YNA Newsletter 1 of 8 In This Issue Parshat Noach In Memory Of Meira Riemer HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Noach Netiv HaChinuch - New! For Parents and Teachers Welcome Home Gilad! Petuchei Chotam on Parshat Noach Dedications, Visitor Log, Mazal T ov' s, T ehilim List Join Our List ~~~~~~~~ Alumni Get-Together In London Come join us in LONDON this Sunday night 30th October at 8pm at the Nevies family, 19 Shirehall Ln, Hendon. Please spread the word. For more information please contact [email protected]. ~~~~~~~~~ New at Matan! Rabbanit Malke Bina´s Glimpse of the Parsha! click here to go to their website to download the shiur. ~~~~~~~~~ Shabbat at the Yeshiva ("In" Shabbat) Special guest- Former UConn/Israeli League basketball star Doron Sheffer Friday Night: 4:18 PM -Candelighting 4:35 PM -Mincha in the Beit Midrash followed by Kabbalat Shabbat on Porch Shabbat Day: 5:15 AM -Vatikin 8:30 AM -Shachrit Bet 4:15 PM -Mincha YNA Newsletter 2 of 8 YNA.EDU | Ask Rav Nebenzahl | Suggestion Box Contact Us | Alumni Update Form | Parsha Archives In Memory Of Meira Riemer Editor's Note: When the Yeshiva secretary Dina went to be menachem avel, Danny told her "I was not that close to Rav Bina when I was in Yeshiva, instead developing relationships with Rav Korn and Rav Eisenstein. But from the moment Rav Bina heard that Meira was sick, he constantly kept in touch with me and was there making arragements for whatever was needed. I never realized what a family Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh really is. A few of my relatives told me that they were jealous that they did not attend Netiv." It was therefore no surprise to me when Rav Bina asked me to make sure that a proper article be written about her in the newsletter. In Memory Of Meira Riemer The Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh family mourns the loss of Meira (Bresler) Riemer, 28, wife of our alumnus Danny Riemer (5761-62). Meira passed away on Shabbat Bereishit (24 Tishrei), following a two-year battle with cancer. In addition to Danny, she is survived by their three year old daughter Eliana, her parents, paternal grandparents, two sisters, and a brother. Meira was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She spent time in Israel studying in Midreshet Moriah followed by Stern College. She and Danny met at Camp HASC and spent their first year of marriage in Eretz Yisrael where Danny learned in the Yeshiva's Kollel. Throughout her illness, Meira exhibited incredible strength of character. She requested that everyone at her funeral know that she had no complaints against HaKadosh Baruch Hu and was very grateful for all that Hakb'h had given her during her short stay in this world. HaRav Eisenstein, who maintained a close relationship with the Riemers, was present with the family on the Shabbat when Meira left this world. He described that the Shabbat, although very painful, was fused with much holiness. The family and friends organized a moving Kabbalat Shabbat by her bedside and Meira passed away in an aura of kedusha. Meira's love for Torah and Eretz Yisrael was especially evident. Meira, who had arrived in Eretz Yisrael seeking treatment not available in the United States, viewed being in Hashem's palace as the realization of a lifelong dream. In fact, as a way of announcing her love for Eretz Yisrael, despite having little strength, Meira insisted on officially making Aliya. The day on which her Aliyah was formally announced was a very physically trying day for her. Yet she somehow found the inner strength to attend a get-together organized by politicians and friends as a way of publicizing the significance of Yishuv Eretz Yisroel. Her love of Torah was apparent in many ways. HaRav Eisenstein described her desire to do what was right at all costs. He mentioned that during the early stages of their marriage, Danny and Meira would consult with him on halachic issues. It was clear that what was of paramount importance to her was seeking the truth. Once she was certain that a particular act was permitted or forbidden, she never budged from following the ratzon Hashem no matter how easy or difficult. Even at the very end, on Simchat Torah, what turned out to be her final complete night, she insisted on going to shul for hakafot. Even more, she insisted that she and her daughter, despite the fact that her breathing was already very difficult, were dressed in a manner befitting the Yom Tov which declares our love of Tor ah . Rabbanit Bina noted that from Danny's hesped it was clear how deep and meaningful relationship she must have had with her husband, daughter and other family members. Meira asked that people remember her in a humorous manner, enjoying and finding meaning in every moment of life, a point which came through in all of the hespedim. Her many friends who came to her aid during these trying times showed just how much she meant to them. Her funeral at Har Hamenuchot was attended by an overflowing crowd of hundreds of people on Motzei Shabbat who arrived on very short notice to honor a unique person who set an example for many of us. Yehi zichra baruch. HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Noach YNA Newsletter 3 of 8 HaRav Nebenzahl asks that his Divrei Torah are not read during Tefillah or the Rabbi's sermon. We are proud to announce that the English translation of HaRav Nebenzahl's sichot on Sefer Bereishit is now available through the Yeshiva at a cost of 80 shekels. If you plan to be in the Old City of Yerushalayim please let us know ahead of time and we will have one waiting for you. Otherwise, you may email [email protected] with your name and address and we will send you a copy and instruct you how to make your payment. Total cost including shipping to United States - $31, to England - $30. You may also order any or all of the volumes of the Yerushalayim beMoadeha series - HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl's insights into various periods of the year, written, compiled, and edited by HaRav Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl Shlit"a. The following volumes are currently available (in Hebrew): Shabbat - I and II Pesach Chol HaMoed Shavuot Bein HaMetzarim (the Three Weeks) Ellul and Yamim Noraim Soon to be published - Shabbat volume III focusing on the 39 melachot Also soon to be published - Pesach translated into English Cost of each volume - 45 shekels not including shipping (total estimated cost to USA - $20) THE WORLD IS BUILT ON KINDNESS "THEIR SENTENCE WAS SEALED ON ACCOUNT OF ROBBERY" In Parshas Bereishis we discussed the fact that one of the pillars on which the world stands is chesed and that chesed is necessary to sustain the world. Yet unfortunately, not long after the creation, we read about the sinful behavior of the generation of the Flood : "Hashem saw that the wickedness of Man was great upon the earth and that every product of the thoughts of his heart was but evil always" (Bereishis 6:5) ... "And the earth had become corrupt before G-d and the earth had become filled with robbery." (ibid. 11) In response, Hashem decides to destroy the world. Chazal tell us that, despite their licentious behavior and idol worship, "their sentence was sealed only on account of robbery." (Rashi Bereishis 6:13) Is a non-Jew not liable for the death penalty for violating any of the Noachide laws? Furthermore, if we examine our own legal system and compare the punishments for various sins, we will find that the punishment for robbery is far less than for other transgressions: "He shall return the stolen object." (Vayikra 5:23) This does not seem so severe; -a thief must return what he has taken. Perhaps one incurs malkus, the general penalty of lashes administered by Beis Din, for violation of Torah laws in the form of a lav (See Kovetz Shiurim, HaGaon HaRav Elchanan Wasserman zt"l on Baba Basra note 5), but there is certainly no death penalty for robbery. It appears therefore that robbery is a relatively minor offense compared to the many other terrible acts of that generation. Why did robbery seal their judgment? ROBBERY IS THE ANTITHESIS OF CHESED measure for" - מדה כנגד מדהIt would appear to me that the reason is that Hashem acts with His creatures measure." (Shabbos 105b) As long as a person does not steal, there is still room for Hashem's attributes of Rachamim - Mercy and Chesed to intercede and to find something favorable to say about this individual. With other sins, even if from the perspective of justice the person deserves punishment, the Attribute of Chesed works to make Hashem slow to anger and thus the person is not punished so severely. Robbery, however, is the antithesis of chesed. Chesed implies giving something that one has no obligation to give, while robbery has the opposite implication - taking that which is not rightfully yours. Because Hashem acts "measure for measure"', when a person steals, the Attribute of Chesed cannot intercede. The judgment of that generation was sealed on account of the robbery that was so widespread that it blocked the intercession of Chesed, and this is what finally brought about the Flood. NOACH PRESERVED THE WORLD THROUGH KINDNESS How did Hashem preserve the world despite the decree to destroy it? He took Noach and his family, placed them inside the ark, and gave them the task of spending one full year involved in acts of chesed. "the world is built on kindness." (Tehillim 89:3) Only in this way could they create the world anew.