Parshas Shemos December 28, 2018 A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul Ironic Refinement by Rabbi Yaakov Zions A Good Cry “Life is full of challenges” is an appears toward the end of our A man once traveled to his rebbe oft-quoted sentiment. Usually parsha. Hashem commands Moshe and poured out his heart, relating accompanied by a sigh, it evokes to return to Egypt and become the a most difficult plight he was feelings of attempting to complete the national spokesman, while Moshe is caught in. The rebbe closed his difficult obstacle course, called life, hesitant. Moshe says (4:10), “I am not eyes for several minutes, finally without too many injuries. We rarely a man of words, not from yesterday, replying with much sadness, “My look at challenges for what they are: not from the day before, not from the friend, I am sorry, but there is opportunities to grow. Just as gravity (first) time You have spoken to me, nothing I can do. The gates of causes our bodies to develop strong for I am heavy of speech.” It seems Heaven are closed.” muscles, and antibodies developed interesting that Moshe has to stress The man tearfully thanked the from the fight against a small the history of his speech impairment; rebbe for his time and left the infection can potentially save us from the fact that he is impaired today room. He climbed back into his major illnesses years later, challenges would seem to be the only relevant wagon and prepared to depart for are opportunities for physical and detail here. The Brisker Rav (Rabbi home. spiritual growth. Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik; 1886- As the horses began making Our parsha illustrates this idea in 1959) explained (based on verses their way up the street, the man at least two ways. The first is the from the Book of Yeshayahu) that suddenly heard the voice of his Egyptian exile itself. If we were to when a navi (prophet) is sent on a rebbe calling after him, “Wait! read the details of our slavery in mission, the tools necessary for the Wait!” The fellow halted the Egypt in a history book, it would look mission are provided as well. Moshe wagon, wondering if perhaps like one of the many cases of crimes was replying to Hashem, “If you truly something had changed. The against humanity perpetrated by one rebbe told his chassid, “I cannot intend for me to be Your agent, my nation upon another. The Torah, do anything for you. But I can speech should have been perfected however, adds another perspective to cry with you.” And with that, he from the very first time You asked me the narrative. In Parshas Va’eschanan climbed into the wagon, and the to return to Egypt.” (Devarim 4:20), Moshe relates to the two men burst into bitter tears. To this, Hashem responded that this Nation how Hashem has removed After some time, the rebbe them from the kur habarzel (iron nevuah (prophecy) was inherently suddenly turned to his chassid crucible) of Egypt to become His different than that of other prophets. and said, “Our tears have broken heritage. As there explains, Moshe would have shechina midaberes through the gates of Heaven. the crucible, made of iron, is a vessel mitoch gerono (the Divine words would Everything will be fine.” emanate from his throat); perfect used to refine gold. Hashem wished Being nosei b’ol, bearing the burden to have a pure nation to accept the speech was not a prerequisite for this of a fellow Jew, is displayed in this Torah, and a process of refinement mission. Once again, the underlying week’s parsha by Moshe. Though was necessary. The national tragedy, lesson is: If Hashem set you up with he was a prince in Pharaoh’s with the great toll it took on us, was a mission, He gives you the tools to household, he went out to see the a stepping stone for us to become succeed! May we all merit success sufferings of his brothers and to Hashem’s chosen nation and the in our missions, and see Hashem’s bear their burdens together with leader of destiny for all mankind! guidance and help throughout! them. Another example of this lesson Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ By Rabbi Yaakov Zions SAVE THE DATE FOR WINTER Last week we asked: What is the Shulchan Aruch as halacha which GARDENS - WOMEN’S maximum number of blessings would apply in Eretz Yisrael during a NIGHT OUT possible in a legitimate weekday drought. Although there are reported An event you don’t want to Shemone Esrei? instances of these added prayers being miss! The Kollel Women’s A: The Mishna (Taanis 15a) relates recited as recently as a few centuries Division will hold its annual that during certain fasts for rain, a ago (perhaps as late as 5490/1729), Winter Gardens - Women’s communal fast and public prayer many halachic authorities write that Night Out on Tuesday, service were held. During this service, this is not currently our custom. January 8, 2019. Featuring the leader would recite a 24-blessing Sources: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Mrs. Leah Rubashkin, who prayer; six extra blessings added to Chaim 575:4 and 9, 579:2, Sha’arei will share her personal story the regular eighteen. Our weekday Teshuva, Birkei Yosef and Kaf of faith, endurance and Shemone Esrei contains nineteen Hachaim Orach Chaim 575. resilience during 8 years of blessings (an extra blessing was added This week’s question: What is the trials and tribulations. during the Amoraic period), which maximum number of blessings would bring the abovementioned possible in a legitimate Shabbos LEGAL HOLIDAY LEARNING prayer to 25. This is quoted by the Shemone Esrei? THIS TUESDAY Start your day off on the right foot with Torah study! Lives of Our Torah Leaders Join the Kollel for learning at Rabbi Moshe Sofer, Chasam Sofer Part XXVI three different locations: At (The context of The Michtav Sofer's Imrei Sofer (a great-great-grandson). Aish Denver and the Kollel opposition is notable. The earliest One of Rabbi Sofer’s daughters, West Denver Bais Medrash, successes of Reformers to make Hindel, married Rabbi Dovid Tzvi shacharis at 8 am followed changes in Hungarian Jewry began Ehrenfeld (1809-1861). They had a son, by breakfast and learning, with a small prayer group begun by Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld (1835-1888), and at EDOS, shacharis at one Gabriel Ullman in the Jewish who became the rabbi of Mattersdorf. 7:30 followed by breakfast community of the Hungarian city He is known by the title of his Torah and learning. The study of Pest. This prayer group made works, Chasan Sofer, and he founded session will focus on No Help seemingly minor changes including the Mattersdorf dynasty. Rabbi Shmuel Wanted: The Prohibition of moving the bimah to the front of the Ehrenfeld’s grandson and namesake, Lifeni Iver As It Applies to room, holding a chupah (marriage Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld (1891-1980), Aiding a Transgressor ceremony) under a roof instead of founded Yeshivas Chasan Sofer in New under the sky, and having the rabbi York City and in the neighborhood of HELP BUILD THE FUTURE OF deliver his sermon in the vernacular Kiryat Mattersdorf in . Many TORAH IN DENVER rather than the traditional . other great descendants and students of Claim your part in building In 1830, this group became a fully- the Mattersdorf line have impacted the the future of Torah in Denver! functional . These seemingly Jewish People during the past 150 years. The Kollel is in the midst of a innocuous changes were, in fact, quite Another prominent family descended capital campaign to build a insidious, as they were the first drops from the Chasam Sofer is the three-story, state-of-the-art of a major flood of Reform that would dynasty. Rabbi Shimon Sofer Torah Center that will serve sweep huge parts of Hungarian Jewry (1850-1944), son of the Ksav Sofer, away from traditional Torah Judaism.) the entire Denver Jewish was the progenitor of the Erlau community. To contribute, or Many other descendants of the dynasty. Initially, Rabbi Sofer lived for dedication opportunities Chasam Sofer included the Sofer name in Uman, then Kiev. Around 1873, and details on the building, in their works, including (in addition he relocated to Krakow where he visit denverkollel.org or email to those already mentioned) the Yad lived with an uncle who shared his Sofer (a great-grandson), the Cheshev [email protected]. name, Rabbi Shimon Sofer (1820- Sofer (a great-great-grandson), and the 1883), author of the Michtav Sofer.

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 1395 Wolff Street, Denver, CO 80204 303-820-2855 [email protected] www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, email to [email protected]