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*******asdfghjkl’s DT-2 Lichvod Pesach********

D’Var Torah – Pesach – 5764

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman

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Rabbi Yosef Charif of Slonim was known for his sharpness and insight. Every year as Pesach approached, he received a multitude of queries concerning the intricate laws of the holiday. One year, he received a distressed looking woman on Erev Pesach morning, asking for an audience with the Rabbi. The Rabbi ushered her into his study.

The woman was none other than the wife of R’ Nota Hirsch. R’ Nota was a successful businessman and a prominent active member of the Jewish community. He was one of the biggest philanthropists in the entire region.

“Rabbi,” she began, “I am at my wits end. My husband has suffered severe business setbacks that have wiped him out. He has no money left – not a one cent.”

“I am so sorry to hear this,” responded Rabbi Charif, “I didn’t know a thing about it.”

“That’s just it,” she explained, “He is too humiliated to let anyone know. For years, we have always had the pleasure of contributing generously to the mitzvah of Maos Chittim (Passover food for the needy), and now I do not even have the ability to provide for our own Pesach – and the first Seder is tonight. I do not know what to do, I cannot ask anyone for help – my husband’s pride would be devastated. I didn’t even tell him that I was coming here.”

The Rabbi mulled over the problem for a few moments and came up with an idea, “Tell your husband that tonight in shul, when he greets me after services, he should whisper in my ear.”

“Why should he do that?”

“You must trust me and do as I say. Make sure he whispers in my ear.”

That night, the synagogue was packed with people, all dressed in their Yom Tov finery. Everyone was radiant with happiness and holiday spirit, looking forward to the Seder they would enjoy at home with their families that evening. As was customary, each went up to the front to personally greet the Rabbi.

When R’ Nota Hirsch went up to greet the Rabbi, he followed his wife’s instructions (though neither he nor she had any idea why), and whispered into the Rabbi’s ear, “Gut YomTov Rabbi. Happy Pesach.”

Upon hearing this, the Rabbi jumped up and said in a loud voice, “Oy vey! I am so sorry to tell you this. It is all chometz. It is all chometz!”

Everyone in the shul heard this and assumed that R’ Nota was describing some accidental occurrence that took place in their kitchen, and asking the Rabbi to rule whether or not it was kosher. Immediately one of the onlookers said, “Don’t worry R’ Nota, I have extra matzo in my house, I will bring you over some so that at least you will have matzo for the Seder.” Another piped up, “We have extra wine, I will bring some over so you can drink the Four Cups.” Another man chimed, “My wife made plenty of extra chicken soup, we will bring you over some for the Seder meal.”

Word of the “kashrus accident” spread throughout the town. There was literally a stream of people coming throughout the night, each bringing a dish or two, from fish to salad to soup to honey cake. By the time the night was over, they had enough food for a week. Thanks to the Rabbi’s wisdom and sensitivity, no one knew or even suspected anything about the family’s severe financial straits.

In the coming months, things turned around completely. By the next Pesach, R’ Nota Hirsch was restored to his original wealth – only now, he was even more grateful to Hashem and more philanthropic than ever.

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May we Merit the coming of the Geulah this Pesach!

Shatzer Shmurah Matzos, the best! In the last few years even started getting the Whole Wheat ones & tastes so much like the Regular ones! So hey, we now get 1/2 our order WW & 1/2 Regular Matzah!

Shatzar Shmurah Matzah, mit asach zaltz (lotsa salt)+ chopped liver = a delicious meal!!!!

Getting hungry just thinking about it!!!! 😉 6 days till Seder night!!!! OH YA!!!! 😉

******asdfghjkl’s DT Lichvod Pesach*******

D’Var Torah – Pesach – 5764

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman

A certain man once decided that he wanted to make his Pesach Seder the most meaningful and spiritual ever. He spent weeks of preparation and meditation. He studied the most erudite and esoteric commentaries on the Haggada. As Pesach approached, he bought the most super kosher Matzah available. He prepared the charoses and the maror and all the special foods for the Seder.

When the Seder finally arrived, he sat like a king, reciting the Haggada with fervor, consuming the ritual Seder foods with the utmost sense of holiness, and singing the Pesach songs with joy into the wee hours of the night. He could not have been more pleased and satisfied after this monumental event.

The next afternoon, he was thinking about the second Seder to take place that night. He wanted this to be just as grand and special as the first. He was very tired, having stayed up so late the night before, so he decided to take a nap that afternoon in order to be awake and fresh for the night time Seder.

As it happened, because he was so exhausted, he slept until almost midnight. Since the Halacha requires that the Afikomen, which is the final food of the seder, be eaten before chatzos (midnight), he now needed to hastily start the seder; rapidly recite the Haggada; quickly eat the matzo, maror and charoses; drink the 4 cups; eat a modest meal; and chant all the appropriate blessings. He had only minutes to accomplish all of this.

The next day, he was mulling over the events of the previous night. He was so disappointed. He had such a marvelous Seder the night before. How could he have such an uninspiring rush-job the next night? He was very depressed about it and went to speak to his Rabbi for guidance, and to tell him about his sad second Seder.

The Rabbi listened to the entire story and responded, “Perhaps, in the eyes of Heaven, your second Seder was superior to the first. At the first Seder you were proud and haughty. You were convinced that you were doing the Seder your way and it was better than anyone else. At your second Seder, you were humble and determined. Despite your disappointment you proceeded to fulfill the Ratzon Hashem rather than your own will. You were a true Eved Hashem. You conducted the Seder simply because you knew it is a Mitzvah to do so -even without intense emotional euphoria. What greater Kavana could there be than this? That is indeed a wonderful praiseworthy thing.”

Emotions are a tricky thing. What gives us the maximum emotional feeling, may not be best thing in terms of our true avodas Hashem.

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May we Merit the coming of the Geulah this Pesach!

********* asdfghhjkl’s DT on Parshas Sisa ******

D’Var Torah – Parsha Ki Sisa

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman – 5761

Moshe urged Hashem, “Let me know Your ways… (Ex.33-13).

The ways of Hashem are indeed puzzling to us – particularly how Hashem runs the world. Things seem to make no sense. This because we only see part of the puzzle at a time. Trying to look at the world today and understand why things happen as they do, is like picking up a thousand page novel, turning to page 463, and trying to understand what is going on. Still, every so often, we are privileged to see how the pieces fit together as the following true story illustrates.

Rabbi Henry & Rebbetzin Esther Soille were in their apartment in Paris when they heard a scream. They recognized it as neighbor of theirs – a non-Jewish woman. Feeling the terror in the woman’s voice, Mrs. Soille said “Lets get dressed and go help her.” Rabbi Soille agreed and added, “If we wait that long she may be dead by then.” So, they immediately ran outside, dressed only in their pajamas to help. When they got outside they saw a Nazi car coming toward their building so they dashed out of sight. From their hiding place they could see that the Gestapos were going to none other than their own apartment. Had they not responded with sensitivity and courage to the anguished cries of their neighbor, they would have still been in their apartment for the Nazis to find them and drag them off. Because they engaged in a chessed, their own lives had now been spared. Why was the woman screaming? They later learned that the woman neighbor was screaming because the Nazis had come to seize her husband for smuggling. She told them to spare her husband and take the Rabbi next door instead. Her intention was to trade the Rabbi’s life for her husband’s life. It didn’t even help her because they still took her husband. In attempting to betray the Rabbi, she actually saved him…

The ways of Hashem are indeed puzzling to us – particularly how Hashem runs the world. Things seem to make no sense. This because we only see part of the puzzle at a time.

Have a wonderful Shobbos!!!

It’s Parshas Parah this Shobbos too!!!

Hashem Is Everywhere: Dus iz nisht Vosiznias, dus is YWN!!! (Your Worst Nightmare!)

No one competes with YWN!!!

willi: Alis iz git!

There are close to 30,000 registered members on YWN!

In a email blast from YWN’s Advertising division, that’s the number that was given!

(Also keep in mind that there are many many more viewers reading YWN that are not registered members!!)

I’ll take number 30,000 as mine!!!!!

Hashem Is Everywhere: I am not a mod, but please now delete your email address by editing your own post!(You have 5 min to use the edit button!)

Latkes mit Ketchup!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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VOTING IS NOW OPEN:

Please vote now on which you prefer best, Latkes or Hamantaschen!!!

You way also post why you prefer one over the other, but please keep posts short to help the mods out during the Holiday season!!!!

!!!NWY TA LLA OT MIRUP NIHCILIERF A

A FREILICHIN PURIM TO ALL AT YWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*****~~~~~asdfghjkl’s DT on Purim: ~~~~*****

Sobering Stories for Purim

by Rabbi Yehudah Prero

One of the customs associated with Purim is drinking at the Purim feast. This custom serves as a commemoration of the essential role wine played in the miracle of Purim: For example, Vashti was killed because of the intoxicating effects of wine, which allowed Esther to become queen, and at a wine party, Esther was able to turn the tables on Haman. The Talmud (Megillah 7b) states “One is obligated to drink (alcohol) on Purim until one does not know the difference between “Blessed is Mordechai” and “Cursed is Haman.” As drinking to excess seems out of place with the norm of Jewish practices, this directive is explained in many ways. Some explain that the “until” is not to be interpreted as an expression of inclusion. Rather, the drinking is to be until the point of incapability to differentiate, exclusive of that state. Others explain that the inability to differentiate arises because one falls asleep from drinking alcohol, and it is in that state one should fulfill this commandment. Whatever the interpretation, all agree that the drinking has to be done with the intent to praise G-d for His miracles and thank Him for saving us. If this is kept in perspective, the celebration can be a truly joyous one, both spiritually and physically.

Rav Elazar Rokeach of Amsterdam was a respected confidant of the Queen of Holland. One year, on Purim, the Queen learned that the dikes around Holland were in danger of collapsing, posing a serious threat of flooding to the entire country. She sent messengers to Rav Elazar, requesting that he pray on behalf on the entire country. Rav Elazar, who was in the midst of his Purim feast, heard the request, and the messengers returned to the Queen. Immediately, he ordered that many more bottles of wine, of the finest wines, be brought to his table, and instructed all those at his home to partake of them and to rejoice. Soon, all were engaged in drink and song, celebrating Purim to the fullest. Later that evening, the Queen wanted to let Rav Elazar know that the dangerous situation was over. When the messengers bearing this message arrived at Rav Elazar’s’ house, they were shocked: Everyone was singing, feasting, and drinking! The messengers immediately returned to the Queen, who was taken aback at this report. She sent a message to Rav Elazar: “I thought that when you heard the terrible news, you would proclaim a fast day, call for mass prayer, act in a way that was illustrative of how dire the situation was. How, then, could you go about your merriment when you knew that the entire country was in peril!”

Rav Elazar explained that “The best way to appease G-d is to do His will. When we listen to His word and fulfill His dictates to the fullest, He acts to us in similar fashion and grants us our requests. On this day, we have the holiday of Purim. We were commanded to rejoice and celebrate. I figured that the best way to ask G-d to help us was to obey His word to the best of my ability. I therefore celebrated today for the honor of G-d, to the best of my ability. In this way, I hoped that in the merit that I fulfilled G-d’s wishes today, so too would He fulfill ours. And indeed, that appears to have happened.”

Although we are commanded to engage in merriment on Purim, this commandment does not supersede others. The Rem”a was worried that because his fellow Jews in Krakow were drinking to celebrate Purim, they might forget to recite Ma’ariv, the evening prayers. To assure that this did not occur, he used to go visit the residents of Krakow after nightfall, when the Purim feasts were concluding. The Rem”a would knock on an individual’s door, and request water so he could wash his hands. He would then say to himself, yet loud enough that his hosts could hear, “Oh, I need to go pray Ma’ariv!” He went from house to house, repeating this act, to provide a gentle reminder that everyone should not forget, due to the merriment, to pray Ma’ariv.

As with all celebrations in Jewish life, our happiness is not complete because we are in exile, and the Bais HaMikdosh, The Holy Temple, remains in ruins. Rav Nosson Adler used to recite Psalm 137, “Al Naharos Bavel,” on Purim. This psalm speaks of our exile and how we will always lift the memory of Jerusalem above our moments of joy. He explained that we have a long standing tradition to temper all moments of joy with the remembrance of the destroyed Jerusalem. Therefore, on Purim, when we have a commandment to celebrate, this custom is not abandoned and we must remember the sad state of the Jewish nation. However, he added that we need to be sure that we raise the memory of Jerusalem above our happiness at the peak of our joy – the time when we are still intoxicated during the Purim feast.

May this be a most joyous Purim for everyone, and may it be the last one we have to spend in Galus!!!!

A Freilichin Purim!!!!!!!!

SIGN IN A BANK: Due to the Jewish holiday of Purim we are out of pennies!!! Sorry for the inconvenience…!!!

Last Purim I got hit by a parked car, tipped over a cordless phone and fell through a window into my house…!!!!!!!!

A600KiloBear: you outta have more in store for us, keep em coming!

YWN is always trying to improve, all feedback is greatly welcome!

mod39: thank you, i now take a bow!!! do get some rest, your the hardest working mod here!!!

qwertyuiop: what happened to ya buddy????

**********TUESDAY’S D’VAR TORAH********* by: R’ Asdfghjkl Chairman of the CR Board

from the Shaarei Teshuvah:

Two men were in the royal prison!!! One day, one of the walls collapsed, allowing the prisoners to escape!!! One of the men immediately seized the opportunity to escape!!! He asked his friend if he was coming??!! The friend declined, not wanting to break the law again!!!

Later, the King’s Guard arrived and found that one man escaped while the other, who could have easily have escaped too, was still sitting there in his cell!!!

The guard began to furiously beat that man with his club!! The man asked the guard, “Why are you beating me??? It was my cellmate who escaped!!!

“Yes, but you had an opportunity and didn’t take it. For that I beat you!!!”

The prisoner by not escaping showed that in his mind, the prison was not such a terrible place to be!!!

??? traps us in a prison!! We become so set in our bad ways and so full of shame that it is difficult to do ?????!!! We have a golden opportunity to break out of that prison and do ?????!!! Hashem gives us this opportunity every day with ?????- and even more so with ?????-as I had said before- ????? ???? ????????. If we do not seize this opportunity to escape, we would be showing that in our minds, the prison of ??? is not such a terrible place to be!!! That would be the saddest shame of all!!!

Have a wonderful day everyone!!!!

moish: ha Morah Torah is a cute way of callin those!!!!!

teen: has a dr. Seuss picture in the Google name!!!!

yes Rav Moshe’s levaya i recall was on tanis esther!!!!!!

beacon: yeah where i Rami’s?????

water!!!

hey everyone: new member GOIBOFF here!!!!

GOIBOFF: on behalf of the CR Board & the CR Gang, i welcome you to the CR=coffee room!!! join the fun!!! head to the new members thread, to get a proper welcome from everyone!!! good joke there!!!

moish: i like pix 50 or so seemed like him!!! ok!!!