Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Yisro

The following is a brief summary 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.

The first pasuk of this week's parsha states that Yisro heard all that had occurred. Rashi quotes a gemara in Zevachim which asks what did Yisro hear? Rashi answers that Yisro heard the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek.

R' Frand asked three questions about this: The first question was - why was Yisro the only one who came after hearing these things? Didn't the whole world hear?

R' Frand next noted that Rashi states that Yisro had seven names. One of these names was Yeser, because through Yisro a parsha was added in the Torah. In recognition of this, a letter was added a letter to his name, a vuv. But why was the letter vuv added as opposed to any other letter?

R' Frand then quoted a Zohar which states that vuv is the letter of truth. The Zohar made reference to the story of when the spies hid out at Rachav's house she asked for a chesed in return. The pasuk says the chesed will be an "os emes" and the Zohar explains that it is vuv.

R' Frand said that we see the vuv is the letter of truth based on the perek of Tehillim which talks about when Dovid acted like a crazy man to fool Avimelech. The perek (Ch 34) is written in the order of the alphabet but lacks a pasuk for vuv because it is the letter of truth.

R' Frand then quoted the Sefer Darash Mordechai to answer the three questions. He quoted the Medrash which states that when Hashem said the Aseres Hadibros, the world stopped. Everything was silent and not even a dog barked. The people of the world came to Bilaam and asked why is this happening - is there another flood coming? Bilaam responded - Hashem L'Mabul Yashav - there won't be another flood. But maybe there will be a flood of fire? Bilaam responded - Vayeshev Hashem Melech L'Olam. The people asked but what is going on? Bilaam said that Hashem has a great treasure in his storehouse which he is giving to the Jews - Hashem Oz L'Amo Yitain. The people said - if that is the case - Hashem Yivarech Es Amo BaShalom - the Jews can have it, just leave us alone.

This is what differentiated Yisro from the people of the world. Once they found out the world was not going to be destroyed, they did not care or want to know what was going on. But while they ignored the events of the world, Yisro connected the dots and it led him to Moshe. This is why the vuv is the letter of emes - it is the letter of connection the vuv hachibur. Yisro saw the connections and it brought him together with the Jews.

R' Frand also brought a proof from the end of Megillas Esther. The last perek talks about how after all the events had ended, Achasverosh imposed a tax. This is the one time in the megillah that Achasverosh's name is spelled without a vuv. Why? Because he did not see the connection. After all that happened, the only thing that mattered to him was imposing a tax. Because he did not see the miracles and was just wrapped up in himself.

R' Frand finished by quoting a story about R' Gifter when he was travelling from America to Europe to learn in Telshe in the 1930s. R' Gifter traveled to Europe on a boat and his cabin was in the steerage section.  One night there was a dance held on a floor above R' Gifter's cabin. At some point during the night, there was a great storm and they all stopped dancing out of panic about whether the boat would sink in the North Atlantic. But after the storm passed, they resumed their dance as if nothing had happened. They did not see the message and did not connect the dots.

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Tuesday's Thoughts on the Daf - Shabbos 118

Its been a while since I had the time to do a Daf Yomi blog post, but I learned something tonight when I was preparing the daf which completely blew my mind.

 

I had always learned that a person who intends to wake up early and eat/drink before a "day" fast must have in mind when finishing the last meal on the day before that the fast was not accepted at that time. However, today's daf teaches that this is only partly correct.

 

Towards the bottom of Shabbos 118, the gemara teaches that a person can wash certain dishes on shabbos if they will be needed for other meals on the shabbos. However, once mincha arrives, no further washing is permitted as no meal will be eaten after shalosh seudos. [FYI - Today's daf is also chock full of great agaddita about shalosh seudos, but this is not the purpose of this blog post].

 

The gemara notes that this rule does not apply to drinking utensils since the time of drinking is not fixed. As a result, people can wash dirty glasses even after mincha.

 

Tosafos (d'h L'fi) teaches that if a person finishes his meal before a fast and does not have in mind that he will eat again before morning, he may not eat. However, Tosafos adds that this rule does not apply to drinking and that a person who wants to drink may do so even if he did not specifically have in mind that he will need to drink later because drinking is not a fixed act.

 

I looked up the halacha in the Mishna Berurah (564) and sure enough, the Rama there states that a person needs to have in mind that he will eat before the fast begins, but not that he will drink because generally people intend to drink after sleeping.

 

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Monday's Musings on Sports - Taking a Chance on Something Unorthodox

This week is football's traditional week off between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. A number of years ago, the NFL decided that it would move the All Pro game (football's all star game) from the week after the Super Bowl to the week before the big game in order to increase the number of viewers and give the players more of an incentive to play in the game. While it is unclear to me why the players would need an incentive to take their families to Hawaii for a week long all expenses paid vacation, the change in schedule does seem to have increased the game's Nielsen ratings.

As a result of the change in schedule, the original All Pro game rosters (which are selected a few weeks prior to the end of the regular season) are subject to tweaking based on the participants in the Super Bowl. The reason for the late substitution of players is simple. The All Pro game is an exhibition and the score and statistics do not count. Players who will be playing in the Super Bowl the following week are kept out of the game to avoid an injury which might prevent them from playing in the Super Bowl.

Because the game is truly an exhibition, yesterday's All Pro game included the bizarre sight of a player lining  up for the other team. Late in the First Quarter of the game, Jeff Saturday who plays for the NFC's Green Bay Packers, played Center for one snap for the AFC team. The reason that that Saturday was "loaned" to the AFC was for sentimental reasons - Saturday had played most of his career as Peyton Manning's Center with the Indianapolis Colts. As Saturday had announced that he would be retiring at the end of the year, he was "reunited" with his old QB, Peyton Manning for one last play.

The upcoming Super Bowl also will feature two teams who made unconventional moves during the season. Most teams who have Super Bowl aspirations do not change QBs or fire Offensive Coordinators during the season. The reason these types of moves are not generally made is that teams have planned and worked with certain personnel since training camp and it is difficult to develop the chemistry and familiarity required for success when changes are made in the middle of the season.

Notwithstanding the general tradition of not changing horses mid stream, both the SF 49ers and Baltimore Ravens made controversial mid season moves. After the ninth week of the season, 49er QB Alex Smith had a record of 6 wins 2 losses and 1 tie. Smith got hurt in that last game and the 49ers were forced to use Colin Kaepernick - their backup QB who had little NFL experience. Once Smith regained his health, he was unable to force his way back into the lineup and the 49ers stayed with Kaepernick.

Although slightly less newsworthy, the Baltimore Ravens fired their Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron in the middle of the season. This is not a headline making move, but it is not generally done and almost never by a team which is trying to make the playoffs. Indeed, these moves are usually made on the Monday after the regular season ends (aka Black Monday) because it is difficult for a new coordinator to teach a new offense in the middle of the season.

The decision to act based on instinct and forego the conventional wisdom can also be seen in this week's parsha. Prior to Moshe's birth, Yisro was one of Pharaoh's chief advisers. However, when Pharaoh began to implement his own "final solution", Yisro ran away to Midyan because he could not agree with Pharaoh's plan. to the land of Midyan. After Yisro arrived in Midyan he became the high priest of the idol worshipers, but eventually abandoned this honored position when he recognized that Hashem is the only true G-d. Both of these decisions were not popular and one must wonder whether Mrs Yisro truly approved of her husband's actions. Still, these unconventional decisions were the right choices and it is for this reason that the story of the giving of the Torah can be found in the parsha named for Yisro.

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Sunday Night Suds - Blue Moon Valencia Grove Amber

After a week's hiatus due in large part to yeshiva week travel, Sunday Night Suds returns, this week with a look at Blue Moon's newest seasonal addition - the Valencia Grove Amber Ale.

 

Blue Moon is one of those quasi craft brewers who are constantly seeking to innovate and try new flavors. The experimental versions (many of which are not certified kosher) will pop up in cities or bars for a few days at a time. If they meet with the public approval they may surface again as a seasonal or limited edition a year or two later. Other failed experiments can be found on discussion boards of various website but never again see the light of day.

 

Before reaching the actual review of the beer, I must add that while all of the 12 oz bottle varieties of Blue Moon that I have seen all carry an OU, there are a few versions of Blue Moon which are currently available that contain grape juice and are not currently certified kosher by the Orthodox Union.

 

The Valencia Grove Amber Ale is certified kosher by the OU (and to my knowledge is not made with grape juice). It originally debuted last year as one of the super limited editions of Blue Moon, but this year it is available for purchase in six or twelve packs.

 

The Valencia Grove Amber Ale poured a true copper and was practically translucent. The beer has some flavor from the wheat and a hint of the orange peel, but neither flavor is prominent. When sharing this with Mrs KB, her palate was unable to detect the orange, but I did taste a little of the bitterness of the peel in the aftertaste. Because the flavoring is subtle, I would recommend having this with lighter fare such as grilled fish or pasta dishes.

 

As mentioned above, the Valencia Grove Amber Ale is certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. For the experts take on this brew, please click here http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/306/77796.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

If you've tried this beer or any others which have been reviewed on the kosher beers site, please feel free to post your comments (anonymous comments are acceptable).

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Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Beshlach

The following is a brief summary 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.

This week's parsha begins with the word "Vayehi" which the gemara teaches is a word which connotes pain. Chazal learn that when Pharaoh saw the Jews leaving Egypt, he cried out - oy - what have I lost.

The Medrash Rabbah uses the following analogy to explain Pharaoh's distress. A man had a significant string of mixed pearls, but he had no idea that it had value. He happened on another man and he offered him the pearls for free. The second man took the pearls and worked on them and created pearl necklaces of various sizes and sold them to the public at great profit. The first man saw the sales taking place and ripped his clothing in distress.

R' Frand related a story about R' Zevulun Groz the former Av Beis Din of Rechovot. Before R' Groz went away to Yeshiva, his father asked him a question about the analogy in the medrash - why are these situations comparable? Pharaoh had no choice about sending the Jews out of Egypt, but this person gave the pearls away for free.

R' Groz' father answered his own question as follows. When Pharaoh saw the Jews leaving he did not cry out in loss that they were leaving. Instead, Pharaoh cried out when he saw that the Jews were leaving in formation and were organized in their travels. These were not common slaves who ran away from bondage. Instead, the Jews left in an organized fashion. He said to himself - these Jews have talents and could have accomplished great feats for Egyptian society. Instead, I used them to make bricks! I wasted the opportunity I had while they were under my control.

R' Groz' father said to his son - you are leaving now to learn in Yeshiva. Don't waste this time when learning will come easy and without distraction.

The second vort that R' Frand discussed was in the name of the Tolner Rebbe. He asked four questions about Miriam's shira (Shemos 15:20-21). The pesukim state that Miriam the prophetess took... Why did the Torah have to tell us now that she was a prophetess. Also, why does it say that Miriam answered them instead of she sang to them. The third question is why does it say that Miriam spoke to them in masculine form? The final question is why did Miriam say to them that the Egyptian horses and riders drowned.

The Tolner Rebbe answered that this parsha was not about dancing. There was a demonstration/protest by the women and Miriam as a prophetess was able to discern that the women were upset about their roles. The women were saying - the men gave up and we had to motivate them and it is in our zechus that the Jews left Egypt. Now that we come to the final conclusion, why are only the men allowed to sing? Its not fair that men get all the glory! Therefore the pasuk relates that Miriam answered to them - you want to be like the men, I will answer you like men. This was a question that even until today resonates.

Miriam's answer to them was that the horses and riders drowned in the sea. Why did the horses drown if they did not do anything wrong? Only the riders did the evil deeds! The answer is that the the facilitator gets punished as much as the actor.

Miriam explained to the women - much as the way that the horses were punished for facilitating evil acts, those who support good deeds get their reward as well. A woman who assists her husband by watching the children while he learns gets the same reward as the men who are learning. 

[I can recall Mrs KB making a similar comment to me when I finished Shas the first time. She remarked that this is my mitzva and reward too. At the time I was zoche to finish Shas the second time this past summer, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude to her for all that she had done to support my learning and the thousands of nights that she let me learn out from 10-11 PM].

The Tolner Rebbe then connected this to a pasuk in Shir Hashirim where Shlomo says that he compares his love to the horses of Pharaoh. The plain meaning of the pasuk is difficult - I love you like a horse. Can this possibly be a term of endearment?

The Rebbe explains - I love you because this is the message of the horses of Pharaoh. Because you reward those who facilitate and assist those who do the mitzvos.

The vort ended with a story about a cleaning woman who met R'  Moshe Feinstein Ztl. When they were introduced, the person making the introduction told R' Moshe that the woman had been a cleaning lady in a yeshiva for 40 years. R' Moshe said to the woman - you have the same reward as the boys who have been learning here for the last 40 years.

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Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Bo

The following is a brief summary 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. 

In this week's parsha, the Torah recites at Bo (11:2) that Moshe was asked to tell the Jewish people to please ask their neighbors to borrow gold and silver from their neighbors. Rashi explains that Moshe was asked to please do this because Hashem did not want Avraham to have a claim. Hashem had promised Avraham that the Jews would be in galus and then go out with great wealth. If the Jews left Egypt without money, Avraham might complain - so please ask.

However this vort is problematic when viewed in contrast with a pasuk in Parshas Vaera (6:3) where Hashem said to Moshe, why are you complaining? Avraham did not complain, Yitzchak did not complain, Yaakov did not complain. Even when things were difficult for them! 

So the Kloizenberger Rebbe asks - if Avraham did not complain about burying Sarah or possibly sacrificing Yitzchak - why would Avraham have complaints about the Jews not leaving with great wealth?

R' Frand said that the Kloizenberger Rebbe answered the question based on a conversation he had with a fellow when they were concentration camp inmates. The inmate - an apostate Jew, said to the Rebbe - you and I will have the same Olam Haba. The Nazis consider me a Jew just like you - they see no difference. So I will get the same reward as you. 

The Rebbe responded to the apostate - you have now helped me understand the following vort. When the Jews left Egypt, the Satan said to Hashem - these and these are both idol worshipers! Why should the Jews be saved? You promised that after galus your children would go free, but there is no difference between them. 

The Rebbe concluded - Avraham will respond to the Satan - these are Jews enough to be enslaved, so they are Jews enough to go free. If they went down to Egypt because they are Jews, they need to go free with the rewards they were promised.

Rabbi Frand added another thought in connection with the use of the word please (na) in the pasuk. Quoting the Sefer Darash Mordechai, he explained - when Moshe argued with Hashem that the Jews should be forgiven for the sin of the Golden Calf, he said Selach Na - please forgive them. In so doing Moshe said to Hashem - you asked them to take the money when they left Egypt and used the term na. The money that they took with them was because of your use of the na. Now please (na) forgive them.

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