Halachic Times for Jerusalem Winter (Standard) Time Correct for TT #505 Ranges are for THU-THU, 18 Shvat - 25 Shvat 5762 (January 31 - February 6, '02) For sunset, first time takes into account the elevation above sea level of Jerusalem, 825m (the times in parentheses do not take elevation into account). Sunrise is without elevation (because Jerusalem's eastern horizon is unbroken mountains at approx. the same elevation as Jerusalem) For the deadlines of Shma and Shacharit, the first times are according to the GR"A, the day being reckoned from sunrise to sunset. (The times in parentheses are according to the Magen Avraham, the day being reckoned from dawn to stars-out.) Candle lighting - 4:38pm (Earliest - 4:07pm) Havdala - 5:54pm (Rabbeinu Tam - 6:28pm) Earliest Shacharit 5:41-5:37am Sunrise 6:33-6:28¼am Sof Z'man Kri'at Sh'ma 9:12-9:10am (8:26-8:25am) Sof Z'man Shacharit 10:06-10:05am (9:35-9:34am) Chatzot (halachic noon) 11:52½-11:53¼am Mincha Gedola (earliest Mincha) 12:23-12:24pm Plag Mincha 4:05½ - 4:11pm Sunset 5:17-5:23pm (5:12-5:18½pm) WORD OF THE MONTH A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem... Technically, the main part of the mitzva of the Jewish Calendar falls upon the Sanhedrin as leaders of the nation, and upon individuals among us who could and would be witnesses to the first visiblity of the lunar crescent. However, part of the fulfillment of the mitzva is for us to know it and use it. And this aspect of the mitzva takes it out of the hands of the few, and puts it into all our hands. The calendar is a perpetual gift from G-d to His Nation. Don't know your Hebrew birthday? Find it out (you can call Phil at the Center for help) and use it. Not instead of the secular calendar, but in addition.Did you know that you can date checks in this country using the Jewish Calendar? So how about it? Everytime you use the Jewish date, you are fulfilling the mitzva to remember G-d's taking us out of Egypt, because the calendar is based on the Exodus. And we also are thanking G-d for taking us out of Bavel and bringing us back to Eretz Yisrael. This has to do with the names of the months. Our calendar is a flag we should wave proudly. To Stand or Not to Stand ...that is PART of the question. It comes up three times a year: Parshat Yitro, Shavuot morning, and Parshat Va'etchanan. Everytime we read the Aseret HaDibrot, the issue comes up. There is a time-honored custom in Ashkenazi communities (and elsewhere) for the congregation to stand when the portion of the 10 Commandments is read. Most people are aware that there is a long term controversy as to whether it is the proper thing to do... or not. On the one hand, when we read in the Torah about the receiving of the Torah at Sinai, we are (or should be) overwhelmed with the awe of that experience and we yearn to relive it. It probably seem quite natural to rise to one's feet when we hear ANOCHI HASHEM ELOKECHA. How can you not stand, in respect and excitement? On the other hand, the Gemara and other sources tell us of a problem of old, which persists throughout the generations, until our own time. Many people – non-Jew and, sadly, some fellow Jews as well – are under the mistaken notion that the Aseret HaDibrot is the sum total of Divine Revelation, and that the rest of the Torah (the Written Torah, and certainly, the Oral Torah) are of human origin. Early on, whenever people started to push that idea, our Sages reacted by downplaying the 10 Commandments and by emphasizing that all of Torah comes from G-d. The suggestion to include the reading of the Aseret HaDibrot as part of our daily davening (as we do with the Song of the Sea, the Sh'ma, and other passages) was rejected. Let us not lend a hand to those who limit the Divinity of the Torah. There have been some authorities who banned the image of the Luchot from synagogue decoration. And there are those who strongly opposed the practice of standing for this Torah reading, and not others. On the other hand, the Aseret HaDibrot are special. They were the words we first heard at Sinai. They are an integral part of the Sinai Experience. They were the down-payment (so to speak) that we received, pending Moshe's teaching us the rest of what G-d commands us. The two issues that were lumped together above — Aseret HaDibrot vs. the whole Written Torah and the Written Torah vs. the Oral Law — are different. But their common features are important to keep in mind. Traditional Torah Judaism acknowleges the truth that G-d revealed the entire Torah to Moshe, for him to transmit it to us, generation after generation. When we here the events of Sh'mot 19-20 this Shabbat, we should recommit ourselves to G-d and all of His Torah. Sedra-Stats 17th of 54 sedras; 5th of 11 in Sh'mot Written on 138 lines in a Sefer Torah, ranks 46th 15 Parshiyot; 4 open, 11 closed 75 p'sukim - ranks 47th (that means that only 7 sedras are shorter) 1105 words, 4022 letters - ranks 46th Yitro is the smallest sedra in Sh'mot in p'sukim, words, and letters MITZVOT Yitro contains 17 of the 613 mitzvot; 3 positive and 14 prohibitions; (14 of the 17 are within the Aseret HaDibrot) Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary Numbers in [square brackets] are the Mitzva-Count from Sefer HaChinuch. Kohen - First Aliya - 12 p'sukim - 18:1-12 Yitro, Moshe's father-in-law, hears "all that has happened" to the Children of Israel and comes to Moshe with Tzipora and Moshe's (Tzipora's) two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Moshe, Aharon, and the Elders welcome Yitro with great honor. Yitro praises G-d for all that He has done for the People. [SDT] The straight reading of this portion indicates that Yitro heard about the Crossing of the Sea and of the battle with Amalek. These are the events recorded in the previous sedra. Other commentaries point to certain textual references about Sinai and are of the opinion that Yitro came after Matan Torah, sometime during the almost one year that the People remained camped near Mt. Sinai. If the latter opinion is correct, then we have an example of "there is no set order in the Torah's account of what happen(ed/s)". And we can add the events of Sinai revelation to the list of what Yitro "heard and came". [SDT] The Torah says that Yitro heard things, came to join the People (to convert to Judaism), and then Moshe proceeds to tell Yitro all that has occurred. Did not the Torah just tell us that he heard things before? Did Moshe just repeat that which Yitro had already heard? Of course, hearing the stories from Moshe Rabeinu directly must certainly be better than catching the reports on CNN. Rabbi Sholom Gold suggests another reason. Our sources say that Yitro came to the People of Israel, not just for a family visit, but to convert to Judaism. If his main incentives for coming were hearing of the wonders of the Exodus, the Splitting of the Sea, and Matan Torah, then his interest in converting might be suspect. Moshe tells Yitro ALL that has happened AND all the travail, the problems that had befallen the fledgling nation. About the thirst and the hunger, the uncertainty. Only after hearing of how "tough it is to be a Jew", would Yitro be able to be accepted into the nation by Moshe. And so it was. Yitro knew it all and still wanted to be part of the Jewish People. On those terms, we are willing to accept converts. Levi - Second Aliya - 11 p'sukim - 18:13-23 On the following day, Yitro observes Moshe judging the People from morning until night. He offers suggestions for a more efficient system. Moshe should teach the People what G-d requires of them, and he should also handle the most difficult questions and disputes. But the bulk of the daily judging should be assigned to qualified individuals who will be in charge of groups of ten, fifty, a hundred, and a thousand people. Yitro explains that this new system will not only make things easier for Moshe, but the people too will be benefited. (This portion of the sedra definitely seems to have occurred after Matan Torah, even if you want to say that Yitro's original arrival was before.) [SDT] "On the following day..." The plain meaning would be, on the day following Yitro's arrival. Rashi, however, quotes the Midrash in saying that the day was the morrow of Yom Kippur, that first Yom Kippur when Moshe came down from the mountain with the second tablets. This makes an important statement, that not only is building the Mishkan an essential part of the "getting back to life following the Golden Calf disaster" period, but so is the every day social and civil functioning of the people. In the big picture, we see that Parshat Yitro with the main description of Matan Torah precedes Mishpatim with its mundane, everyday, down-to-earth laws. Yet at the beginning of Yitro, we find this out-of-sequence portion of the Mishpatim idea. And at the end of Mishpatim, we have the rest of the story of Sinai. So which really comes first - the lofty, spiritual dimensions of Judaism, or everyday life. We can (and should) look at it as a package deal. However you look at the first part of the sedra, the story of Yitro seems to be an interruption between the events of the Exodus and the Splitting of the Sea on the one hand, and Matan Torah on the other. Seems. But it isn't an interruption - it is a pre-requisite for Matan Torah. Moshe's view of the judging process, as he explains to Yitro who asks him what he's doing, is that the people come to him LIDROSH ET HA'ELOKIM, to seek out G-d. Yitro's point is that there is a lack of civility among the disputing individuals which must be handled BEFORE they can pursue Knowledge of G-d. This interlude about civil justice can teach us that good interpersonal relations allows us to really benefit from Matan Torah. Similarly, DERECH ERETZ KADMA LATORAH. Here's another way of looking at the "Yitro intro" to Matan Torah. Perhaps the Torah is telling us how to relive the experience of Matan Torah in our own lives. Its suggestion is "be like a convert". Take a fresh view of Jewish life. Marvel at all the things that G-d has done for Bnei Yisrael. Don't take things for granted. Approach your Judaism like Yitro did. Even if you are a Jew by birth, work on being a Jew by choice. G-d put the dramatic stories of the birth of the nation on hold, to let us take a close look at someone who doesn't have the Mountain poised above his head. Matan Torah was the mass conversion of a family-based group that is attaining nationhood. But the individual still counts. This we can learn from Yitro, the individual. Shlishi - Third Aliya - 4 p'sukim - 18:24-27 Moshe accepts Yitro's suggestions and selects the judges. Commentaries point out that the actual qualifications of the judges that Moshe selected were more "modest" than Yitro had recommended. In theory, the very highest caliber person should be sought after as judge. In reality, we often have to settle for the best we can find in our society. Moshe sends Yitro off on his journey to Midyan (to convert his family, says Rashi). R'vi'i - Fourth Aliya - 6 p'sukim - 19:1-6 Here begins the Torah reading for Shavuot morning. The Torah now returns to the sequence of Y'tzi'at Mitzrayim to Matan Torah. On Rosh Chodesh Sivan (six weeks after leaving Egypt) the Children of Israel arrive at Sinai. [SDT] A famous point, worth repeating... In the third month following the Exodus, on THIS day, they (the Children of Israel) arrived at the Sinai Wilderness. Why THIS day; THAT day is how you tell a story. The Torah is not a once-upon-a-time-a-long-time-ago story book. The Torah is a living guide for us, to be constantly rediscovered. Every day, each Jew should imagine him/herself at Sinai receiving the Torah anew. Today we have come out of Egyptian bondage; today we stand at the foot of Mt. Sinai eagerly awaiting Divine Revelation and today we commit ourselves to G-d what He asks of us. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. The words of Torah which we learn and live should never become stale. They should be in our eyes as if TODAY we have received them. We should learn Torah and do mitzvot with the freshness and enthusiasm of a first-time experience. This too fits well with the "Yitro model". The challenge: Be a true Torah Jew all your life, for as many years as G-d gives you, but have an enthusiasm that is more common with converts and Baalei T'shuva. Chamishi - Fifth Aliya - 13 p'sukim - 19:7-19 Moshe presents G-d's words to the Elders (and the People), who answer with a resounding "All that G-d says we will do". Moshe then tells the people to prepare for three days to receive the Torah. During this time, the Mountain was off-limits. On the morning of the third day, the People gather at the foot of the mountain to the accompaniment of the supernatural sounds and sights of the Shofar, thunder, lightning, and smoke. G-d will speak to Moshe in such a manner that the People will be witness to this direct communication. When Moshe will speak, G-d will answer with a "voice" (and not just via a vision or spiritual telepathy). [SDT] G-d tells Moshe that the People should "sanctify themselves today AND tomorrow". It is relatively easy to sanctify oneself on the day of the great miraculous events of Matan Torah. The challenge to each of us is to sanctify ourselves on the many tomorrows that follow. The days after the wondrous events, the magnificent spiritual experiences. The days when our lives return to "normal". This is what being Jewish is about. We sanctify the mundane. Therefore, there really is nothing that is mundane for us. Shishi - Sixth Aliya - 20 p'sukim - 19:20-20:14 G-d descends onto Har Sinai (so to speak) and calls to Moshe to join Him. G-d tells Moshe to repeat the warning against approaching the mountain. Moshe then goes down to the people to tell them G-d's words. What follows is/are the Aseret HaDibrot, the Ten Commandments. They are comprised of 13 p'sukim which contain 14 mitzvot out of the Torah's 613. The Aseret HaDibrot can be viewed as both specific mitzvot as well as "chapter headings" for many of the Torah's mitzvot (e.g. LO TIGNOV is specifically the prohibition of kidnapping, and generally, the category of all prohibitions related to stealing - robbing, burglary, cheating in business, pressuring someone into selling you something that he doesn't really want to sell, moving a boundary marker... and others). MITZVA WATCH The first commandment sounds like a statement by G-d - an introductory remark, perhaps, to what follows, but is viewed by Rambam, Chinuch, and others as a mitzva to believe in G-d [25]. It is as if the Torah had said: "Thou shalt believe in G-d". Following Rambam's approach, this premier mitzva of the Torah requires us to believe in G-d, to work on that belief by strengthening it and eliminating any doubts that we might have. The mitzva is a full-time, dynamic challenge to continually improve the quality and intensity of our belief. The second commandment contains several prohibitions related to idolatry. Specifically, not to believe in other gods [26] (this mitzva includes the prohibition of having no belief - atheism), not making idols [27], nor bowing to them (even without believing) [28], nor worshiping idols in any manner [29]. Note that this commandment deals with both thought and with action. The third commandment prohibits swearing in vain [30]. This is defined as (1) swearing to the truth of something that is obviously true and well-known - that the Sun is hot; (2) to swear in denial of an obvious truth - that the Moon is made of cheese (interestingly, this is not considered a lie or a false oath, since everyone knows that the Moon is not cheese. Only when the truth of a matter is unknown do we use the term lie and false oath. A vain oath is just as serious as a false one, so this distinction is largely academic, but it emphasizes the seriousness of being flippant in regard to swearing.); (3) to swear to violate the Torah - e.g. that one will eat pork. Such an oath is immediately void since we are considered to have taken a prior oath (at Sinai) to not eat pork. Hence, the oath is in vain and a disrespectful use of G-d's name; (4) to swear to do something that is impossible - e.g. to stay awake for a full week. The common denominator of these types of vain oaths is that they all "cheapen" the use of G-d's name and threaten the smooth functioning of society which often must rely on the seriousness of a real oath. Commandment #4 deals with Shabbat and contains the positive mitzva to remember the Shabbat with Kiddush [31], and the prohibition of all manner of M'lacha, specific types of creative activities [32]. The mitzva of ZACHOR includes Kiddush as Shabbat enters, and Havdala as Shabbat leaves. The prohibitions of M'lacha are divided into 39 categories, each of which contains other related activities, usually with the same goal. E.g., PLANTING is one of the 39 categories; watering, pruning, fertilizing all help the growth of plants and are TOLADOT of PLANTING. The fifth commandment is to honor one's parents [33]. Grandparents, in-laws, older (or possibly oldest) siblings, and teachers are included (with differences). Honor of parents is usually considered to refer to that which one does for one's parents, as opposed to reverence (fear) of parents which include that which should not be done because it would be disrespectful. #6 is the ISUR of MURDER [34], which is considered the antithesis of Belief in G-d, since murder directly negates creation of human being in His image. Commandment #7 against ADULTERY [35] is the prohibition of having relations with a married woman, but as a "chapter heading" it also points to the other forbidden relations. #8 is LO TIGNOV [36], which, as mentioned earlier, is specifically defined as kidnapping, but is also the category header of many mitzvot in the Torah. Maybe they can all be summed up as indicating that the person who violates these kind of mitzvot puts himself above other human beings. It is obvious how this is harmful to society, and to the individual's striving for Kedusha. #9 is the prohibition of "bearing false witness" [37]. We can see in this mitzva, as well as many others, how important it is to G-d, so to speak, that we be able to function as a society. Both oaths, and to a greater extent, perhaps, testimony, are necessary for the establishment of TRUTH, in the absence of having direct knowledge of the truth ourselves. So much of the dealings between people involves the trust we place in each other's word, especially when backed by an oath, and in the confidence we place in the testimony of two witnesses. Without these elements of our interpersonal relationships, we would be incapable of functioning as a society. #10 commandment against COVETING [38] sort of sums things up in that it focuses on the thought process that can lead to all types of sins. Being part of "The Big 10" points to the significance of thoughts in the whole picture, which usually consists of deeds. Sh'vi'i - Seventh Aliya - 9 p'sukim - 20:15-23 The People are awe-struck by the supernatural phenomena and keep their distance. They ask Moshe to tell them what G-d wants rather than hearing His Voice directly. Some commentators say that this request came after the first two statements, "I Am..." and "There shall be no other...". Others suggest that G-d "spoke" all "Ten Sayings" first in an incomprehensible manner and then began "spelling them out" one at a time. After the second statement, the People panicked and requested that Moshe tell them what G-d wants, so that they would not hear "G-d's voice" directly. G-d agreed, so to speak, on the condition that we listen to the word of the prophet, with Moshe as the "chief" among the prophets, and his prophecy - the Torah - having the highest authority. G-d tells Moshe to remind the People that they heard G-d speak; that they shall make no graven human images (even for art) [39]; they shall make an altar and offer sacrifices upon it; if the altar be of stone, its stone shall not be cut with metal tools [40]. Metal implements represent the sword, which shortens life; the Altar represents the lengthening of life. From this rule comes the custom to remove or cover the bread-knife during "benching", since our table is likened to the Altar. (Some authorities say that this minhag applies only during the week, not on Shabbat.) The Altar may not be approached with immodest steps [41] but rather via its ramp. Haftara - 21 p'sukim -Yeshayahu 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6 Parallel to the Torah's account of the awesome experience at Sinai, this passage from Yeshayahu describes his first awe-inspiring vision of angels proclaiming Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh. Both sedra and haftara present us with "visions" of G-d's awe, majesty, and holiness. Additionally, we sense some parallels between Moshe Rabeinu and Yeshayahu HaNavi. THE JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JEWISH LAW Rabbi Emanuel Quint, Dean Lesson # 122 (part two) • Levying Taxes on a Community Continuing the unpopular topic of taxes to be paid by the Jews of the Jewish community to the Jewish community tax funds. (Throughout these lessons, the reference to a “community” means the Jewish community. As was stated in the last lesson, the community, generally, in its history in foreign countries had to pay two types of taxes. (1) To the secular ruler a tax that the ruler placed upon the community and left the headache of collecting the taxes to the community and they would turn the taxes over to the secular ruler. Generally, the entire is collectively liable for impositions made by the secular ruler against the community. However, there is no collective responsibility if the ruler levies a special assessment or fine on an individual of the community. (2) The taxes that the community required for its own use as a community. The Jewish council or local Jewish government has jurisdiction over those types of matters that any government has. For example, it has jurisdiction to provide police protection to the inhabitants. In the codes this is designated as having the community responsible for the building of a wall around the Jewish area and building a guardhouse and proper doors and bolts to keep non-Jewish marauders out of the community. The constant fear of pogroms resulting in high fatalities, injuries, and plundering of Jewish property by the non-Jews is so well known that little has to be said here. The community also was responsible for fire extinguishing facilities and firemen, sanitary and street cleaning facilities, and water and sewage systems. Also to provide the members of the community with synagogues together with Torah scrolls, prayer books, printed copies of the Chumash, houses of study. Every Jewish community requires as many synagogues as are necessary for the number of worshipers in the community. No Jewish community can exist without houses of study of the Torah. These are besides the schools for the children of the community. The prime responsibility of every Jew is to study the Torah including all the commentaries and the Oral Torah, namely the Mishnah and the Talmud. Throughout all Jewish history no Jew thought himself free of the responsibility of studying Torah. No matter how tired and hungry a person might be from his backbreaking efforts to eke out a living, he knew that at the end of the day he would go to the house of study to study Torah and to say his prayers. This attitude of the Jew toward the study of the Torah, especially the study of the Talmud, is what has sustained the Jewish people throughout the ages. The community also had to provide well-stocked libraries, a hospital, clinics and a mikveh, to appoint rabbis, judges of the Beth Din, teachers of Torah, synagogue functionaries, cantors, charity collectors and charity dispensers, free-loan dispensers, and such other functionaries and institutions as the community and the council deem necessary. In small communities the matters dealing with the community can be decided upon by a vote of all of the members of the community. In larger communities and even in some small communities the decision, making process is left to a council elected by the community. In the codes the participation in the making of decisions or in voting for council members is usually limited to male taxpayers. There is usually weighted voting, giving greater weight to the votes of those who pay higher taxes. This is done so that the poor, with their greater numbers, cannot foist all of the obligations of the community upon the rich. On the other hand, the weighting in favor of the rich is not so great that a small minority of rich taxpayers would have the complete weighted say in the voting as who should pay the taxes. There should also be a view given to the poorer people of the community. The halachah advises the poorer members and the richer members to try to work out their differences in a fair manner. The codes cite an ancient case where the two richest members of the community were not elected to the five-man council that was to levy the taxes. The two richest members wanted the council to have at least two representatives who represent their interests, and the community refused. When the matter came before the rabbis for settlement, it was held by them, that the community must elect two honest persons who would represent the interests of the richest members of the community. Notice of meetings must be sent to all those eligible to vote. Those who do not attend the meeting called by the chairman elected by the community, or appointed by the ruler, forfeit their right to complain that they did not participate in the decision-making process or in the election process. The decisions are to be taken by majority vote of those present and voting. If the minority refuses to abide by the majority vote, then the majority can take such measures as they deem fit to enforce their decisions including seeking the aid of the secular ruler. The expense of enforcing the decisions of the majority is to be borne by the dissenting group that refuses to abide by the decisions of the majority. As stated above, for external taxes all of the inhabitants of the community, whether or not they are permanent residents, can be taxed by the Jewish community. Regarding internal taxes, the residents of the community are responsible for all of the normal internal taxes for the functioning of the community. Generally, the nonresidents are not responsible for such taxes, except for such taxes that benefit them directly. If a person resides in the community for twelve months, even if he is only a renter of an apartment, he is considered a resident for tax purposes. If a person remains in the residence due to outside forces, such as becoming sick or being unable to leave the community because of war raging outside the community that prevents him from leaving to return to his own home, such periods are not included in the twelve-month period. However, if while he remains there because of such external forces he does business in the community and profits from it, he must pay his share of the taxes. The twelve-month period applies only if the person does not seemingly make up his mind whether he will remain in the community. But once he indicates that he will reside in the community, he immediately becomes a resident, even before the termination of twelve months. He is considered a resident in spite of the fact that he has another home outside the community and declares that the other home is where he resides. If a person purchases a residence and resides there, he is immediately considered a member of the community for tax purposes. If a person inherits a home or apartment, or receives it by gift, he is given a reasonable amount of time to decide if he wants to reside there, or to be a nonresident homeowner. If a person owns a home or apartment in the community but actually resides in another community, there are certain exemptions from the full tax paid by the members of the community who reside in the community. If the tax moneys also pay for matters that are beneficial only to the residents of the community, the nonresidents should be given an abatement in their taxes. (To be continued in the next lesson, IYH) The subject matter of this lesson is more fully discussed in Vol. V, Ch.163 of A Restatement of Rabbinic Civil Law by E. Quint, published by Jason Aronson, Inc. and on sale at local Judaica bookstores. Questions to quint@inter.net.il MEANING IN MITZVOT by Rabbi Asher Meir Each week we discuss one familiar halakhic practice and try to show its beauty and meaning. The columns are based on Rabbi Meir's Meaning in Mitzvot on Kitzur Shulchan Arukh. Prohibition on Coveting The Ten Commandments, which were chosen by HaShem to be the first and the most prominently given of the 613 commandments of the Torah, embody the most basic principles of religious belief and of human civilization. Yet among them is a mitzva which many would be inclined to think is more of a desirable character trait than a foundation of human society – the last of the Ten Commandments which forbids coveting (Shemot 20:14). An additional enigma is that all of the other prohibitions are those which any civilized person recoils at. It is rare that a person even feels a serious temptation to murder or commit adultery, and any basically moral person who does fall into such a transgression is typically overcome by remorse. Coveting, by contrast, is something so natural that it seems to be a rare person who doesn’t occasionally experience it. The Ibn Ezra’s commentary explains this commandment in a way which resolves both difficulties. According to the Ibn Ezra, it is exactly because it is so difficult to avoid coveting something which is relevant to us that this mitzva is in effect commanding us in a principle of religious faith: to acknowledge that our neighbor’s belongings and spouse are placed by the Almighty entirely beyond our sphere. The true commandment is to acknowledge HaShem’s providence in allocating wealth and marriage partners. In fact, these are exactly the two areas which our Sages likened to the “splitting of the Red Sea” because of the special degree of Providence which they demonstrate (Pesachim 118a, Sota 2a). With this acknowledgment, the Ibn Ezra explains, a person will find this mitzva easy to fulfill – just as a simple peasant doesn’t long to marry a princess. But without this acknowledgment, the mitzva will be almost impossible. THE CHAIN OF PROVIDENCE We explained in last year’s shiur on parshat Vayishlach, on the prohibition of stealing, that there are two dimensions to this providence: HaShem decides that the owner is either the ideal person to enjoy the benefit of a particular object or the ideal person to take responsibility for bringing it to its destiny in another way, for instance by selling it or giving it away. Based on this idea, we can understand why the prohibition on coveting is transgressed when we pressure someone to sell personal possessions, even for their full value (SA CM 359:10). While this is not considered stealing, the element of duress in this pressure means that the seller is prevented from exercising the full degree of personal judgment regarding the disposition of his property. Yet this exercise of personal judgment is central to our concept of Divine providence in distributing wealth. All mankind is certainly obligated to acknowledge HaShem’s providence, and the Sefer HaChinukh explicitly writes that non-Jews too are forbidden to covet, just as they are forbidden to steal (Mitzva 416 on lo titaveh, the twin of lo tachmod). At the same time, some authorities have written that there are subtle differences in the mitzva as it applies among non-Jews. These differences can be explained by the different and complementary roles of Jews and non-Jews in the chain of providence, as we explained in last year’s parshat Vayikra column, on the subject of returning lost objects. COVETING TORAH The Zohar notes that only this mitzva among the Ten Commandments details the specific instances of the prohibition: your neighbor’s house and field, etc. From this we infer that there is a kind of coveting which is permitted – coveting someone else’s Torah knowledge (Zohar Yitro, II:93b). This teaches us that Torah knowledge is never beyond our sphere entirely. Regarding the “princess” of Torah, all Jews are royal princes, and not simple peasants. Rabbi Meir has completed writing a monumental companion to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch which beautifully presents the meanings in our mitzvot and halacha. It will hopefully be published in the near future. Rabbi Meir authors a popular weekly on-line Q&A column, "The Jewish Ethicist", which gives Jewish guidance on everyday ethical dilemmas in the workplace. The column is a joint project of the JCT Center for Business Ethics, Jerusalem College of Technology - Machon Lev; and Aish HaTorah. You can see the Jewish Ethicist, and submit your own Qs — www.jewishethicist.com or www. aish.com From the virtual desk of the OU VEBBE REBBE The Orthodox Union – via its website – fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... Question: Am I correctly remembering that there were young boys (pre-Bar Mitzvah) reading from the Torah at a local Chabad recently? I have an 8½ year old who is anxious to participate. Is it "kosher" for a pre-Bar Mitzvah child to read Torah? Are there other parts of the service that they can do, as well? Answer: The gemara (Megillah 23a) states that a minor may be called for one of the seven aliyot, which we have during the reading of the Torah on Shabbat. This view is even codified in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 282:3). However, there are significant limitations. According to the Magen Avraham (ad loc.:6) and Mishna Berura (ad loc.:13), he may only be called for an aliyah but cannot read out loud to enable the congregation to fulfill their obligation through him. He can only do so on Shabbat when there are at least seven aliyot (ibid:11). Only a minority of aliyot can be of children (ibid.:14). Furthermore, the very widespread practice is that children under bar mitzvah do not receive any aliyot, except for maftir (the additional final aliyah which repeats the final verses of the weekly portion). On a week where a special, new reading is done for maftir from a second Torah scroll, a minor may not receive that aliyah because it is a separate obligation, which he can do on himself (Aruch Hashulchan OC282:10). Remember, the minors can join in only an additional aliyot and cannot be used for any "base obligation." Children can lead the services in the preliminary parts of the services (popularly called "Anim Zemirot", on Shabbat mornings), and Kabbalat Shabbat (on Friday night). They can also do gelilah (tying up the Torah and covering it after it is lifted). It is possible that your Chabad follows the ancient custom to allow the aliyah and the widespread one followed or it was maftir that the child received, it is possible to have a "minor congregation" where children simulate much of the prayers without doing those parts which require a minyan. For some children this is positive while others will do better with their parents. Ed. note: Notice the Vebbe Rebbe's use of the term Anim Z'mirot for the preliminary part of the Shabbat morning davening. There are many shuls that say Anim Z'mirot at the beginning of the service, rather than at the end with Ein Keilokeinu and Aleinu. And some shuls say it when the Torah is taken out of the Aron, while others do not say it at all (or maybe just on Yom Kippur. Perhaps the Vebbe Rebbe will address the issue of Anim Z'mirot - Shir HaKavod. It is not uncommon for shuls to allow a minor to "lead" P'sukei D'Zimra and/or to "finish off" after the repetition of Musaf. Ask the Rabbi Q&A is part of Hemdat Yamim, the weekly parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at www.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. And/or you can receive Hemdat Yamim by email weekly, by sending an email to lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message: Join Hemdatya - Please leave the subject blank. Ask the Vebbe Rebbe is partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel Hasidic Wisdom from the book by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins) All the world's crowns are destined to fall
by the wayside except for the Crown of Truth, which will last forever. You shall not steal. (Sh'mot 20:13) You
shall not steal your self. Meaning: Do not deceive yourself. G-d said: "You shall be for Me a treasured possession (segula) Sh'mot 19:5 They shall be like the SEGOL (the
triangluar Hebrew vowel), which no matter how you turn it, always remains
a triangle. Such is the nature of Jews: No matter how you twist or turn
them, they always remain Jews. Rite and Reason by by Shmuel Pinchas Gelbard It is customary to begin Shabbat morning davening later than on the weekdays (Rema) REASON Our Sages said: The prayers correspond to the daily sacrifices. In the Beit HaMikdash, the kohanim used to offer the daily sacrifice on Shabbat at a later hour than on weekdays. Concerning the weekday, the Torah states: In the morning (Bamidbar 28:4), whereas regarding the Shabbat sacrifice it says: And on the day of Shabbat (day, rather than morning), which indicates a later time for Shabbat morning prayers than on weekdays. REASON One of the Shabbat delights is rising a bit later than during the week (Bach) ArtScroll Series • Mesorah Publications Ltd. WORDS OF WISDOM WORDS OF WIT • by Shmuel Himelstein R' Elya Cjaim, the rav of Lodz, had the ability to convince the wealthy Jews of Lodz to donate generously to various worthy causes. Some of the large contributors felt that their generosity gave them the right to dictate to R' Elya Chaim. Whenever they tried, R' Elya Chaim told them, “Rashi comments that the CHASIDA - the stork - derives its name from the fact that it is involved in CHESED - good deeds - with its fellows. If so, why is it listed as one of the non-kosher species? The answer is that it is unkosher because it feels that what it does is CHESED - above and beyond what it is required to do - whereas in reality it is only doing its duty. And the same is true with you. When you give a large sum of money, you are doing nothing more than your duty, for you have the means to do so.” Excerpted with the permission of the copyright holder G'matriya Match V'ATEM T'H'YU LI MAMLECHET KOHANIM V'GOI KADOSH If we harken to G-d's Voice and keep faith with his covenant... then "You will be unto Me a kingdom of Kohanim and a holy nation". This (partial) pasuk from this week's sedra is one of the many beautiful statements of G-d's "intentions" concerning the Jewish People. The prophet Hoshea describes the proposed relationship as a betrothal with the words we recite daily when winding the T'filin straps around our fingers: V'EIRASTICH LI B'EMUNA V'YADAAT ET HASHEM "And I will betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know HaShem." That each of these p'sukim beautifully describes our relationship with G-d is clear. As a bonus, know that they share the same G'matriya (1998). From the Desk of the Director In parshat Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law invites us to learn about the essential qualities desirable in a Jewish leader. In particular, he outlines four necessary attributes that should characterize those who adjudicate disputes (Sh’mot 18:21). Rashi describes the first virtue, “Men of accomplishment,” as people of means. This description implies that wealthy judges are less likely to be susceptible to bribes, a notion substantiated by the fourth portrayal of the magistrates as people who “despise money.” This leaves the two other characteristics, namely, that the judges should be “G-d fearing people” and “Men of truth.” These expressions seem to encompass almost everything one could look for in a leader, yet they beg us to ask what are the objective standards for Yir’at Shamayim and “Men of truth”? Moreover, from a Jewish perspective, one is definitely inclined to consider both these latter characteristics as greater “accomplishments” than material wealth. So, where does that leave us? With respect to judgment, Ibn Ezra stresses that the quality “Yir’at Hashem” implies that G-d fearing judges do not fear the human consequences of their decisions. And Sforno explains that “Men of truth” are those who recognize truth when they see it. Ultimately, Yitro spells out the essential ingredient for all judges in his initial remarks to Moshe – “Viy’hi Elokim Imach.” He reminds us that whatever authority we mortals are invested with, we should recognize that Hashem is the ultimate arbiter. Shabbat Shalom, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center Towards better Davening and Torah reading Column #14. The contents of this weekly column are based on the sefer: EIM LAMIKRA HASHALEIM, by R' Nissan Sharoni, Ashdod, a guide to correct pronunciation of Hebrew, specifically in davening and Torah reading. Last week's Torah readings had two noteworthy words as far as this column is concerned. As we well know, Hebrew words are accented on the last syllable (MILRA) or the next-to-the-last syllable (MIL'EIL). There is only (?) one Hebrew word that is accented on the second-to-the-last syllable. In AZ YASHIR, the water of the sea is described as being piled up. NE-er-mu MA-yim. The word ne-er-MU alone would be pronounced MILRA. But here, in its only appearance in Tanach, it precedes the word MA-yim, a MIL'EIL word. In such cases, the accent of the preceding word "retreats" - NASOG ACHOR. In the case of NE-er-mu, we have a rare (unique?) double-NASOG ACHOR, resulting in a word pronounced on the third syllable from the end. English, by the way, is loading with double MIL'EIL words. History, elephant, strategy, motherly, traveling, basketball... In the beginning of Yitro (which we also read last Shabbat) is another word that seems to be double-MIL'EIL — and without NASOG ACHOR because of the word that follows it. Rather, a "real" second-to-the-last syllable accent. The word is "into the tent", ha-O-he-la. Unlike the once-occurring NE-er-mu, ha-O-he-la appears 8 times in Tanach - with Sara & Avraham, Rivka & Yitzchak, Moshe Rabeinu (3 times), Eldad & Meidad, Yehoshua and Achan, and Yael and Sisra (also read last week). Alas, ha-O-he-la is not really a double-MIL'EIL. And that is because the second HEI is not voweled with a SEGOL, but rather a CHATAF SEGOL (i.e. the 5-dot cluster, which is a SH'VA attached to the right of a SEGOL). CHATAFs come in three flavors – CHATAF PATACH, CHATAF KAMATZ, and CHATAF SEGOL. Each of them is treated as a SH'VA NA, even though the vowel sound is a bit longer than a SH'VA NA (remember that a SH'VA NACH does not add any vowel sound to the consonantal letter it is under, whereas the SH'VA NA does give a very short vowel sound. The CHATAFs are more vowel-ly than the SH'VA NA, but much less than there namesake vowels. And they (the CHATAFs) don't really make their own syllables. Just as a SH'VA NA is does not make its own syllable. First pasuk in Yitro - to Moshe, L'MOSHE, does not have three syllables - L'-MO-SHE, but rather two - L'MO and SHE. Third pasuk, Moshe's first son is GEI-R'SHOM, two syllables. The REISH with the SHVA NA is attached to the SHOM syllable. It does not constitute its own syllable. The CHATAFs are sort of like that. They NEVER get the accent in a word. And they too "officially" belong to the syllable that follows them. Pasuk 7, beginning of Yitro (just to use this week's sedra for our examples), and they greeted each other, VA-YISH-ALU... the ALEF with the CHATAF PATACH is not its own syllable, but is a shortened PATACH sound and is joined to the LU syllable. And so, a few words later, is ha-O-hela (not as was written earlier, ha-O-he-la, giving the HEI-CHATAF SEGOL its own syllable). Therefore, ha-O-hela sounds as if it is double MIL'EIL – but it really isn't. It is "regular" MIL'EIL. The last syllable is hela and the next-to-the-last (penultimate) syllable is O, which gets the accent, making the word a regular MIL'EIL (that just sounds like a double MIL'EIL). That leaves NE-er-mu in the unique position of being the only double-MIL'EIL word in Tanach (unless we find out about another one from one of our readers, in which case we will be sure to report it in the next TBDATR column). And remember, that its double MIL'EIL-ness resulted from the double migration of the accent. This column was not just about NE-er-mu MA-yim, but about the CHATAFs as well. There is one other aspect of the CHATAFs that needs some discussion. Watch for it in an upcoming column. PARSHA-PIX Lots of "triggers" to get your children and/or Shabbat guests into the Parshat HaShavua mode. Upper-left is the hearing ear of VAYISHMA YITRO, and Yitro heard. You can ask and/or answer the famous question, what did he hear that brought him to Judaism. And you can add another meaning to the hearing ear by relating it to what Bnei Yisrael heard at Sinai. And what they saw, which is usually heard. B"H in upper right is a quote of Yitro when he heard all the things that G-d had done for Israel. The scales represent the justice system, Yitro's suggestions, Moshe's response, etc. One of the outcomes of Yitro's advice was the assignment of "captains" of groups of 1000, 100. 50, and 10 - represented by the Roman numerals M,C,L,X. When Bnei Yisrael arrived at Har Sinai, they displayed a unity that is captured by the word VAYICHAN, and as Rashi puts it, we were like one person with one heart. That's the graphic under the ear. The Shofar with feet is from the phrase, and the sound of the SHOFAR GOES (HOLEICH) and gets stronger. The washing machine is for the people to clean their close during the preparatory days for Matan Torah. Wine cup is for Kiddush (ZACHOR) and the negation circle is for the prohibition of Melacha, including writing, watering plants, digging, sewing, building. Do not steal (the Xed out thief) and do not go up to the Mizbei'ach with steps (the negated ladder). NOT TTRIDDLES... are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout, usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles section. Some TTriddles are also presentedfor call-in solution on Torah Tidbits Audio (Arutz-7, Thursday night). The best solution set submitted each week (there isnt always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal Last week's (B'SHALACH) TTriddles: [1] There weren't any in the hard copy of TT. [2] There was a real BRACHA question in honor of TU BiShvat. [3] There was a RadioRiddle on Torah Tidbits Audio, last Thursday night on Arutz-7. And the envelope please... [1] It sort of just happened. First time we didn't have TTriddles in a long while. Apologies to those readers who like the TTriddles. For those who hate them, hope you enjoyed not having any in last week's issue. [2] Remember, this is a real question, not a strange, warped TTriddle. It is meant to pose a question, teach/review a few things along the way, and to point out a concept or two. In case you missed it or have forgotten it, here it is again: Here's a favorite Bracha-Dilemma in honor of TU BiShvat. Dried fruit: Raisins, apricots, pineapple. Apricots are your favorite. Then pineapple. Last, raisins. Three fruit, two different brachot. What goes first? Raisins, you say, because they are of the 7 Species. Good guess, but pineapple would have priority because you like it better (CHAVIV) and the brachot are different. Okay, pineapple then. Problem. Apricots have priority for the first bracha because you like them best. So start with the apricot. No can do. Raisins have priority as Shiv'at HaMinim (with the same bracha). Raisins beats apricots. Apricots beat pineapple. Pineapple beats raisins. A Bracha-Dilemma. This question, reminiscent of the rock-paper-scissors non-transitive relationship among three items, has some different possible solutions. But before the answers, let's look carefully at the question and some of the premises that it is built on. Shulchan Aruch states that if you have more than one fruit, all with the same bracha, then the honor of the bracha goes to fruit among the 7 Species (D'varim 8:8). The 5 fruits among the 7 Species are also prioritized, with top honor going to Olives, because they are mentioned in the pasuk first after the word ERETZ (that is, the second ARETZ that appears in the pasuk). Dates are second to be named after ARETZ. Grapes, figs and pomegranates are third, fourth, and fifth after the word ARETZ (albeit, after the first ARETZ in the pasuk). Although they precede olives and dates in the pasuk, they "dropped" to third, fourth, and fifth position because wheat and barley are mentioned before them. This "pushed" olives and dates into the first two slots. So if all you had to choose from in the Bracha Question above were raisins and apricots, you'd make the Borei Pri HaEitz on the raisins, because they are from Shiv'at HaMinim, even though you like apricots better. Then Shulchan Aruch deals with more than one "fruit" with different brachot involved (meaning both HaEitz and HaAdama). One of the opinions brought in this case is that CHAVIV (which you generally like better) determines what gets the first bracha. If you just had apricots and pineapple to choose from, HaEitz on apricots would be said first, and then HaAdama on the pineapple. Raisins and pineapple, HaAdama on pineapple would go first and then HaEitz on the raisins. With just this information from Shulchan Aruch (and not other opinions that are mentioned), the question stands. Raisins beats apricot because of Shiv'at HaMinim AND the same bracha. Apricots beat pineapple and pineapple beats raisins because of CHAVIV AND two brachot. The opinions upon which the question is based seem to be the majority opinions among Rishonim and poskim. Two different "minority" opinions that are mentioned in Shulchan Aruch and in the Mishna B'rura (actually, in the Bi'ur Halacha) would obviate the question. Shulchan Aruch's first-presented opinion where two brachot are involved is that you can choose whatever you want to make the bracha on first. Neither CHAVIV nor Shiv'at HaMinim would dictate what goes first. In our situation, according to this opinion (although it is mentioned first, the Bi'ur Halacha says that it is a minority opinion that we don't accept), you can start with the raisins or the pineapple. (Not the apricot, because raisins have Shiv'at HaMinim priority.) Bi'ur Halacha also mentions some minority opinions that HaEitz always goes before HaAdama (which is not how we poskin, but it is what many people probably thought was the obvious ruling). According to these opinions, there is also no question here. Raisins would go first and then the bracha on pineapple. There is a third possibility. Shulchan Aruch tells us the Rambam's opinion, namely that regardless of whether we are dealing with one or two brachot, Shivat HaMinim or not – CHAVIV always goes first. (And, Rambam's definition of CHAVIV is what you want most NOW. Not what is CHAVIV to you in general.) Accordingly, if apricot is not only your favorite, but that's what you want most now, then it gets first bracha. There is an implied (but not stated) conclusion by the Shulchan Aruch, that the majority of Poskim hold Shiv'at HaMinim within the same bracha, and CHAVIV between two brachot. And on this basis, our question still stands. So what's to be done? Choose one of the fruits to leave alone and not eat? Not a good answer. That's not what Halacha wants of us. It wants (so to speak) for us to eat what we want... just to make proper brachot (and in the proper order). Over the last few years, I've been asking this question to many different people. My favorite answer was offered by Rabbi Reuven Aberman. He suggested that when the Halacha P'suka (the authoritative opinions that we follow) sends us in circles (as in this case), we can call upon another opinion mentioned and see if it will help. And, sure enough, Rambam is available (so to speak) to help us out of the loop. You like the apricots best? And that's what you want most now? Go for it, says the Rambam. No problem. No dilemma. Rambam to the rescue. (It is probably fair to say that some of the other "opinions that we don't usually follow" will also get us out of our problem situation.) Pirkei Avot says: All disputes that are for the sake of Heaven will endure. Different interpretations of this statement. Maybe it tells us that when we find "the other opinion" in a Mishna or Gemara or in later halachic works, it is there to be available for use in unusual or extenuating circumstances, and thus it "endures". (There's more to say, but...) [3] The riddle was: Two PENTE winner in the parsha. PENTE is won when one of the players get 5 stones in a row (this is one of two ways to win). B'shalach has two 5-in-a-row "things" in it that are fairly well-known. Fist are the five words in a row that begin with ALEF. AMAR OYEIV ERDOF ASIG ACHALEIK... (in Az Yashir). [There is a longer string of ALEF words in Mikeitz (B'reishit 42:21): vayo-m'ru ISH EL ACHIV AVAL ASHEIMIM ANACHNU... The brothers admitted to each other their guilt in the Yosef sale. The following three words are AL ACHINU ASHER. If you misspell AL, the streak of ALEF words would be 9 rather than 6.] The other 5-in-a-row are two-letter words at the end of the sedra. KI YAD AL KEIS KAH. Two PENTE winners in B'shalach. That's it for this NOT-TTriddles Report. As of this writing, there are already several TTriddles for Yitro in TT, with more probably on the way. Learn, teach, and have fun. This week's TTriddles: [1] DON'T DRILL - USE DILL [2] The Arrival, public decree, Jerusalem gathering [3] Eliezer, Yosef, the Wine Steward, Par'o, Moshe, an old prophet's son, and Haman — what? [4] The younger one sitting in judgment on the 18th of Tammuz, saw the almond blossoms [5] Some Har Nof bus drivers can say this too. [6] Like mountain, like people [7] Judge's proverbial mate [8] 12Z:11:16 shares the record with a pasuk from Yitro Israel Center Notes: Torah Tidbits This & That Lots of things to tell you, dear readers of TT. This page (and probably others as well) are being prepared with DavkaWriter rather than Dagesh, which has been used for Torah Tidbits for a serious number of years. Dagesh 2 and even Dagesh 2000 have serious problems working with Windows XP, and tech support said that 2000 might have a new version sometime in the future. Dagesh 2 you can forget about (that’s a quote). Our loyalty for Dagesh far outlasted theirs for their users and we’re trying to switch over. Word would be the logical choice, but we’d like to give DavkaWriter a crack at it because it’s “one of ours”. And it handles TROP in addition to NIKUD in Hebrew. We’ll see how things work out. Anyway, that’s one thing we wanted you to know. Next, last week’s issue was a disaster of blank sides. It seems that the paper we were using was inferior and kept sending two or three sheets through the printer together. Apologies to frustrated readers, and a special apology to the even more-frustrated folders who were plagued by the blanks. You cannot imagine how many extra hours of work the problem created. We’re sending back a huge amount of paper to our supplier and hopefully, that which replaces it will be of higher quality and less problematic. This column is meant to bring interested readers behind the scenes at Torah Tidbits. Okay, here’s another problem. We’ve got a machine that can collate 10 sheets of paper at a time. Lately, TT has been hovering between 10 and 11 sheets. Whenever we has an 11-sheet issue (or more), the increase in people-hours (both volunteer and staff) is consider- able. We sometimes force things to stay at 10 sheets (if at all possible), but we do that be leaving out content and/or ads that shouldn’t be left out. We’re working on a solution to the problem, but we wanted you to know about what’s happening. As long as we’re telling you about problems, here’s another one that comes up from time to time. The printing machines we have are good, but not pro- fessional printing quality. The machines get very heavy use and they respond by messing things up sometimes. When they decide to break down completely, we stop working (no choice) and Yoram or one of his tech-colleagues comes down and fixes things. Time delay, but at least the machines work after repair. Worse (sometimes) is not a breakdown, but some annoying problem. Like a “bald spot” on a printed page. Or a squished-together line or two across a double page. And the like. Those too prompt us to call for service, but your copy of Torah Tidbits can show the results of the various little problems. We are looking into higher-quality equip- ment that will hopefully translate into a nicer-looking Torah Tidbits. On another aspect of Torah Tidbits... Advertising. We’ve recently included a policy statement (for now it’s found at the bottom of the first page of the Tiyulim & Shabbatonim section) about our NOT endorsing hotels, restaurants, and food products that are advertised. In addition to food-related ads, there is also the issue of travel and vacation to Chutz LaAretz. Recognizing the halachic question involved in leaving Eretz Yisrael, we are also aware of various situations that permit travel abroad. We’ve therefore decided to accept ads for travel abroad, and trust those readers who avail themselves of these offers to do so in a halachically proper manner. We certainly hope that whoever uses the services or products of any of our sponsors/advertisers is satis- fied. If you experience any problems, let us know, if you feel we might be able to help out. Similarly, if you have been particularly pleased and satisfied by the services or products of any of our advertisers, let us know. Aside from commercial ads, Torah Tidbits carries various types and sizes of personal ads, MAZAL TOVs, REFU’A SHLEIMAs, condolences, memorials, and yahrzeits. Call 566-7787 ext. 204 for details and insertions. We are always looking for connections to shuls with English speakers in Jerusalem and around the country, who don’t yet receive Torah Tidbits. And our dedicated team of volunteers is always eager to break in some new recruits, any Thursday morning. Give us a call... or just drop by. The Israel Center's Beth Din to adjudicate and arbitrate monetary disputes, according to Jewish law There is a registration fee of 200nis per case No other charges for this service Please call 566-7787 ext. 204 for further information We have forms for two types of cases: Those where both parties agree to submit their dispute to the Beth Din, and those where a complainant wants the Beth Din to summon the second party. Forms have been sent out to those who have requested them. We thank you for your patience during the time it has taken to take care of many details. Yitzhak Fund, Esq. • Rabbi Emanuel Quint Chairpersons Kashrut Questions If you find a discrepancy between the Hebrew labeling and the original packaging... or if you have any other OU kashrut questions, call this toll-free number (from Israel to NY) 1-800-949-0123 From 4:00pm - midnight, you get a human; other times, leave a voice- message OU Kashrut in Israel office at the Center: 5667787 Israel Center Cafe After nourishing the soul, come nourish the body serving coffee, sandwiches, toasts, pizza, french fries, salads, eggs, stuffed potatoes, lasagna, soups... and more Located on the lower level of the Israel Center Hours: Sun.-Thu. - 9:00am - 2:30pm Ask about our catering services on or off the Center premises Thirsty? We now have a hot drinks machine with coffee, tea, & hot chocolate located on the ground floor, anda cold drinks (cans) machine on the first floor near the library. NESTO - Native English-Speaking Teen Olim If you happened to be shopping in Malcha this past Tuesday night, you may have noticed groups of 2 or 3 NESTOites going around collecting strange objects and/or pieces of interesting information. You see, NESTO held a scavenger hunt at the Kanyon... one of the things on our list was to bring back something green and alive. We never imagined that anyone would buy a green fish, but our dear NESTOites never cease to amaze us. JJ has since become our NESTO mascot... Welcome, JJ. We hope we spend many long fish-years together... NESTO board members and other staff had dressed up or down in crazy and shady disguises... All in all, the night was a great success and the creativity and imagination was inspiring. By the way, has anyone found Naomi or Rafi yet? The first ever NESTO Tu-B’Shvat Seder was held this past Sunday. It was totally nuts. We began the evening with an introduction on Judaism’s view towards the environment as we heard a rendition of Dr Seuss’s The Lorax in Scottish (thanks Zev). We then moved on to the Ma Nishtana that we wrote ourselves. Questions were both profound and ridiculous... we talked about the connection between olives and Torah, we wrote our own Odes to Dates, and carved animals and funny faces out of apples. We got to tell the nuttiest story we were ever a part of... and we feasted on fruits, nuts, cookies and some rather weird-tasting grape juice. For most of us it was our first Tu B’Shvat Seder and it was certainly an experience we will always remember. Motzei Shabbat, February 9th, 7:30, NESTO will be hosting our annual “SING TILL YOU DROP” KARIOKEE NIGHT in the Zula (TYC) • You don't want to miss it! Rosh Chodesh Adar is just around the corner, and that means it is time to dress up. Tuesday, February 12th at 7:00pm, in the Zula, NESTO will be holding a FASHION SHOW - COSTUME PARTY. You must come dressed as your favorite cartoon character... and you will have to tell us why that character is your favorite. Be there! That’s all for now, Shabbat Shalom, Josh, Chave & Naomi YOYO’S CORNER Hey guys we’re back, I needed a vacation from writing things on my own (hint hint). So what have we been through, let's see; paper art, Shabbos, surfin, talent, Dead Poets Society, and a scavenger hunt for two love-bird madrichim. In all this we have proven a few things 1: we’re a crazy and hilarious group, 2: we know how to have a good time, 3: in art we should get prizes and in singing, awards, 4: for comedy, pinky and the brain deserve an Oscar. But we skipped the important thing. Life around is not what it’s like in the Zula and as for me, I’m looking for an answer to our problems. But before we can fix what’s outside, we need to figure out what’s broken in us. JR. NESTO... It was great to see so many of you last Wednesday at our Tu B’Shvat Fruit Art activity. I think we all agree that if anyone ever says that fruit are boring we definitely proved otherwise. Serious sculpting talents were revealed with simple fruits being transformed into prickly porcupines, cool punks, weird monsters, cute little bunny rabbits and even a swarming ant hill! You had to see it to believe it! And the best part was that we could eat it all when we were done! We can't wait to see you all again this Wednesday, February 6th at 6:30pm for our next activity, so bring all your friends. We are very excited to announce that we have a Junior NESTO Shabbaton coming up on Shabbat Zachor, February 22-23, so keep that Shabbat free for the time of your life. Details will follow. Farewell for now and Shabbat ShalomNatalie and Rafi. The Israel Center's youth program for Anglo-Israelis • tel. 566-7787 ext. 245 • fax: 561-7432 • spodek@netvision.net.il • Josh Spodek, Director • Chave Abrahams, Asst.Dir. Naomi Skorecki, Bat Sherut • Jr. NESTO Staff: Natalie Rubinstein, Rafi Poch NESTO is partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel TIYULIM and SHABBATONIM Call the TIYUL HOTLINE Dial the Israel Center's number 5-66-77-87, then press 211. You'll hear "thank you, one moment please", and then the phone system's music for 15 seconds. Then the Tiyul Hotline message begins. You can listen to the whole message and then press 2 to leave your message, or you can interrupt by pressing 2 right away and then leaving your message. THE TRAVEL DESK The TRAVEL DESK of the Israel Center exists... to make registration and detail-receiving for Israel Center tiyulim more efficient and less head- achy for you. To help you - whether you live in Israel or are visiting - plan private tiyulim and make in-Israel travel arrangements Sarah will be happy to assist you on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Call Sarah at the Center, 566-7787 ext. 249. Note: When a tiyul says "Bring your own lunch", you can do that... or this: Call the TRAVEL DESK or the TIYUL HOTLINE up to the day before the TIYUL and order a box lunch from the Israel Center Cafe. 18 shekel will get you a delicious sandwich, a refreshing drink (specify regular or diet) and a dessert. Your box lunch willbe ready for you when you board the bus. LAST CALL Israel Center In-House Shabbaton • Shabbat Parshat Mishpatim - Sh'kalim • M'vorchim Choedesh Adar • Friday-Shabbat, February 8-9, '02 with Scholar-in-Residence: Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Academic Coordinator & Director of the Business Response Forum & author of The Jewish Ethicist, Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Machon Lev (Jerusalem College of Technology); and Torah Tidbits columnist “If you want to be pious, observe the laws of damages” (Bava Kama 30a) We will take a good look at the nezikin laws of Mishpatim and their primacy in being mentioned right after Matan Torah. We will also look at the two other opinions: the importance of character and spirituality • Mini shiurim & oral TT's by Phil Chernofsky • Sumptuous meals by Schoketino Catering • An exciting program is planned - Don't miss this special Shabbaton price: 200NIS for Israel Center members who register by January 24 (non-mem +20 • Price goes up 20NIS after that date — call NOW to reserve your place HOUSING: If you live in the neighborhood OR have made your own arrangements to stay nearby, please let us know. If you want us to arrange your housing, there are 4 possibilities: [1] Stay at a nearby home [2] Windmill Hotel (300 per couple, sleeping only) [3] Eldan Hotel (300 per couple, sleeping only) [4] Inbal Hotel (450 per couple, sleeping only) Tuesday, Feb. 19 (7 Adar, birthday & yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu) • A Very Special Tiyul for Women Only • An inspirational and informative full day of travel and prayer at the resting places of our matriarchs in the Galil • Yocheved bat Levi, Mother of Moshe Rabbeinu • Tzipora, wife of Moshe Rabbeinu • Elisheva, wife of Aharon HaKohen (sister-in-law of Moshe Rabeinu) • Bilha & Zilpa, wives of Yaakov Avinu • Rachel, wife of Rabbi Akiva • Guided and led by Basha Zussman and Esther Linder • 8:00 am to 8:00pm • Route via Mediterranean Coastal Road • Bring food & water for the day) • Price: 100NIS members110NIS non members SUN to WED, February 10-13 A Heavenly Vacation in the Lowest Place on Earth Ein GediGuestHouse • We invite you to vacation in the dreamy, serene atmosphere of the beautiful guest house of Ein Gedi on the Dead Sea, lovely air-conditioned rooms set in an abundantly green, tree-filled botanical garden. Each cottage contains a kitchenette with coffee & cookies free all day, refrigerator, vault, video and more in a pleasant ambiance • Kashrut is L'mehadrin - Mashgiach T'midi, Badatz Eida Chareidis, Scholar-in-Residence: Golda Warhaftig and Pearl Borow, Torah lectures, evening entertainment, exercise, tour of Botanical Gardens, tour of Nachal David • 3 nights - 717NIS (239NIS per night) per person, double occupancy (3 payments possible), 2 nights - 510NIS (255NIS per night) per person, double occupancy (2 payments possible), 1 night - 269NIS per person, double occupancy, includes Israeli buffet breakfast, festive evening meals, health club facilities, sulfur pool (70NIS Value), mud treatment (100NIS value), shuttle buses to Dead Sea (very close by) , Transportation (in bulletproof buses): Sunday morning (10:00) to the Guest House (no additional charge) and Wednesday afternoon return to Jerusalem(no additional charge) • Shulamit's tiyulim are always treats; Come! You'll also enjoy her delicious sweets. From the Philistine's Conquerors to the Returning Heirs Ashdod & Environs with Ace guide Hughie Auman will show us the vivid colors beneath the seemingly drab surface of the area •Wed. Feb. 6, 8:00am-6:30pm • View of Ashdod from Jonah's Hill •Ashdod Yam Fortress •Ashdod Museum of Phillistine Culture • Ad Halom Battleground and Bridge, site of Halt of Egyptian Advance in 1948 • Egyptian War Memorial • Lunch break at Bnei Darom, Bring your own (or order from IC Cafe - p.17) •Visit their Olive Oil Visitors Center and production plant • Mincha in the Bnei Darom Shul ,see the only Torah Scroll retreived from Lebanon during the Operation Sh'lom HaGalil • Nir Galim "Bet Eidut", Museum & Center of Holocaust Studies, The only one dedicated to Pre-Holocaust religious Zionist European Jewry • 125NIS per person (135NIS non-members) • If you wish you will be able to dress up in costumes at the museum so be sure to bring your camera • Shulamit's tiyulim are always treats; Come! You'll also enjoy her delicious sweets. KASHRUT POLICY: Food for Israel Center In-House programs is supervised by OU - in-Israel - Mehadrin. Israel Center sponsored trips and programs are under Mehadrin Hashgacha. Hotels, restaurants, and tiyulim advertised by the Travel Desk or by outside parties are not necessarily Mehadrin and are not endorsed by the OU or the Israel Center. Travel Desk Specials For reservations at the hotels listed below or any other Israeli hotels not listed here, please call Sarah directly at the Travel Desk 566 7787, ext. 249. She'll be happy to accommodate you with any of your requests. Dan Pearl - Jerusalem • thru March 31 Midweek special package: 2 nights, B/B, 840NIS per couple Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem • Shabbatot thru February 1150NIS per couple F/B Sheraton-Plaza, Jerusalem • Shabbatot thru February • 1150NIS per couple f/b, child 2-12 in parents room, 150NIS Sheraton-Moriah, Dead Sea • midweek thru February, 550NIS per couple, h/b (no min. stay) Grand Beach, Tel Aviv • valid all week - thru January 31 269NIS per couple per night (Glatt -Mehadrin) B/B; child to 12 FREE in same room Kibbutz Lavi Winter Special • midweek, for tourists Double room in new wing, 3-night package, B/B, $225 B/B = Bed & Breakfast • H/B = Half Board (breakfast + one meal) • F/B (3 meals a day) Midweek = SUN, MON, TUE, WED nights • Weekends = THU, FRI, Motza"sh nights Attention: Students from Abroad: Are your parents planning on visiting you this year? If so, you want to speak to us (02-566-7787 ext. 249). We have many attractive deals for them and you. Let us turn an ordinary "been there, dit it" visit into an unforgettable, special one! The Back Page of TT505 "Regular" Israel Center classes & lectures - 15NIS for members, 20NIS for non-mem. Life members, free No one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay (Membership is 225NIS per year) Many Israel Center programs are partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel SHABBAT DAY 3:30pm • Shabbat afternoon shiur on Parshat HaShavua with Kalman Walker • Men & women invited • Drinks available • Mincha if Minyan MOTZA'EI SHABBAT Motzaei Shabbat, February 2nd, 8:30pm Erev Shira featuring Jewish Music from the 60's & 70's with Ruach Uno starring Howie Kahn (Ruach Revival, producer/composer/keyboards/vocals) Sing along to the songs and hear the stories behind the music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Pirchei, Rabbi's Sons, Noam Singers, Or Chadash, Ruach Revival, Kol Salonika, Neginah Orchestra and more Join us for a most special evening of nostalgia! • Members: 30NIS , Non-members: 35NIS "A splendid time is guaranteed for all." SUNDAY 9:30am (women) •Mystical Insights into the Months of the Year • Golda Warhaftig 10:30am (women)Let's really Learn Chumash with Tonia Frohwein N'shei Library - 10:30am - 12:45pm 11:30am (men & women) Parshat HaShavua • Shprintee Herskovits Men who are looking to do some serious learning... Shiur in Arvei P'sachim by Rabbi David Zitter, 10:00am, SUN-THU Daf Yomi in English with Rabbi Shmuel Halpern, 3:00pm, SUN-THU Shiur in Kiddushin by Rabbi Hillel Ruvel, 4:30pm, SUN-THU (Maariv follows) All shiurim take place in the Israel Center's Ganchrow Beit Midrash one flight up RESUMES FEB. 10 7:30pm • Jewish Values Education Institute • Do you have questions? • Do you have doubts? Are you seeking the truth? Open to all topics, feelings, questions, doubts, beliefs, and needs from a loving, open, Torah perspective No lecture or criticism - Only acceptances, respect & response • Dr. Daniel Stolper , A psychologist, a rabbi, but mostly a person 8:00pm • new series , Born to Win - An exciting adventure in Torah & Psychology towards Happiness and Personal Wellbeing with Rabbi Yosef Rubenstein, MA Psych, Columbia, 30 years experience SUN. FEB 3 , 8:30pm • Living with Teens - Setting limits • Rachel Frumin M.S.• David Kaufman CSW • Maor Aynayim Therapy Center 054-799-441 MONDAY 9:15am • Excursions into the World of Nevi'im (the Prophets) First topic: The 7 Prophetesses Mrs. Pearl Borow N'shei Library open on Mondays, 10:00am - 12:30pm MON FEB 4, 10:00am , 25/30NIS • Tsipporah Wizansky (Cognitive Therapist) talks about "How Cognitive therapy helps in Anxiety States" • Riva Schertzman presents "Music as Therapy" • Dr. Vivienne Damelin (psychiatrist) presents "After the Shock: Post Traumatice treatment and Recovery" 10:30am (men & women) • Rambam's 13 Principles • Rabbi Zev Leff 11:36am (women) • Strengthening your Emunah & Bitachon from Torah Sources • Aviva Nissim Monday, February 4th, 6:45-10:00pm • Special workshop for parents, friends and relatives of singles, matchmakers and members of shidduch committees • The Art of being a Dating Advisor with Rosie Einhorn L.C.S.W. and Sherry Zimmerman Esq., authors, "Talking Tachlis", "In The Beginning", "Navigating the Dating Maze"• Learn the "psychology" of single adults as your are trained to guide a friend through courtship and engagement.• 70NIS (includes materials, certificate and ongoing "technical support" by Sasson V'Simcha, the Center for Jewish Marriage. Call to reserve: 5667787 x 204 MON FEB 4, 7:45pm • Memorial Lecture on the 7th yahrzeit of Etta Ehrman Kossowsky z"l • Yael Ziegler on "Israel and the Nations - the models of Yitro & Rachav" • Divrei Torah: Eli Ehrman, Michi Kossowsky • Light refreshments • Details: Esther (02) 991-9003 8:00-9:30pm • M.A.S.K. - Biweekly Parent Support Group (5867289( Child at Risk? Sharpen your Parenting Skills • Dr. Judy Belsky TUESDAY 9:00-9:50am Midrash on Purim • Dr. Hayim Abramson 9:55-10:45am Megilat Esther • Dr. Hayim Abramson N'shei Library open on Tuesdays, 11:15am - 12:45pm 10:50-11:40am Parshat HaShavua R. Mordechai Spiegelman 11:45am (women) Chabad insights into Parshat HaShavua and the Actualia of Our Time Rachel Zisk The Israel Center and the Old City Free Loan Association Gemach - Free Loan Society to provide interest-free loans for people in financial distress. Interviews at the Center on Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00 Please bring ID TUESDAYS 4:00pm • Writing Your Personal Memoirs THIS SERIES IS CLOSED. THOSE INTERESTED MAY SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT SERIES. CALL 5667787 X204. Feb. 5,12,19 • 8:00pm • A new Way of Looking at Megilat Esther with Dr. Joe Levinson Tuesday, Feb. 5, 8:00pm • ROOT & BRANCH ASSOCIATION PRESENTS Jewish Roots of the American Constitution with Prof. Paul Eidelberg WEDNESDAY 9:30am Towards a More Meaningful Davening Experience Dr. Joel Luber 10:30am Break the Fear Habit... And Live! withAlan Romm P.C. 3:00pm Women in Tanach with Pearl Borow 7:45-8:45pm Jewish Philosophy Road map to the Prophets - Rambam's Guide for the Perplexed Now studying: Rambam's Approach to Korbanot Ramban's Commentary on the Torah and its Wellsprings Now studying: G-d's Ongoing Melacha & the Celestial Shabbat with Rabbi Chaim Eisen This week: Rambam 8:00-10:00pm Aliya Counseling with Miriam Bass THURSDAY in the morning Shiurum while you fold; Parshat HaShavua and/or the Calendar various presenters 10:30am SLIM FOR LIFE, Libby 651-8061 Elisheva 999-6479 No obligation for the first session Male Choir Rehearsal Thursdays at 7:30pm Led by Yisrael Shwarzstein (for more information, 02 583 3389) Songs by Rosenblatt, Lewandowski, N. Shemer, Carlebach RESUMES FEB. 14 8:00pm The Book of Yehoshua with Reb Yosef Schreiber Feb. 7, 8:00 pm, The Pros and Cons of a PLO state • Presentation by David Bedein, Discussion and call to Action Torah Tidbits Audio with Phil Chernofsky on Israel National Radio (Arutz-7), 98.7FM and 1539AM, Thursdays, 10:07-11:00pm, or anytime on www.israelnationalnews.com FRIDAY 9:00am In-Depth Pirkei Avot with Rabbi Chaim Eisen Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults Fall Program 5762 (2001 - 2002) At the Israel Center Tuesdays 9:00am A Study of the 613 Mitzvot with Rabbi Aharon Adler 10:15am, Parshat Hashavua with Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold TUE Feb 5 Feb 12 Feb 19 • 10:15am Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults in cooperation with the David Cardozo Academy announces a series of 4 lectures by noted scholar and author Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes-Cardozo “REVELATI0N & HALACHA” 11:30am, A Study of the Haftarot with Esther Kitov Wednesdays 9:00am, Studies in Maimonides: The Jewish State and the Messianic Era with Rabbi Macy Gordon 10:20am Feb. 6,13,20 • T'hilim - P'sukei D'zimra The Daily Prayers • Rabbi David J. Derovan And at KEHILAT ZICHRON YOSEPH, 10 Agassi, Har Nof, Thursdays, 9:30am, Timeless Topics with Rabbi Zev Leff All JCA classes - 20NIS per class (payment is separate from Israel Center classes) RESUMES AFTER PURIM: Also on TUESDAYS at the CENTER Two Tuesday morning classes at the Israel Center by the Yad Yaakov Center for Jewish Education Separate fees. Call (02) 652-4601 for further information 9:00-10:30am The Journey of the Soul in Biblical Stories Rabbi Yosef Leibowitz 10:30-11:30am Rambam's Shmoneh P'rakim (8 chapters) Rabbi Yosef Leibowitz Upcoming at the Israel Center February 10, 2002 from 4:00-9:30pm • KIDS-4-KIDS Conference in conjuction with (and at) the Israel Center KIDS FOR KIDS •Youth Organization for the Recovery of Young Victims of Terrorism • kids4kids@actcom.co.il • 628-1874 • 628-1987fax: 6283194 One year after... we are here to talk, to listen, to learn, to create healthy vistas for the future... 4:00-5:00pm • Families' Impact in Frontline Parenting • Dr. Michael Tobin (PhD family therapist) ; Tools in Our Pocket, Sorrow in Our Hearts • Rachel Frumin MS (Clinical Psychologist) 5:00-6:00pm • Taming the Trauma - Dr. Batya Ludman, Clinical Psychologist and Debriefing Counselor 6:00-7:00pm • The Mourning After • Thea GIvati, Adina Rakoff - Bereavement counselors 7:30-8:30pm • Our Kids in this War• Rabbi Eitan Eckstein (Director of Retorno) KIDS FOR KIDS TEENS tell their stories: Atara Spero, Elisheva Millstein, Atara Feinstein 8:30-10:00pm • The Big Picture – Rabbi Pincus Winston; Spiritual Tools – teen, Avrumi Landsman; The manipulation of their children, creation of the suicidebombers • Itamar Marcus PMW SPECIAL TEEN SESSION - 7:00-8:30pm with Rabbi Ekstein; Rabbi Winston, Adina Rakoff and Thea GIvati; Topics include...: "What do I do when my friend's been killed?”; The Big Picture; For Adults, Kids and the Entire Community Monday, Feb. 11, 8:00pm • Revitalizing the Mitzvah of Hospitality in your community; The tragic missing element in Jewish Communal Life Today. presented by David Bedein MSW Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2:00pm, Rosh Chodesh Adar Luncheon (meat) • Honored Guests: Rabbi & Mrs. Eliezer Grunbaum, topic: Purim • Price: 44/50NIS • Advance registration required by Mon. Feb. 11, 4:00pm Wed. Feb. 13, 7:30pm, Women's Open Mike Night - call Elana - 652 2287 Motzaei Shabbat, Feb. 16, 8:30pm, Why does the Zohar say that Purim is greater than Yom Kippur? - Rabbi Efraim Sprecher Sun. Feb. 17, 8:30pm, Women's concert by Tofa'ah Friday - Sunday, March 1-3 • In the Footsteps of the Sanhedrin, A study seminar led by Barnea Selavan • $249 at Lavi. Call 5667787 x261 from more information Pesach Week Rental • Dates Flexible Spacious 3 bedroom, fully furnished apartment in San Simon. Strictly Kosher, Cable TV 02-6798708 • 058-464249 • sdtarag@actcom.co.il Perfect hotel-alternative for visiting relatives or friends OU ISRAEL CENTER Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox
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