OHRNETOShabbos ParshasH Terumah • For theR week ending 2 NAdar 5758 • Feb. E28, 1998 • Vol. 5 TNo. 19 THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET PARSHA INSIGHTS

Why don’t people think like this? Hashem was palpable. You could THE LAIR OF THE LION In this week’s Parsha the Torah see He was there. “They shall make a starts a lengthy description of the Imagine sitting at a computer. Sanctuary for Me.” (25:2) Mishkan. The sheer volume of this You are typing away, lost in the couple of years ago a well- account outweighs almost every great American / British / Israeli AAknow Israeli daily newspa- subject in the Torah. What was the novel. Unbeknownst to you, a lion per, not known for its sym- Mishkan and why does it merit such enters your room. It’s a very quiet, pathy to religion, published a car- voluminous expanse in the Book well-behaved lion, and you carry toon. where nothing is merely descrip- on typing in blissful ignorance. In the cartoon, a man was having tive and there is no place for liter- The lion’s existence is unaltered a dream. Out of his head came the ary embellishment? by whether you carry on typing or statutory “think-bubbles.” The The word Mishkan comes from you turn around and give yourself a bubbles got larger and larger until the word “to dwell.” It was the bit of a surprise. However, the the following scene unraveled: The presence of the lion has everything man saw himself “upstairs” being to do with whether you turn questioned by winged angels wear- “...every Jew around or not. ing black hats: “But why didn’t you The Mishkan allowed one to see keep Shabbos?” they asked. “You should make his and fear the Lion. Hashem’s pres- knew there was a thing called ence there was palpable. Shabbos didn’t you? What about The word for “sight” in Hebrew Kashrus? You knew there was heart into a is from the same root as “fear” — something called Kashrus?” yirah. What is the connection In the following bubble, the man Sanctuary where between seeing and fearing? A wakes up in a cold sweat. Then a person only fears what he can see. close-up on his face. “Maybe Hashem will Intellectual concepts don’t frighten they’re right!” he says. us. The biggest proof is that even if Why isn’t everyone religious? dwell.” we’re religious and we know that Why don’t people think: “What there is a world-to-come, a cosmic if those religious fanatics are right? day of reckoning, even though we After all, if they’re wrong, at least place where Hashem “dwelled” in know these things clearly, we can’t they have wonderfully rich and ful- this lower world. But how can a see them, and so we don’t really fear. filling lives, lovely families, etc. And mere building house the One Fear only comes from seeing the if they’re right, and I’m wrong? I’m whose glory fills the universe. Lion. Going into the Mishkan was going to lose out on something How can the Omnipresent have a like going into the lion’s lair. eternal. I’m going to get to the “house?” next world and I won’t have the There is a difference between price of admission. I won’t even be existence and presence. Hashem BUSINESS AS USUAL able to get a cheap seat! Maybe I exists equally everywhere. He is “Take for Me an offering” (25:2) will have to give an accounting in no more in one place than another, have given you a good ‘deal’ front of the real Supreme Court. because there is no place where “I(lit. ‘taking’) My Torah, do I’ll be religious just in case! Better “I He is not. Rather, the Mishkan was not forsake it.” (Tehillim, safe than sorry!” a place where the presence of 132 8-10)

continued on page three

1 P ARSHA OVERVIEW

ashem commands Moshe to build a Aharon. This contains the Table of Showbreads, the Mishkan (Sanctuary) and supplies him with Menorah, and the Golden Altar for incense. The inner- detailed instructions. Bnei Yisrael are most chamber, the Holy of Holies, may be entered only HHasked to contribute precious metals and by the Kohen Gadol, and only once a year, on Yom Kippur. stones, fabrics, skins, oil and spices. In the Here is the Ark that held the Ten Commandments Mishkan’s outer courtyard is an altar for the burnt offer- inscribed on the two tablets of stone which Hashem gave ings and a laver for washing. The Tent of Meeting is divid- to the Jewish nation on Mount Sinai. All of the utensils ed by a curtain into two chambers. The outer chamber and vessels, as well as the construction of the Mishkan, is accessible only to the kohanim, the descendants of are described in extraordinary detail.

HAFTORAH: MELACHIM I 5:26-6:13 the Exodus. follow My decrees, and perform My BUILT TO LAST Even though the physical statis- statutes” — this is what the Beis “This Temple that you build — if you tics of Shlomo’s construction are Hamikdash is really built of. follow My decrees, perform My staggering, what is important to And since the “materials” of its statutes, and observe all Hashem is that the real construc- construction are really spiritual, so My commandments.” (6:12) tion be built from the giving heart. the Beis Hamikdash, even after its ust as in this week’s Parsha the This is what Hashem is saying to physical destruction, even after its Torah speaks of the construc- Shlomo in the above verse: Don’t material components have disinte- JJtion of the Mishkan, the Divine think that the construction of My grated, continues to exist: “residence” in the desert, so house is by mere material means, “I will dwell within Bnei Yisrael, too the Haftorah describes the first by the lavishing of silver and gold. and I will not forsake My people Beis Hamikdash which was built by These are mere illusions — not the Israel.” Shlomo Hamelech 480 years after real Beis Hamikdash. Rather, “if you • Kochav M’Yaakov

LOVE OF THE LAND Selections from classical Torah sources which express the special O H R N E T relationship between the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET

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General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Editorial & Web Advisor: hy did Moshe the Jews have been com- Rabbi Reuven Lauffer Associate Editors: Rabbeinu so manded can be fulfilled Rabbi Mordechai Becher, WW desire to enter only in Eretz Yisrael. I Rabbi Reuven Subar Contributing Writers: Eretz Yisrael? Surely it therefore pray to Hashem Weekly Daf, Love of the Land: Rav Mendel Weinbach was not in order to eat its to allow me to enter the Insights, Overview, Haftorah: fruits and enjoy its good- Land so that I will be able Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair ness! to fulfill all of them. Web Production: Lev Seltzer Thus reasoned Moshe: Produced and Designed by the Office of Communications • Mesechta Sota 14a Rabbi Eliezer Shapiro, Director Many of the mitzvot which

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2 continued from page one PARSHA INSIGHTS

The Torah is like business. If you pure gold, from within and without, become a great Torah scholar. have a bad week in business, you and you shall make on it a gold crown As Rabbi Gordon’s family began don’t close up the shop. Because if all around. (25:11) to grow, he became increasingly he Aron HaKodesh, the Holy you close the shop and give up uncomfortable with the feeling Ark, represents the Torah working completely you’ll just sink TT that he was burdening his father- scholar. He must be as lower and lower until you hit bot- in-law, and frequently asked Reb golden on the inside as he is on the tom. Avraham to allow him to accept outside — his inner character must Similarly in Torah study, even one of the numerous rabbinical be consistent with his public though there are times when we positions that were then being demeanor. Then the Torah will be fail and we feel very despondent, offered to him. Despite difficult his crown and he will be a crown we must continue to try harder financial times, Reb Avraham for the Torah. and harder with an implacable will. refused to let him accept. He For if we stop studying the Torah, insisted that Rabbi Gordon carry if we “close up the shop,” we will WHO’S CARRYING on studying. find ourselves suing for spiritual Reb Avraham’s wife asked her bankruptcy. WHOM? husband how long he intended to support their daughter and son-in- “The staves shall remain in the rings of HEART IS WHERE the Ark, they may not be removed law. He replied “My dear wife, from it.” (25:15) who knows who is supporting THE HOME IS n the description of the Aron whom?” IIHaKodesh, the Holy Ark, the When finally Rabbi Gordon was “And they shall make a Sanctuary for Torah tells us that the carrying offered the Rabbinate of Me, so I may dwell in them.” (25:8) staves are never to be separated Eisheshok, his father-in-law felt he he Torah’s choice of the from the Ark itself. These staves could not restrain him from TTwords “so I may dwell in represent the financial supporters accepting such an important post. them” is unusual, for more of Torah. Just as the staves of the The day after the Gordon family correctly it should have written “so Ark may not be removed, so are left for Eisheshok, Reb Avraham I may dwell in it” — in the the Torah’s supporters and bene- Yitzchak, Rabbi Gordon’s father-in- Sanctuary. factors inseparable from Torah law, passed away. It then became However, the real meaning is scholarship. However, the Ark clear who had been supporting that every Jew should make his never really needed the staves whom. heart into a Sanctuary where because, not only did it miracu- Sources: Hashem will dwell. “And they shall lously bear its own weight, but it The Lair Of the Lion - Rabbi Moshe make their hearts into a Sanctuary would lift up those who were “car- Shapiro, Rabbi Mordechai Perlman and for Me, so I may dwell in them.” Rabbi Naftali Kaplan rying” it. Business As Usual - When Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, Rabbi David MiKotzk THE JEWEL IN the founder of Telshe Yeshiva, got Heart Is Where The Home Is - Alshich married, his father-in-law, Rabbi The Jewel In The Crown - Avraham Yitzchak Neviezer want- Rabbeinu Chananel THE CROWN Who’s Carrying Whom? - ed to support him so he could “ You shall cover it (the Aron) with Rabbi Zev Leff, Outlooks and Insights devote himself to study and

I DIDN’T KNOW THAT!

Hearing on Mount Sinai “Don’t steal ... Don’t covet...” many Jews felt that they should return to Egypt to give back the gold and silver they had “borrowed” from the Egyptians. Therefore, Hashem told Moshe “Build Me a Sanctuary using the very same gold and silver that was taken from the Egyptians. For I, Hashem, would never allow ill-gotten gains to be used for My Sanctuary. The fact that I allow this gold and silver shows that they belong without question to the Jewish People. They are overdue payment which the Egyptians owe the Jews in exchange for hundreds of years of labor.” • Oznaim LaTorah by Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin

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

SHABBOS 86 - 92 IMPULSIVE OR TRUSTING? WHAT’S IN A NAME — SINAI?

o engrossed was he in his study of Torah that the hen Rabbi Kahana was asked for an explana- SS Sage Rava was completely oblivious to the fact WW tion of “Sinai,” the name of the mountain on that he was sitting on the fingers of his hand and which Hashem revealed Himself to the causing blood to rush to the surface. A heathen observ- Jewish People and gave them the Torah, he offered sev- er exploited this opportunity to taunt the Sage. eral suggestions which were rejected as falling short of “Impulsive people that you are!” he laughed. “You the mark. were impulsive when you put your mouths before your Scrambling the letters would give us “Nisai,” a refer- ears (when you declared at Sinai ‘we shall do’ before ence to the miracles that took place at the time of the you said ‘we shall hear’), and you are impulsive now in Sinai revelation. But then why scramble the letters your self neglect. You first should have determined instead of just writing them in their intended fashion? whether the Torah you were being offered did not Perhaps “Sinai” approximates “Simnai” and is a ref- demand more of you than is possible and only then erence to the “sign of good fortune” which was given accept it.” to Jewry on that mountain. But then, why omit the “m” Rava well understood that the heathen was inter- sound in the name of the mountain? preting his seemingly superhuman concentration on Rabbi Kahana’s challenger finally revealed his own Torah study as evidence that the Jewish People had bit- explanation which he had heard from leading Sages. ten off more than they could chew in accepting the “Sinai” sounds almost exactly like “Sinah” which Torah which had been rejected by all the less impulsive means hatred. The name of the mountain communi- nations as being too difficult a challenge. His response cates the fact that this is where “hatred descended to was to explain the difference between their improper the nations of the world.” attitude of suspicion toward Hashem’s offer of the Rashi explains this as a reference to Hashem’s atti- Torah and the Jewish attitude of total trust. This is how tude to all the nations who rejected the Torah He had Rashi so eloquently translates the reply of Rava: offered them. Another approach has been offered by “We related to Hashem with total trust in the man- one of the Torah giants of the previous generation who ner of those who act out of love, and we relied upon was martyred in the Holocaust, Rabbi Elchanan Him that He would not impose upon us any responsi- Wasserman, zatzal: bility which we were not capable of fulfilling.” “Sinai” and “Sinah” are two sides of the same coin. Whether it was in accepting a Torah sight-unseen or Once Jews accepted the responsibility of being a “holy studying that Torah with such intensity as to be oblivi- nation” through acceptance of the Torah, there is no ous to physical pain, Jews were not guilty of being longer an option of copping out and being like all the impulsive. They were rather the bearers of confidence other nations. It is our choice to preserve our unique- that the Creator who offers a challenge also provides ness through the pleasant ways of “Sinai” Torah obser- the power to meet it. vance. Should we seek to assimilate and abdicate, • Shabbos 88a Hashem made sure that “hatred descended to the nations” — that anti-Semitism would serve as a reminder that we are a people apart with a special des- tiny. GET CONNECTED TO • Shabbos 89a OHR SOMAYACH ON THE WEB wwwwww.ohr.ohr.or.org.ilg.il Hey, Kids! Look what Y SSI&COTM. Over a billion bytes of Torah is up to this week in the parsha adventure! literature and information www.ohr.org.il/yossi

4 PARSHA Q&A ?

1. How many times does the word “terumah” 11. What does miksha mean? appear in the first verse of the Parsha? Why? 12. What was the purpose of the Menorah’s gevi’im 2. Onkelos translates “tachash” as “sasgona.” Why? (cups)? 3. What kind of trees did Yaakov plant in Mitzrayim? 13. In which direction did the flames of the Menorah 4. Describe two uses of: a) oil; b) spices; c) jewels. cast their light? 5. The Aron was made with three boxes, one inside 14. How did Moshe know the shape of the the other. Exactly how tall was the outer box? Menorah? 6. What does the crown on top of the Aron symbol- 15. What designs were embroidered into the tapes- ize? tries of the Mishkan? 7. Why is the Torah referred to as “testimony”? 16. How long was the Mishkan? 8. What did the faces of the keruvim resemble? 17. How wide was the interior of the Mishkan? 9. What does the crown on top of the shulchan sym- 18. How high was the copper Mizbe’ach? bolize? 19. What were the dimensions of the courtyard of 10. On what day of the week was the lechem hapan- the Mishkan? im baked? 20. Which function did the copper yeseidos serve?

BONUS QUESTION?

Rashi never “just” comments; something in the text always impels him to do so. Rashi answers unspoken questions arising from a thoughtful reading of the Torah text. Anyone who wants a true understanding of Rashi’s classic Torah commentary must always ask: “What’s Bothering Rashi?”

“Speak to the Children of Israel, and they shall take for Me an offering...” (Exodus 25:2) Rashi: They shall take for Me an offering: For Me means for My sake.

Why the need for this comment? Why can’t Rashi accept the simple meaning, that the Israelites should give an offer- ing to G-d? What’s bothering Rashi? answer on page eight

PARSHA Q&A! Answers to this Week’s Questions! All references are to the verses and Rashi’s commentary unless otherwise stated.

1. 25:2 - It appears three times, plus a little bit, because it rose 13. 25:37 - Towards the middle alluding to three different a little bit above the kapores. flame. types of terumah offered. [The kapores was a tefach 14. 25:40 - Hashem showed 2. 25:5 - The tachash delights (sas) thick (see 25:17)]. Moshe a Menorah of fire. in its multi-colors (gvanim). 6. 25:11 - It symbolizes the crown 15. 26:1 - On one side a lion; on 3. 25:5 - Arazim — cedars. of Torah. the other side an eagle. 4. 25:6-7 - a) The oil was lit in the 7. 25:16 - It testifies that Hashem 16. 26:16 - 30 amos. menorah and used for anoint- commanded us to keep the 17. 26:23 - 10 amos. ing. b) The spices were used mitzvos. 18. 27:1 - There are two opin- in the anointing oil and for the 8. 25:18 - The faces of children. ions. Rabbi Yehuda says it incense. c) The precious 9. 25:24 - It symbolizes the crown was three amos high. Rabbi stones were for the ephod and of royalty. Yossi says it was ten amos high. the choshen. 10. 25:29 - Friday. 19. 27:18 - 100 amos by 50 amos. 5. 25:11 - The outer box was one 11. 25:31 - Hammered. 20. 27:19 - They secured the cur- and a half amos plus a tefach 12. 25:31 - Purely ornamental. tains against the wind.

5 ASK the RABBI

ADULT CIRCUMCISION HOW FAT IS THE KOTEL? CRISIS OF A CEO Sam Steinberg from Cedarhurst, NY Elana Savader from Columbus, Ohio Name@Withheld from Georgia, USA wrote: wrote: wrote:

Dear Rabbi, Dear Rabbi, Dear Rabbi, I am the son of concentration camp I am delighted to find this web- What resources are available for survivors. After the war, they ended site. I have several questions for depressed Jewish CEO’s/profes- up in Belgium. I was born in 1949 you: My 5 year old son “Eliron” sionals? My very good friend is in in Belgium. The Korean War was is sitting here with me. He just need of contacts or support in breaking out and everyone was started Yeshiva last week and we what is a very difficult and con- worried about a new European are very proud of what he has fusing time. I want to somehow War. My parents didn’t have me learned already. His question for guide him towards a Torah based circumcised because they were approach to his depression and worried that if there was a new you is “How long did Moses live?” seeming state of “stuckness” and war, I could end up exposed as a His second question is “What Jew and killed. I am now 48 and does G-d look like?” His third perhaps help him find a Jewish getting more involved with my reli- question is, “What is your Professional Support System. He gion. Should I now have a circum- name?” As you can see he is very feels alone and confused and I cision? inquisitive. He also wants to want to help. know how big the Kotel is... “how Rabbi ... I am soon converting Dear Sam Steinberg, wide, tall, and fat?” and he is not particularly obser- You should definitely try to do this vant ... I don’t want to make him very important mitzvah. Dear Elana Savader and Eliron, feel like I’m pushing his heritage The Torah commands that all Moses lived to the age of 120. on him at a time when he is try- Jewish males be circumcised. G-d said This, by the way, is the origin of the ing to find his own path, I do feel to Abraham “This is My covenant blessing “may you live until 120.” strongly however in the wisdom which you shall observe, between Me and absolute power of Torah in and you and your future offspring: My wife’s uncle always wishes peo- transforming life and providing Circumcise every male ... An uncir- ple that they should live to be cumcised male who (purposely) does 122...so that they should not die the answer to ALL of life’s issues. not circumcise himself, that soul will suddenly! How can I serve best as a support be cut off from its people — he has G-d does not have any physical system and what are some possi- violated My covenant.” form, so he doesn’t “look” like any- ble options for him? Thank you. You need to get an expert mohel one or anything. (See the prayer (person who performs circumcision) “Yigdal” on pages 12 and 13 in the Dear Name@Withheld, who is knowledgeable in all Jewish ArtScroll Siddur.) Even though the Your sensitivity is admirable. laws concerning circumcision. The Torah says things like “G-d took us You’re probably right to avoid doing mere fact that someone is a doctor or out of Egypt with a strong hand” — anything he will feel is “pushing his surgeon does not qualify him to per- this is the Torah’s way of telling us heritage on him.” form circumcision. It’s difficult via email to address I recently met a mohel who is one of about G-d in a way we can under- your specific situation. As for a ref- the most experienced people per- stand. forming circumcision on adults. His The Kotel measurements are: erence, I suggest you contact either name is Rabbi Y. Aron Fisher, Phone 488 meters long, 55 meters high, of the two people listed below. I’m number 1-800-367-2747 or 914-425- and on the average 1.5 meters sure they will be able to refer you 3266. He told me he will be happy to “fat.” (A meter is roughly three to a sensitive Torah-oriented pro- help you, so feel free to contact him. feet.) fessional. I applaud you for your efforts to May your son Eliron be a con- Rabbi Binyomin Friedman or reunite with your Jewish heritage. In stant source of joy to you and your Rabbi Menachem Deutsch Atlanta the merit of this great mitzvah, may Scholars Kollel (A.S.K.) 2191-A Hashem bless you with great success family, and may he scale the heights of Jewish knowledge and right- Briarcliff Road Atlanta, Georgia in all your endeavors. 30329 Phone: 321-4085, 636-3362 Sources: eousness. • Genesis 17:10-14 Sources: Fax: 325-3788. • Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 260 • Deuteronomy 34:7

6 ASK the RABBI

tion. Gad’s portion was on the east bank of the Jordan and LION BLESSINGS therefore exposed to invasion. Dan’s portion was situated on the sea shore and exposed to piracy. Josh Wisotsky from Jamaica Estates, NY Sources: wrote: • Rashi Deuteronomy 33:20, 22 • Rashi Genesis 49:9 Dear Rabbi, We read on Simchat Torah about the blessings of all of the LIVING IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN sons of Yaakov. When it came to Dan, Moshe said “Dan Chaim Lichtenstein from NY, NY Gur Aryeh — Dan is like a lion” (roughly translated). wrote: When Yaakov dies he blesses his sons. In that Parsha it says: “Gur Aryeh Yehudah — Yehudah is like a lion.” Is Dear Rabbi, this a contradiction? Why does the Torah compare Besides Elijah and Chanoch, who else went to heaven Yehudah to a lion cub and then Dan to a lion cub at the without dying? end of the Torah? Thank you very much. Dear Chaim Lichtenstein, Dear Josh Wisotsky, Tractate Derech Eretz Zuta lists nine people who Yaakov conferred the blessing of “lion” upon Yehuda for entered Gan Eden alive: Chanoch, Eliezer servant of two reasons: That just as the lion is “king of the beasts,” so Avraham, Eliyahu, Mashiach, Chiram the king of Tzur, Eved too would Yehuda rule over the Jewish People, and that the king of Kushi, Yaavetz the son of Rabbi Yehudah Yehuda should be blessed with the courage of the lion. HaNassi, Batya the daughter of Pharaoh and Serach the In the end of the Torah two tribes are “lion-blessed” — daughter of Asher (granddaughter of Yaakov). According to Dan in the verse you mentioned, and Gad in the verse “like some, Yehoshuah ben Levi should be included in this list. a lion he dwells.” Rashi explains that both these tribes Sources: needed additional bravery because of their geographic loca- • Tractate Derech Eretz Zuta 1 YIDDLE RIDDLE

In what situation will two people in the same place be obligated to make Kiddush on different nights? That is, the night the first one is obligated, the second one is not, and the night the second one is obligat- ed, the first one is not.

New Feature ! Giving people the benefit of the doubt

THE OTHER illel said... n aide of the Skulener Rebbe, Rabbi Eliezer SIDE H SIDE “Don’t judge a A Zusia Portugal, once related: Among the many friend until you Apeople whom the Rebbe had rescued from reach his place.” Europe was a woman who had informed the OF THE STORY (Pirkei Avos 2:5) Rumanian government of his religious activities, which One of the obsta- led to his arrest and imprisonment. Why go to such cles to judging peo- effort and expense to save a person of her ilk? ple favorably is our certainty that if we would be in “You have no idea how much she suffered before- that person’s place we would never behave that way: hand, and how tempting the authorities make it to “You’d never catch me doing that...” inform,” the Rebbe said with tears in his eyes. “No one in my family would ever...” “I simply don’t understand how anyone could...” If we see someone stumble, we shouldn’t judge him until we have been in the same situation and suc- Although we might feel our situation to be similar cessfully passed that test. Until then, we have no to that of another person, can we ever be in exactly right to judge. the same situation? Can we bring to it the exact same background, experience and disposition and cir- • Based on “The Other Side of the Story” by Mrs. Yehudis Samet, ArtScroll Series cumstance?

7 Re: “Starry Starry Night — When does Shabbat PUBLIC End?” (Ohrnet Shemot): Actually I recently heard on the Daf Yomi shiur that 72 DOMAIN minutes refers to Nissan and Tishrei (presumably in Comments, quibbles and reactions Northern France where Rabbeinu Tam made his calcula- concerning previous “Ask-the-Rabbi” features tions) and that it should be even longer than 72 minutes in the summer. • Carl Sherer Re: “Who was the first person to die after the Mabul” (Ohrnet Vaera): Re: Ohr Somayach’s website (http://www.ohr.org.il): I like the reasoning that leads to the fact that Haran was the first person to die after the flood. But not only Noach’s sons were on the ark. So were Noach’s wife and Brilliant!!! The Ohr Somayach website is fantastic! What daughters-in-law. And their parents were dead. Granted a great way to learn from the best minds on the planet! that Noach’s children were all still alive but who says that I love it! I have a small suggestion as well that I hope you his wife and/or daughters-in-law didn’t die before Haran? will look into: I am a palmpilot user (small digital diary • Avi and Dalia Davidowitz from Bait Vegan, Jerusalem PDA) and there are text volumes available for it. I would love to see shiurim, or Torah works or notes that I could Re: “Here’s Sneezin’ Atchoo!” — The ancient keep with me whilst on the go. Jewish roots of saying “G-d bless you” when some- • Clifford Giesenow from Cape Town, South Africa one sneezes (Ohrnet Vaera):

There is additional material regarding this type of thing in Re: “Praying Out Loud — Saying the Silent Prayer the Torah Temimah on Parshas Noach (7:22) on the words for the Visually Impaired” (Ohrnet Vayeitzei): “ruach chaim b’apav — breath of life in its nostrils.” • Micha Hi. In our local shul in Maoz Zion / Kastel neighborhood of Mevasseret [a city just outside Jerusalem] on Friday Re: What Maimonides says about Chanukah (Ohrnet nites the amida is said out loud by the sha”tz (prayer Vaera): leader), apparently because people were both unfamiliar with the text for Friday nite and because Friday nite I believe you missed an important part of the Rambam you there is no repetition. The ethnic origin of the shul is were quoting. The Rambam there says: “And sovereign- from Kurdistan (the whole neighborhood is Kurdistani, ty was returned to Israel for more than 200 years until the except for us interlopers). second destruction.” The return of Israel’s sovereign rule • Ira (Gavriel Dov) Pollack was also a great part of the miracle. • Yehoshua and Rachel Seidenfeld from Efrat, Israel < [email protected]> continued from page five BONUS ANSWER!

Answer: There are two difficulties: First the language is awkward: It should say “give Me an offering” and not “take for Me an offering.” Secondly, what sense does it make to give anything to G-d? The whole world is His. We can’t give Him anything. On the basis of these points, Rashi concludes that our act of “taking,” our offering, should be for G-d’s sake, i.e., intended for a G-dly purpose.

• Based on Dr. Avigdor Bonchek’s new book “What’s Bothering Rashi?” Feldheim Publishers

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8