Balak June 25, 2021

Parshas Balak June 25, 2021 A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul Where There’s a Will There’s a Way Publishing Deadline by Rabbi Nesanel Kipper based on a story on achim.org This week’s parsha begins with Balak’s Rabbi Wasserman notes that the Targum Rabbi Yoel Sirkis (1561-1640) brazen attempt to destroy the Jewish translates these three terms as “I did not had completed writing a massive People. He enlists the help of the command in my Torah, nor sent in the commentary on the Tur, which he powerful non-Jewish prophet, Bilam, to hand of My servants the prophets, nor is it titled Bayis Chadash, better known curse the Jews. When the messengers of the will before Me.” He explains that this by its acronym, the Bach. So famous Balak approach Bilam to persuade him refers to three elements of Torah: 1) The would this work become that Rabbi to join them, Hashem tells Bilam to direct commandment of G-d through the Sirkis would become eponymously refuse. Bilam therefore responds to the Torah. 2) The word of G-d conveyed by known as the Bach. messengers, “Even if you will give me a the prophets. 3) Beneath the actual word house full of silver and gold, I still will of G-d, there is an additional, nuanced Before publishing his work, Rabbi not be able to transgress the word of expression of G-d’s will, which, while not Sirkis gave the manuscript to a young G-d” (Balak 22:18). explicitly instructed, can be understood colleague of his whom he knew to be a very righteous and accomplished At first glance, Bilam’s reply seems by those who are truly committed to doing His will. This kind of service is Torah scholar, asking him to review it proper – he says that he will not ignore and give his opinion. G-d’s commandment. Nonetheless, more difficult than following the direct our Sages teach that Bilam did not act commandments of Hashem. It requires a Sometime later, Rabbi Sirkis asked the appropriately in his interactions with much greater commitment to the service man if he had completed his perusal of Hashem, and a heightened awareness G-d. How is this to be understood in of the manuscript and if he was ready and connection to what Hashem wants light of Bilam’s apparent willingness to to return it. from us at any given moment. obey G-d’s command? “I won’t want to return it to you, even The Torah Sages throughout history, Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman (1874-1941) in twenty years’ time,” said the young from Moshe Rabbeinu until today, explains by first posing another question. man. possess a heightened sensitivity to the The Gemara (Yevamos 62a) tells us that “Why so?” asked Rabbi Sirkis. “If true will of Hashem. Therefore, when Moshe took three halachic actions of his the book does not meet with your Moshe decided to take action of his own accord, and Hashem approved all approval, then please tell me, for did I own initiative, it was only superficially three. This idea is puzzling; if Hashem not give it to you in order to hear your his own, as Hashem did not explicitly critical comments?” did not command Moshe to do these state those mitzvos. Nonetheless, Moshe, things, how could Moshe decide on his with his keen sense of Hashem’s will, “Your book is good and does own that they should be done? was really conveying what he understood good,” the young man assured him. This question can be further expanded Hashem’s will to be. This is the reality “However, as soon as you publish it by pondering what obligates the Jewish of the mitzvos and enactments which and distribute it around the world, People to adhere to the words and laws our Sages institute, as well, for they are you will have completed your life’s enacted by the Sages. conveying Hashem’s will to us. mission, and you will be taken from this world. And that is precisely why The prophet Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) With this idea in mind, we can now I want to delay its publication – so admonishes Klal Yisrael for offering understand what Bilam did wrong. By that you should continue living with sacrifices to idols. While relaying G-d’s responding that he cannot transgress us here.” message, he rebukes them for doing that the “word of G-d,’’ he indicated that he “Which I (G-d) have not commanded was only concerned about Hashem’s “If that is what is holding you back,” you, nor spoken to you, nor considered explicit command to him not to join the said Rabbi Sirkis, “then I hereby in My heart.” The verse gives three messengers. He knew that joining the commit my soul to my Creator, and expressions to convey the same idea - campaign to destroy the Jewish Nation will not delay the publication of the “not commanded you,” “nor spoken to would be going against Hashem’s will, book for the reason you give, because you,” and “nor considered in My heart.” but the only thing that was really holding the world needs it.” What is the need for this apparent him back was his fear of transgressing The young man had no option but to redundancy? Hashem’s direct commandment to him. continued on back continued on back Kollel Happenings Halacha Riddles Last week’s question: How can the the third blessing and did not yet begin LEGAL HOLIDAY LEARNING recitation of one blessing prevent the the fourth blessing, there is a special ON JULY 4TH recitation of four blessings? blessing that should be recited in lieu of The Kollel’s in-person Legal Answer: If a person failed to recite the ritzei. Thus, this one blessing prevents Holiday Learning returns on additional ritzei prayer during Birkas the need to repeat the four blessings of Birkas Hamazon. (This special blessing July 4th! Breakfast following Hamazon on Shabbos, he must repeat Birkas Hamazon (for the first two Shabbos exists for one who omitted yaale viyavo 7:30 shacharis at the West on holidays and Rosh Chodesh, as well.) Denver Kollel Torah Center meals, but not at the Third Meal). Once the third blessing of Birkas (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 188:6 and at EDOS; details for the with Mishna Berura 22-23). Southeast Kollel Torah Center Hamazon is completed with the This week’s question: When would TBD. For more info, email completion of the final part of uvinei the need to repeat Birkas Hamazon vary [email protected]. Yerushalayim, one cannot go back and recite ritzei. However, if one completed based on one’s gender? SUMMER NIGHT SEDER FOR BACHURIM CONTINUES Lives of Our Torah Leaders The Kollel’s Summer Night Seder for Bachurim is in full Rabbi Meir Shapiro - Part V swing at the West Denver Other Torah luminaries who recognized Shulchan Aruch), from whom he Kollle Torah Center. Boys the great potential of the young Rabbi received semicha; Rabbi Yisrael of join the Kollel’s night seder. Meir Shapiro included Rabbi Yitzchak Vizhnitz, a major chassidic leader; Rabbi Refreshments and raffles Shmelkes of Lemberg (Lvov), a major Aryeh Leib Horowitz, rabbi of Stanislav; nightly. A weekly stipend halachic authority and author of Bais and Rabbi Meir Arik, another major is available for those who Yitzchak (a halachic commentary on halachic authority of the time. attend consistently. Contact Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher, A Taste of Torah [email protected], for continued from front more details. He was not concerned about truly serving Will we move ahead with our personal SPRING-SUMMER AVOS Hashem and fulfilling His will, whether agenda, even though we know it does not UBANIM ON SHABBOS specifically commanded or not. Through align with true Torah values, so long as a subtle choice of words, we can see his the Torah doesn’t explicitly forbid it? Or AFTERNOON disregard for following the true will of G-d. will we try to understand what Hashem The Kollel’s spring-summer And as the story of the parsha continues, really wants from us, and make that our Avos Ubanim program this attempt to sidestep G-d’s will while guiding force for each decision we make? continues this Shabbos still obeying the letter of His law sends We beseech Hashem every morning afternoon at the Kollel Torah Bilam further and further into the abyss. that we should not come to sin, and we Centers in West Denver and Throughout life, we are constantly constantly need His assistance in guiding Southeast Denver. Learning faced with nisyonos (trials). From direct us to do the right thing. If we put in our begins one hour before confrontations to more subtle challenges, best effort to understand and follow mincha, followed by nosh and we must constantly keep our eyes and Hashem’s will, we can be confident that prizes. The month of Tammuz our hearts open to pay attention to what Hashem will guide us to truly fulfill His Hashem wants of us. will and serve Him properly. is sponsored by Reb Moshe Berkowitz in memory of his father, Reb Shlomo ben Reb Stories for the Soul Aryeh Leib. Thank you, as well, continued from front to Denver Human Services for their partnership in this return the manuscript to its author, who In this week’s parsha, Bilam expresses his proceeded to have it published, volume by wish to die the death of the righteous. program. For sponsorships volume, beginning in 1631. And in 1640, Bilam failed to realize however, that one and more info, email info@ soon after the appearance of the final must live righteously in order to die the denverkollel.org.

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