Torah Tidbits

7 February 2012 / 14 Shevat 5772
Torah Tidbits Article Archives

TTriddles

Last issue’s (Sh’mot) TTriddles:
Slim pickings, this week - as the expression goes.
[1] The bush contained a miracle
The bush is HAS’NEH, as in the bush that was burning but not being consumed. The word HAS’NEH in Hebrew has a SAMACH and a NUN in it, between the two flanking HEIs. Switching the letters around we find NEIS (miracle) in the bush - which it actually contained.
[2] most common long ending
Of the twelve sons of Yaakov, mentioned again in the beginning of Parshat Sh’mot, we find five of their names end with a NUN SOFIT, a.k.a. NUN P’SHUTA, a straight NUN, which is long - the most common long ending among the names.
[3] Final score: NIR 9 - THE PAGE 3

Published January 19, 2012

VA'EIRA On the Shoulders of Giants “They don't make them the way they used to.”

We have all heard this comment with reference to all sorts of things, usually tools and utensils. Despite all the technological advances from which we benefit, we often are convinced that certain things were of superior quality in the old days. We believe that the old hammer Grandpa once used was stronger, and the snow shovel he wielded more effective, then the newfangled “throwaway” junk that they produce nowadays.
We even extend this belief of things being better back in the old days to human beings. Today’s leaders cannot be compared to those of old, and today’s athletes are cheap imitations of the Babe Ruths and Ty Cobbs of yesteryear. [Ed. note: Willie Mays (not plural)]
In the Jewish tradition, there is a concept of NITKATNU HADOROT, the generations get progressively smaller. Talmudic sages are no match for biblical heroes, and the great rabbis of recent times cannot compare to the rabbinical leaders of centuries ago.

Published January 19, 2012

Training Supervisors

As we stated last week, we do not actively seek women with a medical or a biology background to act as our supervisors. Rather, we seek women who are able to work in close and intense conditions and who are very discreet and easy to work with. The women also need to come with impeccable religious credentials in order that there will be no questions about the validity of the supervision and whether it is “kosher” enough.

Published January 19, 2012

SHOV'VIM TAT

My Shabbat guest this week said she saw signs up about an evening of inspiration for SHOV’VIM, did I know what SHOV’VIM is? I must confess that I had heard about it but didn’t know much about it, though I did know enough not to think that it was an evening for SHOVAVIM which is modern Hebrew for Dennis the Menace type of kids. So I opened up the SEFER HATODA’A - The Book of Our Heritage by Rav Eliyahu Ki Tov and which is a handy book that goes through the Jewish calendar, month by month and explains all significant events and activities.
First of all he explained that the word SHOV’VIM comes from initial letters of first 6 sedras in Sh’mot: Sh’mot, Va’eira, Bo, B’shalach, Yitro, Mishpa- tim - and in 13-month years, another two sedras: T’ruma and T’tzaveh, adding to the name, making it SHOV’VIM TAT.

Published January 19, 2012

Parsha Points to Ponder

1) What did G-D reveal to Moshe when he told him I AM HASHEM (6:2)? He had revealed Himself to Moshe numerous times already so what was He teaching Moshe with these words?
2) Why does it say that PA’RO SAW THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE PLAGUE leading to the hardening of his heart regarding the plague of frogs (8:11), a language which is not used for any other plague?
3) Why did Pa’ro say the words G-D IS THE RIGHTEOUS ONE specifically after the plague of hail (9:27) and no other plague?

Published January 19, 2012

Wisdom and Wit

R’ Simcha Bunim of P’shischa once spoke about Akeidat Yitzchak. “This story seems strange in a way,” he said. “Imagine, if Hashem spoke to you directly and told you to sacrifice your son, wouldn’t you do so? What, then, was so special about what Avraham did?
“The answer to this,” he said, “is that the yetzer hara appeared to Avraham and said to him, - You are old and your wife is old, and Yitzchak was born by a miracle. Hashem promised you that from Yitzchak would arise a great nation. Now, if you kill Yitzchak, Hashem’s promise won’t be fulfilled. “Avraham answered the yetzer hara: - Hashem told me to sacrifice my son, and I will do so. The fact that He promised me that from Yitzchak there would rise a great nation, that’s His concern, not mine.”

Published January 19, 2012

CHIZUK and IDUD for Olim not yet Olim respectively

Rashi conveys important messages, not only by what he writes but also by what he does not write. Rashi at times chooses to remain silent in one place and then clarify in another one so that where he writes a commentary it is significant.
In Parshat Shmot, Hashem reveals Himself to Moshe at the Burning Bush. He assures Moshe, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people that is in Egypt “I shall descend to rescue it from the hand of Egypt and to bring it up from that land, to a land flowing with milk and honey” (3:8). This is the first time the land is described in the way that Hashem has chosen for it “eretz zavat chalav udvash.” This will appear another fourteen times in Torah. In fact the second time it appears is also here at the Sneh. “And I have said I shall bring you up from the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite etc. to a land flowing with milk and honey” (3:17). Yet Rashi maintains silence and does not explain its meaning. Only at the end of Parshat Bo, “Today you are leaving in the month of spring. And it shall come to pass when Hashem shall bring you to the land of the Canaanite” that He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey…” (5:31) Here, finally Rashi says, “Milk flows from the goats and honey flows from the dates and figs.” Well, why does Rashi wait till now? Why not explain it the very first time it appears in Torah? Obviously by choosing to wait and by selecting this particular posuk, Rashi wants to teach us something important. Moshe Rabeinu understood that as long as the people are enslaved in Egypt they will be incapable of aThe Torah uses five expressions of geula - V’hotzeiti, V’hitzalti, V’gaalti, V’lakachti, V’heiveiti. The first four of these expressions are reflected in the redemption symbolized by the 4 cups of wine that we drink at the seder. Why is the fifth formulation omitted?
Interestingly, Yechezkel (36) also uses four verbs in his description of the final redemption. His language mirrors that of the Torah, since the geula from Mitzrayim is considered the prototype for all future redemptions. The prophet uses “v’heiveiti” - the term not reflected in the cups of wine - as his third stage of redemption. It indicates a physical return. The physical aliya is then to be followed by a spiritual purification process which can only occur in the Holy Land, not on foreign soil (where Yechezkel prophesied).appreciating the Divine description of a land that is bountiful, fruitful, verdant, and blessed with abundance.

Published January 19, 2012

A-Candle-by-Day

Many falls stem from a fear of falling.

Published January 19, 2012

Vebbe Rebbe

Question: I have come from England, where avocados are available all year long, to Israel, where it is primarily a winter-spring fruit. Do I recite Shehecheyanu upon eating it in Israel?

Published January 19, 2012

"V'EILU SHMOT" - WHAT'S IN A NAME? [2]. by Dr. Meir Tamari

Just as the original naming is not only an identification but also a spiritual or cultural statement, so too, changes in a name denote changes in the personal or the social status of individuals; but even more in their spirituality, personality or stature.
Throughout the Tanach, we have such name changes that reflect spiritual and moral truths affecting our national and religious being. The first such name change was from Avram to Avraham and from Sarai to Sarah; father and mother of the family that is to become the nation-religion Israel. “Avraham, not the father of many nations [this meaning is referred to in the following verse], but rather the AVIR, the wing or lever which raises the nations spiritually and morally. No longer Sarai, over-towering, but Sarah who sets the tone and measure of the home, building block of the nation, as indeed all Jewish mothers and wives do” (Rabbi Hirsch).
The third of the Avot was named Yaakov then G-d changed this to Yisrael but he is finally known also as Yeshurun (D’varim 33:5). While one is not permitted to refer to Avraham by his original name, these three names (of Yaakov) may and have been used concurrently, indicating that these were not absolute changes but rather further perspectives of Yaakov’s religious identity and spiritual caliber. Yaakov is he who supplants, is downtrodden, who grasps Eisav’s heel to restrain and conquer him, or he who has some element of deception. Irrespective, all of these denote the lowest levels of his spirituality. In the name Yaakov are represented all that is characteristic of the Jew in galut, so before the re-entry into Eretz Yisrael, Hashem changed that name to Yisrael, one who strives with princes and overcomes them. Both names are used concurrently, referring to heights and troughs in conduct and fortune, until Yeshurun, yashar, is reached. “‘There is no misuse of power perceived in Yaakov, no worry seen in Yisrael’ (Bamidbar 23:21). No sin in Ya’akov’s everyday conduct; all his [Yisrael’s] concerns, not merely moral, but solely for Heaven” (Shem MiShmuel).

Published January 19, 2012

Lesson # 579 Going Out of Business Sale

I was able to obtain a group of decisions that were handed down by the Beit Dinin of Antwerp. The following is one of those cases:
The case as reported does not contain any names. Thus the names I used herein are fictional.
There was a store merchant in Antwerp who sold cash vouchers at a discount. The vouchers could be used only for purchasing merchandise from the store. Mr. Cohen purchased 100 francs worth of vouchers in January. He did not use the vouchers. In July the merchant announced that he was going out of business. He announced a going out of business sale where all of the merchandise in the store would be sold at a 50% discount. Mr. Cohen went to the store and wanted to buy 100 francs worth of merchandise at the discounted prices. The merchant replied that he would sell Mr. Cohen the merchandise at the price the items cost when Mr. Cohen purchased the vouchers. Mr. Cohen stated that since the vouchers did not so state he wanted to obtain 100 francs worth of merchandise at the price that he was making the purchase. Also Mr. Cohen stated that after he purchased the merchandise at the reduced rates, any balance that he did not use for the purchase of merchandise be remitted to him in cash from the merchant.

Published January 19, 2012

Aliya by Aliya Sedra Summary

LDT: The two most common names of G-d in the Torah are E-LO-HIM and A-DO-NOI (as an act of respect for G-d’s sacred names, these two are generally pronounced ELOKIM and HASHEM respectively, when referred to other than in prayer or Torah reading). ELOKIM is usually considered to be G-d’s name of strict judgment, whereas HASHEM carries the connotation of Divine Mercy. Notice that in the accounts of Egyptian oppression, the predominant name of G-d is Elokim (especially in 2:23-25).

Published January 19, 2012

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