Torah Tidbits

7 February 2012 / 14 Shevat 5772
Torah Tidbits Article Archives

VAYCHI A Blessed Goodbye

There is a statement in Jewish mystical literature to the effect that the end of every story is already implicit in its beginning, and that at least some elements of the story’s beginning endure until its end.
I have certainly been witness to such stories. But I have also experienced stories in which the end could never have been foretold from the beginning. In these stories, characters and the circumstances become thoroughly transformed so that only a prophet could have predicted at the beginning what the end would be.
The story that I have been relating in these weekly columns over the past few months is one whose end was unpredictable. Who would have thought that this group of novices to Jewish religious education would be consulting a variety of advanced reference works on their own?

Published January 08, 2012

Supervision - The Practice

After looking at the halachic basis for supervision of fertility treatments we will now move to the actual practicalities of how supervision is performed.
Even though each laboratory has similar elements, each one is built differently and has certain unique methods of working and of use of equipment. Therefore, a careful inspection of the lab has to be performed prior to any supervision being carried out. The embryologists must discuss how they work and how they can accommodate the supervisor in the laboratory.

Published January 08, 2012

Parsha Points to Ponder

1) Why does the Torah relate that Yaakov called TO HIS SON TO YOSEF (47:29)? We already know that Yosef is his son so why the extra words TO HIS SON?
2) Yaakov PLACED EFRAYIM BEFORE MENASHE with a preferential blessing (48:20). Where do we see this take hold in terms of Efrayim having anything over Menashe?
3) Why does the Torah relate that ALL THESE ARE THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL after Yaakov blesses them (49:28)? Don’t we already know that these are his twelve sons?

Published January 08, 2012

CHIZUK and IDUD for Olim not yet Olim respectively

And I have given you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow [b’charbi uvkashti]. B’reishit 48:22.
Onkelos, the first century translator of the Torah into Aramaic, departs from his standard approach of translating the verses literally, and renders “b’charbi u’v’kashti’ as “with my prayers and entreaties”, following the Talmudic rendering of the verse:
Did Yaakov indeed take it with his sword and bow, is it not written [T’hilim 44:7] “For I trust not in my bow, neither can my sword save me?” Rather “charbi” means prayer and “kashti” means entreaty. Talmud Bavli Bava Batra 123a

Published January 08, 2012

Wisdom and Wit

In Warsaw, before World War II, there was a religious Yiddish daily. Next to the date at the top of the masthead, there appeared the listing of the Daf Yomi. It so happened that the editor of the newspaper erred, and on the day following the listing for Chagiga 27 they printed “Chagiga 28” and on the following day the listing was “Chagiga 29.” As Chagiga only has 27 folio pages, that was a clear error.

Published January 08, 2012

A-Candle-by-Day

It is not enough just to “get the ball rolling”.

Published January 08, 2012

Vebbe Rebbe

Question: I inherited a pair of tefillin from my grandfather, but I already have a pair of apparently more mehudar tefillin. May I sell the tefillin? (As a kollel student, I could use the money.)

Published January 08, 2012

Aliya by Aliya Sedra Summary

Kohen - First Aliya 13 p’sukim - 47:28-48:9
[47:28 (4) part of the parsha at the end of Vayigash] The sedra begins with Yaakov at age 147, having been in Mitzrayim for 17 years. (Remember that Yosef was 17 when the trouble started. Interesting, no?) The Torah tells us that Yaakov is near death and Yosef is called to his bedside. Yaakov asks Yosef that he (Yaakov) should not be buried in Egypt but rather in Me’arat HaMachpeila. Yosef agrees; Yaakov asks Yosef to swear to it.
SDT: Why would Yaakov insist that Yosef swear - didn’t he trust him? Among other reasons, the oath might prove necessary in obtaining permission from Par’o for the funeral. Even if Par’o would have been inclined to say “no”, he would respect an oath. This, according to Midrash, because Yosef had sworn not to divulge a particular secret about Par’o (that he, Yosef, knew more languages than Par’o - a fact that would not impress Par’o's subjects favorably). Par’o could not say to Yosef, “I don’t care what promises you made”, etc.

Published January 08, 2012

When will we learn?!?

Vayeishev - Yosef’s brothers are jealous of him. The jealousy led to hatred. The hatred led to plotting against Yosef. Kill him. No, dump him in a deep pit. No, sell him to a passing caravan. Yaakov’s grief, Yosef’s experiences. Yosef still in prison.
Mikeitz - Yosef taken from prison and elevated to viceroy of Egypt. Famine. Yosef’s brothers go down to Egypt. Go back to Canaan. Go down to Egypt. Yosef’s guiding events. Binyamin on the block.

Published January 08, 2012

Word of the Month

A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of haChodesh HaZeh Lachem…

Published January 08, 2012

Aliya by Aliya Sedra Summary

The sedra begins with the dramatic confrontation between Yehuda and Yosef. Yehuda risks his life when he approaches the “Egyptian leader” in an attempt to save Binyamin. The first Aliya ends with the emotion-filled description by Yehuda of the feelings between Yaakov and Binyamin - “V’nafsho k’shura v’nafsho”, and his soul is bound with his soul.

Published December 29, 2011

Mikeitz Stats

11th of 54 sedras;
11th of 12 in B’reishit
Written on 178.07 lines in a Torah, ranks 34

Published December 29, 2011

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