THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE

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1 NANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 1 of 7 In This Issue Rav Ami in America Quote of the Week Parshat Shoftim August 17, 2018 Life Events HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Shoftim Kollel Dvar Torah by Rav Yigal Vanunu The Story Of The Jewish People by Rav Shai Gerson - Sefer Shmuel Please continue to daven for Miriam bat Chaya. Tehillim List Links yna.edu Support American Friends of Netiv Aryeh with every purchase! Contact Us Annual Sephardic Shabbaton SephardiParty.com ShabbosYeshiva.com Coming for Yom Tov? Visiting alumni, help us try to accommodate you by letting us know ASAP at yomimnoraim@yna.edu. The Netiv Aryeh Section at Eretz Hachaim Cemetery For more information contact netiveretz@gmail.com. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE Annual Netiv Sephardic Shabbaton with Harav Darmoni Shlit'a in Great Neck Special thanks to Yoav Arjhang and Josh Levian for running an amazing Shabbaton, Uri Dallal for always being there in the background. Thank you to all of the families who opened up their homes. And of course special thank you to our dear Rebbe HaRav Darmoni Shlit"a.

2 NANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 2 of 7 Reb Zev's Parsha Riddle Who am I? I don't leave on trips, and I stay home at night; I show my devotion, and it spares me a fight. See the bottom of the last page for the answer Rav Ami in America Rav Ami Merzel is in America this weekend! Pizza and a little Torah/Q and A in Teaneck on Friday afternoon (August 17) at 1:00 PM (Mincha at 1:35 PM) at the home of Elisa & Chaim Wietschner, parents of Jonathan ( ) and Samuel (current student) Wietschner, 1335 Trafalgar St in Teaneck. Please message Jonathan at +1 (201) if you will be attending. Seudat Shlishit this Shabbat (Parshat Shoftim) in Woodmere at the home of Nan and Harold Klein, parents of Max (5766), Sam (5768), Jack (5772) and Joe ( ) Klein, 7 Willow Road at 6:30, please Daven Mincha earlier). Message Joe at +1 (516) if you can make it. You can WhatsApp Rav Ami at +1 (847) His cell number in America will be Quote of the Week I would like to begin by apologizing for not welcoming the Kaplan family who has just made aliyah. We are now in the month of Elul, the month of rachamim - we are taught that in the way we judge others, in this manner Hashem judges us. This means that if we forgive others, even though we aren't required to and as much as it hurts us to do so, Hashem will forgive us and deal with us in the same manner. This is the primary judgment of Rosh Hashana, in the realm of bein adam lachavero. Once a year we need to remind ourselves about our relationship with our cousins. I am willing to believe anything, perhaps there can be real peace, this is not the time to discuss it. A Christian friend asked me why we gave in so much, I told him because of the people we are dealing with. The Ohr Hachaim in last week's parsha (Re'eh) calls the Yishmaelim a band of murderers who enjoy killing, they have no mercy within them. Just as we enjoy reading, they enjoy killing - it's in their nature. We are Jews and are therefore different, we love each other. The Ramban writes that as much as we think we love our children, Hashem loves us even more - He is like a father having mercy on his child.

3 NANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 3 of 7 As we are taught that Hashem says: "create for me an opening like the eye of a needle and I will create for you an opening like a ballroom. Please continue to daven for Miriam bas Chaya and Rivkah bas Chaya. Shana Tova, may you all be blessed with bracha vehatzlacha. ~~~ The following message was in response to Rav Bina's Quote last week regarding Rav Eliach Shlit"a. 35 years ago to this day, I came to Rav Bina's Chutznik program from Yeshiva of Flatbush HS. Of course those two year with Rav Bina made a tremendous change with my life. But without Rav Eliach & YoF staff I would never have come. Shana Tova :-) Baruch Leiman (5745) The New Year is Coming! The new academic year is just around the corner! Shana Bet will be B'Ezrat Hashem arriving August 20th. The new Shana Alef will be B'Ezrat Hashem arriving August 27. Life Events Mazal Tovs Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh would like to wish a mazal tov to: Rav Yoel and Ruth Yehoshua on the birth of a granddaughter. Danny (5742) and Michelle Myers on the Bar Mitzva of their son. Michael ( ) and Mira Kaplan on their making Aliyah. Shalom Azar ( ) on his making Aliyah. Jonathan ( ) and Ayelet Pelzner on their making Aliyah Gabi (5778) and Yonatan (5778) Benchabbat on their making Aliyah. They join their brother Gideon (5777) who made Aliyah last year. Please, if you have any smachot or chas v'shalom, less happy occasions, send us your announcements so we can keep everybody updated.

4 NANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 4 of 7 HaRav Nebenzahl on Parshat Shoftim PARSHAT SHOFTIM 5778 PREPARING FOR ROSH HASHANAH Our experience on earth can help us visualize our relationship between man and Hashem. For example, love between man and wife or between parent and child can give us some idea of the love between Hashem and the Jewish nation. The idea of Kingdom as well - a human king perhaps gives us some idea of what it means that Hashem is King. There is of course a major difference, especially with today's kings whom if they're lucky may be able to open a package of tea. We are speaking of kings who were able to decree and then fulfilled their decree. A human Jewish king is now limitless in his power, he needs the Sanhedrin as well. There is a rule with regards to brachot that a bracha does not conclude with two subjects even if the content covers a wide range of subjects. For example, the opening bracha of Shmone Esrei contains a few subjects describing Hashem but concludes with "Magen Avraham". The second bracha has mashiv haruach in the winter, then how Hashem sustains, resurrects the dead, gives support to those who fall, heals the sick, and more but only concludes with "mechaye hameitim". Why then does the bracha we say in Kiddush and Shmone Esrei of Rosh Hashana conclude with two subjects "Melech al kol haaretz mekadesh Yisrael veyom HaZikaron"? If it falls on Shabbos we even add "Mekadesh Hashabbos veyisrael..."? Regarding the mention of Yisrael that has been explained that it is the Jewish people who sanctify time, therefore the day cannot be sanctified without the Jewish people being sanctified first, but what about "Melech al kol haaretz" and the idea that He sanctifies Yom HaZikaron? The entire essence of Rosh Hashanah is that we crown the King, it is not a separate subject but part and parcel of the same idea. An allusion to this can be found in the final word of the Torah reading for the second day of Rosh Hashana, "maacha" which can be said to stand for "Melech al kol haaretz". Rosh Hashana is the first of the ten days of teshuva, Yom Kippur is the last. However there is a vast difference between them - on Rosh Hashana we eat and drink, as the pasuk says "chedvat Hashem hee mauzchem", and we make no mention of sin. Yom Kippur on the other hand we enumerate our sins and spend the day in fasting and affliction from evening to evening. I would like to suggest that we can compare this to two ways of breaking down a wall. The first way is to try to undermine the foundation - Rosh Hashanah our goal is to undermine the foundation of sin, to emphasize that Hashem is King. Not recognizing this is the root of sin. Then comes Yom Kippur where we break the sins themselves, we break the sin of violating Shabbos, of stealing, of loshon hara. A human king appoints ministers and an army however it is not the same as Hashem's ministers. If the army and the ministers don't recognize the authority of the king he can scream from today until tomorrow that he is king and it will not do him any good. Hashem alone is King and He is King all over the earth. Putin, Trump, and Netanyahu have no power, only Hashem determines. A human king has his limitations, while Hashem is All-Powerful. During the ten days of teshuva we try to think about our sins, about how to improve ourselves. Some have the custom of eating "simanim". This is an interesting custom, it appears that we are saying that because we eat honey therefore we will merit a sweet year. I understand someone saying that he deserves a good year because he learns Torah but why should he deserve a good year because he eats honey? The answer is that the purpose of the simanim is so that the entire Rosh Hashanah we remember that it is a day of judgment, that Hashem is King and we must repent. While in shul it is not hard to remember that, but people generally do not remember that while eating. When a person eats his honey and prays for a sweet year this means that he is recognizing that Hashem is King, the same for the other simanim - when we ask that our enemies be obliterated or that we have many merits. The siman helps us remember the Malchut Shamayim, as every day we mention this, but on Rosh

5 NANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 5 of 7 Hashanah we must internalize this. Kollel Dvar Torah by Rav Yigal Vanunu During the Summer Recess we feature Divrei Torah from the Israeli Kollel Rennert. Students who want to improve their Hebrew have the opportunity to learn daily with an Israeli Avreich from the Kollel. This is besides the daily Ulpan class and Rav Tzadok's morning shiur that is given in Hebrew. We thank Rav Nechemia Klein once again for translating the Divrei Torah. "It shall be with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear Hashem his G-d, to observe all the words of this Torah" (Devarim 17:19). The Torah commands the king to write two sifrei Torah for himself - one to be stored in his treasure and one that will remain with him at all times. In this manner he will reach a level of fear of Hashem and observance of the words of the Torah. Ibn Ezra explains that "to fear Hashem his G-d", refers to the king himself having fear and in this manner being able to mend that which is not on the proper path. The Torah is teaching us an incredible lesson. To be able to influence others one must first work on elevating himself - only then will he be able to influence others. The Torah does not command the king to influence people and to awaken their fear of Heaven, rather the command is for the king to work on himself: "so that he will learn to fear Hashem". To be able to influence others he must work on increasing his own fear of Heaven. The Chafetz Chaim relates the story of a pious individual who wished to bring merit to the Jewish community by speaking to them about how to improve themselves. He first went to the capital city, a large Jewish community, and entered a large synagogue. He spoke to the crowd, however the congregants did not accept his words, gave him a few coins, and sent him on his way. The man said to himself that perhaps the Jews in the big city are haughtier, perhaps he would be better off in a smaller community. The same thing happened there, the people were not interested in what he had to say. He then thought to himself that he should return to the community where he grew up, there they will listen to him. There as well, not only did they not heed his words but they even mocked him: "you know us and our families, whom exactly are you speaking to?" In the end he decided that he must satisfy himself with improving his own character and service of Hashem before he thinks he can speak to others. Decades later, after toiling in Torah and growing, he decided that the time had come to try to influence others. He returned to the capital city where many came to his door hungry for his words. The Chafetz Chaim related this story to the Brisker Rav, the Brisker Rav related it to his students with a comment: "The rule is that when the Chafetz Chaim speaks of "a pious individual" he is referring to himself, this was in fact how the Chafetz grew to become whom he became - he began by working on himself and then went out and tried to influence others. In our phenomenal Yeshiva we have the privilege of being in the vicinity of great tzaddikim - of Harav Nebenzahl and Harav Katz who spend entire days working on improving themselves, their character traits, their devotion to Hashem, and they rise higher and higher. Just look at the tens of thousands of people they have influenced. They began by working on themselves and then their light radiates upon others. We are in the midst of great days - the beginning of Ellul - the King is near to us. Chazal teach us that during these days one must make the effort to want to grow and then Hashem's influence will rain down upon up with all His love and mercy. It is so easy during these days to connect to Hashem, to become a friend so to speak. It follows that if we desire to come close to the Master of the Universe then we will influence all our surroundings - family, community, and friends.

6 NANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 6 of 7 However there is a disturbing thought that enters our minds each year - every year there is an Ellul, we repent, should we not expect... why are we not improving, it is as if nothing changes. The answer is in this week's parsha: ""you shall be wholehearted with Hashem, your G-d" (18:13). Don't worry so much about the future and the past, concentrate on advancing now, try to connect "with Hashem your G-d". Connect to Him because you are growing, the teshuva brings you that much closer, it is the yetzer hara that is showing you the half of the cup that is empty. However those who are close to you can testify how much you have changed for the better. May it be the will of Hashem that we mend our ways so that we be able to influence others and may we merit a good and blessed year. The Story Of The Jewish People by Rav Shai Gerson The story of the Jewish people as told by Tanach through the eyes of Chazal. Sefer Shmuel I Chapter XXIII Part 3 David turns to Hashem via the Kohen and wishes to know whether "baalei Keilah" will be traitors against him or will remain loyal. (Generally in Tanach "baalei" any city refers to the leaders, as we find "baalei Shechem" "baalei Yericho). Will they turn him in to Shaul or not? David then adds was the enlistment Shaul made meant to be to add forces against David. He was answered in the opposite manner, at first he was only answered regarding the last question that the enlistment was indeed directed against him. He then asked once again regarding the loyalty of the people of Keilah and was told that they will not remain loyal even though he saved them from Plishtim. David and his infantry flee and return to their place arriving in a desert area (presumably the Judean desert). Shaul tries to locate David but does not succeed even though he had the opportunity to find him, just as his son Yonatan was able to locate David at the height of the pursuit. Yonatan concludes from this situation that ultimately Shaul will fail and David is destined to rule. He therefore asks David if he can become his assistant. They had made a covenant, a covenant that never came to fruition because Yonatan fell in battle before David became king. David was now in the desert of Zif where the local people say that they wish to hand him over, of course their words are "we undertake to hand him over" (20), meaning they will decide who will hand David over. We can also explain this to mean "we too can accomplish this". Mahari Kara points out that we are speaking of a location in Yehudah as he refers to the pasuk: "Zif, Telem and Bealut (Yehoshua 15:24) as if saying, we are from Yehudah and are close to David yet we will hand him over to Shaul. Shaul is happy to known that he has support. He asks them to scout out the area and says they must cover all possibilities. The people scouted very thoroughly and David was almost caught. What saved him from the army of Shaul was two sides of a mountain. The only reason he was saved was that Shaul was summoned for a battle against Plishtim. The knowledge that the Plishtim arrived came via a "malach" which could mean either angel or messenger. Rashi explains it to mean an angel whose mission was to save David, however it is possible that it is referring to a messenger and the point here is praise for Shaul that even though he is involved in a personal battle with David, he did not lost his common sense as king that saving the Jewish nation takes precedence.

7 YNANewsletter Parshat Shoftim 7 of 7 Tehillim List The following members of our extended YNA family need our tefilot: Chaim Avishalom ben Blanka (the Chalban) Rav Avigdor Yechezkel ben Hilda Sheincha Sarah Liba bat Miriam Rifka bat Leah Tzipporah Fayge bat Leebah Amichai ben Sara Yitzchok Issac ben Rivkah Zev ben Leah Daniella Malka bat Esther Bayla Gavriel ben Malka Shulamit bat Bella Shmuel Chaim ben Batsheva Shoisha Elka bat Etel Dina Zvi Yehuda ben Yuta Yitzchok ben Tzipporaha Reuvain Eitan ben Chava Brina Elan Moshe ben Rifka Tova Oriyah Chaim ben Miriyam Binyamin Dovid ben Litam Shoshana Elka Bat Etel Dina Chaya Malka bat Rachel Esther bat Miriam Orah Sarah bat Miriam Adele bat Rivka Yisroel David ben Yona Leah Tzvi Kalman Ben Sheree Simi Chaim Tzvi Eliezer ben Dalya Yisroel Moshe ben Ita Yisrael ben Perel Chaim Mordechai Eliezer ben Leah Shlomo Yisroel ben Sara Nechama bas Ester Gittel Michal Nechama bat Mazall Miriam bat Chaya Yehudis Rochel bas Chana Rivkah Michael Chiya ben Berucha Sharon Tzvi Hersch Chaim ben Gitel Yisroel ben Necha Efraim ben Leah Uri David ben Sarah Yitzchok Aharon ben Chaya Dreizel Amir Zalac ben Nadra Esther Miriam bat Chana Reitzes Shoshana Bracha Perel bat Mindel Sarah Tinok ben Shoshana Bracha Perel Ezra Netanel ben Elana Sarah bat Rachel Etan Binyamin ben Hinda Chaya Mordecahi Reuvain ben Miriam Ben Zion ben Miriam Yakir Ephraim ben Rachel Devorah Gavriel ben Malka Ofri Moshe zacks ben Ronit Fayga Shprintza bat Serka Meir Yitzhak Shmuel ben Genendal Tova Mina bat Hinda Shlomo Moshe Dovid ben Gitel Leah Rachel bat Shoshana Miriam Ilana Rina bat Devorah Leah Zippora Ruchel bat Rivka Avraham ben Leah Eliezer Uri Ben Gittel Miriam bat Chana Reitza Chaya Dina bat Etel Tsharna bat Sheina Shira Neshama bat Malka Shlomo Ben Gittel Eliana Ita Bat Hinda Ariella Sarah bat Henna Resha Binyamin Netanel ben Bracha Tova Shabbat Shalom, Rav Bina, Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Riddle Answer: A Chatan during his Shana Rishona, his first year of marriage. It is a positive mitzvah for the groom to spend the first year rejoicing with his wife. Focusing on making each other happy is certainly a recipe for piece, but the riddle refers to the Torah's granting him an exemption when we go out to war (20,7). Shalom Bayit takes time and effort, and the Torah teaches us to defer other priorities in it's favor.