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SHABBAT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE Mincha 5:35pm We would like to wish a Hearty Mazal SUNDAY Shir Hashirim: 5:50pm Tov to our Dear Alain & Arielle Albergel Shaharit: 6:30am Candle Lighting: 5:34pm on the Bat Mitzvah’s of their Dear Shaharit #2 8:00am Shaharit: 8:30am Daughters Annael Adi & Shirel Esty. Minha 5:40pm Youth Minyan: 9:15am They should see them grow in Torah, Followed by Arvit & Zeman Keriat Shema 9:13am Teenager Program Recess

Ulhupa, Ulmaasim Tovim Amen. Mazal nd 2 Zeman Keriat Shema 9:49am Tov to the Grandparents! MONDAY TO FRIDAY Daf Yomi Marathon 3:10pm Shiur Recess Shiur: 4:40pm There is a Weeknight Daf Yomi Shiur for Shaharit 6:30am Minha: 5:15pm all those who are interested please ask the Hodu Approx: 6:45am Followed by Seudat Shelishit, Rabbi. Shaharit #2 8:00am Children’s Program, Teenager Minha 5:40pm Program, & Arvit This Shabbat we are having a Netz Minyan Followed By Arvit & Shabbat Ends: 6:34pm BH. Shaharit Starts at 6:10am Netz at Shiurim in English & Rabbenu Tam 7:06pm 7:09am. Spanish In Recess Avot Ubanim: 7:30pm

We would like to remind our Kahal Kadosh to please Donate wholeheartedly towards our Beautiful Kehila. Anyone interested in donating for any occasion, Avot Ubanim $120, Kiddush $350, Seudat Shelishit $275, Weekly Bulletin

$150, Weekly Daf Yomi $180, Daf Yomi Masechet $2500, Yearly Daf Yomi $5000, Weekly Breakfast $150, Daily Learning $180, Weekly Learning $613, Monthly Rent $3500, & Monthly Learning $2000, Please contact the Rabbi. Thanking you in advance for your generous support. Tizke Lemitzvot!

בס''ד Refuah Shelema List Men Women

• Yosef Zvi Ben Sara Yosefia, • Isaac Ben Mesoda, • Simja Bat Esther, • Sara Ledicia Bat Mesoda, • Yosef Haim Ben Mesouda • Haim Ben Marcelle, • Rachel Bat Sarah, • Alegria Simha Bat Esther, • Mordechai Ben Brucha Malka • Yizhak Ben Simja • Nina Bat Rachel, • Naomie Bat Rarel Adda, Shmalo, • Reuben Ben Eta, • Gitel Rina Bat Yael, • Malka Bat Joyce Simja, • Yizhak Abraham Ben Sheli, • Michael Ben Aliza, • Miriam Bat Sofy, • Sivan Simha Bat Yehudit, • Yosef Yizhak Ben Sara Hana, • Eliel Moshe Ben Sarah • Rahma Bat Simha • Natalie Rachel Bat Nancy, • Mordechai Ben Miriam, • Refael Ben Clara • Esther Bat Fortuna • Abigael Haya Bat Esther • Meir Raymond Ben Mathilde • Netanel Sayegh Ben Rosa • Malka Bat Dina • Madeleine Bat Esther • Menahem Ben Shira • Eliyahu Ben Mazal • Raizel Bat Miriam • Nurit Jacqueline Bat Rahel • Aviv Ben Luba Miriam • Shalom Gibly Ben Fortuna • Leah Bat Rivka • Marcelle Mesoda Bat • Mordechai Ben Mercedes • Camouna Bat Fortuna Alegria

Torah Teasers (AISH) 1. In Egypt the Jews are forced to produce bricks (Exodus 1:14). In what context are bricks first mentioned in the Torah? 2. Aside from this parsha, where do midwives assist in a birth? (2 answers) 3. In what context does the number three appear in this parsha? (2 answers) 4. In this parsha, who runs away? What two other places in the Torah does it explicitly state that somebody runs away? 5. In this parsha, who does Hashem call by repeating his name? Who else in the Torah has his name repeated when called? (2 answers) Who is the only person in the Prophets whom Hashem calls with the repetition of his name? 6. In this parsha, who is called a Levite? 7. In this parsha, who is called a kohen (priest)? 8. In this parsha, where do five verses in a row begin with the same word? 9. In what context is snow mentioned? 10. Straw was used by the Jews in Egypt to make bricks (Exodus 5:12). Where else in the book of Exodus is straw

mentioned?

Answers 1) Bricks are first mentioned in parshat Noah where the people produced bricks to build the Tower of Bavel (Genesis 11:3). 2) In parshat Vayishlach a midwife is involved in the birth of Binyamin to Rachel (Genesis 35:17). In parshat Vayeshev, a midwife assists in the birth of Peretz and Zerach to Tamar, the wife of Yehuda (Genesis (28:38). 3) Moshe's mother hid him for three months before placing him in the Nile (Exodus 2:2). At the end of the parsha, Moshe requests from Pharaoh to allow the nation to travel on a three-day journey to serve Hashem (Exodus 5:3). 4) In this parsha, Moshe runs away after killing the Egyptian (Exodus 2:15). In parshat Vayetze, Yaakov runs away from Lavan (Genesis 31:21). In parshat Lech Lecha, Hagar runs away from Sarah (Genesis 16:6). [Although Yaakov also runs away from Esav, the Torah does not explicitly state so.] 5) In this parsha, Moshe's name is repeated when Hashem calls him by the burning bush (Exodus 3:4). Elsewhere in the Torah: In parshat Vayigash, Hashem calls "Yaakov Yaakov" on the way down to Egypt (Genesis 46:2), and in parshat Vayera, Avraham's name is repeated (by an angel, not by Hashem Himself) when he is told to stop the binding of Yitzhak (Genesis 22:11). In the Prophets,

Shmuel's name is repeated when Hashem speaks to him the first time (1-Samuel 3:10).

6) Aharon is called a Levite (Exodus 4:14).

7) Yitro is called a kohen (priest) (Exodus 2:16).

8) Verses 3:11 -15 all begin with the word "Vayomer" - "And he said."

9) When Hashem inflicts Moshe with leprosy on his hand, the Torah states that Moshe's hand is "as white as snow" (Exodus 4:6).

10) In parshat Beshalach, the drowning of the Egyptians is compared to straw sinking in water (Exodus 15:7).

If anyone would like to contact the Rabbi, please feel free to call or text 786-879-4951, or email [email protected].

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Community Announcements

(It is YOUR Community, make the most of it!)

Miscellaneous Announcements:

• This Week’s Congregational Kiddush is still available for Sponsorship!

• The Kiddush Club Initiative. Anyone interested donating a Kiddush Please kindly contact the Rabbi. Tizke

Lemizvot!

• This Week’s Seudat Shelishit is still available for Sponsorship!

• is still available for Sponsorship! This Week’s Breakfast

Anyone inter ested in sponsoring Breakfast for this week or on any day please contact the Rabbi.

• is still available for Sponsorship! This Week’s Daf Yomi

• If anyone is interested in creating a weekly class in your house or an individual class with the Rabbi, please do not hesitate to

contact the Rabbi.

• We are trying to update our Congregant’s contact information. We would like to start sending texts about different Events and

Shiurim. We would also like to start emailing the weekly bulletin. We would like to start a list of Nahalot/Azkarot/Yahrzeits.

We would also like to make a Refuah Shelema list. Please send your contact information to the Rabbi at [email protected]

• Please feel free to contact any of the board members either in person, or via email with suggestions or comments. Our email

addresses are:

Important Message!!!

Eruv Update: Surfside: The Eruv in Surfside now includes the walking paths along the beach. Pushing strollers and carrying is

permitted on the paths, but not beyond the path or onto the beach.

Bal Harbour: The Eruv in Bal Harbour included the inner (western) walking path only. The pier at Haulover Cut is not included.

• Due to the recent reorganization of seats in the Bet Hakenesset, We are happy to announce the NEW possibility of purchasing seats

in the Bet Hakenesset. For more information, please contact the Board.

• Before hanging up anything anywhere in the Bet Hakenesset, please seek authorization from the Rabbi. This includes flyers etc.

• Please be advised that prior to bringing any food or drinks for any occasion, you must first seek the authorization from the Rabbi.

Special Announcements

• We are pleased to announce that Ness 26 is part of the Amazon Charity Program, which would allow our community to

collect 0.5% of all the orders made by any of you on Amazon.com. In order to register you need to log on

smile.amazon.com and select Ness 26, Inc as the Charitable Organization you want to support, and from then shop on

smile.amazon.com instead of www.amazon.com. It won’t cost anything more, and is an easy way to contribute to our budget needs.

• Anyone wishing to receive the Daily Halacha by the Rabbi please send a whatsapp message to Simon Chocron 786-351-1573

Community Calendar:

• The program for Teenaged Boys ages 13-18 Started again with Great Succes with Shiur by the Rabbi & Supper

on Sunday Evenings After Arvit at around at 5:45 pm With Supper. New Participants Welcome! Anyone

wishing to sponsor this Shiur Please contact the Rabbi. Tizke Lemitzvot!

• We have started the Mishmar Program Every other Thursday evening at 8:00 pm with Chulent, Beer, & Snacks.

Everyone is welcome! This Mosae Shabbat at 7:25pm Avot Ubanim: Youth Minyan • We are very proud of our YOUTH/TEEN MINYAN lead by our Dear Dr. Ari Benmergui geared to train and teach our future generations on the different Tefillot and Parashiyot. Please encourage your children to come early & participate. Looking forward to seeing lots of Nahat from them!

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We would like to Whole Heartedly Thank our Dear Friends, Isaac & Karine Castiel for generously Donating the TORAH LEARNING of Tebet 5780 In Memory of Itshak Bar Donna z”l & Rivka Bat Gimol z”l We truly appreciate it. In this merit, may Hashem Bless you & your wonderful family with all the Berachot of the Torah. Amen.

Happy Birthday To • Leanna Ammar – Shabb. Jan. 18th, • Mrs. Sara Maya – Mon. Jan. 20th, Next Shabbat: • nd • Eliyahu Aquinin – Wed. Jan. 22nd, David Sabbah z”l the 2 of Shebat (Grandfather of Mr. Laurent Becker) • Adina Benmergui – Mon. Jan. 27th, • Yaacob Moyal z”l Ben Djamilah Sadoun the 2nd of Shebat • Yosef Eliyahu Benmergui – Mon. Jan. 27th, (Uncle of Mrs. Jeannine Furhmann) • Batsheva Elmaleh – Jan 30th, • Perla Bat Clara Tapiero z”l the 3rd of Shebat • Mrs. Daisy Chocron – Wed. Jan. 31st. (Mother of Mr. Jacky Tapiero)

• Amram Benhayoun z”l Ben Avraham the 6th of Shebat

(Shabbat) (Father of Mr. Meir & Daniel Benhayoun) Happy Anniversary To

Nahalot •

בס''ד Community Shiurim

Weekday mornings:

• 6:10AM to 6:45AM: Laws of Nidah. New participants welcome! • 7:30AM Shiur on Hok Leyisrael with Breakfast! Everyone Is Welcome to Join. • 7:35AM to 8:25AM: Daf Yomi Masechet BERACHOT. NEW DAF YOMI CYCLE & MASECHET! New participants are welcome! It is a great time to start learning the Daf and join thousands of Jews across the world in this incredible project.

• 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM: Mishna Berura Dirshu Cycle! New participants welcome!

Weekday afternoons:

• After Arvit: o Mondays through Thursday: Parasha & Midrashim o Mondays through Thursday: Daf Yomi at 6:15pm o Monday through Thursday: Shiurim in Spanish on assorted topics. Every Thursday evening after Arvit Hilchot Nida in Depth for Men. o In Recess for the Summer o Monday & Tuesday at 7:00pm Masechet Berachot in French o Every other Monday evening at 8:30pm Shalom Bayit Class to Women.

o Every other Tuesday evening at 8:30pm Shalom Bayit Classes to Men. • SHIUR for Ladies! The Rabbi’s Shiur on Halachot of Kashrut NEW SERIES ON Hilchot Basar Vechalav, (Laws pertaining to Meat & Milk) to Ladies, in the Bet Hakenesset, every Tuesday afternoon at 2:05 pm. New Participants are always Welcome! In Recess

Shabbat: • Shabbat night before Arvit: Short lecture on the Parasha of the week. • Shabbat Morning: Short Lecture on the Parashah of the week. • Shabbat Morning: Lecture on the Parashah of the week after Kiddush • Shabbat Afternoon – Daf Yomi TBA. • Shabbat Afternoon – Shiur at 4:30pm • Teenager Shiur – with Isaac Benmergui During Seudat Shelishit. • Children’s Program – During Seudat Shelishit • Seudat Shelishit: Short lecture on the Parasha of the week.

בס''ד finds himself alone with nothing to do, such as WEEKLY INSPIRATION when riding a train or in a waiting room, he instinctively pulls out his phone and looks for something to read or somebody to correspond Our Fear of Contemplation with. We are all legitimately busy, and – (Rabbi Mansour from Daily Halacha) hopefully – we are busy with important and worthwhile activities, but the small pockets of Pharaoh responded to Moshe’s initial demand time that are tailor-made for reflection are lost that he releases Beneh Yisrael with outright because of our mobile devices. Instead of rejection, and he proceeded to announce that using these times for contemplation, we waste the slaves’ workload would be intensified. them. Whereas until then the slaves were given straw with which to produce bricks, from that The likely reason for this is that we are, very point onward they were responsible for finding simply, scared of contemplation. We their own straw, making their work several instinctively know that if we took some time to times more difficult and pressured. think seriously about our lives, to take stock of our behavior, to reflect on how we should be Pharaoh explained the reason for his new living differently and how we can improve, then edict by accusing Beneh Yisrael of being lazy: we would recognize the need for change. It is "You are lazy – lazy! – and therefore you are far more convenient to ignore all this than to saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to G-d!’" (5:17). He go through the uncomfortable and difficult felt that it was because the people had too process of self-improvement. And so, we do to much free time on their hands that they began ourselves what Pharaoh did to our ancestors thinking of lofty, spiritual concepts, and – we keep ourselves busy to protect ourselves aspiring to leave Egypt and serve the Creator. from contemplation. The appropriate response, then, in Pharaoh’s mind, was to intensify the workload so that We need to overcome this tendency. Every Beneh Yisrael would not have the opportunity businessman knows the importance of taking to think about sublime matters, and they would inventory, of determining which supplies need thus stop wishing to leave Egypt. to be replenished. Our most important "business" is our share in the world to come, The Mesilat Yesharim (Rav Moshe Haim and we need to regularly take inventory to Luzzato, 1707-1746) points to Pharaoh’s determine where we need to "replenish," to argument as an example of one of the increase and improve our observance. Rather dangerous tactics of the Yeser Ha’ra (evil than always looking to fill up our free time, and inclination) in its unrelenting effort to prevent conveniently ignoring our spiritual inventory, us from being the kind of people we should be. let us instead take advantage of our free Namely, the Yeser Ha’ra finds ways to keep moments to seriously reflect on ourselves and our minds occupied so that we do not have the our direction in life, and think about the opportunity to think, to contemplate, to reflect, changes that we should be making. to consider whether we are living life the way we are supposed to. The Mesilat Yesharim writes that if a person takes some time to think about his conduct, and his relationship to Hashem, then it is certain that he will be motivated and driven to improve. But we don’t Gratitude for Our First take time to reflect, he explains, because the Grade Teacher Yeser Ha’ra, like Pharaoh, ensures to keep us (Rabbi Mansour) busy, to fill our time so that we never take stock of ourselves and our conduct. When G-d appears to Moshe at the burning bush and instructs him to go to Pharaoh and At no time in human history has the Yeser demand that he releases Beneh Yisrael from Ha’ra been so successful in this effort than in bondage, Moshe initially refuses. He claims, our day and age. Today, whenever a person

בס''ד "Lo Ish Debarim Anochi Gam Temol Gam palace, confront him and demand in G-d’s Shilshom" – for a long time, he had a speech Name that he releases the slaves. As he was impediment which made him the wrong ungrateful to Yosef, it was specifically Moshe, person for this job (4:10). somebody who owed him a debt of gratitude, The Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, who came against him. 1724-1807), in his Debarim Ahadim, raises the In explaining his refusal to G-d, Moshe noted simple question of why Moshe refused such a that he was not the right person for the job vital mission. Beneh Yisrael were suffering "Gam Mi’tmol Gam Mi’shilshom" – for a long and dying under Egyptian tyranny, and G-d time. This means that the kindness he had now decided to send Moshe to lead them to received from Pharaoh many years earlier freedom. How could he refuse? Why would prevented him from approaching Pharaoh. Moshe give "excuses" why he shouldn’t The fundamental trait of "Hakarat Ha’tob" – accept this mission? What valid excuse could gratitude – requires us to remember there possibly be to refuse to undertake such kindnesses performed for us years earlier. a vitally important responsibility? Gratitude does not only mean thanking the The Hida’s answer is remarkable. He person who held the door open for us or the explained that when Moshe says that he is not waiter who served our food (though it certainly an "Ish Debarim" (literally, "a man of words"), includes this), but also appreciating that which he means not that he is physically incapable was done for us in the distant past – just as of this mission, but rather that it would be Moshe felt grateful to Pharaoh even decades inappropriate for him to accept this task. later, when he was already a grown adult. Moshe owed an enormous debt of gratitude to I once received a call from a woman asking me Pharaoh and the Egyptian royal family, as he if I could speak at a function she was was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in the arranging. My busy schedule does not allow palace after she found him in the river. It was me to accept every invitation to speak, and so the Egyptian royal family that cared for Moshe I was not initially prepared to agree. As we after his mother had to place him in a basket were talking, however, I told her that her name in the river to hide him from those seeking to sounded familiar, and she reminded me that kill him. Moshe felt incapable of now turning she was my first-grade teacher, who taught around and becoming Pharaoh’s adversary, me to read and write. I immediately accepted demanding that he release his slaves and her invitation. How could I not? Did I not owe bringing plagues when he refused. her an enormous debt of gratitude? She The Hida proceeded to explain that in truth, G- worked and toiled to teach me the basics that d chose Moshe for this role precisely because without which, I could not accomplish of the debt of gratitude that Moshe owed to anything. The very least I could do was to Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s crime against Beneh agree to speak at her function. Yisrael began with ingratitude. The Torah tells We cannot even begin to imagine the gratitude that Pharaoh "did not know Yosef" (1:8), we owe to our and our children’s teachers, referring to his decision to ignore Yosef’s who work hard to educate their students for immense contribution to the country. Yosef modest – to put it mildly – salaries and often saved the Egyptians from famine and worked under difficult conditions. Even years and to ensure that Egypt became wealthy and decades later, we must never forget the vital prosperous during the famine years, as other role they played in our or our children’s countries purchased grain from them. Yet, development. instead of rewarding Yosef’s work by treating This is also true of our parents, spouses, his people kindly, Pharaoh mistrusted them business associates and friends. Our mothers and subjected them to torture and torment. endured nine months of pregnancy, labor, Pharaoh was the ultimate ingrate. And he was sleepless nights and the countless other thus punished "measure for measure" by challenges of parenting so we could come into having Moshe, who was raised in the royal this world, grow and thrive. Do we not owe

בס''ד them our time and affection? Our spouses d? Based on their names – Shifra and Puah – share their lives with us. Can we ever even there is perhaps a more obvious reason why begin to repay them? they did not kill the babies – it is because they Many Rabbis have taught that we are called loved the children and were compassionate to "Yehudim" because expressing thanks – them. They had hearts of gold and "Toda" – is the most basic trait by which we were rachmaniyot [merciful]. must live. It is only by developing our sense of The answer is that we see from here that when gratitude to the people around us that we can push comes to shove, there is only one thing begin to appreciate all that the Almighty does at the end of the day that is going to stop a for us, and thus happily commit ourselves to person from doing what he should not do, and fulfill His will and serve Him every day of our that is Fear of Heaven (Yirat lives. Shamayim). Love will take a person only so far. When everything is fine and dandy of course they loved the children, they cooed to them and they treated the babies nicely. However, when someone’s life is on It All Comes Down to Fear the line, love is not going to carry the day. The of Heaven only thing that is going to carry the day is Yirat Shamayim. (Rabbi Frand from Torah.org) The Almighty tells Avraham to take his son, The Torah teaches, “And the king of Egypt his only son that he loved and offer him as a said to the Hebrew midwives of whom the sacrifice. Avraham complies with the Divine name of the first was Shifra and the name of command. The pasuk says, “Now I know that the second was Puah. And he said, ‘In your you fear the L-rd and did not refuse your assisting the Hebrew women at childbirth and son.” Why specifically use the accolade “one you see on the birth-stool, if it is a son, you are who fears G-d” (Yere Elokim)? Why not call to kill him, and if it is a daughter, she shall him a “Lover of G-d” or a “Devoted Servant of live.'” [Shemot 1:15-16]. Chazal tell us that G-d?” Again, the answer is that at crunch time Shifra and Puah were actually Yocheved and the only thing that is going to stop a person Miriam. They were called Shifra and Puah from not giving in to personal inclination based on the way they acted. Yocheved was is Yirat Shamayim. called Shifra because she beautified the child at birth (she’meshaperet es ha’vlad). Miriam When Potiphar’s wife attempts to seduce the was called Puah because she cooed to the righteous Yosef, his final argument to her is “I baby when the baby was in distress would sin to the L-rd” (v’chatati l’Elokim). This (she’puah l’vlad). They each loved the means that in a moment of great passion, in a children so much that they handled them with moment of supreme temptation, the only thing tender loving care. that will ever stop a person from doing what he is not supposed to do is Yirat Shamayim. It Pharaoh told them that they should kill the all comes down to Fear of Heaven. Jewish boys. However, “the midwives feared G-d and they did not do as the king of Egypt spoke to them and they kept the boys alive.” [Shemot 1:17] As a result, the Master of The Best Reward is the Universe paid them back, so to speak, and He made for them Batim [Houses]. Seeing Results (Rabbi Frand) It is strange that the Torah introduces these two distinguished women to us as midwives or The main observation I would like to share this doulas who loved children. Why is it then that week is a thought I read from Rabbi Mordechai the Torah says that the reason they refused to Kamenetsky. The pasuk states, “G-d did listen to Pharaoh is because they feared G- good to the midwives – and the people

בס''ד increased and became very strong.” [Shemot The nation became populous and they 1:20] As a reward for putting their lives on the became very strong! The nation of Israel line and heroically saving the Jewish male emerged from these very babies whose lives children, the Almighty rewarded them. The were saved by the midwives. Seeing the next pasuk follows with the statement, “And it mighty nation that emerged because of was because the midwives feared G-d that He their mesirut nefesh [self-sacrifice] was the made houses for them.” [Shemot 1:21]. Rashi greatest reward possible for Shifra and Puah. interprets the word “Batim” [houses] as referring to Houses of Kehuna [priesthood], Houses of Leviya [the tribe of Levi] and Malchut [Royal Dynasties]. Rashi points out that the pasuk interjects something that Avodat Perach The seems to be a historical note. In the middle of Importance of Purpose saying that the midwives acted heroically, and (Rabbi Zev Leff) the Almighty rewarded them, the Torah sticks in a historical fact, saying that the people The Egyptians started to make the Israelites became great and mighty. This is a strange do labor designated to break their bodies arrangement of the pesukim. (Shemot 113). Rabbi Kamenetsky writes that he once knew a In order to keep Bnei Yisrael occupied so that person who had a premature baby. The baby they would not have time to think about received care in a NICU twenty-four hours a Moshe's words heralding their freedom, day, literally around the clock for two months. Pharaoh decreed that henceforth the Jewish The parents developed a relationship with the slaves would have to collect their own straw nurses and doctors who literally kept the baby while maintaining their previous quota of alive. Rabbi Kamenetsky writes that when bricks. Why did Pharaoh not just double their they left the NICU at the end of two months, quota? In that way, he would have forced Am they wanted to buy something for the doctors Yisrael to work harder and would have and nurses to show their appreciation. The benefited from a doubling of production. father pondered at length what to buy The Torah describes our labor in Egypt as them. He went to Rav Elya Svei and asked for Avodat parech, literally work that breaks the advice: “I want to show my Hakarat person. Avodat parech is defined as work that HaTov [gratitude] to them. What should I buy has no purpose and is designed just to keep for them?” Rav Elya asked – “Do they need the slave busy (see Rambam, Hilchot Avadim another pen or bouquet of flowers or box of 116). We are specifically forbidden to work a chocolates?” No. Instead, on the child’s Jewish slave in this fashion (Vayikra 25 43). birthday, come back to the hospital and show Pharaoh understood that nothing so the doctors and nurses “This little child grew diminishes a person as seeing no purpose to up to be big” (Zeh hakatan, gadol Yiheyeh – his activity, no result in which he can take which we say at a Brit Milah). Show them that pride. Thus, he had Jewish slaves build arei their efforts on behalf of this tiny infant on life miskenos, which can be translated as pitiful support in an incubator – paid off. Look what cities. These cities, says the Midrash, were happened to this child! This is the greatest built on the foundations of sand, and toppled reward anyone can receive. over immediately after being built, only to be Rabbi Kamenetsky related this incident to the rebuilt again. Thus, doubling the Israelites above cited strange sentence construction. workload without doubling production fit Hashem was good to the midwives. He perfectly into Pharaoh's plans. rewarded them. Rashi says that the reward is Work can be exhilarating, fulfilling and mentioned in the next pasuk (He gave ennobling, but only when it is melachah- them Batim.) Rav Kamenetsky suggested, purposeful work, work with a goal. But however, we could also interpret that the purposeless work (avodah) only serves to reward is specified in this very same pasuk:

בס''ד break a person's spirit. A prisoner in a Soviet framed and saved for perpetuity, but quickly labor camp was confined to his cell for ten devoured. The key to making these chores years and forced to turn a handle that ennobling and exhilarating is constantly protruded from his cell wall. He was told that remembering their ultimate goal the creation the handle turned a flour mill on the other side, of an atmosphere enabling each member of but upon being liberated, discovered that the the family to function properly and develop his handle was connected to nothing. The or her ultimate potential. realization that he had labored for nothing was Moshe was initially instructed to tell Pharaoh more crushing to him than the ten years of that the Jews wanted to leave Egypt for three imprisonment. days of celebration and sacrifice in the desert. The Talmud (Betzah 16a) calls the Pharaoh was not told of the real intent of their Babylonians foolish for eating their bread with departure so that he could exercise his free bread. The ba'alei mussar explain that they will. Had he been told that the Jews wished to were caught in a vicious cycle with no purpose leave forever, he could not possibly have other than its own perpetuation. They worked granted their request. Klal Yisrael, on the other only in order to earn enough bread to have the hand, had to be told the truth about their strength to work another day and earn more departure even though the prospect of having bread to sustain themselves for another day. to conquer the Land might fill them with dread, Working to eat so that one can work some for the ultimate goal of Eretz Yisrael gave more results in a life with no purpose. When meaning to the entire Exodus. the necessity of earning a living is removed In this light, we can understand the following from such a life it loses all meaning. That is Midrash. Moshe proclaimed, "I sinned with the why so many retirees become depressed, and word az, and I will rectify [my sin] with the word even suicidal, when they stop working. az. I sinned by saying 'From when (me'az) I Those with Torah are spared this plight, for approached Pharaoh to speak in Your name, they realize that everything they do is to things have gotten worse for the Jewish secure eternal life in Olam Haba. This people' (Shemot 5 23). And I will rectify [my sin] recognition gives meaning and value to all of with the word az-'Then (az) Moshe will sing the life's pursuits, for the greater the purpose and song at the Red Sea' (Shemot 151)." goal, the more significant the effort. "Six days Moshe sinned by isolating a moment - shall you labor (ta'avod) and do all your Pharaoh's decree of additional labor - and not melachah, and the seventh day will be a placing it in the perspective of the ultimate Sabbath to Your Lord ..." (Shemot 20:9-10). goal. Had Moshe seen the decree as one What transforms a person's menial labor more stage towards the eventual Redemption, (avodah) into purposeful, creative activity he would have viewed it differently. Moshe (melachah) is Shabbat, the taste of Olam rectified his error when he sang at the splitting Haba in this world. of the Sea not only for the moment of present The word es bash has the numerical value of salvation, but for all the future redemptions thirty-nine, corresponding to the thirty-nine until the resurrection of the dead. Thus he melachos of Shabbat, the creative activities sang in the future tense. that went into building and maintaining the The Mishnah in Pirke Avot (1:3) says that one Mishkan. Thus, the opposite of Avodat should not serve Hashem in order to receive perach-aimless, purposeless work- is reward. Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 10:1) meleches hamishkan, meleches Shabbat- explains the reward referred to includes even purposeful work that leads to eternal results. the reward of Olam Haba for fulfilling the Women many times feel that their work is mitzvot. Rather one should serve Hashem out Avodat perach, with no lasting results. The of pure love and devotion, with no ulterior clean clothes are soon soiled again, the house motive at all. Yet the Torah is full of verses that messed up as soon as it is straightened. The exhort us to observe its commandments "in result of hours of toil in the kitchen are not order that you live" or "in order that your days

בס''ד be multiplied," (see e.g., Shemot 20:12, Devarim 4:1, goodness and kindness. Therein lies His 4:40, et. al.)- Which are understood as referring gadlus. The concern that envelops and to eternal life. permeates all existence is the mark of His unlimited greatness. Hence He is HaGadol. The resolution of this seeming contradiction is that the knowledge that the mitzvot result in We are exhorted to walk in Hashem's ways eternal life gives added dimension and and emulate His attributes "As He is called significance to the performance of the mitzvah merciful, so, too, should you be merciful." itself-apart from any concern with the reward Thus, if Hashem is called HaGadol, we too of Olam Haba - and thereby engenders must strive to emulate this gadlus. Just as He greater love for the commandments. In this is concerned with all Creation, so must we context, does not mean "in order that," strive to emulate that all-encompassing referring to a consequence of the performance concern. of the mitzvot, but rather "because" in the Rabbi Shimon Shkop, zt"l, in his preface to sense of revealing the true significance of the Shaarei Yoshor, addresses the following mitzvot. Recognition of that significance paradox. On the one hand, man was created enhances the love of the Creator, Who with a natural concern for himself and his own bestowed His creation with eternal meaning. personal needs. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" To truly appreciate the significance of our is predicated on self-love and self-concern. mundane pursuits and the mitzvot that And yet, man is exhorted to be concerned with constitute our service of Hashem, we must be others. Reb Shimon explains that the key to constantly aware of our ultimate goal of resolving these seemingly conflicting bringing the world to perfection by fulfilling G- concerns lies in the definition of self. d's will. Everyone possesses their "ani"-the essence The Measure of a Gadol of their being. As the Mishnah clearly states in Pirke Avot (114), "If I am not for myself, who The child grew up ... It happened in those days will be for me?" However, the definition of this that Moshe grew up and went out to his selfhood can be expanded beyond the brethren and observed their burdens; and he parameters of one's physical person. saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, of his brethren (Shemot 2 10-11). Many people feel that their spouses are part and parcel of themselves-"His wife is like his Ramban, commenting on the apparently own body," say Chazal. Hence, one's concern repetitive mention of Moshe's growing up, for a spouse is included in the natural concern explains that the first phrase refers to Moshe's for self. Others extend their self to include their attainment of physical maturity. The second families, still others their neighbors. The more phrase refers to Moshe's growth in intellectual one perfects himself, the more his concept of and spiritual maturity, to his becoming "a man self encompasses. The truly great person of understanding." feels all Klal Yisrael, indeed the entire world, The Torah proceeds to specify the sign of as part of his self. Moshe's spiritual maturity the fact that he went And so, the Mishnah in Avot continues, when out to his brothers and saw their labors. Rashi my ani is limited to my individual self alone, comments on this phrase that Moshe what is the value of this ani?" contemplated their plight and "applied his eyes and heart to suffer with them." A baby enters this world with a clenched fist. After 120 years, part of the preparation for The mark of a gadol, a person who possesses burial includes the opening of the deceased's greatness and maturity, is defined by the hands. A person comes into this world Torah in terms of his ability to be concerned concerned only with his own needs and with others. The Ribbono Shel Olam is called desires. His fist is clenched tight. He is closed HaGadol, the Great, and Chazal explain this unto himself. As he matures, he slowly opens appellation to refer to Hashem's trait of that fist to reach out to extend his self to

בס''ד others, to embrace an entire world in his brides, caring for the sick, the guesthouses for concern. He must exit this world with an open poor travelers, and general tzedakah hand. accounts. It was a massive, voluminous record. When a fire destroyed this book, Reb This outreach of the self is not mere sympathy, Chaim Ozer reproduced it from memory. but rather a deep empathy and total identification. Hence, it requires applying one's This story is not important for what it tells us eyes and heart. It necessitates observing, about Reb Chaim Ozer's phenomenal assessing and understanding the memory, but for what we learn of the circumstances and needs of others. importance that he attached to these records. But that is not sufficient, for once one has Our respect for our gedolim is enhanced when assessed his neighbor's situation with his we realize that their gadlus in Torah is an eyes, he must open his heart to what he sees- emulation of the gadlus of Hashem, which to actually experience emotionally the hurt and leads them to concern for the entire world. pain, the fears and apprehensions, the joys Appreciating this gadlus should inspire us to and satisfaction of one's extended self. strive to extend our concern to include all of The true gadol is only indirectly measured by our fellow Jews. When we achieve this goal how many blatt Gemara he has mastered and Hashem will reciprocate as He did in Egypt. the profundity of his pilpul. Rabbi Aharon When Moshe applied his eyes and ears to his Kotler, zt"l, explains that Torah learning is the fellow Jews, Hashem responded in kind. As ultimate chesed. When we say, "Talmud the Torah tells us, "And G-d heard their Torah is equal to them all," it is other acts of moaning, and G-d remembered His covenant chesed to which we are referring. For all other with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. G-d saw the kindnesses are specific and limited, but Torah Children of Israel; and G-d knew" (Shemot study is the source of existence. If not for 2:24-25). And Rashi comments "Hashem put constant Torah study the world would cease to His heart to suffer with them and did not turn exist. How profound and all-encompassing is His eyes from them." the concern and kindness of the one who Reprinted with permission from Artscroll Mesorah Publications, ltd. immerses himself in the study of Torah, This article is provided as part of Shema Yisrael Torah Network thereby preserving the entire universe. Permission is granted to redistribute electronically or on paper, provided that this notice is included intact. For information on The Torah giant is familiar with the entire subscriptions, archives, and other Shema Yisrael Classes, send mail to [email protected] world. For Torah is the blueprint of the world and only through comprehensive and penetrating knowledge of this blueprint can one gain the eyes to see the world as it really is, to truly be cognizant of the needs and Food for thought problems of mankind. The study of Torah and the total immersion in G-d's will unites one with his Creator and Talking to Your Kids About imbues him with an open heart, with emotional Rising Anti-Semitism understanding, compassion, and empathy. Only the Torah giant can fully possess the Six tools to respond to our children’s fear. sensitivity that emanates from G-d's Torah, (By Ilana Kendal) which is referred to as Rachmana-the “Is it okay to say I’m Jewish?” “Should I take Merciful. my kippah off?” “Is it safe to go to school?” Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski, rav of Vilna There was a time that these questions and gadol hador of the previous generation, belonged to another era. Such fearful inquiries kept a written record of all the many and varied were the stuff of Holocaust books and my charities of Vilna which he supervised. In it Bubbie’s stories of wartime Europe. were the records of free loans, monies for poor

בס''ד No more. One friend told me her daughter had This can be accomplished with comments a meltdown before their family Hanukkah party such as “I was reading the news, maybe last week. When she probed, she discovered you’ve heard, it’s pretty worrisome” or “this is that this 7-year-old had overheard her parents upsetting what’s going on for the Jews.” We talking about the Monsey attack and was can fill in information according to each child’s afraid she’d likewise be assaulted. age and maturity level. The main thing is that A colleague, a child psychologist in the Tri- we are being open and creating a space for State area, confided that clients are them to come back to us when they are ready. increasingly coming in afraid and anxious Validate, validate, validate about their safety as Jews. “And the truth is, I It is tempting to want to fix things for our kids. can’t disagree with them. At least not We may be pulled to reassure them. But this 100%. Their fear isn’t unfounded. So, what am is scary stuff and pretending otherwise will I supposed to say?” only backfire. The most powerful gift we can How do we respond to our kids when we offer our children is the experience of being ourselves are feeling afraid? How do we talk seen and understood. Validating whatever about the recent rise in anti-Semitism in a way they are thinking and feeling is key for creating that supports our kids, building their resilience a sense of safety. Validation is not the same as Jews? as agreement. For instance, if your child is As a therapist and mother, I wish the answers telling you he is never leaving the house again, were simple. Better yet, I wish these weren’t you don’t need to get on board with this our questions. But here we are, facing the decision. darkness, and it’s our job to lead with some Validating is communicating that, given who light. Here are 6 tools to guide us in supporting he is, where he is coming from and what he is our children. facing, it makes sense to feel this way. Only then can you offer other ways of responding to Open the door to conversation the situation. Validation is a powerful tool for We do need to talk to our kids about what is fostering emotional regulation. When we feel happening. We live in a media saturated understood we can begin to think critically and culture and if we don’t start the conversation, open ourselves to new learning and they will hear it somewhere else. By bringing it experiences. Using phrases such as “it makes up ourselves, we send the message that it is sense that…” or “it’s normal to...” tells our okay to talk to us, that as adults we have our children that we accept them and what they finger on the pulse and are a safe place to are experiencing. discuss what’s on their mind. Encourage questions When I brought up the Monsey attack with my teenage daughter, she already knew about it. As adults, we don’t have all the answers. Our “Ya, my camp chat group was talking all about children will tolerate that if we send them the it. Everyone was really upset.” Don’t worry if message that we can too. We want to you are not the first one to get there. Every communicate that asking questions is okay. moment is an opportunity to keep the dialogue More than that, we also have questions and going. This does not mean over-probing. are willing to engage in a process. By Children, particularly teenagers, can smell an modeling exploration and openness, we give agenda. Our job is not to pull every piece of our kids permission to engage in that process information from them or know each detail of together with us. “You may be wondering why their emotional world. Our job is to send the this is happening – I am too,” or “I’m trying to message: I am interested in you, I am a safe figure out what the message is for us,” tells our person to talk to, I am here when you are children that they too can grapple. When we ready. live in the question together with our kids, we have a potent opportunity to teach them about life.

בס''ד The Hebrew word for “why” is “lamah.” With protocol is, and who the security guards at the change of one vowel, the word becomes shul are. “l’mah”, meaning “for what?” From our narrow But what about more generalized worry and vantage point on earth, we cannot always upset? As Jews we are all connected. Each understand the Almighty’s “why.” We cannot action we take has a ripple effect. My comprehend everything that happens, but we daughter’s camp chat not only informed her of can seek out the “for what” purpose of each the Monsey attack; they were also saying circumstance. This might look like asking our psalms together. It’s our natural instinct to kids, “What do you think we can learn from want to do something, and these young this?” or modeling “I’m trying to find how G-d women were finding a way. wants us to act now.” The more we encourage questions, the more we set our children up to We can pray together with our children or grow and be resilient no matter what they are increase our acts of kindness in the face of facing. evil. One friend wrote letters to the Monsey victims’ families with her kids, another ran a Provide context ‘kindness warriors’ program where they put As Jews, we have a long history of together packages for the homeless. Showing persecution. It’s important to let our kids know our children that there are actions we can take that the violence we see today is an and that we are not powerless is an important expression of longstanding evil. From the time psychological buffer. Not only that, by of Abraham, we have represented change, empowering our children to contribute in even going against the grain, and this has always the smallest of ways, we show them that they been met with resistance. In its essence, part matter and can make a difference. of being Jewish is believing in change, in a Find role models better world. By placing current events in this context, we provide important education about As we know, this is not the first time in Jewish our mission as Jews. We can talk about the history we have faced violence and anti- Biblical struggles, Crusades and pogroms as Semitism. This means that generations a legacy of opposition against the values we before, have contended with this darkness stand for. We can tell our kids, “Those bad and evil. They not only survived, they thrived. people don’t like the goodness the Jewish Talking about how others have coped with fear people stand for” or, “Jews represent G-d and and adversity can provide a model for us and good in the world, but some people just want our children to move forward. to live without rules.” When my daughter told me that she was Placing current events in a broader spiritual praying with her friends, I was reminded of my context gives meaning to the specific battle we Bubbie, a Holocaust survivor. “You know what are facing. As we strengthen our children’s Bubbie Jean would do when she was scared identity, we likewise strengthen their capacity walking at night?” I asked. “She would repeat to cope. ‘Shema Yisrael’ over and over again. She told me she felt G-d was protecting her.” It wasn’t Foster action that she was fearless; it was that she found Studies have shown that the more active we courage through her faith. Looking around for are in the face of trauma, the lower the rates our personal role models or people in history of post-traumatic stress disorder. Action is not who have contended with anti-Semitism fixing, solving or even stopping the pain. It is shows our children the resilience of the Jewish finding ways to move from passivity to activity. spirit and places all of us in a larger context. When it comes to fears around safety, this can We become not only individuals grappling with mean going over a family safety plan; for fear, but warriors in a noble spiritual battle. instance, whom your kid should call in an Empowering our children to become part of emergency, what the school lockdown this legacy can transform their experience and give them the strength to tackle their fears.

בס''ד Our kids are living in a world steeped in and have fun. They “date” regularly and darkness. If, together with them, we can grow laugh. Even when life throws you a through this challenge, we can all take part in curveball and things are extremely increasing the light. I pray that we and stressful; they work at keeping things our children need not fear. Until then, let us all light and fun. find the courage to respond as Jews. 5. They don’t criticize. They look for the good in their spouse and when they are upset, they learn how to ask for their needs in a sensitive way. Happy 10 Things Happy Couples couples know that criticism only tears Avoid the other down and creates a rupture in their relationship. If your spouse is How to bring more love and joy into your doing something you don’t like, pay own marriage. (By Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, MS, attention to why it’s bothering you and LCPC) learn how to talk about it in a safe way. Happiness in a relationship takes a daily 6. They don’t ignore their conscious effort and healthy habits. Avoid finances. Happy couples know that these negative behaviors and attitudes and financial stress puts pressure on a see how you can bring more love and joy into marriage. They’re in communication your own marriage. about their financial goals so that they 1. They don’t complain about their can make responsible decisions for spouse to their friends or their future together. If money is a topic family. Happy couples know that it’s you would rather not discuss, know that best not to involve others in their avoiding it will make money matters marriage. They talk directly to their worse. spouse if they have an issue instead of 7. They avoid mind reading. Happy consulting others who often may couples know how to communicate so provide negative feedback that could that they both are aware of each other’s hurt the relationship. There is nothing needs and feelings. No matter how wrong with healthy ‘girl’ or ‘guy’ time but connected they feel, they don’t expect don’t use it as an opportunity to their spouse to know what they want or complain about your spouse. how they are feeling. They spell it out 2. They don’t compare their spouse to clearly. If you are not getting the others. Happy couples accept and love attention you need, tell your partner. their spouse as is. They know that 8. They don’t nag. Happy couples comparing their spouse to others is encourage each other instead of unrealistic and unfair and will leave pressuring. They find ways to support them feeling insecure about their each other which serves as a natural marriage. The grass isn’t always motivator, as opposed greener on the other side, even if it to nagging which often backfires. If looks like it is. your husband is out of work, instead of 3. They don’t blame each other. Happy nagging him to go on job interviews, try couples take responsibility for their to raise his morale with your love and feelings and their role in the support, even if it seems scary. Your relationship. They ask for what they genuine encouragement and trust in need instead of wallowing in self-pity or him will motivate him to move forward. blaming their spouse for their situation. 9. They don't withhold or forget about 4. They aren’t too serious. Happy intimacy. Happy couples are intimate couples know how to experience joy physically and realize that it is an

בס''ד essential part of a healthy marriage. water into my car. Then he walked off with his They increase their bond by focusing older female relative, holding her hand! I wore on each other's needs. Even if life gets a smile the whole rest of the day. As my father, busy don't neglect this important aspect a”h, used to say, “It warmed the cockles of my of your relationship. heart.” It gave me hope and optimism, and, trite as it may be, restored some of my faith in 10. They don't have one foot out the humanity. door. Happy couples are committed to each other, even when the going gets But, despite the bad news in general and the tough. They don't enter the relationship even worse news for our community, I think it’s with an exit strategy in case it doesn't a mistake that my faith was even in need of work out. If you're committed to your restoration. I don’t think it’s because the bad relationship, you will be present enough outweighs the good in our lives and I don’t to put in the work that it takes to create think we need some particular ratio of positive a great relationship. experiences to negative ones. I think it’s all of question of what we focus on. We focus almost always on the negative – and we have to train ourselves to focus on the positive. In a Good News: There Is More tongue-in-cheek article in the satirical Babylon Bad News Bee, there was an article about the recent church shooting: There is always bad in the world – but there is good also. What do you want to focus The nation's media outlets announced on? (By Emuna Braverman) they were grieving today as an armed citizen stopped a mass shooting. I’m as prone to negativity as anyone else – easily focused on bad news and caught up in "We grieve that this tragedy we could the downward spiral. But I have to quibble with have exploited for weeks on end was the research (empirical though it may be!) that stopped by a good guy with a gun," said suggests we need four positive experiences to one teary-eyed MSNBC reporter on the counteract every negative one. That gives scene. "Our thoughts and prayers are such disproportionate power to the purveyors with the shooter." of doom and gloom. It’s not my experience of "We are absolutely heartbroken and in life and I don’t think it’s the way the Almighty shock over here," said one New York structured His world. Times journalist. "What could have given I was recently stocking up at a large grocery us weeks and weeks of frothing-at-the- chain. I somehow slid a case of water bottles mouth stories about gun control will now into my shopping cart, all the while wondering have to be suppressed since it does not how I was going to get it into my trunk without align with our agenda." damaging my (yes, it’s still broken!) Whatever your position on the issue, we can collarbone. I could have asked someone who all agree that the media does in fact exploit worked at the store to help me but that usually mass shootings and other bad news. Perhaps takes a long time and, despite my vows to slow we can be forgiven for thinking that there is no things down, well you know…I got to my car other kind. and loaded everything else into the trunk. But perhaps not. Because this is where our Then I looked around hopefully. After a brief individual responsibility comes to play. We wait a young man (probably late teens) drove have a duty to look for the positive and to keep into the parking lot and go out of the car with our concentration there. The Almighty gave us his mother or grandmother; I wasn’t sure. I so many gifts and we need to stop and approached and pleaded my case. appreciate them instead of always He could not have been more gracious. “Sure, complaining. I know that as a parent it’s really no problem” he said and proceeded to heft the annoying when our children either don’t

בס''ד express gratitude or express it very briefly circumstances is it permissible to move before they move on to a litany of complaints candlesticks or a Menorah on Shabbat? and frustrations. That’s how the Almighty must Halacha strictly forbids moving candlesticks feel about us. on Shabbat while the candles are burning. He gave us such a beautiful world with so And even after the candles have burned out, many special opportunities and all we want to the candlesticks remain forbidden to be read about, watch, talk about is what doesn’t moved, as they are considered Mukseh. work, what went wrong, how many challenges However, one is able to circumvent this we have as individuals or as a country. And it’s prohibition by making a stipulation at the time very easy to get caught up in it. of the candle lighting. Before the woman lights the Shabbat candles, she should verbally I’m not saying that we need to be Pollyannas state that the candlesticks should not be and hide our heads in the sand. Life has some Mukseh and should be allowed to be moved very real challenges and some overwhelming after the candles burn out. This is the explicit pain. But it serves none of us well if that’s ruling of the Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim where we invest our energies. In fact, the 279:4). Hacham Ovadia adds that it suffices to opposite is true. Negativity robs us of energy. make this condition once a year, stating that Positivity enervates us. for the rest of the year the candlesticks should We need to reverse the tide. It’s up to all of us be allowed to be moved on Shabbat after the to make the choice – to turn away from the flames go out. This is, indeed, a worthwhile negative and focus on the positive. Even if our custom to adopt in order to enable moving first instinct is to see the unpleasantness, we candlesticks on Shabbat without any concern. can still choose how we react. We don’t have There is some debate among the Halachic to go with our first instinct. We can make a authorities as to how far this Halacha extends. rational choice to see the good. And it seems Several Poskim (including the Mishna Berura to me that is the only rational choice to make and Kaf Ha’haim) maintain that making this – if we truly want to live a life of meaning and stipulation is only effective in rendering the pleasure and connection to G-d. candlesticks a “Keli She’melachto Le’issur.” There will always to be bad in the world – but This means that the candlesticks may be there will always be good also. What do you moved if they are needed for some want to focus on? permissible purpose, or if the space is needed, but not for the purpose of protecting them (such as if they are in the sun and may become tarnished) or for no purpose. This is also the ruling of Rabbi Moshe Halevi (Israel, Daily halacha 1961-2001), in his work Tefila Le’Moshe. Hacham Ovadia (listen to audio recording for precise citation), however, disagrees, noting Halachot of Shabbat that numerous Rishonim (including the (Daily Halacha) Ra’avad, Ramban, Rashba, and Rashbatz), May One Move Candlesticks on Shabbat as well as the Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David After the Candles Have Burned Out? Azulai, 1724-1806), in his Birkeh Yosef, maintain that the stipulation allows moving the It often happens that a person wants to move candlesticks for any purpose. And thus by the Shabbat candlesticks, such as to make making such a stipulation, the candlesticks are room on the table or for some other purpose. allowed to be moved on Shabbat without any Similarly, people sometimes wish to move the restrictions whatsoever. Hanukah candles on Friday night after the candles have burned out, out of concern that Summary: It is forbidden to move the children might knock them over, or candlesticks on Shabbat, even after the because they are taking up space. Under what candles burn out. However, if one makes a

בס''ד stipulation before Shabbat that he wishes to Hashem puts the fitting name into the mouth of move the candlesticks after the flames go out, the parents: When a person names his child, he may, and one may even make such a Hashem directs him to give the right name, stipulation once a year to cover the entire year. according to Rabbi Chayim Vital zt”l (Sha’ar HaGilgulim, Hakdamah, 23). It is interesting that because of this, there were tzadikim who avoided deciding for those who asked what name to give their child because only the name which comes to DAF YOMI the parents' mouth without intervention is the right name for the child (Kuntres Shema Garim by Daf Yomi Masechet Berachot HaGaon Rav M. Gross, 8). (Daf Notes) If each parent gave the child a different name: The parents’ authority to give a name is identical Tefillin In your Head It is written: And all the and equal and each of them may give a different peoples of the earth shall see that the name of name and both will be the child’s names! Thus Hashem is proclaimed over you, and they shall be states HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt”l in awe of you. It was taught in a braisa: Rabbi (Responsa Igrot Moshe, Y.D., III, 97) as Yaakov Eliezer the Great said: This refers to the tefillin of called his youngest son Binyamin while Rachel the head. The Baal Hatanya notes that it does not called him Ben-Oni. However, it is accepted say “the tefillin that are on his head,” but rather, custom that the father and mother determine their “the tefillin in his head.” The tefillin will make an children’s names alternately, one time by the father impression on others only if the wearer has and one time by the mother. internalized the message of the tefillin inside of him. If it is merely resting on his head, it will have The Ashkenazic custom: The Ashkenazic custom no effect on others. The Minchas Elozar continued is to give the mother the right to name the first and says that in order to reach that level, one must child, but the sources of this custom are not clear at ensure that he has “his head” in the tefillin. One all such that some wrote that it has no basis (Brit must make a strong effort not to lose focus while Avot, 8). Some suggested a fine idea according to he is wearing his tefillin. If one works diligently to the Chida (Nachal Kedumim, Shemos 18:3) that have his head in the tefillin, he will eventually the foundations of this custom are holy as Moshe reach the level where the tefillin will be in his head. and his wife Tziporah did so: Tziporah named their He used to say to a boy becoming bar mitzvah as firstborn Gershom and Moshe named their second he was putting his tefillin on for the very first time: son Eliezer (see however Shemos 2:22; we should Do not talk idle chatter with your tefillin on! If you mention that after examining the Chida’s guarantee me that that you will never talk idle statements, it is difficult to attribute the said custom chatter while wearing your tefillin, I will guarantee to him). you that you will feel the “taste” of the tefillin. Giving a name in exchange for a nedunyah: Giving an Infant a Name After the Creation, Some say that the custom stemmed from the Hashem gathered all the animals to Adam so that European lifestyle, according to which young he could name them (Bereishis 2:19-20) and the couples were supported by the bride’s parents for a Midrashim say that Adam also named towns, few years after their marriage and they honored the deserts and angels. wife’s parents to name the first grandchild growing up in their home (Otzar HaBrit, I, p. 335). Giving an infant a name is not something arbitrary. Ancient authors mention that a name is a The Sephardic custom: The Sephardic custom is fundamental part of a person and not a mere label for the father to give the first name and so wrote (the Chida in Devash Lefi, ma’areches shin, os 20). the Rishonim when they explained the order of Pirkei DeRabbi Eli’ezer says (Ch. 13) that Adam naming Yehudah’s sons. When his first son was was requested to name the creatures, after the born, it is said “…and she bore a son and he called angels tried to do so and didn’t succeed. his name ‘Er” (Bereishit 38:3) – Yehudah named him. When the second son was born, we are told “…and she bore a son and she named him Onan”

בס''ד (ibid, 4) – his wife named him. When the third son Hillel Lichtenstein, who also authored Avkat was born, we are told “…and she bore a son and Rochel who offers a clever resolution to this she named him Sheilah and he was in Keziv when question. The Gemara (Sota 2a) states that Hashem she bore him” (ibid, 5). In other words, the verse matches a man with a wife according to his deeds. gives a reason for her naming her son, because he Another opinion maintains that one’s mate is was far from home and was staying in Keziv. Were predestined. The Medrash states that in Israel, he present, he would have named his son (Da’at one’s wife is predestined, and in the Diaspora, it is Zekeinim MiBa’ale HaTosfot, Radak, Chizkuni dependent upon his deeds. In the Diaspora, there and Alsheich). Ramban (on the Torah, ibid) was no need to query the newlywed if he had found strongly disagrees with this explanation, saying a good wife or not, as in the Diaspora, one’s wife that "it has no taste or smell" but doesn’t disagree is dependent on one’s deeds. with the custom (see Responsa Rashbash, 291). Segulot on the Eve of Yom Kippur Rav Bibi bar One way or the other, the holy works warn that no Abayei was accustomed to read the text twice and argument should develop about giving a name as the Targum once of the entire Torah on the eve of aside from the need for polite behavior, arguing Yom Kippur. Why especially then? The author of about the name endangers the child! (Responsa ‘Iyun Ya’akov explained: As reading shnayim Mishneh Halachot, chelek 12, siman 361). mikra ve'echad targum lengthens one’s life, he Matza or Motze? That is the Question The Gemora chose to bring himself to this segulah on the eve of states that in Eretz Yisroel, when a man marries a Yom Kippur when it is most needed. woman they ask him the following: Matza, did you Only Manual Labor Our Gemara praises the find a good wife, based on the verse that states person who benefits from his manual labor, as we Matza Isha Matza Tov, he who has found a wife are told: “The toil of your hands that you will eat.” has found goodness. When they asked him motze, Why are the hands mentioned? Would it not suffice they were asking if she is a bad wife, as it is written to mention mere toil? The Saraf of Kotzk zt”l said: umotze ani mar mimaves, and I have found more They gave you a hint. Toil at your work only with bitter than death, the woman etc. who is snares. your hands but your head should be free for Torah The Kuntrus Hadaf quotes Chidah in Petah and the fear of Heaven Eiynaim who asks, why was this custom practiced only in Eretz Yisrael?

The Chidah quotes Et Laasot, authored By Reb

Kidz Corner at the age of 67. Where was Moshe for forty seven years? It may just blow your mind to find Interesting Midrash that by the time Moshe and Bilam met in the Midbar (desert), (See Bamidbar, Parshat Balak), (from Torah Tots) they were old enemies. Here's how it happened: Snakes, Storkes, & Squabbles While the Bne Yisrael suffered in bondage, the Long before Moshe became "Rabbenu" (Our battle for independence was breaking out back teacher), the Kingdom of Cush was calling him East. In those days, the Kingdom of Cush was "Malkenu" (Our King). collecting taxes from cities of the East. When a rebellion broke out, Kinkos, King of Cush, When Moshe realized that he was an Israelite in assembled a huge army and set out to squash Egyptian clothing, he headed out to the mud pits the squabble. Before he left, Kinkos put Bilam to check out the plight of his people. He had to and his sons in charge of the kingdom. leave Mitzrayim (Egypt) in a great hurry when he realized that someone (or two) saw him kill an Bad idea. As soon as Kinkos left, Bilam went to Egyptian task master. He fled towards Midyan work. He gathered all the leaders of the city. In and arrived there around forty seven years later a quick coup, Bilam became the king and Kinkos

בס''ד lost his crown. But the question still remained: Next, Moshe ordered each soldier to raise and What happens when the King returns? train his stork to follow his commands. This became priority one for the soldiers and as the Meanwhile, Kinkos copped a major victory, weeks passed, the storks learned to swoop, dive putting those vassals back into a state of and sit on their master's shoulder upon demand. servitude. Now they would pay even more taxes to the regime. But, as Kinkos returned home, it When the storks were properly trained, Moshe became apparent that he, too, would pay a price announced that the time had come to go to - his kingdom! battle. The final command was to starve the storks for three days. Two sides of the city had huge fortified walls, the third side was cut off by a moat. The fourth side Three days later the soldiers armed themselves was fortified with a huge pit of poison snakes. with swords, shields and starving storks and headed to the fortified city. But how would they Kinkos and his men assumed that the city was breach the walls? They wouldn't! How could they fortified against a Canaanite enemy. Imagine swim the moat? They couldn't! How would they their confusion when they discovered that they bypass the vipers? Well, any man with a starving were the ones being kept out! Kinkos tried stork on his shoulder should be able to figure out everything to penetrate the city; they scaled and that answer! swam, tippy-toed and attacked. In turn they were shot, drowned, bitten and defeated. Since Upon Moshe's signal the soldiers released the Kinkos couldn't make it in, he decided to build a starving storks. The birds immediately and wall around the city so that no one could make it fearlessly attacked the snakes in the pit. Soon, out. For nine years, Kinkos and his armies kept there were no snakes left and the soldiers easily Cush under siege. crossed the trench. During the first year of that siege, Moshe arrived The city was easily overtaken. Eleven hundred in Cush and joined Kinko's army. He was a mere of Bilam's men were slaughtered. Bilam and his lad of 20, but strong, full of courage and wisdom, sons escaped to Mitzrayim where they became and an expert at Egyptian battle tactics. Moshe Pharoh's chief advisors. whipped the army into shape and soon became Moshe was a national hero in Cush. For forty a respected ranking advisor to the King. years he ruled, squashing rebellions and taking Nine years into the siege, Kinkos died. The care of royal business until Kinkos' son became Cushite soldiers needed a new king and Moshe mature and experienced enough to take the was at the top of the short list. The soldiers "reigns." swore their allegiance to Moshe, the new Moshe left the Kingdom for the destiny that Cushite King. But allegiance doesn't come awaited him in Midyan. There, he would marry cheap. Moshe's first order of business was to and learn his greatest lessons of leadership as "take down the wall!" a shepherd, tending to the needs of even the Moshe had a plan, but in order for it to work, the smallest of his flock. soldiers had to agree to do everything Moshe ordered without questioning his intentions. No problem. Moshe was a wise man. He always acted rationally, why should they begin to doubt (Revach) him now? A great shout of solidarity came from Kid’z Korner the newly invigorated crowd. Moshe Moshe Complaining to Hashem commanded the soldiers to head out to the Adapted from Mishlei Yaakov, pp. 114-115 woods and look for... storks nests. Speaking in G-d's Name STORKS NESTS??!!? Well, if it was a bird hunt Moshe wanted, that's what he'd get! The men "O Lord, why do You mistreat Your people? Why followed Moshe's instructions and spread out did You send me? As soon as I came to Pharaoh through the forest, each one gathering a to speak in Your name, he made things worse newborn stork. When they returned, each man for these people. You have done nothing to help was holding a fledgling. Your people." (Ex. 5-22-23)

בס''ד So Moshe complained to G-d about the initial At the time of the redemption from Egypt, there failure to bring the Jews out of Egypt. But why was a judgment in the heavenly court against the did Moshe stress that he spoke to Pharaoh "in Jewish people. G-d's Name"? Why not just say, "From when I "Why do they deserve to be rescued?" the came to Pharaoh, he made things worse"? prosecuting angel protested. "They are idol The Mashal of The Detective and the Mafia worshipers just like the Egyptians!" Joe 'Scar Face' Mozzarella was feeling good. An However, Moshe had this foresight to present undercover detective had been making far too the case for the Jewish people in a different many inquiries about his various 'businesses.' manner. "I told Pharaoh, 'The G-d of the But now they had nabbed the nosy policeman. Hebrews is called upon us.' Yet Pharaoh The local mafia boss told his men to teach him a responded brazenly, "Who is this G-d that I lesson about what happens to cops who are too should listen to Him?"" inquisitive. Thus, when Moshe complained to G-d, he The frightened detective blurted out, "Don't you emphasized, "From when I came to Pharaoh to know that I work for the FBI? If you hurt me, the speak in Your Name, he only made things agency will close you down for good!" worse." But this outburst just made Mozzarella seethe in G-d's responded firmly, "Now you will see what I anger. "What, this fool thinks he can scare me will do to Pharaoh!" with threats about the FBI? I'll show him." Scar Now G-d needed to rescue the Jewish people - Face told his men give the FBI agent a beating not due to the merits of Israel, but because of he would remember for the rest of his life. the tremendous chillul Hashem, to defend the When the detective, bruised and hurting, honor of His Name. As the Torah emphasizes returned to his office, he said nothing. His boss numerous times: "So Egypt will know that I am asked him what happened to him, but he G-d." responded, "Why do you ask? Do you think you could help?" Rav Moshe Feinstein Paskens - Honor Rav "Come on," responded the FBI station chief. Aharon Kotler "Who did this to you?" Rav Aharon Kotler, z”tl, the Rosh Yeshivah of "It was Joe Mozzarella and his gang." Lakewood, was preparing to travel to Eretz Yisrael for a visit. Meanwhile, Rav Aharon’s "Doesn't he know that you work for the FBI?" talmidim made their own preparations to "That was my mistake. I thought that if he knew accompany him to the airport. When Reb I'm with the FBI, he would be afraid to touch me. Aharon found out about their plans, he made But instead, they just started beating me even known to them that he preferred that they harder. As soon as I mentioned the FBI, remain in the yeshivah and adhere to their Mozzarella became enraged and told his men to normal learning schedule. break my bones." Rav Aharon’s talmidim were in a quandary When the station chief heard this, a grim about what to do. They brought the question determination set in his face. "If that's the case, to Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt’l. Rav Moshe’s now you will see what we will do to him." answer left no room for doubt. “Accompany He then carefully set traps until they succeeded the Rosh Yeshivah. Honoring Rav Aharon is in putting Scar Face and most of his gangsters like honoring the Torah itself!” (Rav Moshe behind bars. The FBI chief's intense efforts to Feinstein) capture the criminal were due to the words of his agent - who had transformed the affair from a Reb Yerucham Gives Rav Chatzkel simple matter of protecting agency workers into Levenstein Advice In The Dark Of Night an attack on the FBI itself. Rav Chatzkel Levenstein z’tl was the Moshe' Complaint mashgiach of the Mir Yeshivah during WWII, when the entire yeshivah escaped to

בס''ד Shanghai. Rav Chatzkel spoke constantly about emunah and bitachon, which was so Pour Les Francophones necessary during that difficult and frightening time. He taught the talmidim to feel a palpable (Rav Itshak Nabet) sense of emunah and bitachon at every moment. Le Véritable Sauveur At one point during the yeshivah’s sojourn in La Torah décrit, au début de la paracha Shanghai, the city was being heavily bombed. Chémot, l'esclavage de nos ancêtres en It was suggested that the yeshivah leave the Egypte ainsi que la naissance du futur city and move to a town called Charvin. R’ libérateur Moché Rabénou. Comme vous le Chatzkel opposed the move. Later, R’ savez, notre ancien Berger provenait d'une Chatzkel revealed that R’ Yerucham Levovitz, sainte famille: son père Avram était le chef his predecessor, had appeared to him in a spirituel de cette génération. Sa mère dream, and spoke against the move. Yokhéved, agée de 123 ans lorsqu'elle donna The yeshivah stayed in Shanghai, despite the vie à Moché Rabénou, était une petite fille de great danger, and the promise of a safer Yaacov avinou et fille de Lévi. Enfin, sa sœur haven in Charvin. When that period of danger Myriam prophétisait déjà malgré son très had passed, the yeshivah heard the news that jeune âge. Et pourtant, si on y prête attention, Charvin had been bombed twice as much as on peut s'apercevoir que la Torah ne Shanghai, and the city had suffered countless mentionne aucun nom de ces tsadikim! Ainsi, casualties. (R’ Yaakov Finklestein, former Mir il est écrit: " Et il y avait un homme de la talmid) maison de Lévi qui épousa une fille de Lévi. Cette femme donna naissance à un Rabi Shimon’s Tricks fils…qu'elle plaça dans un berceau sur la rive "Now show us what you can do,” the witches du fleuve. Sa sœur se tenait à distance pour said to Rabi Shimon. observer la suite des événements…L'enfant ”Very well,” he replied. ”You see how hard it is grandit et la fille de Pharaon l'appela raining, but when I will whistle two times and Moché…"Alors pourquoi la Torah n'explicita then 80 young men will appear, all dressed in pas la généalogie de Moché Rabénou comme dry clothes.” elle le fit pour tous nos ancêtres dans le livre de Béréchit? Et plus encore, même le nom de “If you are able to do that," they replied, ”then we notre sauveur n'est pas celui donné par ses will admit that you are the mightiest of all the parents, mais celui que la fille de Pharaon lui magicians.” attribua. Pourquoi la Torah ne dévoila pas le Rabi Shimon whistled once and all the young vrai nom de Moché Rabénou? men waiting outside removed the jugs from their heads, took out the dry cloaks and donned them. Chaque pays possède son histoire et ses Rabi Shimon whistled a second time and his pères fondateurs qui oeuvrèrent pour disciples entered the l'établissement de la nation. Ces hommes de courage se levèrent pour libérer leur peuple cave and each man grabbed a witch and placed des colonisateurs. Par exemple, qui n'a pas her on his shoulder. They were then carried to appris comment Vercingétorix lutta avec gallows that were prepared for them, and bravoure contre César? Malgré sa fin hanged. tragique, le peuple s'unifia et continua la All Israel Thankful guerre qu'il avait commencée, ce qui constitua When the people of Israel heard how Rabi les prémices de la future Gaule. Cependant, la Shimon had rid them of these evil people, they Torah ne décrit pas ainsi la naissance de notre blessed him, saying, “Blessed is Rabi Shimon nation. Tout d'abord, la notion d'individu a hen Shetach unto G-d, who has this day rid us disparu. Comme nous l'avons dit, nous ne of this terrible evil. For as long as they were connaissons ni le nom de notre libérateur, ni present, idolatry could not be stamped out.” sa famille…Et plus encore, nous voyons dans

בס''ד notre paracha que le sauvetage de Moché nos entreprises, il ne faut pas croire que la Rabénou fut un échec total. Lorsque celui-ci délivrance vient de nos actes ou de telle se présenta devant Pharaon pour lui personne. Car plus une personne place sa transmettre la parole divine, que répondit le confiance en des hommes et des Roi d'Egypte? "Hachem!? Je ne connais pas, intermédiaires, plus Hachem lui montre qu'il et mes esclaves je ne les libérerai pas!" Pire n'existe pas d'autre Sauveur que Lui et que encore, à cause de son intervention, il ses efforts ne servent à rien. Et à l'inverse, ordonna de ne plus fournir de paille plus il va comprendre que le résultat ne nécessaire à la fabrication des briques, ce qui dépend que de Lui, et plus il verra les miracles augmenta considérablement la tâche de nos qu'Il dévoila lors de la sortie d'Egypte. Alors ancêtres. Nous constatons donc que l'Histoire qu'Hachem nous aide à croire en Lui, et rien de notre peuple ne ressemble en rien aux qu'en Lui, afin de voir rapidement les scénarios classiques. délivrances que nous désirons. Nous vous souhaitons un très bon Chabat, à très En réalité, la réponse à ces questions se bientôt… trouve à la fin de notre paracha. En sortant de chez Pharaon, Moché se tourne vers Hachem et s'exclame: " Pourquoi faire souffrir ce Dvar thora inspire du Rav Pinkhous peuple, et pourquoi m'avoir envoyé? J'ai parlé à Pharaon en ton nom, mais je n'ai pas sauvé La Grandeur de Moché les bné Israel." Alors Hachem répondit:"Maintenant tu va voir ce que Je vais Rabénou faire à Pharaon, et c'est avec une main Nous ouvrons cette semaine le second livre de puissante que Je vais vous faire sortir la Torah, intitulé Chémot, qui traite d'Egypte." Maintenant que tu as constaté que essentiellement de la sortie d'Egypte. Nous tu n'as pas été utile pour la libération de tes verrons ainsi comment Hachem délivra frères, et que tu as vu que tous tes efforts n'ont physiquement nos ancêtres de leur maison fait que rendre la situation plus difficile... d'esclavage, puis comment Il les libéra Maintenant, tu vas voir clairement "ce que JE spirituellement en leur offrant la Torah. Ce vais faire à Pharaon", Moi et pas un ange et Chabat, nous débuterons cette extraordinaire pas un envoyé. La Torah nous dévoila que la aventure avec la paracha Chémot. Les fondation de notre nation ne fut pas l'œuvre de descendants de Yaacov se sont multipliés sur mains humaines. Hachem, Lui-même, nous cette terre égyptienne. Affolé à la vue de cette délivra et créa Son peuple. Voilà pourquoi la menace potentielle, Pharaon décida de Torah ne voulut pas faire dépendre cette transformer ces habitants de Gochen en libération de Moché Rabénou. En cachant son peuple d'esclaves. Après de longues nom et celui de sa famille, elle nous laissa décennies de labeur et d'humiliation, une entendre que celui-ci, aussi grand et parfait naissance change le cours de l'histoire, celle qu'il était, n'était qu'un envoyé du Tout du futur libérateur Moché rabénou. Après Puissant. avoir été sauvé du Nil et adopté par la fille Or, comme nous l'avons souvent dit, ce qui est unique de pharaon, Moché grandit dans le vrai à l'échelle nationale l'est aussi au niveau palais royal. Malgré le luxe et le confort que sa individuel. Si la délivrance de nos ancêtres ne vie lui offre, il ne peut supporter d'être en paix fut l'œuvre que du seul Créateur, il faut savoir alors que ses frères souffrent. Dès lors, il fait que pour tous les exils personnels, il en est tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour aider ainsi. Que ce soit pour des problèmes de clandestinement hommes, femmes et enfants. santé, d'argent, de famille…l'unique sauveur, Il pleure avec eux et n'hésite pas à remplacer c'est Hachem. Comme nous le disons tous les les plus fatigués, même pour les corvées soirs "Chir Lamaalot, Je lève les yeux au ciel, difficiles. Jusqu'au jour où il vit un Egyptien d'où viendra mon aide? Hachem sera mon battre à mort un juif: il prit la défense de la soutien!" Même s'il est évident que nous victime et tua l'agresseur. Les représailles ne devons faire tout ce que l'on peut pour réussir tardèrent pas. Moché fut condamné à mort et

בס''ד réussit par miracle à s'échapper d'Egypte. parce qu'elle était immense, l'avait rempli Nous retrouvons Moché Rabénou de d'émotion et, dès lors, motivé pour aider ses nombreuses années plus tard. Il est devenu frères. Mais lorsqu'il sauva cet agneau, il berger chez son beau père Yitro. Un jour qu'il prouva qu'il était profondément bon et fait paître son troupeau, un de ses agneaux se miséricordieux avec tout le monde. De plus, sauve, nous dit le Midrach (Chémot raba 2;2). lorsque Moché Rabénou porta la bête Moché court derrière pour le ramène lorsqu'il fatiguée, il se trouvait en plein désert. voit la bête se précipiter vers un point d'eau Personne ne pouvait le voir ou le féliciter. Son pour assouvir sa soif. " Je ne savais pas que acte témoignait donc fidèlement de son tu avais si soif, tu dois être épuisé maintenant" intériorité. A l'inverse, pendant toutes ces dit Moché à l'agneau. Puis il prit la bête sur ses années en Egypte, il avait accompli des actes épaules en retournant vers le troupeau. Et de bonté en public. Il devait forcément être c'est à ce moment qu'Hachem déclara: "tu as admiré et honoré pour son comportement. Il de la miséricorde, envers le troupeau, d’un existait donc un léger manque de perfection, homme. Je jure que tu seras le berger de Mon mû par le plus pur désintéressement, dans sa troupeau Israël." compassion. Nous sommes facilement étonnés à la lecture "Hachem n'élève les hommes qu'après les de ce Midrach. Pourquoi est-ce à la suite du avoir observés dans les petites choses" nous sauvetage d'un agneau que Moché Rabénou dit le Midrach. Car c'est là-bas qu'il dévoile son fut choisi pour libérer les bné Israël? N'avait-il véritable visage. Nous pouvons hélas pas prouvé mille fois sa compassion et ses constater la véracité de cet enseignement au qualités en Egypte? Comme nous l'avons dit, quotidien. De nombreuses personnes sont il avait mis sa vie en danger pour alléger le agréables, courtoises et altruistes dans leur joug de ses frères, puis fut contraint à l'exil vie professionnelle ou sociale. Mais dès pour avoir défendu un juif. La vie d'un animal qu'elles rentrent chez elles, dans la sphère est-elle plus importante aux yeux d'Hachem privée, leur comportement change que celle d'un bné Israël? brusquement. Le plus doux des hommes peut se transformer en mari indigne. La Torah, De manière générale, l'homme est pris de cette semaine, nous apprend que c'est compassion lorsqu'il se trouve face à une justement là que nous sommes jugés. Nos situation tragique. Il est très difficile de ne pas maisons, à l'abri des regards et du qu'en dira- aider une veuve qui doit nourrir de nombreux t-on, sont les laboratoires de notre intériorité. orphelins, ou un père de famille qui demande Si nous arrivons à nous conduire avec la de l'aide pour un jeune enfant atteint de même bonté et le même respect envers nos maladie. Ce genre de situation qui déchire le proches, c'est la preuve que nous sommes cœur est heureusement très souvent soutenu effectivement marqués par ces qualités. Il est par les communautés. Mais lorsqu'il s'agit en est de même pour tous les domaines du d'une famille en difficulté financière qui ne service divin. Hachem regarde en particulier présente pas une histoire émouvante, on comment nous faisons les bénédictions éprouve plus de mal à écouter et à ouvrir le lorsque nous sommes seuls, comment nous porte-monnaie. De même, il nous semble mangeons, comment nous faisons le Qriat normal de visiter des malades qui souffrent de Chéma avant de dormir…car c'est dans ces graves maladies, et nous pouvons parfois moments que nous dévoilons notre véritable négliger de réconforter des amis qui se visage. Alors qu'Hachem nous donne les sentent mal intérieurement, même si nous forces et les moyens d'être de bons juifs, de savons qu'ils souffrent. Ainsi, les actes de bons conjoints et parents hors mais surtout solidarité de Moché Rabénou en Egypte ne pouvaient pas dévoiler sa pureté de cœur. En dans la maison, amen ken yéhi ratson. effet, peut-être que la vue de cette détresse,

בס''ד desafío? La idea del Stáipler puede ayudarnos Reflexion semanal a responder la pregunta. El Stáipler cita la Guemará que nos dice que el (Rav Yonatan Gefen) año de una persona es decretado en Rosh Hashaná. Consecuentemente, no hay esfuerzo ¿Cómo reaccionar ante un posible en el mundo físico que pueda cambiar lo mal decreto? que la providencia decretó para una persona. Una reacción natural para quien, de repente, Después de que Paró esclavizara al pueblo perdió una cantidad importante de dinero, es judío, sus astrólogos le dijeron que un bebé encontrar nuevas formas de ganar dinero. Esto estaba destinado a nacer, y que redimiría al es entendible, pero también es importante pueblo judío de su terrible galut (exilio). Paró advertir que un esfuerzo excesivo no lo llevará a respondió con grandes esfuerzos para evitar aumentar su ingreso. ¿Cómo puede saber la que esta predicción se cumpliera, incluyendo su cantidad apropiada de esfuerzo? Rav Itzjak orden de que todo bebé varón debía ser Bérkovits sugiere que todo lo que sea arrojado al Nilo después de nacer. considerado un esfuerzo normal es aceptable, El Stáipler, Rav Yaakov Israel Kanievsky, nota pero que uno debería cuidarse de no pasar ese la ironía de los eventos que siguieron al decreto límite. Dedicar una gran cantidad de tiempo y de Paró. Cuando Moshé nació, los egipcios energía a la obtención de dinero, descuidando querían arrojarlo al Nilo; como resultado, Iojéved todo lo otro, se considera un esfuerzo lo puso en una canasta y lo dejó para que flotara innecesario y no producirá ningún fruto. Así, una río abajo, hacia un destino desconocido. Su enseñanza que puede aprenderse del Stáipler salvación llegó, nada menos que, de manos de es que si Di-s decreta un evento particular no Batia, la hija de Paró, quien lo sacó del agua. El hay forma de cambiarlo a través del mundo joven Moshé fue criado en el palacio de Paró, físico. por Paró mismo. Todos los esfuerzos de Paró Un ejemplo interesante de este fenómeno es para alterar los eventos fallaron, ¡pero lo más contado en nombre del Ben Ish Jai. Es la historia destacable es que la salvación de Moshé vino a de un hombre que tuvo un éxito increíble en causa del mismísimo decreto de matar a los todos sus emprendimientos comerciales. Este niños! Como resultado de ese decreto, Moshé hombre ganó tanto dinero que tuvo un gran fue puesto en el Nilo y salvado por la hija de temor al ayin hará (el mal de ojo) que se Paró. generaría por los celos de los demás. En El Stáipler nos enseña que, de aquí, podemos consecuencia, se esforzó para perder todo su aprender que si Di-s desea que un cierto evento dinero en emprendimientos comerciales ocurra, es imposible cambiar sus planes más desastrosos. Para su desilusión, sus esfuerzos allá de lo que hagamos (1). Puede que una terminaban siendo fructíferos, todos sus persona haga una gran hishtadlut (esfuerzo) en un emprendimientos tontos tuvieron éxito. Fue a un cierto emprendimiento , y que la haga bien, pero rabino para compartir su dilema. El rabino le dijo el Stáipler afirma que sólo tendrá éxito porque la que debía dejar de intentar perder su dinero, hashgajá (providencia) lo decreta. Si no porque si Di-s había decretado que fuera rico, estuviese destinada a lograrlo, entonces ningún no tendría forma de cambiarlo. Vemos de aquí esfuerzo cambiaría esa realidad. que tanto el éxito como el fracaso en el mundo físico están completamente más allá de nuestro Esta enseñanza fundamental tiene una gran control (2). relevancia para la crisis financiera que ha afectado seriamente al mundo en los últimos Sin embargo, hay una manera para cambiar el años. Muchas personas que invirtieron decreto de Rosh Hashaná. El Stáipler explica cantidades increíbles de tiempo y energía para que los esfuerzos en el ámbito espiritual ganarse la vida han quedado, de repente, en pueden cambiar el decreto. La Guemará nos una situación financiera muy precaria. ¿Cómo dice que la plegaria puede cambiar un decreto. debería una persona reaccionar ante este difícil También dice que el arrepentimiento puede

בס''ד hacer que aparezca un decreto positivo que fortuna a caridad (3). Le reportaron esta reduzca el daño del negativo. Por ejemplo, si se conclusión a Rav Jaim, quien no aceptó la decretó que caiga poca lluvia a causa de los conclusión. No pudo aceptar que, por esa pecados de una persona, su arrepentimiento transgresión, Rav Moshé fuera castigado con tal puede generar que caiga de manera propicia. dureza, por lo que el tema quedó irresuelto. De la misma forma, si se le decreta a una Mientras tanto, ahora que Rav Moshé no tenía persona recibir una cierta cantidad de dinero en un negocio que atender, fue al bet midrash (la base a su nivel espiritual de Rosh Hashaná, su casa de estudio) y se embarcó en un vigoroso arrepentimiento posterior podría hacer que el curso de estudio. Poco a poco, aparecieron dinero llegue de manera más provechosa y talentos ocultos hasta que quedó en claro que alcance para satisfacer sus necesidades. sobresalía en el estudio de Torá. Avanzó Mientras que crecer espiritualmente puede firmemente hasta que, en poco tiempo, era una ayudar a la situación financiera de la persona, de las personas más sabias de su ciudad, es importante recordar que el beneficio principal alcanzando eventualmente la posición de Av Bet del crecimiento es acercar a la persona a Di-s. Din (líder de la corte judía) de Kovno. También A menudo, una pérdida de dinero puede alentó a sus hijos a seguir sus pasos, quienes brindarle a la persona una oportunidad para aceptaron el desafío y se hicieron famosos enfocarse más en el ámbito espiritual. Por eruditos de Torá. Ahora, Rav Jaim entendió la ejemplo, si el negocio de una persona sufre al razón por la que Rav Moshé perdió su fortuna punto de necesitar menos trabajo, esta puede con tal rapidez. Por sus grandes actos de reaccionar de dos maneras: puede trabajar más caridad, mereció una recompensa inmensa: aún en un intento vano para detener la caída, o comenzar una dinastía de eruditos de Torá. Y, puede aceptar la disminución de su riqueza y como es difícil que la grandeza en Torá surja de utilizar la oportunidad para estudiar más Torá o un hogar rico, su riqueza le fue quitada, para estar más involucrado en otros objetivos liberarlo del envolvimiento con el mundo y espirituales, como la bondad. Un ejemplo permitirle estudiar Torá, preparando el camino sorprendente de este fenómeno es la historia para generaciones de eruditos sobresalientes del comienzo de la dinastía Soloveitchik, de (4). grandiosos eruditos de Torá. Es muy difícil cuando una persona experimenta En la época de Rav Jaim de Volozhin vivió Rav un decreto que le dificulta la vida, pero, sin Moshé Soloveitchik, un hombre rico y temeroso embargo, todo desafío es una oportunidad para de Di-s. Había heredado su riqueza de sus cambiar la dirección de nuestra vida. Una padres. Como poseía grandes bosques de pérdida de dinero puede causar que una árboles de madera dura, se dedicó a la industria persona se esfuerce más en sus actividades maderera, talando sus árboles y vendiendo la mundanas, aunque eso sería una pena. madera a cambio de grandes sumas de dinero. Aprendemos de los esfuerzos fútiles de Paró Debido a su ajetreada agenda laboral, no era para cambiar un decreto celestial, que ningún conocido como un erudito en Torá, pero era muy esfuerzo físico puede cambiar la providencia generoso con su gran riqueza, dando Divina. La única reacción fructífera es utilizar el generosamente a causas de caridad. Sin tiempo extra obtenido por la merma del trabajo embargo, llegó el día en que perdió todo su involucrándose más en espiritualidad. dinero, quedando sin un centavo. Todo el que lo conocía se preguntaba cómo un filántropo como Notas: 1) Birkat Péretz, Parashat Shemot. 2) Arush, BeGan él podía sufrir un destino tan terrible. Rav Jaim HaEmuná; p. 364. 3) Ketubot, 50a. 4) Meller, The Brisker Rav, p.1-3. En generaciones subsecuentes, algunos de los rabinos de Volozhin designó una corte especial para más grandes emergieron de esta dinastía, incluyendo al Beit tratar esta pregunta. Examinaron sus libros de HaLevi z"l, Rav Jaim Soloveitchik zt"l, y el Brisker Rav zt"l. contabilidad exhaustivamente, pero no encontraron ningún error. Incapaces de señalar Dar Sin Un Fin Ulterior una causa para su colapso económico, concluyeron que debió haber transgredido la “Di-s benefició a las parteras, y el pueblo se prohibición de dar más de un quinto de su incrementó y se fortaleció mucho. Y fue porque

בס''ד las parteras habían temido a Di-s que Él les hizo y, además, mostró gran preocupación por la casas" (1). oveja perdida de su rebaño. Fue por el mérito de Yojéved y Miriam arriesgaron sus vidas para esas acciones que Di-s le habló en la zarza salvar a los bebés judíos de ser asesinados por ardiente y lo convirtió en líder del pueblo judío. los egipcios. Por su acción, Di-s las recompensó Lo único que quería Moshé era liberar a su haciéndoles casas; Rashi explica que esto pueblo de la dura esclavitud en Egipto; su significa que ameritaron ser las madres de las recompensa fue tener el mérito de ser quien los familias de los cohanim (sacerdotes), los leviim sacara. y los reyes. Esta lección es importante en muchas áreas de Rav Moshé Feinstein pregunta que si su nuestras vidas, pero sobre todo en nuestras recompensa principal fueron esas casas, carreras. Muchas personas tienen la fortuna de entonces por qué el versículo interrumpe la que su trabajo involucra ayudar a otras descripción de su recompensa diciendo "y el personas. Sin embargo, es muy fácil terminar pueblo se incrementó y se fortaleció mucho"; si enfocándose principalmente en el dinero que las casas eran el beneficio directo, entonces reciben por proveer este servicio. éstas deberían haber ido inmediatamente a Una vez un dentista estaba tratando a Rav continuación y el versículo debería haber dicho: Abraham Pam. Rav Pam comentó cuánto “Di-s benefició a las parteras y les hizo casas”. ayudaba este dentista a las personas con su Rav Feinstein responde que la recompensa profesión, a lo que el dentista le respondió que principal de las parteras no fueron las casas, efectivamente era un hermoso beneficio sino que fue el incremento del pueblo judío, ya colateral de su trabajo, lo que implicaba que la que su verdadero deseo y fuente de regocijo no razón principal por la que lo hacía era para era nada más que la expansión de la población ganar su sustento. Rav Pam le dijo que el judía. Por lo tanto, después de declarar que Di- beneficio colateral era el dinero que ganaba, s las benefició, el versículo continúa con el pero que el objetivo principal debería ser ayudar resultante aumento de la población judía. Esa a las personas a tener dientes saludables. fue su recompensa principal; las casas eran Sabemos que la recompensa principal de simplemente un bono secundario por su gran Yojéved y Miriam será en el Mundo Venidero; temor a Di-s (2). ésta, será la consecuencia de sus intenciones Hay muchas razones distintas sobre por qué puras. Si una persona realiza un acto de bondad una persona hace un acto de bondad: puede con esa motivación, puede estar segura de que que esté consciente de que hacer actos de recibirá un gran beneficio en el Mundo Venidero. bondad es una mitzvá, puede que le deba un El Alter de Slobodka comentó una vez sobre el favor a alguien, etc. La explicación de Rav auto sacrificio de los panaderos (en ese tiempo, Moshé Feinstein nos enseña que el objetivo el panadero se levantaba muy temprano para principal cuando ayudamos a alguien (además proveer pan a su comunidad). Los panaderos de la intención de hacer una mitzvá) es que la hacían un gran acto de bondad al levantarse tan persona se beneficie con nuestra acción. A temprano para que el pueblo tuviera este bien Yojéved y Miriam no les importaba la tan vital. Sin embargo, comentó que si el recompensa que recibirían por salvar vidas panadero lo hacía sólo para ganarse el judías; simplemente querían que las vidas fueran sustento, entonces estaba perdiendo su fuente salvadas. Di-s las recompensó permitiendo que sus principal de recompensa en el Mundo Venidero. acciones fueran exitosas y que el pueblo judío Hacer actos de bondad es muy bueno y amerita creciera como resultado. una gran recompensa, pero no hay que perder el foco: ayudar a otros es lo más importante. Los Moshé, el hijo de Yojéved, heredó esta misma beneficios colaterales vendrán, pero mejorar la dedicación por los demás. Él vio el sufrimiento de su pueblo y arriesgó su vida para salvarlos. Persuadió al Faraón para que les diera un día de descanso para que pudieran respetar Shabat

בס''ד vida de otro judío es en sí misma una gran recompensa. Notas: (1) Shemot 1:20-21. (2) Darash Moshé, Parashat Shemot. Nahalot the University of Bonn. That education would serve him well later in life as he combated the forces of Nahala of Rav Dessler This Reform with eloquence. When he was 21, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of the Grand Duchy of Tuesday the 24th of Tebet Oldenburg. There, he married Chana Judel. He Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler (1892-1953). His also authored Iggros Hatzafon (The 19th Letters), father, Rav Reuven Dov Dessler, was a talmid under the pen name Ben Uziel. One year later, he muvhak of Rav Simcha Zissel of Kelm,and his published Chorev. In 1847, he became Chief mother was a grand-daughter of Rav Yisrael Rabbi of Moravia, a region of 50,000 Jews in 52 Salanter and a niece of Rav Chaim Ozer communities, and which is now the Czech Grodzinski. After learning at Kelm, he married a Republic. In 1851, he became the Rav of Frankfurt grand-daughter of Rav Simcha Zissel. During the am Main, which he transformed into a Torah Bolshevik revolution, he moved to London in 1927. bastion. His best known works are the classic six- In 1941, he founded the Gateshead Yeshiva and volume Commentary on Chumash. kollel. In 1948, he was asked by Rav Yosef Kahaneman to join the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnai Nahala of Rav Yitzchak Kaduri Brak. Many of his thoughts and discourses are th collected in Michtav M'Eliyahu. [25 Tevet, per Next Sunday the 29 of Tebet Yated 2007] Rav Yitzchak Kaduri (1901-2006). Born to to Rab Zeev Diva in Baghdad. Upon his second visit to of the Eretz Yisrael in 1923, he changed his last name Nahala Baal Hatanya This from Diva to Kadouri and fixed his place of study th Tuesday the 24 of Tebet at Yeshivat Porat Yosef in the Old City. He studied

Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1813), Baal Kabbalah under the tutelage of Rabbi Ephraim Hatanya. Became a talmid of the Magid of Cohen and Rabbi Salman Eliyahu (father of former Mezritch at the age of 30, studying with him for 12 Sephardic Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu). After years, and becoming the leader of Chasidus in marrying his first wife, Sarah, HaRav Kadouri lived Lithuania following the Magid’s petira in 1772. in Shechunat Habucharim, one of Jerusalem's first Following his incarceration in St. Petersburg, he neighborhoods built outside the Old City walls. He moved to Liadi. In addition to Tanya, he also would stay at the yeshiva all week, coming home authored the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. shortly before Shabbat. Following the petira of Rav Ephraim Hakohen, head of Jerusalem's mekubalim, toward the end of 1949, Rav Kadouri Nahala of Rav Shimshon Raphael was selected to head the group. He found a new Hirsch Friday the 27th of Tebet institution called Yeshivat Nachalat Yitzchak. Graced with a phenomenal memory, he was said Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Frankfurt am to have known the entire Babylonian Talmud by Main, Germany (1808-1888). His father, Rav heart. His closer students say that the blessing of Raphael Aryeh (1777-1857), who changed the the Ben Ish Chai and that of the Lubavitcher family name to Hirsch, was the son of Rav Rebbe - both of whom blessed him that he might Menachem Mendel Frankfurter of Altuna (1742- live to see the Final Redeemer - came true. The 1823). Rav Menachem Mendel was a talmid of students say that Rabbi Kaduri told them he met Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz and was the Rav of three the Messiah on Cheshvan 9, 5764 (Nov. 4, 2003). communities of Altuna, Hamburg, and Wandsbeck He reportedly said that the Messiah is not (“AHU”). At the age of 18, Rav Shamshon Raphael promoting himself, and that a study of his [Rabbi went to Mannheim to learn at the yeshiva of Rav Kaduri's] words in recent months would provide Yaakov Ettlinger, author of Aruch La’ner. Rav hints of his identity. Hirsch received smicha from Rav Ettlinger after learning there for a year. Thereafter, he attended