Torah Teasers
Parshas NITZAVIM
1. The pasuk says (Devarim 29:27), “Hashem will remove them from their land with great anger.” Then the pasuk says, “VaYashlicheim El Eretz Acheres; Hashem will throw them (exile them) to a different land.” The letter “Lamed” in the word “VaYashlicheim” has an unusually long neck. Why? Ans…The MiShulchan Gavo’a brings an answer in the name of the Ridvaz. The Tur (CM 261) paskens that if someone throws his wallet into Reshus HaRabim, the public domain, it becomes Hefker and anyone can claim it since the original owner forfeited ownership. However, if there is a string attached to the object, then no matter how far it is thrown, it is still in the possession of the owner. When the pasuk says that Hashem will throw us to another land, it seems that we become Hefker for the other nations to do with us whatever they want, since Hashem forfeited ownership of us. However, that is not the case as the pasuk (Ha’azinu 32:9) says, “Yaakov Chevel Nachalaso.” Chevel literally means rope, meaning that we are always attached to Hashem, even if we are cast away in His anger. “This,” says the Ridvaz, “is the symbolism of the long Lamed. Although Hashem will throw us into public domain, he is still retaining possession of us by holding onto our rope. This rope is the long neck of the Lamed.”
2. “Yeisei V’Lo Achminei,” meaning, let Moshiach come but do not let me be alive to see him (Sanhedrin 98b). Rebbi Yochanan said that he’d give up the privilege of greeting Moshiach in order to avoid living through the terrible days of the Ikvisa D’Mishicha. With the Geula so close at hand, why will they be worse than the rest of the Galus? Ans….Rav Yehonoson Eibshitz says that since the Shechina is with us in Galus, we are protected. However, at the end of the Galus, when it is time for us to return to Eretz Yisrael, the Shechina will need to leave the galus and come to Eretz Yisrael to prepare and facilitate our return. During those waning day of the Galus, we will be left on our own without protection and endless tragedies will befall us. Only then, will we realize how fortunate we were to have had the Shechina with us.
3. “Ki Es Asher Yeshno Po… V’Eis Asher Einenu Po” (Nitzavim 29:14). Hashem enters a covenant with all those that are presently here and even those who are not. Rashi says this means future generations. How do we know? Ans …The Maharal Tzintz says that this is a Remez to the gemara in Sanhedrin (91a). After a person dies, Hashem calls his body to din for all its aveiros. The body says, “What do you want from me? From the moment the neshama left me, I’ve been lying here powerless. Obviously the aveiros were the neshama’s fault.” The neshama is then called and it says, “It must be the body’s fault because ever since the neshama was released, it has been flying around harmlessly like a bird.” So then Hashem takes the neshama, puts it back into the body and makes them stand trial together. Now there are no excuses. The Torah tells us that Hashem has not only entered a covenant with the body who is standing here today, but also with the neshama, which you cannot see standing here today. They will both be thrown together and there won’t be any excuses.
4. “Vihayah Bishomo Es Divray HaAlah HaZos Vihisbarech Bilvavo Lamor Shalom Yihyeh Li” – “And it will be when he hears the words of the oath, he will bless himself in his heart, saying, “I will have peace, though I go as my heart sees fit…” Can a person just be good in his heart and all is fine? Ans… The Meforshim explain that there are people who feel that since they are fine upstanding citizens who treat their fellow Jew with respect and kindness, this will protect them from the punishment of not being a good Jew when it comes to serving Hashem- Bain Adam LaMakom. Therefore the pasuk says, “Vihayah Bishomo Es Divray HaAlah HaZos Vihisbarech Bilvavo”- “And it will be when he hears the words of the oath, he will rely on BILVAVO- his good heart and good nature- to save him from his sins to Hashem. The pasuk continues – “Lo Yoveh Hashem Siloach Lo” – Hashem will not be willing to forgive him. His Mitzvos Bain Adam LaChavaro will not save him from his Avaros Bain Adam LaMakom.
5. Nitzavim — Vayeilech. One parsha or two? Ans…. The Rishonim give a Siman to know when we read Parshas Nitzavim – VaYelech as 2 separate Parshios and when it is read together as one. “Bag HaMelech Pas VaYelech” (Daniel 1:5) – When Rosh Hashanah (which is known as HaMelech – because we start saying HaMelech HaKadosh in Shmoneh Esreh – falls on Bag – Bais or Gimmel – Monday or Tuesday, then Pas VaYelech – VaYelech is broken off into a separate Parsha. Pas comes from the words “Pasos Oso Pisim” – that a Korban Micha must be broken into pieces. When Rosh Hashanah starts on Monday or Tuesday, there are 2 Shabbosos (where we Lain a regular Sedra) between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkos. On the Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we read Parshas VaYelech, and on the Shabbos between Yom Kippur and Sukkos, we read Haazinu.
6. After all the Klalos in Parshas Ki Savo, Moshe Rabbeinu calls together Bnei Yisroel and starts telling them about Paroh and Mitzrayim and all the great miracles that took place in the Midbar. Why? Ans…. The Netziv answers that after hearing all the Klalos, the Bnei Yisroel were skeptical about their chances for survival. Moshe therefore shows them that after they left Mitzrayim they were supposed to go straight to Eretz Yisroel, yet their aveiros caused them to receive a 40 year wandering sentence before being admitted to Eretz Yisroel. Nevertheless, not only did they survive they flourished.
(TURN OVER)
Memories
The children were the first to notice his absence. Perhaps it was the lack of candies that he customarily gave out to the children which caused them to worry about him and to inquire about his absence. The elderly candy man had been a fixture at the shul in Manhattan for years, but no one knew much about him. He used to come daily to the shul, and would sit in his place and daven or learn. He preferred to remain alone for Shabbos, and never engaged in small talk. No one knew whether he had a family or had always been alone.

The children continued to worry about his absence, and the neighbors and shul members soon became concerned as well. The Rav of the neighborhood decided to visit the elderly man and inquire about his welfare. The Rav, accompanied by several shul members, knocked on the door but no response was heard. They knocked again, but there was no sign of life from within. They decided to summon the police, who knocked down the door. They found him lying lifeless on his bed.

The Rav and others began searching the apartment for papers, hoping they would find the number of relatives who could come to the levaya. Eventually, they found some personal papers, and the telephone number of the man’s son. The Rav immediately called the number to inform him of his father’s death, and to confer with him about the time of the levaya.

The Rav successfully contacted the son, but it quickly became apparent that the son had long abandoned his heritage and his past. He shouted in the phone, “I haven’t seen or spoken with my father for twenty years, and there is no reason I should come to his levaya!”

The Rav was shocked but he didn’t relent. “What about Kaddish for your father?” That alone is sufficient reason to come to the levaya.”

The son replied, “I don’t keep Torah and Mitzvos, and I don’t believe in Kaddish, and therefore I’m not saying Kaddish, and I’m not coming to the levaya.”

The Rav, however, was not going to be put off so easily. He explained, “Do you know what Kaddish is? Kaddish is not a tefillah on the niftar. Kaddish is a tefillah which exalts the name of Hashem Yisbarach, a tefillah which saves one from punishments and harsh decrees, a tefillah which lengthens the life and years of the one who says it. Through saying Kaddish, one merits to glorify the name of Shamayim by causing others to answer, Amen Yehay Shemmah Rabbah, which is the essence of Kaddish. Come and daven for you and him. You’ve hurt your father your whole life. At least give him the final honor and the wealth of Olam Haba.” After a long conversation and much convincing, the son finally agreed to come to the levaya and say Kaddish.

Setting a time for the funeral wasn’t simple either. The son was a successful businessman who had a large office in the Twin Towers, on the 81st floor. He finally agreed that the funeral would be held before his office opened so he wouldn’t miss any work that day.

The funeral was set for 8:00 A.M. on September 11, 2001. The son appeared and requested that the funeral begin immediately. The funeral began, and the son said Kaddish, repeating the words after the Rav without emotion or concentration. The Rav began saying a hesped, and then one of the neighbors began a hesped, but was not successful in finishing it. Word about the tragedies at the Twin Towers had begun filtering in and people began leaving the funeral to inquire about the welfare of their loved ones. They soon learned that the towers had collapsed and there were thousands dead!

The son remained behind standing next to the kever, completely stunned. For the first time in many years, he felt a closeness to his father. He looked at the kever and said as tears fell across his face, “Abba, You gave me life now a second time. I will try to give you some nachas and Olam Habah.” (Shiru Lamelech)

Who Knows One
Q. Which Mitzvah is performed on Wednesday or Thursday only?
Answer: Eruv Tavshilin. The Chachomim enacted Eruv Tavshilin as a way of beginning Shabbos preparations Thursday, thus allowing you to continue preparing on Yom Tov itself. Essentially, Eruv Tavshilin means setting aside two food items — one baked and one boiled — in preparation for Shabbos. When a two-day Yom Tov falls on Thursday and Friday, the Eruv Tavshilin is set aside on Wednesday.
Q. Triplets are born within a 2 hour period, yet the bris milah for each of them takes place on three consecutive days. They are all healthy – i.e., no jaundice or other health problems. How can this be?
Answer: One baby is born before sunset. His bris is 8 days later, which happens to be the day before Yom Tov. His brother is born after dark – halachically a new day. His bris is a full day later, the day of Yom Tov itself. A bris performed on the 8th day supersedes Yom Tov.
The third triplet was born between the other two. He was born in the halachic ‘gray area’ – after sunset but before dark. It is unclear if this is considered night or day. He can’t have his bris the day before Yom Tov because that might be the 7th day, which is too early. He can’t have his bris on Yom Tov, because that might be the 9th day, and only a bris done on the 8th day supersedes Yom Tov. Therefore, his bris is the day after Yom Tov.
Q. Three members of the Jewish People whose names are mentioned in Torah (and were alive at the time) did not go out of Egypt during the Exodus. Who are they?
Answer: Tzippora, Gershon and Eliezer. Moshe’ wife, Tzippora and his two sons, Gershon and Eliezer, lived in Midian at the time of the Exodus from Egypt. Although Moshe had planned to bring them along when he returned to Egypt, Aharon convinced him to the contrary. “Aren’t there enough Jews suffering in Egypt already?” said Aharon.
Q. What is the longest Birchat Hamazon (grace after meals)? What can make it even longer?
Answer: When Rosh Chodesh Tevet falls on Shabbos, the Birchat HaMazon contains additions for Rosh Chodesh, Shabbos and Chanukah. It is even longer after a meal celebrating a Bris Milah, in which case there is an addition to the Zimun (introduction) and extra ‘Harachamans’.
Know Your Gedolim…
Who Is This?

Talk the Talk — Walk the Walk
Our chachomim explain that on Yom Kippur we do tshuva for all the actual aveiros that we did. On Rosh HaShana we repair our character and our outlook on life. We need to repent for our anger, hatred, jealousy, lust after money and food, and so on, says the Rambam (Tshuva 7:3). Rosh HaShana is a day to reflect on the year that was and to chart a course for the new year. Once we’ve made that change over the next ten days, we then look at the details. We assess the actual damage and make repairs.

On Rosh Hashana we don’t need viduy and all the outward manifestations of Tshuva. We need deep and honest contemplation. We need to recognize who is the boss, who created the world on this day, and what our job is. This we do on the first day of the year and we start by crowning our King and pointing our eyes and thoughts towards Him.
The Geula — What to Expect

Coming Back Home To Eretz Yisroel… When?
“ViShav Hashem Elokecha Es Shvuscha ViRechamecha Vishav Vikibetzcha Mikal HoAmim” – “Then Hashem WILL RETURN your captivity and have mercy upon you, and he WILL RETURN and gather you from your exile among the nations.” Why does the Pasuk say that Hashem “WILL RETURN” those in captivity – twice?

Meshech Chochmah answers, that there will be two shifts of people who are returning from exile. The first group will be those who were yearning for the holiness of Eretz Yisroel all the years in Galus. They will be the first to return. The second group will be the ones who became comfortable in the Galus. They did not miss the Kedusha of Eretz Yisroel, and will only return at a later time.

The Silence Of The Chachomim Before The Chashmana’i Kingdom

Yaakov, in his Brachos to his children, told Yehuda “Lo Yasur Shevet MiYehuda”, the kingdom will always be his. The Ramban says that this is why the Chashmana’im, who were Kohanim from Shevet Levi and claimed the kingdom, were punished with their eventual demise. Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky asks, why did the Chachomim of their generation not stop them? They were great tzaddikim who followed the word of the Chachomim. Did they not know the Din?

Rav Yaakov answers with a Yesod that he said many times. He says the Second Bias HaMikdash was not built to last forever. It was merely a preparation for the long Galus that awaited us. This is why the period of the Second Bais HaMikdash was characterized as the time of Torah SheBaal Peh. It was time where the Chachomim ruled and decreed practical rules that would guide us throughout our exile and help us survive as a nation until the end of time.

In order to make it clear that the Second Bais HaMikdash was only a temporary reprieve, the Chachomim left during this period obvious signs of the Galus. For example, the people spoke mainly Aramaic and not Lashon Kodesh. The Aron remained hidden. In this vain, the Chachomim did not reinstitute the Kingdom of Dovid. They wanted to show that the days of Moshiach had clearly not come. Therefore, although the Chashmana’im erred in taking the Kingdom for themselves, in violation of Yaakov’s bracha, nevertheless the Chachomim did not speak up because they had no alternative solution.
When Yosef & Binyomin Were Finally Reunited
“Vayipol Al Tzavrei Binyomin VaYeivch UBinyomin Bacha Al Tzavarav” (Vayigash 45:14). Rashi tells us that when Yosef and Binyomin met after all the years of them longing to see each other, they cried about the Mishkan that stood in Yosef’s territory and the two Bais HaMikdash that stood in Binyomin’s territory that were destroyed. Twenty two long years of separation and a lot to catch up about and this is what they did?

Rav Shimshon Pincus says that this is a non-question. The Bais HaMikdash was about Hashroas HaShechina, our connection with Hashem. Asking this question is in essence asking how did Hashem make His way into their conversation! Is there another topic of conversation to our Holy ancestors, asks Rav Shimshon? Their reunion was a celebration of the unity of Klal Yisroel a key element to Hashroas HaShechina. It was in this that they rejoiced upon seeing each other. Their joy and celebration was marred by the vision of the ultimate destruction of these great places and the exile of the Shechina.

Similarly says Rav Shimshon, when Yaakov met Rochel at the well for the first time, they cried. Rashi says he cried that she would not be buried with him. Again the same non-question is raised, why now? Yaakov represents HaKadosh Boruch Hu and Rochel the Shechina. Our goal in life is to reunite the two. Their meeting was a historic union. In Yaakov’s joy and excitement he saw that Rochel would not be buried with him. Their union in this world would not last forever and would end in separation. For this Yaakov cried.

We cannot judge the Avos HaKedoshim with our shallow minds. We cannot comprehend their thoughts and emotions. What we do know is that first and foremost on their list was hashroas HaShechina and that meant a vibrant Bais HaMikdash that we should all be zocheh to witness bimheira biyameinu, amein! Im Kol Zeh Achakeh Lo B’Chol Yom SheYavo!

This week’s Torah is B’Zchus: the Rabbonim in our community who prepare us for Yom Hadin and give us the spiritual strength to be inscribed in the Book of Life and Prosperity.

Distributed by the Chevre Marbitz Torah D’NMB

Created By Rov Allen Sherman