אור Ohr HaTzafonהצפון $ VOLUME 4 • NISSAN 5776 • BEIS HAKNESSES OF NORTH WOODMERE Ohr HaTzafon Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere Volume 4 Nissan 5776 Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere 649 Hungry Harbor Road North Woodmere, NY 11581 www.bknw.org Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, Rav and Mara D’Asra Editorial Team Moshe Buchbinder, General Editor Moshe Grushko, General Editor Tani Sussman, Publication Lead Rob Shur, Design and Layout www.rbscreative.com TABLE OF CONTENTS $ Editors’ Preface ........................................................... p. 5 דברי פתיחה Torah Is Much More Than Just “Fine” RABBI ARYEH LEBOWITZ ........................................................... p. 17 Recounting the Story of the Exodus :סיפור יציאת מצרים RABBI YONASON SACKS ........................................................... p. 21 פסח in Our Time קרבן פסח Bringing the RABBI YEHUDA BALSAM ........................................................... p. 31 The Role of the Korban Pesach JONATHAN SIDLOW ........................................................... p. 39 קרבן פסח The Message of ELI SCHIFFMIllER ........................................................... p. 43 ?לאוין Medications on Pesach: Enhancing Living or Transgressing MICHAEL I. OPPENHEIM, MD ........................................................... p. 51 Musings on Marror and Charoseth in Light of Rav Kook RICHARD SIDLOW, MD ........................................................... p. 63 כורך JOSEPH ETRA ........................................................... p. 67 Pesach and Shabbos: Days of One RABBI YOSSI SCHWARTZ ........................................................... p. 75 אור הצפון • NISSAN 5776 Z 3 Y OHR HATZAFON • ניסן תשע"ו מצות יחוד השם and , עשרה מאמרות the , עשר מכותThe MOSHE GRUSHKO ........................................................... p. 81 קריעת ים סוף and יציאת מצרים The Duality of MOSHE BUCHBINDER ........................................................... p. 91 The Fifth Cup – Pesach, Shavuos and Eliyahu Hanavi JEREMY HERSKOWITZ ........................................................... p. 103 שבועות Staying up on Shavuos Night ELLI GANCHROW ........................................................... p. 117 דברי תורה בעברית לימוד תורה מרב שסרח הרב אריה ליבוביץ 145 ........................................................... בענין אכילת אפיקומן ועיקר מצות אכילת מצה הרב יהודה בלסם 137 ........................................................... בענין תסּפרו חמשים יום ואין עושין מצוות חבילות חבילות יונתן זאב קירשנער 129 ........................................................... ניסן תשע"ו • Z 4 Y NISSAN 5776 אור הצפון • OHR HATZAFON Editors’ Preface We would like to dedicate this publication, Ohr HaTzafon Volume 4, in honor of BKNW’s upcoming Bar Mitzvah – 13 years since inception. We refer to this moment as BKNW’s “Age of Gadlus.” As we know, humans experience stages of physical growth identified by infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Halachic requirements mirror this progression. During infancy, Halacha mandates essentially nothing from a baby that has not yet reached the age of Chinuch and very little from the parents that raise him/her. Once the little boy or girl reaches approximately age 6, more is expected, but incrementally more. As such, Yeshivos teach the Tinokos Shel Beis Rabban how to daven in stages. In preschool, children are taught Modeh Ani, Brachos, and Kriyas Shema. In grade school, a bit more is added every few months – Baruch SheAmar, Ashrei, Yishtabach, Shemoneh Esreh, etc. This primitive stage of incremental progress parallels the early stages of development of Klal Yisroel. Yetzias Mitzrayim was the functional Leida – birth of Klal Yisroel. At that time, Klal Yisroel was on the 49th level of Tumah, what one might call a state of zero spirituality, like a newborn. Through the period of Sefiras HaOmer, we elevated relatively quickly but incrementally, a bit each day for 49 days until we were ‘ready’. However, day 50, that of Matan Torah, was fundamentally different. It was the moment of impact that reflected the maturity of Klal Yisroel. This was not an incremental step. It was a quantum leap. Kabbalas HaTorah fundamentally reshaped the nation and the entire world. No longer was the relationship between God and Man defined by family lineage, i.e., the Mesorah and attachment deriving from our status as the Bnei Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov. Rather, the connectivity reoriented to one between God and Nation, with the magnitude of the divine nexus hinging upon performance of Torah U’Mitzvos. Likewise, the age of Bar Mitzvah triggers a fundamental change in a young man. No longer is his connectivity to Hashem in the incubation stage of Chinuch, provided by his parents under the rubric of ViShinantum LiVanecha. Rather, instantly, he transforms into a man with real, serious mandates like Tefillah BeTzibur, Limud Torah, and Kiyum Mitzvos. This year, BKNW celebrates its Bar Mitzvah. Baruch Hashem, the Shul has grown dramatically during its formative stage, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Now, with the imminent groundbreaking of the new building, there is a clear moment of symbolism to signify that the Shul is no longer pacing forward incrementally, but rather at the redefining “Age of Gadlus.” אור הצפון • NISSAN 5776 Z 5 Y OHR HATZAFON • ניסן תשע"ו With this inflection point, we take stock of how much the community has accomplished over the past 12 years, building a Makom Tefillah, infusing it with Torah and Chessed, and establishing the basis for a bright future. Much of the credit is certainly due to the founding members of BKNW and the vision they crystalized for the community. So to the original families that founded BKNW 12 years ago, Yasher Koach for a job well done. However, it goes without saying that the success of BKNW has been driven by the leadership of Moreinu VeRabbeinu, Rabbi Lebowitz, who has truly been the Butzina Kadisha – the holy inferno of spirituality that has radiated Torah across North Woodmere and, without exaggeration, throughout Klal Yisroel. There simply is no better paradigm for Ahavas HaTorah and Ahavas Yisroel than that which Rabbi Lebowitz provides, and we at BKNW must appreciate how fortunate we are to have such a role model for ourselves and our children. Looking forward to this next stage of Gadlus, it is our Tefillah that we, communally, uphold the towering Halachik standards that Rabbi Lebowitz embodies, and that we achieve and sustain the spiritual potential of our community as a whole. At this time, we would also like to thank our guest author, Moreinu VeRabbeinu HaRav Yonason Sacks Shlit”a for his contribution to Ohr HaTzafon. As many are aware, in addition to being the Mechaber of many Seforim and Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Passaic Park, Rav Sacks is the Rosh HaYeshiva of Beis Medrash L’Talmud at Lander College for Men. Under his stewardship, the Yeshiva has grown exponentially and quickly emerged as a leading Beis Medrash for serious, young Talmidei Chachamim. His exemplary success has been highlighted by the recent attraction of our own Rabbi Lebowitz, who will be joining Landers as a Rosh Yeshiva in the Fall. We wish Rav Sacks much continued Hatzalacha with the Yeshiva and all of his Harbatzas Torah initiatives, and we wish Rabbi Lebowitz much Hatzalacha in his new role. Finally, as always, we derive enormous Nachas in reflecting upon how much the authors and sponsors of Ohr HaTzafon have contributed to the spiritual growth of the Shul and the maturation of the community at large. The success of Ohr HaTzafon demonstrates incredible Mesiras Nefesh by the authors who have toiled many hours to develop truly outstanding Divrei Torah – an inspirational level of Hasmada that has enabled them to capture the depth and breadth of the Sugyos they analyze. It is our Bracha to BKNW, that the authors of Ohr HaTzafon continue to provide inspiration to the Kehilla and that our Shul’s “Age of Gadlus” emerges as one of monumental spiritual growth and Kavod HaTorah. The Ohr HaTzafon Team ניסן תשע"ו • Z 6 Y NISSAN 5776 אור הצפון • OHR HATZAFON In honor of our children and grandchildren Rachelle & Joseph, Kayla & Tzivia We are so very proud of you $ Mark and Judy Frankel In honor of קהילה Rabbi Lebowitz and the entire Under the leadership and guidance of Rabbi Lebowitz, the community continues to direct its focus on תורה תפילה וצדקה for both individual and communal growth, but most importantly, to bring up the next generation in that influence - And - In honor of Rob Shur and Tani Sussman, our layout and printing editors, who repeatedly contribute their time and excellence to make this project great $ Moshe and Judith Grushko and Family In appreciation for all of the magnificent work that the editors of Ohr HaTzafon have done over of ברכות the past few years, and with in all future endeavors הצלחה $ Elana and Aryeh Lebowitz In honor of the Ohr HaTzafon editorial staff and contributors Despite their busy work schedules and hectic everyday schedules they make time to spread the light of Torah and be m'chazek the community and beyond It is amazing how much time, energy and effort goes into making this possible - and the entire staff gets a huge Yashar Koach for continuing to bring this unbelievable compilation of Divrei Torah to the community You are true inspirations to all of your friends, families and Klal Yisrael $ Elisheva & Avishai Neuman and Family יישר כחכם and מזל טוב to the editors and the rest of the editorial and production staff once again for your הרבצת תורה skills and dedication to and