Mikeitz 5772 December 24, 2011 A Taste of Torah Stories For The Soul A Matter of Trust Never Give Up By Rabbi Mordechai E. Fleisher word would have resulted in one year. Rabbi Soloveitchik disagreed; had In 1933, Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik (1853- Yosef only said one word, he wouldn’t set out to do the seemingly impossible 1918) once asked Rabbi Shimon Shkop have been penalized at all! The reason, - to build a yeshiva in America, where (1860-1939) a most intriguing question: he explained, is that Yosef wasn’t assimilation was rampant and people What would have happened if Yosef punished for putting in a basic request believed Torah was for the ghetto. would have said only one word? with the butler; one is obligated to make In this hostile environment, and A bit of background: At the close an effort to attain his material needs. in the terrible economic environment of last week’s parsha, Yosef successfully However, for Yosef, at his tremendously of the Great Depression, Reb Dovid interprets the mysterious dreams of refined spiritual level, two words were forged on despite incredible hard- Pharaoh’s butler and baker, together too much. Someone who had reached ship, and built and built and built. with whom he is imprisoned. He tells his heights should have sufficed with On December 5, 1941, a week be- the baker that he is to be executed, while one word; beyond this minimal effort, fore Chanuka, Reb Dovid passed away the butler will be restored to his former he should have relied upon Hashem. after a terrible illness. The burden of position. Yosef then makes a plea to the When he uttered the second word, his dream fell on his 26-year-old son, butler. “If only you would remember “vihizkartani”, the entire endeavor was Reb Henoch, who took over the helm me (zechartani) with yourself when a failure, and he was held accountable of the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva. He he benefits you, and you will do me a for both words. served for 20 years, but the yeshiva kindness, if you please, and mention While most of us certainly cannot never quite got off the ground. Reb Henoch considered going me (vihizkartani) to Pharaoh, then claim to have such trust in G-d as to into a different area of Rabbinics you would get me out of this building rely upon such minimal levels of effort, which didn’t have the same issues, (40:14)”. we must still take an important lesson pressures and problems. After much At the start of this week’s parsha, the from Yosef. Since the sin of Adam in soul searching, he recalled that his Torah tells us that Yosef actually spent the Garden of Eden, G-d decreed that father had told him that leading the two more years in prison before he was mankind will have to work to make yeshiva was within his grasp and was recalled by the royal butler. Our Sages ends meet. Essentially, however, our the greatest thing he could do. Reb tell us that these two years were extra, livelihood and other material needs are Henoch strategized and revamped the beyond the period originally decreed by provided in the same fashion as prior to methods by which he led the yeshiva. Heaven. What did he to deserve these Adam’s sin: through Divine providence. The yeshiva began to turn around. two years? He said two words to the The sole difference is that in the post-sin Since then, the yeshiva has served butler: “Zechartani”, (remember me), era, there’s a Divine decree that in order thousands of students who have gone and “vihizkartani”, (mention me). This for G-d to bestow us with His goodness, on to serve thousands more. They request was considered excessive effort we must sweat. How much we sweat, have established branches and affili- on Yosef’s part; he should have relied on however, depends upon our level of ates of the yeshiva all over the world. Hashem instead of the butler. (see Rashi trust in G-d. To expend efforts beyond The Maccabis did not give up, and 40:23). the pale of normalcy is to display a lack Reb Dovid and Reb Henoch did not Which brings us back to Rabbi of basic trust that G-d will provide once give up. No matter how dark and des- Soloveitchik’s question: What would we have done our part. perate it seems, the light of Chanuka have happened if Yosef would have said is there to nurture the light that is al- only one word? ready deep within us. Rabbi Shkop replied that since he Adapted with permission from Shul- received two years for two words, one Week by Rabbi Baruch Lederman. “After my father died, it was very difficult for our family. One Friday my mother came running to you with Kollel Happenings Interpersonal Issues Bal Tolin FAMILY FUN AT CHILDREN’S Real estate rentals are subject to bal apartment ot a catering hall, or to open EXTRAVAGANZA ON DEC. 25 tolin according to many authorities. spaces, as well, such as a parking space This is true only if the rental is due in a lot or a ball field. Join the Kollel for family fun at the annual Jewish Children’s after, and not prior to, the rental. There Adapted with permission from “The Extravaganza on Sun., Dec. 25, is a difference of opinion among the Halachos of Other People’s Money” by Rabbi from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. F or the authorities whether bal tolin applies Pinchas Bodner (Feldheim Publishers) first time ever, the event will be only to building space, such as an held at South Suburban Family Sports Center, 6901 S. Peoria. Cost: $13. Admission includes Ask the Rabbi unlimited rides. Visit www. Menorahs 101 mazeltot.org to find out how Name@Withheld wrote: the spiritual light of the World to Come to join for free. For general with the physical light of this world. For information, call 303-820-2855 Dear Rabbi, this reason, the windows in the Temple or email [email protected] How soon after the Maccabean were narrow on the inside and wide on victory was Chanuka celebrated on the outside - to spread out this blended an annual basis? When were the first light to the world. WEST SIDE NIGHT SEDER AT THE menorahs created and used? When There is a prohibition against making KOLLEL was the ban on constructing a seven- a metal seven-branched menorah. branched menorah rescinded? This prohibition is part of the general Join the west side community prohibition against making vessels like for vibrant Torah learning at the Feldi3 wrote: those of the Holy Temple, and it was Kollel. Sunday- Thursday, except never rescinded. Wednesday, learning from 8-9 Dear Rabbi, Chanuka was instituted as an p.m. followed by Ma’ariv. For chavrusas or other information, I have to do a project for my Torah annual holiday the very first year after contact Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher teacher on the menorah, could you send the Maccabean victory (165 BCE) to at [email protected] or 303- me some pictures, and information on celebrate the victory and the miracle of 820-2855 the menorah. Thank you for your time. the oil that burned for eight days. The Chanuka menorah has place for Name@Withheld wrote: eight candles and for a ninth candle set off somewhat from the rest. The eight LIBERATED PARENTS, LIBERATED Dear Rabbi, candles commemorate the miracle of CHILDREN WITH MRS. AVIGAIL Can you give me information on the oil while the ninth candle, the STEINHARTER the significance of the 7-branched shamash, is for light. The first use of Join Mrs. Avigail Steinharter for menorah, as opposed to the 9-branched an eight-armed menorah for Chanuka “Liberated Parents, Liberated chanukia? is not known, although there are some Children: Your Guide to a Happier dating back over 500 years. Family.” This six part series for Dear Feldi3 and Names@Withheld, There’s no absolute requirement to moms integrates the timeless The original Menorah was the golden use a Chanuka menorah, because you wisdom of the Torah with the candelabra that G-d commanded the can fulfill the minimal requirement approach of the world-renowned Jewish People to make and place in the with one candle per night. But since Dr. Haim Ginott. Classes will be Holy Temple. It had six branches and it’s ideal to add a candle each night, the held on Tues., Jan 10, Jan 17, a stem, making seven lamps in all. The custom arose to use an eight-branched Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 10, Feb 17 kohanim lit it once a day. The Torah menorah. A friend of mine from from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.. Cost: $80 for all six classes. For relates its measurements and design in Yeshiva used to line up eight soda cans information, call 303-820-2855 Exodus 25:31-40. as his menorah! or email [email protected] The Sages teach that the Menorah Reprinted with permission of Ohr was the vessel that G-d used to blend Somayach, Jerusalem, www.ohr.edu 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].