בס״ד Torah Defining Work One generations as an everlasting conventional understanding covenant. Between Me and is that we spend six days of Weekly of the most important the children of Israel, it is the week working and practices in Judaism, the forever a sign that [in] six pursuing our physical needs, February 28- March 6, 2021 fourth of the Ten 16-22 Adar, 5781 days the L-rd created the and on the seventh day we Commandments, is to heaven and the earth, and on rest from the pursuit of the First Torah: refrain from work on the Ki Tisa: Exodus 30:11 - 34:35 the seventh day He ceased physical and dedicate a day Second Torah: seventh day, to sanctify it and rested. (Exodus 31:16- to our family, our soul and Parshat Parah: Numbers 19:1-22 and make it holy. Yet, the 17.) our spiritual life. Yet the exact definition of rest and PARSHAT KI TISA From the juxtaposition of Torah is signaling to us that forms of labor prohibited Shabbat and the we should think about labor We have Jewish on Shabbat are not explicitly commandment to build the in the context of the work Calendars. If you stated in the Torah. necessary to construct the would like one, Tabernacle, we derive that The Sages of sanctuary. please send us a the Tabernacle may not be the Talmud explain that the constructed on Shabbat. This Thus, the halachic definition letter and we will Torah alludes to there being send you one, or implies that any labor that of “labor” is derived from 39 categories of prohibited ask the was needed for the the labor used for the Calendars labor. Whenever the Torah Rabbi/Chaplain to construction of the construction of the sanctuary contact us. discusses the commandment Tabernacle is considered because the spiritual purpose to build the Tabernacle, the “labor” according to Jewish of all our labor is to create a Do you have family sanctuary constructed in the law and is prohibited on metaphorical sanctuary, a on the outside desert, the Torah also Shabbat. home for G-d. We do so by struggling? reiterates the commandment This derivation may seem using our physical Please contact or of Shabbat. Case in point is far from straightforward. possessions and experiences have them contact this week’s Torah portion. Why does the Torah to enhance our soul and our office to learn After more than two full communicate its definition advance the purpose for more about our portions dedicated to the of labor through the which we were created, family programs. intricate details of the seemingly unrelated namely, to transform this You and they are sanctuary, the Torah Tabernacle? What does the earth into a vessel for Family Programs Family not alone, we are concludes with the theme of prohibition of working on G-dliness by filling the here to help. Shabbat: Shabbat have to do with world with goodness and . The children building a sanctuary? kindness. (Likkutei Sichot, We offer free Grape of Israel observe Vayakhel, vol. 1.) By Rabbi Juice and Matzoh The Torah is teaching us a the Sabbath, to make the Menachem Feldman profound lesson about the for you to be able to Sabbath throughout their make the blessings purpose of labor. The every Shabbos. When Down Is Really of them is lazy and sluggish, correct, what about the Please have your he will easily be defeated and person—and I believe we all chaplain / Rabbi Up will fall, even if he be stronger know one or two people of contact us to enroll A positive attitude and than the other. Similarly with this sort . .—whose past (available to all optimism regarding the future the conquest of one’s evil includes serious errors of Grape Juice & Matzah & Juice Grape prisons). is integral to spiritual growth. nature. It is impossible to judgment and missed Rabbi Schneur Zalman of conquer the evil nature with opportunities? Won’t the Hyman & Martha Rogal Center Liadi explains that the process laziness and sluggishness, memories of past 5804 Beacon Street of self-refinement and the which stem from sadness and indiscretions impede the Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-421-0111 pursuit of a meaningful a stone-like dullness of the person’s ability to be happy? Fax: 412-521-5948 existence is an ongoing heart, but rather with alacrity, Is such a person meant to www.alephne.org struggle: which derives from joy and an pretend that the past mistakes [email protected] “Just as it is with a victory open heart that is unblemished don’t exist? over a physical opponent, for by any trace of worry and The name of this instance, two people who sadness in the world.” (Tanya, week’s Torah portion, Ki wrestle with each other, each ch. 26.) Tisa, answers these questions. striving to fell the other. If one While this is theoretically The Parshah begins IN JEWISH HISTORY Sunday, February 28, 2021 --- 16 Adar, 5781 with G-d directing Moses to take a census of Rebuilding of Jerusalem Wall Begun (c. 41 CE) Agrippa I, appointed by the Roman Emperor to rule over Judea, was pious and kind the Israelites by charging every Israelite one half of to his subjects. During his reign, the Jews began to prosper and live comfortably. The a shekel, and then counting the collected money to Sages of the time accorded him great respect. arrive at the census result. The name of the Torah Agrippa I started construction to repair, broaden and heighten the walls around portion is derived from the terminology used to describe Jerusalem. The Romans, wary of the Jews' rising prosperity, placed many obstacles the census; ki tisa means “when you count”—but can in his way. Nonetheless, the wall was completed, though the finished product was not as magnificent as originally planned. also be translated to mean “when you will uplift.” The 16th of Adar, the day when the construction commenced, was instituted to be a Although ostensibly this name pertains only to joyous day. the mitzvah of giving a half-shekel, it nevertheless is the name of the entire Torah portion. Monday, March 1, 2021 --- 17 Adar, 5781 Torah Sages Escape (c. 75 BCE) And indeed, this uplifting name is appropriate for many In the year 91 BCE, Alexander Yannai of the Hasmonean family succeeded his of the episodes recounted in this portion: Moses receives brother Yehuda Aristoblus to the throne of Judea. Alexander Yannai was a Sadducee the first tablets, tablets which were sculpted and who virulently persecuted the Pharisees. At one point during his bloody reign, following a victory he scored on a battlefield, he invited all the Torah scholars for a engraved by G-d’s hand; G-d reveals to Moses His celebratory feast. During this feast he was slighted by one of the guests, which led thirteen attributes of mercy; Moses beholds G-d’s glory; him to execute all the Torah scholars in attendance. etc. However, this portion also recounts one of the A few of the sages managed to escape to the town of Sulukus in Syria. There, too, lowest points of our nation’s history, the golden they encountered anti-Semitic enemies who murdered many of the exiled sages. The calf catastrophe. Why is this sin, a collective betrayal of handful of surviving Torah scholars went in to hiding, finding refuge in the home of an individual named Zevadai. On the night of the 17th of Adar they escaped the G-d with such devastating consequences, described in hostile city of Sulukus. Eventually these surviving scholars revived Torah Judaism. the Torah portion titled “when you will uplift”? How The date they escaped the clutches of death was established as a day of celebration. can sin be viewed as constructive, and how can this idea be applied to personal life? Our sages tell us that “the Tuesday, March 2, 2021 --- 18 Adar, 5781 Salvation of Yemenite Jewry (1722) station of the baal teshuvah (penitent person) is beyond The Jews of Sana’a, Yemen, were saved from a decree plotted against them by the the reach of the tzaddik (one who has always been king’s anti-Semitic ministers, in which they were accused of killing the grand prince. righteous).” The person who has resided in darkness Yemenite Jewry celebrated this day each year with feasting and rejoicing. appreciates the sun more than one who has never experienced life devoid of daylight. When a husband Wednesday, March 3, 2021 --- 19 Adar, 5781 Passing of R. Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1932) and wife are reunited after a period of separation, their Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld played a leading role in the relationship is much more passionate than it was Jewish community of British-Mandatory Jerusalem for almost six decades. He beforehand—as the saying goes, “absence makes the authored the book of responsa Salmas Chaim. heart fonder.” So, too, the person who lived a life bereft Thursday, March 4, 2021 --- 20 Adar, 5781 of spirituality and then discovers G-d is so much more Choni the Circle Maker prays for rain (1st Century BCE) excited about the newfound relationship, and every fiber "One year, most of Adar went by and it didn't rain. They sent for Choni the Circle of his or her being is now dedicated to enhancing it. On Maker. He prayed and the rains didn't come. He drew a circle, stood in it and said: a deeper level, penitent people accomplish an incredible 'Master of The World! Your children have turned to me; I swear in Your great name feat: they prove that even the negative components of life— that I won't move from here until You have pity on Your children.' The rains came and even those which are the result of their own free choice— down." (Talmud, Taanit 23a) Passing of R.