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A Taste of Torah

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A Taste of Torah Parshas Bo January 11, 2019 A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul G-d in the Details by Rabbi Chaim Yeshia Freeman Scroll Down This week’s parsha discusses the final properly express our gratitude to Baron Shimon Wolf Rothschild, three plagues that Hashem brought Hashem. For instance, when we recite of the famed Rothschild family, upon the Egyptians, culminating in a blessing over bread, we should try to wanted a Torah scroll written for him, as per the commandment in the Exodus from Egypt. This event think about the numerous details of the Torah that a Jew should write plays a major role in our lives, as we the natural world that are necessary his own Torah scroll. He searched are commanded in numerous mitzvos to create a loaf of bread. Rabbi Yisroel for a sofer who would live up to the to remember the Exodus. Typically, Salanter (1809-1883) adds another high standards of piety he wanted we commemorate the general concept dimension with a parable of someone imbued in his Torah scroll. Finally, of the Exodus on a daily basis. Once eating in a high-end restaurant. The he found a sofer who enjoyed an a year, however, on Pesach, we are exorbitant prices are not due only excellent reputation, and hired obligated to retell the complete story to the food, but also include the him to write the Torah scroll. in detail. elegant décor, the relaxed ambiance, After many months, the sofer came When Moshe commands the Jewish the beautiful music playing in the to tell the Baron that the scroll People to remember the Exodus, he background. Rabbi Salanter would was complete. The Baron, very mentions an interesting detail. The relate that the same is true with this excited, asked the sofer to make an verse (13:4) states, “Today you are world, as we should thank Hashem accounting of how much money he leaving, in the month of spring.” for creating a beautiful environment still owed him. The sofer withdrew Rashi asks the obvious question: for us to enjoy the pleasures of this a notebook and started making an “Did they not know in which month world. accounting, “In January you paid me this much, in February this they went out?” Rashi explains that The Maharal (Rabbi Yehuda Loew; much…” Moshe was telling them to look at the 1512/1526-1609) uses this concept to kindness bestowed upon them, for answer a difficulty in the Haggada. In Baron Rothschild cut him off. “Is they left during the perfect season, the Haggada, it states that anyone who this how a sofer, a man engaged in when it is neither too hot nor too speaks more in telling the story of the holy work, counts months?! By the cold. Exodus is praiseworthy. Generally, secular calendar, not the Jewish calendar?!” He paid the scribe the when performing a mitzvah, we find Thiscomment from Rashi gives remaining balance for his work, insight into how Hashem conducts that one should not add his own and told him to keep the Torah Himself with us. He does not merely two cents, but should rather follow scroll; he didn’t want a scroll take care of our basic necessities, but the script, yet this seems to be an written by a sofer who kept track of rather goes out of His way to make exception. The Maharal suggests that time using the secular calendar! sure every detail is taken care of. This for this mitzvah, if one would refrain In this week’s parsha, the Jewish is demonstrated by the season in from relating the story with all the People are given their first mitzvah, which Hashem chose to redeem us. detail he is aware of, one would that of marking the new moon. The mere fact that He took us out be guilty of ingratitude. Only by While we may need to make would have been sufficient kindness. speaking of every detail of kindness many calculations by the secular However, being our Father, He can one fully express proper hakaras calendar, we must not forget that wanted us to have the best experience hatov (gratitude) for what Hashem we have our own calendar by possible. has done. which we sanctify time. This lesson ought to enable us to Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ By Rabbi Yaakov Zions GETTING PAST POLITICAL Last week we asked: What unique Zecharia (one of the Trei Asar/Twelve POLARIZATION AT NEXT distinction does the Hebrew month smaller prophesies), Ezra/Nechemia TORAH FOR TYCOONS of Shevat carry? and Megillas Esther. The first time Join Phil Weiser, Attorney A: This is unrelated to any event this occurs is in the first chapter General, Colorado and Rabbi marked during this month. A: For of Zecharia, where the month of Mordechai Fleisher, Senior the first 3300 years of our history, the Shevat is mentioned. It is of note the Educator for the Denver months were referred to by their place correct pronunciation (based on the Community Kollel, as they in the calendar (e.g., the first month, abovementioned verse) is Shevut. discuss how to approach the second month, etc.). Only later This week’s question: When should discussing with a learning did Babylonian names get attached one make the ha’etz blessing on wine? mindset and intellectual to the months. The only books of To submit an answer to Rabbi Zions, email [email protected]. humility February 6, 12-1:15 Tanach containing these names are p.m. at the East Side Kosher Deli. Cost: $25. RSVP info@ denverkollel.org. Lives of Our Torah Leaders THE M.B. GLASSMAN Rabbi Moshe Sofer, Chasam Sofer Part XXVIII FOUNDATION GOLD LUNCH The yeshiva was quite successful and Rabbi Moshe Sofer, were deported & LEARN PROGRAM attracted many talented and erudite to Auschwitz along with the Erlau The M.B. Glassman Foundation scholars from Hungary. Rabbi Sofer community in 1944. Rabbi Shimon GOLD Program is a division led the Erlau community for 64 years. Sofer was murdered by the Nazis at of the Denver Community Rabbi Sofer spent much of his life Auschwitz at the age of 94. Rabbi Moshe Kollel dedicated to bringing editing and publishing his father’s and Sofer was murdered there, as well. Torah study to seniors in the grandfather’s works; his aforementioned Some of their children survived the community. Don’t miss a great uncle, Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Krakow, war, among them, Rabbi Moshe Sofer’s Lunch and Learn class on the encouraged people to send manuscripts two sons, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel weekly parsha at Edos, 198 S. of the Chasam Sofer and Ksav Sofer to Binyamin Sofer and Rabbi Yochanan Holly St. at 12:00 pm. There his nephew. Rabbi Sofer also authored Sofer. Though Rabbi Avraham Shmuel is no charge for the lunch many of his own works, including his Binyamin was the older of the two, and or the learning! For more most famous work, Hisorerus Teshuva, a Torah genius, he humbly refused to information, contact rmf@ by whose name he is often referred. assume the leadership of a renewed denverkollel.org or call 303- Rabbi Moshe Sofer (1885-1944) was Yeshivas Chasam Sofer in Pest, Hungary, 820-2855. the son of Rabbi Shimon Sofer, and he following WWII. He passed away in authored a work titled Yad Sofer. He 1948, having never married. His brother, SFAS EMES: A PIERCING served as a dayan (judge) on the Bais Rabbi Yochanan, later published LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Din (Rabbinical court) of Erlau. Rabbi his dceased sibling's handwritten It is one of the most widely- Moshe, like his father, devoted himself Torah novella, titled Divrei Sofer. studied works of our time. Sfas to editing the Chasam Sofer’s and Following World War II, Rabbi Emes gives us a glimpse into the Ksav Sofer’s works, as well as Sofer Yochanan Sofer returned to Pest, the infinite depths of Torah Mahir, authored by Rabbi Yitzchak Hungary, to rebuild the Jewish and Jewish thought. Kollel Leib Sofer of Drohobych, a son of community. Along with Rabbi Moshe Scholar Rabbi Avraham Dovid the Ksav Sofer. He also published Stern of Debrecin (who would become Karnowsky is an expert in this his own works, most of which were a major halachic authority in America great work, and a master in lost during World War II. After the in his own right), he reopened Yeshivas bringing its timeless lessons war, his son, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, Chasam Sofer, which had existed into daily life. Join Rabbi published Rabbi Moshe’s responsa, in Pest prior to the war. In 1947, he Karnowsky on Thursdays, 8:15- the aforementioned Yad Sofer, with reopened the yeshiva in Erlau. He 9 pm at the Southeast Kollel his own glosses on his father’s writings. married in Erlau and was appointed Torah Center, 4902 S. Xenia St. Rabbi Shimon Sofer and his son, rabbi of the fledgling community. 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 1395 Wolff Street, Denver, CO 80204 303-820-2855 [email protected] www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, email to [email protected].
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