Parshat Vayechi In This Issue Parshat Vayechi Emunah Seminar Wrap-Up HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Vayigash "SANCTITY VERSUS IMPURITY" Let me tell you a Story... End Of The Tax Year by Rav Bina..."DAYAN ABRAMSKY - A TRUE WORLDLY GADOL" As you all know, Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh invests all its resources to have a warm, safe and first Staff Dvar Torah By HaRav class learning and growing environment. As Yoel Yehoshua "The Long Exile" Of Our Fellow Jew" you allocate your ma'aser money this time of year, we ask you, our Netiv Aryeh family and Petuchei Chotam on Parshat Vayechi friends, to please support our Yeshiva, its Rebbeim and talmidim. Dedications, Mazal Tov's, Visitors, Tehilim List, NEW PHOTO GALLERY Join Our List ~~~ Hakarat Hatov Links Rav Bina and the entire YNA family would like to thank to Paul and yna.edu Sharon Kreditor, and Dr. Alan and Rozy Nevies for hosting the UK Shabbaton. May Hakodesh Baruch give you continued nachas and Ask Rav Nebenzahl hatzlacha in all that you endeavor. Rabbanit Malke Bina's Glimpse of the Parsha Suggestion Box Alumni Update Form Contact Us UK Melave Malke ~~~ Winners of Shakla V'tarya Contest The winners of the contest memorizing dapei gemora l'ilyui nishmat our 1 of 13 Parshat Vayechi beloved talmid Mattisyahu Yaakov ben Shmaryahu, Jason Botnick (5755) are as follows: First Place: Abie Leiber (Rambam Mesivta). Second Place: Adam Edelstein (SAR). Third Place: Yoni Katz (DRS). Fourth Place: Meir Cohen (DRS). From Left To Right: Abie Leiber, Adam Edelstein, Yoni Katz, Meir Cohen Shabbat Davening Times - Shana Bet Shabbaton in the Yeshiva (Shana Alef students are being hosted at the homes of our alumni all over Israel) Friday Night Candlelighting 4:09 PM Mincha in the Beit Midrash 4:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat on balcony Shabbat Day Vatikin in the home of Rav Bina 6:00 AM Mincha in the home of Rav Bina 4:00 PM Mincha in the home of Rav Bina 4:00 PM Emunah Seminar Wrap-Up Shana Alef- "Essentials" by Saadiah McIntosh, MTA This week's annual Emunah seminar featured some of the world's leading spokespeople for Judaism. The day began at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh with an address by our esteemed Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Aharon Bina Shlit"a who highlighted the importance of having faith. He emphasized how whether we like it or not we are all members of the Jewish nation and how emunah is a prerequisite for any form of success in our lives. Rav Bina then introduced HaRav Amos Luban Shlit"a who explained how it was possible to see Hashem in this world, we simply need to put in the effort to find Him. The brief lunch break was followed by our boarding busses en route to MaTan where we heard the 2 of 13 Parshat Vayechi next few speakers. The first in this series was HaRav Motti Berger who spoke of the "Seven Wonders of History". One of the wonders highlighted by HaRav Berger was that while many nations rise and fall, the Jewish nation continues to exist despite all the trials and tribulations. He was followed by Dr. Gerald Schroeder, acclaimed author and MIT nuclear physicist, who gave a brilliant analysis of how it was possible to reconcile Torah and science, focusing on the creation of the world and the age of the universe. Dr. Schroeder using mathematics explained how the scientific view of the age of the world and the Torah view can be reconciled. The following speaker was HaRav Zev Leff, Rav of Moshav Matityahu, who spoke engagingly of why Judaism is the most logically sound of the major religions today. He showed how any skeptic need only learn Tanach and all his questions would be answered. The final speaker was HaRav Dovid Orlofsky, who in his own inimitable uproariously funny manner explained why Hashem needs the Jewish people to observe His Mitzvoth. He kept everyone on edge with his amusing anecdotes and fabulous metaphors describing the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish nation. The grand finale was a highly spiritually-charge kumzits and concert featuring Shlomo Katz. In short, Emunah Day was an amazing experience, and everyone walked away with some point which enhanced and will continue to enhance their emunah. ~~~~~~~ Advanced Shana Bet Seminar "Emunah In The Real World" by Natanel Junger HaRav Uri Zohar: The first speaker of the highly anticipated Emunah Day seminar was one of the most well-known ba'alei tshuva - HaRav Uri Zohar. Rav Zohar in his previous life was one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, serving as a secular talk show host and movie producer. It was during his adult life that he discovered the path of his ancestors and realizing that our solve purpose in this world is to serve our Creator to the best of our ability, with every fiber of our being and at every second of the day. 3 of 13 Parshat Vayechi He elaborated on what it means to see Hashem in every aspect of our lives and understanding that He created us and provided and continues to provide us with every detail. He asked us to try to understand the awesomeness of beginning as a tiny fetus in the mother's womb and transforming into a fully grown adult, what it means that a tiny orange seed can grow into a fully bloomed fruit-bearing tree. The orange itself has so many little details - the peel, the division into slices, and the skin. How much more fascinating and more complex is the human being. If we would only take to heart the words of HaRav Zohar and internalize it into our daily lives, we would have a much easier time channeling each moment to serving our Creator. HaRav Zohar gave us a glimpse of his past and how while he still thinks about film producing and acting, he never looks back and has no regret for his decision. We can compare this to a young toddler playing in a sandbox. Years later he may have fond memories of those days, but he certainly has no desire to go back to those days. We must also understand that the lures of the outside world are all one big bluff, we must never look back with any regrets. We are on a different playing field, the major league field of closeness to Hashem. The enjoyment and pleasures of the past are purely minor leagues. It is up to us to make the most of every second of our life. HaRav Motti Berger: The second speaker in what was referred to as the "Shana Bet Plus" series was the highly acclaimed HaRav Motti Berger of Aish HaTorah, whom HaRav Bina referred to as the "Missionary Destroyer". HaRav Berger focused on the idea of modernity and its negative effects on the Jewish nation. The idea of being modern implies conforming to current trends in culture, ideals, and dress. One who conforms to such norms has no mind of his own. Rav Berger related the story of his grandfather in Germany who was trying to find a particular location. He met a man on the street who not only explained to him where it was but actually lead him by the hand. This story took place in the 1920s, needless to say this man went on to become a mass murderer of Jews. Conformity and modernity are very dangerous to the Jew as an individual and to the Jewish community at large. It is crucial that we choose our neighbors and society wisely and fight strongly for what we believe in - the truth of HaKadosh Baruch Hu's Torah. We must make the choice to follow Torah and not to view it as some burden cast upon us. We were born as infants, became children, and at age 13 became adults endowed with the ability to take the reigns and rule over the child within us. The child within us remains forever, at 13 however we are endowed with adulthood as well. A twenty year old remains a twenty-year old child and a seven year old adult fighting to remain a frum yid. The decision is up to. HaRav Dovid Kaplan: The third speaker was one of our own alumni, HaRav Dovid Kaplan, who since leaving Yeshiva has gone on to become an inspiring speaker in the Jewish world. HaRav Kaplan highlighted three points that a Jew must never forget. The first is what he termed the "shibud - servitude to do our Creator's will no matter how difficult. He related the story of a young engaged couple stranded on a ski lift which closed for the night without the owners realizing that not everyone was off. The girl, fearing a prohibition of yichud, jumped off the ski lift breaking both of her legs. This is shibud to Hashem's Torah in difficult times. HaRav Kaplan's second point was that we must do our utmost to fulfill every detail of avodas Hashem, even one missing detail can have an extreme effect. As an example, he spoke of a man who placed his tefillin on the wrong part of his arm. As nice as this may be, he has not fulfilled the mitzvah. The 4 of 13 Parshat Vayechi third and final point is that the Torah is not ours to tamper with and decide what to do - nothing may be altered. HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Vayechi HaRav Nebenzahl asks that his Divrei Torah are not read during Tefillah or the Rabbi's sermon. SANCTITY VERSUS IMPURITY Yaakov Avinu rebukes Revuen: "Reuven, you are my firstborn, my strength and my initial vigor, foremost in rank and foremost in power.