Shtikel Gevaldik Vort
In this week’s parsha Yaakov makes a promise if he returns home to his father’s house. Rashi explains that it was not a promise relying on God to physically protect him but rather he should be guarded spiritually in the house of Lavan. What led Rashi to this seemingly more complicated explanation of the pasuk. Rabbi Silverber quotes the Maharshal to explain Rashi. He says that throughout the whole statement made by Yaakov he mentions God in every aspect until he gets to this part of his promise and leaves out God from his promise. Yaakov was not relying on God in his case but saying that he needed to rely on his own efforts in order to come out spiritually alive from a place akin to Lavan. This inference in the pasuk, that he says I instead of God, is what led Rashi to this brilliant conclusion.

Riddle of the Week
New – Which personalities in Tanach, by taking the letters in their name one can see their character traits? Old - What is permitted to do on Shabbat that is forbidden on Yom Tov? You can invite a gentile for a meal on Shabbat but not on yom tov. Certain items may be forbidden because of Muktzah on Shabbat but permitted on Yom Tov( there are a two other anwsers)

Sheila with no Teshuva Let’s say there was a certain personality whether rabbinic in nature or not, who was niftar and his actions during his lifetime were questionable as to how much of a tzaddik he was. He may even be a complete rosho, according to some, what stance should one take regarding this person. Is it a matter of midvar sheker tirchak, or honoring the memory of the dead?

Famous (yet not so well known) Machloket L'shem Shomayim
We know that one should refrain from eating close to Shabbat in order that he enter the Shabbat hungry. There is a machloket found in the Shulchan Aruch when exactly one has to stop eating on Friday, but would one be allowed to eat some mezonot after Kiddush before making Hamotzi. According to Rabbeinu Eliezer from Mainz, it is forbidden since one must eat the bread with hunger. The Rashbam, according to the Or Zarua seems to imply that it would be fine. Especially since he brought a case of gedolim eating mezonot before making hamotzi in his time so they would be able to reach the 100 berachot daily requirement.

Mi Anachnu u’meh Chayenu??
Yeshaya Horovitz was born in Prague in 1535. He learned under the Maharam of Lublin and the Maginei Shlomo. He was the rav in many communities in Europe and eventually made his way to Palestine after the death of his first wife. He was re-married and briefly kidnapped upon his arrival in the holy land. He eventually made his living in Safed, although he is buried in Tiberias. He was quite wealthy and helped support many Torah institutions. His famous work, Shnei Luchot Habrit (Shelah) is a work based on jewish practices and ethics. He also put together a siddur as well as write commentaries on his fathers seforim, mainly Emek Brochoh. It is said that his siddur entitled Sha’ar Hashomayim was entitled so because he arrive in Jerusalem on Parshat Vayetze and related it to the pasuk v’ze sha’ar hashomayim. The Shelah Hakadosh was niftar in Safed in 1630. Mekomot Shel Yehudim
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/ - an interesting website of new in the yeshiva world.

Shut of the Week
Sha’arei Ezra 4: Is one allowed to enter the Bathroom with a small tehillim or sefer in his pocket? Answer: The Radvaz (3:948,513) writes that when he had a question about torah he would leave it in his pocket so he could look at it right upon his exit from the bathroom. It is not a problem since it is covered. It would also seem that since it is not written by hand but rather printed, as well as bound it is a double covering and therefore permitted even a fortiori. Althought the Magen Avraham, Machatzit Hashekel, Mishna Berura all seem to hold of the opinion there are those that are machmir. According to the strict law one need not wrap up the tehillim book in an extra cloth.

Mah Zeh Kirah – This is a type of stove in the times of the Gemara. It was basically a box, with a post for two pots on the top in order to cook. There are certain leniencies found with regards to cooking on Shabbat with this type of appliance in respect to an oven. Mazal Tov Send all suggestions, requests, questions and answers to beitmidrashtoronto@yahoo.ca Have a great Shabbat The Beit Midrash Crew