Parshas Vayera October 26, 2018

A Taste of Stories for the Soul Unconstrained Kindness by Yosef Melamed Life-Saving Kindness Imagine the following scenario: One scorching heat, Avraham is outside Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth (1918-2001) day, your next door neighbor knocks on searching for travelers. Furthermore, related the tale of his escape at the your door, asking to borrow a hammer. the (Bava Metzia 86b) teaches outbreak of World War II. As he was You graciously agree, and run to get your that initially, Avraham sent his servant making an attempt to leave , he hammer. Upon receiving the hammer, Eliezer to see if there were any guests was caught by a Wehrmacht SS soldier, your neighbor proceeds to break down approaching. The Talmud goes on to say who immediately took him to his the front door and windows of your house that Eliezer was unsuccessful in his quest commanding officer. The latter would and smash your brand new car. The next and returned to Avraham empty-handed. shoot any Jew who was unfortunate day, your newfound “friend” knocks Not trusting Eliezer, Avraham proceeded enough to be brought before him. on your door, requesting once again to look for guests on his own. This time however, the officer began to borrow your hammer. Would your The question here is obvious. That to laugh wickedly. “Oh, I’m fed up reaction be to chase this brazen person Avraham was ready to forget about his with seeing killed Jews here in my out of your house, or would you instead own pain and help someone out is one office,” he declared. “Just take him run to get him your hammer with a smile? thing. But in this case, there simply were to the outskirts of town and kill him While most people would probably no guests to be found! Hashem had there.” entertain the first option, our Sages teach made it extremely hot to deter wayfarers, Rabbi Kreiswirth was handed over to us that G-d chose the second. The Medrash thus sparing Avraham the bother of one of the Nazi soldiers, who led him (Tanchuma Ki Sisa 14) teaches that when caring for them during his recovery from to the edge of the town. the Jews in the desert created the Golden circumcision. Even Avraham’s trusted As they walked, Rabbi Kreiswirth Calf, they fed it the manna, the G-d-given servant Eliezer, with whom, our Sages tell prayed to Hashem to save him, and he bread that would fall from Heaven each us (Yoma 28b), Avraham entrusted the tried to recall a mitzvah whose merit morning. Talk about chutzpah! To take great task of disseminating his teachings, would stand him in good stead in the miraculous bread sent by G-d Himself, was unsuccessful in his search for guests. those desperate moments. and to use it as part of the worship of a If there was no one in need of help, why He recalled that at one point, when foreign god! Yet, the Medrash brings a was Avraham so intent on performing he lived in Warsaw, he was asked by a verse in Yechezkel (16:19) which teaches chesed? Isn’t the purpose of chesed to fill local rabbi to care for a sick old man. us that the manna still came down for the someone else’s needs? Rabbi Kreiswirth gave up his own bed Jewish People like on any other day. Rabbi Shach answers that when one does for the ill man, tended to his needs The great work Tomer Devorah (authored an act of kindness, he is not simply doing and served him devotedly for several by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero; 1522-1570) an ordinary mitzvah. The Talmud (Sotah weeks, until the man succumbed and focuses on the mitzvah of vihalachta ibid.) teaches us that the beginning of passed away. Rabbi Kreiswirth grabbed bidrachav, following in Hashem’s ways. Torah is kindness and the end of Torah hold of that incident, and prayed that Rashi (Devarim 13:5), based on the is kindness. The beginning of Torah tells G-d have mercy and save him in the Talmud (Sotah 14a), explains that the that Hashem fashioned clothing for Adam merit of that selfless act. source of this mitzvah is actually from and Chava to wear. The Torah finishes As he finished his prayer, they reached the words of the verse in Devarim (ibid.), with Hashem burying Moshe. Thus, one the edge of the town. Suddenly, “And to Him you shall cleave.” By who performs kindness with his fellow the soldier accompanying Rabbi emulating the ways of Hashem, we can man is fulfilling the commandment of Kreiswirth said to him, “I have a wife attain the tremendous level of attaching “and to Him you shall cleave.” Hashem and children at home. I understand ourselves to Hashem. acts with chesed, and by performing your feelings.” He then shot three chesed, we emulate Hashem. By emulating Based on this concept, Rabbi Elazar times into the air to make it seem as Hashem, we merit to cleave to Him! Menachem Shach (1899-2001) explains though he had shot his prisoner. some puzzling ideas found in this week’s The Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim parsha. We learn of our forefather Luzzatto; 1707-1746), in his work Derech “Run!” hissed the Nazi sharply. Avraham’s great desire to perform chesed, Hashem (Ch. 2), teaches that Hashem And run he did. Rabbi Kreiswirth kindness. Despite the pain of the third created a world of kindness. Hashem is all ran throughout the night without day following circumcision and in the powerful and has no need for this world. continued on back continued on back Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ By Rabbi Yaakov Zions TORAH BY THE MOON Last week we asked: Did the mon (manna) lechem mishna on Yom Tov (see Shulchan fall for the Jews in the Desert on Yom Tov Aruch, Orach Chaim 529:1) is based on A night out for couples to (holidays), and what practical halachic the sources that the mon “rested’”on Yom engage in Torah learning! application does this have? Tov, as well. Men join Rabbi Shmuel A: The Torah tells us that mon (manna) This week’s question: For the requirement Halpern for Tractate Brachos did not fall on Shabbos. Tosafos (Eiruvin of lechem mishna (using two loaves at the in Halacha and Aggada. 38b) quotes a disagreement in Midrashim Shabbos meal), we use two “complete” Women attend Chassidus in whether the mon fell on Yom Tov. The loaves (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Real Life with Rabbi Moshe requirement of lechem mishna (using Chaim 274:1). How can one mistakenly Heyman. Mondays, 8-9 pm two loaves at the Shabbos meal) is in slice a challah completely through yet commemoration of the double portion of subsequently fulfill the requirement with at the Southeast Kollel Torah mon which fell each Friday in preparation it? Center, 4902 S. Xenia St. For for Shabbos. Our custom of requiring To submit an answer to Rabbi Zions, email [email protected]. more info visit denverkollel. org or email Rabbi Heyman, [email protected]. Lives of Our Torah Leaders Rabbi Moshe Sofer, the Chasam Sofer - Part XVII RABBI REISMAN WEEKLY IN “My father would not have gone to me in exile for a much longer period DENVER all this trouble if he was planning on than I had hoped, so he is providing me Join thousands around the bringing me home soon,” sobbed the with these luxuries for my extended stay.” globe in listening to the son. “It seems that he plans on leaving

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of Rabbi Yaakov Reisman! A Taste of Torah Rabbi Reisman’s weekly continued from front Motzoei Shabbos class is He created this world specifically so that to wayfarers be greater than basking in the shown at Beth Jacob High He could do kindness with its inhabitants. light of the Shechinah? th This means that Hashem’s attribute of According to the above explanation, this School, 5100 W. 14 Ave., kindness goes so far as to even create is not puzzling at all. Yes, it is an amazing this week at 8:30 pm. For beings who can receive His kindness. level to be in the presence of the Shechinah, sponsorships and info, Thus, by seeking to do chesed even when but that does not compare to actually contact info@denverkollel. there was no recipient who was in need attaching oneself to G-d. By staying with org. of that kindness, Avraham was emulating the Shechinah, Avraham would have only Hashem! merited a dialogue with G-d. By helping SFAS EMES: A PIERCING This explains the surprising statement of his guests, Avraham could be attached to LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS the Talmud (Shabbos 127a) that “attending Him! to guests is greater than receiving the In light of these insights, we gain a new It is one of the most widely- Shechina (Divine Presence).” The Talmud appreciation of the mitzvah of chesed. studied works of our time. tells us that in the above episode, Hashem By seeking to help other people in all Sfas Emes gives us a glimpse had come to visit Avraham. Avraham, situations and by going out of our way to into the infinite depths of seeing three travelers, asks Hashem to see if there is anything we are not aware of Torah and Jewish thought. wait for him as he attends to his guests that we can help others with, we will merit Kollel Scholar Rabbi Avraham - indicating that attending to guests is achieving the dazzling level of attaching greater than receiving the Shechina. This ourselves to Hashem! Dovid Karnowsky is an seems mindboggling. How could attending expert in this great work,

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Stories for the Soul timeless lessons into daily continued from front life. Join Rabbi Karnowsky stopping, until he reached the relative one of the great Torah leaders of his time. on Thursdays, 8:15-9 pm at safety of the next town. He made his Our forefather Avraham implanted the the Southeast Kollel Torah way to Vilna, where he married, and trait of chesed, loving-kindness, in the Center, 4902 S. Xenia St. eventually emigrated to what was then Jewish People. It has stood us in good Palestine. Rabbi Kreiswirth later became stead throughout history. 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]