Shtikel Gevaldik Vort
On the first few words of this week’s parsha, the Vilna Gaon has a very interesting peshat. He takes the notes (ta’amim) that we use to chant the Torah in shul on Shabbat, and utilizes them in order to understand the pasuk. Over the first few words of our parsha, the ta’amim are kadma ve’azla revi’i zarka munach segol. When Yehuda approaches Yosef, the notes are kadma ve’azla revi’i – meaning the fourth son (Yehuda) got up and went. Then the next notes symbolize Yehuda’s willingness to give up his portion as part of the chosen nation (am segulah) by taking the risk he took. He promised Yaakov that he would take Binyamin and if anything bad should happen, it would be upon his head. In this manner, we can take a deeper understanding into the Yehuda’s actions at the outset of this week’s parsha.
Riddle of the Week
New – In which prayer do you have 24 words in a row that end with the letter chaf?
Old – In which parsha is the number of pesukim equal to the numerical value of the last word? In Parshat Vayishlach
Sheila with no Teshuva
If someone was a hired to perform a subjective job, and did not fulfill their obligations to the total intensity that the proprietor had wished, can one refuse payment. For example, if you hired someone to be an opening act at your show. They showed you what they could have done, and you hired them based on those qualifications, but upon delivery they gave it their very least. Can one hold back part of their payment, in seemingly the same way they held back their talents?
Famous (yet not so well known) Machloket L'shem Shomayim
If one would heat up a piece of metal on Shabbat. According to the Rambam one would be liable for bishul on a d’oraita level. According to the Chatam Sofer (318:10) based on his understanding of Rashi, one would only be liable on a rabbinic level. Only when one would uses water to heat something, could he be liable on a torah level.
Mi Anachnu u’meh Chayenu??
Rav Yitzchok Hutner was born in 1906 in Warsaw, Poland. As a young child he joined the yeshiva of Slobodka, and became known as the Warsaw illui. He eventually made his way to Yeshivat Hevron in Palestine where he became close with Rav Kook. After the Hevron massacres, Rav Hutner went back to Berlin and enlisted in University. There he became close with Rav Soloveitchik as well as the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He married his wife in 1932 in Warsaw and eventually went back to Palestine. In 1935, he moved to Brooklyn and became Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Chaim Berlin. In the 60’s his plane was hijacked by a Palestinian group, but later released. Eventually there would be a yeshiva built in Har Nof, entitled Pachad Yitzchak named after his epic work. Rav Hutner was a prolific writer and very unique in his ways. He was niftar in 1980.
Mekomot Shel Yehudim
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881959527&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull - An amazing story of one woman who saved thousands of people, and she is from Toronto.
Shut of the Week
Shut Melamed Le’Ho’il Orach Chaim 19 – Can one use the parochet from the aaron kodesh for a chuppah? According to the Bach, although it doesn’t have holiness akin to other object that come into direct contact with the sefer torah, never the less one should still not use it for other purposes. The Magen Avraham 154:13 writes that it would be permitted since it falls under the category of lev Beit Din matneh meaning that Beit Din could change the purpose of an object. The teshuva then quotes some instances where people used a parochet for a chuppah or even to hang up in their sukkahs. According to the teshuva he ends off saying that it would be better not to use the parochet in these cases.
Mah Zeh
Ma’akeh – There is a commandment in the Torah (Devarim 22:8) to put a fence around a roof so that people should not fall. One has to make this fence, if the area is a minimum of 4X4 and higher then 10 tefachim (sukkah 3b, Bava Kama 51b). This obligation would go farther then ones house and even to a pit, cistern or anything else that may allow for damage, would be obligated with a fence. Rabbi Natan learns that this would apply to other things in the house that may cause damage such as having a dangerous dog. According to the Ramban, one would make a blessing when putting up this fence.
Mazal Tov and Coldonences
Mazal Tov to Yehuda (Heimer) Blumenfeld and Rachel Agami on their recent Marriage.
Mazal Tov to Elisheva Sosnovitch and Moshe Behar on their recent Engagement.

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