Home › Forums › Bais Medrash › YWN Coffee Room Nightly D’Var Torah
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May 4, 2009 5:16 am at 5:16 am #1124257JaxMember
ames: i’m looking forward to it!
May 4, 2009 9:12 pm at 9:12 pm #1124258moish01Memberames, make it a good one. no pressure, but you’re my mitzva of talmud torah for the day…
May 4, 2009 9:54 pm at 9:54 pm #1124259Bais Yaakov maydelParticipantendless, aussieboy.
May 4, 2009 10:08 pm at 10:08 pm #1124260kapustaParticipantmoish, you could find one and share it here… that was for anonymisss. 😉
ames, looking forward!
May 5, 2009 12:49 am at 12:49 am #1124261YW Moderator-72Participantames, we are waiting for you…
May 5, 2009 1:14 am at 1:14 am #1124262YW Moderator-72Participantamen and thank you…
May 5, 2009 1:36 am at 1:36 am #1124263JaxMemberames: Amen! wow those hespadim were so inspiring! thank you so much for sharing them!
May 5, 2009 1:44 am at 1:44 am #1124264an open bookParticipantamen. really nice, thanks.
May 5, 2009 1:47 am at 1:47 am #1124265Bais Yaakov maydelParticipantvery inspiring, thank you.
also, acharei mos–kedoshim.
May 5, 2009 1:55 am at 1:55 am #1124266kapustaParticipantames thank you for sharing, (btw, this does not get you off the hook for DT’s) may we know of no more tzeros like this in klal yisrael.
May 5, 2009 5:46 am at 5:46 am #1124267anonymisssParticipantames, thank you, no words.
moish, you could find one and share it here… that was for anonymisss. 😉
ames, looking forward!
*kapusta*
😉
~a~
May 5, 2009 3:28 pm at 3:28 pm #1124268YW Moderator-72ParticipantI just received another D’Var Torah from JayMatt19.
My access is still limited, I wanted to post a d’var torah, but the CR
is currently down. Please post when the CR is back up.
This is from the Vilna Gaon.
During the time of the avos and when we left Mitzrayim, ??????? ??????
????????????, ?’ ??-???????. We can summarize Hashem’s love for us as
being great. However, after we served the eygel, and we deserved to be
annihilated, then ??????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ????????.
What does it mean ???????? ????????? It mean that we are treated
better post the Cheyt HaEgel then before. For we were given the 2nd
luchos and the mishkan. These ma’alos were not with us before.
May 6, 2009 1:02 am at 1:02 am #1124269JaxMember~~~~~D’Var Torah – Parshas Emor ~~~~~
When we reap our harvest, the Torah commands us to leave some of the crops remaining in the field, so that the poor can gather them for themselves. We can never become so wrapped up in our business or careers that we forget our responsibility to protect the lives and well being of others. We must realize that this is why Hashem gave us the resources that we have as the following true story illustrates:
As soon as Rabbi Aharon Kotler escaped to the United States at the beginning of the Second World War, he established the famous wartime Vaad Hatzalah (Rescue Committee) which all through the war kept alive many refugees in Europe, Russia, and Shanghai. Rabbi Kotler went to the American Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Henry Morgenthau, a Jew, and asked for his assistance.
Accompanied by an interpreter, Mr. Irving Bunim, to translate his Yiddish into English, Rabbi Kotler pleaded to Mr. Morgenthau for government cooperation in the rescue work.
“If I am seen to favor my Jewish brethren, I will soon be out of office,” said Mr. Morgenthau.
To this Rav Aharon told the interpreter to reply: “Saving Jewish lives is more important than holding even twenty positions like yours.”
At first the interpreter refused to translate these words. Noticing the argument, Mr. Morgenthau insisted that he be told what Rabbi Kotler had said, and the interpreter acquiesced. Rabbi Kotler’s reply so impressed him that he said, “If so, I will do my utmost and face the consequences.”
As it turned out, Mr. Morgenthau’s efforts proved invaluable in setting up the War Refugee Board, and he continued in office until after the death of President Roosevelt, who had appointed him.
May 6, 2009 1:18 am at 1:18 am #1124270May 6, 2009 1:36 am at 1:36 am #1124271aussieboyParticipantJax: Beautiful.
May 6, 2009 2:03 am at 2:03 am #1124272JaxMemberkapusta: thank you!
aussie: thank you!
ames: thank you!
May 6, 2009 3:59 am at 3:59 am #1124273anonymisssParticipantjax: thank you!
~a~
May 6, 2009 6:12 am at 6:12 am #1124274JaxMemberanonymisss: your very welcome!
May 6, 2009 2:37 pm at 2:37 pm #1124275GoldieLoxxMemberi just heard this amazing pshat so i thought i’d share it with my new friends in the cr!!
ashrei yoshvei veisecha – praisworthy are those who come and sit in shul
od yehallelucha sela – and only after this sitting do they come to praise you
we can’t run into shul and start right away or even chas veshalom late!!. to daven with kavana we need to get their early and take a few moments to set our mind right to daven!!
May 6, 2009 4:42 pm at 4:42 pm #1124276JayMatt19ParticipantThanks to everyone who posted in my absence. Thanks a BUNCH to mod-72 for posting the divrei torah which I e-mailed.
Back home now, bli neder I’ll put something up in a few hours
May 6, 2009 4:45 pm at 4:45 pm #1124277YW Moderator-72Participantwelcome back to the boards.
May 6, 2009 4:47 pm at 4:47 pm #1124278YW Moderator-72ParticipantGoldieLoxx
very nice. I put you on the big board as posting for Wednesday.
JayMatt19, I put you down also.
May 6, 2009 6:02 pm at 6:02 pm #1124279GoldieLoxxMemberso cute seeing my name on page one and in blue!!!
go me!!!!!!
one of our members was busted for excessive usage of the exclamation points. one is sufficient. :o) YW Moderator-72
May 6, 2009 8:09 pm at 8:09 pm #1124280JayMatt19ParticipantThe Torah commands the Kohel Gadol: ????, ??? ??????? ???. The Rambam notes that this is a mitzvas aseh.
R’ Moshe Sternbuch suggests that this positive commandment for the Kohen Gadol is in addition to the negative commandment preventing him from marrying a divorvee, widow etc. Meaning that the Kohen Gadol is commanded to get married.
This is in stark contrast to the leaders of some other religions. These leaders are asked to seperate themseves from all pleasures of this world, to the extent that they do not get married. Yet the Torah stresses marriage EVEN to the Kohen Gadol, who can serve Hashem in ways no other member of klal yisroel can. The Torah is telling us that this does not lessen his level of holiness in any way. In fact he sanctifies his body through the fulfillment of this mitzva.
May 6, 2009 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm #1124284May 7, 2009 4:34 am at 4:34 am #1124285JaxMemberJayMatt19: hey good to have you back! that was a great one!
May 7, 2009 6:15 am at 6:15 am #1124286amichaiParticipantwelcome back jaymatt. good vort. also thanx to goldieloxx.
May 7, 2009 8:16 pm at 8:16 pm #1124287JayMatt19ParticipantTrying to get back into the swing of things:
In this weeks parsha, we discuss Shabbos and the Yomim Tovim. There is a strange introduction, however, as there is a passuk about the mo’adim prior to the discussion of Shabbos.
R’ Yonasan Eibushitz states (based upon the Gemarra in Rosh Hashana) that Klal Yisroel establishes the new months, thus it is Yom Tov based upon the calculation of the Beis Din Shel Matta (the beis din down here). Shabbos, however, is automatic, and based upon creation. So why the Placement of these pessukim next to each other?
A Korban Tzibbor will override the commandments of Shabbos. This applies even though beis din could easily have added a day to the calendar, resulting in Yom Kippor being on Shabbos, causing these Korbanos to be brought in violation of the Shabbos (i.e. violation had it not been Yom Kippor). That is what these pessukim are telling us. We are given the power to establish our months and holidays, and Hashem will celebrate these holidays based upon OUR calculation, even (a)if it is different than his calculation and (b) even if it causes melacha on Shabbos which would have been avoidable had we followed Hashem’s calculation.
Hope I made sense, still tired from the trip. Mods, if there are complaints about this please remove, e-mail it to me (72, you have my e-mail) and I’ll try to do better on some sleep.
May 7, 2009 9:45 pm at 9:45 pm #1124288areivimzehlazehParticipantI had this thought 2 nights ago. I will try to formulate the best I can.
“Libee bamizroch, v’ani bisoch ma’arov”
To read into it further, let’s assume the cheshbon of: East= good (because the shechina rests in E”Y) and that West= bad (because the opposite of East is West & the opposite of good is bad).
So-
“Libee bamizrach, v’ani bisoch ma’arov”
Our hearts are in the right place (east). We yearn to be good and do what’s right in the “eyes” of Hashem. Yet ouR bodies & worldly pleasures are dragging us away in the opposite direction (west).
The sun rises in the East (Mizrach) & sets in the West (Ma’arov). The sun is a symbol of light, hope & positive things.
The sun RISES in the East- we yearn to rise in goodness like the sun. Yet the SETTING of the sun occurs in the West (darkness follows the setting of the sun). It’s in the “West” that we find ourselves when our hope (sun) starts setting/dwindling… and then we follow our physical wants and pleasures more & more to try and fill this void of goodness… and darkness follows.
Always remember that THE SUN WILL RISE AGAIN! The cycle always begins anew and Hashem always offers another chance- again and again and again… over and over and over! Day after day- just like the sun. He doesn’t give up- and neither should we!!!
May we be zoche to the coming of Moshiach- the ULTIMATE rising of the sun- BIKAROV B’YAMEINU AMEN!!!
May 7, 2009 10:13 pm at 10:13 pm #1124289Bais Yaakov maydelParticipantThe Power of Connection, Rabbi Naftali Reich, Ohr Somayach
They were ten of the best and finest Jewish men, the pride of the Jewish people who had emerged in the Egyptian exodus. And yet these ten men brought untold calamity upon their people. Sent by Moshe to reconnoiter the Promised Land before the people actually crossed into it, these ten spies brought back the most slanderous and distorted reports to the desert encampments. They caused such dissension and turmoil that the entry into the Promised Land was postponed for nearly forty years, after the entire generation had passed away and a new generation emerged.
Meforshim explain that the Torah is teaching us a very important lesson here. There are many forces in the physical world which we instinctively view as destructive, such as dynamite and the splitting of the atom. But in actuality, these very destructive forces can be put to beneficial use. Dynamite can be used not only to wreak destruction but also to clear a path through mountains and forests for new highways to serve civilization. The splitting of the atom does not necessarily have to result in mushroom clouds over populous cities. It can also be harnessed to provide power for industry and private homes. Everything depends on how it is used.
The forces in the spiritual world also follow the same pattern. If a group of ten men could produce results of such destructive intensity that calamity would befall millions of Jews, this was clearly an extremely potent spiritual force. Clearly, the connection effected by the critical mass of ten Jews was so powerful that the group became far greater than the sum of its parts. Surely, this selfsame force could also be harnessed for the good to create the proper spiritual environment for prayers and readings of special sanctity.
A general deployed his army on the battlefield, preparing for the onslaught of a vastly superior enemy force. He exhorted his troops to rise above their limitations in numbers and weaponry, to fight heroically and defeat the enemy against all odds.
In our own lives, we often tend to withdraw into our own insular little worlds, enjoying the comforts and pleasures of our homes and hearths with only a tangential relationship to the community at large. By doing so, however, we forgo the opportunity to be part of a greater good. But if we connect with others in the community, if we forge alliances for the accomplishment of important goals for the community, we can tap into the enormous spiritual power of the group and reap the benefits in every aspect of our lives.
May 8, 2009 12:29 am at 12:29 am #1124290JaxMemberareivim: after reading that i have the biggest proudest smile on my face! that peice was outstanding! you should think about writing the Chidushai Areivim! well done Rav Areivim!! the thought was very deep, & had an amazing lesson for us all! man, you out done yourself! i wish the Rav a gutten shobbos! you made us proud!
May 8, 2009 12:58 am at 12:58 am #1124291YW Moderator-72Participantareivimzehlazeh
and
Bais Yaakov maydel
Thank you both very much.
Everybody else – please sign up for next week.
May 8, 2009 1:05 am at 1:05 am #1124292JaxMemberBais Yaakov maydel: that was great!
May 8, 2009 2:15 am at 2:15 am #1124293JaxMemberJayMatt19: i just saw your’s now! it’s clear & outstanding as always! get some rest pal!
May 9, 2009 8:41 pm at 8:41 pm #1124294JayMatt19Participant?? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ???
Why does the Torah refer to the month of Tishrei as ??? ?????? ???? Is there another ??? ???????
A few p’sukim earlier, the Torah says ???? ?????? ???? ????, ???? ??? ?????–????? ?????, ????-???. So it isn’t that Tishei is always refrered to as ??? ?????? ???, why by Yom Kippor?
R’ Ahron Kotler says that the Torah here is speaking to basic human tendencies. There is a tendency to procrastinate. Why should I do something today which doesn not need to be done until next week?
Yom Kippor is extremely important. One needs to use Rosh HaShana and the Aseres Yemei Teshuva in order to utalize Yom Kippor correctly. Therefore, just after the passuk tells us about Rosh Hashana, the torah continues ??? ?????? ???, IN THIS SAME MONTH A FEW DAYS LATER, in an effort to prevent us from thinking that “we have time” until Yom Kippor comes.
Gut Voch
May 9, 2009 8:43 pm at 8:43 pm #1124295JayMatt19Participant72, The board looks good with other names on it.
However, one thing is missing, and that is the title of “permanent” following my name in the Motzei Shabbos slot.
May 10, 2009 3:43 am at 3:43 am #1124296JaxMember72: shavuah tov! please put me down for Tuesday -perm!
May 10, 2009 4:03 am at 4:03 am #1124297May 10, 2009 4:08 am at 4:08 am #1124298JaxMemberJayMatt: great vort!
May 10, 2009 4:41 am at 4:41 am #1124299YW Moderator-72ParticipantJayMatt19
Jax
kapusta
ames
you are all listed on the big board on page 1.
any more volunteers?
May 10, 2009 2:26 pm at 2:26 pm #1124300JayMatt19ParticipantNobody is up for today, so here goes:
????? ???????? ?????? – How will we bring the geula? What can we do to bring Moshiach?
?????????? ?????? ????????? – It will be though Klal Yisroel doing Teshuva
And the best way to be granted forgiveness for the ??????, the the ones done purposely.
is through Learning Torah. (?? ????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????? ????????) –
????? ??? ????????? ????? – Not just through ???? ?????, but even ???? ???? ?? is a kapara on Aveiros B’Meizid and will assist in the bringing of the geula.
(?’ ???? ????’?)
May 10, 2009 9:10 pm at 9:10 pm #1124301May 11, 2009 4:52 am at 4:52 am #1124302JaxMemberJayMatt19: superb! nicely done!
May 12, 2009 12:26 am at 12:26 am #1124303YW Moderator-72ParticipantThis D’Var Torah was submitted by Kapusta l’ily mishmas Perel bas Chaim Simcha on her yartzeit
Parshas Behar
Paying it Forward
Lending with interest is something that (for Jews) is taboo. Hashem demands a certain kinship between brothers and sisters that prevents them from profiting from those who – through their misfortune – need loans. Thus the Torah commands us this week: “If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him — proselyte or resident — so that he can live with you. Do not take from him interest and increase; and you shall fear your G-d — and let your brother live with you. Do not give him your money for interest, and do not give your food for increase.” (Leviticus 25:35-37).
The Torah then juxtaposes what seems to be a veiled admonition by reasserting Hashem’s omnipotent authority in the context of the prohibition of taking interest: “I am Hashem, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be God unto you” (ibid v. 38). What connection could exist between the prohibition against taking interest from Jews and the exodus from Egypt?
Rabbi Paysach Krohn relates the story of a 40-year old man who passed away and left a young widow and orphans. The oldest son, Yosef, took the helm of his father’s business as the breadwinner for the surviving children. It was not easy; competitors took advantage of his na’vet and inexperience. One day, in the midst of his struggles, a Mr. Hans approached him with an envelope. It contained two thousand dollars. Yosef was taken aback. “Please,” he said, “I am working to make a living. I do not want any charity!”
Mr. Hans explained. “Take it as a loan. When things get better you can repay me.”
It took almost two years, but the time came when Yosef was on his feet. He went to see Mr. Hans. In his hand was an envelope containing two thousand dollars.
“I am not taking the money,” said Mr. Hans.
“But,” retorted Yosef, “you said it was only a loan!”
Hans smiled and nodded his head. “It was, but sit down and let me explain.
“A while back I was in difficult straits. A fellow named Mr. Stein came to me with money. I, like you, did not want to accept it. Mr. Stein assured me that the money was merely a loan, and I accepted it. Within a few years, I was able to pay it back.
“When I approached Mr. Stein, he refused to accept the money.” Hans continued his story. “When I began arguing with him, he explained. I want you to pay it back, but pay it in the following manner: When you see someone else struggling, lend him the two thousand dollars. And when he comes to pay it back, you too shall refuse. Then explain to him the terms I just told you. Yosef understood the message and followed the instructions. Somewhere out there in our community, those two thousand dollars are floating around, while waiting to be returned, rather loaned, once again. The K’sav Sofer explains: When we left Egypt, we should have left with just the shirts on our backs. But this was not so. We left with gold and silver from the Egyptians, and after the splitting of the Yam Suf our portfolios increased measurably with the Egyptian booty that washed ashore. G-d gave all of that to us. But he stipulated one minor request. When we take the wealth He gave us and pass it around, we are asked not to derive any benefit from it. We are told lend it to your brothers without a profit. We owe the Almighty for all we have. The least we can do is pay it forward without interest.
taken from Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky on torah.org
*kapusta*
May 12, 2009 1:52 am at 1:52 am #1124304JaxMemberkapusta: great vort! the nishama should have an aliya! in this line–>The Torah then juxtaposes what seems to be a veiled admonition by reasserting Hashem’s omnipotent–there’s a few great hang man words! i had to say that!
May 12, 2009 3:27 am at 3:27 am #1124305anonymisssParticipantkapusta, nice one, it should be an aliya for the neshama.
ames, also nice. may it be a zechus for only good things for rachel bat margalit.
~a~
May 12, 2009 5:20 am at 5:20 am #1124306anonymisssParticipantAccording to cherem d’rabbeinu gershom, it is ASSUR to read things that are not addressed to you.
~a~
May 12, 2009 1:50 pm at 1:50 pm #1124307YW Moderator-72Participantames, nice DT and may Rochel bat Marglit have very good results from her tests.
May 12, 2009 7:42 pm at 7:42 pm #1124308JayMatt19ParticipantHere is something on Parshas Behar, without committing, iy”h I hope to give something tomorrow on Bechukosai
??-??? ???? ??? ??????, ????? ??-????; ??? ????, ???.
??-????–??-??? ??, ????; ???????, ??-??? ????.
???, ???-? ?-?????, ???-?????? ????, ???? ?????–??? ??? ??-??? ????, ????? ??? ??-????.
Why do we mention that Hashem took us out of Egypt after mentioning the issur of taking Ribbis?
There is a famous machlokes between the Rambam and the Ra’avid. Why were the Egyptians punished? After all, it was decreed that we would be slaves in a land not our own!
The Rambam says that the Egyptians were punished because they stepped to the plate! They didn’t have to, yet they chose to be the ones, so they were punished.
The Ra’avid is bothered by this pshat and offers another. The reason why they were punished was because they went too far. They enslaved the Jews too much. What did they do which was too much? When they lent the Jews money they charged interest.
So why the connection here in our Pasha between ribbis and Yitzias Mitzraim? Because if you lend money to another yid and charge ribbis, you are stating there is nothing wrong with it. Therefore you are saying that the Mizrim did nothing wrong as well, and as such Hashem was not justified in his punishing of the Mitzrim!!
That is why it says ???, ???-? ?-?????, ???-?????? ????, ???? ?????–??? ??? ??-??? ????, ????? ??? ??-????. after mentioning the issur of ribbis.
May 12, 2009 8:35 pm at 8:35 pm #1124309areivimzehlazehParticipantYou reallr know how to deliver JayMatt- excellent!
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