Torah Teasers
Parshas SHOFTIM
1. “Tamim Tihiyeh Im Hashem Elokecha; Conduct your life in perfect trust of Hashem.” (Shoftim 18:13), The letter Tuf of the word Tamim is unusually large. In contrast, in Parshas Tzav (6:2) it says, “He HaOlah Al Mokda; The Olah went up on the great flames of the Mizbei’ach.” The letter “Mem” of the word Mokda is written small. Why is this? Ans…The Kotzker Rebbe explains that when it comes to trust in Hashem, you must display an extraordinary amount of trust in Hashem in all your dealings, both publicly and privately. Tamim must be with an oversized Tuf. However, when it comes to fiery avodah, although you should serve Hashem with great Hislahavus, nevertheless you should remain small and all your passion and frenzy should be hidden from the public, just like the small “Mem” of the word Mokda.
2. Ki HaShochad YiAver Aynei Chachomim; Bribery blinds the eyes of the wise.” In Parshas Mishpatim we find a similar pasuk to this. However, there, the pasuk says, “HaShochad YiAver Pikchim,” – “Bribery blinds the ones who can see.” Why does the pasuk change from Pikchim to Aynei Chachomim? Ans…. The Vilna Gaon answers that a judge must possess 2 qualities – 1) Wisdom in Torah, to rule a correct Halachic decision; 2) Shrewdness in worldly matters, in order not to be deceived by the litigants. The pasuk is addressing both of these qualities. When the pasuk says in Parshas Mishpatim, “HaShochad YiAver Pikchim,” – “Pikchim” is referring to the wisdom he must have in worldly matters. This wisdom will become corrupted through taking a bribe. Furthermore, when the pasuk says in our parsha, “HaShochad YiAver Aynei Chachmim,” – it is referring to the wisdom in Torah. This, too, will be affected through the taking of a bribe.
3. “V’Lo Sakim Licha Matzeiva Asher Sanei Hashem Elokecha; Do not erect a Matzeiva which Hashem hates.” (Shoftim 16:22). Rashi explains that although Hashem loved the Matzeivos in the times of the Avos, now Hashem hates them. Why? Ans…. Rav Moshe Feinstein says that we find Yaakov Avinu made two Matzeivos. On one he poured Nesachim, and one was for Rochel when she died. Although the prior one is forbidden today, we still make matzeivos when people die. Rav Moshe explains that the inyan of a Matzeiva is that we erect before Hashem the mitzvos we have done, and ask Hashem to recognize the reward we deserve. Before Matan Torah no one was commanded to do the Mitzvos, so if someone did a mitzva he could demand his reward from Hashem even if he had no plans of doing mitzvos in the future. However, now we are obligated to do mitzvos, so we cannot demand our reward until after we die since the obligation continues until then. Yaakov made a matzeiva for Hashem by doing mitzvos and in return he asked Hashem to accept his Nesachim. This we cannot do today. However, we can make matzeivos for people who finished their mission on this world and can now receive their eternal reward, just like Yaakov did for Rochel.
4. “Mi HaIsh Asher Banah Bayis… Mi HaIsh Asher Nata Kerem… Mi HaIsh Asher Eiras Isha… Yeileich V’Yashov L’Baiso.” (Devarim 20:5-7). The Torah exempts a person who builds a small house that is 4×4 amos and has not yet lived in it, from joining Am Yisrael in a war, because maybe he will die and another man will live in it. But, someone who owns massive amounts of real estate must go fight, even if his death results in another man taking over his empire. Someone who planted a few vines and has not yet been able to eat his grapes is exempt, but a wine barron with acres and acres of fields must fight. Someone who gets engaged is exempt because he worries that someone else will marry his wife, but for a father of 7 children, we don’t care about his concern that someone else will marry his wife and raise his kids in his place. “Why?” asks Rav Elyashiv. Ans … Rav Elyashiv (Divrei Agadah) answers that a person who has built up great wealth does not specifically think about each property he owns. His thoughts in battle will be turned towards the war at hand. However, a poor person who has never had a place to call his own and has finally gotten to the point where he is on the cusp of getting his very own Daled Amos, or a person who has lived alone without a mate and has finally found his other half, cannot stop thinking about what happens if he loses his field or his wife. These are not people fit to fight a war. They will be consumed with visions of their modest premises or their life partner during battle and they are in grave danger of getting killed. In exempting these people from fighting a war, the Torah recognizes the frail psyche of people who see their dreams so close, yet is in danger of eluding them. “Deracheha Darkei Noam V’Chol Nesivoseha Shalom.”
5. “Ki Savo El HaAretz… V’Amarta Asima Alai Melech; When you come into Eretz Yisrael… and you will say place upon us a king.” The Mitzva of making a king is one of the Taryag Mitzvos. Why does the Torah say, “V’AMarta; When you will say that you want a king,” Is it optional? Ans…. The Netziv answers that each country and each society is different. “Some countries cannot function without a strong leader, while other cultures cannot tolerate a king dictating the country’s order and policies. The leadership of a country needs to match the society, and having a type of leadership that is incompatible with the people can have consequences bordering on Sakanas Nefashos,” says the Netziv. “Such drastic matters cannot be forced upon them by a Mitzvas Aseh. Therefore, the Mitzva of coronating a King is a democratic decision. Only when the people are ready for it and ask for it, only then must the Sanhedrin anoint a king. This is seen in history as Bnei Yisrael did not have a king until after being in Eretz Yisrael for 300 years. Until then there was no consensus for it,” says the Netziv. (TURN OVER)
Memories
There was a talmid chacham who lived in Bnei Brak whose son was engaged to be married, and the wedding date was approaching. A few weeks before the wedding, he took his son to a nearby village, in order to talk to his son privately. They parked the car on a dirt path, and they sat on a nearby bench.

While they were talking, one of the residents of the village passed by — an elderly man in overalls who appeared to be a farmer. The father greeted the man with a friendly hello, and the man, who seemed surprised that he was greeted, stopped and spoke to the father and son for a few minutes. The elderly man was eager to talk, and the father and son spoke to him with great respect, and responded politely to everything he said.

The farmer realized that the son was getting married soon, and he began to speak about the memories of his wedding in… Vilna. He spoke about his studies in cheder, and expressed deep pain and regret that when he moved to Eretz Yisrael, he abandoned the path of Torah. “I’m approaching the age of eighty, and who knows if I’ll be zocheh again to see the Beis Medrash which I loved so much in my youth,” he said sadly. The father and son spoke with him from the heart and tried to encourage him, telling him that it’s never too late, and “as long as the candle is lit, it’s possible to mend”.

The farmer inquired where the chassan was learning, and after a few minutes, he parted from them. The father and son continued their conversation and then left the village.

Three weeks later, the chassan stood under the chupah. After the glass was broken, and the chassan and kallah were being escorted to the yichud room, a man in a dark suit and hat appeared from the side and approached the chassan and kissed him with great emotion. He then inquired about the chassan’s father, and when he saw him, he hugged and kissed him. The father and the chassan both failed to recognize the man, but when he began speaking, they realized it was the farmer they had met in the village three weeks previously.

The farmer told the chassan and his father that immediately after he parted from them that day, he returned to his house and began crying, and was unable to stop for several hours. “It was tears of regret on everything I’ve been through in the last seventy years, from the time I left cheder.” The elderly man continued and said that the personal chizuk he received that day, and the encouragement he was imbued with from their words of “it’s never too late” pierced deeply into his heart. When he stopped crying, he made a firm decision to do something most people his age would hesitate to do. He decided to return to the Beis Medrash. The very next day, he went to a nearby Beis Medrash and spoke to the Rav about his experiences, and requested to learn Torah and become frum again.

The farmer knew which yeshivah the chassan was learning in, and he made a few inquiries to identify the name of the chassan and the date and the location of the wedding, and decided to attend. The father and son were moved to tears by the story, and promised the farmer to keep in touch with him after the wedding. They were astounded by the far-reaching effects of a simple friendly greeting. (Barchi Nafshi)
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The traveler’s sobbing was so intense that it awoke Berel, the innkeeper. His wife was very nervous. “Why is our guest crying so bitterly in the middle of the night?” she asked. “Something must have happened!”
Berel entered the guestroom to find a simple Jew, dressed like a peasant, shoeless, sitting on the floor, crying bitter tears over the Churban. This man was really a tzaddik nister, traveling “incognito” to learn of the situation of the world. Every midnight (besides Shabbos and Yom Tov) he would arise to bemoan the destruction of the Bais Hamikdosh.
“Why are you crying?” asked Berel. “What disaster has befallen you?” The rav replied simply, “I cry over our Temple’s destruction, and I beseech Hashem to bring Moshiach who will return us to the Holy Land.” Berel was relieved, “Is that it?! Then please keep your wailing down so that you don’t disturb the other guests!” With that, Berel returned to his bedroom and informed his wife of the cause of the disturbance.
Five minutes later there was a knock on the rav’s door. It was Berel again. “My wife would like to know, if Moshiach comes and brings us back to the Land of Israel, will we be allowed to take our chickens with us?”
The rav was taken aback by the question. “Chickens? As far as I am aware, it doesn’t say anything about chickens. You might have to leave your chickens here when Moshiach comes.” Berel duly informed his wife.
Five minutes later, another knock. Berel: “My wife asks you to please not pray anymore for Moshiach to come. We are doing fine here and would prefer to stay with our chickens.”
At that the rov became agitated, “What do you mean ‘fine’? Don’t you know how precarious our exile is? At any moment the Cossacks could arrive and take your chickens, your wife, all your money and even your life! Aren’t we better off in our Promised Land?”
To Berel, the rabbi’s words made sense. But he still had to inform his wife.
Five minutes later, another knock. “My wife requests that you pray for Moshiach to come and take the Cossacks to the Land of Israel — so we can stay here with our chickens!” (heard from Rabbi Yisroel Reisman)
Who Knows One
Q. Which four berachos are said exactly once every year?
Hint: “Al mikrah megilah” is incorrect because it is said at night and in the morning. “Al achilas matzah” is said two nights in a row outside of Eretz Yisroel.
Answer:
1. Seeing the first blossoms in the spring (OC 226:1, AS 228).
2. Bedikas Chametz (said the night before Pesach) (OC 432:1, AS 654).
3. The special bracha of “Nachem” during the Mincha Shemone Esrei of Tisha B’Av (OC 557:1, AS 240).
4. Lighting candles on erev Yom Kippur (OC 610:2, AS 296).
Q. Where in the davening do you find four different, consecutive words that all have the same root? (Hint: It’s not said every day.)
Answer:
In Nishmas Kol Chai of the Shabbos davening, it reads M’Alef Elef Alfei Alafim – …one of the thousand thousand, thousands of thousands…
Q. Which Mitzvah only applies to someone who is sitting, reclining or lying down?
Answer:
Standing up in honor of a Talmud chochom or an elderly person (Lifnei Seivah Takum V’hadarta P’nei Zakein..).You shall rise before an elderly person, and honor the presence of a sage. Vayikra 19:32) Explanation: If a person is already standing when an elderly person enters the room, he should remain standing, and not sit down in order to stand up. The mitzvah of eating matzah on the first night(s) of Pesach applies even to one who is standing — even though the person should sit, recline and then eat the matzah.
Q. Which 3 people mentioned in the Torah said “Baruch Hashem?”
Answer: Noach, Eliezer, the servant of Avrohom, and Yisro
Q. Aside from Chanuka and Chol HaMoed, when is the Torah read 5 days in a row?
Answer: When the first day of Rosh Hashanah occurs on Thursday. The Torah is read the first and second day of Rosh Hashanah, and then on Shabbos. Sunday is “The Fast of Gedaliah,” followed by the regular Torah reading on Monday!

Know Your Gedolim…Who Is This?
The Geula — What to Expect
What Will Comes First – Moshiach or the Bais HaMikdosh?
In Shmoneh Esrei, in the bracha of V’Lirushalayim Ircha, we daven for Hashem to return us to Yerushalayim and build the Bais HaMikdash. We also include a petition of “V’Chisei Dovid Avdicha Miheira L’Socha Tachin”, that Hashem should restore the throne of Malchus Bais Dovid. Why then do we have a separate bracha right after that “Es Tzemach Dovid”, specifically asking Hashem to restore Malchus Bais Dovid, isn’t this repetitive?
The Ein Eliyahu answers that there are two ways for the Geula to come about. If we are not on a high madreiga, first we will build Yerushalayim and the Bais HaMikdash. Only after that will Moshiach come and lead us. However, if we merit an immediate redemption through our good deeds, then Moshiach will come immediately, even before any rebuilding takes place. Therefore, in the first bracha we ask Hashem for Yerushalayim, the Bais HaMikdash, and Moshiach in that order. After that we ask Hashem to have mercy on us and send us a speedy redemption to send Moshiach immediately, even before the city or the Bais HaMikdash is built.
When Moshiach Comes, No One Will Be Sitting On The Fence
Chazal tell us that Moshiach will only come in a generation that is Kulo Zakkai or Kulo Chayav – completely innocent and worthy, or completely guilty, with not a morsel of good. Under these criteria it is hard to see Moshiach coming. “Completely good” sounds like a fantasy and not something we can imagine in today’s world. Similarly, we see so much good and so many wonderful people that it is equally incomprehensible to imagine a generation without a single good person. So what do Chazal mean?
Rav Elya Weintraub says that the Chofetz Chaim explains as follows. “All innocent” and “all guilty” does not mean that everyone is on the same side of the fence. It just means that everyone sits squarely on one side of the fence. In order for Moshiach to come, the world must be completely polarized. Everyone must choose where they belong, with Hashem or Chas V’Shalom the opposite.
Adam HaRishon was created perfectly good. The element of evil in the world was the snake who stood outside of Adam. Good and bad were separate and clearly defined. When Adam ate from the Eitz HaDaas the boundaries became murky, and good and bad became mixed together. Each person is good and bad at the same time. The face of evil and righteousness look the same to us and we can’t tell who is who. We ourselves aren’t really sure who we are. Sometimes we are good and sometimes less so. Moshiach won’t come until the two sides are clearly divided and everyone knows where they belong, inside or outside. Moshiach’s arrival will be the final showdown between good and evil.
People complain that our society is becoming polarized. The “middle ground” is disappearing. Clearly, in a sense, this is good news, and the best sign yet that Moshiach is on his way. Make sure you are standing on the right side of the fence. The most intriguing part of all is that when Moshiach does arrive, we may be pretty surprised to see who is on each side. The truth will be revealed and it will have nothing to do with our exterior appearance. Moshiach will peer deep within each person’s heart and he can’t be fooled!
Moshiach’s Arrival — Why No One Knows…But Always Say They Do
The Pasuk says in Eicha (1:54), “Karasi L’mAhavai V’Heima Rimuni” – I called to my loved ones and they tricked me. The Medrash says that this refers to the Chachomim who instituted Truma and Chalah in Bavel.

Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz explains this Medrash (Yaaros Devash vol. 2, 6). The Zohar asks, why is it that the time of the geula is hidden? Moreover, why do the Chachomim always predict when the geula will arrive if we all know that this is a well-kept secret? The answer is that if Am Yisroel would know the truth when the geula will be, we would have long ago committed suicide out of anguish, and all would have been lost. Certainly in the many dark days of murder and plunder against us, we would not have had the strength to continue to survive. Therefore our leaders constantly scream, “Chazu D’Asa”, look, here he comes! With this cry they strengthen weak knees. Each time Tzorus befall us, we are told that this is the Chevlei Moshiach.

This is the meaning of Yirmiyahu’s cry (13:17), “BiMistarim Tivkeh Nafshi” because the timing of the geula is kept a secret, my heart cries. Yirmiyahu cries because the very secretive nature is a sign that the geula is far off in the distance. The rational for instituting Truma in Bavel, says Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz, was that any day Moshiach would arrive and they needed to keep fresh in knowing the halachos of Truma. In hindsight after nearly 2,000 years, this was totally unnecessary. It was merely a ploy to have them believe that the geula is imminent, so that they would not lose hope. This was the “Rimuni”, the trickery needed to keep us afloat throughout the long and bitter galus. Im Kol Zeh Achakeh Lo B’Chol Yom SheYavo!

This week’s Torah is B’Zchus: Dovi Wagshal upon becoming a Bar Mitzvah and Hurricane Isaac for reminding us that this is indeed a time to get prepared (for Yom HaDin).

Distributed by the Chevre Marbitz Torah D’NMB

Created By Rov Allen Sherman