Special Features
for Parshat Bo

A Land flowing with Milk & Honey
This phrase appears 14 times in Tanach (additionally in variations). The Chafetz Chaim says that Torah and Eretz Yisrael are to the Jewish People as the Soul & Body are to the individual. A body without a soul is just an empty shell. But the soul needs the body (in this world) in order to be able to achieve its lofty goals.The Torah is the Soul of the Jewish People. Without it, we die. But the soul requires its body, and that is the Land of Israel. (T)Here is where the Torah can live to its fullest.

The Chafetz Chaim's comment is based on the fact that in Tanach, honey & milk represents Torah. Therefore, "A land flowing with milk & honey" can be understood as a land filled with Torah. The hand-in- hand aspect of Torah and Eretz Yisrael is emphasized repeatedly in the Torah.

A Famous Misconception
In the olden times, people did not know as much as we do today about the cycles of the heavenly bodies and they needed eye-witnesses to testify to the first visibility of the Moon in order to know when Rosh Chodesh should be. Today, with advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, with computers and all that, we don't need witnesses. And, IY"H when we will again have a Sanhedrin, we will not need to "go back" to eye-witness testimony; we are far too advanced for that.

Wrong. Not true. Major misconception

In the olden times, the heavenly cycles were well studied and known. The position of the Moon was known. Rambam says that it is a Mitzva for Sanhedrin to make the necessary calculation in order to be able to tell if witnesses actually saw what they claim to have seen. This means that witnesses came to Yerushalayim to testifyto what the Sanhedrin already knew. If the Court determined that the Moon would not be visible, then they did not even receive witnesses. Witnesses can come to testify on that night, each swearing (wanting to swear) that he saw the Moon. It won't move the Sanhedrin to do more than double-check its calculations.

So what am I saying? The Sanhedrin knew when to expect witnesses, so why did they need them. Unlike other kinds of testimony, where witnesses testify to a truth that is unknown to the judges, here we have the opposite. The witness thinks he saw the first visibility of the Moon. He really cannot always be sure. The Moon at this time of the month is showing a very small chip of light - too small to be called a crescent yet - very low on the horizon, where visibility is poorest, shortly after sunset when the western sky is not really dark yet, for a short period of time before the Moon sets. Clouds, ground haze, pollution, fog, trees, buildings,and other obstructions will block out the new Moon.

Yet all this time, the Sanhedrin (and anyone else with a basic knowledge of astronomy will know exactly where the Moon is. Rambam mentions the astrologers of his time as experts from whom one might learn appropriate methods of calculation. Today, there are computer programs that serve just as well.

So what's the story? Why do we want witnesses when (a) we know what they are going to say before they do, and (b) they are less reliable than our calculations. And surely we are not going back to sanctification of the months by such a primative method.

Unsophisticated method? Maybe. But that's not the point. G-d said that the Calendar is OURS. And this is how we are to do it. Because this is what G-d commanded AND because in this way, we are active partners with Him.

FTF (fun trivia facts)
The first day of Shvat is always in January. It can be as early as the 1st (as it was in 1900 and will be in 2033) and as late as the 31st (as it was last in 1987 and will be again in 2063). From 1900-1951, every day of January was Rosh Chodesh Shvat at least once.

Also, Rosh Chodesh Shvat never immediately precedes or follows Shabbat, but does fall on MON, TUE, WED, THU, SHA

TT the football team
The Boys in Red played a very nice season. In their 10 regular season games, they won 8, tied one and lost one by 1 point. They scored more points than anyone in their division. They won an exciting quarter-finals game in the last moments of the game. Their only real loss came at the hands of Big Blue (whom they had tiedin their first meeting). Big Blue goes on to meet (and maybe to beat) Jump Gym this Friday. But the Tidbits played a lot of good football, a goodly amount of great football, dedicated football, exciting football. Kol Hakavod to all the players and to coach Danny T. for a job well done. As they say - We'll get 'em next year, IY"H.

Torah Tidbits Dedications
Torah Tidbits Dedications on the occasion of a Yahrzeit or in honor of a birth, Bar or Bat Mitzva, engagement, wedding, anniversary, birthday, graduation, someone's starting the army or Sherut Leumi can be inserted in TT. Call us.

The Jewish Outreach Center of Ra'anana in cooperation with the Israel Center present...
Pesach Holiday at the Hacienda Ranch Resort
Enjoy a fabulous Pesach at this beautiful resort near Ma'alot. Located on 17 acres of expansive grounds in the heart of the Galil Forests. Daily activities for all the family abound, and the atmosphere in this unique holiday village will be an unforgettable experience.

• Full board (3 meals plus high tea)
• Daily tiyulim for the whole family
• Daily entertainment for children and adults
• Children's Mo'adon and daily movies
• Covered, heated, olympic-size swimming pool (separate hours available)
• Sports on premises: miniature golf, ping-pong, basketball, tennis, volleyball
• All rooms air-conditioned, telephone, TV
• Health Spa on premises
• Private or communal Sedarim available
• No Kitniot; yes, G'bruchts
• Glatt/Mehadrin available at no extra charge
• Shiurim (in English) with Rabbi Shmuel (Stewart) Weiss, director ofthe Jewish Outreach Center of Ra'anana, member RCA, certified mashgiach
• Under Hashgacha of the Rabbanut of Maalot and Rav Weiss

Prices (not including VAT):
$875 per person, dbl. occupancy, for 7 nights ($1000 for 8-night people from abroad)
Children 3-16 in parents' room (max. 2) - 50%; Children under 3 - free
Childen in adjoining room - 80% for the first 2, 50% for the next 2
Space is limited • first-come-first served
Partial stays possible, depending upon availability
Payment by credit card or check
For information and reservations call 09-771-8757 or 052-428-508
or email: weildiam@netvision.net.il.
LIMITED NUMBER OF ROOMS REMAIN. RESERVE BY JANUARY 31ST OR THERE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ANY ROOM AVAILABLE.

GIFT BASKETS TO ISRAEL
U.S. call toll free 1-877-A-PRESENT, kosher lemehadrin
We also do Birthday and fancy cakes, exquisite fruit and vegetable platters, floral arrangements and bouquets. IT'S YOUR CALL

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