asked him to come outside, as there gave them a Book of Psalms to read. The inmates were captivated by his were people waiting for him Rav Aryeh, however, had no wish to genuine warmth and sincerity, and the honour and respect with which he interrupt the reading and motioned to the guard to be so kind as treated them. At one point, the Arab inmates even became jealous of their to wait until he was finished. Jewish cell mates, for their Mufti’s visits were guarded and aloof, cold and A few minutes passed by and once again the guard appeared distant. with the same request. Once more, though, the rabbi motioned Rav Aryeh would take each inmate’s hand and cup it inside his own. Slowly to him to wait until he finished reading from the Sefer Torah. he would rub and squeeze the prisoner’s hand as he sat and talked with him. Soon, however, the captain of the guard himself came, and His eyes radiated love and comradeship, and he spoke soft and soothing asked Rav Levin to accompany him. There could be no further words of encouragement. Even the most stubborn prisoners succumbed to doubt: something quite serious must be afoot. Rav Aryeh asked his simple, untainted love for his fellow Jew. one of the inmates to continue the reading, and he left the cell The most heartbreaking situation he encountered was the predicament of the with the captain of the guard. prisoners that were condemned to death. Rav Aryeh made every effort to (Continued on inside column) appeal the sentences and reduce the punishment. Once he even threw himself in front of the High Commissioner’s moving limousine in order to present his petition to him. Concerning those he could not save, like Dov Groner, Moshe Barzani, and Meir Feinstein, Rav Aryeh said: “None of us has RIDDLE any idea how high is the spiritual rank of these martyrs.” The prisoners themselves spoke of his influence on them. Following are some By R’ Naftali Spiegel of the comments they made about him: “We counted our days in prison according to Rav Aryeh’s visits.” “I still thank the God of Israel that as the door of Cell 48 opened to lead me When are you allowed to learn Torah by a into an unknown future into life behind bars, He sent me this good angel of small light but not a greater illumination? His.” “If you never saw a camp of prisoners receive Rav Aryeh and give him Please send your answers to welcome, you cannot know the power of love and faith.” [email protected]. “About this Jew there was always a wondrous aura.” Please include your name and age. “Whoever didn’t experience his unique handshake cannot understand its essence. One hand shook yours in greeting; and the other patted it in All those who submit a correct answer will affection, as he spoke with you in his calm and reassuring manner.” be entered into a raffle to a free meal at “His eyes illuminated the darkness of our cells... For us he was a bridge to Pizza Café. Sponsored by: Pizza Café the past generations, a link of prayer with the Almighty.” (416) 633-5678 Mattityahu Shmuelevitz, whose death sentence was commuted to life

SHIURIM AND EVENTS IN KOLLEL OHR YOSEF THORNHILL COMMUNITY KOLLEL

Friday Night Seder YARCHEI KALLAH Friday Night Seder will restart this Motzei Kollel Ohr Yosef & BAYT Adult Education invite Shabbos, Nov. 8 at 8:00 pm. Come learn on the men and women of the community to the fifth the long Friday nights. annual Yarchei Kallah from Dec.24-Jan.1. Stay There will be a Bochurim Chabura learning tuned for the full Yarchei Kallah schedule, Hilchos Tzitzis, led by R' Avi Friedman. including a video on the life of Rav Yosef Shalom Incentives given for attendance, with Elyashiv, shiurim from Rabbi Nate Segal, Rabbi additional incentives for taking tests. Asher Vale, R' Yosef Dovid Rothbart, Rabbi Moshe Taub, and Shabbos with Rabbi Eliezer Breitowitz.

 When Yaakov told Yosef that he can die now that he has seen Yosef’s face, he did not just mean that he was happy that Did you know... Yosef was alive? Yaakov told Yosef that through his knowledge of physiognomy  There is a Machlokes whether Yosef did the (face reading) he can see that Yosef is a correct thing when he ordered everyone to true Tzaddik even though he has lived in leave the room before he revealed himself Mitzrayim all these years. Therefore to the brothers? Some of our sages say that Yaakov was not afraid of dying as he he should not have left himself alone with knew all his children were righteous. 10 powerful angry men who were likely to To contribute to this section and be featured kill him. While other sages maintain that in this newsletter, email your D’var Torah to Yosef did a very good thing. By ordering all [email protected] or drop off it at the Egyptians out of the room, he saved his brothers from embarrassment. kollel Ohr Yosef 613 Clark Avenue West.  One opinion in the Medrash says that the brothers were ready to kill Yosef after everyone left the room? The Malach Gavriel suddenly appeared and scattered the brothers to the four corners of the palace.  Besides giving presents to his brothers, By R’ Naftali Spiegel Yosef gave presents to Dinah as well? Yosef sent Dinah gowns of spun gold and silver Which of the brothers had a descendant who along with priceless pearls. entered Gan Eden alive?  Before Yaakov went down to Mitzrayim, he cut cedars that would be used for the Please send your answers to Mishkan? [email protected]. Please include your name and age.  When Yaakov and the Shevatim went down All those who submit a correct answer will be to Mitzrayim, they had Kefitzas HaDerech entered into a raffle to a free meal at Pizza and arrived there right after they left? Café. Sponsored by: Pizza Café (416) 633-5678

An Anonymous Donor TO SPONSOR a week of Ohr Shabbos as a zechus, or l’iluy nishmas a loved לזכות רפואה שלימה לרפאל צבי one, contact R Chaim Leib גדליה בן חיה Gross at (905)764-1100 or email [email protected]