Yeshiva World News

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vaykhel/Pekudei

V’ham’lacha haysa dayam l’kol ham’lacha la’asos osah v’hosar (36:7) There seems to be an internal inconsistency in our verse with which a number of commentators grapple. The Torah says simultaneously that the communal work for the Mishkan was both sufficient, which would seem to imply that it was exactly enough, and that there remained leftovers. How can these two apparently contradictory statements be resolved? Rav Mordechai Kamenetzky relates that a small town once held a ...

B’Ohel Haneviyim: Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei/Hachodesh 5773

Following the regular Sedra this Shabbos we read Parshos HaChodesh; this is the fourth of the Four Parshios. This Parsha is read either the Shabbos before or on the Shabbos of Rosh Chodesh Nissan. It contains the passage in which Hashem tells Moshe Rabeinu that the new moon of Nissan is the first of the beginnings of months in the Jewish calendar year. It is explained (Gemoros and see Mishnah Berura) that we read this Parsha in order to sanctify and distinguish Nissan as the first of all ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Vayakhel Pekudei

The Two Aspects of the Mishkan R' Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of R' Yonasan: The name Bezalel indicates his wisdom, for when HaKadosh Baruch Hu told Moshe to tell Bezalel to make a Mishkan, an Aron, and the other vessels, Moshe reversed the order and said to him, "Make and Aron and the vessels and the Mishkan." Bezalel then said to him, "Moshe Rabbeinu, the way of the world is to build a house and then bring into it the vessels, but you told me to first make the vessels and then the ...

Vertluch: Parshas Vayakhel Ppekudei

In this weeks parshiyos the Torah discusses how Hashem commanded Moshe to build the Mishkan, and how He appointed Betzalel to spearhead the entire project. When the pasuk described this it uses a lengthy introduction of ‘See, Hashem has called by name Betzalel, the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of shevet Yehudah.’ (35; 30) It is understandable that if Hashem was pointing out to Moshe who was going to be in charge of the project, why He chose to elaborate with such a lengthy introduction. ...

Rabbi Yaakov Margulies: Parshas Ki Sisa

Everybody Counts On Purim, bochurim often approach me, somewhat intoxicated, reflecting on their past successes or failures. These boys don't get quite the same publicity as the rowdy, offensive ones. But there are in fact many bochurim who view Purim as a time for introspection and genuine self-assessment. Many express regret and disappointment, feeling they haven't lived up to their own expectations. They simply should have been more productive. They struggle with bitul Torah, lashon hara, ...

B’Ohel Haneviyim: Parshas Ki Sisa 5773

This week's Haftorah is supposed to mirror this week's special Maftir of Poroh (the beginning of Parshas Chukas that deals with the Mei-Chatas waters that were used to purify someone who became contaminated with Tumah from a dead body). The Haftorah is a Nevua of Yechezkel Hanavi. Hashem tells the Navi that in the final redemption He will sprinkle on us pure waters to purify us from our impurities. As such the link between the Maftir and the Haftorah is obvious: both deal with purifying ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Ki Sisa

The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy - Invoking Divine Favor Following Hashem's promise not to destroy the Jewish people, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe requested that Hashem make known to him the qualities of Divine mercy. In response Hashem showed Moshe a prophetic vision, in which He was wrapped in a tallis as a shaliach tzibbur while reciting the Thirteen Attributes of Divine Mercy (Rosh Hashanah 17b). Hashem informed Moshe that whenever the Jewish people sin in the future, thay ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Sisa

V’atah kach lecha besamim rosh mar deror chamesh me’os (30:23) When the Megillah first introduces us to Mordechai, it tells us not only his name, but the names of several of his ancestors, recording that he was Mordechai the son of Yair, who was the son of Shimi, who was the son of Kish (Esther 2:5). Why does the verse mention all of these generations, especially when the commentators point out that these weren’t his actual father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, but more distant ...

Vertluch: Parshas Ki Sisa

In the beginning of this week’s parsha the Torah tells us about the person appointed to spearhead the building of the Mishkan. The pasuk stated it were to be Betzalel, the son of Uri who was the son of Chur, whom all belong to the shevet of Yehuda. The obvious question-asked by many meforshim-is that at times we find in the Torah the reference of a personality and it mentions their father’s name too. However, it’s unique that we mention a name, their father’s name and their ...

Hilchos Uminhagei Purim 5773

The following is meant as a convenient review of Halachos pertaining to Purim. The Piskei Din for the most part are based purely on the Sugyos, Shulchan Aruch and Ramah, and the Mishna Berura, unless stated otherwise. They are based on my understanding of the aforementioned texts through the teachings of my Rebeim. As individual circumstances are often important in determining the psak in specific cases, and as there may be different approaches to some of the issues, one should always check ...

A Message from the Kalever Rebbe – Purim 5773

Man Glorifying God – God Glorifying Man Is the pursuit of material success in the secular world a Jewish ideal and, if so, what is its purpose and goal? The Torah provides two prime examples of Jews who rose to the pinnacle of the secular societies in which they lived in their respective historical periods, Yoseph became viceroy to Pharaoh in ancient Egypt, and approximately 1,000 years later, Mordechai was appointed viceroy to King Achashverosh in ancient Persia. Not coincidentally, both ...

Vertluch: Parshas Tezaveh/Zachor/Purim

The Rambam in hilchos yom tov notes that one who neglects to include poor people in their simcha on yom tov, by not allowing them simcha too, his meals are not considered a simcha shel mitzvah. Rather, they are just satisfying his own personal needs and desires. Yet, we find that of the many mitzvos that we are obligated to fulfill on Purim, mishloach manos and matanas levyonim stand out and are specified as part of the mitzvos hayom. Why did chazal feel the need to make them two independent ...

Rabbi Yaakov Margulies: Purim 5773

Life Is Not A Lottery Have you ever done something incredibly thoughtless and then regretted it? Of course—we've all had a momentary lapse in judgment, or an impulsive emotional reaction. Maybe you asked a really silly question in front of your co-workers, or on a shidduch date. Or you snapped at your boss, or your children. Then you dwell on it all day, wishing you could go back in time and do it over. How do you deal with this type of situation? It's certainly advisable not to harp on ...

B’Ohel Haneviyim: Parshas Zachor 5773

This week we read a special Haftorah for Shabbos Zachor. The Maftir relates Amalek’s attack upon Am Yisroel shortly after their crossing of the Red Sea. The Haftorah is a follow up to this Maftir. The Haftorah tells us that Shmuel Hanavi came to Shaul Hamelech and relayed to him Hashem’s command that Shaul wage war against Amelek. Part of that command, Shmuel stated, was to leave nothing and no one alive, not even livestock. Shaul was victorious, but didn't entirely heed Shmuel Hanavi's ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Tetzave

Love and Fear G-d Now, if you would, please forgive their sin. If not, You can blot me out from the book that you have written. (Shemos 32:32) Moshe's name is not mentioned explicitily in Tetzaveh. He is referred to only with the pronoun "you". After the sin of the Golden Calf, when Klal Yisrael was in danger of being destroyed, Moshe begged Hashem to forgive Klal Yisrael's sins and if not, to blot his name out of the Torah. Even though Hashem forgave them, still Moshe's words were ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Tetzaveh/Purim

V'asisa bigdei Kodesh l'Aharon achicha l'kavod ul'tifares (28:2) Rav Yitzchok Hutner once related that while studying in the Slabodka yeshiva in Europe, he often heard America referred to as the “Goldeneh Medinah,” but living in the poverty that was rampant in Eastern Europe at that time, he couldn’t even begin to imagine the wealth and excess being referred to. Even upon arriving on America’s shores, he and all of the immigrants with whom he associated continued living under very ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Terumah

V’asu li Mikdash v’shachanti b’socham (25:8) One of the blessings commonly given to a newly-engaged couple is “Der zivug zohl oleh yafeh zein.” While it may be customary to rapidly rattle off the words, an examination of the English translation – the match should be one that “goes up well” – reveals that the wording is awkward and the deeper meaning is difficult to grasp. What is the underlying intention behind this curiously-worded blessing? The Satmar Rebbe Rav Yoel ...