Today's Learning Ta'anit 2:6-7 O.C. 108:8-10 Bava Batra 68 Yerushalmi-- Ta'anit 15 HAMAAYAN/THE TORAH SPRING edited by Shlomo Katz SH'MOT Vol. IX, No. 13 (397), 21 Tevet 5755, December 24, 1994 In this parashah we read that Hashem, through Moshe, warned Pharaoh of the impending plagues. All told, the plagues lasted twelve months. Rav Leibchik Broida zatz'l (brother of the "Alter of Kelm") writes that one of the reasons that the plagues lasted so long (rather than merely 10 weeks or so) was so that Bnei Yisrael could enjoy the revenge which was being exacted from their enemies. As everyone knows, there is nothing sweeter than revenge. What lesson is the Torah teaching us? That despite the prohibition on exacting revenge, there is a place for it. And where is that? Man should take "revenge" on his greatest enemy--the yetzer hara (evil inclination). Chazal say that man should serve Hashem with both of his inclinations: the good and the bad. How can man serve Hashem through the yetzer hara? The Alter of Kelm explains that if a person asks himself why this great enemy was placed as an impediment to his service of Hashem, he will realize that Hashem demands hard work. When he then succeeds in serving Hashem completely, the yetzer hara will have aided him. (Kitvei HaSaba MiKelm VeTalmidav) ************************************ Chazal teach that because the midwives refused to kill the Jewish boys, Hashem rewarded them that the kohanim and levi'im were descended from them. How is this reward measure-for-measure? Rav Berel Soloveitchik zatz'l explains that Pharaoh's decree was not against all Jews, only against the males. He would not have eradicated the Jews; one's Jewishness follows his mother. However, whether one is a kohen or levi is determined by his father's status, and the midwives made it possible for these groups to exist. (quoted in Shai LaTorah) ************************************ After Moshe sets out to look at the burning bush, Hashem tells him to remove his shoes because he is standing on holy ground. But wasn't the ground just as holy before Moshe's arrival? asks Rav Shalom of Belz, zatz'l. Why only after Moshe turns to look does he have to remove his shoes? In truth, Rav Shalom, answers, Hashem's holiness is everywhere (although more in some places than others). However, man's material nature causes the holiness to be masked, and only after some effort on man's part and a helping-hand from Hashem can holiness enlighten a place. Until then, it is as if the holiness is sleeping. So here, it was Moshe's action in turning to look at the burning bush that "awakened" the holiness, and only then did Moshe have to remove his shoes. (quoted in several works) ************************************ We hope you like our new look. We apologize to those readers who did not receive Hamaayan for Parashat Vayigash due to our computer's being down. ************************************ "Moshe responded and said, 'Behold they will not believe me. . .'" (4:1) In response to Moshe's fear, Hashem gave Moshe a sign to show Bnei Yisrael. Nevertheless, Chazal say that Moshe was punished for speaking lashon hara about Bnei Yisrael. Wasn't Moshe's question legitimate? asks the Chafetz Chaim zatz'l. Shouldn't he be prepared when he goes before Bnei Yisrael and Pharaoh? The Chafetz Chaim answers in the name of Rav Eliyahu Shick zatz'l: Moshe's concern was legitimate, but he should have said, "Perhaps they will not believe me," not, "Behold they will not believe me." Chazal teach that when Hashem told Moshe (Devarim 31:14), "Your days are drawing near to die," Moshe exclaimed, "I praised You with the word ('hain'--'behold') [see Devarim 10:14] and now You inform me of my death with the same word?!" Hashem answered, "You also sinned with that word." The Chafetz Chaim explains that this is the idea expressed above. Moshe's sin was not in thinking that Bnei Yisrael might not believe him. Rather, his error was in the way he phrased his concern, including using the word "hain." (Shmirat HaLashon) ************************************ "Go, return to Egypt, for all the people who seek your life have died." (4:19) Chazal say that they (i.e., Datan and Aviram) had not actually died. Rather, they had lost their wealth, and thus their influence. That they were still alive is evident in the pasuk, says Rav Yechezkel Abramsky. The verse does not say, "The people who sought your life," but rather, "The people who seek your life." (quoted in Peninei Rav Yechezkel) ************************************ Rav Naftali Kohen born 5420 (1660) - died 24 Tevet 5479 (1719) Rav Naftali was a great-grandson of Rav Yitzchak Kohen, son-in-law of Maharal. On his mother's side, Rav Naftali was a descendant of Rav Yaakov of Nuremberg (died 1501). In his youth, Rav Naftali was kidnapped and imprisoned by Tatars, but he escaped. As an adult, he became one of the leading kabbalists of his time and a proficient writer of amulets. He also answered many halachic questions from his contemporaries. Rav Naftali held a number of prominent rabbinic posts, including Posen (1689-1704) and Frankfurt-am Main (1704-1711). However, he had to flee Frankfurt when a fire which started in his house destroyed 500 homes. Indeed, he was briefly imprisoned at that time. Rav Naftali was among the prominent opponents of Nechemiah Chayun, the spokesman for the false messiah Shabtai Zvi Ym"sh. Rav Naftali also authored many works, of which Semichat Chachamim is best known. In his later years, Rav Naftali set out for Eretz Yisrael. He died on the way, in Constantinople (Istanbul), eight years to the day after the fire in Frankfurt. (Melizei Esh) The Belzer Rebbe is a descendant of Rav Naftali. Another descendant was a former ambassador of Israel to Great Britain. He related that when his saintly aunt lay on her death bed in Istanbul, she requested to be buried next to her ancestor. When the chevrah kadisha (burial society) investigated whether it could fulfill her wish it found that the closely packed graves in the long unused cemetery appeared to have moved aside to make room for her. (Glimpses of Jewish Frankfurt) ************************************ Donations to Hamaayan are tax-deductible.