DOCSLIB.ORG

Ohr Somayach Purim Handbook Colour

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ohr Somayach Purim Handbook Colour ThePurim Handbook Published by Ohr Somayach - Tanenbaum College • Purim 5770 / 2010 Drinkis theLink A Look Explaining the Mitzvah of Drinking on Purim Inside by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach • One for All - Pg 5 A man is obligated to imbibe on Purim • Costume Custom - Pg 3 until he can no longer distinguish • The Last Laugh - Pg 9 between “Cursed is Haman” and • Megillah Q&A - Pg 4 “Blessed is Mordechai.” • Purim Timeline - Pg 7 urim is a veritable those who are capable of doing so cornucopia of paradoxes without impairing their ability to • A Second Chance - Pg 11 that ignite the imagination fulfill all of the mitzvot connected • Laws of Purim - Pg 8 Pof both scholar and with the festive Purim meal layman. But perhaps the greatest (washing hands, blessings before • ChoppedLiver - Pg 16 challenge of all is posed by this and after, etc.), or without inciting requirement to indulge in drink to them to improper conduct. For • The Far Side Pg 14 the point of losing the faculty of most people it is sufficient to drink discernment. How, ask the more than is their custom and to • Purim Pandemonium - Pg 15 commentaries throughout the achieve the level of fuzziness generations, can we be suggested by the Talmud through • Purim A&Q - Pg 15 commanded to invite that very a drink-induced nap. intoxication which is so roundly But our original problem still • and not much more... reviled in both Scripture and remains. Why encourage excess Talmud? And why such a puzzling drinking altogether, and why set a standard of non-discernment? goal of such enigmatic nature? Just to set the record straight The answers, of course, lie in an Happy Purim! regarding the halacha, it is the analysis of the Purim story as consensus of the authorities that recorded in Megillat Esther. The visit literal fulfillment of this events chronicled in this Divinely www.ohr.edu requirement is limited only to inspired document cover a continued on page two www.ohr.edu | 1 | The Purim Handbook Drinkis theLink decade of history, from the grand banquet in which Divine intervention. And the level of our indulgence Queen Vashti meets her downfall until the must be one that rejects the normal approaches of miraculous turnabout of a Jewish nation threatened discernment, abandons the logic of social and with genocide overcoming its enemies thanks to the political analysts and seeks the Divine hand in the intervention of Queen Esther. From the perspective workings of history. of historians and political analysts it is virtually Until he can no longer distinguish between “Cursed impossible to see any link between the events is Haman” and “Blessed is Mordechai.” Many separated by so many years and so many political interpretations have been offered as to why this developments. What connection can possibly be particular criterion has been chosen for surmised between the drunken domestic quarrel determining the desired level of inebriation. On the between Achashverosh and Vashti in the third year simplest level it is a reference to a song of praise we of his reign and the same king’s submitting to sing after the reading of the Megillah and which we Esther’s entreaties in his twelfth year? Chapters, if repeat in our festive meals, and it is a challenge to not volumes, could probably be written about how the drinker to keep the lyrics in order when his Haman’s meteoric rise to power and the geopolitical spirits are so high. upheavals of a mighty Persian Empire on the In a deeper sense, however, we may suggest that threshold of a challenge from the ascendant there are two levels of thanksgiving when a person Macedonians affected the fickle monarch’s is saved from disaster by Divine intervention. One decision-making process in first sanctioning is hoda’ah — thanks — and the other is hallel — genocide and then rejecting it. praise. The visceral reaction of the survivor is to But historians are capable of dealing only with thank Heaven. But if asked whether he would have tangible links. The Divine Author of history, however, preferred to never have been exposed to the reveals to His chosen people in Megillat Esther that danger, his response would invariably be “Yes!” He there is a powerful connection between events would prefer to completely forget that it ever separated by so much time. The Divine Healer existed. Only after serious reflection does he realize prepared the cure before the illness by removing that the danger he faced was a gift from Heaven to Vashti in favor of Esther even before He sent the wake him up and redirect him. It is then that he sings plague of Haman’s genocidal decree to alarm His the praises of G-d for having provided him with such sinful people into repentance. The clue to this an educational experience. linkage is wine — the wine that brought a king to a On Chanukah we offer both hoda’ah in the form drunken rage against a rebellious queen, and the of the Al Hanissim prayer and hallel in the recital of wine that another queen, concealing her Jewish Hallel for eight days. On Purim the reading of the identity, served both husband and enemy at the Megillah is our hallel, for it teaches us to appreciate climactic banquet where she successfully pleaded the value of the danger as well as the salvation. for her people’s salvation. “Cursed is Haman” refers to the danger, “Blessed If the link is wine then it is wine that we must is Mordechai” to the salvation. When one drinks indulge in beyond our habit in order to remember enough wine to link all the events in the hallel of our and reflect upon this invisible thread that weaves Megillah he no longer discerns between the values such disparate events into a miraculous tapestry of of the two. The Purim Handbook Published by Ohr Somayach Institutions - Tanenbaum College POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180 Israel • [email protected] • www.ohr.edu • Tel: 972-2-581-0315 Fax: 972-2-581-2890 OHR SOMAYACH INTERNATIONAL New York • Detroit • Miami • Toronto • London • Johannesburg • Melbourne • Sydney © 2010 - Ohr Somayach Institutions - All Rights Reserved General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Compiled by: Rabbi Richard Jacobs Distribution:: Yehuda Goldman Design: Eliezer Shapiro | 2 | www.ohr.edu The Purim Handbook by Rabbi Richard Jacobs Costume Custom The origin and reason for masquerades on Purim hen you walk the streets of the Torah?” it answers with a verse from Jerusalem, or the Jewish area of any Deuteronomy (31:18) “v’Anochi haster Astir Panai” town in the run up to Purim, you see (“and I will surely hide My Face”). The word Wthe shop racks full of costumes, the “Esther” means “hidden”. masques of masquerade hanging in display, Within the Megillah there are a number of adorning arcade mannequins. “Mordechai” and “dressings up”. Vashti remains attached to her “Esther” joust for attention with mutant ninja turtles attire despite the demands of Achashverosh. Esther and Spiderman; Kallah (bridal) dresses and “Torah doesn’t reveal her people — no one knew where scrolls” alongside fairies and Winnie the Pooh. she was from nor realized she was Jewish. People Dressing up on Purim is a long-standing custom; who saw her thought she was from their (foreign) the earliest record is found in the writings of the nation. Mordechai wore sackcloth in mourning for Mahari Mintz, a late 15th century Italian Rabbi and his people and was later dressed in the clothes of scholar. He writes that on Purim it is permitted for the king. a man to dress up as a woman and vice versa, and To take another approach, what is at the root of it is clearly implied that this is a custom that is well Amalek’s hatred of the Jewish People? Amalek is established in his day. the direct descendant of Esav, and it is with Esav Which begs the question: Why do we wear that we first encounter the idea of clothes costumes on Purim? concealing that which is within. Esav is the There are a number of different reasons. A mask archetypal “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. His outward and costume hide the identity of the wearer. From behavior was that of a tzaddik, while his inner the outside not only can you not tell who the drives were pure evil. In contrast, Yaakov’s individual wearer is, you don’t have any insights righteousness was so concealed that even Yitzchak into their nature whatsoever. This person dressed didn’t recognize it until Rivka revealed it. Yitzchak as a non-Jew, may well be a non-Jew. In the same was going to give the special blessing to Esav. At way that we drink until we don’t know the his mother’s instigation Yaakov, wearing Esav’s difference between “Blessed is Mordechai” and clothes, preempted Esav and went to Yitzchak with “Cursed is Haman”, the costume tells us that we the food that Rivka had prepared. On a superficial really don’t know who stands before us. Maybe it level, Yaakov’s behavior seems deceptive. On really is someone who will persecute us. Purim we dress in different clothes to show that Alternatively, maybe behind the mask, no matter Yaakov did not commit a sin, and even though he how far they appear to be from Torah, is a Jew, a wore the garments of Esav, Yaakov is indeed family member, “one of the tribe”. “blessed”. One of the deeper reasons for this custom is that On a more practical note one of the mitzvot of the the entire miracle of Purim was clothed in natural day is giving charity to the poor.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Shul B”H Weekly Magazine
    The Shul B”H weekly magazine Weekly Magazine Sponsored By Mr. & Mrs. Martin (OBM) and Ethel Sirotkin and Dr. & Mrs. Shmuel and Evelyn Katz Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah Cheshvan 21 - 22 November 10 - 11 CANDLE LIGHTING: 5:15 pm Shabbos Ends: 6:09 pm Over Tirty Years of Serving the Communities of Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Indian Creek and Surfside 9540 Collins Avenue, Surfside, Fl 33154 Tel: 305.868.1411 Fax: 305.861.2426 www.TeShul.org Email: [email protected] The Shul Weekly Magazine Everything you need for every day of the week Contents Nachas At A Glance The Shul Hebrew School children enjoyed an interactive Havdallah Weekly Message 3 Thoughts on the Parsha from Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar workshop. Each child also made their own Havdallah candle. Celebrating Shabbos 4 -6 Schedules, classes, articles and more... Everything you need for an “Over the Top” Shabbos experience Community Happenings 7-8 Sharing with your Shul Family A Time to Pray 9 Check out all the davening schedules and locations throughout the week Inspiration, Insights & Ideas 9-14 Bringing Torah lessons to LIFE Get The Picture 15-20 The full scoop on all the great events around town The ABC’s of Aleph 21 Serving Jews in institutional and limited environments. French Connection 22 Refexions sur la Paracha Latin Link 23 Refexion Semanal In a woman’s world 24 Issues of relevance to the Jewish woman Networking 25-27 Effective Advertising Numbers To Know 28-29 Contacts at The Shul Daily Study 30 A complete guide to all classes and courses offered at The Shul 31-32 Get The Picture The full scoop on all the great events around town Quotable Quote G-d says of the prideful one, “He and I cannot dwell together in the world” – Talmud, Sotah 5a Thoughts on the Parshah from Rabbi Sholom D.
    [Show full text]
  • A Memorial Tribute on the First Yahrzeit
    THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET • www.OHR.Edu O H R N E T SHAbbAT PARSHAT SHEMINI • 20 AdAR II 5774 - MAR. 22, 2014 • VOl. 21 NO. 26 parsha INsIGhTs The prose aNd The passIoN “...a strange fire” (10:1) verything in this world is a physical parable of a spiritu - The halacha is our boundary, and even when one has al reality. Take the computer for example. The entire great passion to seek G-d, one must respect those bound - E“miracle” of the computer is based on the numbers ‘1’ aries. Rabbi Soleveitchik once said that if G-d had not given and ‘0’ placed in ever more complicated and elaborate us explicit permission we would not even be able to pray to sequences. If there’s a ‘0’ where there should be a ‘1’ or vice Him. What arrogance would it be for us to approach G-d? versa, even the simplest program will just not run. It will However, G-d not only allows, but even desires our prayers. probably send one of those delightful error messages like, Still, we must respect the distance that exists between us “Would you like to debug now?” No thank you, I’d like to fin - and G-d. ish this article which is already late! The desire for spirituality is often impatient with details, It’s not immediately apparent but serving G-d is some - rules, regulations and procedures. In looking at the big pic - what like a computer program. ture one might feel that paying attention to the small details In this week’s Torah portion the joyous event of the ded - is just not very important and even distracting.
    [Show full text]
  • Gould Law Library / Goldstein Judaica Collection Selected New Judaica
    Gould Law Library / Goldstein Judaica Collection Selected New Judaica Acquisitions, January 2014 - A - Antisemitism -- France -- History -- 19th century Revising Dreyfus / edited by Maya Balakirsky Katz. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2013. JUDAICA DC354 .R48 2013. Click for full catalog record. - B - Bible. Psalms The Psalms of David / paintings: Raphael Abecassis. Jerusalem: MOD Publishing House, c2008. JUDAICA BS1419 .S44 2008. Click for full catalog record. - C - Constitutional law -- Israel Israeli constitutional law in the making / edited by Gideon Sapir, Daphne Barak-Erez and Aharon Barak. Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2013. JUDAICA KMK1750 .I87 2013. Click for full catalog record. - D - - E - Eruv The laws of an eruv: a comprehensive review of the laws of eruvin and their practical applications / Shlomo Francis, Yonason Glenner. Lakewood, NJ: Distributed by Israel Bookshop Publications, c2013. JUDAICA BM523.3.E7 F7 2013. Click for full catalog record. - F - - G - - H - Holocaust (Jewish theology) A divine madness: Rabbi Avigdor Miller's defense of Hashem in the matter of the Holocaust / annotations and historical commentary by Darrel M. Zaslow. Monsey, NY: Yeshiva Gedolah Bais Yisroel, c2013. JUDAICA BM645.H6 M538 2013. Click for full catalog record. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- China -- Shanghai Shanghai escape / Kathy Kacer. Toronto, Canada: Second Story Press, ©2013. JUDAICA DS135.C5 K33 2013. Click for full catalog record. - I - - J - Jewish law -- Philosophy The philosophical quest: of philosophy, ethics, law and Halakhah / Rabbi J. David Bleich. First edition. New Milford, CT: Maggid Books, 2013. JUDAICA BM520.6 .B54 2013. Click for full catalog record. 1 Jewish refugees -- China -- Shanghai -- Biography Shanghai refuge: a memoir of the World War II Jewish ghetto / Ernest G.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sea of Talmud: a Brief and Personal Introduction
    Touro Scholar Lander College of Arts and Sciences Books Lander College of Arts and Sciences 2012 The Sea of Talmud: A Brief and Personal Introduction Henry M. Abramson Touro College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://touroscholar.touro.edu/lcas_books Part of the Jewish Studies Commons Recommended Citation Abramson, H. M. (2012). The Sea of Talmud: A Brief and Personal Introduction. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/lcas_books/3 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Lander College of Arts and Sciences at Touro Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Lander College of Arts and Sciences Books by an authorized administrator of Touro Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE SEA OF TALMUD A Brief and Personal Introduction Henry Abramson Published by Parnoseh Books at Smashwords Copyright 2012 Henry Abramson Cover photograph by Steven Mills. No Talmud volumes were harmed during the photo shoot for this book. Smashwords Edition, License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment and information only. This ebook should not be re-sold to others. Educational institutions may reproduce, copy and distribute this ebook for non-commercial purposes without charge, provided the book remains in its complete original form. Version 3.1 June 18, 2012. To my students All who thirst--come to the waters Isaiah 55:1 Table of Contents Introduction Chapter One: Our Talmud Chapter Two: What, Exactly, is the Talmud? Chapter Three: The Content of the Talmud Chapter Four: Toward the Digital Talmud Chapter Five: “Go Study” For Further Reading Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction The Yeshiva administration must have put considerable thought into the wording of the hand- lettered sign posted outside the cafeteria.
    [Show full text]
  • Rav Mendel Weinbach זצ"ל Remembering Rav Mendel Weinbach , Zt”L on the First Yahrzeit
    Rav Mendel Weinbach זצ"ל Remembering Rav Mendel Weinbach , zt”l On the First Yahrzeit Published by Ohr Somayach Institutions Jerusalem, Israel Published by Ohr SOmayach Tanenbaum College Gloria Martin Campus 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, Maalot Daphna POB 18103, Jerusalem 91180, Israel Tel: +972-2-581-0315 Email: [email protected] • www.ohr.edu General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Compiled and Edited by : Rabbi Richard Jacobs Editorial Assistant : Mrs. Rosalie Moriah Design and Production: Rabbi Eliezer Shapiro © 2013 - Ohr Somayach Institutions - All rights reserved First Printing - December 2013 Printed in Israel at Old City Press, Jerusalem The following pages represent our humble attempt to pay tribute to our beloved Rosh Hayeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Mendel Weinbach zt”l. Rav Weinbach wasn’t just our Rosh Hayeshiva. He was our father, mentor, advisor, friend, comrade and teacher. This volume is an opportunity for rabbis, staff, students, alumni and friends to share their memories and thoughts about a man who successfully dedicated his entire life to educating his fellow Jew. We hope this will give us an understanding of who Rav Weinbach zt”l was and what he meant to all who had the merit to know him and interact with him. One year has passed. We have come to an even greater awarness how immeasurable our loss is. But our consolation will be in fulfilling the continuity of his legacy of reaching out to our fellow Jews and bringing them closer to Torah. Yehi Zichro Baruch. A Memorial Tribute to Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, zt”l | 5| Chavrusah By RAv NOTA SCHIllER Shlit’a Editor’s Note: The memorial kennes was running late.
    [Show full text]
  • The Jewish Observer
    THE THE Elul 5762 • September 2002 JJewishewish U.S.A. $3.50/Foreign $4.50 • VOL XXXV/NO. 7 OOBSERBSERVERVER vh,ukkeuvh,ukkeu vbavba vkf,vkf, vh,ufrcuvh,ufrcu vbavba kj,kj, In this issue REMEMBERING RABBI NACHMAN BULMAN k’’mz Rabbi Mendel Weinbach • Rabbi Hillel Goldberg Rabbi Leonard Oppenheimer • Rabbi Zev Kahn Also The Torah Map of America – Revisited Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller Yamim Noraim Reflections THEJJewishewish Elul 5762 • September 2002 OOBSERBSERVERVER U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 • VOL XXXV/NO. 7 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except This is the full Table of Contents of the print edition of the July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 42 Broadway, New York, Jewish Observer.The web edition contains only a selection of NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in New articles (indicated in color). Click on the title to go to the Yo r k, NY.Subscription $24.00 per year; beginning of that article. Click on the box at the end of each two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. article to come back to this page. Or navigate using your Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 sur- browser’s menu and other options. charge per year. Single copy $3.50; for- 8 10 3535 eign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY., NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, 8 Yahrzeit: September 11 / 23 Elul, Nisson Wolpin Fax: 646-254-1600.Printed in the U.S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Baal Teshuva Movement
    TAMUZ, 57 40 I JUNE, 19$0 VOLUME XIV, NUMBER 9 $1.25 ' ' The Baal Teshuva Movement Aish Hatorah • Bostoner Rebbe: Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz• CHABAD • Dvar Yerushalayim • Rabbi Shlomo · Freifeld • Gerrer Rebbe • Rabbi Baruch ·.. Horowitz • Jewish Education Progra . • Kosel Maarovi • Moreshet Avot/ El HaMekorot • NCSY • Neve Yerushalayim •Ohr Somayach . • P'eylim •Rabbi Nota Schiller• Sh' or Yashuv •Rabbi Meir Shuster • Horav Elazar Shach • Rabbi Mendel Weinbach •Rabbi Noach Weinberg ... and much much more. THE JEWISH BSERVER In this issue ... THE BAAL TESHUVA MOVEMENT Prologue . 1 4 Chassidic Insights: Understanding Others Through Ourselves, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz. 5 A Time to Reach Out: "Those Days Have Come," Rabbi Baruch Horovitz 8 The First Step: The Teshuva Solicitors, Rabbi Hillel Goldberg 10 Teaching the Men: Studying Gemora-The Means and the Ends of the Teshuva Process, Rabbi Nola Schiller . 13 Teaching the Women: How to Handle a Hungry Heart, Hanoch Teller 16 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN Watching the Airplanes, Abraham ben Shmuel . 19 0(121-6615) is published monthly, Kiruv in Israel: except Ju!y and August. by the Bringing Them to our Planet, Ezriel Hildesheimer 20 Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N.Y The Homecoming Ordeal: 10038. Second class postage paid Helping the Baal Teshuva in America, at New York, N.Y. Subscription Rabbi Mendel Weinbach . 25 $9.00 per year; two years. $17.50; three years, $25.00; outside of the The American Scene: United States, $10.00 per year. A Famine in the Land, Avrohom Y. HaCohen 27 Single copy, $1.25 Printed in the U.S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Fhe EWISH FIFTY CENTS
    TAMMUZ 5729 / JUNE 1969 VOLUME 6, NUMBER I fHE EWISH FIFTY CENTS Ferment on Campus - Messianic Implications? The Faith of an Orthodox Jewish Scientist Annuol lniex of Articles THE JEWISH QBSERVER In this issue ... FERMENT ON CAMPUS - MESSIANIC IMPLICATIONS?, Leo Levi ............................................................................................................ 3 THE FAITH OF AN ORTHODOX JEWISH SCIENTIST, Alvin Radkowsky ....................................................................................... 6 UNDER ATTACK IN ISRAEL: THE SANCTITY OF SHABBOS & THE SANCTITY OF MAN .................................................................. 9 THE JEWISH OBSERVER is published monthly, except July and August, REB YisRoEL - WHO WAs HE?, Yechiel Yitzchok Perr ......... 12 by the Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, THE LONG HOT SUMMER - AND THE ANT, New York 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y. Avrohom Chaim Feuer ........................................................................... 14 Subscription: $5.00 per year; Two years, $8.50; Three years, $12.00~ outside of the United States, $6.00 A THIRD ALTERNATIVE: THE ORTHODOX WORKER- per year. Single copy, fifty cents. Printed in the U.S.A. SCHOLAR, Simon Raskin ........................................................................ 16 RABBI YAAKOV JACOBS Editor LOOKING FoR A MINYAN MAN, Leah Abramowitz ........................ 18 Editorial Board BOOKS REVIEWED: DR. ERNEST L. BODENHEIMER Chainnan WHO WANTS TO LIVE .............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Parshas Chukas
    This page is sponsored by Federation Rabbi Danny Kirsch 3 Chairman of JLE, Federation The author can be contacted at [email protected] The Death of Miriam Parshah A number of years ago there was a painful tragedy that had a great impact on the talmidim of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim. The untimely death of the young mashgiach of the Yeshivah - Rabbi Dovid Spier zt”l. Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt”l was maspid this very protection and blessings we received in their merit. Our response must special individual and quoted from Rashi in this week’s sedra: be to do teshuva, reflect and multiply our merits to fill the gaping void. “Vatomos shom Miriam“- ”And Miriam died there“ (Perek 20 Posuk 1) Perhaps only then will the death of a tzaddik be a true kaporah. Rashi asks, what is the juxtaposition of Miriam’s death to the laws of the porah adumah coming to teach us? He answers “that just as sacrifices (like the porah adumah) gain atonement, so too does the death of (Miriam) the righteous gain atonement” The Rosh Yeshivah pointed out that the very next posuk tells us that there was no water for the people to drink. Consequently, they realised as Rashi tells us, that the Jewish people only had water in the wilderness in A Quick Vort: the merit of the great tzadekes, Miriam. Now that she was no longer alive, and her great deeds and merits had gone, the water ceased. Ma’ayanah He suggested that when Klal Yisroel realised that it was Miriam’s extraordinary merits which insured their very survival, they were forced shel Torah
    [Show full text]
  • Rav Mendel Weinbach Zt"L
    Rav Mendel Weinbach zt"l Founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Somayach By Dovid Hoffman Wednesday, December 12, 2012 – Yated Neeman USA On Tuesday, thousands of Yeshiva Ohr Somayach alumni felt that they had lost a father when they heard the news of the passing of Rav Mendel Weinbach zt”l, founder and rosh yeshiva of Ohr Somayach. Rav Mendel invested his brilliant mind and feeling heart to draw thousands of Jews back to the joy of Torah learning and practice. As he put it, he wanted to give people a chance to have a chance. Thanks to him, many streets in Eretz Yisroel and worldwide are filled with families who seem indistinguishable from other bnei Torah families anywhere else. Only people who get to know them better realize that these thousands of individuals are the products of Rav Mendel’s hashkafah that to be mekarev a Jew means to transform him into a full-fledged ben Torah. EARLY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OTHERS Rav Mendel was born in Poland in 1933. Not long afterwards, his parents moved to the United States, where his father steadfastly clung to Torah and mitzvos, refusing to work on Shabbos even if this meant working hard at less generous paying jobs to the extent that he was often absent from home when other fathers had already returned from work. His mother made up for this, infusing her young son with a love of Torah and a yearning to delve into its infinite wisdom. While still in public school, Rav Mendel already showed a propensity to care for the welfare of others and not lock himself into his own four amos.
    [Show full text]
  • Bringing You the Count from Ohr Somayach
    The Electronic Alumni Newsletter of Ohr Somayach B Yachad Sivan 5758 1998 TOGETHER Bringing You the Count From Ohr Somayach By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach n the way from Pesach to rent broader facilities for it on Rechov graduates in rabbinic, educational and Shavuous, Jews the world Shmuel Hanavi, but we are quickly outreach positions. Zev Kahn, who OOover count out the fifty running out of room there as well. was a coordinator while in the days of Sefiras HaOmer, (The old Mi Li building is occupied Program, is joining Yehoshua Karsh in hopefully moving upwards everyday by our Russian Ohr-Dessa High outreach for the Chicago Community towards Kabalas HaTorah, with new School for the products of our highly Kollel, and Yisroel Koval is taking an growth to new heights. successful program in Odessa serving outreach position in the Chicago com- This year at Ohr Somayach also some 700 kids!) munity of Buffalo Grove. finds us growing to new heights. We Former talmidim are playing Speaking of reaching out, the are counting upwards both numerical- important educational roles in our Internet outreach program led by ly and qualitatively, with more constantly expanding Hebrew, Moshe Newman, and enjoying the tal- talmidim in new programs and new Russian and Spanish-speaking depart- ents of Reuven Lauffer, Mordechai facilities. ments. Becher and Reuven Subar, is setting The numbers are, baruch Hashem, This is the continual march forward new records each month with its growing in all departments. In our at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem Ohrnet service. (Getting close to English-speaking section this has com- talmidim joining the ranks of their 600,000 hits a month!) The newest pelled us to break down the Beis rabbeim.
    [Show full text]
  • 121912 C50-52, 54-55 Community Tribute Weinbach.Qxd
    C50 HAMODIA 6 TEVES 5773 DECEMBER 19, 2012 Tribute Harav Mendel Weinbach, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Ohr Somayach BY YEHUDA MARKS Every Jew and His Personal courses dropped, in favor of Avodas Hashem business courses. And the Harav (Chuna) Menachem Harav Weinbach’s strength business student was more Mendel Weinbach, a pioneer of wasn’t just the sheer number of organized in budgeting his time the modern-day baal teshuvah Jews he brought to Torah, but and energy. Backpacking movement and cofounder and how he did it. Harav Weinbach became less popular; dean of Ohr Somayach In- understood that each Jew finds consequently, fewer Jewish stitutions, was niftar last Hashem in his own way, and he backpackers came to the Kosel. Monday after courageously found the way for each Jew to As hashgachah would have it, battling a long and painful find Torah and avodas before Black Monday Ohr illness. He was 79. Hashem — and make it his own. Somayach had already begun Harav Weinbach was the He would quote the bringing students in directly. beloved mentor, father and Rambam, who writes in Hilchos This enabled Harav rebbi to generations of Ohr Avodah Zarah that Avraham Weinbach, who was never Somayach talmidim around the Avinu, the first “kiruv activist,” prepared to take shortcuts, to world. And as a prolific author would answer every person adhere to his shitah of getting and sought-after lecturer for according to his knowledge. the talmidim into the learning of both men’s and women’s groups “Interestingly, we can hear Torah. Unlike the backpackers across the globe, Harav Wein- the same question hundreds of who were sitting on their bach’s zeal and power were a times, and I don’t think I’ve suitcases, Harav Weinbach source of inspiration for given the same answer twice!” could now dedicate his time to thousands of others.
    [Show full text]