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Parshat Vayechi 5771

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Parshat Vayechi 5771 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume 2 Number 38 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Tomer Devora: Examples of G-dliness Class #5 Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen The sefer, Tomer Devora, is based on a the foundation of all mussar and against another, the level of love and verse in Micha, “Mi Kel komocha..”-Who is machasava. It is a prerequisite for emunah respect for the other person can never be like you Hashem. It describes how man and avodat Hashem. Chesed is a form of the same. In contrast, when a person does should adopt Hashem’s Thirteen Attributes giving. When a person gives of himself, he teshuva, he becomes even closer to of Mercy, transforming himself from a mere indicates that he is investing in something Hashem. This is the level we should strive to human to a G-dly individual. This class spiritual and eternal. The Jewish nation achieve with those who wrong us. While a focuses on the middah of chesed as distinguish themselves as being merciful, tzaddik can have a relationship with expounded further in the verse, “Ki chofetz modest, and kind. We do not pride ourselves Hashem, a baal teshuva is in the category of chesed hu..”-Hashem desires chesed. on our physical prowess or intelligence. The a servant who is even closer to his Master. In the heavens above, there are angels Torah tells us “Vahavata l’reicha The Midrash asks, why is Magen Avraham whose sole purpose is to receive and komocha…” Ahava comes from the root called Avraham’s bracha? Does it not say present the chesed of the Jewish people to word “hav”-to give. We indicate our love by Elokei Avraham? Avraham brought Hashem, particularly in a time when they giving of ourselves. Our goal should be to Hashem’s existence into the world with his are not following the Torah. This chesed give without expecting anything in return. actions. Similarly, when we emulate intercedes for them and sweetens the Even those who hurt us, should be the Hashem’s middot, our divine like aspect judgment. Even terrible sins punishable by recipients of our chesed. This is how comes to the fore. We glorify Hashem with death, merit forgiveness through chesed. Hashem acts with us and this is our basis for our righteous actions and bring His Why is chesed so significant in the eyes of emunah. presence into the world. May our efforts to Hashem? The text in Micha reads further, “Yashav perfect our inner selves sanctify Hashem’s The Michtav M’Eliyahu writes that giving is yerachameihu..”-Hashem is merciful to name and bring atonement for all of Klal those who return. When one person sins Yisrael. Contemporary Halacha Meat & Fish Class#18 Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Michael Taubes Rav Kana taught that if one bakes bread in changed since ancient times and the danger problem when they are cooked together an oven with roasted meat, one cannot eat referred to no longer exists. Nevertheless the however it is still better to eat or drink this bread with dairy. Further on the Gemara Chasam Sofer rules that “Minhag avoseinu something in between courses. The in Pesachim writes that Rava B’Parziska k’din”-the customs of our forefathers are like widespread practice in Klal Yisrael during the prohibited consuming fish that had been law and therefore we do not mix fish with Shabbat meal is to drink liquor between fish roasted in an oven with meat, together with meat. However we cannot say that the laws and meat. dairy. Mar B’rav Ashi adds that one should of meat and fish are stricter than the laws of Chazal categorized poultry the same way as not even eat the fish itself because it causes meat and dairy. meat with regard to the laws of meat and bad breath and tzoraat. The Shulchan Aruch writes further that one dairy. Therefore the halacha would be the The Shulchan Aruch develops this halacha should wash ones hands and eat something same in regard to fish and meat too. Some further and writes that not only may one not to wash out ones mouth between fish and Sefardic Poskim prohibit consuming fish with eat fish roasted in an oven with meat, but one meat because it can lead to tzoraat, and dairy. Rav Akiva Eiger notes that there is a should refrain from eating fish and meat “Sakanta chamura m’issura”-Matters of practice to refrain from drinking water after altogether. The Rema notes that b’dieved if danger are more stringent than prohibitions. fish because that too is a danger. Indeed as one already cooked fish and meat together it The Magen Avraham disagrees and notes noted, the custom is to drink schnapps. is permitted. This is corroborated by the that we find many examples in Gemara where Perhaps the minhag to say L’chaim after Shach. The Beer Sheva disagrees and rules Chazal tells us about dangers which are not drinking an alcoholic beverage stems from that even b’dieved one may not eat it since found today. This is because our natures have this idea. this is a question of danger. The Chasam changed and we dwell in different lands. Living a Torah life means living a measured, Sofer notes that the Rambam did not cite this Therefore there is room to be more lenient focused, existence. There is meaning and din at all. He postulates that the case here. The Mishna Berura rules that we follow purpose behind everything we do. May our mentioned in Gemara may have referred to a the Rema who holds that one does not need studying and knowing the halachot well help particular fish, or that human nature has to wash ones hands between fish and meat. us reach our ultimate purpose. The Rema writes that fish and meat are only a Help support Naaleh by searching the web! For more information visit www.iGive/Naaleh.com & www.iSearchiGive/Naaleh.com visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 1 Parshat Vayechi and The Tenth of Tevet Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles Parshat Vayechi is unique in that it is a Asara B’tevet was the seed that was original Hebrew. With Targum Hashivim, parsha stuma, a closed parsha. There are supposed to arouse the Jews to repent. Ezra’s work was weakened and the inner no extra spaces between it and the Had they taken these warning signs aspect of Torah was lost. This is what we preceding parsha. Rashi explains that this appropriately they could’ve prevented the need to rectify on Asara B’tevet. The Leket teaches us that the hearts of Yaakov’s Churban. We are not fasting so much for V’halibuv writes that it is not enough to children were closed in expectation of the what occurred, but rather to rectify the know the factual ideas of Torah. One must suffering that awaited them with the coldness and apathy that settled upon the bring a spirit of simcha, enjoyment, and impending bondage. What does this Rashi Jews and caused the destruction. This is passion into our home with the mitzvot. As really mean? reflected in Parshat Vayechi. There is no parents, our obligation should be to make There are three consecutive fast days in space for contemplation. Chazal say that Judaism a meaningful experience for our Tevet. The eighth day of Tevet commemo- the Jews were exiled because they denied children. We need to kindle our homes with rates the day that the Torah was translated Hashem and Malchut Beit David. the inner light of Torah so that our children to Greek, the ninth day memorializes the Malchut Beit David is the idea of hashga- feel the joy and beauty of Judaism. death of Ezra and Nechemia, and the tenth cha pratit. When Natan Hanavi came to The Churban came due to baseless hatred. day is a communal fast to mark the day reprove David, he immediately admitted his We can rectify this by working on feeling that Nevuchadnetzar began the siege of error and looked to correct his ways. When more responsibility for our fellow Jews. Jerusalem. Rav Krem asks, why do we suffering comes upon us, our focus should Shevet Dan is related to the month of fast on Asarah B’tevet, which occurred not be on the stick that hit us. The stick is Tevet. Dan was the ma’asef, he collected three and half years before the Churban? just an agent, a sign from above, and we the stragglers. Our purpose too, is to Is it not adequate for us to fast when the must attempt to look beyond it to rectify our emulate Dan and reach out to all the lost destruction actually occurred? The evil deeds that caused it. Today, when we souls that never merited to know Torah. Avudraham notes that in a way Asara no longer have prophecy, we must pray to The third level of Asara B’tevet connects B’tevet is even more significant than Tisha Hashem to open our eyes to rectify that the messages of the ninth and tenth of B’av in that if it would ever fall out on which we need to. When Hashem sees us Tevet. When Ezra Hasofer passed away, Shabbat it would not be pushed off like responding correctly, our suffering is the people did not realize what they had Tisha B’av.
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