Vayeira 5771 October 23, 2010

A Taste of Torah Stories For The Soul Looking Forward To Really Care By Levi Lebovits because of the close relationship shared Avraham sat outside his tent in by Hashem and Avraham, Hashem feels the heat, a mere three days after his Many people think that the that it is only right to inform Avraham bris milah. The pain was incredible, greatness of man comes solely from the of the forthcoming calamity. When the heat was unbearable; yet there perfection of one’s personal service of describing the reason for their close and he stationed himself, waiting in Hashem. This, of course, would limit intimate relationship, the Torah says that readiness for the opportunity to one’s spiritual sphere to one’s own four Hashem takes an interest in Avraham perform the mitzvah of hachnosas ells, never to aid or influence others. because he knows that he will instruct orchim (inviting guests). However, when we look into this week’s his children and household to follow Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, who parsha we see that this is not quite the the ways of Hashem. Amazing! When was known throughout Europe, whole story. speaking of the greatness of Avraham, and America as the Alter The Torah tells of the city of Sodom, the Torah does not speak of his belief of Slabodka, commented that to whose residents were notorious for in Hashem or his fulfillment His will, Avraham, hachnosas orchim was their tremendous cruelty towards but rather the fact that he will instruct such a part of him - of the very fabric their fellow man. Due to the wicked future generations to follow Hashem. of his being - that not performing behavior of its inhabitants, Hashem From here we can see that“greatness” hachnosas orchim was more painful decrees that the entire city of Sodom be does not end with one’s own personal and distressing to him than the pain destroyed. However, before the actual obligations, but rather expands to of the operation and the heat of the destruction, Hashem discusses the issue include a responsibility to influence blazing sun. with Avraham. The Torah tells us that others to serve Hashem. Kindness and charity can and should change our very consciousness, as the following true story, recorded Ask the Rabbi in the , illustrates: 613 Mitzvos- Why? Rav Pappa was climbing a ladder From: Gregory Cissell decrees.” when he suddenly began to slip. Let me explain with a parable. He grappled for a moment, then Dear Rabbi, Imagine that the president calls you caught himself before falling. He was I am taking a class at Marquette to his office and gives you 10 million gripped with trepidation because he University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dollars and a strange gadget. He tells you understood this as a sign from Heaven USA, so that I can better understand to take the gadget home, put it by the that he had done something that was . My question for you is this: open window, and turn it on every day deemed worthy of the death penalty. Why is the mitzvah system (by mitzvah between four and five in the afternoon, Rav Chiya suggested that perhaps Rav system, I mean the 613 commandments and that it’s a matter of national Pappa had failed to give tzedaka to a that Jews are obligated to observe) security. He tells you that the 10 million poor person. The Talmud teaches, considered so important? It has not been is yours so long as you continue to do “One who hides his eyes from tzedaka my experience that these commandments your task faithfully every day. You would is considered as one who serves idols.” carry the same significance in other certainly do it, even though you didn’t Idol worship is punishable by death. religions as in Judaism. Thank you. understand why, because you know The Maharsha (Baba Basra 10A) says that the president has access to special that Rav Chiya was hinting to the Dear Gregory Cissell, information and technology that you following incident: G-d gave the 613 commandments don’t have. You would feel sure that Once a poor person came to to our nation at Sinai. They are so somehow this gadget has some function Rav Pappa, who was in charge of important because they are “the King’s that, even though you don’t understand the communal charity fund, for a continued on back continued on back Happenings Interpersonal Issues Keeping it in the Family NEW SKILL BUILDING GEMARA A husband may not take his wife’s married woman that seems unusually CLASS MONDAYS AND personal belongings, such as her jewelry large for someone ofher financial means, WEDNESDAYS AT AISH or clothing, without her consent. unless she says that she is authorized by A wife cannot give a donation for her husband to do so.. Join Rabbi Levi Lebovits and charity beyond an amount that the Adapted with permission from “The RabbiMordechai Mandel for a husband would approve of. Halachos of Other People’s Money” by Rabbi new skill- building, text-based Therefore, one who solicits funds Pinchas Bodner (Feldheim Publishers) Gemara class, Monday and may not accept a donation from a Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 9:00 at Aish. The topic of study is Tractate Pesachim which deals Ask the Rabbi with the holiday of Pesach. For continued from front but rather to do all the commandments, information call 303-820-2855or it, is crucial for national security. as G-d said: “You shall observe all My email [email protected] So too, even though we don’t statutes and all My laws and do them, understand the ultimate reason for all so that the Land to which I am bringing the commandments, since G-d Himself you to settle upon will not vomit you told us to do them and told us that they out.” (Leviticus 20:22) We see from are so important, we certainly believe this verse that our national security in STYLE MORNING Him. He took us out of slavery in Egypt the Land of Israel depends on fulfilling LEARNING AT AISH and gave us the Land of Israel in order these laws. Not only that, but they are for us to do the commandments; as the also our ticket to life in the Next World, After the new 6 o’clock Shacharis Torah says regarding the laws of keeping as the verse says, “You shall keep My at Aish, on Tuesday, Wednesday kosher, that we should observe them, statutes and My laws, which a person and Friday, join Kollel members “Because I am the Lord your G-d, who will do them and live eternal life through for Chavrusa style learning. raised you up out of the land of Egypt to them.” (Leviticus 18:5) Participants are studying Tractate be your G-d.” (Leviticus 11:45) Reprinted with permission of Ohr Sanhedrin, which deals with the Jewish courtsystem. For We are not to “pick and choose,” Somayach, , www.ohr.edu information call 303-820-2855 or email [email protected] Stories for the Soul continued from front one who “hides his eyes from tzedaka” donation from the fund. Rav Pappa just because he did not know a law. denied him because this man was also Rather, Rav Pappa failed to deduce the going from door to door for donations law because he lacked the proper level SHAREHOLDERS VS. and the law stated, “When a poor of empathy towards the plight of the MANAGEMENT AT NOVEMBER person collects from door to door, he poor person. In addition to transferring 3 TORAH FOR TYCOONS is not given a gift from the communal funds, the mitzvah of tzedaka requires fund.” Rav Samma rebuked him saying, that one be sensitive to the plight of Join Rob Klugman, Former “If you don’t give him, then others will the poor person and to feel his pain. Chief Global Strategy Officer at not give and he will die.” Had Rav Pappa put himself in the poor Molson Coorswill and Kollel Dean Rav Pappa responded, “What can I do? man’s shoes, he would have realized Rabbi Shachne Sommers for The law states, ‘When a poor person that ‘no gift’ could not be an option “Shareholders vs. Management: collects from door to door, he is not and therefore a small token gift must be Who has the Final Say?” at the next given a gift from the communal fund.’” in order. Rav Pappa’s failing was in the Torah for Tycoons, Wed., Nov., 3. Rav Samma retorted, “He is not given a essential mitzvah of tzedaka and thus The program will be held at noon large gift, but he is given a token gift.” was tantamount to idol worship. at the East Side KosherDeli. Cost: Rabbi Moshe Dov Harris explained that Adapted with permission from ShulWeek $20. To RSVP, call 303-820-2855 Rav Pappa could not be considered as by Rabbi Boruch Lederman or email [email protected] The Torah Weekly is made possible through a generous grant from the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, NJ, in memory of Harry H. Beren, z”l. Denver Community Kollel: 1516 Xavier Street, Denver, CO 80204 Tel: 303-820-2855 Fax: 303-820-2806 Email: [email protected] Web: www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, send an email to [email protected]