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aussieboy: well done buddy!!!
Jax: Thanks 😀
aussie good one, and no way have you filled your quota, especially if theyre on davening 🙂
hey crash never posted his
Crash is giving his in the next few hours. I believe he meant evening time GMT, not morning time. (This was a comment of his in another thread)
As it’s Thursday night, I’ll be doing one on this weeks Parsha
This D’var Torah was told me me by a friend in Yeshiva. I found great meaning in it, and hope that you do as well.
Have a Good Shabbos 🙂
ps. Moish01 – I did say in another thread that I would be posting it between 8-10pm GMT
oops, my bad.
thanks, crash. it’s an “honour” to have you here 😉
(that was just so you know i read every word)
CrashOverride: shkoyach! awesome d’var torah, i really enjoyed it!
Minutes before candle lighting here in Yerushalayim. A perfect time to share a dvar torah.
Haggadda:
Originally our ancestors were idol worshipers (Ovdei Avoda Zara).
R’ Chatzkel (Mashgiach of Ponovich and the Mir) asks why we say this on seder night. He replies that this is mentioned because this is actually a zechus.
Our ancestors constantly strived to improve their spirituality. Unfortunately, they got it wrong. It wasn’t until Avraham Avinu can along that masses of people were able to serve Hashem properly. Nevertheless, we mention the fact that they were “Ovdei”, even though it was Avoda Zara, they were “Ovdei”, our ancestors were people who worked and toiled for their Ruchnius.
Unfortunately, continues R’ Chatzkel, the shame is that nowadays people are not “Ovdei”, they only immerse themselves in Chumras and surround themselves with gashmius.
I hope this makes sense. Kind of rushed it, and the siren has now sounded.
Good Shabbos to All
I wanted to add to aussieboy’s DT. (Very nice, btw).
In Nishmas (which we say at the end of psukei d’zimra on Shabbos), we say
“Illu phinu maalei shira kayam…..”
I don’t have time right now to transcribe and translate the whole passage. What we say is that even if we had unimaginable physical powers at our disposal to use to praise Hashem, it still would not be enough, not even the most miniscule fraction, to properly praise Hashem.
Then, we continue and say, “Al kein eivarim shepilagta bonu…” – Therefore we will praise Hashem using the simple physical powers that we have from Hashem. What is going on? What value does that praise have – using just our puny physical powers – after what we just said before?
The answer is that when we praise Hashem to the limits of our abilities, we can be satisfied that at least we did the best we could. If we tried to imagine the proper way to fully praise Him, we would not be able to, and we admit that. But if we use everything that we DO have, we can be happy with our service to Hashem, because we have done our part.
Mussar HaTorah
3 Nisan, 5769 Vol. 10, No. 23 Parashas Vayikra
The Midrash tells us that this pasuk is refering to a great man sinning; A man as lofty as Adam HaRishon. Adam was so great that the angels thought he was godly. He was on one of the highest levels a human can reach. But yet, the Midrash continues to say that this man who sins must take care to separate himself from the animals, to insure that he does not fall to the lowest of depths. Granted that a man as great as Adam HaRishon may commit a small sin. But would we ever imagine that this sin could drag him to the animalistic depths? Is he truly in danger of sinking so low?
Let us realize that the Yetzer Hara is the greatest enemy we can ever have, and let us try to learn from our nemesis, who never surrenders without a struggle and fights tooth and nail for the smallest gain. He knows quite well that the stakes are extremely high, because we are dealing with eternity. If we make the effort to be vigilant and to avoid even the smallest lowering of our spiritual level, and seize every opportunity to grow, we will find ourselves making consistent strides forward in the positive direction, onward and upward as we elevate ourselves and everything around us to accomplish the ultimate purpose of our existence.
JayMatt: wow minutes before shobbos! thanx it was a great one!
squeak: well done!
chofetzchaim: that was a great vort! thank you!
Hope everyone had a beautiful Shabbos and I wish you all a Gut Voch,
On to the D’var Torah (As promised, another vort on the hagadda…
The Abarbanel asks, Why in the Ma Nishtana do we have only these 4 question? Certainly one could ask why we have an entire maggid and second cup before hamotzei (whereas we normally have kiddish followed by hamotzei). We can also ask about Korban Pesach and the 4 cups.
The Abarbanel answers that there are 3 types of changes: Additions, subtractions, and trades/switches.
The point of the questions of the Ma Nishtana is to state how there are changes of all types this night:
Additions: We dip twice
Subtractions: Normally Chametz and Matzah, tonight only Matzah
Trade/Switch: Marror instead of the other vegetables
The 4th change (reclining) is a behavioral change. We act in a kingly manner.
Now We can understand why we do not ask these other questions, as they are included within these categories of change. (i.e. it would be superfluous to ask about an addition a second time. e.g. 4 cups)
R’ Eliezer Ashkenazi (The Ba’al Ma’asei Hashem) states that each question corresponds to one of the 4 sons.
Chacham – questioning the addition: Since he is mistapek b’mo’at (notices the tiniest things e.g. 2 dips)
Rasha – questions the subtraction: Since his stomach is missing something, he asks where his bread is.
Tam – Trade/switch: Since the Tam will only ask by something which is abnormal for him. He is used to regular vegetables, however, when he sees the maror, he asks what is this?
She’eino Yode’a L’shol – reclining: The changes on the table are not enough for him to ask, even the behavioral changes (i.e. reclining) do not trigger a question. This indicates to us that he is indeed unable to ask.
mod72: i’ll take tuesday again-put as tentative please.
you have it – I will keep Tuesday night as Jax (tentative) permanently :o). Thanks. YW Moderator-72
mod 72, thats a big nose you made there 😉 I will bli neder try to contribute but dont put me down for anything yet 🙂
JayMatt19: Beautiful 🙂
It’s Sunday, that means its Freebie Day!!
R’ Moshe Sternbuch asks why the tamidim told their Rebbeim that the time has come for the morning ????? ???? Would it not have been better to come when it reached Alos HaShachar? What is the meaning of “the time has come for ????? ????”
It appears that this is a ??? and an important lesson. The Ikar of ????? ??? is Kaballas Ol Malchus Shamayim (accepting Hashem as our King). Meaning, even if one (chas v’shalom, lo aleinu) were sentenced to a horrible decree, he would still believe in Hashem.
The Gemarra in Brachos tells us the story of R’ Akiva, who always found it difficult to say the words ??????? ?????????, and was happy when given the opportunity to fulfill this din at the end of his life.
This is what the talmidim were coming to tell their Rabbeim. Now is the time for ????? ???. For after an entire night of discussing the nissim of ????? ????? and the Gadlus of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Now you can say ????? ??? with the proper ????? ???, just like the mitzva should be done. What better time to be M’kabel Ol Malchus then now, after such a night discussing the wonders and gadlus of Hashem?!
For this reason the talmidim mentioned ????? ??? as opposed to Alos HaShachar.
JayMatt: great vort there! i really liked it, i’ll be saying it over at my seder!
If the members allow, I hope to do another one on the haggadda tomorrow.
Thanks
Jay, what does that mean “If the members allow?” no pressure, but i like reading your divrei torah and anyone who doesn’t should be quiet
moish, I think you just made someone’s day. That was a really nice comment.
~a~
ha it wasn’t really so nice – the moderator changed it 😉
J-matt, your up on the big board for tomorrow. And of course we allow. You are not monopolizing the thread, don’t worry
come on people, we need volunteers for Wednesday & Thursday! anyone?
A slight variation to the general haggadda theme:
The plague of ??? (Hail)
?? ???? ????, ??? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ???,
This passuk tells us that by ???, Hashem sent “all his plagues”.
What does that mean?
The Vilna Gaon states that there are three categories of plagues that Hashem uses for punishing ?????. Namely, fire, water and wind.
The ??? ????? was obviously punished with water. Wind was the method of destruction against the ??? ?????. And ???? was destroyed by fire.
We can see by the 10 makkos that each of these were used. ?? & ????? were plagues of water. ???? was in the category of wind and ???? was fire.
By ???, we find that all three methods were incorporated in ???. It itself was water (ice), the inside of the hail was fire, and we know that wind was a factor, since it says “???? ?????”
This is the explanation of the words ?? ?? ????? (all my plagues).
Bonus Haggadda d’var torah! (or a 1st if you view the one above as a d’var torah on Parshas Va’era)
We say “Bechol dor v’dor omdim aleynu l’chaloseynu…” In every generation they try to destroy us, only to have HaKadosh Baruch Hu save us from their grasps.
The Avudraham says that in every generation Hashem creates such an environment so that he can save us. By doing so each generation can see firsthand the hashgacha of Hashem
According to this pshat we are saying praise not just for the salvation, but for the fact that they make such attempts as well. Since due to these attempts every generation is able to see the protection Hashem gives us.
**Seen in the Sifsei Chaim on Mo’adim**
JayMatt: wow great pieces! i liked them both a lot! i plan on saying a few of your vorts at my seder for sure!
Available soon at The Yeshiva World Store: The JayMatt19 Haggadda
Seriously these are great vorts. Please keep them coming!
As to the rest of you in the CR, Please give as well!!
since Jaymatt gives on the Haggadda, i thought i’ll do my part & give on this weeks Parsha, Parshas Tzav!
Tuesday’s D’Var Torah
>Parshas Tzav:The Karbon Oleh was brought when a man or woman wanted to express his/her love and closeness to Hashem. How fortunate we are to have the mitzvah vehicles and ability to foster our devotion to Hashem. Mitzvos are a precious opportunity, as the following true story illustrates:
It is said that when the Vilna Gaon lay dying, he held on to his tzitzis and began to weep. His talmidim, standing around, were astonished. “Surely after living such a pious life and contributing so much to Torah learning you can not be afraid of what awaits you in the next world, Rabbi!” they said. “Why are you crying?”
He looked up and answered, “Because here on this Earth, while alive, with just a little string I can fulfill one of Hashem’s mitzvoth, Tzitzis. No matter how fabulous the next world is, I will not be able to do that there.”
We can never overlook the small stuff. Here, on this earth, with the right mind set, everything is possible. You can even follow Hashem’s commandments with just a little string if you think of it. Sometimes even just a penny fulfills the mitzvah of Tzedakah. A simple smile can fulfill the mitzvah of chesed. This is a wonderful world of boundless opportunity.
Jax: Great Dt
So which is better this world or the next?
aussie: well this world’s a stepping stone, to the next world! gatta do as many mitzvos here to get there!
From R’ Moshe Sternbuch:
???? ??? ??? ?????
?? ????? is when the ??? is not enslaved to anyone or anything, when such is the case one is a ?? ?????.
An ??? is anyone who is enslaved. This includes one who is enslaved to the ???? offered in this world, as these restrict one from properly serving Hashem. When the ????? will come, these ????? will be be demolished just like our enemies, enabling us to serve Hashem in its most optimal form.
JayMatt: that was really great! perfect way to end my ”’night” with your nice vort!
Jax and JayMatt, NICE!
Uh oh! I think moish is due for a DT.
~a~
Mod 72, I will bli neder try to give tonight or tomorrow but don’t put me down for anything official. Can it be on anything or only the parsha?
We glady accept all d’vrei Torah on the topic of your choice. It could be Parsha, Seasonal or any topic that you choose. YW Moderator-72
Has J-Matt done the parsha this week?
No offense J-matt
Mod 39, whats with the J-Matt instead of JayMatt?
hey i just saw JMatt’s from 13 hours ago. cool i can’t wait for mashiach.
ha kapusta i just did the same thing – i guess because i was looking at 39’s.
anonymisss, not this week. not in the mood. how about you??
Here’s my DT, I hope this covers wednesday.
Im Al Todah Yakrivenu
If he offers it by reason of gratitude (7:12)
The accepted definition of the word todah is the acknowledgment of gratitude and appreciation to one who has performed a specific act. In reality, there is another concept expressed by the word todah. We may define todah as an act of admission and concession. When one confesses to another, he is in fact conveying a message of agreement with the other parties opposing view.
The idea which connects these two contrasting approaches to the meaning of todah, whether it be an expression of gratitude, or as an act of admission, lies in the depths of man’s natural instinct. Man’s innate nature is to be independent, aspiring, and eager to show that he is capable of “taking care of himself” without requiring the services of another individual. therefore when one expresses his appreciation and gratitude to another person, he is actually confessing and acknowledging that he really needs others. This concept which applies to every individual in his relationship with others, is manifested greatly on one’s attitude toward Hashem.
Ingrained in people is the belief that “it is the strength and power of my hand which has performed this greatness.” The ludicrous belief that man has his own power, without acknowledging Hashem as the source of all power, has mislead and destroyed many. By the offering of the todah, a person confesses that he is nothing without the will of Hashem.
Rav Yitzchak Hutner ZT”L
taken from Peninim on the Torah
kapusta: that was a really nice one! thank you!
kapusta: I liked that DT.
Here is a question:
Why was is specifically Hillel HaZaken who instituted Korech (eating the matzah and marror together)?
R’ Shlomo Kluger zt”l states that we can derive the answer from a story we see in the gemarra in brachos.
Hillel HaZaken was traveling home when he heard a piercing, wailing cry. Hillel HaZaken immediately stated that it was not coming from his home. There is a passuk written about him: ?????? ??????, ??????? ????’ ??????? ??????, ??? ?????? his heart is stedfast, trusting in the Hashem, His heart is established, he shall not be afraid (okay, so parts of 2 pesukim)
Why was Hillel HaZaken so sure it wasn’t from his home? We see that Yaakov Avinu was afraid of Eisav (because of the sin of Yaakov), we also see that Moshe was afraid of Og (because he had zechusim). So how could Hillel HaZaken be so sure?
Rather, Hillel HaZaken knew the scream wasn’t coming from his home because every member of his home would say “gam ze l’tova” and accept what ever it was with ahava. Thus no member of his home would give such a scream, so the scream must be from elsewhere.
We know that the maror represents the enslavement and the tzaros while the matzah represents the geula and tova. Since we know that Hillel accepted and blessed the bad no differently then he would the good and he believed that all that happens is for the good. Therefore he ate the matza and maror (the good and the bad) together!
JayMatt, nice!
jaymatt19 & kapusta: very nice
mod-72: can i do tomorrow (thursday night)?
You got it. Thanks! YW Moderator-72
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