Shouldn't one brochah be enough?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
D'var Torah...Vayeitzey
Why does Rashi state that the departure of a Tzaddik leaves its mark, wouldn't the same be true of a Rashah or any influential person?
Maran R' Shmuel Berenbaum ztz'l : It's true that any influential individual leaves a mark in his wake. However, regarding a tzaddik this is a chiddush. Since a tzaddik constantly produces "peiros" through his good deeds and spreading of Torah, one might have said that he surely leaves behind him a great legacy. So much so, that when he departs, his absence would not be felt as a great loss. Therfore Chazal must inform us, that as much of a permanent and everlasting effect as he had upon his surroundings, it is still a great loss to his community when he leaves.
Maran R' Shmuel Berenbaum ztz'l : It's true that any influential individual leaves a mark in his wake. However, regarding a tzaddik this is a chiddush. Since a tzaddik constantly produces "peiros" through his good deeds and spreading of Torah, one might have said that he surely leaves behind him a great legacy. So much so, that when he departs, his absence would not be felt as a great loss. Therfore Chazal must inform us, that as much of a permanent and everlasting effect as he had upon his surroundings, it is still a great loss to his community when he leaves.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Vayeitzey
Some things go unmentioned because they are BASIC. The danger is not the lack of mention, but the lack of notice. For example; Yakkov avinu's 14 year 'stop-over' at Yeshivas Shem v'Eiver. What else should he be expected to do with his time?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Toldos
Children should not be treated equally and the same, rather uniquely. EVERYONE has intrinsically special concerns and so should they also be addressed.
Chayei Sarah
Words are vessels to transfer thoughts & emotion. They can positively PLANT or negatively EXPEND inspiration. Emor m'at va'aseh harbeh.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Chayei Sarah
A gift is no different than a sale. It is not the recipient's until it is totally paid for.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Lech L'chah
How can we understand Avraham's refusal of the war bounty when he readily accepted, and even anticipated, the gifts from Pharoah?
Perhaps this approach can help us. When Rashi mentions the "side effects" of traveling, in the beginning of the parshah, it seems that Hashem's brachos to Avraham was a sort of "traveler's insurance" to avoid them. However, I believe we can understand this in a new light.
The level of absolute "annavah" expected of any Jewish leader, and ever-more so in our forefathers, required Avraham to be devoid of any hishtadlus which can lead one to feel "kochi v'otzem yadi" in building our nation. It was Hashem's specific command for Avraham to litterally take a step into self-destruction. Avraham was to free himself from any human effort in his success. This would effect the roots of his prodigy to be totally 'G-D made'.
Although the gift from Pharoah was anticipated by Avraham, there was no effort done on his part to that effect. Sarah's claim to be his sister was to protect his life. The wealth that klall yisrael inherited from Egypt without effort on their end (the slavery was not their capital investment for their retirement!) was enrooted in the gift Pharoah gave after being smitten for taking Sarah.
The war bounty, on the other hand, is understandably the payment (if not cause) for the war effort.
With this in mind, we can understand the new title attributed to Hashem at the time Avraham's refusal took place. Malki Tzeddek referred to Hashem as 'Konei shamayim va'aretz'. The One to whom the entire ownership and jurisdiction of the world is His. (see ramban, sforno, & targum for this definition.) Avraham's selflessness expressed his awareness, that our efforts are conceptually needless, opposing the common belief that G-D made the world and then left it for us to run.
Perhaps this approach can help us. When Rashi mentions the "side effects" of traveling, in the beginning of the parshah, it seems that Hashem's brachos to Avraham was a sort of "traveler's insurance" to avoid them. However, I believe we can understand this in a new light.
The level of absolute "annavah" expected of any Jewish leader, and ever-more so in our forefathers, required Avraham to be devoid of any hishtadlus which can lead one to feel "kochi v'otzem yadi" in building our nation. It was Hashem's specific command for Avraham to litterally take a step into self-destruction. Avraham was to free himself from any human effort in his success. This would effect the roots of his prodigy to be totally 'G-D made'.
Although the gift from Pharoah was anticipated by Avraham, there was no effort done on his part to that effect. Sarah's claim to be his sister was to protect his life. The wealth that klall yisrael inherited from Egypt without effort on their end (the slavery was not their capital investment for their retirement!) was enrooted in the gift Pharoah gave after being smitten for taking Sarah.
The war bounty, on the other hand, is understandably the payment (if not cause) for the war effort.
With this in mind, we can understand the new title attributed to Hashem at the time Avraham's refusal took place. Malki Tzeddek referred to Hashem as 'Konei shamayim va'aretz'. The One to whom the entire ownership and jurisdiction of the world is His. (see ramban, sforno, & targum for this definition.) Avraham's selflessness expressed his awareness, that our efforts are conceptually needless, opposing the common belief that G-D made the world and then left it for us to run.
'Marcheshvan'
Did you ever wonder how we can pessimistically call a month without a holiday as Mar -bitter?
Hashem is continuously showering us with blessing; to the extent that sweetness is the status-quote of life, that which is tasteless we can relatively call "Bitter".
Hashem is continuously showering us with blessing; to the extent that sweetness is the status-quote of life, that which is tasteless we can relatively call "Bitter".
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