VAEIRA 5778

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 13

PARSHAH INSIGHTS Everyone is obligated to drink Four Cups of wine on Pesach night - men, women and children. Rav Yehuda said, what benefit is there for children to drink these cups? They are not obligated to “Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh – it will drink them (Pesochim 108b). Rav Yehuda is of the opinion that turn into a serpent. (7, 9) minors are not obligated to drink Four Cups as part of their What lesson was Hashem attempting to teach Pharaoh by sending chinuch. This is because the mitzva of drinking Four Cups is for the sign of the staff that turned into a serpent? the purpose of arriving at a feeling of freedom and minors are not able to achieve that feeling (Ran). Chazal (Yoma 23) say that a talmid chochom must have two traits that seem to contradict each other. He must be nice to people and If minors cannot enjoy freedom through drinking wine, what is compassionate to fill their needs. Yet, he must also have the the reason of the Tana Kama who obligates a parent to be ability to stand up for the needs of those he represents. mechanech his child in the mitzva of drinking Four Cups? With this premise, the Degel Machane Efraim explains that There are two types of halachic details in mitzvos. 1) They are although Moshe was the symbol of compassion, Hashem told him part and parcel of a mitzva. 2) General demands that one must to show Pharaoh that if the situation demands, I will be tough like comply with. a snake. Halacha demands that the drinking of the Four Cups must achieve Rav Meir Shapiro zt’l explained the lesson in another manner. a feeling of freedom. Is achieving freedom part and parcel of the Hashem knew that Pharaoh would not be able to comprehend mitzva of Four Cups or is it part of the general mitzva of feeling why He would redeem Bnai Yisroel, who were at the exact same free at the Seder? low spiritual level as the Egyptians. Hashem addressed this TABL E TALK thought of Pharaoh as follows.

As soon as Moshe’s staff left his hand, it turned into a snake. PARSHA DILEMMA When he picked it up, it returned to its natural status of a staff. This symbolized the influence of environment. The stick changed The seven day period ended after Hashem struck the river. (7, 25) its essence while being in front of Pharaoh. After the stick re- entered the realm of Moshe, it reverted back to a stick. The plagues lasted a quarter of a month. The other three quarters of the month, Moshe would forewarn and caution the Mitzreem. The same holds true with Bnai Yisroel. When they are among (Rashi) Egyptians, they can fall spiritually - to the extent that one may

wonder why they deserve to be redeemed. However, as soon as It seems from Rashi that all the Plagues afflicted the Mitzreem they attach themselves to sanctity, they rise again, to the level of for seven days. However, it seems from the psukim otherwise. a true Jew. With this thought in mind, Moshe’s message to The Plague of Dever lasted only one day, as the posuk says, Pharaoh was as follows. Allow them to leave your country and its “…the next day all the livestock of Mitzrayim perished.” (9, 6). bad influences, so that Bnai Yisroel could distance themselves In addition, the Plague of the First Born lasted only for a moment from the impurities of Mitzrayim and re-attach themselves to - midnight. How do we reconcile this seeming contradiction? holiness. WHO AM I ?

Therefore, say to Bnai Yisroel: “I am Hashem and I shall 1 Plagues take you out from under the burdens of Mitzrayim. I shall 2 Red Hefer rescue you from their service, I shall redeem you…, I 3 Songs 4 Exiles shall take you to Me for a people… (6, 6 - 7) Last week’s clues: For Mishna I am orders, For Dibros I was one Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Elozar, “The Four Cups of side, In Mitzrayim I was babies, For Shabbos I am challos. wine one drinks on Pesach correlates to the four terms of Answer: Six redemption recorded regarding Bnai Yisroel’s redemption from Congratulations to: Esti Ehrlich, Spivak Family, Neil Parks, Mitzrayim. (Breishis Raba 88, 4) Naftoli Stoll

SPONSORED BY THE CLEMENTS FAMILY IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF A BABY BOY TO RABBI AND MRS. FAIVEL KATZ AND IN HONOR OF THE SHERRINGTON FAMILY AND VORT OF ELISHEVA AND DANIEL WHO AM I ? KOLLEL BULLETIN BOARD 1 I am not stupid 2 I’m not from a cut MAZEL TOV

3 I killed fish Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Clements on the engagement of Elisheva 4 I’m first

Last week’s clues I call you, I am not shame, Write me on your Rabbi and Mrs. Feivel Katz on the birth of a boy tests, I am this week’s parsha. Rabbi and Mrs. Yakov Z. Katz Answer: Name / Sheim Shalom zochor at 23313 Wendover Dr. after 8:15 Congratulations to: Elisheva Ehrlich, Spivak Family, Neil Parks, Naftoli Stoll, Yakov Yisroel Schlesinger Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sadoff on the birth of a boy

TORAH RIDDLE Levi Winkler and Chaya Sara Rashidi-Fazel on their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Elazar Rashidi-Fazel

Why is the fifth cup of wine at the Seder called Kos Shel Eliyohu? SHABBOS EVENING SHIUR Last week’s riddle and answer: Daf Yomi (R’ Sender Stoll)...... Kollel What is the connection between the Parsha and having flowers 9:00 2480 S. Green Rd. and greenery on Shavuos? Pirchei Answer: Moshe was placed on the bank of a river on the sixth 1-2 Grade: 3:20-4:20 at Yavne (Downstairs) day of Sivan - Shavuos. Plants also grow on a bank of a river. 3-4 Grade: 2:55-3:25 at the Kollel

5-6 Grade: No Pirchei Please send “Who Am I” and “Torah Riddle” answers to 7-8 Grade: 4:15 Seder at Yavne (Upstairs) [email protected] by next Wed. and be entered in a raffle for an amazing Bnos K: Tzipora Perlstein – 2437 White Rd. “Micronoid – Build Your Own Robot” 1 Grade: Henny Malcmacher – 2449 Laurelhurst For the months of Teves/Shvat. 2 Grade: Rochel Compton – 2537 Claver Rd. The answers will IY”H appear in next week’s issue 3 Grade: Ahuva Malcmacher – 4298 University Pkwy 4 Grade: Sara Chana Roffman – 4361 Groveland A GLIMPSE OF GREATNESS 5-6 Grade: Riva Abramowitz – 2421 Elmdale

Moshe spoke accordingly to Bnai Yisroel, but they did not Motsai Shabbos Learning listen to him because they were short of breath and Alexander Shteible: 7:45-8:45 stressed out due to their hard work. (6, 9) Kollel Yad Chaim Mordechai: 7:15-8:15 Zichron Chaim: 7:15-8:15 The Chofetz Chaim was sitting with some of his close talmidim and bemoaned that the people of his generation lacked proper belief in Hashem. Hearing the comment of the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Naftoli Trop zt’l responded, “Bnai Yisroel in Mitzrayim RECEIVE ‘ONEG SHABBOS’ BY EMAIL lived only a few generations after the Avos. They knew that the If you would like to receive the Oneg Shabbos each week by exile would only be for four hundred years. Due to the strain of email, please subscribe online at www.beachwoodkollel.com, golus, they still refused to believe Moshe when he came to or email [email protected]. emancipate them.”

\ Rav Naftoli continued, “We are many more generations removed If you wish to have an announcement or event posted on the from our Forefathers, do not know the length of our golus and we Kollel Bulletin Board or to sponsor an issue, are definitely short of breath. It is no wonder that it is more call 216-626-KYCM (5926) or email difficult for us to believe in Hashem properly.” [email protected].

The Chofetz Chaim was overjoyed at the justification of Klal FRIDAY NIGHT LEARNING PROGRAM Yisroel for their lack of proper belief in Hashem offered by Rav The Kollel Bais Medrash will be open Naftoli. He exclaimed, “Excellent drosha; your are a defendant of for men and boys to come and learn. Bnai Yisroel. Your words should ascend to Hashem’s Throne of Cholent will be served. Glory.” Learning: 8:00 Cholent: 9:15 [Rav Naftoli passed away shortly after this conversation. People in Radin were saying that the words of the Chofetz Chaim “Your words should ascend to Hashem’s Throne” were fulfilled.]

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