A Taste of Torah

Miketz-Shabbos Chanukah 5775 December 19, 2014 A Taste of Torah Stories For The Soul Hair Raising Miraculous Victory By Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher It was June 1967, and Yisrael, a cab While facial hair has come into receives from and is influenced by, driver, was part of the paratroop unit vogue lately, its roots in the Torah others; as he matures, he becomes assigned with conquering the Straits of run quite deep. But what is the Jewish capable of giving and influencing Tiran. The Israeli soldiers didn’t have to value of a beard? What is it about others. This change of modes is parachute out of the airplanes that took facial hair that makes it such a focus signified by the appearance of facial them to the Tiran Straits. No, they were in Judaism? hair. able to land in the airport, because the When the brothers come down to Yosef had dreamed that he would Egyptian regiment which was on guard Egypt to purchase food and they stand rule over his brothers; in other words, there fled before the Israeli planes were before their brother Yosef, they are he would become a mashpia. The visible on the horizon. completely clueless as to his identity. brothers strongly disagreed, so much After landing, Yisrael was sent with All they know is that they are being so that they felt Yosef had the status another reserves soldier, an electrician, harassed by the viceroy of Egypt. But of a rodef, someone pursuing another to patrol the area. Suddenly, an Egyptian why didn’t they recognize their long- to kill him, as they believed he wanted half-track appeared, filled with soldiers lost brother? Our Sages tell us that them to be spiritually removed from and mounted with machine guns on every when they had last seen Yosef, he had the Jewish People, as had occurred to side. The two men had only light weapons, nothing sufficient to combat the half-track. not yet grown a beard; now, however, Eisav due to his spiritual shortcomings. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, he had one. Thus, they failed to When Yosef was sold, he was a mekabel, they stood, waiting for the first shot; for discern his true identity. studying and learning from his father; lack of a better idea, they aimed their guns But it’s still odd; after all, the he thus had no beard. at them. brothers had lived together with As viceroy of Egypt, having become The half-track stopped, and the two Yosef for seventeen years. It shouldn’t the sole distributor of food to the soldiers carefully approached it. Inside have been that difficult to see past lands of Egypt and Canaan, he was were eighteen armed soldiers, guns in the whiskers to determine that their now a mashpia par excellence. But hand, a petrified look on their faces. They tormentor was their brother - especially the brothers felt that Yosef’s role looked at the two Jewish soldiers with great when you take into account that this wasn’t that of a mashpia; that was why fear as though begging for mercy. Yisrael viceroy mysteriously knew an awful they had sold him in the first place! shouted, “Hands up!” lot about the brothers, (although he So Yosef, now with facial hair that As they marched the Egyptian prisoners away, Yisrael asked the Egyptian sergeant, did attribute that knowledge to his displayed his status as a mashpia, was “Tell me, why didn’t you shoot at us?” He divination skills). Rabbi Yissochor unrecognizable, in a spiritual sense, to answered, “I don’t know! My arms froze – Rothschild explains that there is his brothers. they became paralyzed. My whole body was more going on here than meets the In our lives, we have opportunities paralyzed, and I don’t know why.” eye. A person, he explains, can either to both receive and be influenced by Chanukah does not celebrate military be a mashpia, one who influences or others, as well as to influence and might or the personal prowess of human bestows upon others, or a mekabel, bestow upon others. It is vital that one warriors and heroes. It celebrates the Hand one who is influenced by, or receives have clarity as to when to be a mashpia of G-d that victory against the mighty a from, others. A beard, explains Rabbi and when to be a mekabel. Using the ragtag group of Jewish men victory against Rothschild, is an expression of being wrong mode in the wrong situation the mighty Assyrian-Greek army. In our a mashpia; a beard comes from within can bring disastrous results. day, as well, we must recognize that success is not due to our efforts, but to Divine and pushes outward. A young boy Intervention on our behalf. Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ By: Rabbi Yaakov Zions FAMILY FUN AT JEWISH FAMILY EXTRAVAGANZA ON DEC. 25TH Last week we asked: Join the Kollel for family fun at the Q: The prayer of aleinu is recited at the follows mussaf without much of a break. annual Jewish Children’s Extravaganza conclusion of every prayer, with the Similarly, it is not recited following on Thursday, Dec. 25th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held at exception of shacharis when followed mincha, as ne’ilah follows with minimal South Suburban Family Sports Center, by mussaf, as mussaf is regarded as time in between. 6901 S. Peoria. Cost: $13; discounted the conclusion of the prayers. The group rates are available before 12/21. Mishna Berurah (132:7) notes that This week’s question: The haftarah Admission includes unlimited rides. some congregations have the custom of Shabbos and Yom Tov is generally Visit www.mazeltot.org to find out to omit aleinu following mincha when related to the topic of the Torah portion how children 5 and under can join join at a discounted rate until 12/24. it is followed immediately by maariv. being read that week, with the notable For general information, call 303-820- Can you name other times that aleinu is exception of the weeks from the 17th 2855 or email [email protected]. omitted for the same reason? of Tammuz through Sukkos, when the haftarah is related to the season. What LEGAL HOLIDAY LEARNING A:Following mussaf on Yom Kippur, other exceptions can you think of? ON DECEMBER 25TH aleinu is not recited, since mincha Start your day off on the right foot with Torah study! The Kollel is offering learning at three locations: at the Kollel West Side Bais Medrash and at the Ask the Rabbi Southeast Kollel Torah Center, shacharis at 8 am followed Dove, Symbol of Peace by breakfast and learning at Barry Pogrund from Cape Town, South approximatelyww 9, and at EDOS, Africa wrote: shacharis at 7:30 am followed by breakfast and learning at Dear Rabbi, approximately 8:30. The topic will be Think Fast: The Origins We often talk about the dove and the towards heaven. The Ramban explains of the Fast Days and Their Laws. olive branch as symbols of peace. Is there that the “upside-down bow” symbolizes For more information or any Talmudic source for such a notion, that G-d will no longer “shoot arrows” at sponsorship opportunities, please and if not, from where do we arrive at the the earth in the form of a flood, just as a contact [email protected] or contention that the dove and the olive warrior turns his bow towards himself as a call 303-820-2855. branch are symbols of peace? Many thanks gesture of peace. for your wonderful and elucidating series. WOMEN’S WELLNESS WORKSHOP WITH NOTED In this sense, the dove returning to SPEAKER AND EDUCATOR Dear Barry Pogrund, the ark could be seen as peace symbols, MRS. DEBBIE SELENGUT There’s no reference in the Talmud indicating that the “war” between G-d and Don’t miss the Kollel’s 3rd Annual identifying the dove or olive branch as Man had ended. Women’s Wellness Workshop at symbols of peace. Cableland, 4150 Shangri-La Drive (at By the way, the “olive branch” is a Leetsdale Dr. and Cedar Ave.), on January However, Noah’s flood is compared to misconception. The dove returned to 13th at 5:00 pm. Discover how to achieve a “war” between G-d and Mankind. This Noah with an olive leaf in its mouth, not optimum health in mind, body and soul. idea is seen in the symbol of the rainbow. a branch. As always, there will be great food and camaraderie. Cost is $54; reserve by After the flood, G-d showed Noah a Jan. 9th and receive a free copy of Dr. rainbow as a sign that there would never Sources: David Lieberman’s book Seek Peace again be a world-wide flood. The rainbow -Ramban, Genesis 9:12 and Pursue It. To reserve, email info@ looks like an archer’s bow pointing up denverkollel.org or call 303-820-2855. The Torah Weekly is made possible through a generous grant from the Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, NJ, in memory of Harry H. Beren, z”l. Denver Community Kollel: 1516 Xavier Street, Denver, CO 80204 Tel: 303-820-2855 Fax: 303-820-2806 Email: [email protected] Web: www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, send an email to [email protected].

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