Vaeschanan 5772 August 4, 2012

A Taste of Stories For The Soul More Than Pedagoguery Guard the Shabbos By Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher stated that if a principal of a school You are the principal of a Jewish has a choice between a skilled educator By Rabbi Yehoshua Schwartz day school, and you are interviewing a whose fealty to Torah leaves much to candidate for a position teaching Torah be desired, and another who is not as Two years after World War II had to youngsters. He is knowledgeable, well- impressive in the classroom, but is a G-d ended, Rabbi Moshe Neuschloss, trained, and is a wonderful educator. fearing individual, the latter should be who would later become the highly He inspires his students, magnificently selected. respected rabbi of the New Square communicates the subject matter, and If one required the skills of a Chassidic community near Monsey, is well-liked by the children and parents physician, explained Rabbi Grozovsky, NY, reached the decision that the alike. What more could you ask? He’s one would sooner choose a doctor time had come to leave Europe. hired, right? whose skills are minimal over a top- He and his wife immediately made Not so fast. There’s one more thing notch lawyer. For as good as as the reservations for a flight from Prague you need to ascertain. The candidate lawyer may be at his profession, he to New York. must be an upright, G-d fearing doesn’t practice medicine! By the same The day of departure arrived, individual. Because if that’s not the token, a Rebbe is not merely imparting and the plane took off as scheduled. case, he is not qualified to teach Torah. the Torah’s wisdom and message to his But problems developed in mid- The Torah tells us, “And you shall charges; he is an emissary of Hashem flight, forcing the pilot to make an make known to your children and your Himself! He is considered to have emergency landing in Ireland. children’s children - the day that you personally received the Torah at Sinai for Soon, the plane was repaired stood before Hashem, your G-d, in the purpose of teaching it to the Jewish and was ready for the next leg of Chorev (at Mount Sinai)…” (Devarim People! Thus, he must be an individual the journey. The passengers were 4:9-10) who is fit to be G-d’s agent; pedagogical informed, however, that due to the The Talmud (Kiddushin 30a) skills are insufficient, for that is not the delay, the flight would arrive in New quotes Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, who profession necessary to act as an agent of York on Saturday. commented that the juxtaposition G-d. This, he continued, is the meaning Rabbi Neuschloss informed of the requirement of teaching one’s of the passage in the Talmud that states, the airline personnel that he was children with the Giving of the Torah “If a Rebbe is like an angel in your a Sabbath observer and would not at Mt. Sinai informs us that one who eyes, then seek Torah from his mouth.” embark on such a journey. Rabbi teaches his grandson Torah is regarded (Moed Katan 17a) For what is an angel and Mrs. Neuschloss booked a room as having received the Torah at Sinai. if not an emissary of Hashem? So, too, a in a hotel for the weekend. Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky (1886- Rebbe must be Hashem’s agent. After Shabbos, Rabbi and Mrs. 1958), in a talk delivered to Rebbeim (Torah teachers) of Jewish day schools, Neuschloss took the next available flight to New York. Upon their arrival in New York, they heard the shocking news: the plane that had departed before Shabbos had crashed into the Ask the Rabbi sea, leaving no survivors. Lend a Hand It says in this week’s Parsha, “You shall guard the Shabbos.” Rabbi From: Harry staying intact and I don’t want them to Neuschloss is just one of the many get ruined. So I’m having problems with Jews throughout the generations who Dear Rabbi, the Torah idea of having to loan things have seen that when one guards the I’m not the type of person to share in order to help others, and, even more, Shabbos, the Shabbos guards them. my belongings with others, or loan them with the idea that I should somehow out, since I’m particular about their intentionally buy things for the purpose Kollel Happenings Interpersonal Issues DERECH HASHEM If the Lost Item Has No Valid Join Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher for a philosophical series on Identifying Feature “Derech Hashem”, a sefer by If one who can be considered a despite its lack of any identifying Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. talmid chochom (as defined in a past features. Discover and delve into the vital edition) claims, upon viewing the item, understanding of Hashem’s that it is his, he is believed. Therefore, Adapted with permission from “The world. The women’s class will an item found in area where there is a Halachos of Other People’s Money” by resume on Monday, August talmid chochom must be announced Rabbi Pinchas Bodner (Feldheim Publishers) 27th, 7:45 p.m., at EDOS. For info, email info@denverkollel. org or call 303-820-2855. AskContinued from the front Rabbi of letting others use them. Is this really Doing so is almost a condition for His a requirement, and if so, how can I giving. overcome my natural inclination to Yet, there is another possibility for keep my things to myself? you as well. If there is a certain thing of yours which people tend to need and Dear Harry, ask to borrow, and you don’t want it to A DEEPER LOOK AT THE PARSHA It is certainly understandable that get damaged by loaning it, you could you want to preserve the things that buy another such item specifically for Join Rabbi Shachne Sommers are important to you, that you bought the purpose of lending it, while keeping as he discusses a number of for yourself to be able to use and enjoy, yours for yourself. difficulties encountered in and not have to worry whether they’ll This is the idea of a “gemach”, a the weekly Torah portion, and be returned, and, if so, whether they’ll develops a comprehensive type of free-loaning organization that be damaged or broken, or at least not benefits others by making things or approach to resolve the issues, available for you when you want them. simultaneously conveying a services available to them which they But first you have to ascertain deeper understanding of the normally don’t have. In fact, a “gemach” whether that’s your real motivation, material being discussed. The might loan things that you don’t own or perhaps you’re fundamentally class will resume on Tuesday, yourself, or have no use or interest in, uncomfortable with helping others. August 21st, 8 p.m. at Aish. but others do. This might include power For example, even if you don’t tools, infant supplies, goods or loan out your personal belongings, are many diverse and various things. you willing to offer your help in other So, given your description of ways? If not, that needs attention. But if you’re OK with that, then even before yourself, I would suggest finding other you lend your things, you can lend a ways to help people while also loaning helping hand. Work on finding ways to your own things a little more liberally. TRUST THY FATHER be helpful to others in ways that don’t But perhaps more importantly, I depend on lending your belongings. encourage you to start a “gemach” or Join Rabbi Shachne Sommers for That being said, while you two or few to benefit others in this way. “Trust Thy Father”, a series based don’t have to give out your things Usually, the costs of supplying, and even on Chovos Ha’Levavos/Duties of to irresponsible people or under maintaining, a “gemach” can be covered the Heart. Discover and delve into circumstances that are likely to cause by part of the money a person sets aside vital Jewish concept of Bitachon. damage, to normally responsible people as “ma’aser” (a tenth of one’s income) The classes are held on Tuesdays, in normal circumstances you should be or for charity. Sometimes, a minimal 7:55-8:25 a.m., at Aish. For info, more forthcoming in sharing. fee or voluntary donation is used for email [email protected] or call teaches that one’s wealth (and therefore upkeep of the “gemach”. 303-820-2855. one’s belongings) comes from G-d. And Reprinted with permission of Ohr just as He shares of His with us, we Somayach, , www.ohr.edu are expected to share that with others.

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: 1516 Xavier Street, Denver, CO 80204 Tel: 303-820-2855 Fax: 303-820-2806 Email: [email protected] Web: www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, send an email to [email protected]