tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14682054523239861282024-03-14T22:32:17.004-04:00Kosher BeersThis blog is dedicated to the four cornerstones of my life - avodat Hashem, my family, sports and something that goes with all three - BEER!Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.comBlogger1756125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-2647865081224145072024-03-14T22:31:00.004-04:002024-03-14T22:31:45.030-04:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Pikudei<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In Shemos 38:24, the Torah writes כָּל־הַזָּהָ֗ב הֶֽעָשׂוּי֙ לַמְּלָאכָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל מְלֶ֣אכֶת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וַיְהִ֣י | זְהַ֣ב הַתְּנוּפָ֗ה תֵּ֤שַׁע וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ כִּכָּ֔ר וּשְׁבַ֨ע מֵא֧וֹת וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים שֶׁ֖קֶל בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ . R' Frand commented that he does not know the weight in pounds, but he is sure that it was very significant.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">He then quoted a Medrash on Parshas Terumah which states that Hashem had no need to create gold as the world would have been fine without it. (R' Frand quipped We could have used silver as gifts for our spouses). The reason that Hashem created it was to beautify the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand commented that we learn from this that there are many things which are not truly necessary, but Hashem created them only for a specific purpose.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the sefer Yismach Yehuda which writes that the Choftez Chaim said that the reason that Hashem put in the mind of a person to create trains was to make it faster and easier for bochurim to get to yeshiva. Prior to the train, people travelled by horse and buggy and the buggies often got stuck in the mud when it rained. R' Frand theorized that in our generation, if one needed to take a horse and buggy to go to yeshiva he would probably not go.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand connected this with a Gemara (although he did not mention which mesechta) which told of a man who would travel three months to get to yeshiva and then he would stay and learn for a day, before commencing a three month walk back to his home.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also said in the name of R' Aryeh Leb Gurvitz of Gateshead that the seforim today are so plentiful and the print is so beautiful, whereas a few generation back the seforim were scarce and the print was not as clear. R' Frand mentioned that in Slobodka there was one copy of the Ohr Sameach and the boys would take turns learning it. When it was R' Ruderman's turn it was nice and he went out to learn it by moonlight. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also told of R' Birnbaum who when he was learning in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Europe was thought of as having come from a wealthy family since he had a Kitzos HaChoshen. But the truth was that his mother sold her silver candlesticks to buy it for him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Again, in our generation there would not be this level of Mesiras Nefesh.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand told a second vort based on a Medrash which states that Hashem said that gold that was donated for the Mishkan was an atonement for the gold donated for the Egel. Hashem said - when you created the Egel you angered Me, as you stated in Shemos 32:8 -אֵ֤לֶּה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶֽעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם. But when you built the Mishkan and said in Shemos 38:21 - אֵ֣לֶּה פְקוּדֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָֽעֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר פֻּקַּ֖ד עַל־פִּ֣י משֶׁ֑ה you made Me happy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What is the connection other than the use of the same word? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered by quoting the pasuk in Bereishis 2:4 - אֵ֣לֶּה תֽוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ בְּהִ֣בָּֽרְאָ֑ם. This was Hashem's expression of pride in creating the world. When the Jews used the same term in describing the Egel it showed their level of pride about its creation and that angered Hashem. But when they built the Mishkan and again used that term, Hashem granted them atonement.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! </p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-82681674135931189662024-03-07T22:51:00.002-05:002024-03-07T22:51:42.548-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayakhel<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In Shemos 35:30, the Torah writes רְא֛וּ קָרָ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־אוּרִ֥י בֶן־ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that the Torah does not generally mention someone's grandfather and he asked why was Hur referenced in the pasuk. He also observed that at the time that Betzalel was selected to work on the Mishkan he was 13 years old! Lastly, he quoted Rashi who states that Hur was the son of Miriam. R' Frand then asked why did Rashi need to tell us this now, after having given the same commentary twice before?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand first addressed the mention of Hur by quoting the well known Medrash on Vaykhel which states that Betzalel received the honor in the merit of his grandfather who refused to bow to popular pressure when there was a swell of support for building the Golden Calf.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then asked - in hindsight, was it proper for Hur to stand up against the masses when they did not listen to him and ultimately killed him for saying no? R' Frand answered that Hur did do the right thing, because sometimes a person needs to stand up for what he believes in, and even if he does not think that others will listen to him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Where did Hur learn this from? The answer is that he saw this in his mother Miriam.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand identified four specific moments that Miriam stood up for ideas, even though unpopular and they seemed unlikely to succeed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first event was when Amram divorced Yocheved because Amram saw all the Jewish babies being killed by the Egyptians. Although Amram was the lead Rabbi for the Jews in Egypt, his toddler daughter Miriam reproached him for divorcing Yocheved and told him he was worse than Pharaoh. Although Miriam could not have believed that she would succeed in convincing her father, she knew that he was wrong and that she needed to try to influence him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next event took place when Moshe was placed by Miriam in the basket in the water. After Miriam saw that the daughter of Pharaoh had retrieved Moshe, Miriam approached her and told her that she should give the baby to a Jewish midwife. Again, this must have seemed like a longshot - why would the daughter of Pharaoh listen to a slave girl? Still Miriam stood up and spoke about what she believed in.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The third event involved the singing after the Jews crossed the Yam Suf. The women were upset and expressed to Miriam their displeasure in not being able to sing. The Tosafos Harosh explains that Miriam picked up a tambourine and encouraged them to sing - because she knew that they wanted to sing and that the noise of the tambourine would drown out their singing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The final event involved the spinning of thread for the Mishkan. The gemara relates that the women spun thread into wool while it was still on the sheep. Miriam actually taught them to do this because the women wanted to participate, but were concerned that they would be unable to do so if they were niddos. To solve the problem, Miriam taught them to spin thread while it was still on the sheep and not capable of becoming tamei.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is what allowed Betzalel at the tender age of 13 to become the architect of the mishkan - because he was the grandson of Miriam and lived her message. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! </p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-2403604012793955092024-03-01T09:32:00.002-05:002024-03-01T09:32:16.451-05:00Friday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Ki Sissa<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha last evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand asked in his first vort about the use of singular and plural forms in Shemos 31:13 - אַ֥ךְ אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ כִּי֩ א֨וֹת הִ֜וא בֵּינִ֤י וּבֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ . He first gave an answer in the name of the Ramban who states that אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י refers to the Shabbosim of the year as a unit. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But R' Frand quoted the Sefer HaKsav V'HaKaballa who says that there two aspects of Shabbos - one is to stop doing work and the other is to have a spiritual elevation from Shabbos. There is more to Shabbos than not to drive or turn on lights. But beyond your body not doing the usual work of the week, there is also a "Shabbos" for your soul. By not doing what you usually do during the week, there is more of a spiritual elevation for your soul. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is the meaning of the Gemara that says that if the Jews would only keep two Shabboses Moshiach would come. Why specifically two? He answers that it is not two discrete Shabboses, its that if the Jews will keep both aspects of Shabbos, Moshiach would come.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort related to the breaking of the luchos. The Torah writes in Shemos 32:19 - וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר קָרַב֙ אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הָעֵ֖גֶל וּמְחֹלֹ֑ת וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף משֶׁ֗ה וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ מִיָּדָו֙ אֶת־הַלֻּחֹ֔ת וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר אֹתָ֖ם תַּ֥חַת הָהָֽר. But since Moshe knew before he came down that the Jews had worshipped the Egel, why did he bring the luchos down? Why didn't he just leave them on the mountain?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted R' Cooperman of Michlala who quoted the Seforno who states that Moshe knew that they had made the Egel, but he thought that if he came down with the luchos they would stop and repent. But when he came down and saw that they were dancing around the luchos and had made it into a holiday, he thought they were too far gone. So he broke the luchos.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that there is a connection between the two vorts. Just as Hashem wants us to elevate ourselves for Shabbos, there is a mirror image of the enthusiasm for Avodah Zara which is the antithesis. People make mistakes all the time, but if they turn it into a simcha which is done with passion, that is the opposite.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! </p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-45314744932052250462024-02-22T22:32:00.003-05:002024-02-22T22:32:27.409-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Tezaveh<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand focused his vort on the Mizbeach HaKetores which is the last Mitzva in the parsha. He noted that many meforshim, including the Ramban, Ibn Ezra and Seforno all ask why this is commanded in Parshas Tezaveh, since the Klei HaMikdash are all mentioned in Parshas Terumah?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered based on the Sefer Simchas Mordechai who explains that the reason why the Mitzva is in this parsha is because essence of being a Kohain is the Ketores.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand mentioned many sources including two thoughts from the Medrash Tanchuma. The first was a ma'amar of R' Yitzchak Ben Elazar who noted that the Kohanim did many acts of avodah, but the Shechina did not descend until they brought the Ketores. The second ma'amar was a statement that Hashem said that of all the sacrifices that are brought, none is as dear to Him as the Ketores. The Medrash explains that all of the sacrifices come in order to atone, such as the Chatas and Asham, while the Ketores is just Simcha for Hashem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also noted that on Yom Kippur, the only sacrifice that is brought in the Kodesh HaKodashim is the Ketores.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Medrash that when Moshe went up to receive the Torah there was an argument with the angels. After the argument subsided, each angel gave Moshe a present and the gift from the Malach HaMaves was to teach Moshe that Ketores can abate a Mageifah.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">[R' Frand noted that at the beginning of Corona, people were saying Parshas HaKetores as a Segulah].</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also observed that the Ketores was the test when Korach chose to challenge Moshe and Aharon.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then pivoted to discuss how the Ketores was emblematic of Aharon. He quoted Pirkei Avos which states that Aharon was Ohev Shalom and Rodef Shalom and would bring Jews together. As a result he was Zoche to wear the Choshen on his heart. Much like Aharon who brought people together, the Ketores was made of 12 spices, including the Chelbanah which had a foul smell, but with the other spices created such a sweet aroma that women did not need to wear perfume. So too, the Jews need to be united and to include all kinds of Jews when we come together on Ta'anis Tzibur as taught by the Gemara in Kerisus as well as we see in the beginning of the Kol Nidrei prayer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! </p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-74475786298989950172024-02-08T23:02:00.002-05:002024-02-08T23:02:48.928-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Mishpatim<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that R' Yisrael Salanter passed away on the 22nd of Shvat in 1883 which was Erev Shabbos of Parshas Mishpatim. His greatest talmid, the Alter of Kelm said at his levaya that it was no coincidence that R' Yisrael died on that Erev Shabbos, as Parshas Mishpatim is all about Mitzvos Ben Adam L'Chavero and that is what the Mussar movement is about.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then told a story about the recertification of Ner Israel recently by the State of Maryland. This occurred at the same time that ARTS (a Yeshiva accreditation organization) was visiting as well. R' Frand met with the women who were visiting from the State of Maryland and told them that this institution is not only interested in intellectual growth, it also is interested in producing good human beings and that we devote significant time for introspection and personal growth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also discussed the crossover of the two visiting bodies. He mentioned that ARTS had sent R' Yisrael Reisman from Torah V'Daas and after sitting in on some shiurim, he went to visit the Kollel where the boys were learning Hilchos Ribbis. As R' Reisman had written a sefer on Hilchos Ribbis, the 40 members of the Kollel were firing questions at him on Hilchos Ribbis, as one of the women from the State of Maryland was observing from the back of the room. She remarked "I have never seen a thirst for knowledge as I have seen in this session."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also quoted R' Hutner who quoted a Rashi in this week's parsha that Hashem said all 10 dibros simultaneously - a feat that is impossible to say and impossible to comprehend. So why did Hashem do this if people cannot understand it? R' Hutner answered that it was done to demonstrate that no one Mitzva has priority over another.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Hutner also cited a Rashi on the pasuk in Shemos 24:6 וַיִּקַּ֤ח משֶׁה֙ חֲצִ֣י הַדָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖שֶׂם בָּֽאַגָּנֹ֑ת וַֽחֲצִ֣י הַדָּ֔ם זָרַ֖ק עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ. Rashi explains that an angel came down from Shamayim to make the exact split of the blood so that precisely half would be on the Mizbeach and half would be sprinkled on the people. R' Hutner explains that this was symbolic that the Ben Adam L'Chavero was as important as Ben Adam L'Makom.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also noted that in 1983 the Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel (which bears the Israel name after R' Yisrael Salanter) said a shmooze on the 100th yahrtzeit of R' Yisrael. He recalled that when he was in Europe he had been in a shul where the minhag was to wear a Kittel on Hoshana Rabbah. One year the Ba'al Mussaf did not wear a Kittel because the Shamash forgot to bring it to shul. A member of the kehillah laced into him publicly. The Rosh Yeshiva lamented that the wearing of the Kittel was a minhag, but not embarrassing another Jew is a D'Oraysa.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed the vort by telling a story about a group of students in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Poland who were being chased by a group of people. They ran into a dormitory and locked the door, but the people pounded on the door and it turned out to be the police. They opened the door and the police demanded to see everyone's papers. One of the boys did not have his papers and explained that his papers were in a different dormitory. The police went with him to see his papers and then let him go. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The following day, R' Yerucham Levovits said that he was ready to close the yeshiva. He explained that he was aghast that the boys would allow one bochur to be escorted by the police by himself, without others making sure that he would be Ok. The yeshiva was not closed, but this shows the level of concern that R' Yerucham had that the boys should have looked out for each other.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! </p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-65342387689520762102024-02-01T22:47:00.003-05:002024-02-01T22:47:21.351-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Yisro<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand began the vort by quoting the Gemara in Kiddushin 31a about the story of Dama Ben Nassina. The Gemara recites the story about how the Kohanim needed the precious stones for the Urim and Tumim and Dama's father had them in a safe and the keys were under his father's head. The Gemara relates that Dama "Lo Tziaro" which can be translated as he did not "trouble him" and as a result, he lost the ability to sell them for 600,000 coins. Dama was rewarded a year later with a Red Cow and when they came to buy it from him he said that all he wanted was the money that he lost from not being able to sell the stones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The question that many meforshim ask is why is it that we learn the mitzva of Kibbud Av V'Aim from Dama Ben Nassina? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Avnei Shoham which explains that we don't learn any rules of the mitzva from the story. Instead, we see how far a person is willing to go in order to honor his parent. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that this mitzva is one of the hardest in the Torah because it is a constant mitzva and when a parent ages it becomes more difficult to do the mitzva. We learn from Dama Ben Nassina that a person can be willing to forego a fortune just to honor his parent. But not only did he give up the money, but it did not bother him. The Avnei Shoham explains Lo Tziaro as - it did not trouble Dama to pass up the sale.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then quoted the Sefer L'Meromem which stated that the Chazon Ish would go to sit and visit with his mother for an hour every day. Even though the Chazon Ish was scrupulous never to waste time, he felt it important to sit and shmooze with her daily.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that his father's mother came over from Germany with his own mother. The grandmother lived in their home until she needed more care and was placed in a nursing home. But every day, his father would go visit her. R' Frand said that he could not do the same for his mother as they lived on different ends of the country, but every time that he had a West Coast trip he would make an effort to visit her.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand recalled the last time that he visited his mother. She had Parkinson's and was no longer able to speak. When R' Frand could not keep the entire conversation by himself they sat and watched the US Open golf tournament, even though his mother hated golf. But this was the tournament where Tiger Woods wrecked the field and they sat together and watched.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also told a story about someone who traveled from Jerusalem to Bnei Brak to get a beracha from the Chazon Ish. At the time it was a difficult and expensive journey. When the man was complaining about his illness, the Chazon Ish asked him - was this an expensive trip? The man replied that it was. He then asked - are your parents alive? The man said, yes. And are they well off? No, the man replied, they struggle financially. The Chazon Ish then asked - why are you spending money to visit me for a beracha that may or not be successful? Spend the money on your parents and then ask Hashem to heal you as he promises a reward of long life for honoring your parents and I am just flesh and blood.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand told a final story about the Sar Shalom (original Belzer Rebbi) whose mother joined him for a seder. When the soup pot came out, she dipped her matza in the soup because she had no teeth and needed to soften it. The Chassidim watched as the Belzer Rebbi not only did say anything, but he took from the soup that the matza had been soaked in. They asked the Rebbi - gebruchtz - chametz! He responded, gebruchtz is a chumra, Kibbud Av V'Aim is a D'Oraysa. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up! </p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-42565758496361961922024-01-26T13:40:00.069-05:002024-01-26T17:59:07.354-05:00Friday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Beshalach<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha last evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The parsha begins by stating in Shemos 13:17 - וַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח פַּרְעֹה֘ אֶת־הָעָם֒. Chazal teaches that the word וַיְהִ֗י denotes trouble or pain. Who was in pain? R' Frand answered that Pharaoh was in pain.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then told a story about R' Zevulun Groz who was the Av Beis Din in Rechovot. The Sefer Meir Derech states that before R' Groz went away to yeshiva his father told him a Medrash. A person found a pile of pearls and did not know what it was. He asked someone on the road, do you want these balls? The man took them. He then went into the town and sorted them by size and set up a "pop up shop." The seller later entered the town and saw a line outside the pop up shop. People were asking for the price of the smaller and medium pearls and when he heard their price, he tore his clothes and exclaimed "I had it all in the palm of my hand, but did not know its value."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Medrash said that the nimshal is Pharaoh who when he saw that he had 600,00 Jews after Moshe counted them, he cried out woe is me that the Jews were leaving.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sefer Meir Derech asks - what is the parallel? The man who gave up the pearls did so voluntarily. But Pharaoh did not give them up by choice!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The answer is that Pharaoh realized that he had 600,000 wise and industrious people and he used them as brick layers. This is the mashal and nimshal.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Groz's father said to him - you are going off to Yeshiva. Don't waste your time. A Yeshiva career is finite and you don't want to look back and say - I had Gan Eden - I had no concerns and could have sat and learned without distraction. And I wasted it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that he got a text from a former student who had been in mechina. He remembered sitting in a shmooze from R' Tendler who said to him - don't waste your life. One day you will have children and your son will ask you to teach him a perek of Gemara and you would want to be able to do so.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort related to Tu BShvat in 1944. The Belzer Rebbi's father and uncle had miraculously made his way out of Europe to Israel on Tu BShvat. At the time there were a few Belzer Chassidim in Israel, but not many. The Chassidim came to him and said that they had all lost family in Europe and they wanted some Chizuk. He told them that the Jews sang Az Yashir on the 7th day of Pesach. But these are the same Jews who must have lost most of their relatives in Choshech in which 80% of the Jews died. How did they say Shira? He answered based on Rashi who said that they sang that in the future there will be Techiyas HaMeisim - when everything will make sense. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!<span> </span></p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-34930452736006873102024-01-18T23:41:00.004-05:002024-01-18T23:41:40.662-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Bo<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said two vorts tonight which were predicated on the Ramban on Parshas Bo. The first vort related to Shemos 10:6 where after Moshe tells Pharaoh that the plague of Arbeh was coming, the Torah writes וַיִּ֥פֶן וַיֵּצֵ֖א מֵעִ֥ם פַּרְעֹֽה. Thereafter, the Torah writes that Pharaoh's slaves try to convince Pharaoh to let the Jews leave and then Moshe and Aharon were brought back to Pharaoh.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Ramban writes that when Moshe left, it was before receiving a response to his request that the Jews be allowed to leave. The reason for his departure was to allow the Egyptians to confer about his warning. In fact, this occurred each time that Moshe warned the Egyptians that a plague was coming. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted R' Simcha Zisil Brody who explained and developed the Ramban. He asked - why did Moshe leave? Shouldn't he have stayed around and been available for questions or to offer advice? He answered that Moshe knew that human nature is to resist being told to do something and that if he stayed and offered advice it would be rejected. So Moshe left and allowed them to come to their own conclusions as to how to proceed. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also quoted R' Brody for the principle that a person has problems seeing his own flaws. How then can we get direction? From our spouse who is not seen as an outsider and who (hopefully) will be able to tell us when we are being an idiot. R' Brody tied this to a Gemara in Yevamos 63a in which R' Elazar says that any man without a wife is not a (complete) man. This is not an exaggeration as we can see from when we make the Beracha Yotzeir HaAdam. It is not said at birth, nor at the bris or at the Bar Mitzvah. Instead it is said under the Chuppah as a man is not a complete man until he is married.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also quoted the last Ramban on the parsha which asks - why do we have so many mitzvos which are intended to remind us of being taken out of Egypt? He answers that with Yetzias Mitzrayim, Hashem answered the skeptics who questioned if Hashem existed, or if He is aware of what takes place on earth and if He is in control. By taking the Jews out of Egypt with great open miracles, He showed that He does exist, is aware of what takes place here and does care about what happens.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Ramban further explains that Hashem does not make open miracles daily and for that reason, people can forget His involvement. Therefore we are given so many Mitzvos that cause us to remember Yetzias Mitzrayim. Because for a person to have a portion in the Torah he needs to be aware that just like there were open miracles, there are also hidden miracles and that what happens here is not simply "nature", it is Hashem's divine acts which are all hidden miracles.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-16429551201278598762024-01-11T23:00:00.002-05:002024-01-11T23:00:11.865-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Va'era<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand began the vort by quoting the pasuk in Shemos 6:5 - וְגַ֣ם | אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי אֶת־נַֽאֲקַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם מַֽעֲבִדִ֣ים אֹתָ֑ם. The pasuk begins with the words - וְגַ֣ם | אֲנִ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי - and also I heard. R' Frand quoted the Chassam Sofer who asked - who else heard the cries of the Jews?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Chassam Sofer explains that the Egyptians were so cruel that they would not allow the Jews to cry about their troubles. The only exception was when Pharaoh died they were allowed to cry, although their tears were for their tragedies and not Pharaoh's death.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand observed that when someone is generally undergoing troubles, it is hard to be sympathetic to someone else's troubles. It's not that the person is callous, it's just that when a person is in pain, he does not necessarily feel someone else's pain.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However in Egypt the Jews were able to do just that. Not only did they cry about their individual troubles, but they were able to cry about other people's troubles as well. It was this crying for others that Hashem said "I also heard" - I have people's crying for themselves and that they can still cry for others as well.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand tied this into a story in the sefer L'Mromem about R' Gud Eisner (sp?). He had been in the camps towards the end of the Holocaust at a time when the Nazis knew the end was near. They ordered the weak prisoners to march through the snow in a "death march" where anyone who fell was immediately shot.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Eisner was marching with his friend R' Nechemia Blustein when R' Eisner felt that he had no more energy and he fell to the ground. R' Nechemia yelled at him "Gudele, run." And he got up and began running and was not shot. He lived through the march and eventually became the Mashgiach at the Yeshivas Sfas Emes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Eisner said that he learned three things from this: (1) that everyone has hidden strengths that just need to be unlocked as he did not know that he could push through; (2) that encouragement has the power to help someone who is down get back up, and (3) that knowing that someone else cares is significant enough to help someone persevere.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed the vort by acknowledging that we live in a world where people are very lonely. This is not just a COVID, or post-COVID effect. He observed that when you see people on a train or a plane they are all absorbed in their screens and he theorized that the smart phone and internet cause people to feel isolated and alone because others are not interacting with them. But a little encouragement and showing that you care can be enough to help someone who is lonely feel that they are no longer by themselves.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-67878166016710453882024-01-04T23:59:00.001-05:002024-01-05T00:00:48.082-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Shemos<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand began the vort by repeating a central concept of his that in every parsha we can see the middah of HaKaras HaTov. He gave an example in this week's parsha which related to Pharaoh. Although Pharaoh did many evil things, the Torah introduces us to Pharaoh in Shemos 1:8, it is with the statement וַיָּ֥קָם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף - that Pharaoh was not makir tov for what Yosef did. Or as one mefaresh explains - he acted as if he did not what Yosef did to save Egypt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What Chazal are pointing out that if someone is not a makir tov and is instead is kafoi tov, he can come to do horrible things as the result was that he bathed in the blood of Jewish babies.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also observed that Pharaoh claimed in Shemos 1:10 that הָ֥בָה נִתְחַכְּמָ֖ה ל֑וֹ פֶּן־יִרְבֶּ֗ה וְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־תִקְרֶ֤אנָה מִלְחָמָה֙ וְנוֹסַ֤ף גַּם־הוּא֙ עַל־שׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַם־בָּ֖נוּ וְעָלָ֥ה מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ - he was concerned that the Jews would desert Egypt in a battle and would not show HaKaras HaTov. (This despite that the Torah has specific rules that still requires us to show favor to Egyptians because we were geirim in their land).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand used an adage was Peter says about Paul, says more about Peter than it does about Paul. Pharaoh's concern for the Jews not being loyal was born out of his lack of HaKaras HaTov for what Yosef did for Egypt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted a Gemara in Avodah Zarah where a person said that Jews can't keep Shabbos, because if they are walking on the street and see a wallet on Shabbos they would not be able to walk away from it. This is because he was too attached to money. Another Gemara quoted a person who said that he does not think Jews can live in the same house with their wife when she is a Niddah. Why? Because he himself had no self control.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand next mentioned a Medrash Tanchuma in which Moshe tells Hashem - I can't take the Jews out of Egypt without getting permission from Yisro. Yisro took me into his house and treated me as a son and fed me and employed me.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand asked - who owes who? Yisro could not find a shidduch for his daughter and welcomed Moshe because Moshe did not know about Yisro's history. But Moshe treated him as if Yisro had done him a favor. R' Frand quoted the Chovos HaLevavos which explains that when someone does you a favor, you should see that it comes from Hashem and the person is just a conduit.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then quoted R' Chaim Friedlander who observed about this story that when an opportunity comes for you to do a Mitzva, you cannot step over someone else or do something wrong to someone to do what you need to do. He gave the example of coming late to shul and blocking someone else in the parking lot. Being in shul does not give someone the right to hinder someone else.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is the lesson of Moshe asking Yisro for permission - because even doing a great Mitzva like taking the Jews out of Egypt did not supplant Moshe;s need to recognize the good that Yisro had done for him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-33381215855291146812023-12-28T22:46:00.004-05:002023-12-28T22:46:19.159-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayechi<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand's first vort related to Ya'akov crossing his hands when blessing Ephraim and Menashe so that his right hand would be on Ephraim, although Yosef had aligned the boys in age order so that Ya'akov would have placed his right hand on Menashe's head.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But why did Ya'akov cross his hands? Wouldn't it have been easier to just move the boys from one side to the other?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Chizkuni who answered that this was done out of sensitivity for Menashe who was the bechor. It already was an affront to him that his grandfather was placing his right hand on his younger brother because his grandfather had nevuah that Menashe's descendants would be greater. But to physically move him to a lesser position would be a more public slight and Ya'akov did not want to hurt his feelings any more.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand told a story about an MD from Minnesota who was an expert on epilepsy who attended a conference in Jerusalem. While speaking at the conference, he noticed a Yerushalmi who was sitting in the audience. The doctor approached him and asked, what is your specialty? The man responded, I am not a doctor. The man explained that he had a daughter with epilepsy and whenever there were conferences he would attend to hear the latest treatments.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the close of the conference the Yerushalmi approached the doctor and asked if he would like to spend Shabbos at their home. The doctor accepted the invitation and when they were walking to the home, the Yerushami told the doctor that he had five daughters and he was certain that the doctor would not be able to tell which was the epileptic. This daughter was perfectly normal and did not act differently unless she was having an incident. The doctor said - yes I can tell. They even bet on it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the Friday Night meal, the doctor correctly identified who was the epileptic (of course out of earshot). The Yerushalmi asked - how did you know? The doctor answered that he saw that when the Yerushalmi gave the Brochos he had more intense concentration when he gave that daughter the Beracha - even his heart rate increased. There was nothing that the girl had done to give away her condition. It was her father's concern which gave it away.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort on the pasuk where Yosef tells his brothers not to feel bad, as Hashem had this as part of his plan. The Torah states in Bereishis 50:20 - וְאַתֶּ֕ם חֲשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עָלַ֖י רָעָ֑ה אֱלֹהִים֙ חֲשָׁבָ֣הּ לְטֹבָ֔ה לְמַ֗עַן עֲשׂ֛ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לְהַֽחֲיֹ֥ת עַם־רָֽב. Although much of the pasuk seems simple, why did Yosef use the words לְמַ֗עַן עֲשׂ֛ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה - what happened on a day like today?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Be'er Moshe who tied the pasuk to a pasuk in Parshas Vayeshev which is in the middle of the story of how the wife of Potiphar attempts to seduce Yosef on a daily basis. The Chumash writes in Bereishis (39:11) that one day -וַֽיְהִי֙ כְּהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א הַבַּ֖יְתָה לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת מְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨ין אִ֜ישׁ מֵֽאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת שָׁ֖ם בַּבָּֽיִת. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When Yosef invokes the term Kayom Hazeh in Parshas Vayechi, he is in effect telling the brothers that Hashem had a plan and He needed me to be there in Egypt to resist the urges of the wife of Potiphar. Based on my resistance, the Jews will be able to survive their time in Egypt and emerge from a country which was on the lowest level of tumah, intact. As a result I am not only keeping the people alive based on the food I have gathered, but I will be able to keep the Jews spiritually alive so that the Jews could fight the yetzer harah to be mezaneh in Egypt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-24470517236260894062023-12-22T00:13:00.003-05:002023-12-22T00:13:28.864-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayigash<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Dovid Heber as R' Frand had a back issue which prevented him from giving shiur on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Heber. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Heber began his parsha vort by asking why Yosef did not send word back to his father that he was alive once he was made the second in command? It was understandable why he did not send a message when he was enslaved to Potiphar and later when he was in prison. But why not tell his father that he was alive and well and Pharaoh's number 2?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Heber gave an answer by the Shvan HaSofer in the back of the Yerushalmi in Zeraim. He said that when Yosef was sold into slavery after being thrown in the pit, he never had a chance to discuss the issue with his father. As a result he thought that maybe his father was involved in the sale and that his father was upset at him for telling loshon hara about his brothers.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once he spoke with the brothers and they told him that his father was mourning his loss and that he would not allow Binyamin to go down to Egypt, he knew that his father was not involved.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Heber tied this to a famous gemara in Gittin where two siblings were thrown into a jail because their masters wanted their slaves to mate. They cried all night until in the morning they realized that they were siblings. There was such Agmas Nefesh because they did not realize that they were siblings but could not see it because of the galus. So too, Yosef because of his galus in Egypt could not see the truth that his father was not involved. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Heber linked this to the tragic story of the hostages in Gaza who were accidentally killed because the soldiers could not tell that they were Israeli hostages and not terrorists. This due to the pain and cloud of Galus. During Galus there is confusion as Yavan is Choshech - they mistranslated the Torah and distorted it (with the anniversary being earlier this week) so that other religions could miscast the truth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">How do we rectify this? Only through Shalom as the Sinas Chinam comes from misunderstanding and confusion. The offset to this is Ahava, where we love fellow Jews without condition.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Heber closed the vort by saying that the only Friday afternoon that we ever lain is when Asarah B'Teves falls on Friday. He then noted the gemara in Eruvin which states that Eliyahu HaNavi will never come on Friday because everyone is busy getting ready for Shabbos. Which means that every time that we fast for the Churban we know that Eliyahu HaNavi can come that day, except for tomorrow. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">On Asarah B' Teves which falls on Friday we know that Eliyahu HaNavi cannot come. But we also do something unique. The Rama (251) states that on Friday we are supposed to minimize our learning in order to prepare for Shabbos. This is why we never lain on Friday. But the one time that we do lain is that one moment that we are fasting for the Churban but knowing that Eliyahu HaNavi cannot come now. In so doing we are saying to Hashem, every other Friday we don't lain, but today I am ready for Shabbos - because we are coming to Shul in lain. We are showing that there is no tircha because we are ready for Shabbos and sitting in Shul doing something that we never do. In so doing we say to Eliyahu HaNavi - we are ready for you to come now, there is no tircha - so Hashem now that we are ready please send Eliyahu HaNavi. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-35519044131110261442023-12-14T23:27:00.002-05:002023-12-14T23:27:19.199-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Mikeitz<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand's vort related to Bereishis 42:3 which states וַיֵּֽרְד֥וּ אֲחֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף עֲשָׂרָ֑ה לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר בָּ֖ר מִמִּצְרָֽיִם. Rashi asks - why are they called the brothers of Yosef and not the sons of Ya'akov or Yisrael? He answers that they are called the brothers of Yosef because at this time they had charata - regret for the sale of Yosef.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand then asked - if they were showing regret for the sale of Yosef now, why did they need to undergo the ordeal of the rest of Mikeitz and Vayigash where they were accused of being spies and had various imprisonments and were threatened with the loss of Binyamin? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand answered by quoting the Sfas Emes who observes the same quandary by Yosef. When Yosef did not stray when being seduced by the wife of Potiphar he earned the title HaTzadik. The Rambam in Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah writes that someone who does not commit a sin because of fear or for kavod can be compared to Yosef HaTzadik. So why did Yosef undergo multiple years in prison after rising to the challenge?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Sfas Emes answers that when Hashem sees that a person has made a major step up in his teshuva or yirah, now I can test him. The brothers realized that they were wrong and did real teshuva and that put them on a higher level, so Hashem said - they can handle more. So too by Yosef, once he showed that he could withstand the wife of Potiphar, he demonstrated to Hashem that he could handle more.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand gave his own example of a person who takes steps in becoming a ba'al teshuva - eventually closing their business on Shabbos and becoming frum in all ways. And there are stories about people who lose their business, or their spouse leaves them because they don't want to be frum. This may not seem fair to us, but Hashem knows that this person can handle more and He knows what is best.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand said a second vort based on the pasuk in Bereishis 41:50 - וּלְיוֹסֵ֤ף יֻלָּד֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים בְּטֶ֥רֶם תָּב֖וֹא שְׁנַ֣ת הָֽרָעָ֑ב. The Ba'al HaTurim notes that the word וּלְיוֹסֵ֤ף appears one other time in the Torah - in V'Zos HaBracha where the Torah writes in Devarim 33:13 - וּלְיוֹסֵ֣ף אָמַ֔ר מְבֹרֶ֥כֶת יְהֹוָ֖ה אַרְצ֑וֹ מִמֶּ֤גֶד שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ מִטָּ֔ל וּמִתְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֥צֶת תָּֽחַת.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What is the connection?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Ba'al HaTurim explains that Yosef held back from marital relations during the time of famine as although he lived in the palace, everyone else was suffering. As a result he was rewarded that his tribe would receive the most fertile land in Israel</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted R' Matisyahu Solomon who notes that the word Sneh appears twice in the Chumash. Moshe's first encounter with Hashem is at the Sneh and in Devarim 33:16 Yosef is blessed - וּמִמֶּ֗גֶד אֶ֚רֶץ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ וּרְצ֥וֹן שֹֽׁכְנִ֖י סְנֶ֑ה. When Hashem greets Moshe He is in the Sneh to show that he is with the Jews in the their time of oppression in Egypt. Yosef who showed that he was together with the people in their time of trouble, is blessed with the land of sweetness by the One who dwelled in the Sneh.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-71493575494222611122023-11-30T23:20:00.002-05:002023-11-30T23:20:15.452-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayishlach<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand's first vort related to the pasuk in Bereishis 32:5 wherein Ya'akov instructs his messengers to tell Esav כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב עִם־לָבָ֣ן גַּ֔רְתִּי. Rashi famously has two interpretations of Ya'akov's message. The first is that Ya'akov is telling Esav - even though I received the berachos they did not come to fulfilment. The second interpretation was that Ya'akov was telling Esav, even though I lived with Lavan, I kept the Torah and did not learn from Lavan's evil ways.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Klei Yakar who observes that the two interpretations of Rashi seem to be polar opposites. In order to explain the seeming conflict, the Klei Yakar states that what Ya'akov is telling Esav is that the berachos did not come to fulfilment even though I kept the Torah while as at Lavan, because I obtained the berachos through trickery. As such Esav you should not hate me as I have not received the benefit of the berachos because of the method that I obtained them.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort on this Rashi in the name of R' Levi Gurevitz. He explains that Ya'akov was lamenting to Esav that even though he lived with Lavan he did not learn from him. Ya'akov observed that Lavan pursued his evil deeds with passion and excitement. Ya'akov lamented that he had not learned from Esav how to become as passionate in doing mitzvos.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand connected this with a story involving R' Gifter. He had traveled to Mexico City to collect for the Telshe Yeshiva and had been attempting to collect from a man, but had difficulty finding him at home. After much effort he was able to meet him at work at a very early hour. He asked the man how he found time for his family and the man responded in Yiddish - you have to "live in the business." R' Gifter returned to the yeshiva and told the bochurim in a shmooze that they need to "live in Torah" like he "lived in the business."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort based on the pesukim which compared the Avos to objects in nature. Avraham was compared to the stars in the sky, Yitzchak was compared to the sands of the sea and Ya'akov was compared to the dust of the earth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yet when Ya'akov was praying before he met Esav in Bereishis 32:13 he said - וְאַתָּ֣ה אָמַ֔רְתָּ הֵיטֵ֥ב אֵיטִ֖יב עִמָּ֑ךְ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּח֣וֹל הַיָּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יִסָּפֵ֖ר מֵרֹֽב. But this was Yitzchak's metaphor? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand explained that sand has a unique quality. One grain of sand can accomplish nothing, but sand when it adheres to itself can stop the surge of the sea. He was thus saying to Hashem, the only way that the Jews can vanquish Esav is when they are together like many grains of sand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-9847375985085830352023-11-23T22:48:00.000-05:002023-11-23T22:48:00.920-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayeitzei<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand has often said that you can find the concept of HaKaras HaTov in every parsha and this parshas is a prime example (and the fact that today was Thanksgiving played into the concept as well). R' Frand said a number of vorts related to Leah being the first to publicly thank Hashem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that after Leah said thank you to Hashem, she stopped having children, as it states in Bereishis 29:35 - וַתַּ֨הַר ע֜וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֗ן וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַפַּ֨עַם֙ אוֹדֶ֣ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֛ן קָֽרְאָ֥ה שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַתַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד מִלֶּֽדֶת. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But why should her thanking Hashem be a reason that she stops having children?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Tur al HaTorah (written by the Ba'al HaTurim) who explains that the problem was that Leah said thanks but did not make a request for the future. When a person thanks Hashem for what is received, you should keep asking, because without asking for more, you say "I am set." R' Frand gave the example of someone who wins a $300 million powerball lottery and thinks he is set. But the next day he could be diagnosed with cancer, or some other issue that is not addressed with money. No matter how much money a person has, he is never set.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the the Rambam in Hilchos Berachos which states the general principle that when he thank Hashem, we should always cry out for the future and thank Hashem for the past. We cannot be complacent and say - its enough, Hashem wants us to ask for more.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand gave various examples from davening, including that in Hallel we end with Ana Hashem Hoshiah Na, Ana Hashem Hatzlicha Na. Even though we are praising Hashem and thanking Him, we still ask. Because HaKaras HaTov needs to have an element that we still need Hashem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is also seen in Shemoneh Esreh - even after after Hoda'ah, we still ask Sim Shalom - because without peace, everything goes down the drain.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort on the Rashi which states that Leah said thank you because she received more than she deserved - so now I have a reason to say thank you. R' Frand quoted in the name of R' Benzion HaKohain Kook that the imahos knew there would be 12 sons - divided by four meant that each would have three. But now that Leah sees that she has four, she realizes that the three is not a given. Maybe someone could have one or two. Now that I see that I have four, I realize that my assumption that I would have three is incorrect. So now I have a reason to say thanks, because there is nothing that is "given."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a third vort based on a Gemara in Berachos which says that from the day of creation until then, no one said thanks before Leah. But that is not accurate. Noach brought sacrifices after the flood and Eliezer bowed to Hashem in thanks for finding Rivka.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted R' Fisher who observed that Leah did not have an easy life. Everyone had told her that since she was the older she was going to marry Eisav. Although that did not happen, everyone realized that she was switched at her sister's wedding. She cried as a result and felt that she was the Senuah. Her whole life she asked - why am I suffering? After she has her fourth child she has an epiphany and thanks Hashem as she realizes that this was a reward for all of her suffering. This is unique, as everyone else had thanked Hashem for the good things, but she had thanked Hashem for the tzoros. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-81446153105497776512023-11-16T23:30:00.000-05:002023-11-17T00:07:29.102-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Toldos<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that both this week's parsha and Parshas Noach begin with almost identical words (the only difference being a vuv before the Eileh in Toldos). So why is it that we call Noach by his name and this week's parsha is called Toldos?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered by quoting the sefer L'Romeim who explains that the Avos lived their lives to teach their children and give them guidance in Derech HaEmes. He noted that the pasuk in Lech Lecha in which Hashem states כִּ֣י יְדַעְתִּ֗יו לְמַ֩עַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אַֽחֲרָ֔יו (Bereishis 18:19) - Rashi explains that Hashem is using language showing Chiba - why do I love Avraham? Because he teaches his chilldren to following Derech Hashem. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In contrast, Noach made no lasting impact on his generation and had no legacy among his descendants. Therefore his parsha is named after him, because there is no mesorah. However, because Yitzchak did teach his children and had a lasting impression, the parsha is called Toldos.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand linked this to a vort by the Alter Zedeh (R' Elya Lopian) who notes that the pasuk in Shma (Devarim 11:19) - וְלִמַּדְתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֨ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ - begins plural and ends singular. Why? Because it demonstrates that if you want to teach your children to follow the Torah, you need to show them that you follow it when sitting at home, travelling on the road, etc.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort which began with a reference to Parshas Vayeitzei, wherein Rachel approaches Ya'akov and asks him to pray for her to have a child, to which he responds, הֲתַ֤חַת אֱלֹהִים֙ אָנֹ֔כִי? (Bereishis 30:1-2). Rashi there explains that Rachel said - your father prayed for your mother to have children (in this week's parsha) can't you pray for me? To this he responds - its different, there he had no children, but I already have children from my other wives. How can this be viewed as anything but callous? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">To answer the question, R' Frand told two stories. The first involved a man who had been married seven years and had no children. He had been to doctors, rabbanim, mekubalim, but was still childless. He was told to see R' Dovid Abuchatzeira. So he took a bus and got there at 11 AM and was told by the assistant to wait his turn. He sat with a gemara, but by 2 had still not been seen. He asked and was told it was not his turn. He waited until 9 PM and saw many people who had arrived after him being given entry. He was then told that he would have to come back another day. The man had enough and walked out and sat on a bench and cried to Hashem. The assistant approached and said - maybe I can try to get you in now, but the man was not interested. As he was about to leave the assistant came to him again and said R' Dovid wants to see you now. He came in and R' Dovid said - why are you here, you have been answered already?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand tied this cryptic statement to a potentially apocryphal story about the Kotsker Rebbi. One day his sister came to him and begged him to daven for her. He told her that he could not do so. She went out the door and wept and said aloud - Hashem, even my brother won't help me, I have only you to rely on. The Kotsker opened the door and embraced his sister and said - that was what I was waiting for. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is why R' Dovid said - you have already been answered - and 1 year later they were blessed with a baby boy!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-14605558791622171472023-11-09T23:03:00.001-05:002023-11-09T23:03:11.174-05:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Chaye Sarah<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand's first vort related to the pasuk in Bereishis 24:32 which states that after Eliezer came to Besuel's house - וַיִּתֵּ֨ן תֶּ֤בֶן וּמִסְפּוֹא֙ לַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וּמַ֨יִם֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ רַגְלָ֔יו וְרַגְלֵ֥י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ. Although Rashi states in connection with the story of Eliezer that greater is the discussion of the avadim of the avos than the Torah of their children, in this regard the Medrash states that greater is the washing of the avadim than the Torah of their children.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand linked this washing to the washing of the feet of the Malachim who came to visit Avraham in last week's parsha. R' Frand quoted the well known Rashi that Avraham was concerned that the Malachim were arabs who worshipped the dust of their feet. Therefore he gave them water to wash off the Avodah Zara when they came to his home.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then asked - there are many odd Avodah Zara practices discussed in Tanach and the Gemara. But why would anyone worship the dust of their feet?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered by quoting the Arugas HaBosem which explains that they were not actually worshipping the dust. He explains that a person needs his feet to get to work and earn a parnasah. A person may feel that after he closes a good deal, or has an idea that turns into a great product, that it is his own acumen which caused the financial windfall. In so doing he will forget that Hashem is gozer on Rosh Hashanah the money that the man will earn during the year and that while he needs to do his Hishtadlus, its Hashem who decides if the business will be a success.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Arugas HaBosem explains that the arabs were not actually worshipping the dust of their feet. Instead they were lauding themselves for their success and praising themselves feet for getting them there. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When Eliezer arrived at the home of Besuel he washed off his feet and those of the people who were with him, to show that even in the pursuit of Shidduchim, its not the Hishtadlus that makes the Zivug work out. It is all from Hashem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort on the pasuk in Bereishis 24:60 - וַיְבָֽרְכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ אַ֥תְּ הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר שֽׂנְאָֽיו . R' Frand quoted the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch which states that this was said as a bracha at the Badekin by the Elders. Even today it is said by the father of the Kallah at the Badekin. But why is the bracha of Lavan and Co so prominently mentioned?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered that perhaps the reason is that the beracha was selfless. Lavan was not happy that his sister was marrying Yitzchak. And the language of the beracha specifically demonstrates that Lavan was blessing her that her descendants would triumph over his. Since the beracha was given with no strings attached and purely to her benefit, it has found its way into our wedding practices.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand further theorized that perhaps the beracha itself is a lesson for the chosson and kallah as to how a marriage can be successful. If you want to succeed, you must think completely about the other person's well being and not about your own.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed the vort by telling a story about R' Ya'akov Twerski of Milwaukee who had been hospitalized with pancreatic cancer. When the doctors came in and told him that there was an experimental treatment, he was unsure about whether to try it. After his wife left the room, he asked his son (who was an MD) whether the treatment had much chance of success and his son said that it would be very painful and unlikely to succeed. When his wife later came into the room and asked - so are you going to try the treatment, he responded "Yes." When his son asked him why, he told him - this is giving your mother a lift and if he did not try the treatment she would forever regret it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the end the treatment was not successful and he did succumb to the cancer. But his choice to have the treatment for the sake of his wife's peace of mind is the real lesson.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-27697728516930901872023-11-03T15:57:00.001-04:002023-11-03T15:57:41.161-04:00Friday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayera<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha last evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand's first vort was from the sefer L'Meromem which he has previously quoted from. He noted that Hashem's choice of salt for the wife of Lot was based on the people of Sodom who were narcissists. Salt is the exact opposite - as its sole purpose is to improve other things. No one eats just salt, it is used to enhance and improve something else. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the introduction to Nefesh HaChaim which notes that people were put on this Earth to help others, not to do things for yourself. Steak, pasta, even cake is improved with the addition of salt. Thus this is a reminder to be the antithesis of Sodom.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort in the name of R' Michoel Forschlager, whose yahrtzeit is this week. R' Frand quoted R' Aharon Kotler Ztl who said that R' Michoel was the great Talmid Chacham in the USA. He was a talmid muvhak of the Avnei Nezer and R' Meir Shapiro wanted to hire R' Michoel to be the Rosh Yeshiva of Chachmei Lublin. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that he used to a Gemara shiur in Congregation Chizuk Emunah (a shul that broke off from a Reform synagogue) but when that shul went Conservative, he left.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the pasuk in Bereishis 22:19 which states that after the Akeidah - וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אַבְרָהָ֖ם בִּבְאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע. The meforshim ask - where was Yitzchak? The Medrash explains that Yitzchak when to learn by the Yeshiva of Shem V'Ever, where he learned for three years. R' Forschlager asked - it says in Gemara in Yoma that Avraham was teaching Torah and Eliezer was doleh u'mahkeh from his Torah. So why is it that Yitzchak left? Because in order to grow in Torah, you need to be goleh to a place a Torah. But if this is the case, why did Yitzchak stay by Avraham for the first 37 years of his life? R' Forschlager quotes the Ari who quotes the Zohar, which states that until the Akeidah, Yitzchak had a neshama of a nekeiva. During the Akeidah, Yitzchak died and was revived and got up from the Akeidah and said Boruch Mechaye HaMeisim. Since previously he was a nekeivah and now got up and became a zachor, it was time for him to go away and learn Torah.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that the lesson from this is that when Avraham was told to shecht Yitzchak, Avraham must have thought that Hashem had changed his mind that Yitzchak would be source of Klal Yisrael. But in reality, this was actually the event that caused the birth of Klal Yisrael. Had Avraham not brought him and shechted him, he would not have come back with a male neshama and there would not have been a Klal Yisrael. Avraham could not have understood this would happen, but Hashem had a plan and it was not for Avraham to question.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed the vort by noting that the Kriyah on Rosh Hashanah which begins with the Akeidah ends with the birth of the children of Nachor (Bereishis 22:20-24). Why did the Kriyah need to include this on Rosh Hashanah? Couldn't it have ended with the end of the Akeidah? The answer is that there needed to be an Akeidah and Yitzchak to be reborn, as a result of which there was a requirement for his Bas Zug - for Rivkah to be born.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-71947681723244654152023-10-19T23:59:00.003-04:002023-10-19T23:59:31.350-04:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Noach<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand observed that although it was already Cheshvan, it was close enough to Yom Kippur to say a vort about the Yonah story. As we read every year on Yom Kippur at Mincha, Yonah was reluctant to go to Ninveh (which R' Frand said is the current day city of Mosul in Iraq) and tell them to do Teshuva because he knew that they would in fact repent. We read in the story that not only did the people do Teshuva, even the animals fasted and wore sackcloth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But why was this city able to accomplish this task? R' Frand quoted the Tchortkov (Sp?) Rebbi who quotes Rashi in this week's parsha on the pesukim in Bereishis 10:8-11 which states that Ashur left his lands and built many cities, including Ninveh. Rashi explains that Ashur saw that his children could have been influenced by Nimrod, and for that reason he left "civilization" and built his own city. The Rebbi then states that a city with this in its seeds would be able to achieve the Teshuva which Yonah was concerned would reflect badly on the Jews of his time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed the vort by quoting a Sefer called L'Meromeim which quotes a Piskei Tosfos in Megillah which explains that the reason why our Ksav is Ashuris is because Ashur was not influenced by Nimrod. From this we see that if someone takes an action, it can have a positive result for millenia.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort from the Medrash Tanchuma on Parshas Vayeshev. The Medrash observes that every time in Tanach and that the word "Hayah" is used in connection with a person, it means that he lived in three worlds. In the opening pasuk of Parshas Noach (Bereishis 6:9) the Torah states נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה. The Medrash observes that Noach lived in the world before the flood, during the flood and then during the rebuilding of the world.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Similarly, by Moshe we are told in Shemos 3:1 that וּמשֶׁ֗ה הָיָ֥ה רֹעֶ֛ה. We know that Moshe saw the Jews in Egypt before the Shibud, during the Shibud and when they were travelling as free men in the desert.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Other examples include Mordechai who we are introduced to in Esther 2:3 - אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה. Mordechai saw the Jews before Haman's decree, during the time that they were threatened and after the Jews were saved. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand observed that each of these people (as well as Iyov and Yosef who also had the word Hayah connected with them) all saw times when they were good and then bad and then during the rebuild afterwards. He hypothesized that perhaps what made each of them great was that they were able to put the difficult times in the past - they were Hayah and move on with doing great things.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-85812045514200039682023-09-24T15:27:00.001-04:002023-09-24T15:27:32.217-04:00Rabbi Frand's 5784 Teshuva Derasha Part II<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is the second half of my summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand in his annual Teshuva Derasha which was broadcast on the TCN network. (The first half can be found here <a href="https://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2023/09/rabbi-frands-5784-teshuva-derasha-part-i.html">https://kosherbeers.blogspot.com/2023/09/rabbi-frands-5784-teshuva-derasha-part-i.html</a>). This was a very powerful derasha and my attempt to summarize should not be viewed as an exact transcript as it is based on my notes. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The second part of the derasha asked the question - are we honest with ourselves? Are we who we purport to be?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that many meforshim wanted the Jews to be reminded of the sale of Yosef on Yom Kippur and we do remember it through the Asarah Harugei Malchus which were a Kapparah for it. He also quoted an opinion that we dont wear leather shoes because Yosef was sold for a pair of shoes. But the main reason is that the day that the brothers faced Yosef is the archetype of the Yom HaDin. One of the most dramatic moments in the Torah is when Yosef tells his brothers that he is Yosef and his brothers could not answer him as they were speechless. The Medrash quotes R' Elazar Ben Azarya who says - woe to us on Yom HaDin and woe to us on the day of Tochaha. And this was a mere mortal, how will we stand before Hashem and answer Him?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But where is the Mussar or Tochacha? Yosef did not say anything overtly negative to them! The answer is that when he revealed himself, the brothers realized that they had been living a lie for all of those years. They thought that Yosef was an evil person and deserved to die and that they had been compassionate by only selling him. But they realized that they were wrong and he was right. And there is no greater rebuke than to realize that you had been living a lie for all of those years.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted a Gemara in Nedarim which states that Gehinnom will be Hashem taking the Sun from its sheath and there is a bright light. The Tzaddikim will enjoy this as they have lived a life of truth. But the Reshaim will see the inconsistency of their lives and there is nothing more painful. R' Frand said that this is what Chazal had in mind with the allusions to Yosef - its hard to anticipate the Yom HaDin - but we can understand the way the brothers felt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that there is one day a year where we can examine ourselves and see whether we are living truthful lives or do we see inconsistencies.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the pasuk in Devarim 30:1וְהָיָה֩ כִֽי־יָבֹ֨אוּ עָלֶ֜יךָ כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה הַבְּרָכָה֙ וְהַקְּלָלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַֽהֲשֵֽׁבֹתָ֙ אֶל־לְבָבֶ֔ךָ - R' Frand quoted the Seforno on the end of the pasuk which asks what it means to return it to your heart? He says that you should think about the contradictions in your life and the secrets hidden in your heart and ask how far you have strayed from Hashem. R' Frand that it this which is the essence of Teshuva - are you honest with yourself, or do you live a double life? Do we talk and act the same way in Shul as we do in the workplace? Are we the same inside and outside of our homes? Being consistent and Emes is where we need to be.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the last of the Ashamnus - Tiatanu which the English translates as you have led us astray. But R' Frand thought that it was connected to the dialogue between Ya'akov and Rivkah where she asks him to dress as Esav to get the berachos. Ya'akov says in Bereishis 27:12 - אוּלַ֤י יְמֻשֵּׁ֨נִי֙ אָבִ֔י וְהָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינָ֖יו כִּמְתַעְתֵּ֑עַ - the word there means that he was afraid of being a faker - a dual personality. R' Frand said this is the last of the Ashamnus - the culmination.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that anyone who has been a parent and grandparent wants their kids to be honest and to fear Hashem. We spare no expense or trouble to do so, but there is no secret formula. R' Frand said that the Shela HaKadosh warns us to raise honest children as honest children will be good children. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that he heard that R' Ya'akov Kaminetsky never hit his children, unless they lied.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that he realizes this is a tall order. But we can start by living a life that is scrupulously honest. We need to be careful with our speech - even white lies. R' Frand said that he knows this is trivial - but exaggerating and saying a trip took 7 hours instead of 5 is still lying. And being careful about this will have an impact on our speech, even to avoid the whitest of lies will have an impact.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that he recently heard a story about someone who was a close talmid of R' Aharon Kotler ZTL and when R' Aharon was working something through in a tough sugya he asked for the talmid to come. But when the student visited Israel he never went to R' Aharon's kever because he said that he was embarrassed as to how he turned out, although R' Frand opined that the student probably had nothing to be embarrassed about.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said in the time of Moshiach there will be Emes which will impact the whole universe. But on an individual level this could be frightening - standing in front of him and saying Shalom Aleichem. R' Frand quoted Yeshaya who writes that the Moshiach will have the spirit of Hashem and the spirit of wisdom and undestanding...and the Moshiach will not need to judge by what his eyes see or his ears hear - the smell will be enough. The Radak says that this means that he will have a lightning grasp of whether we are truthful or not. How will we feel when we greet the Moshiach when he will judge us without even opening our mouths. R' Frand said that if we become more honest, we wont have to be concerned - I may not be the greatest Tzaddik, but I am who I am.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If we commit ourselves to be honest in our relationships in business, with our friends and with our spouse/family, we wont need to be afraid.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">[Wishing everyone a Gmar Tov, easy and meanigful fast - Neil] </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-66567347239037137372023-09-23T22:42:00.004-04:002023-09-23T22:42:39.173-04:00Rabbi Frand's 5784 Teshuva Derasha - Part I<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand in his annual Teshuva Derasha which was broadcast on the TCN network . This was a very powerful derasha and my attempt to summarize should not be viewed as an exact transcript as it is based on my notes. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand began by stating that he is not a prophet or the son of a prophet. But he knows that Hashem is saying. R' Frand quoted a Medrash which states that when the Jews are in a Beis Medrash and are listening to shiurim, Hashem is happy in his world and he calls the angels and tells them - look how my creations are coming to hear my Torah and be Meshabyach me. R' Frand said that even if you got nothing out of the derasha, this is your reward.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then started the derasha by quoting the Gemara at the end of Sotah which talks about what will happen at the time before Moshiach comes. This includes that Chutzpah will be rampant, the prices will be high, the old will stand up to honor the young and the young will insult their elders. But R' Frand cited one specific section - that the truth will be absent. And we will have nothing to rely on besides Hashem.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted R' Yerucham Levovitz who asked - will this be unique? Who else can we rely on? He answers that in the past there were other things that we could rely on such as Nevi'im and the Urim VeTumim and we could also rely on the truth. But today it is as though reality does not exist anymore. R' Frand gave numerous modern day examples - there is a basic reality that a person is born male or female, but not anymore. R' Frand quoted a list of "broken things" which appeared in the press - things that we previously relied on. But today the truth is replaced by woke and as one presidential candidate stated - woke is a war on the truth. R' Frand quoted the governor of South Dakota who said "woke is what we did at 530 AM to milk the cows." </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that this is why the time before Moshiach is different. Because even without a Navi or the Urim VeTumim we could rely on the truth. But no longer. R' Frand quoted an article which noted that journalism has lost credibility with the public - whether you listen to Fox or CNN, there is a bias.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And when the Jews live in such a society it falls on us to become particular to protect ourselves from these developments - and especially in the matter of truth. R' Frand quoted R' Yona who said that it is assur to be gonev da'as of an akum, even worse than being goney mamon. When one lies it is an attack on one's soul. R' Frand said that we should cringe when we hear that Amazon has changed return policies because they feel that people in certain zipcodes are abusing it - and its not Fargo, ND. Or the people who buy air conditioners in Walmart and return them at the end of the summer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that there is no more important a time to be diligent in being truthful than now. We pray with our mouths for a good year and it needs to be in good working order to do so. If we have damaged our mouths with falsehood it is hard to make out mouths work properly. We know that Hashem's signet is truth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand noted that we do Hataras Nedarim to prepare for Yom Tov. Why? Its not like Bedikas Chametz before Pesach! He answered that we need to make sure that if we did not keep our word that it has been taken care of, before we can daven on the Yamim Noraim. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand told a story about Mrs KB's alta zayde - R' Elya Lopian - who when he said that the Hinneni before Musaf on Yomim Noraim would not say the words Nirash V'Nichpad - because he was not trembling. R' Frand told a story about R' Yaakov Kaminetsky who was a litvak but never ate Gebruchtz. Why? Because when he was 14 he was in yeshiva and he was told to go to a certain house for Pesach. Since he had concerns about Kashrus he told the people he could not eat there because he did not eat Gebrutchtz. And from that point forward he would never eat Gebruchtz.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also told a story about R' Rif who was the Rav in Camden NJ and was also the Rav HaMachshir for 999 kosher. On one of his factory visits he asked for a salami. He had never asked before, but this time he asked and then cut it open and ate some. Why? Because someone called to ask about the Kashrus and then asked him - do you eat the products? He said yes, but later realized that he had not - so he went and asked for some.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">He also told a story about R' Chaim Kanievsky who was asked to sign a letter on behalf of a Tzedakah, but refused because the letter was written during the day and now it was night.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand told a story about the Chofetz Chaim which absolutely blew me away. When he applied for a passport to visit Eretz Yisrael, there was a section of the application which asked for "occupation." Although he was a Rav and a prolific Tamid Chacham, he did not have formal Semicha. So he wrote to R' Chaim Ozer to obtain semicha (R' Frand quipped that he was sure that the Chofetz Chaim did not need to take a bechina). R' Frand remarked - even though the phone book is filled with every Tom, Dick and Harry who is called Rabbi, the Chofetz Chaim would not write that as his profession until he was formally given Semicha as it was not Emes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">IYH I will try to finish the summary tomorrow before Yom Kippur.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-35578940432589649572023-09-14T22:50:00.002-04:002023-09-14T22:50:18.305-04:00Thursday's Pre-Rosh Hashanah Tidbits<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rabbi Frand quoted from a Mishna on Rosh Hashanah 26 which states that the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is comparable to the Shofar of Yovel. Rashi states that even though the Shofar of Yovel in unrelated to Tefillah and serves an entirely different purpose (as it is as a clarion for the release of Avadim), we learn the Mitzva of Shofar from Yovel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then asked a practical question - Yovel comes every 50 years and there is only one Shofar blast. Why would this be the source for the annual Shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah - a day when we hear 100 sounds?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered that the blowing of Yovel is the root of the blowing of Shofar on Rosh Hashanah because it signifies that the world has turned over. The eved who had worked for 20 years is being released. The land which was purchased 47 years ago is now being returned to its ancestral family. And the Avadim who are being released are not merely sent away. When Rosh Hashanah comes they begin a ten day period of feasting and are given luxuries until the Shofar of Yovel when they are sent home with gifts for their families. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is why the Shofar of Yovel serves as the paradigm for Rosh Hashanah - it is to show that we can have a new beginning with a sea change from where we were last year. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand remarked that this is why the Gemara mentions that Yosef was released from prison on Rosh Hashanah. Prison in that day was not a cinderblock building where inmates had three square meals, an exercise yard and TV. It was a hole in the ground or a cave with no running water. Yet Yosef who had been in prison for 12 years was released on Rosh Hashanah and taken to Pharaoh where he was able to eloquently interpret the dreams and was then placed in the position of second in command.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is what Rosh Hashanah can signify and bring us, IYH. The Sfas Emes teaches that everyone can be released from his own personal master (Yetzer Harah) on Rosh Hashanah.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second thought based on a Gemara in Bava Metzia. There is a halacha that if an Aris (sharecropper) is told to plant one crop and he chooses to plan another, he is responsible if the new crop does not produce the proper yield. Even if the entire area is flooded and all fields (including those owned by other people) are devastated, the owner of the field which was worked by the sharecropper can still be held responsible. Why? The Gemara states that the owner can say to him - I davened on Rosh Hashanah that my field would produce abundant wheat, but since you planted barley, it was flooded and destroyed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rashi quotes a pasuk in Iyov to explain this - what you ask Hashem for on Rosh Hashanah can be granted. The owner can say, I did not ask for this. Had I davened for the crop you planted, Hashem would have listened and the field would have been saved from the flood. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that this is a powerful lesson of what the davening on Rosh Hashanah can bring. As the Shulchan Aruch paskens that the sharecropper is responsible. IYH we should daven well on Rosh Hashanah and be granted yeshuos in the new year.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-17895329778017730622023-09-07T22:48:00.002-04:002023-09-07T22:48:46.375-04:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshios Nitzavim-Vayelech<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parshios this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand's first vort was based on a Rashi on the first pasuk in Netzavim. Rashi stated that after hearing the 98 Klallos in Ki Savo the Jews were disheartened. To this Moshe said - don't worry - you are still here. Even though you did many sins, you are still here. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many meforshim ask - what was the point of the Tochacha if Moshe tells the Jews - don't worry? Doesn't that temper the warnings inherent in the Tochacha?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered in the name of R' Elya Ber Wachtfogel who quoted a Tosefta in Berachos which states that the most serene people in the world were those who lived in Sodom. Lot wanted to be like them as he wanted to be serene, much as the way that he observed Avraham to be.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Elya Ber explains that there are two types of people who are serene - those like Avraham and those like Sodom. Avraham is serene because he is content and has no internal battles as he accepts that everything is from Hashem. The people of Sodom were also serene - because they did what they wanted without any feelings of guilt.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When a person has an internal struggle between doing right and wrong there are two ways to resolve it. One is to put your faith in Hashem and do what He wants and the other is to whatever you want with no conscience. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lot wanted Avraham's serenity but chose the easy route - to do whatever he wanted with no conscience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What happened to Sodom? It was burned to the ground because everyone did what they wanted.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Moshe's message was - you are still around as Hashem did not do to you what He did to Sodom. You have fallen many times, but you are still fighting and that is why you are still around.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said that this is a good message before Rosh Hashaha. Yes, you may have fallen at times in the last year. But as long as you are still battling, Hashem wants to keep you around.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort on the pasuk in Devarim 31:21 - כִּ֛י לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכַ֖ח מִפִּ֣י זַרְע֑וֹ. R' Frand quoted R' Ya'akov Emdem who wrote in the introduction to his siddur that the greatest miracles are that (1) the Jews are still around despite all those who came against us to destroy us, and (2) that we have not lost a single letter from the Torah. Prior to the printing press, all the seforim were written by hand and when they were burned it was very difficult to replace. Yet we have not lost any aspect of the Torah and we are still around.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed by quoting a story told over by R' Melech Biederman about R' Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss who was a young boy when the Holocaust happened in Europe. At the time he was living in a small town in Slovakia and when the word about what the Nazis were doing got to his town, they sent young R' Yitzchak Tuvia to Pressburg to ask in the Kollel what they should do. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Yitzchak Tuvia met with the Rosh Kollel and he was told that they should all leave. The Rosh Kollel was very taken with R' Yitzchak Tuvia and offered him a ticket on the Kindertransport. He went back and asked his parents and they told him that he should go - with the last words from his mother - be a good Jew.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When they got to England, they were lined up in a park for an inspection by the King of England. The boy next to R' Yitzchak Tuvia left his place in line and approached the King. Although the guards tried to keep him away, the boy persisted and said to the King - please I need you to save my parents. The King investigated who the boy's parents were and saved them from death in Slovakia.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Yitzchak Tuvia remarked - what made that boy different from the rest of us is that he believed that the King was all powerful and based on his belief, he made the request and it was granted.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-927671543764737482023-08-31T22:40:00.002-04:002023-08-31T22:40:43.596-04:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Ki Savo<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand first quoted the pasuk in Devarim 26:15 הַשְׁקִ֩יפָה֩ מִמְּע֨וֹן קָדְשְׁךָ֜ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶת־עַמְּךָ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל which follows the declaration by the farmer that he has given the tithes that he was required to give. Rashi on this pasuk states that the farmer says to Hashem - we did ours, now You do what you promised to do.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">How can we demand that Hashem pay up? To make the question stronger, it is known that Nechemia when he brought the Jews back from Bavel he says to Hashem - I did what I was supposed to do, now its Your turn to take care of me. The Gemara in Sanhedrin notes that the Sefer is called Ezra, but it should have been called Nechemia because its about him. But its called Ezra, because Nechemia demanded that Hashem pay him back for what he did.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So why is this different?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted the Tolner Rebbi who quotes a Rashi on the previous pasuk in which the farmer states - עָשִׂ֕יתִי כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתָֽנִי that the farmer is actually saying Samachti V'Simachti - I was happy and I made other happy. Who did he make happy? The Ger, Yasom, Almanah and Levi. The Tolner Rebbi said that when a person takes care of the people with problems, Hashem says - you did yours - I will do mine.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand quoted a Rashi on a pasuk in Re'eh that when a person goes up to Yerushalayim he says that he has made Levi, Yasom, Almanah and the Ger happy. Hashem says to him - there are 4 types of people that I care about - if you provided for them, I will make your 4 happy - your son daughter, avdecha and amasecha.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand closed the vort by quoting the Meshech Chachma which cites a pasuk in Tehillim that Hashem looks after the downtrodden from his Ma'on. This is the same word that is used in 26:15 - if you do what you are supposed to do for those Hashem looks after, He will take care of yours.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort which contrasted the Berachos and Klallos which both the use word וְהִשִּׂיגֻ֑ךָ - and they will come upon you and overtake you. In Devarim 28:2, the Torah writes וּבָ֧אוּ עָלֶ֛יךָ כָּל־הַבְּרָכ֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגֻ֑ךָ - the Berachos will come upon you and overtake you. But in Devarim 28:15, the Torah writes וּבָ֧אוּ עָלֶ֛יךָ כָּל־הַקְּלָל֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגֽוּךָ - the Klallos will do this. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is understandable why a person would want to avoid the Klallos and thus they will overtake him, but why would someone want to avoid the Berachos?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand first quoted the Seforno who explains that a person needs to do his Hishtadlus and then leave it up to Hashem and the Brachos will come on you. Normally, a person needs to do his Hishtadlus, but afterwards he needs to let Hashem bring it to him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand next quoted the Degel Machaneh Ephraim which explains that there are times that Hashem will send us a beracha which we do not capitalize on. Maybe because we don't understand that its a blessing or perhaps because our nature is not to jump at potential opportunities which involve change. Hashem says - I will send this beracha and it will overcome you, even if you are trying to avoid it. A couple may go out a few times and then decide its not for them. But a few months later they will reconsider and then it works out. Why? Because they made the wrong decision initially, but the tova chased after them.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand also quoted R' Bunim M'Parshicha who stated that the true bracha is that the good thing will come upon you, but you will not change as they will meet you where you are. Sometimes a person is different after he comes into money - but here it wont change you. This also explains why the same word is used by the Klallos - you won't change even though you are experiencing this.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468205452323986128.post-42881485409576587082023-08-24T23:40:00.004-04:002023-08-24T23:40:39.513-04:00Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Ki Seitzei<p style="text-align: justify;">The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The firs vort that Rabbi Frand said related to a pasuk in Mishlei 31:20 (more well known through the Aishes Chayil we say on Friday Nights) - יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָ֣ה בַכִּישׁ֑וֹר. The Yalkut Shemoni says that this pasuk relates to Yael the wife of Chever HaKeini who used a tent peg to kill Sisra. Specifically, it praises Yael for using the tent peg and not a sword. Why did she not use the sword? Because of the pasuk in this week's parsha which prohibits women from wearing men's clothing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But this was a time of Hatzlas Nefashos! R' Frand further indicated that he believes that if she asked the question she would have been told to use the sword. So why is she praised? Because when we are under pressure we don't think and analyze the halacha. But Yael's instinct was to think of the halacha.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand tied this into a vort from R' Ruderman ZTL about Manoach the father of Shimshon who the Gemara in Berachos says was an am ha'aretz for walking behind his wife when going to greet the angel. R' Ruderman explained - he was an am ha'aretz because when he heard that there was an angel he should have run to see the angel, rather than walking calmly behind his wife.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a second vort about the interplay of the inyanim in the first aliyah in that the rule of the Bechor inheriting a double portion comes before the law of Ben Sorer U'Moreh. R' Frand quoted the Shem M'Shmuel who explains that a Bechor gets a double portion because he has a special responsibility and sets the tone for the rest of the children who will follow him. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand again linked this to R' Ruderman in that he married the oldest daughter of R' Sheftel Kramer. When she started dating, R' Kramer told her that she had to marry a Talmid Chacham, because the guy you marry will set the tone for your sisters.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is why the Bechor gets double - he sets the tone as the first one, because there is an importance to getting the beginning correct. This is why the Ben Sorer U'Moreh gets the death penalty - because if the beginning is bad, it is very hard to correct.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand said a third vort related to the law of Shana Rishona which is seen in the pasuk in Devarim 24:5 - וְשִׂמַּ֖ח אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־לָקָֽח. Rashi explains that based on Onkelos that this pasuk means that a man should make his wife happy and that anyone who translates it as being happy with his wife is mistaken.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But the Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel does use that explanation. Could he have been mistaken?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered based on the Shemen HaTov who explains that yes - you must make your wife happy, but the result is that if you make her happy, you will be happy with her. R' Frand said the maamar of the world is - "if Momma ain't happy, you ain't happy."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand once observed that when a man first goes into marriage he is thinking about himself and his wife is thinking about herself. In order to get to the point where they can be happy together, he needs to stop thinking about himself and start thinking about her happiness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then said a vort from R' Breitowitz based on the bracha said after a child is born that he should be raised L'Torah, U'Lchupa, U'Lmaasim Tovim. He observed that this seems to be out of order. We would understand that Torah is first, but why is good deeds after marriage? If anything it should be right after Torah!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand answered by giving a mashal - a poor Kollel family sends the husband to the supermarket to buy cereal. He wants to buy Honey Nut Cheerios and she wants Kashi - at $5 a box for cereal, a Kollel husband needs to make the call to only buy one and in R' Frand's (true) observation - Kashi tastes like a box of cardboard. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">R' Frand then said - lets make it less dramatic - she wants Rice Krispies and he wants Cheerios. Both taste good, but he has different preferences than his wife. Until now, he always bought what he wanted. But now he is married and he has to put someone else first. This is the moment when Maasim Tovim come to the forefront - now that he is married will he put her first? If he does, than it truly will be V'Samach Es Ishto.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have seen this post being carried on another site, please feel free to click <a href="http://www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com">www.kosherbeers.blogspot.com</a> to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!</p>Neil Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587932362202641719noreply@blogger.com0