Avrumi Schonbrun, 11th Grade

Transcription

1 Dvarim Hayotzim Min Halev Volume XIII - Issue 8 The DRS Weekly Torah Publication " H A L B H A L B NEW FEATURES! A Deep Insight Into Yosef s Famous Words Areyh Helfgott, 11th Grade P erhaps one of the most dramatic and emotional moments in all of the torah is in this week s Parsha: the revealing of Yosef s true identity to his brothers. When it becomes clear that Yosef is not willing to give up Binyamin, Yehudah steps forward and offers himself in exchange for his younger brother. Yehudah explains that he is the one responsible for Binyamin, and that his father will die if Binyamin does not come home. Yosef, unable to control himself anymore, bursts out into tears and says Ani Yosef, Haod Avi Chai? It s me Yosef, is my father still alive? The brothers were not able to answer him because they were so shocked. The Ba alei Tosfos ask on this, didn t the brothers already mention to Yosef that Yaakov was still alive? What was Yosef really saying on a deeper level? Although there are several answers given to this question, the Brisker Rav gives a very interesting one. He says that in order to answer this question, we have to look back at Parshas Vayeishev by the selling of Yosef. Yehudah proposes that the brothers should sell Yosef instead of killing him. Why did he propose this? See- (Continued on page 2) To sponsor an issue of us at DvarimHayotzim@gmail.com PARSHAS VAYIGASH 5 TEVES, 5772 DECEMBER 31, 2011 All Zmanim are calculated by myzmanim.com for Woodmere, NY (11598) Candle Lighting: 4:18 pm Latest :קריאת שמע 9:38 am Ends: 5:23 pm שבת This week s issue and every issue of is sponsored by The Last Sugyah GourmetGlatt.com Avrumi Schonbrun, 11th Grade B efore Yaakov would allow himself to accept the news that his long-lost son Yosef had been found alive and that he was now the viceroy of Egypt, he wanted to see some solid proof. Perhaps the whole thing was some kind of cruel hoax. Yosef could easily have sent along all sorts of signs that he was genuine and not an impostor. He could have described his room or any other intimate details that would not be known to a stranger. But he did something altogether different. According to the Medrash, the "wagons Yosef had sent to transport Yaakov to Egypt" were really a hint at the Sugyah, Talmudic topic, they had discussed in private on the last day they had seen each other - the topic of Eglah Arufah, the decapitated calf. (The Hebrew word for wagon is Agalah, which is reminiscent of the word Eglah.) This sign convinced cegh that this was not a hoax and revived his spirits. But why indeed was this such a conclusive proof? Just as an impostor might have somehow learned other (Continued on page 5)

2 דברים היוצאים מן הל ב 2 Torah Teasers By Rabbi Moshe Erlbaum פרשת ויגש Questions The Meaning of Two Words By Jeremy Bienenfeld, 11th Grade 1. In what context is the number five mentioned? (3 times) 2. In the יוסף,פרשה sent to יעקב ten,אתונות female donkeys.(מה:כג) a) Where else in the Torah does someone give to someone else?אתונות (2 times) b) Where in שמואל א' do אתנות get lost? c) Where in the Torah does somebody ride on an?אתון (not a )חמור( 3. a) Who is referred to with his name being repeated? b) Who else in תנ"ך is called with the repetition of their name? (3 people) 4. Which two females from the family of יעקב does the Torah explicitly write as having descended down to Egypt? 5. What part of the body is mentioned four times? 6. In the יוסף,פרשה cried on the neck of יעקב when they finaly meet. Where else in ספר בראשית did someone?יעקב cry on the neck of Answers informed the brothers that 5 years of famine יוסף 1. יוסף.(מה:כב( 5 suits בנימין gave יוסף.(מה:ו( remain )מז:ב(.פרעה brings 5 of his brothers to meet 2. a) In פרעה,פרשת לך לך gave אברם many gifts including אתנת.)יב:טז( In יעקב,פרשת וישלח sent to the father קיש b).(לב:טז) in his gift אתונות twenty עשו of שאול המלך lost his אתנות and sends שאול to find them א' ט:ג).(שמואל (c In בלק בלעם,פרשת rode on an.)במדבר בני ישראל when he travelled to curse אתון כב:כב( 3. a) Hashem called יעקב יעקב when He addressed פרשת b) In.(מו:ב) on the way down to Egypt יעקב מלאך ד' is repeated by the אברהם the name of,וירא.(כב:יא) יצחק to stop him from slaughtering his son The name of משה is repeated when Hashem called him by the burning bush ג:ד).(שמות Hashem also repeats the name of שמואל when He speaks to him.(שמואל א' ג:י) the first time fem- are the only (מו:יז) שרח בת אשר and (מו:טו) דינה.4.מצרים ales specifically listed as travelling down to.פרשה 5. a) The neck is mentioned four times in the cried on the בנימין, בנימין cried on the neck of יוסף,יעקב fell on the neck of יוסף )מה:יד(. יוסף neck of.)מו:כט) and then cried on his neck )עיין רש"י ורמב"ן שם( 6. In עשו,פרשת וישלח cried on the neck on יעקב when.)לג:ד) they met אני יוסף I amyosef The Chofetz Chaim offered thefollowing explanation of this verse: When the brothers had initially arrived in Egypt, they were treated harshly by Yosef, who accused them of being spies. The brothers were startled by what was happening to them, and they asked one another, Why is this happening to us? Who among us is guilty of a sin that would have brought thus upon us? On the brothers second trip to Egypt, they once again asked one another, What is this that Hashem has done to us? However, continued the Chofetz Chaim, when the brothers heard but to words, Ani Yosef, I am Yosef, all of their questions were answered. Suddenly, everything was clear - all of their misfortune had occurred as a result of having sold Yosef. Today, as well, concluded the Chofetz Chaim, there are many people who question the way that Hashem runs His world. Why do the righteous suffer? Why do the wicked prosper? However, at the End of Days, when the entire world hears Hashem utter but two words Ani Hashem, I am Hashem, all of the questions will vanish. (Aryeh Helfgott Continued from page 1) ing that his father Yaakov had Ruach Hakodesh, Yehudah realized if they leave Yosef to die, his father would be in pain at first but eventually get over it. However, if they sell Yosef instead, his father would constantly be in an emotional depression. By putting Yaakov in a state of constant emotional pain, he would not be able to receive Ruach Hakodesh and therefore would not know that it was the brothers who actually got rid Yosef. When a person is sad and depressed he is not productive, whereas when a person is happy, he is constructive. In fact, the Gemara in Brachos says, if one is upset and unhappy, the Shechina will not rest on that person. This idea is also shown in the actual text of the Torah. When Yaakov finally learns that Yosef was still alive the Passuk says, Vat chi Ruach Yaakov Avihem, The spirit of their father Yaakov was revived. Rashi comments on this that the Shechina rested back on him, for it had left him. Once again, we see that Yaakov s Ruach Hakodesh was interfered with when he thought that Yosef was lost, but now that he learned that Yosef was still alive, his Ruach Hakodesh came back to him. With this in mind, we can now answer the question (Continued on page 5)

3 Dvarim Hayotzim Min Halev 3 This Week in Jewish History This new column is a great summary of the week s Jewish history. We hope you enjoy the column and continue to read in the weeks to come. All the articles are from tannentorah.com. Teves, 2, "Zot Chanukah" The eighth day of Chanukah is also known as Zot Chanukah (lit., "this is Chanukah"), after a key phrase in the special Chanukah Torah reading for this day (Numbers 7:54-8:4). For the deeper significance of this name, see link to "Accumulating Lights" below. In the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall; thus, the last kindling of the Chanukah lights is held on the evening preceding the 8th day of Chanukah, when eight lights are lit (see "Laws & Customs" for yesterday's date). The festival of Chanukah concludes at nightfall this evening. It is customary, however, to light candles during the daytime as well, in synagogues, in public spaces, and at gatherings held in honor of the festival. These lightings are done without recitation of the blessings as they do not constitute an observance of the mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah lights. Other Chanukah observances include the inclusion of Hallel and Al Hanissim in the daily prayers, eating food fried in oil and dairy foods, playing with the "dreidel" and giving gifts of money ("Chanukah gelt") to children. Teves, 5, 1987 Sefarim victory Tevet 5 is celebrated as a day of rejoicing in the Chabad -Lubavitch community. On this date in 1987, U.S. Federal Court issued a decision in favor of Agudas Chassidei Chabad ("Union of Chabad Chassidim") regarding the ownership of the priceless library of the 6th Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. The ruling was based on the idea that a Rebbe is not a private individual but a communal figure synonymous with the body of Chassidim. The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak's son-in-law and successor) urged that the occasion be marked with time devoted to study from Torah books ("sefarim") as well as the acquisition of new Torah books. Teves, 1, 362 BCE Esther made Queen "And Esther was taken to King Achashverosh, to his palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won his favor and kindness more than all the virgins; he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in Vashti's stead" (Book of Esther 2:16-17). This set the stage for the miracle of Purim six years later, on the 13th and 14th of Adar of the year 3405 from creation (356 BCE). Visit YUTorah.org and Search DRS DH is on

4 דברים היוצאים מן הל ב 4 Family Parsha Roundtable A weekly summary on the Parsha, great for the Shabbos table. A fantastic article to read and review with the entire family. The weekly summaries are from Chabad.org. Judah approaches Joseph and begs him to free Benjamin. He even offers himself as a slave--yes he offers to stay in Egypt as Joseph's slave instead of Benjamin!--as long as Benjamin is set free and allowed to return to his father's home in Canaan. At this point, when Joseph sees how much his brothers care about one another, he can no longer hold back his feelings. He sends all his servants and guards out of the room, and when he and his brothers are left alone he cries and says "I am Joseph, is my father still alive?" (Stories of Greatness Continued from page 6) claimed. "I borrowed 50 Rubles from you?" the Rav responded with indignation. "But, but the Rav promised to return the money to me today, and now you are denying that you even borrowed the money!" the secularist cried out in pain at the Rav's breach of faith and denial of the loan. "I borrowed 50 Rubles from you?" the Rav raised his voice is dismay. "Yes! How can you deny the good deed I did, loaning you the money. Don't you remember we were chatting about the same old tune that has been used for the Torah reading for so many years? You said perhaps you would give me an answer this week and then you asked to borrow 50 rubles. And now you deny it! "Who me?" The Rav asked as he broke into a gentle grin, "I'm not denying anything, I said 'I borrowed 50 Rubles from you' I just changed the tune of my statement! "Don't let anyone fool you, it's the tune which gives the meaning to the words!" The brothers are silent. They are shocked and terrified. Is this man, the second to most powerful man in all of Egypt, really their brother? And so Joseph begs them to come closer and repeats himself. "I am Joseph!" The brothers finally realize that it is true, this is their brother, but they are so ashamed at what they have done to him, that they sold him into slavery. But Joseph comforts them and makes them feel comfortable, telling them that it was G-d's will that he end up in Egpyt so that he would become powerful and have a chance to save the entire family from the terrible famine which was still going on at that time. Joseph then sends his brothers home to tell Jacob that he is alive as well as to invite him to come to Egypt where he will be able to live in peace. Pharaoh sends along carriages to help Jacob move. When Jacob sees the wagons and hears the good news, he is overjoyed and stops the long 22 years of mourning for his beloved son Joseph. Jacob travels to Egypt together with his entire family, exactly 70 people (the 70th is born as they enter the city gates, the newborn is Yocheved, mother of Moses). On his way to Egypt G-d promises Jacob that He will make Jacob's children into a great nation, and that He will take them out of Egypt. Joseph goes out to meet his father as he gets closer to Egypt and when they meet, Joseph hugs and kisses Jacob. They then go to meet Pharaoh who gives the land of Goshen to Jacob, which is where Jacob and his family will live throughout the next generations. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. If you would like to review issues of the, go to googlepages.com

5 Dvarim Hayotzim Min Halev 5 (Avrumi Schonbrun page 1) intimate details about Yosef, why couldn't he have discovered this information as well? During the time of the Vilna Gaon, a very strange incident took place in his city. A young couple had gotten married, and shortly afterward, the husband vanished without a trace. The poor wife was left an Agunah, a living widow unable to remarry because her husband might still be alive. Thirty years passed, and then, one fine day, a man appeared on her doorstep and declared, "My dear wife, I'm back!" Then he told her a long story about what had kept him from returning for so many years. The woman looked at the man and did not recognize him as her husband. But then again, she couldn't be sure that he wasn't. Thirty years wreak changes on a person. They also fade the memory, especially in those times when there were no photographs. The man was about the same build and coloring as her husband. His features were not really dissimilar. His face was weathered by time and the elements, and it was difficult to imagine what he might have looked like thirty years earlier. It was not impossible that this was her husband. And yet, he did not seem familiar. She expressed her reservations to the man, and he was very understanding. "Test me," he said. "Ask me any question about our life together. See if I know the answers." So she asked him questions, and he had all the answers. He knew all about their families, their wedding day, their home, including some intimate details that only the two of them could have known. Still, she remained suspicious, and she decided to seek the advice of the Beis Din. The Dayanim of the Beis Din interrogated the man extensively, but they could not catch him in a mistake. He was very convincing. And yet, his wife was not convinced, which was certainly a cause for suspicion. What should they do? They sought the counsel of the Vilna Gaon. "Take the man to the shul," said the Gaon. "Ask him to point out his Makom Kavuah, the place where he normally sat." They took him to the shul and asked him to point to his seat. The man hemmed and hawed, but he could not do it. Then he broke down and admitted that he had learned all his information from the husband whom he had befriended many years earlier. The Vilna Gaon had put his finger on the flaw in this man's diabolical plan. Assuming that the man was an impostor seeking to move in with another man's wife, he was obviously far from a righteous person. Such a person would seek out all sorts of important details to "prove" his identity, but it would not occur to him to find out about the husband's seat in shul or any of the other holy matters in Jewish life. Similarly, Yaakov knew that if the man who claimed to be Yosef was an impostor he might have extracted all sorts of intimate and obscure information from the real Yosef. But he also knew that it would never occur to an impostor to ask which Sugyah he and Yaakov were discussing when they last saw each other. When Yosef was able to refer to the Sugyah of Eglah Arufah, Yaakov was convinced that he had found his long-lost son. Serious Jews identify themselves by the holy aspects of their lives. The important information is not the make and color of their cars, not the size of their houses, not the last time they went fishing or played baseball. It is the Mitzvos they have performed, the Chesed they have done, the place where they sit in shul, or the last Sugyah they discussed. Have An Excellent Shabbos. (Aryeh Helfgott Continued from page 2) on the ambiguous words of Yosef. What was Yosef really saying? Is my father alive? Meaning, Is he alive in terms of his Shechina? Does he have Ruach Hakodesh? Yosef is making the brothers feel pain and he is giving them Mussar: You re so worried about your brother, Binyamin not coming back because your father will get upset! What about me! You didn t care about how Yaakov felt when you sold me! Perhaps this is what Yosef was trying to tell the brothers. An important lesson can be learned from incident. We should learn from the brothers mistake and be consistent in everything that we do. Just like the brothers should have been consistent in the way they acted toward another brother and their father, so too we should try to be unswerving in all of our actions. Have a good Shabbos.

6 דברים היוצאים מן הל ב 6 STORIES OF GREATNESS TOLD OVER BY: MARC EICHENBAUM PUBLICATION STAFF Editors in Chief Avrumi Blisko Dani Scheinman This story, Melody of the Torah by Eliezer Cohen, is taken from The ta'am(melody) that the Torah is chanted in is a very old and special melody. It has been handed down from generation to generation. Its' roots are very deep. They are found in the mystical teachings of our religion. Some times people want to be innovative, to create a new melody. The following story is just that. Once there was a secularist who was very good friends with the Rav of the city. Even though this secularist differed in opinion from his traditionally observant friends, he still visited his old friend, the city Rav, on a regular weekly basis. On one visit, the secularist, began to complain to the Rav about the unchanging ways of the Traditional Jewry. "... And why can't they update the tune to which the Torah is chanted?" the secularist objected. "How many years can you continue with the same old tune? Especially today when so many new and beautiful musical tunes and melodies are being brought into the world by inventive and creative composers. Answer me that!" he demanded of the Rav. "I'll have to think about it. Maybe you have a point. Perhaps next week I'll be able to answer you, but for now could you do me a big favor? I'm short of money and if you could loan me 50 rubles, I'll pay you back next week." "Of course," the secularist said, honored that the Rav would ask him for a loan. He reached into his purse, "here, take this!" He handed over the money that the Rav requested. Thanking him warmly, the Rav escorted him to the door and bid him farewell. The next week the secularist came at his customary tea time and sat with the Rav, chatting amicably in the parlor. As the time pressed on, the secularist felt uncomfortable because the Rav had not offered to return him the money that he had lent to him so willingly and with out a note. Finally as the secularist began to leave, he turned to the Rav and said: "Pardon me for bringing this up, but did the Rav not promise to return today the 50 rubles that he borrowed from me last week?" "I borrowed 50 rubles from you?" was the Rav's surprised reply. "Yes, don't you remember? Last week when I was here. Before I left!" the secularist ex- (Continued on page 4) The DRS Yeshiva High School For Boys 700 Ibsen Street, Woodmere, NY Phone: (516) Fax: (516) Weekly Torah Publication of the DRS Yeshiva High School Associate Editors Yitzie Scheinman Benjamin Watman layout editors Shmuli Gutenmacher rabbinic articles Yonatan Mehlman student articles Production Staff Andrew Mermelstein director of production Josh Wein Nisan Basalilov Jeremy Beninfeld production staff Authors /סופרים Benny Aivazi Yonatan Aivazi David Beer Yoshi Block Elly Deutsch Yehuda Fogel Max Fruchter Eli Guttman Yaakov Hagler Aryeh Helfgott Yehuda Inslicht Aaron Joseph Yoni Kadish David Lauer Eli Lonner Moshe Lonner Zev Miller Yosef Naiman Gavi Nelson Jonathan Perlman Avi Porter Shmulie Reichman Moishy Rothman Aaron Rubel Ariel Sacknovitz Yigal Saperstien Avrumi Schonbrun Yoel Schreier Alex Selesny Donny Steinberg Jesse Steinmetz Chili Szlafrok Jeremy Teichman David Weitzman Matanya Yehonatan Maggid of DRS Marc Eichenbaum Menahel Rabbi Y. Kaminetsky Faculty Advisors Rabbi E. Brazil Rabbi M. Erlbaum Rabbi A. Lebowitz