Torah Teasers
Parshas Va’eira
1. In the beginning of Parshas VaEirah, the Torah tells us the children of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi. With Levi, the Torah goes into great detail and then does not continue with the other Shevatim. If the whole purpose was to document Moshe and Aharon’s lineage, why start with Reuven? Ans… Rav Eliezer HaGadol Ashkenazi in his classic, Maasei Hashem, says that the Torah is teaching us why Levi’s descendants played a central role in Yetzias Mitzrayim, and not the descendants of his older brothers. He says that Levi foresaw and felt the pain of the upcoming Tzaros and gave his children names hinting towards the galus. Gershon, that they would be strangers in a strange land; Kehos, weak and battered; Mirori, they would lead bitter lives. This is seen in the wording of the parsha when documenting each family. By Reuven it says, “The heads of the families were…” By Shimon it says, “The children of Shimon…” By Levi it says, “These are the names of the children of Levi.” It was the tears shed behind these names that not only helped save his family from being pulled into slavery, but it also made this family the worthy redeemers of the Bnei Yisrael. It says in the last perek of Yeshaya (66:10) regarding the Binyan Bais HaMikdash, “Sisu Ita Masos Kol Hamisablim Aleha; Rejoice those who mourned over her.” Those who cry most in the Galus are the ones who are zocheh to merit rejoicing in the Geula.
2. By Makas Tfardei’a, Moshe asks Paroh, “When shall I daven for the frogs to go away?” Paroh answers, “Tomorrow.” The Ramban asks, “Why did Paroh not want them to go away immediately?” He answers that Paroh suspected that Moshe knew the Maka was about to end and, therefore, Paroh wanted to test Moshe to see if he had any control over the frogs, or he just knew the secret of when the maka would end. Rav Chaim Kanievsky says that this Ramban is hard to understand, since Paroh summoned Moshe to the palace, this meeting could not have been planned by Moshe to coincide with the end of the Maka. What was Paroh thinking? Ans… Rav Chaim suggests a different explantion for Paroh’s delay. “Paroh, for the first time, agreed verbally to let Bnei Yisrael leave Mitzrayim. He then asked Moshe to daven to make the frogs go away. He fully expected Moshe to say that he will do so once the Bnei Yisrael are safely out of Mitzrayim. Yet, he didn’t, and he asked Paroh when he wanted the Maka to end. When Paroh heard this he suspected that Moshe knew that the time was now ,and, therefore, did not hold it over Paroh’s head as a guarantee that he live by his word. Therefore, Paroh asked him to daven only tomorrow to see if indeed the frogs would stick around until then.”
3. After Makas Arov, all the animals disappeared. Rashi (Va’eira 8:27) explains that, unlike the frogs who died and littered the land, Hashem did not want the Mitzrim to enjoy the hides and furs of the animals. “Why did the frogs die?” asks the Kli Yakar. “It could not be in order to make them suffer with the smell, because if so, the Arbeh should have been left to litter the land as well. Ans… The Kli Yakar says that the frogs died to teach us a lesson about Kiddush Hashem. Hashem commanded the frogs to go into everything including the burning ovens. Most frogs chose the more comfortable locations like the houses, courtyards, and the fields. Only a select few were brave enough to be Moser Nefesh and jump into the ovens. All the frogs died except for those frogs. The pasuk does not say that the frogs in the ovens died. The lesson is that if you are Moser Nefesh, you can save yourself. This was the lesson learned so well by Chananya, Mishael, and Azarya. Trying to save yourself rather than showing true mesiras nefesh will not help, as Hashem has many ways to kill a person, or a frog.
4. After all the staffs that turned into snakes turned back into staffs, the pasuk says (Vaeira 7:12), “Vayvla Matei Aharon Es Matosom; Aharon’s staff swallowed all the other staffs.” The Medrash says that a great Nes happened and Aharon’s staff did not bcome any thicker, even after swallowing the others. When Paroh saw this, he became very scared and worried he will lose his throne. Why did this make Paroh so scared? Ans… The Ksav Sofer answers that Moshe and Aharon’s first appearance before Paroh marked the ascension of Am Yisrael to power. A staff represents ruling power, and the staff of Bnei Yisrael swallowed all the other staffs. One of two things could happen when Bnei Yisrael reach the top. Either, they will rule over all the other nations who will still maintain their own identity. Or, alternatively, the other nations will cease to exist altogether without any trace or remembrance. Had Aharon’s staff become thicker after swallowing the staffs of the Mitzrim, it would have signified that Mitzrayim will remain, albeit subservient to Bnei Yisrael. However, when Paroh saw that Aharon’s staff did not get bigger, rather it stayed the same and no trace was left of the other staffs, he became afraid that Mitzrayim will be wiped out, and his throne will be lost forever.
5. The Torah tells us that Moshe was 80 years old, and Aharon 83, when they stood before Paroh (Va’eira 7:7). Why is this so important to us? Ans… Rav Shimon Schwab explains that Aharon was born at the time that Paroh told the midwives to kill all Jewish born baby boys. Moshe was born three years later when Paroh decreed that every male born child must be thrown in the river. Both these decrees were made to ward off the prediction of the star gazers who foresaw that the redeemer of the Jews would be born at that time. Moshe and Aharon were sent to not only redeem Bnei Yisrael, but also to teach Paroh that Hashem controls the world and not him.

The great Gaon Rav Leibele Kovner was the great grandfather of the Brisker Rov. On the day he was hired for the prestigious position as Rov of Kovna, one of the Maskilim of Kovna decided to test him. He asked him if he can prove that Hashem runs the world.
“Sure” said Rav Leibele, “Please bring me a Rambam from the shelf.” The Maskil brought the Rambam and Rav Leibele opened up to Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah. He read the words of the Rambam to the Maskil, “The foundation of foundations and the pillar of wisdom is to know that there is a Hashem the preceded all and created all”. Rav Leibele said, “there is your indisputable proof, right here in the words of the Rambam.”
“Not only that” said Rav Leibele, “but even the Raavad, who constantly argues on every disputable point in the Rambam, remains silent in agreement. Even all the commentaries who always ask questions on the Rambam like the Magid Mishneh, Kesef Mishneh, Lechem Mishneh, and Mishneh LaMelech don’t utter a single doubt on the words of the Rambam in this instance. Is there no greater proof than this that there is a Hashem who runs the world?” *******************
One night after Maariv in Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak a talmid of the Mashgiach Rav Chatzkel Leventstein walked his Rebbe back home. When they reached the apartment Rav Chatzkel bid his talmid a good night and went inside, while his talmid turned and started heading back to Yeshiva.
After walking a bit, to his surprise, the Talmid heard someone calling him. He turned around and was surprised to see it was Rav Chatzkel. He wondered what the Mashgiach suddenly wanted from him.
When he went back to Rav Chatzkel, Rav Chatzkel criticized himself. He said I preach in Yeshiva that the mitzvos should not be performed by route, Mitzvos Anashim Milumada, but rather with thought and care. Yet when you left me I wished you a “good night” without really thinking what I was saying. So now I came back to wish you an earnest and heartfelt Good Night! (U’Lisitcha Elyon Chayei Sara)
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After the passing of his Rebbe the Chofetz Chaim, Reb Elchonon inherited the mantle of being Daas Torah for his generation. He would defend Torah against attack from the outside and mercilessly fought those seeking to destroy it from within.
To this effort Reb Elchonon felt the need to keep up with the goings on in the world and would read the newspaper daily. It was placed on his shtender and each morning he would spend three minutes going through it and digesting it with his incisive mind. When asked why he would read the newspaper on his shtender out of all places, he said, if I must read the paper then it is because it is a mitzva and I can read in right here on my shtender. If there is an issue with reading the paper, then I cannot even do it behind closed doors.
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When the famous Mirrer Mashgiach, Rav Yeruchom Levovitz was young, he learned in Kelm. At some point, his mother did not receive any mail or news of his wellbeing for a few months and she began to worry. Not being a woman of means, she slowly saved money for a trip to Kelm to check on her son, by skimping on her meals and borrowing money.
When finally she put together the necessary funds, she ordered a wagon. The trip was difficult through the snow and mud. She arrived in Kelm in middle of the night and not a light was on in any home in the town, save for a light in the Bais Medrash. Without any choice, she entered the Bais Medrash and climbed up the stairs to the Ezras Nashim where she sat down.
While in the Ezras Nashim, she heard the sweet voice of one of the boys sitting over his gemara in the wee hours of the night. She looked down and to her delight, she saw it was her son, Yeruchom.
At that point, she immediately went downstairs and out of the Bais Medrash without disturbing her son. She got back into her wagon and asked him to take her back home, as she now knew that all was well, and needed nothing more.
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When the great Rebbe Rav Shloimke of Zvhil moved to Eretz Yisroel, he chose to remain anonymous and lived a simple life. No one gave him any respect. Rav Shloimke would daven at the Kosel every day.
One Chol HaMoed morning there was a big crowd at the Kosel and a resident of the Old City was generous enough to bring lots of water and give out drinks to the Mispallelim. When he poured water for Rav Shloimke, suddenly the bottom of the cup broke off and the water spilled on the floor. The cup was replaced but it happened again.
After this strange occurrence repeated itself a few times, Rav Shloimke asked the man if he filtered the water from worms. This man was new from Chutz LaAretz and it turned out was unaware of the bugs that seep into the water of the wells around Yerushalayim. Word spread quickly about the miracle of the bottomles cups and Rav Shloimke was ultimately revealed as the renowned Holy Rebbe of Zvhil, who could no longer quietly hide from his homeland and his many Chassidim. (Yagdil Torah – Parshas Shmini)

“The rabbi costume features a sputik hat with attached sidelocks and a gold and black kaputa robe.”
A Walmart advertisement, describing their new ‘Rabbi’ costume for Purim.

“This is a blow to U.S.-Israel relations, to the president’s relationship with the American Jewish community, and to U.S. security in the Middle East.” The Republic Jewish Coalition, on the nomination of Senator Chuck Hagel as President Obama’s new Secretary of Defense.

“They could name it the Galactic Empire of Palestine, they’d still have to stop at an Israeli checkpoint and present their papers.” State Dept. Spokesperson Victoria Nuland, on president Mahmoud Abbas renaming the Palestinian Authority the “State of Palestine”.

“Egyptian Jews living in Israel should return “home”, because Egypt is now a democracy and because the Jewish state won’t survive.” Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam El-Erian, this week, calling for Israelis of Egyptian ancestry to return to Egypt.
≈ Great Sayings From Great People ≈
“Halevai I should love the biggest Tzaddik, as much as Hashem loves the biggest Rasha” – Ba’al Shem Tov
“We don’t have problems that we need to figure out how to solve. We have tests that we need to learn how to pass.” — Chasam Sofer
“It’s always late…but never too late.” – Kotzker Rebbe
“The old witticism says that the enigmatic animal species called Kvi (Koi) stands for the ‘Kochi V’Otzem Yadi’ (by the power of my own hand). While there is a dispute whether a Kvi is a Biheima or a Chaya, all agree it is not a Mentch. — unknown Godol
“A person who closes his Gemara because he must perform a Chesed…his Gemara is still open. A person who opens his Gemara
to avoid doing a Chesed…his Gemara is still closed.” – Rav Chaim Brisker

Know Your Gedolim…

Talk the Talk — Walk the Walk

A Jewish grandmother is giving directions to her grown grandson, who is coming to visit with his wife: “You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 14D. There is a big panel at the door. With your elbow push button 14D. I will buzz you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with your elbow hit 14. When you get out I am on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell.”
“Bubbe, that sounds easy, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow”
“You’re coming empty handed?”
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Yeruchum went on a vacation to Eretz Yisroel with most of his family, including his mother-in-law. During their vacation and while they were visiting Jerusalem, his mother-in-law died.
With the death certificate in hand, he went to the American Consulate Office to make arrangements to send the body back to the States for proper burial. The Consul, after hearing of the death of the mother-in-law, told Jeremy that sending a body back to the States for burial is very, very expensive. It could cost as much as $5,000.00. The Consul continues, in most cases the person responsible for the remains normally decides to bury the body here. This would only cost $150.00. Yeruchum thinks for some time and answers, “I don’t care how much it will cost to send the body back, that’s what I want to do.” The Consul, after hearing this, says “You must have loved your mother-in-law very much considering the difference in price.”
“No, it’s not that,” says Yeruchum. “You see, I know Moshiach is coming any minute and there will be techeiyas hameisim. I just need a breather.
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When the doctor called Mrs. Liebenbaum to tell her that her check came back, she replied, “So did my arthritis.”
The Geula — What to Expect
Techiyas Hameisim For Those Who Died In The Desert?
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 108a) cites an opinion regarding the generation that perished in the Desert that they have no portion in the World to Come. Yet, the gemara immediately follows that with another opinion, that of Rav Eliezer, who says that the generation in the Desert will indeed arise at the time of the resurrection. In fact, he applies to them the verse in Tehillim (50:5), “Gather to Me My devoted ones, who made a covenant with Me over a sacrifice”!
And the Midrash Rabbah (Deuteronomy 2:9) relates the following:
Hashem told Moshe: “I can forgive you [for the sin of striking the rock] and allow you to enter the Promised Land now…but if I do, the generation which you led, upon whom it has been decreed that they will die in the desert before entering the Land, will not merit to the techeiyas hameisim and Olam Haboh. If you stay here with them, they too will be ingathered along with their leader.”
What Our Eyes Will See
Chazal tell us that the “reward of a mitzvah is the mitzvah itself.” Every mitzvah achieves a refinement and spiritualization of both the individual performing the mitzvah and the object with which the mitzvah is performed. This effect, however, remains invisible to the physical eyes and senses. The true reward for our performance of mitzvos will be realized when the curtains are parted and we will finally see and appreciate all we’ve accomplished in the thousands of years that we have been faithfully observing the mitzvos. This can be compared to the artist seeing the finished painting, the “reward” for the many hours he invested in the piece of art.
This will be accomplished during the initial stage of the Messianic Era. At that time, we will be elevated to the spiritual state of Odom and Chava before they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. We will have finely honed spiritual senses and will be freed from the struggle between good and evil which accompanies us now on a daily basis. This reward will be wholly earned, a direct result of our ages-long efforts.
But Hashem promises that the reward for our efforts will not be limited to that which we have directly earned–that which is humanly possible to achieve. During the time of the Resurrection, the second of the Messianic Eras, we will be treated to a reward which can only be viewed as a gift from Above, for its greatness is such that finite human efforts can never earn such bounty.

According to kabbalistic teachings, there are three stages in our relationship with Hashem:
1. Nowadays, we may know that Hashem does exist, and we can have some appreciation for His deeds, but we have no comprehension whatsoever of His nature. That is akin to a blind-from-birth individual trying to appreciate colors.
2. During the first period of the Messianic Era, we will gain the spiritual senses necessary to appreciate and comprehend G dliness. But this will be limited to certain qualified manifestations and expressions of Hashem. His absolutely infinite and transcendent essence will remain elusive, no matter the heights the human mind and heart will attain.
3. During the Resurrection Era we will be able to fully relate to – and even intellectually comprehend! Indeed, this is an impossibility–but it will be a gift from a G d who created the concepts of “possible” and “impossible,” and therefore is at liberty to manipulate them at will. Im Kol Zeh Achakeh Lo B’Chol Yom SheYavo!

Halacha Trivia ­ Trouble Deciding? Can You Draw Lots?
The Shulchan Aruch says (YD 179:1) that you may not ask about the future in stars or in lots (Goral). It seems from here, says Rav Moshe Shternbuch (1:856), that if you are undecided in a matter, it is forbidden to draw lots. However, says Rav Shternbuch, he remembers his father-in-law once asked the Chazon Ish what to do if one is unsure. Can he write on two pieces of paper and draw one and follow what it says? The Chazon Ish said that he is permitted to do so, but Rav Shternbuch says that he didn’t hear the reason for permitting this seemingly violation of halacha.
Maybe, says Rav Shternbuch, the issur in the Shulchan Aruch is if someone is sick and you draw lots to see if he will live or die and then you believe the outcome. However, when a person is faced with a dilemma of what to do and has two equal choices which he cannot decide between, he may draw lots to help him choose a course of action and daven to Hashem that the right outcome will come up in the goral. In this case, it is not assur because the Goral is not determining anything in any way. It is just helping him move forward and breaking his indecision without him trusting or relying on any power other than Hashem.

This Week in History….
1 Shvat: The Jewish people completed 40 years of wandering in the desert and Moshe began his farewell address.
2 Shvat: The death of evil King Alexander Yannai, a Chasmonian king of Judea from 103 BCE to 76 BCE who had his soldiers kill 6,000 Jews in the Temple courtyard.
3 Shvat: In 1933, Adolph Hitler ym”s was appointed chancellor of Germany.
4 Shvat: Yahrtzeit of Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeira, the great Sephardic sage and kabbalist, known as the Baba Sali.
5 Shvat: Yahrtzeit of Rav Yehudah Leib Alter, leader of the Ger chassidic dynasty, better known as the “Sfas Emes,”
6 Shvat: In 1393, following a massacre of Jews at Majorca, an edict was issued guaranteeing the Jews protection. (Majorca is one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.)
Bible.
This week’s Torah is B’Zchus: the Frogs in Mitzrayim — who were not chicken.
Distributed by the Chevre Marbitz Torah D’NMB

Created By Rov Allen Sherman
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