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Reb Chaim Volozhiner's Vision 11 march, 2001 Adar, 5761 SLOBODKA, BARANOWICZ AND LOS ANGELES BLEND IN YESHIVA oHR ELCHANAN, JERUSALEM As the sun of Torah set in Volozhin, it rose in Slobodka, Lithuania. The Slobodka Yeshiva became a bastion of Torah and musar. In the years between the two World Wars, some Yeshiva students, from Lithuania, made aliyah. Among their leaders was Rabbi Meir Chodosh who was a disciple of the "Alter" (elder) of Slobodka. Reb Meir was famous as a master in musar. He served as mashgiach in the Hevron Yeshiva and other Torah centers. In pre-Holocaust Poland, the light of Torah shone brightly in Baranowicz. There, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, z.t.l., h.y.d., raised thousands of talmidim in the spirit of Volozhin. The son of Reb Elchonon, Rabbi Simcha Wasserman, z.t.l., an accomplished and respected scholar, lived in Los Angeles for about 20 years. He established a Lithuanian style Yeshiva in Los Angeles where none existed before. There is much more to tell about Reb Simcha. Following the example of the Prophet Shmuel, he traveled the entire West Coast of America spreading the word of authentic Judaism, even at Wandenberg Air Force Base in California. In visiting small communities where Yiddishkeit was almost non-existent, he would gather groups of Jews and begin teaching authentic Torah, something completely new to them. Being a wise man and keen observer of people, he did not start with observance of mitzvoth. Rather, he selected the "non-threatening" chapter of Lech L'cha. The only request he made was that all attendees should recite Birchath HaTorah before learning. After several years of such inspiring encounters with this great man, his students began asking how to make their kitchens kosher, etc. Thus Reb Simcha succeeded in raising a generation of ba'alei teshuva. This.

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Chassidus on the Chassidus on the Parsha +
LIGHTS OF OUR RIGHTEOUS TZADDIKIM בעזרת ה ' יתבר A Tzaddik, or righteous person , makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach (Bereishis 7:1) BO _ CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA + Dvar Torah As the Jewish people were preparing to leave Egypt, Moshe pointed out to them, “This day you are leaving in the month of springtime ( aviv ).” His intention was to show them the kindness of Hashem in that He chose for them a time of temperate weather to set out on their journey. These words, Rav Levi Yitzchok comments, also have a deeper meaning. The Zohar explains that the different ways words are arranged according to the aleph -bais symbolize the different aspects of divine providence. A series of words sometimes appears in alphabetical order, the first starting with an aleph , the second with a bais , and so forth. This arrangement symbolizes divine mercy. Sometimes, a series will appear in reverse alphabetical order, called tashrak , the first starting with a tav , the second with a shin , and so forth. This symbolizes strict justice. There is a dispute in the Gemora (Rosh HaShana 10b) regarding when the future Redemption will take place. One opinion is that it will take place in Nissan . The other is that it will take place in Tishrei . According to the Zohar , we can say that the question is whether the Jewish people will be redeemed because they will have earned it or whether the Redemption will be une arned, an act of divine mercy.
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Sponsored by Shmuli Abraham and Family, Raisie Goldberg
Reah 5776 Volume 15, Issue 46 P A R S H A I N S I G H T S the resurrection of the death if the Torah will never be changed? Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt’l answered that when Hashem You are the children of Hashem, your G-d… (14, 1) gave the Torah, He stipulated that these obligations will only apply until the revival of the dead. Since the obligation to “Bnai Yisroel are My slaves” (Behar 25, 55). Are they My perform mitzvos was only given for a certain amount of time, children or My slaves? When Bnai Yisroel are doing the Will of the Torah after the resurrection of the dead is not being changed. Hashem, they are His children. However, when they are not doing the Will of Hashem, they are His slaves. (Bava Basra 10a) In answering the contradiction in another manner, Rav Elchonon proposed the following hypothesis. Chazal say that a dead Slavery implies that one is subordinate to his master. Non- person is not obligated to perform mitzvos (Shabbos 30a). performance of the Will of Hashem is a sign of insubordination. Simply, this only applies to one who is currently dead. If so, why are they called His slaves? Therefore, after being resurrected, one would be obligated to The Toldos Adam explains that the fulfillment of doing the perform mitzvos. “Will of Hashem” is not dependent on the performance of However, it can be said that it is an exemption to anyone who mitzvas alone. One can perform mitzvas and still not be doing has undergone the process of death.
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Are We There Yet?
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A Time to Be Humble
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Congregation Ohr Torah
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KAJ NEWSLETTER a Monthly Publication of K’Hal Adath Jeshurun Volume 47 Number 6
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Introduction
Rav Gifter zt”l 1 Introduction When Rav Tzvi Markowitz zt”l, the chief rabbi of Ramat Gan was asked why he doesn’t tell stories of his great Rebbe, Rav Shimon Shkop, he would say, “generally people who tell stories about their rebbe are usually telling stories about themselves, I don’t like talking about myself.” Writing about our Rebbe Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l, after 20 years, is an expression of how the void created by his passing is still evident. Hardly a day goes by without the feeling that his wisdom and guidance are sorely lacking. The years spent in his presence created the perimeters in which future growth were possible, always building on those foundations and returning to those lessons. It is my hope that this short compilation will arouse an interest in the hadracha of the Rosh Yeshiva that is available in his seforim and hundreds of tapes. Throughout his legacy he touches on a myriad of topics and issues that are as vital now as they were when the Rosh Yeshiva first addressed them. In a Hesped that the Rosh Yeshiva delivered on the yarzheit of the Alter Telzer Rov he stated1, “Although I did not know the Rosh Yeshiva personally, my knowledge of him is from his Torah. But this is the true way to recognize a person. Just as our recognition of Hashem is only through His Torah.” The same can be said of the Rosh Yeshiva, even though he lived amongst us, he was not of our dimension. As “talmidim” we can gain a 1 Printed in Moriah 131 page 99 2 Rav Gifter zt’l glimpse of his stature from his writing.
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Fi N E Ju D a I
F i n e Ju d a i C a . he b r e w pr i n t e d bo o K s , ma n u s C r i p t s , Gr a p h i C & Ce r e m o n i a l ar t K e s t e n b a u m & Co m p a n y th u r s d a y , ap r i l 2n d , 2009 K ESTENBAUM & COMPANY . Auctioneers of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Fine Art A Lot 38 Catalogue of F INE JUDAICA . PRINTED BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AUTOGRAPH LETTERS, CEREMONIAL & GRAPHIC ART Including: The Prague Hagadah, 1526 An Extraordinarily Fine Copy of Abraham ibn Ezra’s Commentary to the Torah, Naples, 1488 An Autograph Manuscript Signed by R. Yonassan Eybescheutz Governor Worthington’s Speech on the Maryland Test Act, Baltimore, 1824 Photographic Archive by Issacher Ber Ryback Selections from the Rare Book-Room of a College Library (Final Part) (Short-Title Index in Hebrew available upon request) ——— To be Offered for Sale by Auction, Thursday, 2nd April, 2009 at 3:00 pm precisely ——— Viewing Beforehand on: Sunday, 29th March - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday, 30th March - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Tuesday, 31st March - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Wednesday, 1st April - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Thursday, 2nd April - 10:00 am - 2:30 pm Gallery-Talk with the Auction Expert: Tuesday, 31st March at 6:00 pm This Sale may be referred to as: “Merari” Sale Number Forty-Three Illustrated Catalogues: $35 (US) * $42 (Overseas) KESTENBAUM & COMPANY Auctioneers of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Fine Art .
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Parshah Insights Table Talk לעילוי
KI SEITZEI 5776 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 48 PARSHAH INSIGHTS friend, therefore a person’s pride exempts him from this command. However, kilayim is a prohibition between man and Hashem, which doesn’t allow for a person’s self-importance to If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son… (21, play a role. (Berochos 19b) 18) When a finder of a lost object returns it to another person it is There never was, nor will there ever be a wayward and understandable that it is a mitzva between a person and his friend. rebellious son that will fit all the Torah’s requirements for him However, isn’t the command the Will of Hashem? So why isn’t to be sentenced to death. If so, why did the Torah write this it considered a mitzva between man and Hashem? scenario? It was written in order that it will be studied, with Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt’l answers that every mitzva people receiving a reward when studying it. (Sanhedrin 71a) between a person and his friend also has a component of between Chazal are saying that upon studying these halochos one will man and Hashem in it. However, Rav Elchonon questions if they receive a reward. Don’t all laws bring reward to those who study are dependent on each other or independent of each other. them? The difference would apply in a case where a person would be Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt’l explains that Chazal do not exempt from his obligation to his fellow man. Is it still the Will mean to say that people will receive a special reward for studying of Hashem that he perform that mitzva? this section of the Torah more than studying any other.
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Dr. Leo Deutschlander
Chaim Shapiro At a fund-raising dinner in America on behalf of his Yeshiva in Baranovitch, Reb Elchonon Wasserman 7"Yr made a request: the Rabbi of the host synagogue not make the appeal, for he might not encourage too great of a response for a cause other than his own institution. The re quest was not fulfilled and the Rabbi did make the appeal. Dr. Leo "Give a dollar or two - whatever you can," pleaded the Rabbi, and indeed not much more came in. The Rabbi later apologized to Reb Elchonon for not set ting a higher ceiling for contributions. Reb Elchonon Deutschlander replied, "So you are not Beza/el. How can I have mis givings?" He then explained: when commanded to build the Mishkon (portable sanctuary in the wilderness) Moshe Rabbeinu was told that "Beza/el" would be in charge. Moshe began his search and stopped whomever he met, "Is your name Beza/el?" and the Jew would reply, "No, my name is Chaim" - or, "Sorry, I'm Gamliel." "Could Moshe have had complaints against them for not being Beza/el?" asked Reb Elchonon. "Of course not! Not everyone has the ability or the z'chus to be a Beza/el. You, sir, are just not a Beza/el." When Sara Schenirer launched the Bais Yaakov movement, she was totally on her own. At the start there were no fellow Bezalels to assist her. Then they emerged one at a time - first, ·Reb Gershon Eliezer Friedenson, a most effective molder of opinion, who disseminated the idea on a broad, organized scale.
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Pesachim 025.Pub
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In-Depth Focus on Greatness
Moreinu Horav Shlomo Heiman zt”l 5652/1892 – 5705/1945 With Torah Vodaath from 1935-1945 Rav Shlomo Heiman zt”l was born in Poritz, a town in the district of Minsk, Belarus, during the late 1870’s, to his father, Rav Michel. Little is known about his youth, but at a young age, he was amongst the elite talmidim to join the Yeshiva of Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz zt”l in Halusk. Rav Shlomo was chosen by Rav Baruch Ber to help review the shiur before it was delivered to the other talmidim. In a letter written to Rav Shlomo after he left to America, Rav Baruch Ber writes, “All the birth pangs that my mother suffered during my birth were worthwhile in order that I should be able to establish a talmid of your caliber.” During the First World War, Rav Shlomo married Rebbetzin Chaya Feiga Rudensky. Immediately after his marriage, he served as a Magid Shiur in Kremenchug, but was forced to flee due to the raging battles in the area. When he arrived in Smilowitz, he acquiesced to the request of the Chafetz Chaim that he teach a group of talmidim stationed there. In 1923, he was invited by Rav Elchonon Wasserman to say shiurim in Baranowitz. In the summer of 1927, Rav Chaim Ozer Grozensky, the Rav of Vilna, appointed him Rosh Yeshiva of the famed Rameilis Yeshiva in Vilna. During Rav Shlomo’s tenure in Vilna, he developed a close relationship with the Rav. In 1935, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz asked Rav Chaim Ozer to send a great European Rosh Yeshiva to stand at the helm of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.
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