YWN Coffee Room Nightly D’Var Torah

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  • #1124148
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    So we don’t miss a day, and I do not have time to write a D’Var Torah… so here is a D’Var Torah from Rabbi Yisroel Miller (from his sefer “A Gift For Yom Tov”

    Haste Makes … Pesach

    Note that matzah does not commemorate only liberation — liberation is not even mentioned here — but it is to recall the haste, the rush in which we left.

    In the Friday night Kiddush, we proclaim that Shabbos is zecher liyetzias Mitzraim, Shabbos is a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. How is Shabbos connected with the Exodus?

    But that attitude is selling Hashem short. Pesach teaches us that Hashem actively controls. Once we know that He controls, then Shabbos tells us: If the necessary raw materials are absent, He creates. Hashem not only directs the flow, but He makes the flow; and if all solutions to your problem are unworkable, He can make a new solution out of nothing.

    Matzah symbolizes chipazon, haste, such haste that we had no time to bake a loaf of bread. Chipazon shel mi, Whose haste? Shel Mitzraim, That of the Egyptians, the ones who swore they would not let us go; it was they who hastened to comply with the word of Hashem. Hashem, the Creator and the Controller, not only freed us, but He transformed the Egyptian will.

    And the Torah commands us to remember this all the days of our lives; to know that Hashem, Who can create a whole new attitude in Pharaoh to make him ask us for a blessing, He can surely change the attitudes of our employers and neighbors and relatives, and whatever other situation we think is beyond repair.

    In Eretz Yisrael, for many years there have been Gedolei Torah, outstanding Torah leaders, who have taken public positions on important religious and political issues of the day. But surprisingly, some of the most outspoken rabbis, who never hesitated to speak their minds, never articulated (at least not publicly) a position on what Israel should do concerning its problems with its Arab neighbors.

    I once heard a suggestion that perhaps these Sages themselves do not know what to do, because there is no alternative that makes good sense. Some problems simply have no solutions. But at the same time, the Sages know that where no solution exists, Hashem can always create a new one; and if we seek to do His Will, He will show us that He is not bound by the restrictions of realpolitik.

    We must surely do everything we can to deal with problems, as best we know how. But we must always keep in mind that Hashem has His own methods, and He can transform enemies into friends; swords into plowshares; and Jews into holy people, people who live with the memory of the miracles of the liberation from Egypt, kol yemei chayecha, each day, all the days, of your lives.

    #1124149
    Jax
    Member

    mod72: nice piece!

    #1124150
    Jax
    Member

    D’VAR TORAH: PESACH:

    Every year, the korban pesach was brought in the Bais Hamikdash; just as it was that very first Pesach when the Jews actually left Mitzrayim; and was distributed to be eaten by Benei Yisroel. The korban pesach was not to be served to a non-jew.

    This was a terrible situation which could not be allowed to continue, yet how could the Rabbi stop him if he insisted on playing this charade.

    (sorry it was a little long, but i kinda liked it!)

    A Gutten Mo’ed!

    #1124151
    Jax
    Member

    72: you read?

    Yes, and I liked it. very good. sorry if I do not respond after wach D’Var Torah. YW Moderator-72

    #1124152
    Jax
    Member

    72: not problem, just trying to keep this thread alive!

    #1124153
    JayMatt19
    Participant

    Wishing everyone a gut yom tov,

    Please remove me from all days, I will only be able to do sporadically for the time being.

    This comes from the Gedolei Yisroel in the name of the Ba’al Yismach Moshe

    Why do we sing l’shana haba specifically after Yom Kippor and during the seder, exclusively?

    There is a famous machlokes in the gemarra (Rosh HaShana) when will the redemption take place? R’ Elazar says in Tishrei, and R’ Yehoshua says Nissan.

    Rabbenu Tam says that no machlokes is actually taking place. The Yidden’s private geula will take place in Nissan and the general international geula will occur in Tishrei.

    Therefore its specifically after Neila and during the seder where we sing l’shana Haba B’Yerushalayim

    #1124154
    kapusta
    Participant

    Sorry it’s long, it was the first one I was able to find that was online and wasn’t too complicated or deep.

    L’iluy nishmas R’ Meir ben R’ Yehoshua on his yartzeit.

    ??? ????? ??? ??

    ?) ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????:

    ?) ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????:

    3) And on the eighth day you shall circumcise the flesh of the Arlah

    ??? ?????? – ???? ?

    ????? ???? ??, ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????, ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????,

    , ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????, ??? ???? ??? ????, ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?? ???, ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????????:

    The root of this mitzvah is because HASHEM wanted to permanently place in this nation a sign in their body that would separate them and show them that they belong to HASHEM. Just as their body is distinct from the other nations, so too, is their soul.

    HASHEM wanted this completion of the person to be done by a man, and that he not be born that way. This is a sign that just like the body can be perfected by man, so too he is able to perfect his soul.

    The Jew has a distinct role amongst the nations

    The Sefer HaChinuch explains that HASHEM separated the Jewish people from all the nations. We were given a distinct role in this world. Our lives and everything we do should be different than any other people.

    Question on the Sefer HaChinuch

    We were created to change

    [KH3]
    The purpose of life is to change

    While it is true, that each individual was created with a different nature and temperament, and it may well be that one person has a greater tendency towards anger, jealousy, or arrogance- the entire focus of our lives is supposed to be towards changing our natures. However, to do that, we must clearly see change as possible, as something within our capacity. For that reason, HASHEM gave us the Mitzvah of Milah to perform so that we can have a permanent reminder of our ability to change.

    taken from theshmuz.com

    *kapusta*

    #1124155
    Jax
    Member

    *****D’Var Torah – Parshas Shmini*****

    The Torah lists kosher and nonkosher birds. One of the nonkosher birds is the chasidah. The chasidah is so named because it does great chesed for its young. If it is known for doing great kindness, why is it not kosher? The commentaries explain that although it does kindness for its own, it does not do so for others. Kindness that is done only for your own is not true kindness. True kindness extends beyond your own family, beyond your own circle of friends, beyond your clique or niche – true kindness extends lovingly, selflessly, and indiscriminately to all. The following story shows this:

    [Told by a young man named Brian] One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, “Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.” I had quite a fun weekend planned so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They knocked all his books out of his arms and tripped him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

    My heart went out to him. So, I ran over to him. As he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. Handing him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.” He looked at me and said, “Hey thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

    I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to a private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

    Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!” He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

    Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!” He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks,” he said.

    As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.”

    I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. “Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

    I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it’s depth.

    You never know how one small gesture can change a person’s life.

    a gutten shobbos!

    #1124156
    JayMatt19
    Participant

    I’d like to wish everyone a Great Shabbos.

    Posting here the next few weeks will be difficult for me. As such, I have e-mailed numerous divrei torah to Moderator-72, so that he can post them when he sees fit. Iy’h when I get a chance, I’ll e-mail some more.

    72, CHECK YOUR E-MAIL!!

    #1124157
    chofetzchaim
    Member

    Mussar HaTorah

    24 Nisan, 5769 Vol. 10, No. 25 Parashas Shemini

    All rights reserved. For more information call (818) 505-7999 or visit http://www.torahstation.com

    (Vayikra 10:20)

    Let us ask ourselves: How do we react when someone corrects us? Which category defines us: Do we reject any attempt to disagree with our ideas, or do we accept the truth when faced with it? When we do admit our mistakes, are we thankful and happy at our newfound riches, or begrudging and bitter about being proven wrong? If we love Torah, wisdom and truth as Moshe did, we will respond with joy, delighted by this precious gem of truth, the only true and eternal wealth.

    #1124159
    Jax
    Member

    kapusta: the neshama should have an aliya! nice vort!

    chofetz chaim: very nice!

    #1124160
    JayMatt19
    Participant

    Quick Vort from Memory:

    In Parshas Noach the torah says: ??? ????? ??????, ???-?? ???? ????–??? ?????; ???-????? ??? ?? ????

    We see that the Torah goes out of its way to use “clean language” choosing the term ?? ????.

    Why then in this weeks Parsha does the Torah seemingly forget this lesson and chooses to refer to these same animals as ????

    R’ Moshe Sternbuch says that there is a fundamental difference. When referring to the animals in general, one should use the nicest laguage. However, when discussing something which is forbidden (e.g. forbidden foods), one should not “water down” anything. One needs to recognize that this is ???, and therefore we cannot eat it.

    We often fall into these traps, saying lashon hara when forbidden and playing the “lashon hara card” when there is an obligation to say the truth. May HaKadosh Baruch Hu assist us in navigating this difficult labyrinth successfully.

    Gut Voch to All

    #1124161
    an open book
    Participant

    thanks. that was nice, jaymatt19.

    #1124162
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    JayMatt19 – I saw my email and I was ready to post one when I saw that you already did. maybe tomorrow :o).

    #1124163
    Jax
    Member

    mod72: please put me on the board for Tuesday!

    #1124165
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    this is the first of five submissions via email from JayMatt19 while he may not have access to post.

    1. Chofetz Chaim:

    ?????? ?? ??????? ?????????. ???????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ????????

    Why is this discussed in second person ??????, while other pessukim are in 3rd person (?????? ?’ ????? ??????????. ??????? ????? ????????????:). The Chafetz Chaim states that this is done since Parnassa comes directly from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, not through a Malach (and not through our own doing). As the gemarra in ta’anis says that the key for rain (i.e. parnassa) does not get handed over). Therefore, the passuk about Parnassa is mentioned in the second person form, while other topics are in 3rd person form.

    #1124166
    aussieboy
    Participant

    mod72: WHat do you mean he may not have access to post?

    read the post from JayMatt19 (about 10 posts ago). YW Moderator-72

    #1124167
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    this is the second of five submissions via email from JayMatt19 while he may not have access to post.

    2. The following is a Kotzker Vort

    Why is there Toomas Leida? What about the childbirth makes one ta’amei?

    Toomah is a result of a loss of closeness to Hashem. Whenever there is a loss of Kedusha, it is replaced by toomah. The classic example of this is Toomas Meis.

    Chazal teach us that the key for childbirth is possessed by Hashem, and is not handed over. Therefore, any pregnancy is accompanied by an added kedusha directly from Hashem, and it will obviously vanish during the childbirth, to be replaced with toomah.

    #1124168
    Jax
    Member

    jaymatt: another masterpiece!

    #1124169
    Jax
    Member

    *****D’Var Torah – Parshas Tazria/Metzora****

    lieyloi neshmas my Great Grandfather R’ Yitzchak Meir ben R’ Menacham Mendel, on his yartzeit today!

    The Torah prohibits the speaking of Lashon Hara. When we denigrate others, we not only cause them harm and loss, but we create a negative environment that affects the listener and even the speaker of the lashon hara. Attitudes affect and infect others, both consciously and subconsciously, as the following true story illustrates:

    A man and his elderly father once fell into a dispute. They were very poor and lived in a shack with no heating. They only had one coat and the father felt that he should get to wear it since he was a frail old man, stuck all day in a house with no heat. The son felt that he should get the coat since he had to work outdoors to support the family. His father who was being supported by him was at least indoors out of the wind.

    They couldn’t settle their dispute so they went to the Rabbi to seek his decision. Each one told the Rabbi, his side of the story. The Rabbi asked them to each return in two days and he would render his decision.

    On the way home, the son started thinking to himself, “What am I doing? What sort of ‘Honor thy Father’ is this? How can I deny my own father this coat? He is sick and frail. I am healthy. If I get cold I can light a fire at the work site. He should get the coat.”

    At the same time, the father started thinking to himself, “What am I doing? My son is working hard to support me? How can I let him do this and deny him the coat? If I get cold I can put on a sweater or a blanket or drink a glass of hot tea. He should get the coat.”

    Each man now refused to wear the coat and insisted that the other wear one it. Neither could convince the other so they went back to the Rabbi to ask him to rule on their new dispute. The Rabbi thought for a moment and said, “I have a spare coat. Why don’t I lend it to you and then you each can have a coat.” Now everyone could be happy.

    The son then asked the Rabbi, “I do not mean to be disrespectful; rather, I am burning with curiosity. If you are going to offer your coat, why did you not offer it the first time we came here?”

    The Rabbi replied, “The first time you came, you each said ‘I must have the coat’ so without thinking, it made me feel ‘I must have my coat.’ The second time you came, you each said, ‘I don’t need the coat, I want the other one to have the coat,’ so I felt ‘I don’t need the coat, I want the other one to have the coat.’ (Heard from Rabbi Paysach Krohn)

    #1124170
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    Jax, the neshama should have an aliya.

    and nice D’Var Torah

    #1124171
    kapusta
    Participant

    Jax, very nice, may the neshama have an aliyah!

    *kapusta*

    #1124172
    Jax
    Member

    72: Amen & thank you!

    kapusta: Amen & thanx!

    #1124173
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    this is the third of five submissions via email from JayMatt19 while he may not have access to post.

    3. Ksav Sofer:

    ??? ???? ???? ?????, ???? ?????: ?????, ??-????

    The ???? is already booted out of the camp, so what is the meaning of ?????, ??-???? (bringing him to the kohen)?

    It is known that whomever speaks Lashon Hara about someone else, the speaker loses all his mitzvos and Torah and it is given to the one he spoke about.

    This is a remez in the passuk. ??? ???? ???? ?????, this is what occurs to the Torah of the ?????, ??-????, This Torah becomes a zechus to the Kohen, i.e. the tzaddik whom the lashon hara was spoken about.

    Why does the Torah use the term Kohen? Since most lashon hara is spoken about the true leaders, tzaddikim, Kohanim…

    #1124174
    areivimzehlazeh
    Participant

    what’s wrong with JayMatt? “while he may not have access to post”??

    #1124175
    Jax
    Member

    areivim: he’s in the same country as us now & not at home! adios pal!

    #1124176
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    areivimzehlazeh

    your turn to post a D’Var Torah. I will put you down for Tomorrow. thanks.

    chofetzchaim – I will put you down as tentative for e’Shabbos.

    going through the list of those who have not posted in some time (or never)

    anonymisss

    an open book

    aussieboy

    charlie brown

    curious

    feivel

    Joseph

    Just Smile

    kapusta

    mdlevine

    moish01

    yashrus20

    yros

    … (everybody is eligible to submit, not just the selection that I listed).

    start thinking about which night next week you would like.

    Thanks

    #1124177
    kapusta
    Participant

    uh, 72, I posted way up on this page, I think it was motzei shabbos. how did I make it onto that list? does that mean you didnt read it? you wouldn’t want to insult a queen, would you?

    *kapusta*

    ok, you’re exempt until the week after next YW Moderator-72

    #1124178
    moish01
    Member

    try that in age order – elders first. and one a week. that gives me a nice long while (and aussie goes before me ;))

    #1124179
    anonymisss
    Participant

    MOD72, Thanks for letting me off the hook!

    ~a~

    added – you are now on the top of the list

    #1124180
    kapusta
    Participant

    72, did you read it?

    *kapusta*

    #1124181
    moish01
    Member

    72, anonymisss obviously wants to. otherwise she would never have opened her mouth.

    #1124182
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    just did.

    #1124183
    kapusta
    Participant

    72, if that just did was for me, did you at least like it? it took me a while to find that!

    *kapusta*

    Yes. the portion about the ability to change was right on target. very good.

    #1124184
    kapusta
    Participant

    anonymisss, go ahead! we’re rooting for you!

    *kapusta*

    #1124185
    kapusta
    Participant

    mod 72, danke!

    *kapusta*

    #1124186
    anonymisss
    Participant

    For the sake of being different, here’s one on ?????, the bracha of ??? ???? ???? ???:

    l’iluy nishmans Yehoshua ben Moshe a”h.

    The word ??? is referring to a higher level of man which Hashem gives ??? to serve Him. Afterward, it uses the word ????. What is the difference between an ??? and an ????? The ??? is a higher caliber of human being. The ???? is a person who has sadly compromised the purity, the beauty, and the magnificence of his ???? because he momentarily lost sight of his incredible bigness and acted in a way that was beneath him, sullying the beauty of his ????.

    When saying the words ????? ????? ????, we are asking that Hashem give us, who have sinned, the understanding to do ?????. Hashem teaches the person who has sullied his perfection to want to come back and do ?????. He will NEVER, EVER abandon us, saying, “Well, too bad on you. You did….. and that’s it! I’m not taking you back!” NEVER! Hashem provides the ???? with the ???? that he needs to be able to come back, at whatever level he’s up to, so that he can reperfect his originally perfect ????.

    Any parent will tell you, that there is no greater pleasure than seeing their children love and care about each other and no greater anguish than seeing them at each others’ throats. Hashem is no different with us, His children. In this request, there is an inyan to have in mind all Jews who don’t know about Hashem, that they should somehow be touched or come to realize that there’s an emptiness in their lives and be inspired to serve Hashem.

    Some people think better in broad terms of all unaffiliated Jews and some do better being more specific and having in mind those that they know. I’m afraid I can safely assume that there isn’t a block in Brooklyn, Monsey, or Lakewood that doesn’t have at least one child who isn’t currently living at their parents’ standards. By having in mind either all irreligious Jews or the children that you know who are currently not in a position to give Hashem nachas, you can be ????? the ???? of ????? ???? ????.

    Doing this will give Hakadosh Baruch Hu a million times more pleasure from your ????? because He knows that you love and care about His children. And in this ????, we should be ???? to see all of Hashem’s precious children returned to Him, very soon!

    ~a~

    #1124188
    an open book
    Participant

    moish: i second that!!!

    #1124189
    anonymisss
    Participant

    mod-who-put-it-up, thanks!

    ~a~

    it was me, your friendly YW Moderator ##

    #1124190
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    this is the 4th of 5 submissions via email from JayMatt19 while he may not have access to post.

    4. Sefer Nishmas HaChaim, Eitz Yosef

    ??-????. ???????? ??????????? ???? ??????? ????

    There are 7 different praises about the Nishama in this tefilla:

    ??????? ???? – The Nishama itself it pure. As it says, Just as HaKadosh Baruch Hu is pure, so to the Nishama

    ?????? ????????? – The Nishama is from the Sheshes Yemei Bereishis

    ?????? ??????????? – It is the tzelem Elokim

    ?????? ??????????? ???? – Back when I was a fetus in embrionic fluid, A neshama was injected into me

    ???????? ???????????? ??????????? – When The Nishama leaves the body it needs heavenly guarding and protection.

    ???????? ?????? ????????? ????????? – The Nishama will be preserved after death

    ??????????????? ???? ???????? ????? – After T’chiyas HaMeisim, Hashem will return the Nishamos to their previous bodies,

    #1124194

    Sorry Moish

    #1124196
    Jax
    Member

    anonymisss: the neshama should have an aliya! i really liked that devar torah!

    #1124197
    anonymisss
    Participant

    jax, amen;( and thank you.

    ~a~

    #1124198
    kapusta
    Participant

    anonymisss, GREAT DT!!! I actually started doing that around last summer. may the neshama have an aliyah.

    *kapusta*

    I like the ones on davening, we need to have more of them.

    #1124200
    YW Moderator-72
    Participant

    this is the last of 5 submissions via email from JayMatt19 while he may not have access to post.

    5. Beis HaLevi

    There is a Mitzva ????? ???? ????.

    The love of all is a mitzva from the Torah. Chazal state that this mitzva encompasses the entire Torah. Ther reason behind this is that through this mitzvam one separates themself from inproper middos like anger and jealocy.

    A ger has an added mitzva, therefore we see that by a ger there are 2 positive commandments.

    Therefore, one needs to train their heart to love every Jew. When one fails to do so, the fail to fulfill this positive commandment AND if this leads to hatred, then they also violate the negative commandment of Hating a Jew. WHICH IS ONE OF THE WORST AVEIROS IN THE TORAH.

    As Chazal say in pirkei Avos: Hatred towards other Jews removes one from the world.

    #1124201
    kapusta
    Participant

    What happens next week when we run out of the 5 submissions?

    *kapusta*

    #1124202
    chofetzchaim
    Member

    Mussar HaTorah

    [this]

    May we realize our greatness but also our frailties, and never let down our guard against the yetzer hara. Let us utilize the effective techniques of mussar, especially vivid imagery, to awaken and mobilize our emotions to fight the power of the passions, so that we emerge triumphant in our battles for spiritual growth and perfection.

    #1124203
    Jax
    Member

    Jymatt: very nice, now the 5 via email are done!

    chofetz chaim: well done!

    #1124204
    JayMatt19
    Participant

    It is late, but nobody posted anything so here goes:

    In davening we say “??? ?????? ????????? ?’. ??? ??????? ???????? ?????????”. Why do we say both ?????? without the dagesh as well as ??????? with the dagesh? The addition of the dagesh shows addred force or strength. So what we are acknowleging here is that Hashem will often be passive at times which are confusing to us ??????, soft, yet will seemingly punish someone with force at the slightest infraction ???????.

    We praise Hashem for this and we also show that we admittedly as removed from understanding Hashem’s ways.

    As a side point, if you look in the Tanach, whenever Refuah is mentioned as coming from Hashem, it is without a dagesh, and when mentioned coming from a doctor with a dagesh. This is because only Hashem can bring a true refuah without any added pain (e.g. the dentist drilling more before fixing a tooth).

    #1124205
    kapusta
    Participant

    JayMatt, very interesting!

    *kapusta*

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