בס“ד Toronto Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Parshat Lech Lecha 11 Cheshvan 5773/October 27, 2012 Vol.4 Num. 6 We welcome the shlichim of Torah miTzion visiting Toronto for the annual North American Convention! Avraham and the Rainbow Yair Manas Although he began his journey at the account, Noach makes no attempt to you a rainbow to teach you to look end of parshat Noach, we are reach out to the people in his deeper into each person." Avraham does introduced to Avraham’s character in generation. In this battle of the extrovert not need a rainbow to teach him this parshat Lech Lecha. From multiple concerned with the fate of humanity, message. episodes we see that Avraham deeply and the introvert concerned with his cares about the material and spiritual own survival, who is correct? Concern for wicked neighbours appears w e l l - being of those in his in the Talmud as well. In sefer surroundings. In the beginning of the Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (MiP'ninei Yechezkel (9:4), G-d tells Yechezkel to parshah, Rashi (Bereishit 12:5) quotes HaRav pg. 344) explains Noach’s draw a letter on the foreheads of the a midrash telling us that Avraham and shortcoming as follows: Chazal expound people. A gemara explains (Shabbat Sarah brought those around them to that had Noach been as great a tzaddik 55a) that G-d told the angel Gavriel to recognize G-d. Next, Avraham turns as Avraham, G-d would surely have make a letter with ink on the foreheads down his share of the spoils from the entered into a covenant with Noach, like of the righteous, and to use blood to battle of the four kings and the five He did with Avraham (Bereishit 15). The make that letter on the foreheads of the kings, but he ensures that his Rav explains that Noach’s shortcoming wicked, so that the angels of destruction partners receive their share. (Bereishit was that he did not see the possibility of would know whom to kill. The Attribute 14:24) A third example occurs when good in the evil people in his generation. of Justice objected to this distinction, Avraham corrects Avimelech, and tells Avraham, on the other hand, was able and argued that the righteous could him to bless G-d before blessing to see the potential for good in the have protested against the wicked, so others. (Bereishit 14:19-20, Nedarim people of Sodom, even though they were they too should be included with the 32b) Finally, in parshat Vayera, extremely wicked. wicked. G-d answered that He knew Avraham argues with G-d on behalf of that their protest would not have Sodom and Amorah. Avraham has the Rabbi Soloveitchik suggests that the changed the wicked, to which the audacity to negotiate with G-d over the reason that G-d showed a rainbow to Attribute of Justice responded, "You fate of a city whose inhabitants are Noach after the flood was to tell Noach know, but the righteous did not know." described in Bereishit 13:13 as that just as a person can see a ray of The righteous should have attempted to "extremely wicked and sinful to G-d." sun behind each cloud, and even a influence the wicked in the generation rainbow can be seen in a somewhat of Yechezkel, and were ultimately Avraham’s concern for those around cloudy sky, so Noach should have punished for their failure to do so. him, and especially his arguments on attempted to seek out the potential behalf of the people of Sodom, is goodness in the people of his Certainly, Noach's own spiritual and famously contrasted with what Rabbi generation. G-d tells Noach, "You, physical survival takes precedence over Michael Rosensweig calls Noach’s Noach, did not trouble yourself to look his attempts to influence others, and he "silent reaction to the doomed fate of into the depths of the hearts of the may be justified in keeping his distance. an entire world." Based on the Torah's people in your generation; I am showing However, there are ways to impact others without even coming into contact with them. One way to influence those people is to daven for them. Beruriah, COME TO A SPECIAL MELAVEH MALKAH wife of Rabbi Meir, corrects her SPONSORED BY MIZRACHI AND TORAH MITZION husband and tells him that he should pray for sin to end, and not for the AT CONGREGATION BNAI TORAH, 465 PATRICIA, TORONTO sinners to die. (Berachot 10a) Avraham does not deal directly with Sodom; he 8:30 PM MOTZAEI SHABBAT NOVEMBER 3 davens for them, and asks G-d to spare them. One lesson to learn from the comparison of Noach and Avraham is PANEL DISCUSSION WITH WORLD-RENOWNED SPEAKERS: that introvert or extrovert, one must never entirely give up on those around ISRAEL: LAND, PEOPLE AND TORAH him.

ARE WE LOSING IT? [email protected]

$20 Fee  RSVP to Mizrachi—416-630-9266 We are grateful to Continental Press 905-660-0311 Hitoriri: All is Well Hillel Horovitz Jewish Spirituality

Value Life! בשבת הזו חל יום פטירתה של רחל אמנו - שד ' נותן לנו בעולם . מעניין לציין שהעיר Rabbi Baruch Weintraub י “ א בחשון . כאשר יעקב ורחל נפגשים ירוחם שנמצאת בדרום הארץ נקראת על שם לראשונה ) פרשת ויצא ( , הדבר קורה ליד בארה של הגר . הבאר שנמצאת בצומת A midrash elaborates upon Avraham's הבאר שם פורחת אהבתם . הבאר מופיעה הכניסה לעיר זאת הייתה נקראת בפי ,journey from Charan to Eretz Israel פעמים רבות בסיפורי האבות , הגר מקבלת הבדוויים ” ביר רחמה “ באר הרחמים , שכן then known as Canaan: את הברכה להולדת ישמעאל בבאר מים בלב המדבר הם הביטוי האולטימטיבי As Avraham was walking in Aram ) בראשית טז ( , היא גם נצלת בעזרת באר למידת הרחמים. אותם מים אשר מצילים את Naharaim and Aram Nachor, he saw נוספת בעוד היא תועה במדבר באר שבע הגר וישמעאל. people eating, drinking and ) בראשית כא : יט ( , האבות חופרים בארות , celebrating recklessly. He said, "I משה פוגש את ציפורה לצד הבאר , מים בשיר השירים )ד:טו( משווה שלמה המלך את hope my share won’t be in this מסופקים לבני ישראל במדבר באמצעות האישה לבאר : ” מעין גנים , באר מים חיים , ".land באר מרים , וכפי שפתחנו , שם נפגשים יעקב ונוזלים מן לבנון ” . כך נראה גם מהפסוק ורחל. במשלי ) ה : טו ( ” שתה מים מבורך ונזלים When he arrived at Tzur's מתוך בארך “ . מדוע דווקא האשה נמשלת mountains (the modern boundary ניתן להסביר בפשטות שמקור המים בעת לבאר ? ניתן להסביר כי שלמה המלך between Israel and Lebanon), he העתיקה היה מקום מפגש קבוע לאנשים בחוכמתו הרבה ראה והבין שהאשה היא saw them busy with weeding at the רבים , אך אולי ננסה למצוא מסר נוסף מקור השפע והרחמים של הבית , היא time to weed and hoeing at the time המסתתר במשמעות הבאר . הגמרא במסכת המשפיעה על הכוחות הנמצאים בבית. to hoe. He said, "I hope my share ברכות ) נו :( מספרת על אדם שרואה באר will be in this land." G-d said to בחלום, ושואלת מה פרוש חלום זה . הגמרא המדרש ) בראשית רבה פב ( שואל מדוע רחל him: "To your offspring I will give מביאה שלוש תשובות שונות . רבי חנינא נקברת בצד הדרך, בדרך אפרת: (this land" (Bereishit Rabbah 39:8 אומר כי הרואה באר בחלום רואה שלום , ותקבר בדרך אפרת, מה ראה אבינו יעקב רבי נתן אומר: מצא תורה , רבא אמר : חיים לקבור את רחל בדרך אפרת ? אלא צפה Why was Avraham so impressed by the ממש , כלומר אריכות ימים . שלושת יעקב אבינו שהגליות עתידות לעבור שם , sight of labour? Why wouldn't Avraham הביטויים הנ “ ל מבטאים מקורות של שפע לפיכך קברה שם כדי שתהא מבקשת choose a richer land, where people וברכה. עליהם רחמים . וזה שכתוב : קול ברמה could indulge in eating, dancing and נשמע נהי בכי תמרורים רחל מבכה על celebrating? Even if Avraham didn't like הגמרא בתלמוד הירושלמי מביאה מימרא בניה. the celebrations of the non-Jews, he של ר' עקביה: could have chosen such a land, and דרש עקביה ... וזכור את בוראך רחל אמנו, שעברה כל כך הרבה בחייה , שהיא taught his family to use its resources !for Torah and mitzvot ) קהלת י “ ב ( : בארך . בורך . בוראך . אחת מאמהות האומה , יכולה להתייחס בארך- ממקום שבאתה. לסבלם של כל בית ישראל, בית שלה . היכולת It seems clear that Avraham did not הזו לבקש רחמים נובעת מעצם אישיותה , only oppose 'eating, drinking and הבאר מסמלת את המקום ממנו נבראו בני מיכולתה להתחבר ל ” באר “ , לאותו מקום של celebrating'; he positively appreciated האדם , המקור של השפע , מהו אותו מקור הבריאה , של התורה ושל הרחמים . יהי רצון labour and hard work. A reason might זה ? אנו לומדים במקומות רבים שד ' בורא שגם אנחנו נדע להתחבר למקום זה של ” באר be found in an explanation given by את האדם במידת הרחמים, השפע שניתן לנו מיים חיים “ ונזכה לשאוב מים בששון .(Rashi to a mishnah in Sanhedrin (3:3 מאת הקב “ ה נובע ממקור רחמיו של ממעייני הישועה. The mishnah states that a man who הקב “ ה , הבאר אם כן מסמלת מציאות של (engages in 'cube games' (i.e. gambling רחמים , גם מים חיים אשר מסמלים את [email protected] and is doing nothing else to support התורה מסמלים גם את הרחמים , את השפע himself, is unfit to testify in court. Rashi (Eruvin 82a) explains, "They are not engaged in settling the world, so 613 Mitzvot: #212 they are not familiar with the labour and sorrows of men, and therefore they Awe for our Parents do not spare their friends from losing Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner money." According to Rashi, a man who is not working for his living does not appreciate his own wealth, or that of his The Torah's thirty-third mitzvah situations; even a mamzer is obligated in friend. requires us to honour our parents, this mitzvah. However, some suggest that th but the 212 mitzvah adds a this obligation exists only after the parent Avraham wanted his sons to grow up in dimension, instructing, “A man shall has repented. (Yevamot 22b; Shulchan a place where life was valued. The have awe of his mother and Aruch Yoreh Deah 240:18) labour and the work we put forth to father.” (Vayikra 19:3) Thus there are sustain our life should remind us of the two mitzvot: Awe and Honour. "Awe" It is worth noting that a parent is importance of our lives, and the refers to displays of respect; for empowered to forgive his honour; for precious nature of each minute. example, we don't sit in our parents' example, a mother may permit her child seats and we don't contradict them. to sit in her seat. However, a mother is [email protected] "Honour" refers to actions which not entitled to permit her child to cause actively provide honour, such as her pain or public disgrace. (Minchat providing meals or dressing them. Chinuch 212:6)

The mandate to act with respect [email protected] toward one's parents applies to all

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com Biography: Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira R’ Mordechai Torczyner This Week in Israeli History Torah in Translation Rabbi Elazar Spira was born in the Austro-Hungarian town of Strzyzow, Cheshvan 16, 1949 Y’hi Ratzon into the rabbinic family which led the On Wings of Eagles Munkaczer chasidim, in December, during Shofar 1868. He received the name "Chaim" Adam Frieberg

during a grave illness at the age of Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira three, on the instruction of his father's Thursday is the 16th of Cheshvan mentor, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz. Minchat Elazar 1:75 Between June 1949 and September Rabbi Spira was a child prodigy, writing Translated by R’ Mordechai Torczyner 1950, 42,862 Yemenite Jews were his first work of Jewish law at the age of brought to the newly established Regarding the Derech Chaim's statement 11. He became the head of the beit din State of Israel. Families and that one should not recite the y'hi ratzon of Munkacz in 1903, serving alongside individuals were airlifted on British printed in siddurim and machzorim between his father, who was the Munkaczer and American transport planes over the first sets of shofar blasts: He referenced . When his father passed away in the course of approximately 380 Orach Chaim 592, but no prohibition is 1913, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira became flights from Aden, a port city on the found there. Just the opposite, the Rama the new Munkaczer Rebbe. He was also eastern approach to the Red Sea. there said that prayers are not an known as "Minchas Elazar", the title of The operation was kept secret out of interruption between shofar blasts, only his major work on Jewish law. between the berachah and the shofar blast. fear that other Muslim nations For this, then, which is between the sets of The charismatic leadership of Rabbi would object, but it was publicly th blasts, one may interrupt with y'hi ratzon, Spira spurred the growth of the announced on the 16 of Cheshvan. which is related to the shofar blasts. It is Munkaczer chasidim. People came from only between the berachah and the start of near and far to seek his counsel and his The origin of the ancient Jewish the shofar blasts that it would constitute an blessing, and he organized a network of communities in Yemen is a highly interruption. It appears that he meant to tzedakah institutions to take care of contested topic, but everyone agrees reference the Taz (592:1), who said that one social needs. His , Darchei that they have been there for more should not interrupt until after the blasts Teshuvah, attracted students from all than a millennium. One theory blown during the amidah… over Europe. International leaders, suggests that Jews immigrated including Czech president Edvard Benes there after they were exiled from However, in the y'hi ratzon one prays that the and Holland’s Queen Wilhelmina, visited Israel with the destruction of the blasts should be accepted and desired. The the sage. By the time of his passing, in first Beit haMikdash. Over the sages said that the first blasts are to confuse May of 1937, more than half of Munkacz centuries, the Jews spread the Satan, as the Taz himself wrote (592:2), was Jewish. When Rabbi Spira's throughout the country; by 1949, and so one needs to pray that they should be daughter Frima got married, , 80 percent were living in small desirable in confusing the Satan. and opened their towns rather than urban centres. borders to permit visitors to attend the The situation for Yemen's Jews This is certainly true given that the Ari z"l wedding without visa; more than 20,000 became extremely hostile following wrote that one should confess his sins guests attended. the announcement of the 1947 UN verbally, albeit silently, between the blasts! Partition Plan; Muslim rioters killed Rabbi Spira founded a tzedakah which And it will certainly be no worse than one's 82 Jews and destroyed many helped support Jews living in then- own prayers in musaf, and the added poems homes. This was part of the impetus Palestine, and he established a which do not constitute an interruption for for the mass emigration. Jerusalem neighbourhood, Batei this issue… Munkacz. Rabbi Spira himself visited The Israeli government set up an However, regarding the text of the y'hi ratzon Israel in 1930. However, Rabbi Spira encampment, entitled Geulah paragraphs between the blasts, my father's was a strong opponent of , [“redemption”], next to Aden. In practice is not to say them for a separate contending that Jews should not seek to order to reach this city, thousands reason. There is concern for mixture of establish a self-governing state until the of Jews travelled by foot and on foreign ideas in the meditations upon the miraculous arrival of Mashiach. He was donkeys, vulnerable to robbers as Names, which are not from the Ari z"l. I also militantly opposed to the formation well as hostile local populations. would be afraid to open my mouth regarding of Jewish umbrella organizations, This wasn’t the first time that Jews such issues, especially as these paragraphs including Agudath Israel, contending had left Yemen for Israel; the first have been printed and published in ancient that Jews should focus on their significant departure of Jews from as well as new siddurim. On the other hand, personal relationships with HaShem. in my humble opinion, the obligation is upon Yemen was in 1862. However, this each individual to publicize and inform Broad scholarship and prolific writing undertaking, officially called people of this, to keep people from reciting have kept Rabbi Spira's influence alive Operation on Wings of Eagles, them and meditating upon them out of in the decades since his passing; he (taken from Shemot 19:4) and also concern for these foreign ideas, Gd forbid… published more than twenty books on commonly called Operation Magic Jewish law, chumash, chassidut, liturgy Carpet, was the first mass exodus. It is recorded in the y'hi ratzon after tekiah- and Jewish philosophy. shevarim-teruah-tekiah, "And Yeshua the [email protected] internal celestial officer, and the celestial [email protected] officer Mt"t." We have not seen this name for save us. This mistake was allowed due to an "internal celestial officer" angel anywhere; carelessness… and from there this only Mt"t is the internal celestial officer… mistake was drawn into other siddurim, This name Yeshua is like the name used by since no one pays attention to these those who promote that known idolatry, Gd matters which are the world’s secrets…

Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3 Our Haftorah: Yeshayah 40:27-41:16 R’ Baruch Weintraub

Who is the prophet of our haftorah? Jewish people will be free to rejoice and also because of the divine plan to unite Yeshayah (Isaiah) was a prophet in the thank Hashem. Yeshayah comforts and the world under G-d, as ‘avdi’. Maharal period leading up to the exile of the ten assures the people that they are still (Netzach Yisrael 11) elaborates on this northern tribes of Yisrael by the 'Yaakov whom I have chosen'. point, asking why the Torah explains to Assyrians. He lived in the southern us that Noach was chosen because of What is the connection between our kingdom of Yehudah, and he his deeds, while regarding Avraham our prophesied during the reigns of Kings haftorah and the parshah? parshah begins with the selection itself, Uziahu, Yotam, Achaz and Chizkiyahu. The concept of the Jewish nation as an without any explanation as to why elected nation begins with Avraham in According to the Talmud (Sotah 10a), Avraham was chosen. He answers that he was a descendant of Yehudah and our parshah, as he is separated from his Noach was chosen as an individual, Tamar. family by the command, "Lech Lecha – while Avraham was chosen to begin leave your country, your homeland and building a nation. Selection of an As the Talmud (Bava Batra 15a) your family." individual can depend upon his deeds informs us, the book of Yeshayah was and misdeeds, but G-d's considerations compiled by King Chizkiyahu and Again and again throughout his life, Avraham is required to prove his love and when choosing a nation should focus on associates of his. The prophecies of the potential for the future. Hashem Yeshayah may be classified in two faith towards Hashem. Chazal tell us that Avraham was tried no less than ten chose Avraham for what Avraham and categories, Rebuke and Redemption; his descendants were capable of the former dominates the early times! According to the Rambam (Commentary to the Mishnah, Avot 5:3) accomplishing, and not for their chapters of the book, while the latter previous accomplishments. occupies the latter portion. The split is the first test was Lech Lecha, and the last was the Akeidah. not clean, though; portions of the It seems that this concept of the Jewish former include redemption, and Remaining strong in all of these tests, nation as a servant is our haftorah's portions of the latter include rebuke. Avraham earned the title 'Ohavi', 'My fundamental message. The people are worried because of their exile and their What is the message of our haftorah? lover' – the one who loved Me. This title is bestowed upon him by Yeshayah in our enemy's success. Yeshayah's answer is: Our haftorah speaks about the election Don't look at things as they appear, for of the Jewish People. The people in haftorah. In a world full of idol worshippers, Avraham achieved Israel's election does not depend on the exile are questioning this election. They actual, but on the potential. Because doubt; maybe G-d has forgotten us, knowledge of G-d. The haftorah does not end with this note, though. In the same our election is rooted in the future and and has distanced us from him. To that not in the past or present, the fear that Yeshayah answers sharply: Don’t they verse in which Avraham is called 'My lover', the Jews are called 'Avdi', 'My G-d will leave us has no basis; our goals know that G-d is not one to forget or to still lie ahead. become tired? When the day of servant'. redemption comes, Yisrael's enemies Avraham is chosen not only because of [email protected] will be defeated and lost, and the his own will to recognize Hashem, but Highlights for October 27 - November 3 / 11-17 Cheshvan 8 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Medical Halachah with Shabbat, October 27 CME: Patient Capacity for Consent, Shaarei Shomayim 7:45 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Reasons for Mitzvot and the 8-10 PM Monday night Beit Midrash at Clanton Park Parshah, Or Chaim not this week 10:20 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Parshah, Clanton Park Tuesday, October 30 11:30 AM R’ Baruch Weintraub, The Stranger, Or Chaim 1:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Tzefaniah 2: Global 4:50 PM Hillel Horovitz, “G-d and Human Testing”, BAYT Devastation, Shaarei Shomayim, with Mekorot Hebrew 7:30 PM Hillel Horovitz, King David: Shemuel Bet, KST 5:05 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Daf Yomi: Shabbat 24, 8 PM Adam Frieberg, Yiftach’s Daughter: Human BAYT Sacrifice?, Shaarei Tefillah 5:20 PM Adam Frieberg, Lech Lecha, Shaarei Tefillah 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Rambam’s Laws of Kings, After minchah R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Gemara Avodah Shomrai Shabbos, men Zarah, BAYT not this week 8:45 PM R’ Ezra Goldschmiedt, Jewish Clothing Controversies, Week 1, BAYT Sunday, October 28 8:45 AM Breakfast and Beit Midrash, R’ Baruch Wednesday, October 31 Weintraub, When Human and Divine Ethics Clash, FHJC 10 AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Supernatural/ 9:15 AM Hillel Horovitz, Parshah, Zichron Yisroel, Hebrew Superstition, Week 3, BEBY, with Melton (Shacharit 8:30 AM) 12:30 PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner, Business Ethics Lunch After maariv R’ Baruch Weintraub, Contemporary Halachic & Learn Week 2: Suing in Secular Court, Zeifmans Questions in Israel, Hebrew, Clanton Park, men 8:30 PM Roving Beit Midrash: R’ Baruch Weintraub, 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Contemporary Halachic Women in the Synagogue, TCS Questions in Israel, Hebrew, 4 Tillingham Keep, mixed Next Roving Beit Midrash: Shaarei Shomayim, Nov. 14, R’ Mordechai Torczyner, History of Modern Zionism Monday, October 29 8-10 PM Monday night Beit Midrash at Bnai Torah Thursday, November 1 8 PM Hillel Horovitz, Shemuel II, Shemuel & Batsheva, 8:30 PM R’ Baruch Weintraub, Chabura: Sotah, Clanton Bnai Torah Park

4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim! Visit us at www.torontotorah.com