Torah Teasers
Parshas KI SAVO
1. The Gemara in Megila (31b) says that we read the Tochacha in Parshas Ki Savo right before Rosh HaShana in order that “Tichleh Shana V’Kililoseha”, the year and its curses should end. How does reading the Tochacha help our situation? Ans…The Tiferes Shlomo Of Radomsk explains that Hashem promised that when there is no Bais HaMikdash, we can still bring Korbanos by saying and learning the Parshiyos related to the Korbanos, “U’Nishalma Parim Sifaseinu.” Similarly, we read the Tochacha and by saying it, if we are deserving of its punishments, it should be considered as if it befell us r”l through the reading, but going forward, only bracha should come our way.
2. Chazal tell us that the Tochacha in Parshas Ki Savo was said by Moshe Rabbeinu while the Tochacha in Bichukosai was said by Hashem. Moshe’s Tochacha is harsher than the one said by Hashem. Why would Moshe do that to us? Ans…. Moshe did it because of the upside. The Imrei Noam of Zhikov points out that in Bichukosai, Hashem’s name is not mentioned in the Tochacha, as each Klala is said in first person. In Ki Savo, when Moshe gives the Klalos, each one is proceeded by Hashem’s name. This is the remez to the pasuk in Tehilim (34:20), “Rabos Ra’os Tzaddik.” Many are the curses of the Tzaddik, Moshe Rabbeinu, far more than the curses of Hashem. However, “U’Mikulam Yatzilenu Hashem,” because these curses are in Hashem’s name, they represent middas harachamim and we are far better off than the first Klalos, where Hashem’s mercy is hidden.
3. ViSamta Bateneh” – “You shall place the Bikkurim in a basket”; Chazal tell us that the wealthy people would bring their Bikkurim in golden baskets which the Kohanim would return to them. As opposed to the poor who would bring it in wicker baskets which the Kohanim kept. Why did the Kohanim return the baskets to the wealthy who did not need their baskets, and keep the poor man’s basket? Ans … The Meforshim explain, this was in order not to shame the poor. The wealthy gave expensive, beautiful fruit. Even without the golden basket it looked impressive. Therefore the Kohanim returned the baskets to them. On the other hand, the poor gave low quality fruit. If it would have been removed from the basket, the poor man would be embarrassed. Therefore the Kohanim kept their fruit and the baskets.
4. V’Lo Sasur MiKol HaDevarim Asher Anochi Mitzaveh Es’chem HaYom Yamin U’Smol Laleches Acharei Elokim Acheirim” (Ki Savo 28:14). The Torah warns us not turn from the its decrees not right nor left. Why is the warning mentioned specifically by Avodah Zara? Ans…The Chasam Sofer answers that the Torah gives the chachomim vast power to turn from the Torah and to make takanos, even if the takana is mivatel a mitzva in the Torah. This is done to protect the Torah. However, even the slightest trace of Avodah Zara is assur, leaving the chachomim no ability to enact takanos that would violate that issur no matter what the purpose. Therefore, by Avodah Zara it is fitting for the Torah to tell us that we may not change one iota of what the Torah says. That applies even to the chachomim.
5. At the end of the Tochacha, after the Torah describes one horrible punishment after the next for not keeping the mitzvos, the pasuk (Ki Savo 28:61) says that “Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in this Torah, Hashem will bring upon you.” Was the Tochacha not enough? Does Hashem need to throw in a catchphrase for anything He may have missed? Ans…. What happens if the entire Tochacha befalls us, yet we do not return to Hashem? What will become of us? This last promise of throwing every imaginable punishment on us is our only consolation. Even if all the punishments end, there are still more. Hashem will never run out of ways to draw us back, no matter how much we have already suffered without remorse and no matter how far we have gone.
6. “U’Va’u Alecha Kol HaBrachos HaEileh V’Hisigucha”, all the blessing will come on you and you will reach it. If the bracha is coming to you why does the pasuk tell you will reach it? Ans…. The Ben Ish Chai answers that even when a person is deserving of Bracha, he must reach out to get it. This can take tremendous effort and you will not always manage to get the elusive Bracha even if it has your name on it. We daven that the bracha we deserve will come to us through Kavod and not Bizayon. With ease and not with pain. The Torah is promising us that if we keep all the mitzvos, the brachos will chase us. We will not need to chase them. Even if we run away, even if we don’t make every effort to succeed – “V’Hisigucha” the bracha will find us and reach us.
7. In the brachos of the parsha it says the gentiles will borrow from you and you will not need to borrow from them, “Vihilvisa Goyim Rabim V’Ata Lo Silveh.” (28:12) Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz asks, why do the gentiles constantly come to borrow money from the Jews? Are there not enough non Jewish banks to borrow from? Ans…. He answers that Chazal tell us that the money owned by Iyov carried a special Bracha. Whoever invested money borrowed from Iyov, made himself a large fortune. So too with Klal Yisroel. Money borrowed from a Jew will return dividends many times over. As word gets out, the Jewish banks become the place to stand on line. Next.
(TURN OVER)
Memories
The house of Rav Rosentech, a Rosh Yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael, was bustling as usual, despite his imminent departure early the next morning to Chutz L’aretz. Rav Rosentech’s talmidim, past and present, were constantly in and out of his house, as well as members of the community who came to seek his guidance. Rav Rosentech always welcomed everybody happily and with great patience, so it wasn’t surprising that the house was still astir the night before his long trip. No one, but his close relatives knew the real purpose of his trip. He had been diagnosed with a malignant growth and was flying to South America for a complicated operation.

The hour was getting late, and the members of the household wanted to stem the flow of visitors; only a few short hours remained for Rav Rosentech to rest before he woke up early the next morning. However, the house was still full of people, and the Rav patiently helped each one. Finally, after midnight, the house finally emptied, but just then, the telephone began to ring. One of the members of the household answered it, irritated that someone was calling at such a late hour, but fearing that it concerned the trip the next day. Instead, it was another person hoping to speak with Rav Rosentech, claiming that it was urgent, and that he had been unable to get through the whole night. Over his family’s protests, Rav Rosentech, who was already in bed, took the call in his room. The man on the line explained that he was the father of a developmentally disabled four year old boy who required a placement in a special education setting, and the most appropriate institution was a place called Shorshim. However, since the parents didn’t have citizenship, the institution refused to accept their son, and meanwhile his family was suffering tremendously from the difficult situation in the household. A friend who worked in the institution told him that if a certain member of Knesset would pressure the school —it may produce results. He was also told that Rav Rosentech had great influence with this Knesset member.

Rav Rosentech instructed the man to come over immediately. The members of the household were upset, but Rav Rosentech was determined to help the man with his difficult situation. He went to the living room, and began writing a letter to the Knesset member. Fifteen minutes later, the man knocked on the door and accepted the letter which was already waiting for him with heartfelt thanks.

The next morning, Rav Rosentech left to the hospital in South America. Many tests were performed, and it was confirmed that the complicated operation was the only option for saving his life. One morning, the head of the department approached Rav Rosentech to discuss payment. The operation, including the aftercare, would cost tens of thousands of dollars. Rav Rosentech was not a man of material wealth, and did not have any means to attain such a large sum of money.

The department head suddenly had an idea. “Rav Rosentech, we heard that you are a respected man in your community. It is possible that you can receive a significant reduction in the cost, since it an honor for the hospital when respected patients are treated here. But in order to convince the director of the hospital, you must truly show him proof of your status.”

Rav Rosentech was extremely skeptical of this suggestion. The head of the hospital had no idea who Rav Rosentech was, and had no familiarity with the Torah world or Eretz Yisrael. And of course, Rav Rosentech was not familiar with the hospital director, and didn’t know anyone who could influence him. However, Rav Rosentech’s son convinced him to set up a meeting with him anyway, commenting that the hearts of South American hospital directors are also in the hands of Shamayim.

The next day, Rav Rosentech met with the head of the hospital. “Harav Rosentech? Harav Rosentech? I recognize that name from somewhere; I’ve heard it recently. Where did I hear the name Harav Rosentech?” said the director. Rav Rosentech was astounded. The words of his son went through his mind, as he pondered how the director of an important hospital in South America could have heard of “Rav Rosentech” from Yerushalayim.

“Maybe you have a connection to the institution “Shorshim”, said the director after a minute. “I know I read the name Rosentech a few days ago.” The name “Shorshim” sounded familiar to Rav Rosentech, but he also couldn’t identify where he had heard it.

The director took out a folder with Shorshim written on it. “I serve as the honorary president of the organization “Shorshim”. I’m a member of the head management of special education institutions which are part of the organization. The director began leafing through the letters and certificates in the folder, and started perusing one letter. “Here…Harav Yitzchak Rosentech from Yerushalayim.” He removed the letter and placed it in front of the shocked eyes of Rav Rosentech.

It was the letter of recommendation in Rav Rosentech’s handwriting, which had been given to his friend, the Knesset member in Yerushalayim. It was the letter that he had written for the man with the disabled son a few short hours before he left Eretz Yisrael.

The director said, “I was requested by this Knesset member to instruct the Shorshim institution to accept the child, despite the fact that his father is lacking citizenship. The Knesset member sent me the letter of recommendation which he received from Rav Rosentech. In his letter, he wrote that Rav Rosentech is a respected personality of the Chareidi community in Yerushalayim.”

The director himself was astounded by the strange coincidence of Rav Rosentech seeing his own handwriting in the far corner of the world a few days after he wrote the letter. On the spot, Rav Rosentech tried to convince the director to agree to the request of the Knesset member, as if that was the reason he was meeting with him. The director answered, “Consider it already done…and not only that request,” as he signed the paper for a major reduction in price and handed it to Rav Rosentech. (Niflosav Linvei Adam)
Who Knows One
Q. Is the mitzvah to pay a worker on time one of the “time bound” mitzvos – like Sukka and Tefillin – from which women are exempt? If not, why not?
Answer: Paying a worker on time is not considered a “time-bound” mitzvah. True, each time the mitzvah is performed, it is performed during a specific 12-hour period. But the mitzvah in general applies any time of day or night. (Rabbi Mordecai Isbee, shlita)
Q. Caterers get a vacation during the ‘Counting of the Omer’ and the days leading up to Tisha B’Av – times when there are no weddings. When do they take an entire month vacation from: 1) Bar Mitzvahs (but not Bat Mitzvahs)? 2) Bat Mitzvahs (but not Bar Mitzvahs)? 3) Bar and Bat Mitzvahs?
Answer: In the Jewish calendar, a ‘leap year’ has an added month – Adar II. Someone born in Adar of a regular (non-leap) year, celebrates his birthday in Adar II during a ‘leap year.’ Therefore, all boys born in Adar of a regular year, and 13 years later (the year of his Bar Mitzvah) is a ‘leap year’, his Bar Mitzvah is in Adar II – while Adar I will have no Bar Mitzvahs! Likewise, a girl born in Adar of a ‘regular’ year, and 12 years later (the year of her Bat Mitzvah) is a ‘leap year’, her Bat Mitzvah will be in Adar II. Adar 1will have no Bat Mitzvahs! Last year, 5755, Adar I had no Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, since 12 and 13 years prior to 5755 were regular years! (Shulchan Aruch O. C. 55:10)
Q. There is a day in the Jewish calendar when some years we say Hallel and other years we say Tachanun. Which day is it?
Answer: The third of Teves. Some years Kislev has 29 days and other years it has 30. When Kislev has 29, the third of Teves is the last day of Chanukah on which we say Hallel, but when Kislev has 30 days, the third of Teves is the day after Chanukah, and we say ‘Tachanun.’
Q. Who in Bereshis was his sister’s son-in-law?
Answer: Yosef. Yosef married Osnat, who was his sister’s daughter. Yosef’s sister, Dina, conceived a daughter during her tragic abduction by Shechem. This daughter, estranged from Jacob’s family due to the circumstances of her birth, found her way to Egypt where she was adopted by Potifar. Thus the Torah calls her ‘Osnat, daughter of Potifera,’ because the Torah credits adoptive parents as though they had given birth to the child.
Know Your Gedolim…
Who Is This?

Talk the Talk — Walk the Walk
Rav Avrohom Ben HaRambam says that the Rambam in Pirkei Avos says that all speech falls into one of five categories. Some categories are a mitzvah and others are an aveira. Some are permitted but should be limited as much as possible and others are not an aveira but considered reprehensible. The categories are as follows.
1. Metzuveh – speech that we are commanded. This includes Torah learning.
2. Ne’esar – forbidden speech like Lashon Hara and Sheker (lies).
3. Ma’us — useless speech. This includes idle chatter. People of value try to refrain from this kind of talk as much as possible.
4. Ahuv – beloved speech. This includes praise of intellect and good character traits and putting down laziness, hurtful comments and vulgarity. This is necessary as long as you say the right thing at the right time to the right person.
5. Mutar – permissible speech. This includes business dealings and other things tending to a person’s basic needs. It is praiseworthy to limit this as much as possible.
The Geula — What to Expect
Are Gog U’Magog Plain Stupid?
“Yitein Hashem Es Oivecha HaKamim Alecha Nigafim Lifanecha.” (Ki Savo 28:7) Hashem promises us that if we do the mitzvos, the enemies that rise up against us will fall before us. Rav Shimon Schwab asks, “If we are doing Hashem’s wishes and are clearly blessed, why would an enemy be foolish enough to wage war with us?”
He answers that it is part of the teva (the nature of the world) that Sheker despises Emes, bad hates good, and Tumah confronts Tahara. Whether they will be victorious or suffer a crushing defeat, the enemy will attack its natural enemy out of natural instinct.
“This,” says Rav Schwab, “explains Milchemes Gog U’Magog. Although during that time Hashem’s glory will be revealed openly to the entire world, nevertheless Gog U’Magog will gather their troop to wage war Al Hashem V’Al Moshicho. So bad will never stop attacking good and we should all be zocheh to see the day that they will no longer be successful.”

Three Reasons To Believe Moshiach Is On His Way
The Sefer HaIkarim says there are three reasons why we can be assured that Moshiach is coming. The first is the most virtuous on our part, yet the hardest to believe in. We must believe Moshiach will come because Hashem does Chesed with us and He surely will not keep Moshiach from us any longer. The problem is that our confidence wanes, as we don’t believe we are worthy of Hashem’s chesed. Unfortunately, it is this lack of belief that will keep Moshiach away. If we believed in this chesed with certainty, Hashem would indeed do chesed with us and bring Moshiach immediately.

The second great hope is Kavod Hashem. Since Hashem has always rescued us, by not sending Moshiach, it is creating a Chilul Hashem. The nations of the world say that either Hashem has forsaken us or He cannot help us anymore. This is a tremendous disgrace for Hashem, and we can be sure that Hashem will send Moshiach to honor His great name.

The last and most secure reason is that Hashem promised. A promise from Hashem is as good as done and we are 100% confident that Hashem will keep His word and redeem us, even if we don’t deserve it. If our emuna is strong, we can rely on all three reasons. Even if it is weak, we can count on Hashem’s promise to redeem us from this Galus.
Two Keys To The Geula
“Ish Al Diglo V’Osos L’Vais Avosam Yachanu Bnei Yisroel Mineged Saviv L’Ohel Mo’ed Yachanu” – each man at his own banner, with the insignia of their fathers’ houses shall Bnei Yisroel encamp, in proximity around the Ohel Mo’ed they shall encamp. (Bamidbar 2:2). The Ben Ish Chai says that Achdus and Tzedaka are two middos that will bring us the Geula and the Binyan Bais HaMikdash – and there is a Remez to this from this pasuk.

There is a Remez to Achdus in the names of the Avos HaKedoshim. The cumulative total of letters in their names is 13, which is the same as the Gematria for the word Echod (Aleph – 1, Ches – 8, Daled – 4). The Avos symbolize Achdus. Tzedaka is symbolized by the letters Gimmel and Daled which the gemara says (Shabbos 104a) stand for Gimol Dalim – to alleviate the plight of the poor.

The Ben Ish Chai says that the word B’Osos from B’Osos L’Bais Avosam can be read “B’Osios”, meaning that the way we live together should be learned from the “letters” of Bais Avosam – of the names of the Avos which total Achdus. The word “MiNeged” can be read as “Min Gad” – with Gimmel Daled (tzedaka). If we do these two things, then we will be zocheh to “Saviv L’Ohel Mo’ed Yachanu”, we will reside around the Bais HaMikdash which will once again serve as Hashem’s heavenly abode on earth.
When Will Hashem Return Our Mashkon?
Rashi says that the Mishkan is called so, because it is a “Mashkon” – a security guarantee for Hashem that we will keep the mitzvos. When we failed to keep them, Hashem took his Mashkon and destroyed the two Batei Mikdash. The question is that the halacha clearly states that even when a creditor takes away the Mashkon, he must return it for the debtor to use when he needs it. The classic example is that his work tools must be returned by day so he can earn a living. Why doesn’t Hashem return to us the Bais HaMikdash? Our Merciful Father is surely charitable beyond the Torah’s requirements.
Rav Yosef Chaim Kupshitz Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef said that the Mashkon is only returned if it is something that is essential for us to have in order to function properly. The fact that Hashem does not return it, is a sign that we don’t consider the Bais HaMikdash critical to our lives. If we did, Hashem would be obligated to return it. If only we would show that we cannot live without the geula….it would come!
Im Kol Zeh Achakeh Lo B’Chol Yom SheYavo!

This week’s Torah is B’Zchus: the bris of Nesanel Noam Jablon and his family.
Distributed by the Chevre Marbitz Torah D’NMB

Created By Rov Allen Sherman