Torah Teasers
Parshas Vayelech
1. On the day Moshe Rabbeinu was supposed to pass on from this world, he cried to Hashem and said, “Let Yehoshua take my leadership, but let me remain alive.” Hashem agreed and said, “Now go to Yehoshua and act like he does to you.” Moshe ran to Yehoshua’s house and Yehoshua became frightened. “Rebbi, come with me,” said Moshe. When they came to the Ohel Moed the cloud of the Shechina descended on Yehoshua and Moshe was left outside. When the cloud lifted, Moshe asked Yehoshua to tell him what Hashem had said. Yehoshua replied, “When Hashem appeared to you, did I know what you spoke about?” Moshe screamed, “Let me die one thousand deaths and not have an ounce of jealousy.” (Medrash Devarim Rabba 9:9) Moshe preferred to die rather than be jealous, but why didn’t Yehoshua want to tell Moshe what Hashem said? Ans… Rav Shimon Schwab answers with a Rashi in Vayeilech (31:7). Moshe told Yehoshua, “Ki Ata Savo Es Ha’Am HaZeh,” which the gemara Sanhedrin (8a) explains that Moshe told Yehoshua to lead Bnei Yisrael together with the Zikeinim. However, Hashem disagreed, as later in the parsha (31:23) Hashem told Yehoshua, “Ki Ata Savi,” meaning that you will lead alone and by force, as each generation can have only a single leader. Rav Schwab says that Hashem told him this when he was in the Anan. Yehoshua did not want to repeat this to Moshe because he didn’t want him to feel bad that Hashem gave him different instructions, and for Moshe’s honor, he refused to tell him what Hashem said.
2. The mitzva of Hakhel requires the attendance of men, women, and children. The Gemara (Chagiga 3a) comments that we understand why the men and women need to hear the King read the Torah, but why the children? The Gemara answers that this is to give a reward to the parents for taking them. Rav Chaim Kanievsky was asked (Derech Sicha) “Why doesn’t the Gemara answer that it is because the young boys will soak in the atmosphere of Torah which will enrich their neshamos.” In fact, the Yerushalmi says that Rebbi Yehoshua’s mother would bring his crib to the Bais Medrash so his ears could hear Torah, proving the power of the words of Torah on little children. Ans….Rav Chaim answered that it is certainly true that the Torah can have a strong impact, even on a baby. In fact, in the Gemara (Pesachim 96b) Rebbi Yehoshua says that he once heard a certain halacha regarding Hilchos Temura. Rav Chaim says that the word says that this is a Halacha he heard in his crib in the Bais Medrash! “Therefore,” Rav Chaim answers, “the Gemara’s question is not on the boys. They have good reason to go. Rather, the question is on the little girls who must also come to Hakhel.”
3. The Meshech Chochma says that we know that a king is commanded not to be haughty, “LiVilti Rum Livavo.” He must deal with every individual with love and compassion. However, this is only in private. Publicly he must show a tough exterior and may not be Mochel on his Kavod. We even see that Shaul Hamelech was punished for being too soft and compassionate. Where is that shown in our parsha? Ans …There is a remez to this from the pasuk (VaYeilech 31:7) where Moshe called Yehoshua and said to him, “L’Einei Kol Yisroel Chazak V’Ematz.” In a play on words the Meshech Chochma says, “Before the eyes of the people – that is when you must be strong and bold.”
4. Rebbi Yochanan cried when he read the Pasuk (VaYeilech 31:21), “VHaya Ki Simtzena Oso Ra’os Rabos; it will be when a great deal of bad finds you.” He cried and said, “A slave whose master makes him lots of trouble, is there any hope for him?” (Chagiga 4b). Rav Meir Shapiro asks, “On the contrary, a slave goes free when his master knocks out his eye or any other major organ. Why is he despondent? The misery inflicted upon him carries the hope of freedom!” Ans…He answers that the halacha is that the slave only goes free, if he says that the master knocked out his eye. If, however, he says that it fell out by itself, he does not go free. A careful reading of the pasuk says, not that Hashem inflicted upon him great troubles, but rather the troubles found him. He does not admit that they came from Hashem as a punishment for his aveiros, but merely bad luck. In that case, he is like a slave whose eye is knocked out by his master, but he will never go free. Rebbi Yochanan cried over this pathetic, suffering, yet hard headed Eved.
5. Why did Moshe continue to beg to the very end? It was Yehoshua’s destiny to lead Bnei Yisroel and Hashem has already told this to Moshe a number of times. Ans….Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz answers that Klal Yisroel has two Moshiachs, Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben Dovid. The prior to lead the war, and the latter to teach Bnei Yisroel Torah, since Torah must continue every moment even as war is waged. Moshe Rabbeinu knew that Yehoshua was the new King and he would bring them into Eretz Yisroel and wage war. Moshe wanted to be the one to stay back and hold up the Bais Medrash while Yehoshua was busy on the battlefield. When Moshe asked Hashem (Pinchos 27:17) to find a successor for him, he specifically said, “Asher Yotzi’eim V’Asher Yivi’eim”, who will lead them to battle and bring them back home. Moshe Rabbeinu was not ready, however, to surrender his role as Rebbi of Klal Yisroel. Hashem’s answer to Moshe was that Yehoshua doesn’t need to wage war. Hashem will lead the battle and Yehoshua will teach them Torah, leaving no place for Moshe Rabbeinu. This is very clear in the seemingly redundant pasuk (Vayeilech 31:3). “Hashem Elokecha Hu Oveir Lifanecha Hu Yashmid…. Yehoshua Hu Oveir Lifanecha Ka’asher Diber Hashem”. Hashem will lead you and he will destroy. Yehoshua will lead you in Torah like Hashem said.
Memories
One Friday night in Yerushalayim, a man named Rav Stern was hurrying to his home in central Yerushalayim from the Old City. He had davened at the Kosel and had then stopped to visit his mother who lived with his sister in the Old City. He had visited longer than he intended and R’ Stern felt uneasy on the streets near the Old City which were now deserted.

Suddenly, a man appeared before him and he recognized his friend, Rav Dovid, who seemed to be breathing heavily. Rav Dovid informed R’ Stern that he had just been stabbed in the chest by an Arab and he needed immediate care. He leaned heavily on R’ Stern for support and asked him to call an ambulance.

R’ Stern, who was now thankful that he had been delayed at his sister’s house and was there at the right time to help his friend, was in a quandary. R’ Dovid was losing blood and growing weaker and he did not want to leave him to call an ambulance. On the other hand, he was wary of stopping a car in their present location, which was likely to be an Arab car. While he was still pondering what to do, a police car appeared out of nowhere. R’ Stern ran over, and alerted them, and the police took over. With minutes, an ambulance appeared and rushed R’ Dovid to Hadassah hospital.

R’ Stern then ran home to his worried family, and then went to the home of R’ Dovid’s family to break the news to them. On Motzei Shabbos, he went to the hospital and was informed that R’ Dovid, who had undergone emergency surgery, had miraculously survived due to his speedy arrival at the hospital. In addition, R’ Stern heard that the surgeon was in emotional turmoil over what he had just heard from R’ Dovid.

R’ Dovid had been stabbed right below the heart. Normally, a stabbing in such a sensitive location damages part of the intestines which are located there, and causes permanent damage. However, during the operation, the surgeon was shocked to discover that these parts of the intestines were not in their usual location, but had moved down a few centimeters as if they had been broken off, and were yet undamaged.

After the operation the surgeon asked R’ Dovid about this strange phenomenon which had saved his life. R’ Dovid told him that three years earlier he had suffered from pain in that area, and X-rays showed that part of his intestines had moved from their place. The surgeon was astounded by this and asked him, “Why didn’t you undergo surgery then to fix the problems?”

Rav Dovid answered, “I asked my Rebbe, the Rebbe of Lelov, and he instructed me to wait and not to undergo an operation. I asked him again the next year and he again instructed me to wait. A few months ago, I again mentioned the pains to him, and the Rebbe again instructed me to wait. “Not yet, not yet,” he said.

The surgeon said excitedly, “You should know that your life was saved because of this. The stabbing would have caused you to suffer a life with much greater pain. You have no idea what Hashem saved you from when He caused this problem. You have no idea how lofty is the heaven sent instructions of your Rebbe; you should be very happy that you did as he instructed you.” (Niflosav Livnei Adam)

Who Knows One
Q. As the sun moves from east to west, Shabbat and Yom Tov occur first in Israel, and then in America. Which mitzva is observed first in New York, and then in Jerusalem?
Answer: In New York (as in most places inside Israel and out) Purim is celebrated on Adar 14. But in Jerusalem, as in any city which had a wall around it in the days of Moshe and Yehoshua, Purim is celebrated on Adar 15. This distinction commemorates the special miracles experienced in Persia’s capital, the walled city of Shushan.
Q. In what non-life-threatening situation is there a positive mitzvah to eat the meat of a neveilah – i.e., something that died without shechita (kosher slaughter)?
Answer: A bird brought as an offering in the Mizbaiach wasn’t slaughtered with a knife. Rather, the bird was killed by a sharp thumbnail inserted in the back of its neck. If a non-Kohen ate it, he would be transgressing the prohibition of eating neveilah. Kohanim, however, were commanded to eat from this offering. (Rambam, Hilchos Ma’aseh Korbanos 10:1,11:9)
Q. On Tisha B’Av morning, everyone sits on the floor as a sign of mourning. However, one person in every shul publicly sits down on a chair. Who is this person?
Answer: The one who does Hagbah!
Q. Which weekly Parsha is never read (outside of Eretz Yisroel ) on Shabbos afternoon?
Answer: Parshas Bereshis. Outside Israel, Simchas Torah always falls on a weekday. So the only Shabbos when Parshas Bereshis is read is the following Shabbos in the morning. In Israel, however, when Simchas Torah falls on Shabbos, we read Parshas Bereshis that very same afternoon.
Know Your Gedolim…
Who Is This?

Talk the Talk —
Walk the Walk
“Please come to the funeral of Neil Finkelstein. We need a minyan”. Many in NMB knew Neil and many had just spoken to him. They could not believe that he had died. So young! His poor wife and children! With broken hearts about 10 friends made the trip to the cemetery where they found only a Rabbi and two people they had never met before. Solemnly, the Rabbi got up and spoke about the deceased and his many friends. The friends were surprised that Neil’s wife and children were not there and why hadn’t the Rabbi at least mentioned them? One of them slid over to the front and whispered to the Rabbi, “What about Neil’s wife and kids”. The Rabbi looked sternly at him and hissed, “How dare you. You know Neil never got married.”
At this point, one of them took out his cell phone and dialed Neil Finkelstein’s number. Neil picked up and said, “Hello.” “Neil…Are you OK?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Well, we’re here at your funeral and we were wondering why you are not here as well.” (cont. on back page)
It seems that the Neil Finkelstein that had died was someone who stayed and was known in NMB and someone who was frum, lost his way and returned to frumkeit before his death. He was someone with no known family, who reconnected with his roots and somehow was zoche to have a minyan at his funeral. The two Neil Finkelstein’s knew each other and now were a bit more connected.
The Geula — What to Expect
Keeping Our Hands Clean For Moshich
“Ki Dam Avadav Yikom VNakan Yashiv L’Tzarav V’Chiper Admosoi Amoi”, He shall avenge the blood of His servants and return vengeance to His enemies and console His land and His people (Haazinu 32:43). What does it mean that Hashem will give vengeance to His enemies? It should say that He will take out His vengeance on them?

The Chasam Sofer explains that Chazal tell us that Dovid HaMelech desperately wanted to build the Bais HaMikdash. Hashem told him that he was not the right person for the job, since as a warrior he had blood on his hands, and the Bais HaMikdash is a place of peace. Instead Hashem consoled him by telling him that his son Shlomo would be zocheh to build it.

In the times of Moshiach, the nations will be paid back in full all the bloodshed and the terrible suffering that they heaped upon us throughout this long and miserable Galus. But if we fight these brutal wars and are disqualified from building a House of Peace, then who will build the Bais HaMikdash?

The Chasam Sofer says that this is exactly what the Pasuk means, “VNakan Yashiv L’Tzarav”. Hashem will let his enemies take revenge. It will not be us fighting these wars but rather Hashem will cause them to quarrel and fight among each other, having them do the bloodletting for us. Then, we with our hands clean of any blood, “V’Chiper Admosoi Amoi” will build the house that serves as a Kapara in our land.

When the Nations Return

“V’Shav Hashem Elokecha Es Shivushcha”; Hashem will return us from the Galus (Nitzavim 30:3). Rashi in his second pshat says that returning people from exile is very difficult and Hashem Himself must take each person by the hand, kviyachol. Rashi adds that this holds true even by the exile of other nations, like it says, “VShavti Es Shevus Amon”. Why is it this so hard and is Bnei Yisroel just like every other nation?

The Maharal MiPrague explains that Hashem created the world with a certain world order and each nation is put in its right place. When any nation goes into exile it is a contradiction to the world order and against the will of Hashem. Therefore, when they are returned to their place, Hashem is more at rest, kviyachol. This is why Hashem Himself worries about the return and it says “V’Shavti”.

When Bnei Yisroel goes into galus, though, it is against world order and Seder Bireishis, as Yisroel, who are the focal point of the world, need to be in Eretz Yisroel – the center of the world. When we go into Galus, Hashem’s honor, which is bestowed upon us, is dragged into galus with us. When we return it says more than “V’Shavti”. It says, “V’Shav Hashem Elokecha”, not only does He bring us back from Galus, but He brings His exiled honor back with us.
The Mighty Forces of Gog U’mogog
Some people make the terrible mistake, says Rav Shimshon Pincus, of trying to explain events that happen in this world based on Pasukim in the Torah. We know that we cannot darshan halachos directly from pasukim in the Torah. To get to proper halacha, there is a long chain that we follow. First the Mishna, then the gemara, rishonim, acharonim, etc. We have long ago stopped being capable of deriving anything from the source.

Similarly when it comes to Drashos, we are far disconnected from properly understanding the pasukim themselves. We can only go by what the rabbanim and darshanim of previous generations have passed down to us. For example, in Parshas Re’eh the Torah tells us that the Brachos and Klalos were given on Har Gerizim and Har Eival, respectively. We would think that these were two great mountains where the throngs of Klal Yisroel stood with Moshe’s booming voice in the valley below. However, that is far from the case. Tosfos in Sotah brings the Yerushalmi that says that Har Gerizim and Eival were not mountains but rather two mounds of dirt. Who would have thought that? Not us as we are not capable of deducing anything from the Torah on our own.

Many people are busy looking for signs of Moshiach. When world powers start looking ominous, everyone is quick to label them Gog U’Magog and predict the final great war. But in reality we have no idea what Gog U’Magog means and what it will look like, says Rav Shimshon. Just like the supposed gigantic Har Gerizim was a molehill and not a mountain, it is entirely possible that Milchemes Gog U’Magog will be some small event so trivial that we do not even pay attention to it. The Yerushalmi hasn’t given us any clues and we surely should not decide for ourselves. Im Kol Zeh Achakeh Lo B’Chol Yom SheYavo!

This week’s Torah is B’Zchus: Rabbi Dov and Judy Bidnick upon their first grandchild’s engagement – Aviva Bidnick.

Distributed by the Chevre Marbitz Torah D’NMB

Created By Rov Allen Sherman