Halachic Times for Jerusalem Israel Summer Time
Correct for TT #565 • Ranges are for THU-THU, 8- 29Nissan - April 10 - May 1, '03
Candle lighting on the left; Havdala on the right See below for earliest candle lighting times, Rabbeinu Tam Shabbat-out times, and other halachic z’manim
6:30 Shabbat-HaGadol 7:45
6:33 First-day-of-Pesach 7:49
6:34 Shabbat-Chol-HaMoed 7:50
6:37 Sh’vi’i-shel-Pesach 7:53
6:39 Parshat-Acharei 7:56

In addition to the candle lighting and Havdala times above, here are the earliest times (Plag Mincha) for candle lighting and the Rabbeinu Tam time for Havdala. In similar style to the front page, the earliest candle lighting is on the left and Rabbeinu Tam time on the right.
5:45 Shabbat-HaGadol 8:21
5:48 First-day-of-Pesach 8:25
5:49 Shabbat-Chol-HaMoed 8:27
5:51 Sh’vi’i-shel-Pesach 8:30
5:52 Parshat-Acharei 8:33

Many communities wait until the Shabbat after Pesach to start their “early Shabbat” minyan. We are taking Shabbat early at the Center for the Shabbat HaGadol Shabbaton. For the first day of Pesach, it is generally not done. Not only does the Seder need to begin after stars-out, but Hallel in shul should also be after stars-out. It is a good idea not to drag out the Leil Pesach davening, so that the Seder can begin sooner than later. For Shabbat Chol HaMoed and last day of Yom Tov, there can be an early minyan, with the reminder to repeat the Sh’ma and count the Omer at the proper time. Still, it is not common to find early minyan on those two occasions.
Erev Pesach, 14 Nissan, Apr.16
Last time to eat chametz (Ashkenazim) 9:57am
Last time to eat chametz (S’faradim) 9:31am
Last times for “benefit”, sale, and burning chametz11:17am for Ashkenazim 10:47am for S’faradim
Leil HaSeder
Preferable to eat Afikoman (and even finish Hallel) by halachic midnight, which is 12:38am
Other Z'manim
The following time ranges are from Thursday, April 10 through Thursday, May 1. The z’manim for each Thursday within the range are given. Times for other days can be determined by extrapolation.
Thursdays. ..April 10 April 17 April 24 May 1
Earliest Shacharit: 5:26am 5:17am 5:09am 5:01am
Sunrise: 6:17am 6:09am 6:01am 5:54am
Sof Z’man Kri’at Sh’ma (GR”A):9:28am 9:23am 9:19am 9:15am
Sof Z’man Kri’at Sh’ma (Magen Avraham):8:42am 8:36am 8:31am 8:25am
Sof Z’man T’fila (GR”A) 10:32am 10:28am 10:25am 10:22am
Sof Z’man T’fila (Mag. Av.)10:01am 9:57am 9:53am 9:49am
Chatzot (halachic noon): 12:40½pm 12:39pm 12:37pm 12:36pm
Mincha Gedola (earliest Mincha):1:13pm 1:12pm 1:11pm 1:10pm
Plag Mincha: 5:44½pm 5:48pm 5:51pm 5:55pm
Sunset (taking elevation into account):7:09pm 7:14pm 7:19pm 7:24pm
Sunset (sea level, no elevation):7:04pm 7:09pm 7:14pm 7:19pm

Explanation of the Z'manim
Sunrise for Jerusalem does not take into account elevation, since the eastern horizon (where the sun rises) consists of the Hills of Moav across the Jordan River, which are approx. at the same elevation as Jerusalem
Sunset, on the other hand, is given for an elevation of 825m and, in parentheses, as if at sea level. There are different opinions as to which sunset time should be used for halachic purposes. We present both times.
The deadlines for the SH'MA and the Shacharit Amida can be calculated in two ways. Either considering the day to be from sunrise to sunset or from dawn to stars out. The first way of reckoning is known as the opinion of the GR"A, and is the first time given in each case. The second method is known as the Magen Avraham, and is presented in parentheses.
Aside from candle lighting and havdala, the times are presented as a range, from the current Thursday of the issue of Torah Tidbits until the coming Thursday, a span of 8 days. Days between the two Thursdays can be determined by interpolation (which means: a method by which to estimate a value of between two known values - this is something that people above a certain age might remember from high school trigonometry and logarithms, but younger people who went to school during the calculator era might not be familiar with).
It is usually wise to "pad" the times with a minute or two in the "play it safe" direction. E.g. Plag Mincha. Better to finish Mincha a minute or two before the given time. But, better to not light candles until a minute or two after the given time.

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...

The Molad of Nissan was on Wed. April 2, 12:42am, Israel Summer time.

The most-followed practice is to consider the deadline for K.L. to be half the time from one Molad to the next. This time is called NIGUD, opposition, and is the time of Full Moon. Because the calculations we use are based on the average time of a lunation, and not the actual astronomical time, which varies, the deadline for K.L. can sometimes be hours before or after the actual Full Moon. Nonetheless, our calculations govern the timings of K.L., not the “reality” of the sky. To the time of the Molad above, we add 14 days, 18 hours and 22 minutes and come to Thursday, April 17, 7:04am. Therefore, K.L. can be said all Seder night. In NY however (as an example) the deadline would be a little after midnight of Seder night (first Seder, that is).

Shabbat Parshat Acharei, April 26
This Shabbat we bench Rosh Chodesh Iyar. Rosh Chodesh Iyar is always two days in our fixed calendar, becaue Nissan has 30 days.
ROSH CHODESH IYAR YIHYEH B'YOM SHISHI U'V'YOM SHABBAT KODESH HABA ALEINU V'AL KOL YISRA'EL L'TOVA:
HAMOLAD YIHYEH B'YOM CHAMISHI ACHAR H'TZHARAYIM, ARBAIM V'SHEVA DAKOT ACHAREI SHTEIM ESREI
The Molad of Iyar will occur onTHU, May 1, 1:26pm Summer time.
This time is adjustable for time zones, e.g. in LA the Molad is 3:2am.
But the traditional way we announce the Molad, in Jerusalem Solar Time, remains the same all over the world, and it NOT adjusted for time zones or Summer time.
In Rambam’s notation, the Molad isYom HEI 18h 846 parts
The astronomical molad isTHU, May 1, 1:16pm
ONLY 10 minutes before the average

Parshat M'tzora

Sedra-Stats
28th of 54 sedras; 5th of 10 in Vayikra
Written on 159 lines in a Sefer Torah, ranks: 40
6 Parshiyot, 3 open & 3 closed
90 p'sukim, ranks 42nd (5th in Vayikra)
1274 words, ranks 39th (4th in Vayikra)
4697 letters, ranks 39th (4th in Vayikra)
M'tzora's p'sukim are longer than average, hence its rise in ranking for words & letters
M’TZORA can be as early as 5 Nissan (6.7%) or the 7th (3.9%) or 8th (10%) or 10th (10.5%, like this year) or the 12th (5.8%). All of that is in 13-month years, with M’tzora read on its own. Together with Tazri’a in 12 month years it can be on the first of Iyar (18.1%), the 2nd (4.3%), 3rd (19.4%), 5th (3.3%), or the 6th (18.1%). [In the last case, T&M are read on the 29th of Nissan in Eretz Yisrael.]

Mitzvot:
11 mitzvot - all positive (no sedra has as many positive mitzvot without any prohibitions)

Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
Numbers in [square brackets] are the Mitzva-count of Sefer HaChinuch AND Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvot. A=ASEI (positive mitzva; L=LAV (prohibition).

Kohen - First Aliya - 12 p'sukim - 14:1-12
The afflictions dealt with in Tazria are immediately dealt with by the procedures described in M'tzora.

The main theme of M'tzora is the "ritual purification" of the one afflicted with Tzora'at. These procedures constitute a positive mitzva [173,A110]. Two birds are to be taken, a ceremony is performed with them, one bird is offered as a sacrifice, and the other is set free. The person immerses in a mikve, he cleans his garments, and he shaves all the hair on his body [174, A111]. The rules of ritual immersion in general, come from this context [175, A109].

A longish SDT... The 12th and final chapter of Mishna Chulin deals with the mitzva of Shilu'ach HaKen (the sending away of the mother bird). The final mishna in that chapter deals with the situation when that mitzva might clash with the purification of the M'tzora. What if the only bird available to the M'tzora for his atoning offerings is a mother dove hovering over her nest? Do we say the positive mitzva of Taharat HaM'tzora overrides the prohibition of taking the mother bird? This would seem to fit a general rule: a positive commandment overrides a prohibition (Asei docheh lo taasei). Yet this is not the case. Even for a mitzva, and even when the bird will be released alive(!), as is the case of the second of the M'tzora's two birds, one may not violate the Shilu'ach HaKen rules. There are technical reasons based on the wording in the text of the Torah for this. And, Shilu’ach HaKen is not a “simple” prohibition, but involves an attached positive command.

But there might be another concept here. Shilu'ach HaKen is a "showcase" mitzva. It is one of the rare mitzvot for which a reward is specified - Arichat Yamim (lengthening of life, the exact meaning of this is not clear, but the reward is expressed). The mitzva defies com- mon logic and reasoning. It contains enigmatic qualities of a CHOK - a Divine imperative, not readily explainable. And its reward is implied for many other mitzvot by reasoning of a Kal VaChomer - if this mitzva is rewarded thusly, then certainly the more difficult mitzvot must carry with them great reward. (Although we are cautioned not to act in order to receive reward, and although we cannot compare one mitzva to another since we "don't know how G-d keeps score", we do have a sense of the truth of the logic expressed by the mishna.) Be that as it may, we can possibly learn that the pursuit of personal improve- ment may not be at the expense of others, be they human or animal. [Note: this is only food for thought, which might not even “correct” for this issue. Certainly, one should not generalized to other areas of mitzva.]

Levi - Second Aliya - 8 p'sukim - 14:13-20
The purification process is completed after bringing various korbanot, following a seven day period and the other procedures, as mentioned above [176,A77].
[SDT] Notice how the M'tzora is isolated from others during the time he is ritually unclean. That gives him time to examine himself, his deeds, his thoughts. But as part of the process of purification, as part of the process of having a second chance in the world, he is ministered to by a kohen who becomes the first contact in his renewal procedure. There is a significant psychological factor at work in the area of NEGA'IM.

Note the use of the blood of the korbanot as well as the oil that the purifying M'tzora brings. Many of the same things are done to both - sprinkling, dabbing the earlobe, thumb and big toe.

Shlishi - Third Aliya - 12 p'sukim - 14:21-32
A person who cannot afford the animals for the sacrifices, is to bring one sheep and two birds as his offering. The Torah describes the rituals involved in these offerings.

It is not important how much the sacrifice is worth on a dollars and cents basis (shekels and agorot), but what is relative to the means of the atoner.
Thus ends the section of the Torah dealing with afflictions to the individual. ZOT TORAT... this is the body of law of one afflicted who cannot afford the full set of korbanot.

R'vi'i - Fourth Aliya - 21 p'sukim - 14:33-53
The Torah next discusses Tzora'at that can afflict a person's house. This can only be in the Land of Israel, in a house made of specific materials, and under specific conditions [177,A103]. Once again, it is the kohen who makes the determination as to whether Tzora'at does exist, or a professional house painter should be consulted. In the case of a "house plague", there are procedures to be followed and purification processes, including korbanot to be brought.

[SDT] Not only does a person's body contain elements of spirituality, but even his home - specifically in Eretz Yisrael. Although we do not "practice" this whole topic today, the lessons of the bridge and connection between the physical world and the spiritual one cannot be overlooked. A person whose home is a meeting place for Torah scholars, a launching pad for acts of charity and kindness, a training ground for a new generation of sensitive, feeling, enthusiastic Jews, such a home cannot be infected by spiritual plague. A home devoid of spirituality is a prime target for Nig'ei HaBayit. In this case, it is not the anti-rust and anti-mold paint that makes the difference. It is the values that a Jew lives by and their effect on the next generation.

It's worthwhile to point out that the manifestation of a NEGA and some kind of rot, mold, fungus, or whatever can be EXACTLY the same. If a kohen sees it and declares ritual impurity, then it is a NEGA HABAYIT. And if he doesn't see it, then it isn't. Even if a non-kohen expert in the field identifies it as a NEGA. And it is possible that a kohen was about to declare a house TAMEI and he finds out the the home-owner is a CHATAN in his first week of marriage, then he won't make the declaration and there is no TUM'A. It is all "the way a kohen sees it". There's a lot to ponder here.

G’MATRIYA based on L'ORA SHEL TORA by R. Yaakov Auerbach z"l
Our sources clearly state that the (main) cause of Tzora'at is Lashon HaRa. This idea is reflected beautifully in the following G'matriya. The numeric value of NEGA TZORA'AT is 50+3+70 (123) + 90+200+70+400 (760) = 883. The prohibition of gossip and "evil tongue" is LO TEILEICH RACHIL B'AMECHA, "do not be a talebearer". Its numeric value is 30 +1 (31) + 400+30+20 (450) + 2+70+ 40+20 (132) = 883. Punishment for violating the 883-prohibition of Lashon HaRa is the 883-affliction of Tzora'at.

May I add that the proper way to avoid both the violation and its punishment is with MIDOT TOVOT (good personality traits) = 40+10+4+6+400 (460) + 9+6 +2+6+400 (423) = 883. And if we all can avoid Lashon HaRa and its punishment by developing those good traits, then TIZKU L'GEULA SHLEIMA (you shall merit the Complete Redemption) = 400+7+20+6 (433) + 30 +3+1+6+30+5 (75) + 300+30+40+5 (375) = 883.

Chamishi - Fifth Aliya - 19 p'sukim - 14:54-15:15
This portion begins with a summary of different types of NEGA'IM.
The smallest p'sukim in the Torah have 3 words each. There are only 13 (maybe 14 if you consider a parsha break to actually split a pasuk into two p'sukim) in the whole Torah. Here in M'tzora are two 3-word p'sukim back-to-back. Is there anything special about these 3-word p'sukim? I don't know for sure, except that in some Sidurim there is the list of the 3-word p'sukim (plus some "special" p'sukim from elsewhere in Tanach) in the Motza'ei Shabbat readings (after the Z'mirot). It is probably Kabalistic.

Next the Torah speaks of the status of a man with an "unnatural discharge" (probably a form of venereal disease). In such cases, the Torah view matters as a combination of physical symptoms with spiritual causes - in the case of "Zav" and "Zava", most probably attributable to sexual misconduct. (As such, there is a close relationship between the different themes of the sedra. Interesting, is it not, that there are doctors and clinics today that specialize in dermatology and venereal diseases.) The one afflicted is himself "Tamei" as well as causing other people and objects to become "ritually impure" through contact, both direct and indirect [178,A104]. The one afflicted, must bring special korbanot after a purification process [179,A74 ].

Shishi - Sixth Aliya - 13 p'sukim - 15:16-28
There is also a "ritual impurity" (of a lesser degree - one-day type) in cases of normal seminal emissions [180, A105].

A menstruating woman is "ritually unclean". This is counted as a positive mitzva [181,A99]; its negative counter- part is in the next sedra.

A woman with an unnatural discharge has a specific set of rules. In the case of a Zava, there are differences in her status depending upon how many sightings of blood there are, and how frequent. These rules and procedures constitute a mitzva [182,A106].

Generally, when there is a rich man's korban and a poor man's korban for the same situation, if a rich man brings the less expensive version of the korban, he fulfills his obligation, after the fact. Tzora'at is an exception. If a rich man brought a poor man's offering, he has not fulfilled his obligation.

The son of the Nodeh B'Yehuda explained why beautifully. One of the causes of Tzora'at is stinginess. Even the term in our Vidui can be seen as a play on words - TZAROT AYIN. If a rich man brings a poor person's korban, in this case it is an indication that he hasn't healed. The korban cannot bring atonement.

Sh'vi'i - Seventh Aliya - 5 p'sukim - 15:29-33
The requirement of the korbanot at the conclusion of the period of impurity [183,A75]. The people of Israel have a great potential for attaining spiritual heights. They have an equally great potential for descending to low levels of spiritual impurity.

The last 3 p'sukim of the sedra (which are reread for Maftir) serve as a summary to the topics of ritual purity and impurity and present the challenge to the Jewish People to rise above mundane physical existence by scrupulously avoiding "impurity".

[SDT] Commentaries note that the laws pertaining to human beings (the sedras of Tazria and M'tzora) follow the laws pertaining to animals (Vayikra, Tzav, Shmini). This corre- sponds to the sequence of creation - animals were created before humans. If a person behaves in an improper manner, he is lower than an animal. And is reminded that "the mosquito preceded him". If however, he behaves properly, keeps the Torah and mitzvot, rises to the challenge of being holy, then he is worthy of having been created in the image of G-d.

Haftara - 21+1 p'sukim - Mal’achi 3:4-24
Unlike recent special Shabbatot, when we read a special Maftir in a second Torah and a special Haftara, for Shabbat HaGadol that is not the case. We use only one Torah and we read Parshat HaShavua from it.. We do, however, read a special Haftara. Some opinions say to read this haftara only when Shabbat HaGadol is Erev Pesach (a rare occurrence). Other opinions say to use this haftara only when Shabbat HaGadol is NOT Erev Pesach (as is the case this year... and most years). Common practice is to read it on Shabbat HaGadol in all cases, preempting the regularly scheduled Haftara.

The haftara speaks of faithfulness to Torah and the promise of the coming of Eliyahu HaNavi as the harbinger of the Final Redemption. As such, this haftara helps us view Pesach in its proper perspective. Eliyahu HaNavi partakes of the Seder, so to speak. That G-d will send him before the Great day (of Complete Redemption) makes this Haftara the perfect expression of "Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem". Geula of the past always looks to the Geula of the future.

At the Seder table, we focus on the Exodus and occasionally look beyond it. The initial statement of the Seder - HA LACHMA ANYA - sets the tone of including the future redemption as part of the evening’s foci. In the Mishnaic discussion of the place of remembering the Exodus at night, we find the additional comment of the Sages dealing with remembering the Exodus even at the time of Mashiach. The DAYEINU poem begins with the accounts of Y’TZI’AT MITZRAYIM, but then goes into the Midbar, through the split sea, to Sinai and the Torah, and into Eretz Yisrael and the building of the Beit HaMikdash. And then there is the concluding statement of the Seder (we’ve added more, but it was the original ending) - Next Year in Rebuilt Jerusalem. But all of the above says to us: Tonight we remember the Egyptian Experience and we also look further into the future to the Complete Geula. However, when we contemplate the message of the Haftara of Shabbat HaGadol, we see that the the Complete Redemption is being presented “right up front”, and it will remain in our consciousness throughout the Seder.

Note: The penultimate (next to the last) pasuk is repeated as the concluding pasuk of the haftara. This is done to end the book of Trei-Asar on a positive note (Mal'achi being the last “booklet” of Trei-Asar).

Parshat Acharei

Sedra-Stats
29th of 54 sedras; 6th of 10 in Vayikra
Written on 154 lines in a Sefer Torah, ranks 44
15 Parshiyot; 3 open, 12 closed
80 p'sukim, ranks 45th; 6th in Vayikra
1170 words, ranks 43rd; 6th in Vayikra
4294 letters, ranks 45th; 6th in Vayikra
Acharei's p'sukim are above average in number of words, hence its modest rise in ranking. Overall, it is a small sedra
There are only six other sedras that have more mitzvot than ACHAREI. But those top six sedras have 74, 63, 55, 53, 51, and 41 mitzvot. ACHAREI is deep into seventh place. These top 7 sedras account for 365 of the Torah’s 613 mitzvot. That’s almost 60% of the mitzvot in less than 13% of the sedras.

Mitzvot:
28 of the 613 mitzvot, 2 positive + 26 prohibitions

Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
Numbers in [square brackets] are the Mitzva-count of Sefer HaChinuch AND Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvot. A=ASEI (positive mitzva; L=LAV (prohibition).

Kohen - First Aliya - 17 p'sukim - 16:1-17
The first part of the sedra deals with the Yom Kippur service in the Beit HaMikdash - SEDER HaAvoda. An emotional element is introduced when the Torah tells us that G-d gave these commands "after the deaths of Aharon's two sons". We cannot help but be struck by the combination of the Kohen Gadol performing the loftiest of spiritual tasks with the background of personal grief. These feelings are especially powerful as we listen to this reading on Yom Kippur morning.

Before the Service is described, the kohanim in general are warned not to enter the Beit HaMikdash other than when they have tasks to perform there [184,L68].
The entire Yom Kippur service, with all of its details, constitutes one mitzva [185,A49]. Aharon is to take a bull as a sin-offering and a ram as a burnt-offering. He is to wear his special garments (the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur alternates between his full set of eight garments and a special set of four pure white garments which he wore when he entered the Holy of Holies).
The Kohen Gadol washes his hands and feet ten times throughout the day and immerses in a mikveh five times. "From the People", Aharon takes two goats for sin-offerings and a ram as an Olah. The bull is an atonement for Aharon and the kohanim. Lots were cast to determine which of the two (identical) goats was to be offered as a korban and which was sent out alive into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

[SDT] There are two very different styles of sin - rejecting what G-d says and distancing oneself from the Divine, and violating His commands in an attempt to get closer to Him. Most sin is of the former type; that of Nadav and Avihu was of the latter kind.

Corresponding to these two opposite motivations for sin, we have two offerings - one that was offered inside the Beit HaMikdash, its blood actually being brought into the Kodshei Kodoshim, and the other being sent completely away from the Beit HaMikdash. Both goats were identical.

The Kohen Gadol performs all of the duties of the Day, with minimal assistance from other kohanim. The Holy of Holies filled with smoke from the incense offering whem the Kohen Gadol entered. The service of Yom Kippur is complex; it is detailed in the repetition of the Musaf Amida on Yom Kippur as well as in the Torah reading.

Levi - Second Aliya - 7 p'sukim - 16:18-24
This portion continues to describe the complex service of Yom Kippur. Among the many tasks of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, is VIDUI on behalf of all the people of Israel. His confession of sin must be accompanied by that of each Jew, if complete atonement is to be achieved. Rambam says that there is "communal forgiveness" for "minor" offenses, but major sins require that the individual do his own T'shuva, so to speak. Even when there is "communal forgiveness", an individual still has to be part of the community in order to benefit from it. He who distances himself from the community does not receive the benefits of communal prayer, repentance, and atonement. (Over simplified, to be sure, but there is a point here.)

[SDT] The deaths of Aharon’s two sons is mentioned in Shmini, Acharei, Bamidbar, and Civrei HaYamim. This can be considered an allusion to the four possible sins that resulted in their deaths.

Shlishi - Third Aliya - 10 p'sukim - 16:25-34
The Torah continues detailing the Yom Kippur service. It concludes with a reiteration of the rules of Yom Kippur for each of us, and the statement that the Day of Yom Kippur helps bring atonement to the People. It is thus the Day itself, the Temple service, communal prayer, AND our individual prayer, T'shuva, and confession that combine to attain true forgiveness for ourselves and all of Israel.

Interesting. There are many connections between Pesach and Yom Kippur (Next year in rebuilt J'lem, kittel, and more). Usually, we think of them as being on opposite sides of the calendar. Yet here we are, reading about YK on the shabbat right after Pesach.

R'vi'i - Fourth Aliya - 7 p'sukim - 17:1-7
It is forbidden to slaughter an animal that is to be offered as a korban, outside the area of the Beit HaMikdash [186,L90].
It is similarly forbidden to slaughter an animal for personal use within the precincts of the Temple. A korban slaughtered outside is invalid and must be burned, "personal" meat inside is likewise forbidden. Both are wasteful, hence sinful, acts which can be construed as a form of bloodshed.

Chamishi - Fifth Aliya - 14 p'sukim - 17:8-18:5
The Torah reiterates the prhibition of slaughtering korbanot "outside" and states emphatically that it is forbidden to eat blood. Blood symbolizes life. When one slaughters a bird or a "wild" animal (e.g. deer - as opposed to the domesticated farm animal for which this mitzva does not apply), it is required to cover the first amount of blood with "dust" (sand, sawdust, etc.) [187,A147]. The prohibitions relating to blood are repeated and stressed. Blood of korbanot goes on the Altar as an atonement; blood of animals that are not eligible for korbanot must be covered.

Chapter 18 contains the many forbidden sexual relationships. First there is a general warning against copying the negative practices of Egypt (from whence we came) and those of the peoples of Canaan (to where we are going). We have only to follow the laws and statues of G-d and live by them.
[SDT] From the term V'CHAI BAHEM, "and live by them", we are taught two important concepts. Judaism is not just a religion; it is a way of life. Furthermore, this pasuk is (one of) the source(s) of the concept that many mitzvot are to LIVE by, not to die by.

Shishi - Sixth Aliya - 16 p'sukim - 18:6-21
It is prohibited to be intimate with any of the forbidden relations [188,L353].
Homosexual relations are forbidden with one's father [189,L351], (in addition to the general prohibition of homosexual conduct).
One may not have sexual relations with his mother [190,L330], his father's wife (even if she is not his mother) [191, L331], his sister (from same father or mother or both) [192,L332], his grand- daugher from a son [193,L334] or from a daughter [194,335], his daughter [195,L336] (This prohibition is derived by KAL VACHOMER, the logical reasoning that if a man is forbidden to have relations with his granddaughter, how much more so is he forbidden to his daughter.)
The Torah singles out the daughter of one's father's wife and forbids relations with her [196,L333] although she is his sister, already being forbidden to him by mitzva #192. There are different opinions as to the significance and ramifications of this "seemingly" extraneous prohibition.

One may not have relations with his paternal aunt [197,L340], nor his maternal aunt [198,L341], nor may a man have homosexual relations with his paternal [199,L352] or maternal [200,L342] uncle.

Due to a significant breakdown of one of our printing machines, the production of this week’s larger-than- usual TT took a lot longer than usual. Alas, we ran out of time and space for the end of Acharei and its haftara (which is HALO CHIVNEI CHUSHI’IM from Amos 9).

THE JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JEWISH LAW
Rabbi Emanuel Quint, Dean
Lesson # 181 • Things Included in the Sale of a House
These lessons are in no manner or form intended to give legal advice. They are intended to acquaint the reader with the Torah law in these topics.

Throughout these lessons I have suggested that a person who is involved in a major commercial transaction should consult an attorney to help him. Thus when a person purchases a house, which for most people is their most expensive and lasting purchase, an attorney will, after consulting the purchaser, see to it that the contract of sale includes the items intended to be purchased with the house. Conversely, the seller's attorney will see to it that only those items that have been agreed upon to be part of the sale are included in the contract of sale.

Absent specific provisions included in the contract, local customs, legislation, and court decisions will help determine what is included in the sale of a house. Many of the laws of this lesson are nowadays theo- retical, since agreements are entered into between the seller and the buyer when selling and buying real estate. But undoubtedly some instances may occur when these laws might be used. Or the parties may agree that there is a dispute between them in spite of the presence of lawyers and want to follow the halachah. (Our Beth Din recently had such a case.)

Assume that the parties do not have attorneys representing them, or if they do, the attorneys failed to adequately supervise the drafting of the clauses in the contract of sale of the house, or something unantic- ipated arises. Thereafter there is a disagreement between Reuven, the seller, and Shimon, the purchaser, as to what is included in the sale. The parties then come before Beth Din to determine what is included in the sale of the house.

Commencing with this lesson we shall IYH discuss similar laws regarding what is included in various types of sales absent specification.

In addition to the physical things included in the sale there is also the question of the rights of the parties to the airspace above the property sold and rights to minerals, water, building storage areas, and any other underground things. Absent specification, which of these rights belong to the buyer and which are reserved to the seller?

In lesson 178 (TT 562) there was discussed the selling of air rights separately from the ground beneath the air. In these lessons we discuss the sale of air rights together with the sale of ground and when they are retained by the seller. Many of the laws in these lessons deal with the residual relationship between the seller and the buyer. The parties - the seller and the purchaser - may agree between themselves as to what is included in a sale, and such agreement is binding on both parties. This holds true even if the local usage of terms of sale is in conflict with their agreement. Reuven sells his two story house to Shimon and they agree that the upper floor is not part of the sale and is reserved for Reuven. Reuven may construct poles, spars, beams, or other things that project from his upper floor apartment onto the airspace outside his apartment, even if they extend into the airspace above the courtyard that Shimon bought from Reuven together with the house.

If the upper floor collapses or if Reuven wants to raze his apartment and rebuild it, in both events Reuven may rebuild it just as it was before the collapse or before his desire to rebuild it. The same applies to other structures in the building reserved to Reuven, such as wells, pits, cisterns, or storage areas.

If the parties fail to specify in their contract of sale what items are included in a sale, and if there is local usage, such local usage will govern.

In many communities there are recognized bodies or there may be legislation that will define the rights of the parties absent any specification.

Terms in contracts may be given certain construction as to their meaning by court decisions. All of these govern in the absence of any agreement between the parties.

There is authority that all of the following rules as to what is included in the sale and what is not included apply if the claims are made at the time of the sale. I would add that it includes the time that it takes for the buyer to return to the property and inspect it. If made thereafter and the seller admits the sale or the buyer has a deed to the house, everything accessory to the house is deemed to be included in the sale. That which is accessory may be determined by local usage, local laws, and court decisions.

There are certain things that are included in the sale of a house if nothing else is said. If one sells the house and everything in it, then the words of the parties will control and everything is sold, although some of the things would otherwise not be sold absent local custom or the specification to include them in the sale. This is so even without a statement that the seller does not reserve anything for himself. The attic in a house that does not have separate access is sold with the house even if it is not specifically so stated. If its access is by ladder through the house or if it is by a regular staircase it is the same as any upper floor and not included in the sale.

All attached parts of the house are included in the transfer of the house, such as doors, locks, stoves, ovens, door moldings, electrical supply systems, heating and air conditioning systems, television and tele- phone wires, and anything else that is considered by the local real estate people to be included in the sale.
In those cases where the buyer does not obtain those items above stated and the seller retains them, the seller does not have the right to gain access to them, unless he has specifically reserved such right. The buyer can demand that the seller pay for the right at a price to be negotiated to the satisfaction of the buyer.
If the seller retained the items by reservation rather than by the halachah, he need not obtain special permission to have access to the items that he reserved. For example, if the seller states to the buyer, "I sell this house to you but not the pit or the cistern," then he does not have to obtain permission from the buyer to have access to the pit or cistern.

IYH in the next lesson we shall discuss those thing that are not included in the sale of he house.
The subject matter of this lesson is more fully presented in Volume VI Chapters 214 of"A Restatement of Rabbinic Civil Law" byE. 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

ESTATE OF A CONVERT
A Jew whose Jewish ancestry goes back many generations can never die without heirs. The reason is that when there are no children the chain of inheritance goes upwards to the parents or grandparents, all the way back to the patriarch Yaakov. Even if the parents or grandparents and so on have already passed away, the estate just returns back downwards to the children or grandchildren of these "virtual" heirs, so that the estate will go to the first, second, or third cousins or even farther, until eligible heirs are found from among the entire Jewish people (SA CM 276:1)

However, a convert who dies without children has no heirs. The chain of inheritance goes back to Yaakov, not to Avraham who is the father of converts. The result is that the estate of a childless convert in Jewish law is considered ownerless property, exactly as if the convert had explicitly renounced ownership. Indeed, the Rambam states explicitly "The possessions of a convert who has no heirs and possessions which have been renounced... have the identical status" (Zechia umatana 2:1, SA CM 275:12).

The simplest understanding of this situation is that it is the result of some unfortunate discrepancy. While some- one's estate is normally supposed to be bequeathed to heirs, the unfortunate convert somehow slips between the cracks and so by mere default the property becomes ownerless. However, Rav Natan of Breslav provides a pro- found interpretation of this law which practically reverses this understanding.

Rav Natan explains that normally when a Jew passes away, his possessions pass in a well-defined way to specific heirs; other members of the Jewish people are excluded.

However, a convert has a special status. He (or she) has a much more general soul. While a born Jew traces his ancestry to his or her specific father and mother, the convert is the child of Avraham and Sarah, the founders of the Jewish people and of the pure worship of HaShem. Rav Natan goes beyond this and states that converts are also the spiritual progeny of the especially righteous: "the main progeny of the righteous is the souls of the converts". Likewise, when we trace our family tree forward the usual situation is that there are specific heirs, but in the case of a childless convert "the estate of a convert belongs to the entire Jewish people".

In other words, we don't have a negative, default situation where the property belongs to no one, but on the contrary a remarkable positive condition where the property passes to the everyone. "For in principle the soul of the convert is drawn from the entire community of Israel".

According to this explanation, the law regarding the estate of a convert bears a remarkable insight. Just as the seemingly parentless convert is not bereft of parents but on the contrary is the offspring of Avraham and Sarah, who constitute the root of the entire Jewish people, so the seemingly childless convert is not truly bereft of children but on the contrary the entire Jewish people are like his offspring, and are entitled to a share in his estate. - (Likutei Halakhot Breslav Hefker 2)

[NOTE: This analysis seems to imply that the estate of a convert is intended primarily for Jews. I have found no explicit source for such a distinction, but it is plausible for the following reason: The rules of this type of ownerless property are derived from the rules of the Sabbatical year (Yerushalmi Peah 6:1, mentioned in Tosafot BK 28a). And the ownerless produce of the Shmita year is intended primarily for Jews (Rambam Shemitta 4:30, Sifra on Vayikra 25:6). If any reader knows of a source which explicitly supports or refutes this idea, I would appreciate a reference. Another possibility is that the convert is considered a patriarch for all humanity, exactly like Avraham whose name means "father of a multitude of nations" (Bereshit 17:5). -AM]

“Meaning in Mitzvot” is now undergoing intensive editing; which will be followed IYH by printing. With the help of loyal supporters, we hope to have the book on the shelves by Rosh HaShana. If you would be interested in helping with publication, please contact Rabbi Meir about making a dedication or subscription (advance purchase): email mail@asherandattara.com, fax 02-642-3141.

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

MISC section - contents:
1. Vebbe Rebbe
2. Hasidic Wisdom
3. Words of Wisdom; Words of Wit
4. Candle by Day
5. Torah from Nature
6. Chizuk V'Idud
7. Hebrew Word
8. From the desk of the director

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...

Q I know that a lot of things that are forbidden on Yom Tov are permitted on Chol Hamoed. Are all rabbinic prohibitions like muktzeh and amirah l'nachri (requesting a non-Jew to do the work) permitted on Chol Hamoed?
A There isn't an across-the-board distinction on Chol Hamoed be- tween Torah and rabbinic prohibitions. In general, there are three approaches among the Rishonim as to the basis for the limitations on work on Chol Hamoed. Some say it is from the Torah, but has more areas of leniency than Yom Tov does. Some hold it is totally rabbinic. And the third, fascinating approach is that the Torah decreed that some areas of melacha would be forbidden, but left it up to Chazal to determine what would be forbidden and what would be permitted. (See a summary in the Beit Yosef in the beginning of Orach Chayim 530.) Although there are significant differences between the laws of Chol Hamoed and those of Yom Tov, they are more related to the category of a melacha, its nature, and its purpose than they are related to the source and severity of the laws. The general approach of Chazal was to distinguish between activity which is related to enhancing the festive spirit of the moed and that which occupies a person with other, tiresome activity (see Moed Katan 2b). However, it was up to Chazal to determine how to apply that general principle. As we are bound to follow the guidelines Chazal set out for us, one must search the sources to see what is permitted and what is forbidden. If one goes through the sugyot of Chol Hamoed one will not find explicit references to the classic laws of muktzeh. (The concept of muktzeh l'mitzvato does come up.) The poskim (see Tosafot, Shabbat 22a; Darkei Moshe, OC 544:2; Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchata 68:26) claim that, indeed, it was never included in the prohibitions of Chol Hamoed.

In contrast, the rabbinic prohibition not to ask a non-Jew to do work that is forbidden for a Jew applies throughout the Torah (see Bava Metzia 90) and extends to Chol Hamoed, as well (Moed Katan 12a; Shulchan Aruch, OC 543:1). This can be because of fear that the Jew will come to do the work himself (see Chol Hamoed K'hilchata 2:(245)) or because involvement through a proxy is also often not conducive to the spirit of the day (Aruch Hashulchan 543:1). This prohibition applies whether one holds that melacha on Chol Hamoed is forbidden from the Torah or is rabbinic.

There are some areas of leniency regarding amirah l'nachri on Chol Hamoed as opposed to on Shabbat and Yom Tov. The most pertinent is that when the work is done for a mitzva that will be needed on Chol Hamoed, then the non-Jew can do the work (Magen Avraham 543:1). (When there is a mitzva need it is often permitted for a Jew to do the work himself (Shulchan Aruch OC 545:3). However, there are situations when it is not permitted for a Jew, and the more inclusive leniency of using a non-Jew is needed.) The Magen Avraham explains that since there is an opinion that permits a non-Jew to do melacha on a Jew's behalf in the case of a mitzva even on Shabbat, one can be lenient on Chol Hamoed. The Levushei S'rad (ad loc.) understands that this is on the assumption that the entire prohibition on work on Chol Hamoed is rabbinic, but it is generally assumed that one can rely on the Magen Avraham even if one accepts the opinion that melacha is from the Torah (Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchata 68:(144)).

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 eretzhem@netvision.net.il 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)
A constant delight becomes habitual and loses its pleasure.
That is why worship has its high points and its lows — so that it always remains a pleasure.
— Baal Shem Tov

ArtScroll Series • Mesorah Publications Ltd.
WORDS OF WISDOM WORDS OF WIT by Shmuel Himelstein
The head of the Gemach - free loan fund - in Bnei Brak, came to the Chazon Ish with a question. People who borrowed money from the Gemach were asked to leave something of value as a pledge - a piece of jewelry, etc. Some people had not repaid their debts for a very long time, and the gabbai wanted to know whether the Gemach could sell the pledges in order to repay the debt. The Chazon Ish became very upset by the question. “Imagine”, he said, “that a man left his wife’s jewelry as a pledge, and you sold it. The next day, the man’s wife sees another woman wearing her jewelry. Can you imagine her emotional pain? A Gemach must not work only according to the law. It must go above and beyond the dictates of law.”

The teacher should be a stabilizing force without being a paralyzing one. From A Candle by Day by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein

MA RABU MA'ASECHA HASHEM KULAM B'CHOCHMA ASITA MAL'A HA'ARETZ KINYANECHA • Sheep/Lambs
Sheep are unique animals with a rich past and gentle demeanor. Since time immemorial they have provided humanity with food and clothing. Sheep were one of the first domesticated animals on earth and to this day have no natural defenses against predators other than the sheep producers who care for them.
Sheep are docile creatures and naturally gregarious (they tend to stay in groups). They have poor eyesight, an excellent sense of smell and hear so well...
Their hooves are split, allowing them to climb steep inclines if necessary, and they have no top front teeth, which permits them to eat vegetation located very close to the ground. Their unique bite also prevents them from pulling up plant roots and destroying the lands they graze.
Sheep are nature's gift to the environ- ment. Natural grazers, sheep roam the lands eating clover, alfalfa, grasses and brush. They are friends of the earth and instinctively manage the land they graze.

Grazing sheep can thin smothering overgrowth, eat noxious weeds dangerous to other livestock, help nourish wildlife by encouraging the growth of healthy forage and recycle vital nutrients back to the soil.

... lambing, the time when lambs are born. Typically occurring in the spring... producers work 24-hours a day during lambing. They closely monitor their pregnant ewes, physically assist in birth when necessary and provide nurturing, round-the-clock care for ewes and newborn lambs. Some build specially designed birthing pens called jugs... comfortable and dry to protect the ewe and her lambs from predators...

Wool is one of the most remarkable... Wool is a pure, organic product and is unlike any other fiber in the world. It is naturally durable, resilient and absorbent... surface water resistant... interior highly absorbent. non-allergenic fiber which does not promote the growth of bacteria... excellent insulator of temperature and sound... Wool is naturally flame retardant. One pound of wool can be spun into 20 miles of yarn.

CHIZUK and IDUD (for the Oleh & not-yet-Oleh respectively)
Parshat Metzora teaches how to cure tzoraat that has afflicted one's home. If one would find tzoraat on one's home in Israel, one would be instructed to dismantle the walls of the edifice and remove the bricks and cinderblocks outside of the camp. Rashi comments that this unique rehabilitative process of "cleansing" the home was actually advantageous for Bnei Yisrael. For during the forty years that Bnei Yisrael were wandering in the wilderness, a punishment due to the sin of the spies, the Amorites who at the time resided in the Land, were busy hiding their gems and jewels in the walls of their homes. When the walls of an afflicted home were demolished, the new Jewish owner would discover these gems and jewels!

Rashi's commentary requires elucida- tion. Not only for his deviation from the normative approach that tzoraat is a punishment, but also for the connection he makes between the generation of the wilderness and tzoraat-afflicted homes.

To explain Rashi, we must remember that the Gemara explains the cause of Tzaraat to be tzarut ha-ayin, literally, a narrowness of the eye. I.e., a supercritical, pessimistic, toxic, negative look at all that is around you.

Perhaps Rashi's explanation is a lesson tailored for our generation: "Ki tavo'u el haaretz" - After finally having the ability of living in Israel, instead of running and embracing that miracle and opportunity, some Jews respond with tzarut ha-ayin - a narrowness of one's sight. If we adopt a critical negative, pessimistic, outlook on our actual ability to live in the land, or a lack of desire to do so, then Hashem sadly will begin to jeopardize our security, our hold on the land. The generation that perished in the wilderness because of tzarut ayin, did not reach the Holy Land, and did not earn the gems and jewels of the Amorites!

May we see more obviously the gems and jewels of the treasure of Eretz Yisrael that is sparkling before us without having to be subjected to the painful anguish of additional trauma and dismantling of our foundation, and be zocheh to build our homes, our lives, and future in Eretz HaK’dosha. - Rabbi Yehoshua FassCo-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh

TORAH THOUGHTS as contributed by Aloh Naaleh members for publication in the Orthodox Union's 'Torah Insights', a weekly Torah publication on Parshat Ha'Shavuah

Pesach warning from the Academiya L’Lashon HaIvrit. For those who don’t handle their wine well, there is a potential of having a hangover on the morning after Seder. And how does one say hangover in Hebrew? - CHAMAR-MO-RET

Divrei Menachem, mpersoff@israelcenter.co.il
Shabbat Hagadol always seems to connect us with our past and our future. To our past, for we are taken back to that very first Shabbat in Mizrayim when the redemption from slavery began. To the future because, with a great sense of expectation, we can anticipate in our very own times the imminent unfolding of the Messianic age.
The Sefat Emet asks us to consider that the redemptive process in Egypt was not the outcome of a natural course of events: The Ge'ula from Mizrayim was a circumstance "Me'al Hateva" - beyond natural causes. For does not Hashem proclaim that it was "I and not an angel" who was responsible for the redemption?
The fact that the stirrings of the Ge'ula were so intrinsically tied in with Shabbat lends additional insight into this concept. For Shabbat also represents a break from the workings of our finite world and the entry into a higher order of heavenly intervention. Yetzia't Mizrayim and Shabbat are therefore on the same spiritual plane.
For this reason Shabbat is both a remembrance of Creation (Ma'aseh Bereishit) and of Yetzi'at Mizrayim. Invoking the Maharal, the Sefat Emet notes that the "Me'al Hateva" properties of Shabbat and Ge'ula place them both beyond time and place. No wonder then that when Ge'ulah and Shabbat coincide we proclaim Shabbat Hagadol to be the Great Shabbat!
Shabbat Shalom v’Chag Same'ach, Menachem Persoff

SHEYIBANEH BEIT HAMIKDASH...
A series of articles on Beit HaMikdash-related topics by Catriel Sugarman
intended to increase the knowledge, interest,and anticipation of the reader, thereby hasteningthe realization of our hopes and prayers for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Beit HaMikdash.

More on Korban Pesach
The last Mishna in the fifth chapter of Zevachim (Eizehu Mekoman) contains a brief summary of the laws of Korban Pesach. "The Korban Pesach could be eaten only at (that) night (the 15th of Nisan), and only until midnight, and it could be eaten only by those who were 'pre-registered' (in their Chavura at the time of slaughter - discussed in last week's TT) and it only could be eaten roasted."

When the Olei Regel returned to their accommodations from the Beit HaMikdash with their slaughtered lambs and goats, they began to roast their Korbanot Pesach. And despite the incredible crowds and tight quarters, somehow everyone managed. “No man ever said to his fellow, ‘I cannot find an oven in which to roast the Korban Pesach’…” (Avot D'Rabbi Natan 35:1). The Mishna asks, "How do they roast the Korban Pesach? They bring a skewer of pomegranate wood and thrust it through (the animal), from its mouth to its buttocks." (Pesachim 7:1). The innards of the Pesach (which were not burnt on the Mizbei'ach) were also skewered on the pomegranate wood and roasted. The two ends of the branch were placed in notches at the top of the oven thus suspending the lamb (or goat) above the charcoal. After ascertaining that the body of the lamb was not touching the walls of the oven, the fire could be lit.

"You shall not eat it partially roasted or cooked in water: only roasted over fire... (Shemot 12:9). The Mishna notes, "If it touched the earthenware (sides) of the oven, that portion must be trimmed away." The reason? The trimmed away part was not directly "roasted with fire"; it was roasted indirectly by the heat of the oven-wall. Similarly, a metal spit could not be utilized for the same reason. The meat, which was in direct contact with the spit, would be roasted by the intense heat of the spit, not by the fire.

The Olei Regel observed three Mitzvot D'oraita on the eve of the 15th of Nisan.
• Magid - They discussed in depth the story of Yetziat Mitzra'im - the Exodus from Egypt (Shemot 13:3). "And whoever enlarges on the tale of the Exodus from Egypt, that one merits praise."
• Achilat Matza - The eating of a K'zyit (olive's bulk) of Matza (Shemot 12:18).
• All members of the Chavura - the pre-registered group of people united to offer and eat the Korban Pesach together - were required to eat a minimum of one K'zyit of the meat accompanied by Matza and Maror (Shemot 12:8).
There were also a number of Mitzvot Lo Ta'aseh associated with the Korban Pesach. When the members of the Chavura were eating the meat of the Korban Pesach, they had to be careful not to break a bone (that had a K'zyit of meat still on it). To minimize that possibility, if there were many people in the Chavura, and the meat of one small lamb would not satiate them, the Sages ruled that the members of the Chavura should bring another Korban. This special festival sacrifice was called Chagigat Arba Asar. No one should be so hungry, that, in their haste to eat, they would inadvertently break a bone of the Korban Pesach.
The Seder, then as now, began with Kiddush, Urchatz and Karpas - the sanctification and blessing over the wine, washing hands without a bracha, and eating less than a Kazyit of greens dipped in salt water with a bracha. Then two trays were brought in - one contained the meat of the Korban Pesach and the other the Chagiga. Then they were quickly removed to arouse the curiosity of the children so they would start to ask questions. The second cup of wine was poured. The drinking of four cups of wine on the night of the Seder (and the singing of Hallel) are considered D'rabbanan.
Today the youngest participant asks only four questions at the Seder. In Beit HaMikdash days, there was an additional question, which sadly, is not asked today. "On all other nights, we eat meat which is roasted, stewed, or cooked, but on this night only roasted meat." The roasted meat mentioned, of course, referred to the Korban Pesach and the Chagiga. After Magid, the two trays containing the Korban Pesach and the Chagiga were returned to the table. They were accompanied by heaps of round hand-made Matzot, Maror, Charoset and other foods. While eating Matza is an independent D'oraita, and eating Maror was a Torah requirement to accompany the Korban Pesach, Rambam joined them together in a single bracha. "...V’TZIVANU AL ACHILAT MOTZOT UM-RORIM. (Hilchot Chameitz U’Matza 8:6). After eating Matza and Maror, the Oleh Regel recited the bracha, "...AL ACHILAT ZEVACH and ate from the Chagiga. Then he recited the bracha "...AL ACHILAT HAPESACH and ate of the Korban Pesach. Charoset neutralized to an extent the bitter taste of the Maror, and, while an ancient and venerable custom, was not considered a Mitzva of its own. The great Hillel, who lived in the days of the Beit HaMikdash, certainly brought Korbanot Pesach. The Hagada reads, “This was the custom of Hillel when the Beit HaMikdash was still standing. He would place some of the (meat) of the Korban Pesach, Matza and Maror together and eat them simultaneously to fulfill what it is said, ‘Upon unleavened bread and bitter herbs shall they eat it.’” In this manner, he fulfilled the three Mitzvot Asei at the same time. No doubt many Olei Regel who ascended to Jerusalem emulated Hillel's example.

The Chavura could eat its Korban Pesach only in a building or a well-defined area and only in Jerusalem. If a number of Chavurot were eating their Korban Pesach in one location, a clear boundary had to separate them. The sacrificial meat could not be removed from the premises. The Korban Pesach had to be eaten by midnight. Afterwards, the third cup of wine was poured for Birkat HaMazon and the fourth for the second half of Hallel. "You shall not leave any of it over until morning." [The remains of the Korban Pesach were burnt on the first morning of Chol HaMoed.]

"So may the L-rd, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, let us live until other Festive Seasons, and holidays which shall come to meet us in peace. Happy in the building of Thy City, and joyous in Thy worship. May we eat there, the festival offerings and Korbanot Pesach, whose blood shall reach the wall of Thine Altar, in acceptance."

Catriel Sugarman gives illustrated lectures on the Beit Hamikdash and related topics. He can be reached at (02) 652-7531 or by email: acatriel@netvision.net.il. Catriel is in the process of writing a book entitled:

The Temple of Jerusalem, A Pilgrim's Perspective: A Guided Tour through the Temple and the Divine Service.

Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading
Column #65. Contents of this weekly column are (mostly) 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.
One reader called in a very impoprtant comment about last week’s column. Specifically, about the statement that when a T’LISHA K’TANA is followed by a KADMA V’AZLA, then it’s link to the KADMA word is stronger than the link between the KADMA and AZLA words. Incorrect staement. It should have read: SOMETIMES the link be- tween the T’LISHA and the KADMA word is stronger... It’s the BIG TRUCK DRIVER thing. Sometimes - and that’s how it was in the examples from last week - you mean the driver of a big truck. So big and truck are linked more strongly than truck and driver are. But not always. Sometimes you mean that the truck driver is big. Then the KADMA and AZLA words are linked with no pause at all. This seems to be the more common situation. Last week’s examples were the exceptional ones.
Here’s a “regular” one: The first T’LISHA K’TANA in the Torah is in B’reishit 1:21, in the description of the fifth day of Creation, and it’s followed by a KADMA V’AZLA: ASHER SHA-R’TZU HAMAYIM, that proliferate in the water. The KADMA V’AZLA words make up their own two-word phrase and go together more than the ASHER with the T’LISHA K’TANA does with them. In 1:25, again, VAYA’AS ELOKIM (with a TK) ET CHAYAT HAARETZ... the animals of the land makes a neat KADMA V’AZLA phrase. This is the norm. Next pasuk, again, V’YIRDU VIDGAT HAYAM... The KADMA V’AZLA fits its phrase well. Just note that the DAGESH of VIDGAT dropped out of the first letter, indicating that the previous word’s TROP is a linker and not a MAFSIK, a pauser.
Another reader doubts the whole idea of any distinction among the linking TROP notes (the M’SHARTIM) as to “strength” of the link. We’ll have to look into this possibility some more.
Another reader commented that the way most Ashkenazim read the T’LISHA K’TANA, there is a cadence at the end of the note (in the sense of “a falling inflection of the voice, as at the end of a sentence”) which makes it extremely difficult not to pause before the next word. This negates the identification of a T’LISHA K’TANA as a M’SHAREIT, which it is. So obviously, we are not reading it properly. Most of us, that is.
We’ve asked this before; here it is again.
Are we nitpicking with all of the above?
[nitpicking: Minute, trivial, unnecessary, and unjustified criticism or faultfinding]
No, this is not nitpicking.
We are talking about reading the Torah in public. The Torah that G-d gave us through Moshe Rabeinu. The Torah that Moshe established should be read in public so that we would hear it often. Reading it properly makes it better understood, and makes the experience of hearing it more beautiful.
We are talking about davening. Talking to G-d. Praising Him, thanking Him, asking Him to fulfill our needs and desires. Asking for His help. Proclaiming our love for Him.
No, we are not nitpicking. We are striving Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading.
On another note... The name ELIYAHU appears 60 times in the two MELACHIMs. 5 additional times in the beginning of Melachim Bet, he is called EILIYA, without the VAV. Only one other place is Eliyahu HaNavi referred to: at the end of MAL’ACHI, the haftara for Shabbat HaGadol. That is the 6th time he is called EILIYA.

Parsha Pix for M'tzora
The two birds are part of the purification process of a M'TZORA. Also included in the procedure are EIZOV (hyssop) and EITZ EREZ (cedar). Both are pictured on line with the the doves.
The M'tzora is required to shave the hair of his body (razor), including, as is mentioned in the Torah, the eyebrows. In the picture, one eyebrow has already been shaved.
The 2+1 on the lamb are for 2 male sheep and 1 female - part of the procedure of purification. So too the sack of flour and the oil can.
The house in the picture is frowning. It is sad that it is afflicted with N’GA’IM.
In the lower right are the three recipients of the blood and oil of the purification process - the earlobe (one opinion - others hold the top of the outer ear, or the middle ridge of cartilage), thumb, and big toe.
Above that is a left palm, mentioned many times in the sedra as where the kohein put the blood and then the oil from which he took on his right index finger in order to apply to the MITAHEIR.
Then there is the lamb for Korban Pesach which was brought into the house for the first Pesach of Mitzrayim. It was brought in on the 10th of Nissan, the date of this Shabbat.

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 presented for call-in solution on Torah Tidbits Audio (Arutz-7, Thursday night). The best solution set submitted each week (there isn't 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 (TAZRI’A) TTriddles:
[1] Sounds like the great-grand-daughter of a rabbit. What's it really?
[2] Moshe: 91. Aharon: 2. Three others once. Who?
[3] Brazemu or...

Slim pickins, as they say. But here goes:

And the envelope please...
[1] A rabbit is a SHAFAN. Great-granddaughter is a NINA. The word SHAFNINA sounds like the great- granddaughter of a rabbit. In fact, it is the Aramaic (courtesy of Onkeles) of the word TOR, one of the dave types that can be brought on the Mizbei’ach, and, in fact was one of the possible korbanot for a YOLEDET, a woman who gave birth. Aside from sounding like a rabbit, the usual translation into English of TOR is turtle dove, so we are dealing with a bird with an identity crisis.
But seriously, Dr. Yehuda Felix in his The Animal World of the Bible, posits that the TOR is either Streptopelia senegalensis, the laughing dove (a.k.a. palm dove) earned its name because of the distinctive coo that sounds just like a human laughing. It is reddish-brown with blue and copper on its wings and white on its tail. Its bill is black and its legs are a purple color. Common in this part of the world. Or Streptopelia turtur, the turtle dove. Note the name turtur, which is used for one of the sub-species of turtle dove. Very similar to the Hebrew.
[2] VAYDABEIR HASHEM EL... That’s the starting place. As both Tazri’a and M’tzora begin. As do 10 other sedras. This three word phrase appears 96 times in Tanach. Mostly in Sh’mot, Vayikra, and Bamidbar. Once in D’varim. Once in Yehoshua. Twice in Divrei HaYamim. Moshe is the next word in 91 of the 96 times. Aharon twice. (Sometimes Aharon followed Moshe as the object of G-d’s speaking.) Bt the way, LEIMOR follows these words most often, but this TTriddle relates only to the VAYDABEIR HASHEM EL. The three people that follow this phrase once each are YEHOSHUA, GAD and MENASHE - not Yaakov’s son or grandson. Different ones.
[3] In past years, both as ParshaPix pieces and as PPP (ParshaPixPuzzles), we’ve had the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character, known as TAZ, and the large flightless bird of South America, called a RHEA. Together they make up the name of the sedra, TAZ-RHEA. It is a shame, TTriddle-wise, that the rhea was not native to Australia and Tasmania, because that would have made a stronger TTriddle and PPP. The three biggest birds are the ostrich, rhea, and emu. The emu is a native of Tasmania. The rhea is native to Brazil (and some other South American countries). So taking the first part of Brazil and attaching emu, we have BRAZEMU. Taking the first part of one of the countries that the emu actually comes from and attaching to it the name of the big bird of Brazil, gives us TAZRHEA.
Now here’s the interesting thing, solver-wise.
MM/Bklyn answered that BRAZEMU was TAZRI’A, but he had no idea how to get it. He jest knew that it had to be. On the other hand, way over on the other hand, the G-gang missed the “real” solution and instead offered a different solution that is so much more... more serious... more involved... more into the sedra... just more. But from the way they submitted their answer, you can tell that they were not at all sure of it. But they gave it their best shot, and I thank them for it. Here’s their solution for [3].
The best I could do was an acrostic based on the gemara in Erchin 16a which lists seven sins which cause Tzarat. They are Bearing a false oath, Robbery, Arrogance, Z'nut, Evil speech, Murder, and Unkindness. Like I said it's the best I could do.
Hey, G-gang, you are being too humble. Very nice. A couple of “stretches”, but a fine job.
Since the G-gang came in this week to claim previously won prizes, we’ll have to start a new account. We owe you a double prize for Tazri’a.

This week's TTriddles:
[1] Last 4 times, first once
[2] Some say Ezra to Fathers pere to perek to match up
[3] Report in last of first's indicates that things haven't changed much
[4] The two-dot-er and the one-dot-ee
[5] Burned, eaten...or what?
[6] Parsha's parallel to Sukkot's four
[7] The four preempted by these two
[8] A pair of 3s isn't such an eciting poker hand, but [L] as far as...

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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. - 10:00am - 3:00pm Ask about our catering services on or off the Center premises - cafe closed frrom April 15-27 • Coming after Pesach; Wednesday is Fleishig Day!

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Torathon 5763 • Note New Date, May 15-16
Dear Friend, Shalom U'Bracha
This year our annual Torathon will take place on Thursday and Friday, May 15-16, ’03 (13-14 Iyar). This year the Torathon Journal will incorporate an anthology of Torah articles written by our very own Israel Center staff and the faculty of the Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults.
The proceeds of the Torathon will benefit the numerous Youth Projects at the OU Israel Center, that have grown exponentially in the past two years. Literally, thousands of young people, from the Golan Heights to the Negev, have imbibed the spirit of Torah through these programs.
We turn to you, our dear friends, to respond generously as you have in the past. Every donation makes a difference! Your donation will help us open another chapter of Makom BaLev or assist a child to attend summer camp.
Please be so kind as to fill out the accompanying form and either fax it, mail it or bring it into the Center. For more details, contact Ita Rochel at the Israel Center, (02) 5667787 ext. 204.
We look forward to seeing you at the OU Israel Center. We wish you and yours a happy and kosher Pesach.
With best Torah wishes,
Rabbi David Cohen Menachem Persoff Phil Chernofsky
Director-General Director Educational Director
To submit an ad to the Torathon Journal, please fill out the other side of this page and mail it to: Israel Center, POB 37015, Jerusalem 91370or fax it to: (02) 561-7432 or email the details to tt@ou.org

NCSY Summer 2003 Camps
IMAGINE:13 glorious days living, learning, dancing, swimming, camping, hiking
WHO? 6-11 graders - boys/girls Separate campuses
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WHERE? Keshet, Ramat HaGolan
WHAT? Chugim, daily Torah learning, camping, water hikes, Shabbat NCSY ruach, sports, overnights... and more
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Israel Center Scene • Bringing to you the latest events and news from the Israel Center - from Purim to Pesach
www.ou.org/israel/ic • Do you recognize this address? It's the address of the new-old Israel Center web-site, embedded somewhat in the OU's website, www.ou.org. Make sure to visit this site and keep up to date with the Israel Center and Torah Tidbits. As time progresses we shall be alerting you of more and more programs and events through the web pages. Keep posted!

Beit Kharkov • - the Israel Center's project for Russian- speaking young olim - recently pub- lished a bumper edition of its magazine "Nasha Gazetta". The magazine has become a best seller among the Beit Kharkov participants and the number of readers is growing daily. The latest magazine has a Halachic corner with HaRav Aviner, as well as an interview with the well-known Oleh and theater director Igor Mushkatin.

Purim was very joyous for the Beit Kharkov madrichim and chanichim. The chanichim and their parents were invited to their madrichim's home for the Seuda. On Shushan Purim, chanichim from all over the country met at the Israel Center and then the boys set out to give Mishloach Manot to soldiers while the girls distributed parcels of food in the 'Saiva Tova' Senior Citizens home. The girls sang and danced with the senior citizens and the happiness that emanated from the building was definitely heard and felt on that very quiet street. Afterwards, everyone returned to the Israel Center where they had Seudat Purim together. At the end of the Seuda there was a siyum of Mishnayot - dedicated in memory of one of the participant's grandfather - that had been learned by the madrichim and the chanichim during the shloshim period.

To everyone's surprise the Russian- speaking comedian Vladimir Friedman came and entertained everyone, relating comic tales of his Aliya and absorption process in Israel. We all hope that the joy and happiness from Purim will continue through Pesach and that we will be able to see the joy in the sometimes-difficult absorption process.

Travel Desk Reported by Shulamit • Ein Gedi Dream and Health Vacation
In March, 57 people participated in the Israel Center's Ein Gedi dream and health vacation.
The rooms were lovely; the food was excellent... Even though Kibbutz Ein Gedi is not a religious one, we saw how they went out of their way to make us feel truly at home. Everyone was so accommodating. The mineral baths were wonderful and refreshing... The lectures were superb. They were mostly unusual and inspirational variations on the Purim theme. We were honored to hear talks by Rabbi Daniel Kohn and Menachem Persoff and to have the benefit of participating in a liturgical concert according to the Spanish and Portuguese Minhag, by courtesy of Rabbi Joshua Neaman, He also gave a lecture on the origin of the Sephardi, Ashkenazi and Italian Jews. The highlight was a lecture by Rabbi Leibush Hecht on 'Pesach Sheni: A Second Chance' where we heard about his learning program and how each man can become a Kollel member regardless of his age or knowledge. It was very inspiring.
...lovely tours of the local area ... world famous Botanical Gardens. It is the only international botanical garden with people living in it. The Cactus Garden... hundreds of cacti species. Their beauty outshines all similar gardens anywhere else in the county...
A Visit to Three Historic Sites: Rechov HaNeviim is only 'inches away' from Jaffa Road, but it is like another world... Ticho Museum ... part of the Israel Museum ...We saw how people lived at the turn of the 20th Century. Dr. Ticho was a well-known eye surgeon who had a collection of Hanukiyot. Anna, his wife, was an artist...
Bet Harav Kook... Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi during the early part of the past century... so many fascinating details from the life of Rabbi Kook... feel that we actually knew him and lived during his lifetime... inspired all of us.
and the Central Museum in the Russian Compound... Prison - a member of the staff guided us throughout this most emotional phase of our trip. We saw pictures of our heroes who were imprisoned there during the period prior to the establishment of the State... they slept on the floor or straw mattresses under very difficult conditions, and the gallows, where members of the various Ezel and Lehi units departed this world as martyrs... the Great Prison Rabbi, Reb Aryeh Levine of Blessed Memory...
Everyone was completely enthralled with the program. Since then we have received many letters of appreciation.
The Tombs of Our Matriarchs: ... special tiyul ... Tiberias area via the coastal plane, praying on the way at the tombs of Bilha and Zilpa, wives of Yaakov Avinu, Yocheved Bat Levi, mother of Moshe Rabenu, Tzipora, wife of Moshe Rabenu, Elisheva, wife of Aharon HaKohen, Avigail, wife of King David and Rachel, the wife of Rabbi Akiva. This year we added a cruise on the Kinneret. Our two guides inspired us with their erudite observations, based upon our Holy Sources, throughout the entire trip. This tiyul was for women only - something that we do very rarely - but it seemed that this was very appropriate for this particular trip. The drive up to the heights near Tiberias was exciting - the view overlooking the Kinneret was just breathtaking... most informative full day of travel and prayer spending time with our Matriarchs in the Galil...
Shabbat Across Israel • Israel Center's project for isolated communities. Purim 5763. Reported by Nachi Paris • Recently, in addition to the regular Shabbat programs being held in four yishuvim on the Golan Heights, two special Purim celebrations took place in Katzrin and Bnei Yehuda, as well as an inspiring Hachnasat Sefer Torah in the shul at Chad-Ness.
Over 250 participants from Brochin, Kidmat-Tzvi, Neve-Ativ, Odem, Chad- Ness, Aniam, Sha'al and Katzrin participated in a wonderful evening. First there was Megila reading in the main shul... local school for refreshments while the "Nofet Tzofim" band played Chassidic music. The dancing was a uplifting experience for all and went on for three hours interrupted only by Divrei Torah from Rav Shachor (head of the kollel) and Rav Levi (Rabbi of Katzrin).
In Bnei Yehuda, instead of the usual two dozen people who show up for Megila reading, around 200 people celebrated Purim together in the local community center because the shul was not big enough. After a festive Megila reading, refreshments were served, followed by a Dvar Torah by Chief Rabbi of the Golan, Rav Shuki.
On Purim day three festive Seudot were held respectively in Sha'al - 40 people attended from Sha'al, Brochin, Kidmat- Tzvi and Merom-Golan. Israel Center field-worker, Ilan Ben-Harosh, ran the party and spoke all through the se'uda on various aspects of Purim.
In Katzrin, 190 locals came to a gigantic se'uda run by Rav Shachor, head of the kollel, who had much to say on "Inyanei Deyoma."
and in Bnei Yehuda - The success of this se'uda lay not only in the essence of its occurrence but also in the fact that the local people, for the first time in memory, organized and ran the party by themselves.
Hachnassat Sefer Torah... in Chad Nes, partially sponsored by the Israsel Center. 130 people participated in the evening: 30 sophomores from the Chispin Yeshiva, 40 secular adults from Chad Nes, around 60 youngsters aged 11-18, and a few guests came from Tiberias. Rav Shuki, Rav of the Golan, spoke and then the evening continued with dancing and a parade all around the yishuv. This was followed by a festive meal at which Rav Levi, the Rav of Katzrin, spoke, as did other dignitaries. It was a very special and uplifting evening, especially since two participants in the project who became Ba'alei teshuva helped arrange this wonderful event.
Gesharim -Bar/Bat Mizva Project • (Yisrael Goren reporting) • We are happy to report that the following are currently completing their six-month preparatory cycle: Netanya - girls, Lod - girls, Nahariya - girls, and Sderot - girls. Each group raps up the exciting and intensive preparations with a celebration which not only marks the graduation of the participants and their entry into the realm of Jewish responsi- bilities but also the entry of the young people into the Israel Center's Makom Balev youth program, all around the country. New cycles of studies will soon begin for boys in Netanya, and for the girls in Ra'anana and Bat Yam. We wish them much success.
A group of 45 students from the Sheiber Chiloni School in Beit Shemesh, marked the end of their preparatory studies with an impressive program that revolved around the topic of Tu Bishvat. They held an impressive Seder Tu Bishvat, displayed their own work (projects) and also welcomed the 45 new students who would now begin their preparations for the Bar Mitzva. The graduating chanichim wrote a beautiful letter to their madricha Yaffa remarking how she had opened their eyes to a new world, the world of Judaism. They thanked her and expressed how wonderfully she was able to relate to them.
One of the coordinators from the program discovered that two of his Ethiopian chanichim didn't have Tefillin and were not able to purchase their own. The Israel Center provided these two chanichim with Tefillin. They were given to them with tremendous excite- ment and emotion at their Bar Mitzva party. A third pair is on the way and it will be given to a chanich from the Netanya branch that does not have the means to buy his own pair.
Makom Balev • Israel Center's Youth Project in Development Towns. Yisrael Goren reporting...In the past few months we made an effort to live and act according to the happy spirit of Adar, especially since so many people were full of anxiety and fear we wanted to try and make others in Am Yisrael happy.
Recent activities included:
A very successful Yom Iyun for the girl's branch of Sderot in coordination with the Ulpana in Sderot. Girls from grades 8-11 came to hear different lectures from the madrichim about Emuna. The special lecture of the day was given by the Israel Center's Harel Chetzroni from the Zula program. On Shushan Purim, 11th grade boys from Sderot traveled to Jerusalem and gave out food to needy people.
There was a special Shabbaton in Nahariya for the whole branch. 45 young people participated in a ruach program, the theme of which was Tefillah. The additional bonus was that by the end of the Shabbat, the chanichim came out much more connected to the staff of Makom Balev.
Also in Nahariya, a special event was held on Rosh Chodesh Adar. Ezra Yachin, a fighter in the Lechi Underground, kept the audience riveted for two and a half hours as he spoke about sacrificing oneself for Klal Yisrael.
On Rosh Chodesh Adar, graduates from our Ra'anana branch went out to dance in the main street in Ra'anana. The chanichim (who have long hair and are somewhat bohemian) were at first a little embarrassed to dance for the mitzva of being happy. Their madrichim, however, arranged for the boys from the Binot Hesder Yeshiva to join them. The joyous music captured everyone's attention and passers by joined the crowd and every- one had a wonderful experience. For the first time in their lives, the chanichim felt that they could serve as a positive personal example to others insofar as they could express their joy of being Jewish.
In Netanya a Purim Carnival was scheduled to be held on Shushan Purim. But the threat of scuds was coming closer as the countdown to the ultimatum on Iraq closed in. The staff debated about what to do. Finally, they decided to go ahead and to have the Carnival despite the threats. The Makom Balev coordinator noted that all 60 chanichim came and felt the importance of being happy despite the current situation.
In Lod, during the days leading up to Purim, boys and girls from the 8th grade group went to different hospitals to cheer up the patients. They overcame their fear and even went into rooms of people who are in critical condition and tried to cheer them up by singing, dancing, and telling jokes. For many of the chanichim this was the first time they were exposed to people in such pain.
Makom Balev is proud to have volunteers who are give of themselves selflessly day and night for the sake of the young kids:
Girls from 11th grade in Ulpanat Rav Baharan volunteer with the younger children in our branches in Lod and Ramle.
Boys from 10th grade Mekor Chaim volunteer in Kiryat Gat in the Ben Gurion School for Chiloni kids. They are currently running the Gesharim Bar/Bat Mitzva program.
"In Makom Balev, we give the chanichim the feeling that they have the power to be responsible for future generations, if we trust them. We pray that all of our efforts will bring blessing to the world. For 'In Nissan we were redeemed and we will (in the future) be redeemed.'"
Lichyot Beyachad • The Israel Center's Program for Datiim and 0Chilonim Together. Rafi Danan reporting…The Youth Department recently revived an old project called Lichyot Beyachad - Living Together. The idea behind this project is to strengthen the relationship between secular and religious youth. In this program boys from the kibbutz Giva'at Brenner School meet with boys from Yeshivat Mekor Chaim, while girls from the kibbutz school meet with girls from Ulpanat Neveh Chana (or Orot Etzion). They all attend talks together given by such personalities as Rav Michi Yosefi and Rav Moshe Peleg and discuss different topics related to the lecture, such as Jewish identity, faith, and my task as a Jew.
‘Anu Me'oto Hakfar’ is the name of another activity of this project. Every Friday a number of dati young people disperse among eight different schools in Jerusalem (including the Gymnasia in Rechavia, Ziv, The Ironi Chet school, Rene Kassen, Masorti, and Boyer) and set up a booth outside of the school. At this booth they distribute candles to the girls with a page of the blessings for candle lighting for Shabbat; moreover, they have Tefilin available for the boys who want to put on Tefilin and recite the blessings. They give out a sheet about Parshat HaShavua. Anyone who is interested to learn more about Judaism is invited to the Israel Center on Thursday evenings where we have begun a group learning session on varied topics distilled from the Talmud. So far an unbelievable number of several hundred children have responded to the "outside school" activities. We hope to see the follow-up program take off in a big way after Pesach.
Nitzotz, Student Volunteering Program • About four months ago I received a phone call from a man named Rafael. Rafael is a lawyer and a volunteer at the Sanhedria Children's Home and Education Center. The Orphanage is for children from broken homes who were placed there by the decision of the court. He asked me if I could place an ad on the Israel Center bulletin board saying that the Orphanage needs an English- Hebrew-speaking part-time secretary and if through Nitzotz I could find him volunteers.
I wrote up an ad, put it on the Israel Center Bulletin Board, and gave him a few numbers of volunteers. The subject was forgotten and around two weeks ago I get a call from him. After the usual 'Hey, How you been, How's everyone?' he got to the reason for his call. He wanted to tell me an amazing story that had happened at the orphanage. The ad that was put up brought a volunteer to the orphanage.
This particular volunteer managed to break through to the toughest boy the orphanage had to deal with. This child was socially detached from everyone around him, he wouldn't respond to anyone who tried to communicate with him, not even a simple hello, he would stay in his own little corner and his own little world and no matter how hard the social workers tried to get through to him they couldn't. This volunteer managed though. She managed to do what so many others before her had tried and failed. Something about her made him feel drawn to her and with her help this young boy opened up and now communicates with visitors, the social workers and other volunteers.
Even though we live in G-d's city, we are still surprised by miracles, large and small. This is one of them. Chag Kasher V’Same’ach.
Here at the Center • Things were really both leibedick and inspiring before and during Purim (and since).
There was a lovely evening when the Israel Center's Men's and Boys Choir performed admirably here at the Israel Center. Special kudos to choir master Yisrael Shwarzstein for bringing together two generations of singers. Between the two halves of the performance, we heard a special mini-lecture by Catriel Sugar- man about the choir in the Beit Hamikdash. The evening gave us both knowledge and a longing for the Beit HaMikdash to be rebuilt.
Another notable event was a concert given by Naftali Abramson and the Ayala Shlucha band. The audience was filled mainly with young students from abroad studying here in Israel. Everyone had a great time while they danced and enjoyed the music from his new disk 'Toda' that was just released.
On Ta'anit Esther, an interesting shiur was given by Rabbi Efraim Sprecher on the topic of Esther's Moral and Halachic Dilemma: Adultery for the Sake of Heaven. Rabbi Sprecher discussed the serious problem of Esther's marriage to the non-Jew, Achashveirosh. He ex- plained that only through Ruach Hakodesh could Esther have foreseen that she was needed in the palace to save the Jewish People. Based upon Chazal, he concluded that once Esther revealed her identity as a Jew she was only allowed to remain with Achashvei- rosh because of permission received from Gedolim as a "Hora'at Sha'a".
On Shushan Purim morning there was a festive davening and Megila reading, with light refreshments afterwards. In attendance were people of all ages: kids, young olim, and older people. The event was hosted by the Center for members of YOU, Young Olim United.
Although special and one-time events get written up for the Israel Center Scene, we would like to acknowledge the teachers (and students) of the regular weekly and daily shiurim - they are the backbone of the Center’s activities.
Dor L'Dor • The Israel Center's Family Institute • Dor L'Dor Family Institute programs use state of the art educational methods to help couples and families learn how to be more effective parents and partners. Through our seminars, workshops and dramatic presentations, the Dor L'Dor Family Institute intends to inspire, motivate, and teach couples and parents to create a positive family environment.
Recently, two evenings of dramatic presentations in Hebrew each drawing close to 100 participants were held in Gush Etzion and Jerusalem, as did a similar performance in Russian in Jerusalem. In each performance four vignettes on relevant family and marital themes are presented with a particular emphasis on the impact the current security situation has on couples and families. Each vignette was followed by interaction between the audience, the actors, the director, and attending psychologists. Note that there is almost a completely separate staff for Russian and Hebrew performances, although the director and some of the actors are the same for both Hebrew and English.
We also held a workshop in Russian led by Stress Management Specialist, Lena Stern, entitled "Stress Management for Parents and Couples." The group which began in mid-February with 15 partici- pants is continuing on a weekly basis for 12 weeks.
All the performances received first-class reviews - especially from the 30 participants randomly interviewed for evaluation purposes. During both workshops and plays, the audience became fully involved and interacted with the speakers, actors, and psychologists. As a result of the extensive audience participation, all the activities extended beyond the scheduled time. They said that the workshops and plays were "informative, entertaining and stimulating."
After Pesach, the Israel Center is planning two more Russian and English-language performances. Addi- tionally, there will be a continuation of the Stress Management Workshop as well as workshops and lectures on marriage and parenting.
NESTO, Native English-Speaking Teen Olim• Bat Sherut Mimi Edel reporting...
Our newest addition to the weekly NESTO activities is the "120 seconds of Torah" clock. The clock is to be used at the beginning of every activity. Every week, a different chanich has to open the night's activity with 120 seconds of Divrei Torah. Although two minutes is not a long time, sometimes two minutes of strong meaningful words can change the entire atmosphere. Because there is such a limited amount of time and the seconds are ticking away, it is a challenge for the speaker to grab the attention of his listeners and to get his message through as quickly as possible. Another plus in this method is that it is impossible to sleep through the divrei Torah!
Speaking about Torah, the Israel Center Torathon is taking place on the 15th-16th of May. NESTO madrichim will be there all night long and we hope to see all our chanichim there as well!
Senior NESTO will finally get the chance to perform in public. During Chol Hamo'ed Pesach they will create an energetic fun Harkada or "Dance-In" at the Israel Center. The chanichim initiated the whole event and it will really mean a lot to them - if you take part in it! Pesach is a perfect time to loosen up and flaunt our freedom, so please join us! The event is for all ages!
We have a series of chessed projects ready to begin after Pesach, which include bringing simcha to the sick children in the hospitals and painting run-down public parks.
The Senior NESTO Pre-Pesach tiyul will take place on the 13th of April. We will be leaving Jerusalem in the late afternoon and returning the following morning. We will begin our day with a very exciting attraction (long awaited for) and then arrive in Zefat for a spiritual uplifting experience. We will return to Jerusalem at about 05:00 for a beautiful shacharit davening in the kotel. Prepare for a day filled with adventures!
The Junior NESTO Pesach tiyul will take place o the 8th of April. We will be going to Tiberias for some good old hiking and games! If you would like to join us, please sign up as soon as possible by Mimi 058-358842.
Finally, thank you to all those who bought a Junior NESTO charity cook- book. We have received a nice amount of money for our chessed program, and we couldn't have done with out you!
The Koby Mandell Program • In memory of Koby Mandell, HY"DCoordinator Michael Sebag reporting…Recently we went to Tzefat for a Shabbaton with the kids from the Jerusalem Technical high School Ort Spanian. The overall group was made up of two sets of students: one group of 28 ninth graders teenagers with whom we worked with this year and one group 17 kids from eleventh grade from the previous year's group.
This Shabbaton was held after 13 sessions in which we gained the student's trust and through which a strong relationship developed between the madrichim and the chanichim. The Shabbaton was very successful and the kids participated in the different activities. They found the lectures interesting, asked questions, came to the Tefillot and to the meals. The programs were designed especially for the kids of Ort Spanian who mostly come from traditional Sephardic homes.
This Shabbaton represents the fourth in a series of activities with several different schools, all of which have followed the same structure. The young people in the schools are exposed to young friendly role models in encounters, shiurim, and other activities that explore their Jewish identity and the meaning of life.
The programs in four schools are coming to a close while a new group of girls will be commencing activities after Pesach. The principals and teachers of the schools have written of the amazing changes that have overtaken the young people in the schools: they are more focused, happier, and more willing to participate in religious activity and chessed projects, as a result of this project.
Library News...• Rabbi David Derovan reporting The Library at the Israel Center is really a grouping of libraries dedicated and sponsored by a number of good friends of the Center. In the last few months, a dedicated group of volunteers has been assisting us in reordering the Hebrew and English books on the shelves, entering them into a catalog, building a card index, developing the Torah tapes section, and even the beginnings of a video library. Israel Center members have also benefited from our new lending library. A new television for viewing videos has now been installed and among the videos that you can come and watch are lectures given at the Center, filmed regularly by Mark Pollack.
Every library has a "story." So, too, with the Tzipporah Freilich Sanders Memorial Reference Library. The people who regularly attend Dr. Chaim Abramson's Tuesday morning classes at the Israel Center established the Sanders Memorial Reference Library. Until her untimely death, Tzippy Sanders was also Dr. Abramson's student. Despite her deteriorating health, she never missed a class. Her spirit, strength and great love of Torah continue to inspire her classmates. The Tzipporah Freilich Sanders Memorial Reference Library is not housed with the rest of the Israel Center libraries. It is to be found in the first floor classroom where it serves teachers and students alike as they study Torah.
Jewish Values Education Institute, Rabbi David Derovan reporting…• The last month has been a very busy one for the Jewish Values Education Institute (JVEI). In fact, we have entered the OU Israel Center Book of Records with two "firsts."
In March, we sponsored our first Hebrew language lectures. "The Light of the Temple" was a 5-part series co-spon- sored with the Temple Institute, taught by its Director, Rabbi Menachem Makover. The series was well attended and featured numerous illustrations that helped bring to life the Temple's history, architecture and functioning.
The second "first" was a program called "Venetian Masks." It was the first adult arts and crafts program sponsored by the JVEI. Under the guidance of the Na'yedet Omanut of the City of Jerusalem, the participants cut and glued and made Venetian masks for Purim. Short Divray Torah accompanied the arts and crafts.
Other March events included our annual Purim Extravaganza for all the family that featured arts and crafts, a musical program, and a play that incorporated magic tricks.
Of special recent note was the brilliant talk by the former Israeli Ambassador to Great Britain, Yehuda Avner on "The Odd State Out: Israeli Idiosyncrasies in the Family of Nations." As part of the question and answer period he told some fascinating stories from his years in the diplomatic corps.
The last days of March and the beginning of April witnessed the Pre-Pesach Seminar. This year's program highlighted the wonderful teachers who teach regularly at the Center. Over 20 Shi'urim on every possible topic relating to Pesach were offered.
On April 29, JVEI will be offering a full-day program in honor of Holocaust Memorial Day. The program will feature Shi'urim by Rabbis Aharon Adler and Sholom Gold, as well as lecturers from Yad VaShem staff, and "Der Letzter Lubliner - The Last Jew from Lublin," a film followed by discussion with Breindel Swirsky.
The Zula • The Zula program has been continuing successfully over the last few months with over 100 people coming every Motzaei Shabbat to meet together for companionship, a good word, song and music and a Chassidic story or two.
In addition to the regular activity, close to 100 young people have the benefit of talking on a one-to-one basis with their big brother or sister during the week. These meetings are critically important insofar as they allow young people to express their minds in a safe and nurturing environment.
The Zula program has recently incorporated additional activities during the week and on Motzaei Shabbat, mainly for the girls who participate in the program. During these meetings they take part in Chugim of drama, movement, and painting, or a Motzei Shabbat Melave Malka.
Gemach • The Israel Center, in conjunction with the Ir Ha'Atika Gemach has in the last two years extended no less than 200 loans to needy people. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Rivka Rappaport, Bernard Levmore and Gemach Chairman Yechezkiel Mink for their dedication in running this program, as well as acknowledging the assistance of Meir Kramer, co-chairman of the Old City Association.
Torah Tidbits • The first issue of Torah Tidbits was photocopied 60 times and distributed in two Jerusalem shuls. This 565th issue was reproduced over 8000 times and is distributed to dozens and dozens of shuls (and other places) in Jerusalem and all over Israel. An additional several thousand people receive Torah Tidbits electronically (website or email) each week. Last week’s issue contained some very useful Pesach Pull-Out items, including a Guide to Matza, a review of the Seder of the Seder, and our popular Israel Center S’firat HaOmer chart, which in past years is responsible for many people’s “going all the way” with counting the Omer.
We recently found out about a Hebrew pronunciation Club out in the southwest U.S.A. whose members analyze and activate the material of our Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading column each week.
There are several ESL teachers (English as a second language) in Israel who use Torah Tidbits as the text for their classes. (Let’s hope that the typos don’t cause too many problems for the teachers or their students.)
Parts of Torah Tidbits have been regularly translated into other languages, includ- ing Dutch and Turkish.
The weekly ParshaPix is used by many teachers in Israel and abroad, as a tool for teaching Parshat HaShavua. (The Hebrew-English plays-on-words often stump some of the Israeli users of ParshaPix, but they manage with the more straightforward graphic images.)
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the dedicated staff of the Israel Center, Rabbi David Cohen, the Center's Director-General, the members of our Va'ad, and all the wonderful volunteers who daily devote themselves to making the Israel Center's program's flourish.
In addition, we would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Jewish Agency Allocations Department for their continued support for many of our programs.Menachem Persoff

Having read through this issue of the Israel Center Scene, the following poem comes to mind...
The Blind Men and the Elephant
by John Godfrey Saxe (19th century American poet, based the following poem on a fable which was told in India many years ago.)
It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: “God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, “Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. “What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he; “‘Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: “Even the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!?
The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right,
STOP - Don’t read the last line! (which happens to be: “And all were in the wrong!”) This is the only line of the poem that is not relevant to the Israel Center.
There are people who attend one or more shiurim at the Israel Center, and have been doing so for years, who probably had no idea that the Israel Center works with unaffiliated Israeli youth.
There are people who have been on countless Israel Center tiyulim and who have attended a Shabbaton or two, that probably don’t know that we work with kids that have dropped out of their religious upbringing and spend their time hanging out in “the wrong kind of places”.
No doubt that the disadvantaged youngsters who are experiencing warm, positive contact with their big brother or sister, don’t know about our tape lending library or our Monday morning shiurim.
To be certain, most (or all) of the non- religious Israelis who have weekly encounters with religious kids their own age, do not read the Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary in Torah Tidbits.
The Israel Center is very much like the Elephant of the fable and poem. But you, readers of Torah Tidbits and of the Israel Center Scene are not at all like the blind men of Indostan.

Tiyulim and Shabbatonim
THE TRAVEL DESK for making registration and receiving info of Israel Center tiyulim. And, to help you - whether you live in Israel or are visiting - plan private tiyulim and make in-Israel travel arrangements. We will be happy to assist you from 9:00am-1:00pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Call Rochel at The Travel Desk of the Israel Center, 566-7787 ext. 249; fax: 566-7876 • tiyul@israelcenter.co.il
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 (or less). 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 leaving your message sooner.
What’s for lunch? When a tiyul says “bring your own lunch”, you can buy one instead from the Israel Center Cafe. Call the TRAVEL DESK or TIYUL HOTLINE up to the day before the TIYUL and request a box lunch. 18š will get you a delicious sandwich (specify your preference), a refreshing drink (specify regular or diet) and a dessert. Your box will be ready for you when you board the bus.
TIYUL POLICIES Please note: We reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee in case of last-minute cancellations. (Please speak to Rochel at the Travel Desk when making reservations.) Also... Price of tiyul is based on a minimum number of participants.
Students from Abroad Are your parents planning on visiting you some time this year? If so, you want to speak to us! (566-7787 ext. 211 or 249). We have many attractive deals for them... and you. Let us turn an ordinary “been there, did it” visit into an unforgettable, special one!
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.

Chol HaMoed Tiyul • Monday, April 21st; 10:00am to 6:30pm • Join us and explore new communities in the Binyamin region; This year's main attraction is in Yishuv Inbalim along the Alon road, where one will encounter a day of fun and entertainment for the entire family including...jeep rides, petting zoo, inflatables, climbing activity center, exhibition products from Yesha, Kosher for Pesach cafe, music, and much more; Continue on the historical Route of the Patriarchs, view the establishment of the new communities, and learn the history, as we get together in Yishuv Giv’at Har’el (named for Harel Ben-Nun HY"D) for a Hachnasat Sefer Torah and the completion of a Mikveh; Divrei Torah by Harav Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita, family entertainment, including a hike to Nachal Shiloh, a visit to the recently discovered ancient altar, the site of the Mishkan, and more... Guide: Danny Erlich; Only 85NIS (95NIS for non-members)

For reservations at the hotels listed below or any other Israeli hotels, please call Rochel directly at the Travel Desk 566 7787, ext. 249. She'll be happy to accommodate you with any of your requests.
Busy Pesach? Many guests? Loads of meals to prepare? Want to get away for a quiet, restful, Shabbat-after-Pesach? Keep reading... and then call 051-440-140; Offerings below are valid for Shabbat, April 25-26
Sheraton-Plaza, Jerusalem, 1000NIS per couple, F/B
Dan Pearl, Jerusalem, 1030NIS per couple, F/B
Prima Palace, Jerusalem, 695NIS per couple, F/B
Prima Kings, Jerusalem, 620NIS per couple, F/B
Inbal, Jerusalem, Includes health club & pool, 1120NIS per couple, F/B
Renaissance, Jerusalem, Includes health club & indoor pool, 1000NIS per couple, F/B
Renaissance, Tel Aviv, Includes health club & indoor pool, 740NIS per couple, F/B
Sheraton Jerusalem Plaza hotel, Attention: Synagogue/Organization leaders or TARBUT committee, chairperson • Special group rates for Chol HaMoed, Call for details - 051-440140
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

The Israel Council of Yisrael Hatzair! the OU Israel Center present...Shavuot; 4 nights, 5 days at the Kibbutz Lavi Hotel - Wednesday to Sunday, June 4-8; Tikun Leil Shavuot • Simchat Yom Tov • Oneg Shabbat: Scholar-in-Residence: Rabbi Emanuel Quint; Mehadrin Kosher cuisine • Picnic lunch en routeAll meals from Wednesday dinner thru Sunday breakfastRich & varied menu in honor of Shabbat and Yom Tov • Indoor swimming pool • Tiyul Thursday morning; Price: 1460NIS p.p. F/B (dbl. occ.) - single supplement: 280NIS; New wing (limited number of rooms; first-come-first-served): 1700NIS, Non-members - add 50NIS • Leave Wednesday 9:00am, return Sunday 5:00pm; Round-trip transportation, pick-up at Israel Center, 22 Keren HaYesod • "The Pinsker", 22 Pinsker - Call Yisrael Hatzair to reserve:(02) 623-1361 (make checks payable to Yisrael Hatzair) Mail to: Yisrael HatzairP.O.B. 7306 • Jerusalem 91072

The Back Page of TT565
"Regular" Israel Center classes & lectures - 20NIS for members, 25NIS for non-mem. Life members, 5NIS (except for programs of/with other organizations). 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

Friday
People in walking distance of the Center are invited to join in the davening and shiurim of our in-house Shabbaton this Shabbat.
5:30pm Mincha (before Plag), Kabbalat Shabbat...
8:45pm (time approx.) Shiur by Rabbi Reuven Aberman: highlighting various aspects of Leil HaSeder...and Oneg Shabbat

Shabbat DAY
7:30am Pre-Davening Mini-Shiur with Phil
8:00am Shacharit, Torah Reading, Drasha by Rabbi Eddie Abramson, Musaf, Kiddush following davening
11:30am Shiur on Parsha & Pesach by Phil
3:00pm Hagada reading & discussion
5:00pm Shabbat HaGadol Drasha by Rabbi Aberman
6:00pm Mincha (for those who have not davened earlier)
6:00pm Question & Answer session with Rabbis A & A
7:35pm Maariv (Shabbat out at 7:45pm)

Motza’ei Shabbat HaGadol, April 12th, 9:00pm • Drasha (in English) byRabbi Shlomo Riskin; The Significance and limits of authority:When are children not duty bound to listen to their parents? When are students not duty bound to listen to their teachers? A Commentary on the Pesach Hagada • Takes place at Yeshurun Synagogue - King George Street cor. Shmuel HaNagid • No charge • Separate seating at the insistence of Yeshurun

Sunday, April 13th
10:00am • (men & women) • Shir HaShirim; The True Meaning of Love • Shprintzee Herskovits
11:00am • Last Minute Pesach Review plus Questions with Phil Chernofsky
8:00pm • Need a break? Going away for Pesach and don’t have that much to do in the first place? Try this...Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8-10pm • Aliya Counseling with Miriam Bass

Monday, April 14th
9:30am • Towards more active Seder participation with Phil Chernofsky Different topics
10:30am • Answers to Questions - More about Pesach with Rabbi David J. Derovan
The Center will close at 4:00pm on Monday and remain closed on Monday night

Tuesday, April 15th
Gemach, yes; no shiurim, closing after Mincha

The Israel Center and the Old City Free Loan Association; 14th year • over 3000 loans granted 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

The Israel Center will be closed from 2:00pm on Tuesday, April 15th, Wednesday, Erev Pesach, Thursday, the first day of Pesach, Friday, first day of Chol HaMoed, until Shabbat Chol HaMoed • Wishing you and yours a Chag Kasher V'sameach

Shabbat Chol HaMoed, April 19th, 5:00pm (Mincha at 6:00pm) • Shiur by Kalman Walker on The Splitting of the Sea

Motza’ei Shabbat Chol HaMoed, April 19th, 9:30pm • Pesach L’Dorot; Pesach’s message for the generations: Guest speaker: Rabbi Simcha HaKohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of Rehovot

Sunday and Monday mornings, Chol HaMoed, April 20 & 21; The Center will be open mornings and evenings, On each of these two mornings, there will be a Shiur on Timely Topics by Phil at 10:30pm; There will be Mincha at 1:20pm on these two days

Sunday, April 18th, 3rd day Chol HaMoed, 10:00am-2:30pm • Machon HaMikdash - 23rd Symposium on the Beit HaMikdash (in Hebrew) at the OU Israel Center; Speakers include: R’ Yisrael Ariel, R’ Yosef Pel’i, Dr. Zohar Amar,Gid’on Charlap, R’ David Cohen, R’ Menachem Makover

Sunday, Chol HaMoed, April 20th, 7:30pm • Join us for a video showing (projected on big screen) of Young Tom Edison, a 1940 B&W film starring Mickey Rooney Followed by discussion and comparison to the life of young Avraham Avinu; Guest presenter: David Miner • Interesting refreshments

Monday, Chol HaMoed, April 21st, 8:00pm • The Kabbalistic Link between Shir HaShirim and S’firat HaOmer with Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher • Timely and thought-provoking lectures and articles at www.geocities.com\RabbiSprecher

The Center will be closed on Tuesday, Chol HaMoed

Wednesday, SH’VI’I SHEL PESACH, April 23rd, 5:00pm; SEUDAT LIVYATAN: The Maharal on the TANINIM, angels, Moshiach, and more with Dr. Moshe Kuhr • Mincha following the shiur at 6:00pm

The Israel Center will reopen IY”H on Thursday, ISRU CHAG

Thursday, April 24th, 10:30am • Shiur while there is no folding

Friday, April 25th
9:00am • Pirkei Avot Season with Phil Chernofsky

Friday
Starting with this Shabbat, Parshat Acharei, we will be having an “Early Shabbat” minyan on Friday evening. Mincha will begin promptly (for which we need your cooperation) 15 minutes before PLAG. This minyan will hopefully continue until Rosh HaShana. Here are the times for the first few Fridays: Acharei (Apr.25) 5:37pm • K’doshim (May 2) 5:41pmEmor (May 9) 5:44pm • B’har (May 16) 5:48pm

Shabbat DAY, April 26th • 5:00pm - Shabbat afternoon shiur (Mincha at 6:00pm) with Rabbi Emanuel Quint on Pirkei Avot

Motza’ei Shabbat M’vorchim (Achrei), April 26th, 9:30pm • From Pesach to Shavuot,from Sho’ah to Atzma’ut; a special guest shiur by HaRav Meir Goldvicht; Men & women invited

SUNday thru Thursday
For this first week after Pesach, call to confirm which shiurim are resuming and which are still in recess
10:00am The Weekly Mitzvot and Concepts fromMinchat Chinuch by Rabbi Dovid Zitter
11:00am Wednesday & Thursday mornings (Masechet Avoda Zara); Gemara Shiur with Rabbi Moshe Gorelik
1:20pm Mincha (this time stays the same throughout the year)
3:00pm Daf Yomi by Rabbi Shmuel Halpern
4:30pm Shiur in Masechet Beitza by Rabbi Hillel Ruvel
Shiurim are in English and take place in the Ganchrow Beit Midrash
For men who want to do some serious learning...

Most regular shiurim & programs of the Israel Center, Jewish Values Education Institute,and the Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adultswill take place during the week after Pesach. Call to confirm if you are not sure

Specials during the week of April 27th to May 2nd
Sunday, 1:00-9:30pm; Fourth Root & Branch Association Jerusalem Ecology Conference (program in formation); Professor Richard Schwartz, Conference Chair
Monday, Leil Yom HaSho’ah, 8:00pmFilm (TBA)
Tuesday, Yom HaSho’ah, full day program
Tuesday, 8:00-10:00pm • “Improvement of learning”. On all aspects concerning learning, concentration, and remembering, I will show how you can work on improving this. TAT is specialized in refining thinking and focusing. This is a useful tool to all ages so you are never too late. Eliezer Spetter (TAT-EFT trainer) 40š per person
Wednesday, 10:30amNew series - Ruth & Revelation, studying Shavuot and the Book of Ruth - Rabbi Sholom Gold
Wednesday, 1:00-9:30pmSecond Root & Branch Jerusalem Conference On Jew-Hatred (Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism) Today and the Nazi German Jewish Genocide (Holocaust) - (program in formation)


Mother-daughter Bat Mitzvah course forming with Pearl Borow, call 5667787 ext. 261 for more information

Shabbat HaGadol and Pesach Misc....

SHABBAT HAGADOL
The date of the first Shabbat HaGadol was 10 Nissan, as it is this year. And that is particularly signifi- cant, because one of the reasons we call it Shabbat HaGadol, has to do with events of the 10th of Nissan 2448.

The Jews in Egypt were commanded - not a mitzva for the generations, but rather a one-time command- ment - to take a lamb (or baby goat) into their homes on the 10th of Nissan, four days before they were to slaughter it as the Korban Pesach. (In future years, halacha allows one to acquire his animal for K.P. even on his way to Har HaBayit on the afternoon of Erev Pesach. In prac- tice, however, people did designate the lamb or goat as early as the 10th of Nissan, so it could be properly inspected for blemishes for the four days before its being brought to the Mizbei'ach. But it was required to take the animal on the 10th, only during that first, original Nissan.)

The Midrash tells us of the unusual miracle that occurred on the original Shabbat HaGadol. The Egyptians asked the Jews what they were doing with the lambs. When the Jews told them that they were going to sacrifice them to G-d, the Egyptians would have been expected to react with outrage and anger at the "desecration" of their deity. But they didn't. They took the news calmly. This is considered a great miracle, in addition to other miracles of that Shabbat day; this led to identify the day throughout the generations as Shabbat HaGadol.

Other sources differ slightly in the description of that first 10th of Nissan. It was known to the Egyptians that one of the plagues coming up was MAKAT B'CHOROT. When the firstborns of Egypt saw the Jews taking the lambs into their homes and asked them about it, they knew that they (the firstborns) were in trouble. They stormed the royal palace and demanded of Par'o that he let the Jews go. When their demand was refused, the firstborns attacked the people in the royal court.
If this is so, that great miracles occurred on that first Shabbat HaGadol, then it was because it was the 10th of Nissan, not becasue it was Shabbat. Why then do we mark the Shabbat before Pesach and not the 10th of Nissan as a special day, whenever during the week it falls?

It is answered that the nature of Shabbat - what it means to Bnei Yisrael and how the Egyptians perceived its significance to the Jews, that set the stage for the miracles. It is speculated that had it not been Shabbat, the Egyptians might have acted upon their anger and/or the Jews might have not been strong enough to answer the Egyptians candidly when asked about the lambs. Hence, it is Shabbat that makes the day signifi- cant, not being the 10th of Nissan.

Another reason given is that the 10th of Nissan is the Yahrzeit of Miriam HaNevi'a, and therefore a sadder and more serious day than one to commemorate a miracle.

Since the people of Israel entered into the realm of mitzvot by fulfilling the command to take the K.P. into their homes, they changed their status from KATAN to GADOL, much like a Bar Mitzva boy does when he receives upon his shoulders the yoke of mitzvot. Hence, Shabbat HaGadol.

Even after Moshe got Shabbat from Par'o for the people as a day of rest, when Shabbat ended, it saw the Jews back into slavery and oppres- sion. Not so the Shabbat prior to the Exodus. That was truly a Shabbat HaGadol.

The Torah calls the first day of Pesach Shabbat (because of the forbidden activities on Yom Tov, it qualifies to be called Shabbat, a day of rest), as in, "on the morrow of the Shabbat you shall begin counting". The Zedokim claimed that Shabbat refers only to Saturday. Traditional Judaism claims that there is a "minor" or small Shabbat (Yom Tov) in contrast with Shabbat HaGadol, when more Melachot are prohibited. It is the Shabbat right before the Yom Tov day in question that got the name Shabbat HaGadol - because of its closeness to the first day of Pesach, the contrast between the two Shabbats is highlighted.

Of course, the famous pasuk in the Haftara, telling us that G-d will send Eliya(hu) HaNavi before the coming of G-d's Day, the great (haGadol) and terrifying one.
Some say that the long Drashot on this pre-Pesach Shabbat, that sometimes continue into the night, serve to lengthen the day into a Shabbat HaGadol.
Until this pre-Exodus Shabbat, Shabbat only possessed the aspect of acknowledging G-d for His Creation of the wolrd. With the preparation for K.P. and for leaving Mitzrayim, Shabbat took on the extra dimension of commemorating the Egyptian experience and the Exodus. Shabbat increased in significance and scope and became then a Shabbat HaGadol.

Shabbat HaGadol goes with three different sedras: In 12-month (1 Adar) “Plain” years, it is on Shabbat Parshat Tzav. That accounts for 63.16% of the years. In 13-month (2 Adar) “Pregnant” years, it falls on Shabbat Parshat M’tzora (26.3%, including this year) or Acharei (10.53%).

We stop asking for TAL U'MATAR with Mincha on Erev Pesach. We continue to say MASHIV HARUACH in Maariv and Shacharit of the first day of Pesach. Then we say T'FILAT TAL and from Musaf of the first day of Pseach, we will be saying MORID HATAL. And at Maariv following Yom Tov, we will begin saying V'TEIN BRACHA in the weekday Amida.
If one mistakenly says MASHIV HARU’ACH U'MORID HAGASHEM [G] after T'FILAT TAL, the Amida is considered invalid and must be repeated. Catching oneself within the second bracha of the Amida, requires backtracking to the beginning of that bracha and saying from there - ATA GIBOR...
Forgetting MORID HATAL (but not saying [G] either) does not require repeating or even returning to say it.

First Day of Pesach
First Torah - five people, 31 p'sukimSh'mot 12:21-51 (Parshat BO)
This portion is the continuation of what we read on Shabbat HaChodesh. It contains the actual procedures to be followed in the bringing of the Korban Pesach, the account of the night of the 10th plague, the Exodus, the Exodus- Matza connection, reference to Leil Shimurim, and mitzvot related to K.P.
Second Torah - Maftir, 10 p'sukimBamidbar 28:16-25 (Pinchas)
Contains the Korban Musaf of Pesach. Begins with Korban Pesach on the 14th and repetition of the "comand" to eat matza for seven days.
Haftara: 15 p’sukimYehoshua 5:2-6:1
The Torah tells us of Pesach Mitzrayim, and then of the first annual Pesach. After that, KP was not brought for the duration of the time in the Midbar. The haftara tells of the mass circumcision at Gilgal of the males who were below military age when we came out of Egypt and those born in the Midbar. Following the Mila (which is a prereq- uisite of KP), the first Pesach in Eretz Yisrael was observed. The Manna ceased and the new People of Israel ate from the harvest of the Land for the first time. Yehoshua meets an angel and is about to begin prepara- tions for battle against Yericho, the first step in conquering the Land.

Second day (1 Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - 3 people, 52 p'sukimVayikra 22:26-23:44 (EMOR)
The bulk of the reading is The Festival Portion, chapter 23 in Vayikra. It deals with the entire cycle of holidays, all of which revolve around Pesach, all of which in some way commemorate the Exodus. The reading contains the mitzva of the Omer which was brought on the second day of Pesach. Perfect timing. The Festival Portion is pre- ceded by several p'sukim that deal with sacrifices and with the mitzvot of Kiddush HaShem. Reference is made to G-d's taking us out of Egypt - definitely part of the reason for "adding" this to the Festival portion.
Second Torah - 4th Aliya, 7 p'sukimBamidbar 28:19-25 (Pinchas)
Contains just the Musaf of Pseach, without the first 3 p'sukim read on the first day only.

Third day PesachShabbat Chol HaMoed
Many shuls follow the custom of reading Shir HaShirim before Torah reading on Shabbat Chol HaMoed. When it is read from a kosher megila scroll, two brachot are recited: AL MIKRA MEGILA and SHE'HE'CHE'YANU. The love between G-d and Israel is the theme of Shir HaShirim. That love was forged in Egypt.
First Torah - seven people, 38 p'sukimSh'mot 33:12-34:26 (Parshat KI TISA)
Who knows 13 - Thirteen are the MIDOT of G-d. This is the main theme of the reading of Shabbat Chol HaMoed. In the aftermath of the Sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe Rabeinu asks G-d to allow him to know Him (G-d) more intimately. G-d will not allow that completely, for this is impossible for any human being, but He will show Moshe more of Himself (so to speak) than anyone else would ever see. G-d then commands Moshe to cut new LUCHOT and write upon them that which was written on the first set, that you broke. G-d forgives the People, sends Moshe back to them with the new LUCHOT, and with the special knowledge of the YUD-GIMMEL MIDOT, which the people of Israel are to use in prayer, and some of whose traits, we are to emulate.
This is followed by a review of the three major Chagim, including mitzvot related to Pesach.
2nd Torah - MAFTIR, same as day 2
Haftara: 14 p’sukimYechezkeil 37:1-14
This portion of the NAVI is the famous prophecy of the Valley of the Dry Bones. In his vision, the NAVI sees bones gradually get covered with sinew, flesh, and skin. Then G-d tells Yechezkeil to prophesy in G-d’s name to the inert bodies that G-d will bring to them the breath of life and they will live. The message to Yechezkeil (and all of us) is that the Jewish Nation, scattered in Exile among the nations of the world, are like those dry bones. But they are not gone and forgotten. They will have the breath of G-d breathed into them and they will return to life - active spiritual, religious life. This prophecy is also about T’CHIYAT HAMEITIM.
There are connections between this Haftara and Pesach in general. But one can also see a connection to the Torah reading specific to Shabbat Chol HaMoed. After the Sin of the Golden Calf, the people were on the verge of extinction, but for the intercession of Moshe Rabeinu on our behalf. The 13 Midot represent the restoration of life to the generation of the Midbar. In that way, the Haftara fits.
Shabbat Mincha - 3 people, 16 p'sukim
As usual for Shabbat Mincha, we read the first part of the upcoming Parshat HaShavu’a - ACHAREI.

Fourth day (Sun. Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - three people, 16 p'sukimSh'mot 13:1-16 (Parshat BO)
This is the continuation of the reading of the first day of Pseach. It consists of the two parshiyot known as KADEISH and V'HAYA KI Y'VI'ACHA, which join the first two portions of the Sh'ma as the four parshiyot in T'filin. The reading contains the mitzvot of the sanctity of firstborns, which derives from the events in Mitzrayim. Extensive reference to Pesach is also found here.
[Interesting minhag: People who wear T’filin during Chol haMoed, usually remove them before Hallel. Some have the custom that on the third day of Pesach only, they leave their T’filin on until after Torah reading, because the reading contains the portions in T’filin.]
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

Fifth day (Monday Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - three people, 26 p'sukimSh'mot 22:24-23:19 (MISHPATIM)
This portion contains many mitzvot including those related to the Three Festivals. The opening mitzvot of this portion deal with Tzedaka. This is particularly appropriate in light of the practice of KIMCHA D'PISCHA, pro- viding for the Pseach needs of the poor.
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

Sixth day (Tuesday Chol HaMoed)
First Torah - three people, 14 p'sukimBamidbar 9:1-14 (B'HAALOT'CHA)
This portion deals with the first (and only) Korban Pseach brought in the Wilderness. It also contains the mitzvot of Pesach Sheni.
2nd Torah - 4th Aliya, same as day 2

7th day of Pesach (Wed.)
First Torah - five people, 63 p'sukimSh'mot 13:17-15:26 (B'SHALACH)
This reading is the continuation of the reading from the fourth day, which was a continuation of the first day, which was a continuation of the Maftir of Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh. This portion contains the events immedi- ately following Y'tzi'at Mitzrayim, mainly the Splitting of the Sea the drowning of the Egyptians, and the Song of the Sea - AZ YASHIR. Our tradition is that it was on the seventh day of Pesach that we crossed Yam Suf.
[Some commentaries note that the Torah does not give us the date of the Splitting of the Sea; we know it from a Tradition. They suggest that G-d did not want us to dwell on the drowning of the Egyptians but only to rejoice in our being saved and being treated to many miracles.]
2nd Torah - Maftir, same as day 2
[The Maftirs of each day of Sukkot differ from one another. Not so for pesach. The korbanot Musaf of all seven days were identical.]
Haftara: 51 p’sikim2 Shmuel 22:1-51
This chapter is the Song of King David. It is written in exactly the special style as AZ YASHIR is written in a Torah scroll. The haftara for the final day of Pesach is the exultant hymn of thanksgiving to G-d. On gets the sense, when following Torah with this Haftara, of B'CHOL DOR VADOR - in every generation...

For Your (Hagada) Information:
The Yemenite Seder Plate has two pieces of meat - one cooked and one roasted. At the beginning of the meal, both pieces of meat are eaten - the cooked one first, since the roasted piece commemorates the K.P., which is eaten at the end of the meal.

Yemenites dip at the Seder, not twice, but four times: Karpas, Matza, Maror, and Koreich. That's not all: All four dippings are done in Charoset. Only Afikoman is not dipped in anything. <JTYLTK>

There is an opinion among early authorities that there is NO praise- worthiness in stretching the MAGID portion of the Seder. Only after all the mitzvot of the night have been performed, is it praiseworthy to expound on matters concerning the Exodus.

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