Shtikel Gevaldik Vort
In this week’s parsha at the end of the third aliyah, Yaakov relates that he gave over Shechem, which he conquered with his sword and bow and arrow. According to Rashi, this could be relating to Shimon and Levi who conquered it using there strength. Targum Onkelos, followed by Rashi gives an alternate explanation. Targum Onkelos translates these two words charbi u’bakashati as prayer and requests. How could he come up with such a translation? It seems to be against the peshat of the pasuk. Rav Yitzchok Cohen suggested that if it was like the first opinion the pasuk should have said cherev ubakeshet. The fact that the pasuk says my cherev, and my keshet, makes it unique. If we were just talking about weapons, what would distinguish between my weapons and my enemy’s? We have swords, they have swords. The difference lies in ones prayers towards hashem. If one thinks of the all wars the Jewish people have fought, it is clearly not in our unbelievable weapons. Take a look at 1948, or the Six day war. We were outnumbered, yet somehow won the war. Here Targum Onkelos is giving us a bit of insight into the power of our prayers, and if we truly take the time to pray, it is amazing what outcomes they can achieve.
Riddle of the Week
New – In the famous song we read in this week’s parsha of Hamalach Hagoel, why are only Avraham and Yitzchak mentioned while Yaakov’s name is left out?
Old – In which prayer do you have 24 words in a row that end with the letter chaf? Answer - In Kiddush Levana - Sanctifying the New Moon - we say the verse: "Baruch Yotzraych, Baruch Osaych, Baruch Kohnaych, Baruch Bohraych" three times
Sheila with no Teshuva
If one only has kevana by davening in a certain manner, and people around him are bothered by that behaviour, can he be asked to stop? Do we apply the rule that he who changes from the norm has the lower hand, or in this case the people who are bothered should either move or find another minyan?
Famous (yet not so well known) Machloket L'shem Shomayim
We know that there is issur on Shabbat of cooking and baking. There is a question if there is a problem of Bishul after Bishul. Meaning once something has been cooked, and then one heats it up again, would one have transgressed a violation or once it has been cooked you can’t further cook the item, assuming that the second time was done on Shabbat itself. According to the Rambam, only after the item has been fully cooked do we hold of this principle of ein bishul achar bishul. The Rashba thinks that we apply this rule even if it has only been cooked to a level of Ma’achal ben Drusai ( Ma’achal ben Drusai is also a machloket between Rashi and Rambam. It is the minimum something can be cooked, according to one it does not reach this status until it is half cooked while the other says 1/3). The Ran says on a torah level we hold like the Rambam while on a rabbinic level we follow the Rashba.
Mi Anachnu u’meh Chayenu??
Rav Shimshon Refael Hirsch was born in 1808 in Hamburg Germany. R. Hirsch’s father was a merchant, and came from a family of talmidei chachamim. Despite his parents wish to become a merchant, he followed his Rebbe, and became a very influential Rabbi in the 19th century. He studied for 6 years under his Rabbi Ettlinger before enrolling in university. He soon became the rav of a town and began to publish his first work ben uziel. He then published his 19 letters, his peirush Horeb, amongst many other writings in german. Not only did R. Hirsch become the Rav of many communities he also served as a member of pariliament. R. Hirsch died at the age of 80.
Mekomot Shel Yehudim
www.responsa.co.il - The moment you have all been waiting for. Well maybe at least a few of you. It is Shut Bar Ilan on the web. I believe you have to sign up but either way it is pretty cool.
Shut of the Week
Shut Rav Yakov Emden (Yavetz) – 122 – The first of the Berachot that one makes in shul in the morning is that Hashem created a rooster that can distinguish between day and night (natan lasechevi vina). If one hears a rooster during the night can he still make this beracha? The essential thing is to make this blessing right when one hears the rooster. Once it becomes daytime, one need not make the beracha again. The first time a rooster sings out is in the middle of the night. So how can we bless if the rooster is making sounds during the nighttime, it seems as though the rooster can’t differentiate. Truthfully the rooster does know the changing of the times, he will crow during the night and again in the morning.
Mah Zeh
Stum – This is an acronym for Sefer Torah, Teffilin, Mezuzot. There are various halachot regarding these objects that are more stringent. For example, one can not just throw these objects out after use, but they must be buried. Other halachot include laws of purity and how they have to be written. A Sofer Stum is someone who deals with writing these objects. Mazal Tov and Coldonences
Mazal Tov to Leah Goldstein and Moshe Medved on their recent Engagement.
Mazal Tov to Rebecca Kurtz and Yossi Salmon on their recent Wedding.
This week is the 11th Veida Olamit. Veida Olami is an international Conference that takes place once every four years.
Teddy Kolleck long time mayor of Jerusalem passed away this week. Send all suggestions, requests, questions and answers to beitmidrashtoronto@yahoo.ca Have a great Shabbat The Beit Midrash Crew