Torah Teasers
Parshas Chayei Sara
1. “Vayihiyu Chayei Sara Meiah Shana V’Esrim Shana V’Sheva Shanim.” (Chayei Sara 23:1) Rashi famously quotes the words of Chazal that the Torah writes this language to tell us that Sara was beautiful like a seven year old. Why does the Torah, when summing up the greatness of Sara’s life, refer to Sara’s external beauty as one of the highlights of her character? Furthermore, seven years old is not the peak of a woman’s beauty, which comes only as the woman physically matures. Ans… Rav Zeidel Epstein zt”l, the Mashgiach of Torah Ohr, answers (see L’Sitcha Elyon) that beauty is a great gift from Shamayim, but it is a double edged sword. Beauty is a chief cause of haughtiness if used improperly. Age twenty, says Rav Zeidel, is the year a woman is most susceptible to sensing her own beauty and misusing this gift and corrupting the spirit. A seven year old girl, no matter how beautiful, is more than happy to play in the sand without caring about the effect on her outward appearance. Despite that, Sara was one of the four most beautiful women to ever live (Megila 15a), she always conducted herself like a seven year old, by not paying heed to her own beauty and keeping herself well-grounded and modest. This was one of the highlights of her great personality!
2. “V’Avrohom Zakein Ba Bayamim VaHashem Beirach Avrohom Bakol; Avrohom was aging and moving on in years and Hashem blessed him with everything.” (24:1). The medrash says that the word “Bakol” alludes to the fact that Avrohom had a daughter. Why does the Torah tell us this in the Parsha of Yitzchok’s shidduch? Ans… Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz answers that Avrohom was now a widower and needed to remarry. The halacha is that if a father needs to choose between getting married himself or marrying off his son, he should get married first. However, if the father already was Yotzei his mitzva of Pru U’Rivu, then his son comes first. We all know that Avrohom had a son, but we didn’t know that he had a daughter, and, therefore, he should have remarried before dealing with Yitzchok’s Shidduch. Therefore, the Torah tells us that Avrohom already had a daughter, and his first priority was to call Eliezer to go find a shidduch for his son Yitzchok.
3. “V’Avrohom Zakein Ba Bayamim VaHashem Beirach Avrohom Bakol; Avrohom was aging and moving on in years and Hashem blessed him with everything.” (24:1) The Gemara Bava Basra, (15) quotes Rebbi Meir who says that this means he did not have daughters. How does he know this? Ans…. The Ksav Sofer answers, in a light hearted manner, that the Rambam wrote in a letter to his son, telling him that his hair was getting white from trying to find a suitable match for his single daughter. Here, the Torah tells us that Avrohom was aging, because he was reaching an advanced age. Since this aging was a natural process, it was apparent that he did not have any daughters, or else he would have aged long ago, due to the pressures of finding a Shidduch for his daughter.
4. “Vayihyu Chayei Sarah.” Why does the the pasuk say, “Vayihyu; and they were the life of Sarah,” – in the plural? The Torah should have said, “Vayihi Chayei Sarah,” – in the singular? Ans…. Daas Zikainim MiBaalei HaTosfos answers that the numerical value of “Vayihyu” is 37. Since Chazal tell us that one who does not have any children is considered dead, Sarah’s first 90 years of her life were not real living. The Torah is telling us, “Vayihyu Chayei Sarah,” – the life of Sarah was “Vayihyu” – 37 years (from age 90-127) – the number of years she lived after Yitzchok was born.
5. When Avrohom gave Eliezer instructions to find a wife for Yitzchok, he says(24:4) “V’Lakachta Isha Livni L’Yitzchok; You should find an appropriate girl for my son Yitzchok.” When Eliezer retells the story to Lavan and Besuel, he says (24:38), “V’Lakachta Isha Livni,” omitting the word “Yitzchok”. Why did he do this? Ans…. The Bais HaLevi explains that this is a phenomenon in Shiduchim. Sometimes a very wealthy man will offer a large dowry for the son of a great talmid chochom from a chosheveh family, for his daughter. But if another Shadchan would approach him and tell him that for the same price he has a boy who himself is great in learning and yiras shamayim, the father would balk. Why? The father is machshiv Torah, and he is willing to pay for the aura of Torah. However, he doesn’t want his daughter to live a Kollel lifestyle. He wants his daughter to enjoy life and indulge in the luxuries that may not be consistent with a Kollel lifestyle. He wants his daughter to be the wife of a wealthy businessman. So Eliezer didn’t mention Yitchok who himself was great.
6. The Alter of Kelm takes note of Efron’s change of heart. How could he so quickly go from insisting that Avraham take the cave for free, to accepting a huge sum of silver for it – way above the field’s worth? The Torah adds that the money was good money as well. It was money that was acceptable in any country – and Efron grabbed it without further protest. Rashi comments: “He said much, and he didn’t even do a little.” Ans … Efron was like a cute well behaved cat who suddenly sees a mouse and pounces. Efron was able to act generously, but the “smell” of a large sum of money overwhelmed him, and out went Mr. Generous. “I’ll be generous tomorrow.” Imagine if Efron had known that his deeds would be forever read by future generations, and lessons of how not to be would be learned from him. What would he have done differently? As we “write the story” of our own lives, we would do well to learn from Efron and think of how we will be remembered.

A number of years ago, a terrible tragedy occurred in Eretz Yisrael when two helicopters carrying seventy-two Israeli soldiers blew up over a moshav called “Shaar Yishuv” in the north. The helicopters fell on the yishuv, and all the soldiers were killed. Mourning and shock was felt throughout the country.

In light of the heartbreaking news, not everybody heard of the unbelievable salvation which occurred amidst the tragedy. Seventy- two families lived on the moshav, and despite the fact that the helicopters fell directly on the houses, not one person from the seventy-two families was injured. Seventy-two soldiers were killed; seventy-two families were saved.

It would have been expected that the helicopters, which were full of fuel and ammunition, would have caused explosions and fires among the homes on the yishuv, but this did not happen. In addition, each family had its own personal story of salvation. One family “happened” not to be home at the time, and another family went to a wedding, etc. In addition, on that day all the stores and shuls on the moshav were unoccupied.
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The Gaon Rav Akiva Eiger, the Rav of Posen, once received a letter from the kehilla of Lustk with a complicated halachic shaila. Rav Akiva sent back an answer, but he preceded the answer with these words. “You should know that my minhag is not to answer halachic questions from other kehillos. There are many important rabbanim and dayanim in your city that could have answered this question. However, this time I’ll deviate from my minhag and I’ll answer you and here is why. Recently, I was at a simcha and one of the participants was from your kehilla. He requested that I answer your question, and I was silent. However, I feared that it was possible that I nodded my head slightly, and this man may have thought that I was agreeing to answer. Therefore, this time, I’m answering your question.” (Vekorei Leshabbos Oneg)
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A certain Rav traveled from Chutz La’Aretz to Eretz Yisrael to participate in a large conference that took place that year in Yerushalayim. During his trip, he visited the Brisker Rav. This Rav was already married for twenty years, but did not yet have children. The Brisker Rav said to him during the visit, “Eretz Yisrael does not have the same cheshbon. We know this because it’s written about Avraham Avinu, “If so, you need to remain in Eretz Yisrael, and be saved.”
For various reasons, this Rav was unable to consider staying in Eretz Yisrael. Prior to his return home, he again visited the Brisker Rav to part from him, and the Rav again mentioned the same topic. “You’re leaving? asked the Brisker Rav. Haven’t we mentioned that Eretz Yisrael is a segulah? Begin a new cheshbon, and maybe you’ll be zocheh to a son.”
The Rebbitzen had accompanied her husband on this visit, and when she heard the Brisker Rav’s words, she informed her husband that she was not returning home. At the end, they settled in Tel Aviv, and when a year passed, a son was born to them. (Shaal Avicha Veyegadcha)
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The Gaon, Rav Tzvi Greenhaus, told over an amazing story which occurred to his relatives. His relatives reside in London, and they have a large plum tree in their yard, which has grown there for many years. It had originally produced fruit, but as no one had properly tended to it over the years, it eventually stopped producing fruit. During the proper season, a few fruits appeared, but they were inedible. Eventually, no one from the family could even remember when the tree had last produced edible fruit. The tree itself did not appear healthy, and anyone could tell at a glance that this tree was incapable of producing fruit.
During the shemitta year of 2000/2001, Rav Greenhaus’ relatives wanted to become partners in the mitzvah of shemittah, and they sent a sizable donation to the Keren Sheviis of Moshav Kommius.
When the plum picking season began that year, this neglected plum tree began to produce beautiful and quality plums. Everybody who was witness to this unbelievable phenomenon was completely astounded. Not only did the tree produce a large amount of fruit, but the fruit was of better quality than the fruit of trees which had been carefully cultivated all year. The family called professionals to examine the tree and offer an explanation for this phenomenon, but they were astounded as well and could offer no professional or scientific explanation.
In actuality, it was the fulfillment of the special bracha from Hashem for those who adhere to the laws of sheviis, as a present of gratitude to the family for their donation to the Keren Hashevi’is. (Barchi Nafshi)

Who Knows One
Q. Two characters in Tanach: one’s name makes him sound as though he’s his own uncle, and the other’s name would have him appear to be his own grandfather. Who are they? Answer: King Achav (“Ach” means brother, “av” means father; hence “Achav” means “Brother of father” or “uncle.”) (Melachim I 16:28). Avner son of Ner (“Avner” sounds like “the father” (av) of Ner). (Shmuel I 26:5)
Q. Name four people in Sefer Bereishis (Genesis) whose names consist of two words.
Answer: Tuval Kayin (Bereishes 4:22); May Zahav (Bereishes 36:39); Poti Fera (Bereishes 41:45); Tsafnas Panayach (Bereishes 41:45).
Q. “The “long”, the “short”, the “black”, the “white”, the “his”, the “hers”, and the “theirs”. What seven similar days – i.e., days which are observed with similar types of observances in the Jewish calendar – do these describe?
Answer: The long – 17 Tammuz (longest daytime fast); the short – 10 Tevet (shortest fast); the black – 9 Av (day of mourning, when we sit in the dark); the white – Yom Kippur (we wear a white kittle and cover the Torah with white); the his – 3 Tishrei (Fast of Gedalia); the hers – 13 Adar (Fast of Esther); the theirs – 14 Nissan (Fast of the Firstborn).

Know Your Gedolim…
Who Is This?

Talk the Talk — Walk the Walk
A chossid in a big shtreimel was stopped at customs by an agent at JFK airport and was asked: “Taliban?”
No!” the man replied immediately. “Teitelbaum.”

Walking through Chinatown, a tourist from the Midwest was fascinated with all the Chinese restaurants, shops, signs and banners. He saw a building with the sign “Moishe Finkelstein’s Chinese Laundry.” “Moishe Finkelstein?” he wondered. “How does that fit in Chinatown?” So he walked into the shop and saw a fairly standard looking Chinese laundry. Behind the counter was a smiling old Chinese gentleman who thanked him for visiting. The tourist asked, “Can you tell me how this place got a name like “Moishe Finkelstein’s Chinese Laundry?” The old man answered, “Ahh… Everybody asks me that. It’s the name of the owner.” Looking around, the tourist asked, “Is he here now?” “He is right here,” replied the old man. “He is me.” “Really? How did you ever get a name like Moishe Finkelstein?” “Is simple,” said the old man. “Many, many years ago when I come to this country, I was standing in line at the documentation center. The man in front of me was a Jewish gentleman from Poland. “The lady at the counter looked at him and said, ‘What is your name?’ “He said, ‘Moishe Finkelstein.’ Then she looked at me and said, ‘What is your name?” “I said, ‘Sam Ting.'”
The Geula — What to Expect
Eretz Yisroel’s Gravitational Pull
Throughout the generations Bnei Yisroel have yearned for Eretz Yisroel. In one of the most famous and poignant Kinos, Reb Yehudah Halevi expressed his and his nation’s longing for its homeland, “Tzion, Halo Tishali Leshalom Asirayich.” Members of Bnei Yisroel have not only yearned, but have been willing to undertake long and arduous journeys over deserts and seas to reach Eretz Yisroel.

According to the Maharal, (Netzach Yisroel) this yearning is simply a rule of nature. An object prefers its natural state. Chazal say, “There is nothing that does not have its place.” A ball thrown upwards will obey the law of gravity and fall downwards. Bnei Yisroel’s natural state is to reside in Eretz Yisroel. When Bnei Yisroel are in galus outside Eretz Yisroel, it is in opposition to their natural state, and they gravitate towards Eretz Yisroel. Bnei Yisroel’s dispersal among the nations of the world is unnatural; Bnei Yisroel is a nation that belongs in its land.

This attraction comes from deep within. Eretz Yisroel is the place where we can be Mikayem more mitzvos than any other place in the world. The attraction is our neshama’s yearning for Shleimus, its yearning to fulfill the Mitzvos HaTeluyos BaAretz. The special set of mitzvos cannot be fulfilled in Chutz LaAretz. But even this has deeper roots. Eretz Yisroel has more mitzvos because it is the land of Hashem. All the other nations have a Sar, a special minister in Shamayim that represents its land and all its inhabitants. Eretz Yisroel has no Sar. Hashem maintains direct control over Eretz Yisroel. It is the place on earth where we can come closer to Hashem than any other. Our neshama, which is a “Cheilek Elokai MiMa’al”, yearns to go back to its home.
The Beauty of Tzion
“MiTzion, Michlal Yofi, Elokim Hofia — From Tzion, which encompasses all beauty, Hashem shines forth.” (Tehillim 50:2) What is so splendid about the beauty of Tzion – is the Torah referring to physical beauty? Interestingly enough, Chazal did institute a number of rules pertaining to maintaining the physical beauty of Yerushalayim, such as not establishing garbage dumps or furnaces which would emit large amounts of smoke. (Bava Kamma 82b)

The physical beauty of Yerushalayim actually encompasses the beauty of the entire physical world: “The wise Shlomo planted different types of trees, as it says, ‘I made for myself gardens and orchards, and I planted in them every kind of fruit tree’ (Kohelet 2:5). R’ Yannai said, ‘Shlomo even planted peppers in the Land. How did he do this? Shlomo was wise, and he knew where the main central foundations of the world were located. How? ‘Out of Tzion, which encompassed all beauty, Hashem appeared’ (Tehillim 50:2). The entire world was perfected from Tzion, as Chazal learn, ‘Why is the point of Har Moriah called Even Shesiya? Because the whole world was founded upon it’. Shlomo knew which vein led from Tzion to Africa and he planted peppers there; and they sprouted fruit immediately (Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 10).

Of course, Tzion is the spiritual center of the world in addition to the physical center. The Beis Hamikdash is the site of the union of all physical and spiritual entities. Physical beauty is only “skin deep” and has no intrinsic meaning, but when imbued with spiritual meaning, takes on true significance. The physical beauty of Yerushalayim which encompassed the entire world was simply a veil for its spiritual beauty — the Yerushalayim of above and the beauty of the Torah. Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsch writes on this possuk, that Hashem appeared out of Tzion, which encompassed beauty, the perfect embodiment of physical beauty appropriate to moral perfection because it is the dwelling place of the Word of His Law. “Ki MiTzion Teiztei Torah” — the Torah which imbues the physical world with beauty emanates from Tzion. Im Kol Zeh Achakeh Lo B’Chol Yom SheYavo!

­ Halacha Trivia ­
The Mishna in Brachos details when one is permitted to interrupt his own reading of Krias Shema to say hello or answer to someone out of respect or out of fear. Nevertheless, the Mishna Brura (66:2) brings from the Mogen Avrohom that nowadays we do not interrupt Shema to talk to anyone under normal circumstances. What about standing out of respect for a Rebbi or parent? Can we and should we stand up during Krias Shema or is that also no longer permitted?
Rav Moshe Shternbuch (Tshuvos V’Hanhagos 4:22) weighs a number of reasons not to stand and dismisses them. He says that the Oseik BaMitzva Patur Min HaMitzva does not excuse you in this case since not standing up is an issur because it is embarrassing to a Talmid Chochom or parent to sit while they walk by. Furthermore, Oseik BaMitzva Patur Min HaMitzva only exempts you when the second mitzva will disturb you from the first, which is not the case here when all you must do is stand up for a moment.
Rav Shternbuch, after discussing other reasons to not stand, concludes that the only excuse not to stand for a talmid chochom is if it will really disturb your concentration during Shema, which most of us cannot claim today. Therefore, one should, if he can, grab this great mitzva of standing for a talmid chochom or parent and get back to Shema. Moreover, he says the mitzva should be done properly and one should stand up to his complete height rather than just slightly raise himself.

This week’s Torah is B’Zchus: All of the parents who toil and get a little greyer trying to marry off their children.
Distributed by the Chevre Marbitz Torah D’NMB

Created By Rov Allen Sherman