YWN Coffee Room Nightly D’Var Torah

I like the idea of a nightly Dvar Torah. I’ll throw oneout to try toget this thread moving. Why does klal Yisroel refer to the Shabbos of Parshas Beraishis as “shabbos Beraishis”, something not done other weeks. Perhaps it’s because after a Yomim Noraim, and Succos and Simchas Torah, each one of us can make a new “Beraishis” on their lives; recreate our own personalities without our previously imposed limitations.

Short thought on Parshas Noach: Noach was childless for until age 500. Chazal say the reason is because if his children were righteous and over age 100 they would all need their own teivos, requiring extra work. The question is why couldn’t Noach just invite them to his own teiva.

The answer is that after a person is an adult (today 20, then 100) they need to create their own tevah, theirown universe, based on their own recognition, and their own kochos hanefesh.

Until then, to the contrary, they must remain bottul to that of their Mesora.

Doing things differently can be devastating. For the latter they will create only an immature world for themselves, and the former will never discover the potential life that has been uniquely destined for them.

Here’s another interesting quip from the Minchas Elazar, the Munkaczer Rebbe zt”l. He relates to evolution, according to which man developed from apes. This apikorsis claim is based on the great resemblance between humans and apes in various aspects. Indeed, he says, there is a relationship between humans and apes -not that WE developed from apes, but that, as the gemara in Sanhedrin (109:1) teaches, some of the generation of migdal Bavel became monkeys!

Quote: “Some transformed into monkeys, spirits, shaydim and leelin”-sanhedrin 109

ok this has nothing to do with the parsha, but I was just drinking some schnapps for lunch today and i remembered a vertel Rabbi Frand said by this year’s Aseres Yemei Teshuva drasha.

He said it’s interesting that the word for life in Hebrew, is ????. Although ?? is a word, and that means alive, but the word for LIFE is ????, almost like ??, but in the plural context, seemingly. Why? Because for a yid, life is not life, if one lives in his own little world of self. His own ?’ ????, minding his own business. Life is about more than just YOU. It’s about another yid, ANY yid, together WITH you. THAT’S chaim, that’s how a yid lives!

Now, my friends, let’s drink to that.

L’Chaim yidden, L’Chaim!

Yasher Koach BaalHabooze.

Just a short, deep thought on Lech Lecha. Malki Tzedek lost his status as Kohein by preceding the Brocha of Hashem by the brocha of Avrohom. Why this act?

The Rambam defines the uniqueness of Shevet Levi, and those that follow their path. They abandon the normal venues of Hishtadlus. Therefore, Hashem gives them what they need directly.

Hashem controls everything that happens. We can identify two parts to salvation. One, the salvation itself. Two, the fact that it was Hashem who orchestrated the salvation. Most of mankind focuses on attaining salvation by dint of their own efforts. However, they ask Hashem to help. Shevet Levi focuses on asking Hashem to help, while providing an outlet of Hishtadlus as the means of His blessing to materialize. The difference between these approaches is the difference of Shevet Levi vs the rest of mankind.

By addressing Avrohom’s involvment before Hashem’s, Malki Tzedek in some degree, revealed that his approach resembled the common approach. Not the approach of Levi.

While preparing this week’s kria, I just noticed that the order of the conquests in the war in revii seems to be the same order that Moshe conquered ever hayarden in the end of sefer bamidbar.

As they approached Mitzrayim, Avraham asked Sarah to claim that she was his sister. This was to protect him from the Egyptians who might lust after Sarah, and kill him if they were to know that he was her husband.

Why is it necessary for us to know that this discussion transpired as Avraham and Sarah drew close to their destination? Why, in fact, was an issue of such gravity not discussed prior to their departure from Eretz Canaan? The Midrash explains that as they neared their destination, Avraham became aware of Sarah’s exceptional beauty. Why is this the juncture where Avraham becomes aware of his wife’s beauty?

Mitzrayim was a country notorious for the immoral and lascivious behavior of its inhabitants. Generally, an individual living in such a society would be affected, even if he himself would not indulge in any perverse behavior. Perhaps the Torah is teaching us that although a tzaddik of Avraham’s caliber would not be dragged down by the immorality of the society where he lives, the influence of the society does have a subtle effect on him. In Avraham’s case, this manifested itself in his becoming aware of his wife’s beauty.

From Rabbi Zweig on the Parsha.

PARSHAS VAYEIRA

Rav Tzodok HaKohen explains that it might appear to us that the tefillos of Avroham Avinu on behalf of the cities of Sedom and Amora were not answered. However Chaza”l say that no tefilla goes unanswered. Avrohom’s tefillos created the sparks from which Moshiach would one day come to the world and bring a true geula for all mankind. And, in fact, Lot, who was the forebear of Rus and eventually Moshiach ben Dovid, was rescued from the destruction of Sedom! But there is no such thing as a wasted tefilla. Every time we daven it affects and changes things. We might not see the result immediately, but we have to know that our tefillos are effective.

I once read (can’t remember where) about a man who gave a speech about the power of tefilla. It was about a month after R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach passed away and Klal Yisroel still felt its loss. “There are those of you who davened for R’ Auerbach’s recovery for many weeks. And some may think that perhaps it was a waste of time and nothing ever came of those tefillos. Afterall, he died. But for those of you who know me, know that I have been sick for many months and not until recently was I released from my regular hospital visits, and daily medications. Now I have a clean bill of health. How? Because my name is Shlomo Zalman ben Tzivia. The exact same name as R’Auerbach zt”l’s name. Now, it’s only a theory, and I cannot be conclusive, but PERHAPS many of your tefillos took an alternate route and ended up landing in MY lap, and saved Me.”

All tefillos are heard. All tefillos have results.

Short, very deep thought on Vayeira.

The Medrash says the Malachim, since they revealed the secrets of Hashem (they told Lot of His plan to destroy Sedom) were expelled from the inner sanctum of Hashem. They only returned when Yakov saw them on the Ladder.

Questions : How do Malachim sin? What is the middah k’neged middah here? Why return by the ladder?

Answer:

Malachim can sin if they are exposed to human behaviour.

The Gr”a says that we can’t have malachim like the Bais Yosef did, because our world these days can corrupt Malachim. The Arizal says that is why Hashem had to smite the Mitzrim by Himself. It was too dangerous for a Malach.

A person is supposed to be strong with himself, and soft with others. See first Gaon in Rus for elaberation.

The Sdomim got it reversed. They were cruel to others, yet they were Chatoim, sinners for themselves. What was supposed to be inside (self control) was revealed to others, and vice versa.

A Malach exposed to this can reveal what is inside. His punishment is that the malach who should be inside, is expelled outward.

Yakov epitomized truth, which is putting everything in its right place. In his days, the malachim can return.

The Sdomim got their ultimate punishment, when they got

overturned. What was revealed of them was now buried.

Very chassidish ,like it!

TRUE STORY

There was this woman, pregnant in her 9th, and it was getting close to shabbos, when she felt something. The husband says go to the hospital she says no, not yet, and a whole long dispute ensues. Time creeps by and she suddenly feels a painful contraction. It was so close to shabbos, but the husband had already made arrangements, so he quickly brought the kids to the babysitter’s house and then rushed his wife to the hospital.

Anyway, she goes into labor, and before you know it the baby pops out, healthy and happily -mazel tov- and all is well! Shortly after, the husband goes back to check up on the kids and arrives late Friday night at his home where he collapses in his bed into a deep sleep.

The next morning in shul he gets an aliyah of course and, because it was Parshas Chayei Sara, he names his new baby, “Rivka”. B”H he had bought food before Shabbos, just in case, and he even gave a little kiddush/L’chaim after davening. Later that day he goes up to visit his wife+baby in the hospital, and she asks him how the Shalom Zachor was. “Shalom Zachor??”

Apparently, the whole ordeal on erev shabbos was in such a rush and so fartumult, he had mistakenly thought the baby was a girl!

So the shaila was brought to R’Elyashiv Shli”ta, what to name the baby boy. He paskened, that since ????? ??????, and they had originally “named” the baby ‘Rivka’, they should name the boy Yitzchok. ????.

It’s brought down in seforim, that when the father names his baby, it is with Ryach Hakodesh, that this name ‘taiches’ up the metziyus and essence of the child. And every father names the child with precisely that name which was ultimately destined for that baby. The couple in the story did not plan to call their baby Yizchok. Originally they had a differnt name. Hashem had to orchestrate this whole rush, bilbul, etc. in order for this baby to end up with its proper name, Yizchok.

Parshas Chayei Sarah

A beautiful vort heard from Rav Yitzchok Gleizel Shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Yagdil Torah in Yerushalayim:

Lavan says to Eliezer, “Come, Blessed one of Hashem”. Chazal say at that point Eliezer no longer bore the curse of Canaan.

The question is, why then.

The reason for Canaan’s curse of slavery is because he was self centred. The entire world was split into only three portions, and he worried about a fourth.

The eitza can only be slavery, toiling completely for another person.

When Eliezer gave all to Avraham, he was no longer under the curse of Canaan. “Come, the blessed one of Hashem”

BaalHabooze, It was precisely the mesiras nefesh of forgoing the shidduch that got him there. In a deeper sense, this act merited him eternal life (he never died, as chazal tell us). Eternity has no bounds; his Brocha was limitless.

Sam2: He could be referring to the Gemara in Bava Basra 58 with the story with R’ Bana’ah.

A short but extremely deep thought on Parshas Toldos.

Obvious question: Why did Yitzchok intend to give the Brochos to Esav and not to Yakov.

Answer: There were two Brochos. One of Rulership, intended for Esav. One of the Mesorah, the Birchas Avrohom, given to Yakov before he left to Choron.

True rulership begins at home. Only someone with a powerful Yetzer Hora can experience true rulership. In a deeper sense, the term melech refers to a king that is chosen, as opposed to a Moshel, a dictator. It is the Yetzer Hora, who forces us to choose our relationship with G-d, as opposed to naturaly following Him.

The stronger the Yetzer Hora, the greater of a choice we have, the greater meaning we give to G-d’s rulership upon his being vanquished.

The point of a Jewish king is to reflect the Divine rulership in this world.

Dovid Hamelech ultimately accomplished what Esav was supposed to have done. He was endowed with a mighty Yetzer Hora, which he overcame with unparalleled effort.

Yitzchok knew that only Esav had in his lot this necessary prerequisite to rulership. He was right. However, by receiving Esav’s Brocha in his stead, Yakov absorbed Esav’s lot in addition to his own. His subsequent sojourn to Charan, to face the unprecedented exposure to the house of Lavan, forced him to combat evil in a manner previously unknown to him.

When people said the big (Leah) for the big (Esav) they were correct. The Medrash Rabbah says that she, who containes the seeds of Davidic rulership, was predestined for Esav. Yakov, with his newfound role ultimately took even her.

Bottom line. Every urge of the Yetzer Hora that we experience is an opportunity for true expression of Divine Rulership.

Really great piece BH thanks.

Goq- yw, I’m so glad you enjoyed!

BaalSechel: great ha’ara! but can you really say Rochel wouldn’t have had any children if she was the only wife of Yaakov? How would we have the shevotim? (Through Bilhah, i guess….? I guess.) In any case, I liked that shtikel, as I ‘tahkeh’ always felt bad for Rochel and felt she had given up the most dearest thing to her heart, and ‘sacrificed’ it for her sister’s sake.

Short thought on Parshas Vayishlach. Yakov says, “Kotonti MiKol HaChasadim etc.” the simple meaning is that I am unworthy of the good that you have dealt me. Rashi refuses to explain it like that, saying instead that “I have become small because of all the kindness etc. that you have performed on my behalf”. The question is that kotonti literally means I have become small. According to Rashi’s explanation it should say niskatnu zechuyosai, or something to that effect.

The answer is that ultimately a person is nothing more than his zechuyos. Only they have true significance, and in the ultimate sense only they define the true essence of a person’s being.

I once heard from Rav Moshe Shapiro shlit”a that people have a mistaken notion of Olam Habba. They think that resembles Olam Hazeh, only they they will be a bit frummer. Actually, Olam Habbah is a place where a person has no existance beyond what they managed to create while in Olam Hazeh.

This is actually quite a sobering thought as to how we view the pursuit of mitzvos. We are doing nothing less than defining our eternal existence.

Getting back to the Parsha, this is what Yakov was saying I have become smaller because of my zechsim having been consumed. Yakov, the Av who represented the ultimate, eternal truth, viewed his existence as nothing more than his zechusim.

Chanuka is said to be the ‘festival’ of the Oral Torah, so why is there no Gemora about Chanuka? We have by Purim, Pesach, Succos, but why not by Chanuka?

Rav Nissan Kaplan shlit”a suggests a beautiful answer:

The Greeks did not try to destroy us physically, they tried to destroy our Torah – our identity. So, when it was time for Rebbe to write down the Mishnayos due to fear that the Jewish People would start to forget the Oral Torah, to some extent, the Greeks had succeeded. They had taken our Oral Torah and to a degree, reduced it. So, when it came to Chanuka, the time when we celebrate our success over the Greeks and their values, Rebbe could not let Chanuka be written down into Mishnayos, Chanuka had to remain as the Oral Torah in its unchanged form. So even though the Greeks succeeded in a way, by causing our Oral Torah to be written down, at least when it came to Chanuka, the ‘festival of the Oral Torah’, that would have to be learned totally orally without any Mishnayos.

Short thought on Miketz/ Shabbos Chanuka:

Both Chanuka and Purim are alluded to in the seuda that Yosef ate with his brothers. ????? ??? ???? contains the word Chanuka. Yosef gives five changes of attire to Binyamin, signifying Purim. The question is, what is the connection of this seuda with Chanuka and Purim?

The Seforim (see Pri Tzaddik) explain that Yosef represented the Shechina, and the Shevatim represented Klal Yisroel.

Let us conjure up an image of this Seuda. The Shevatim are still separated from Yosef, not fathoming who he really is.

Yet within the state of separation a bond takes place – they enjoy a seuda together, even drinking to the point of getting drunk, something they refrained from doing since the start of their separation.

That is Chanuka and Purim. Still in Golus, still distant from the Shechina, yet able to celebrate some sort of bond within the shackles of Golus itself.

This really speaks to us, in today’s generation.

Thought on Parshas Vayegash: “And Yakov sent Yehuda before him to Goshen, Lehoros”. Rashi explains that means to establish a yeshiva. The question is why Yehuda and not Levi, who represents the bearers of Torah, Yoru Mishpatecha L’Yakov?

Answer: There ae two types of talmidei chachomim. One is someone who stands above the yetzer hora (i.e. his yetzer is of limited strength), immersed in learning to the extent that there is little for the yetzer to do. The other is one who needs to vanquish his powerful yetzer, and does so successfuly. Levi represents the former, Yehuda the latter (see dvar torah about parshas Toldos).

One who has experienced, and overcome, the enticements of the yetzer can much more easily relate to the next generation, and help them overcome their difficulties. It is he who should become the next generations Rosh Yeshiva, helping others to accomplish what he has accomplished himself.

BaalSechel, thank you for your Dvar Torah, it is very pertaining to the kiruv situation nowadays and I agree with your insight very much. Thank you.

Short, beautiful thought on Vayechi, heard from Rav Yitzchok Gleizel, Rosh Yeshivas Yagdil Torah of Yerushalayim.

Why is Parshas VaYechi a closed Parsha [No break between itself and Parshas Vayegash]? To say that when Yakov passed on,the eyes and heart of the Yidden became closed from the difficulty of the servitude (Rashi).

The nature of difficulty is that it causes one to become completely self absorbed in his own difficulty, to the point that he is oblivious to what happens to his neighbor. That is what is meant by “the closing of the heart and the mind”.

Geula, slavation, is the opposite. By Moshe it says, “he gave his eye and his heart to see the difficulty of his friend”. That is the harbinger to true freedom from Golus.

Parshas Shemos: There is a Prisha(YD:264) which brings a fascinating medrash on why we use a metal knife for bris milah as opposed to a stone which was used previously(Tzipporah used a stone,sefer Yehoshua).

He explains when Dovid Hamelech threw the stone at Goliath a conversation between the stone and Goliath’s armor was transpiring. The stone said let me penetrate your armor, but the armor said my job is to protect. The stone said if you give me this honor then I will give you a honor that will last in every generation and that is bris milah.