DOCSLIB.ORG

Kedushas Levi, Noach Bereishis 7:1)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Kedushas Levi, Noach Bereishis 7:1) Issue (# 12) A Tzaddik, or righteous person makes everyone else appear righteous before G-d by advocating for them and finding their merits. (Kedushas Levi, Noach Bereishis 7:1) Parshas Shemos Kedushas Ha'Levi'im AND A TZADDIK BY ANY OTHER NAME… And Yosef was in Egypt. (Shemos 1:5) The Berditchever in Kedushas Levi examines why the verse says “in Egypt.” It needed only to have said, “And Yosef was there” [since it is obvious that the verse is referring to Mitzrayim]. The Kedushas Levi says the verse means: “And Yosef was in Egypt” [with the emphasis on the name Yosef], indicating that he did not change his name [even in Mitzrayim — a land of licentiousness and great spiritual danger]. Although Pharaoh called him Tzafnas Paneach, he only called himself by the name Yosef. Even Pharaoh himself still used his Hebrew name, as when he said, “Go to Yosef and do what he tells you” (Bereishis 41:55). This, that Klal Yisrael did not change their names, is one of the three reasons they were redeemed. And this is why it says, “And Yosef was in Egypt” [that even in Egypt, he kept the name his father had given him]. The Power of the Tzaddik’s Name Sometimes the holy Berditchever would write kameyos, amulets, to help heal the sick. Once, someone opened one of the amulets. To his surprise, he saw that it didn’t contain any secrets nor any divine or angelic names. All that the Tzaddik had written on the amulet was his own name and the following statement: “I, Levi Yitzchak ben Sarah Sasha, hereby decree that this sickness depart!” Rav Shalom Guttman of Yas, himself a descendant of the Berditchever, wrote that his [1] grandfather Rav Pinchas had an amulet that Rav Levi Yitzchak had written, and sometimes he would lend it out to a person who was ill. The patient would hold onto the kameya, and inevitably he would recover and regain his health. Shemos/What’s in a Name? The Cornerstone, the Star, and the Merciful One The Berditchever’s family name, Derbarmidiger (which means “merciful one” in Yiddish), was truly fitting. Rav Levi Yitzchak was particularly known for showing mercy toward every individual, no matter what calamities befell them. Rav Klonymus Kalmish of Piaseczna once told the following story during one melaveh malkah meal: Once, the Chozeh of Lublin was sitting with the Koznitzer Maggid and Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev when government officials came to the house. This was during the time when the Russian government ordered that its agents should go around and record the family names of the Jews. The officials had come to record their family names. The Koznitzer Maggid quoted the verse “Even ma’asu habonim hayesah l’rosh pinah — The stone that the builders rejected became a cornerstone” (Tehillim 118:22). In Yiddish a cornerstone is a hofstein, and so his family name was established and recorded as Hofstein. The Seer, the Rav of Lublin, said “My name is Yaakov Yitzchak, and the verse says about Yaakov, ‘Darach kochav miYaakov — A star has gone forth from Yaakov’ (Bamidbar 24:17). A star is a shtern in Yiddish. And the Torah relates about Yitzchak, ‘Vayeitzei Yitzchak lasuach basadeh — Yitzchak went out to pray in the field’ (Bereishis 24:63). A field is a feld in Yiddish. So my name shall be Shternfeld.” The Rav of Berditchev said, “Our Sages teach in Shabbos 133b that we must attach ourselves to the attributes of Hashem. Just as He is merciful, so too shall you be merciful. ‘Merciful one’ is derbarmidiger in Yiddish, so my name shall be Derbarmidiger.” And so it was. Refuah Sheleima Besoch She'ar Cholei Yisroel ~ זיסל בת אידל סומא | Zisel Bas Aidel Sima ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ לעילוי נשמת הרה''ח ר' אברהם חיים ב''ר שלום ז''ל ▪ נפטר מוצש''ק כ''א שבט תשס''ו ▪ ת. נ. צ. ב. ה. To subscribe and/or add to the Refuah Sheleima list– Please email: [email protected] [2] 18 Teves Rav Huna bar Mar Zutra, Reish Galusa killed al kiddush Hashem (470). Rav Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov (1783-1841), born to Reb Pesach and his wife, the niece of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. A talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin, Tzvi Elimelech was told by the Chozeh that he was from Shevet Yissascher, which explained the talmid’s special feelings towards Chanukkah, as it is known that the Sanhedrin of the Chashmonaim had many members from Shevet Yissascher. This is the source of the name of his sefer, Bnei Yissascher [Hamodia 2005 says 1850]. Rav Moshe of Korestchov (1866). Born to the Chernobyler Maggid, Rav Mordechai, Rav Moshe was the grandson of the Meor Einayim of Chernobyl on his father’s side and Rav Aharon HaGadol of Karlin on his mother’s side. His brother was Rav Yochanan of Rachmistrivka. A few years after his father’s petira, he abided to the urging of the Chassidim and set up his court in Korestchov. He was succeeded by his son, Rav Mordechai. Rav Chaim Shmuel Horowitz of Chentchin (1915). Rav Moshe Chalfon of Djerba, Tunisia, author of Shoel Venishal and Bris Kehuna (1874- 1950). Rav Mendel Geffner, initiator of mass Chol Hamoed Birchas Kohanim. Moshe Heller of Yerushalayim; only son of Rav Refoel Tzvi Mechel Heller (2002). Rav Aryeh Leibish Halberstam, the Zhmigrader Rebbe (1912-2007). Two of his sons succeeded him – the Sanz-Zhmigrader Rebbe of Boro Park and the Sanz-Zhmigrader Rebbe of Europe. 19 Teves Rav Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller, author of Ketzos Hachoshen, Avnei Miluim, and Shev Shmaatsa (1813). Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, the Kesav Sofer (1815-1872). Born and died in Pressburg, Hungary, oldest son of the Chasam Sofer and grandson of Rav Akiva Eiger via his mother, Rebetzen Sorel. After his father’s death in 1839, the Ksav Sofer succeeded him as Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in Pressburg, at the unusually young age of 24. He served Pressburg for 33 years, the exact number of years his father had served before him. Rav Menachem Mendel Zaks, son-in-law of the Chafetz Chaim. 20 Teves Rabbeinu Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam (1135-1204). Born at Cordova, Spain, the Rambam received his rabbinical instruction at the hands of his father, Maimon. Moshe was only thirteen years old when Cordova fell into the hands of the fanatical Almohades, and Rav Maimon and the other Jews were compelled to choose between Islam and exile. Rav Maimon and his family chose the latter course, and for twelve years led a nomadic life, wandering throughout Spain. In 1160 they settled at Fez, Morocco. In 1165 they went to Acre, to Jerusalem, and then to Fostat (Cairo), where they settled. After the death of Maimon, Moses' brother Dovid supported the family by trading in precious stones. Dovid perished at sea, and with him was lost not only his own fortune, but large sums that had been entrusted to him by other traders. These events affected Maimonides' health, and he went through a long sickness. After several years of practice, the Rambam’s authority in medical matters was firmly established, and he was appointed private physician to Saladin's vizier, who recommended him to the royal [3] family. In his commentary on the Mishnah (Sanhedrin, chapter 10), Maimonides formulates his "13 principles of faith". They summarized what he viewed as the required beliefs of Judaism: 1. The existence of Hashem. 2. Hashem's unity and indivisibility into elements. 3. Hashem's spirituality and incorporeality. 4. Hashem's eternity. 5. Hashem alone should be the object of worship. 6. Revelation through Hashem's prophets. 7. The preeminence of Moshe among the prophets. 8. The Torah that we have today is the one dictated to Moshe by Hashem. 9. The Torah given by Moshe will not be replaced and that nothing may be added or removed from it. 10. Hashem's awareness of human actions. 11. Reward of good and punishment of evil. 12. The coming of the Jewish Moshiach. 13. The resurrection of the dead. Rambam compiled the principles from various Talmudic sources. These principles were controversial when first proposed, evoking criticism by Rabbi Hasdai Crescas and Rabbi Joseph Albo, and were effectively ignored by much of the Jewish community for the next few centuries. However, these principles have become widely held; today, Orthodox Judaism holds these beliefs to be obligatory. Two poetic restatements of these principles (Ani Ma'amin and Yigdal) eventually became canonized in the "Siddur" (Jewish prayer book). Between the years 1158 and 1190 Maimonides produced a commentary on the Mishnah, the Mishneh Torah, and the philosophical work "Moreh Nevuchim.” Rav Yaakov Abuchatzera (1880), grandson of the founder of the Abuchatzera family, Rav Shmuel (Elbaz), and son of Rav Masoud, who was Rav of Tafelaletch (Tafilalt), Morocco. He took his father’s position upon the latter’s petira and built the yeshiva there, which produced thousands of students. He wrote many sefarim on all aspects of Torah, including Abir Yaakov. His grandson is Rav Yisrael, the Baba Sali, and his great-grandson is Rav Meir Abuchatzeira. In 1880, he attempted to move to Eretz Yisrael, but was nifter in Damanhur, Egypt, where he is buried. Rav Simcha Yissacher Dov of Chechenov (1914). Rav Yisrael Reich of Budapest (1933). Rav Raphael Eliyahu Eliezer Mishkovski (1917-1981). Rav of the town of Rechasim and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu in Kfar Chassidim, both in northern Israel). Author of Mishnas Eliyahu. Rav Elimelech (Meilich) Izak (1943-2006). He was named after his mother’s ancestor, the Noam Elimelech. He was born in Yerushalayaim, learned at the Chayei Olam yeshiva, and became a leading chassid of Karin-Stolin.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fall 2017/5778 H Illel Vol
    A publication of Katz Hillel Day School T of Boca Raton Fall 2017/5778 H illel Vol. XI ~ Issue No. 1 E erald 561-470-5000 ~ www.hilleldayschool.org H Middle School.................................. 2 Early Childhood - Grade 3................ 3 Grades 4-5/Judaic Studies Grades 1-8... 4 The Lions’ Den................................... 5 KHDS Happenings.........................6-11 Campaign Matter$..........................12 PTA Pages................................. 13-15 Business Office............................... 16 Above Left: Joshua Haik’s winning art design for the 5778 Rosh Hashanah card. Below: Gov. Rick Scott visits our school (see pg. 7 for the full story). Rabbi Adam Englander, M.S. Ed. Head of School Dear KHDS Family, expert in the field, that will enhance and graders but will expand to younger build upon what they are doing in English grades as well later in the year. I hope you all had a class. great start to the New • Social Skills/Middot - We are I look forward to sharing more about Year filled with health, experimenting with an enhanced these initiatives and many others as happiness and blessing. program for our 5th grade that may the year progresses. Thank you for Baruch Hashem, it has extend to other areas of the school. partnering with us in the holy work of been a terrific start of • New Tanach initiative - Two of our educating our precious children! the new school year Judaic teachers spent 2 weeks in Israel here at the Katz Hillel Day School! We this summer as part of an advanced began the year with a record-breaking professional development program for 116 new students; far more than we have Judaic studies teachers.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N
    FIFTY CENTS VOL. 2 No. 3 DECEMBER 1964 I TEVES 5725 THE "American Orthodoxy" Yesterday and Today • The Orthodox Jew and The Negro Revolution •• ' The Professor' and Bar Ilan • Second Looks at The Jewish Scene THE JEWISH QBSERVER contents articles "AMERICAN ORTHODOXY" I YESTERDAY AND TODAY, Yaakov Jacobs 3 A CENTRAL ORTHODOX AGENCY, A Position Paper .................... 9 HARAV CHAIM MORDECAI KATZ, An Appreciation ........................ 11 THE JEWISH OBSERVER is published monthly, except July and August, ASPIRATION FOR TORAH, Harav Chaim Mordecai Katz 12 by the Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y. THE ORTHODOX JEW AND THE NEGRO REVOLUTION, Subscription: $5.00 per year; single copy: 50¢. Printed in the Marvin Schick 15 U.S.A. THE PROFESSOR AND BAR JI.AN, Meyer Levi .................................... 18 Editorial Board DR. ERNST L. BODENHFJMER Chairman RABBI NATHAN BULMAN RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS JOSEPH FRIEDENSON features RABBI MORRIS SHERER Art Editor BOOK REVIEW ................................................. 20 BERNARD MERI.ING Advertising Manager RABBI SYSHE HESCHEL SECOND LOOKS AT THE JEWISH SCENE ................................................... 22 Managing Editor RABBI Y AAKOV JACOBS THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product or service the cover advertised in its pages. HARAV CHAIM MORDECAI KATZ dedicating the new dormitory of the Telshe DEC. 1964 VOL. II, No. 3 Yeshiva, and eulogizing the two young students who perished in the fire ~'@> which destroyed the old structure. (See AN APPRECIATION on page 11, and ASPIRATION FOR TORAH on page 12.) OrthudoxJudaism in ih~ Uniied States in our ··rei~oval oi the women's gallery; or th;c~nfirma~· · .
    [Show full text]
  • The Rebbe and the Yak
    Hillel Halkin on King James: The Harold Bloom Version JEWISH REVIEW Volume 2, Number 3 Fall 2011 $6.95 OF BOOKS Alan Mintz The Rebbe and the Yak Ruth R. Wisse Yehudah Mirsky Adam Kirsch Moshe Halbertal The Faith of Reds On Law & Forgiveness Yehuda Amital Elli Fischer & Shai Secunda Footnote: the Movie! Ruth Gavison The Nation of Israel? Philip Getz Birthright & Diaspora PLUS Did Billie Holiday Sing Yo's Blues? Sermons & Anti-Sermons & MORE Editor Abraham Socher Publisher Eric Cohen The history of America — Senior Contributing Editor one fear, one monster, Allan Arkush Editorial Board at a time Robert Alter Shlomo Avineri “An unexpected guilty pleasure! Poole invites us Leora Batnitzky into an important and enlightening, if disturbing, Ruth Gavison conversation about the very real monsters that Moshe Halbertal inhabit the dark spaces of America’s past.” Hillel Halkin – J. Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion Jon D. Levenson Anita Shapira “A well informed, thoughtful, and indeed frightening Michael Walzer angle of vision to a compelling American desire to J. H.H. Weiler be entertained by the grotesque and the horrific.” Leon Wieseltier – Gary Laderman, Emory University Ruth R. Wisse Available in October at fine booksellers everywhere. Steven J. Zipperstein Assistant Editor Philip Getz Art Director Betsy Klarfeld Business Manager baylor university press Lori Dorr baylorpress.com Interns Kif Leswing Arielle Orenstein The Jewish Review of Books (Print ISSN 2153-1978, An eloquent intellectual Online ISSN 2153-1994) is a quarterly publication of ideas and criticism published in Spring, history of the human Summer, Fall, and Winter, by Bee.Ideas, LLC., 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10151.
    [Show full text]
  • When Unity Reigned: Yom Ha-Azma’Ut 1954
    51 When Unity Reigned: Yom ha-Azma’ut 1954 By: ELAZAR MUSKIN A number of years ago while I rummaged through a box of old pa- pers and memorabilia that belonged to my late father, Rabbi Jacob Muskin z”l, of Cleveland, Ohio, a stained yellow mimeographed paper fell on my lap. As I picked it up, I began to realize that I was holding an historic document. The paper was folded in half and on the front cover it read, “Sixth Anniversary Celebration Israel Independence Day, Sunday May 9, 1954, Iyar 6, 5714.” The front cover also indicated the loca- tion of the celebration, The Taylor Road Synagogue Auditorium in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and noted that the event was sponsored by an organization called “The Orthodox Jewish Association of Cleveland.”1 1 In my letter to Rabbi Shubert Spero dated 2 July, 1997 I asked him a number of questions including: What was this sponsoring organization “The Orthodox Jewish Association”? How long did it exist? Who was Dr. David Magid, its President? In his letter dated 19 August, 1997 Rabbi Spero responded: “Shortly after my arrival in Cleveland I was called to a meeting with Rabbis E.M. Bloch and C.M. Katz z”l (who were very close to my late uncles, H.I. and B.E. Spero z”l, who were instrumental in bringing the Yeshiva to Cleveland) who told me that the Roshei Yeshiva did not wish to isolate themselves from the ‘city’ but rather saw themselves as a part of the general commu- nity and, given the sad state of Orthodoxy, felt a religious obligation to work for the ideals of Torah.
    [Show full text]
  • Rav Soloveitchik on the Jewish Family
    MORE CHOICES F A L L 5 7 7 9 / 2 0 1 8 - 1 9 CONTENTS HOW TO REGISTER .................................................................................................................................... 2 EMUNAH: • Section I: Modern Jewish Thought .............................................................................. 4 • Section II: Classical Jewish Thought ............................................................................. 7 • Section III: Personal Growth ...................................................................................... 11 HISTORY AND SOCIETY ............................................................................................................................ 21 SHANA BET LEADERSHIP PROGRAM .......................................................................................................... 24 TANACH: • Section I: Topics in Tanach ......................................................................................... 25 • Section II: Parshat Ha-Shavu’a ................................................................................... 29 • Section III: Chumash ................................................................................................... 35 • Section IV: Sefarim in Nach ........................................................................................ 37 HALACHAH: • Section I: Contemporary Halachah ............................................................................ 41 • Section II: Classic Topics in Halachah ........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Knessia Gedolah Diary
    THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN 0021-6615) is published monthly, in this issue ... except July and August, by the Agudath lsrael of Ameri.ca, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. The Sixth Knessia Gedolah of Agudath Israel . 3 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription Knessia Gedolah Diary . 5 $9.00 per year; two years, $17.50, Rabbi Elazar Shach K"ti•?111: The Essence of Kial Yisroel 13 three years, $25.00; outside of the United States, $10.00 per year Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky K"ti•?111: Blessings of "Shalom" 16 Single copy, $1.25 Printed in the U.S.A. What is an Agudist . 17 Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman K"ti•?111: RABBI NISSON WotP!N Editor An Agenda of Restraint and Vigilance . 18 The Vizhnitzer Rebbe K"ti•'i111: Saving Our Children .19 Editorial Board Rabbi Shneur Kotler K"ti•'i111: DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Chairman The Ability and the Imperative . 21 RABBI NATHAN BULMAN RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Helping Others Make it, Mordechai Arnon . 27 JOSEPH FRJEDENSON "Hereby Resolved .. Report and Evaluation . 31 RABBI MOSHE SHERER :'-a The Crooked Mirror, Menachem Lubinsky .39 THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not Discovering Eretz Yisroel, Nissan Wolpin .46 assume responsibility for the Kae;hrus of any product or ser­ Second Looks at the Jewish Scene vice advertised in its pages. Murder in Hebron, Violation in Jerusalem ..... 57 On Singing a Different Tune, Bernard Fryshman .ss FEB., 1980 VOL. XIV, NOS. 6-7 Letters to the Editor . • . 6 7 ___.., _____ -- -· - - The Jewish Observer I February, 1980 3 Expectations ran high, and rightfully so.
    [Show full text]
  • R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida,A Gift for Rabbi
    ‘Yikar Sahaduta Dipum Bidatta’ R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida ‘Yikar Sahaduta Dipum Bidatta’ R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin, the Besamim Rosh and the Chida Rabbi Moshe Maimon, Jackson NJ Some of the worst epidemics we have known in our history have indirectly been the catalyst for important contributions by scholars who produced their valuable works under quarantine. Eliezer Brodt has published in these pages considerable lists of such scholarship, from bygone plagues down to the current terrible epidemic, which highlight the vast scope of this literary bounty. I recently came across a very interesting sefer-epidemic connection which I have not seen mentioned yet. This material highlights the contribution of a scholar who was quite probably in quarantine when he produced his indices to a well-known and much debated sefer—R. Saul Berlin’s storied publication, Besamim Rosh. Perhaps most famous (or infamous) for its reputation as the ultimate rabbinic forgery, an exhaustive history of this volume has already been written (and interested readers would do well to refresh their memory with the excellent survey in this blog post by Dan Rabinowitz & Eliezer Brodt; see also Eliezer Brodt’s exhaustive bibliography on the subject in a footnote in Yeshurun, vol. 24, pp. 425-427). My own study of the saga of this sefer during the present COVID-19 quarantine era can hopefully shed light on some striking details pertaining to this account. R. Tzvi Hirsch Levin in defense of Besamim Rosh Those who have followed the rocky history associated with Besamim Rosh will recall the strenuous defense of this sefer penned by R.
    [Show full text]
  • JCT Develops Solutions to Environmental Problems P.O.BOX 16031, JERUSALEM 91160 ISRAEL 91160 JERUSALEM 16031, P.O.BOX
    NISSAN 5768 / APRIL 2008, VOL. 13 Green and Clean JCT Develops Solutions to Environmental Problems P.O.BOX 16031, JERUSALEM 91160 ISRAEL 91160 JERUSALEM 16031, P.O.BOX NISSAN 5768 / APRIL 2008, VOL. 13 Green and Clean JCT Develops Solutions to Environmental Problems P.O.BOX 16031, JERUSALEM 91160 ISRAEL 91160 JERUSALEM 16031, P.O.BOX COMMENTARY JERUSALEM COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY PRESIDENT Shalom! opportunity to receive an excellent education Prof. Joseph S. Bodenheimer allowing them to become highly-skilled, ROSH HAYESHIVA Rabbi Z. N. Goldberg Of the many things sought after professionals. More important ROSH BEIT HAMIDRASH we are proud at JCT, for our students is the opportunity available Rabbi Natan Bar Chaim nothing is more RECTOR at the College to receive an education Prof. Joseph M. Steiner prized than our focusing on Jewish values. It is this DIRECTOR-GENERAL students. In every education towards values that has always Dr. Shimon Weiss VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT issue of “Perspective” been the hallmark of JCT and it is this AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS we profile one of our students as a way of commitment to Jewish ethical values that Reuven Surkis showing who they are and of sharing their forms the foundation from which Israeli accomplishments with you. society will grow and flourish - and our EDITORS Our student body of 2,500 is a students and graduates take pride in being Rosalind Elbaum, Debbie Ross, Penina Pfeuffer microcosm of Israeli society: 21% are Olim committed to this process. DESIGN & PRODUCTION (immigrants) from the former Soviet Union, As we approach the Pesach holiday, the Studio Fisher Ethiopia, South America, North America, 60th anniversary of the State of Israel and JCT Perspective invites the submission of arti- Europe, Australia and South Africa, whilst the 40th anniversary of JCT, let us reaffirm cles and press releases from the public.
    [Show full text]
  • Mattos Chassidus on the Massei ~ Mattos 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) MATTOS ~ MASSEI _ CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA + Dvar Torah – Mattos Keep Your Word The Torah states (30:3), “If a man takes a vow or swears an oath to G -d to establish a prohibition upon himself, he shall not violate his word; he shall fulfill whatever comes out of his mouth.” In relation to this passuk , the Midrash quotes from Tehillim (144:4), “Our days are like a fleeting shadow.” What is the connection? This can be explained, says Rav Levi Yitzchok, according to a Gemara ( Nedarim 10b), which states, “It is forbidden to say, ‘ Lashem korban , for G-d − an offering.’ Instead a person must say, ‘ Korban Lashem , an offering for G -d.’ Why? Because he may die before he says the word korban , and then he will have said the holy Name in vain.” In this light, we can understand the Midrash. The Torah states that a person makes “a vow to G-d.” This i s the exact language that must be used, mentioning the vow first. Why? Because “our days are like a fleeting shadow,” and there is always the possibility that he may die before he finishes his vow and he will have uttered the Name in vain. n Story The wood chopper had come to Ryczywohl from the nearby village in which he lived, hoping to find some kind of employment.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva
    AHHlVERSARtJ TOGtTHtR! All new orden will receive a Z0°/o Discount! Minimum Order of $10,000 required. 35% deposit required. (Ofter ends February 28, 2003) >;! - . ~S~i .. I I" o i )• ' Shevat 5763 •January 2003 U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 ·VOL XXXVI/NO. I THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside ol the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to; The Jewish Observer, 42 a.roadway, NY. NY.10004. Tel:212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. KIRUV TODAY IN THE USA RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR EDITORIAL BOARD 4 Kiruv Today: Now or Never, Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraun RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman RABBI ABBA BRUONY 10 The Mashgiach Comes To Dallas, Kenneth Chaim Broodo JOSEPH FRIEOENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN 16 How Many Orthodox Jews Can There Be? PROF. AARON TWEASKI Chanan (Anthony) Gordon and Richard M. Horowitz OR. ERNST L BODENHEIMER Z"l RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z"L Founders 30 The Lonely Man of Kiruv, by Chaim Wolfson MANAGEMENT BOARD AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN ERETZ YISROEL: SHARING THE PAIN RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Managing Editor Published by 18 Breaking Down the Walls, Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Shul and Community Announcements Chulin 34 Mazel Tov to Yaakov Aryeh Schultz and His Entire Family Upon His Engagement to Chana Malka Polstein from Chicago
    3120 Clarks Lane Baltimore, MD 21209 Rabbi Zvi Weiss Levi Friedman, President PPaarrsshhaass MMaasseeii July 30, 2011 Shul and Community Announcements Tamuz 28 Chulin 34 Mazel Tov to Yaakov Aryeh Schultz and his entire family upon his engagement to Chana Malka Polstein from Chicago. Shabbos Mevorchim: Rosh Chodesh: Mon, Aug 2 Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Gil Horwitz and Family on the birth of a baby girl. They will be making a Kiddush at their home, 3210 Fallstaff Rd, after 11:30 am this Shabbos. Shabbos Zmanim: Friday Mincha 1:50, 6:00 Mazel Tov to Glenn and Barbie Porcelain on the engagement of their son Michael to Rachel Teplitsky of Jerusalem/Toronto. Mazel Tov to Steven and Rosanne Teplitsky of Toronto and to the Candle Lighting 8:04 Baltimore grandparents Dena and Hillel Soclof and Cecil Porcelain. Mincha/Kabalas Shabbos 7:00, 8:09 The Shul would like to express its Hakaras HaTov to our outgoing Youth Leader Rabbi Yoni Sonnenblick . We appreciate all the wonderful things you have done! Shacharis 7:00 & 9:00 The Shul is in the midst of a Special Summer Appeal, asking all of its members to please contribute to Sof Zman Krias Shema this fund in order to help the shul get though the summer “heat”. Checks can be dropped off in the shul 9:38 mailbox or credit card payments can be processed via the shul website, baishaknesses.com. Thank you to those who have so generously responded already! Mincha 2:00, 6:00, 7:54 Maariv 9:09 During the Road Closure in front of Shul, please be considerate of our neighbors and do not park in or opposite driveways.
    [Show full text]
  • 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) SH EVI’I SHEL PESACH _ CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA + Dvar Torah Shevi’i Shel Pesach – Kerias Yam Suf Walking on Dry Land Even in the Sea “And Bnei Yisrael walked on dry land in the sea” (Shemos 14:29) How can you walk on dry land in the sea? The Noam Elimelech , in Likkutei Shoshana , explains this contradictory-sounding pasuk as follows: When Bnei Yisrael experienced the Exodus and the splitting of the sea, they witnessed tremendous miracles and unbelievable wonders. There are Tzaddikim among us whose h earts are always attuned to Hashem ’s wonders and miracles even on a daily basis; they see not common, ordinary occurrences – they see miracles and wonders. As opposed to Bnei Yisrael, who witnessed the miraculous only when they walked on dry land in the sp lit sea, these Tzaddikim see a miracle as great as the “splitting of the sea” even when walking on so -called ordinary, everyday dry land! Everything they experience and witness in the world is a miracle to them. This is the meaning of our pasuk : there are some among Bnei Yisrael who, even while walking on dry land, experience Hashem ’s greatness and awesome miracles just like in the sea! This is what we mean when we say that Hashem transformed the sea into dry land. Hashem causes the Tzaddik to witness and e xperience miracles as wondrous as the splitting of the sea, even on dry land, because the Tzaddik constantly walks attuned to Hashem ’s greatness and exaltedness.
    [Show full text]