48 Steps To Torah

Imagine winning the million pound lottery! Would you go around attributing this success to natural ability and intelligence? Of course not! On the other hand, if you invent say a product that goes global and becomes a best seller bringing you millions of pounds, you would then feel a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Or perhaps even start thinking a bit too highly of yourself.

boasts Ive never been sick a day in my life? He attributes his health to himself and fails to connect it with Hashem. And what about intellectual prowess? Should a genius be praised for the good fortune of having a good brain?

THE HASMONEAN HIGH SCHOOL WEEKLY SEDRA SHEET

20th April 2013

This Shabbos, Daily Nach will be up to Yirmiyah Perek 3 . Email dailynach@gmail.com to join or visit www.dailynach.com for more information.
Dvar Torah

Issue No: 430 Shabbos In: 7:49 Shabbos Out: 8:56

The bottom line is that everything we have is a gift from God. Arrogant people have trouble acknowledgThere is a positive feeling that comes with accoming this. They don't want to accept that God has plishment, but the 48 ways says you must distinguish helped them, because they feel it will minimize the between pride and pleasure whenever you accomimpact of their accomplishments. plish something. Pride means: This was all me. I am the best. Pleasure means saying thank you Hashem Next time you feel pride in a natural ability, ask yourfor giving me this opportunity for accomplishment, it self, "Did I do anything to earn it?" is by no means by my own hand alone. Do you have athletic ability? Good memory? Artistic Way 28 is aino maczhzik tova l'atzmo, literally mean- talent? Take pleasure, not pride. ing not claiming credit for oneself. Take a moment Pride is one of the biggest obstacles to attaining wisto think of something you are really proud of. Does it dom. If one is so full of himself, overflowing with make you feel more grateful, or more arrogant? pride and arrogance because of what he has or what Many people attribute their abilities, looks and what- he knows, then he will not be willing to listen to anyever else to themselves and their own success and one else. Not his friends, teachers or parents. He has ability. This, however, is not true. Not only are many the attitude of I knew that all along. This is so danof these gifts given naturally from birth, but ultimate- gerous because it prevents a person from growing ly it is G-d who decides where our strengths and and becoming a better person. As the Sages teach, weaknesses will lie. Although, for example, fitness "Who is a wise person? The one who learns from all and agility can be improved through rigorous training people (Avos 4:1). and exercise, this kind of skill comes from Hashem We learn from this the importance of keeping an and Hashem alone. open mind. To be willing to listen to others. To learn Many people tend to behave arrogantly, boasting from them, and, most importantly, to attribute all of about their successes in life. Have you ever been sick our accomplishments in life to Hashem, master of the in bed with a flu when someone comes to visit and universe.
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Before a blind person do not place a stumbling warnings and signs and had gone out of his way to block (19:14) ensure no one could come to any harm. It is fair to say that in this case he would not be responsiThe gemara in Pesachim (22b) infers that besides ble for any potential incidents that occur. If, howthe literal prohibition of the pasuk, we are also ever, someone decides to ignore all the safeforbidden to perform any activity that will cause guards and precautions placed there and drove on another person to sin. This additional prohibition and crashed into the pit, does he have anyone includes giving a Nazir wine or even giving a gen- else to blame for his own foolishness? No, rather tile meat that has been torn from a living animal, he would be responsible for his own actions. as this would cause him to transgress one of the seven noahide laws. Rav Pam asks an obvious The same is true with us. Although Hashem creatquestion. Surely the creation of the Yetzer Horah, ed us with an evil inclination, which is a dangerwhose purpose is to entice us to sin, is the largest ous stumbling block, he also gave us a guide of stumbling block that there could be! precautions and a warning system, the Torah, which helps us to navigate through the myriad The answer can be explained through a story. On challenges that the Yetzer Horah presents. Howa whim, a man decided to build a large hole in the ever, it is not enough just to learn the Torah in an middle of the north circular. After a short while he academic sense, rather we must live by it and had completed his task and he walked away. A internalise its messages. Another weapon we few minutes later the young man was faced with have been given is the Yetzer Hatov. The Yetzer an angry mob demanding compensation for any Hatov encourages us to live by the messages of injuries or damages dealt to themselves or their the Torah and strive for greater spiritual growth. vehicles. It is obvious to you and me that in this case the man is required to compensate the vic- If after all this, after all the safeguards, warnings tims of his scheme as they are victims of this and signs, a person still decides to recklessly wonmans irresponsible behaviour. However, imagine der over to the pit, and surrenders to the temptaif the young man, instead of leaving the newly tions of the Yetzer Harah, can he legitimately built crater unattended, had decided to erect a claim that has been tripped by a stumbling block? large safety zone around the hole with explicit He would have no one left to blame but himself.

Yartzheit Story

Dvar Torah

This Sunday, 11th Iyar, is the 186th Yartzheit of Rav Naftoli Tzvi of Ropshitz ztl, author of Zera Kodesh and Ayala Shelucha. It wasnt a pleasant winter that year in Poland. In and around the city of Lublin, the snow had settled thick and hard. As a result, it was difficult to get food supplies into Lublin. There was an extreme shortage of vegetables, which posed a big problem for the Jews of Lublin. No vegetables meant no onions- and that just wasnt an option. One of the staple Shabbos foods for Polish Jews was eiyr -un-tzibl- onions with chopped eggs. Even the Chozeh of Lublin was upset - this minhag was highly significant on Shabbos. Efforts were made to secure some onions for Shabbos - people scoured the surrounding countryside searching for some, but to no avail. On erev Shabbos, the Ropshitzer Rebbe, a leading talmid of the Chozeh, was on his way home from shul when he came across a farmer walking along the road holding a sack of onions! Please, asked the Ropshitzer Rebbe, can you sell me those onions of yours? The farmer knew these were a precious commodity and he wasnt prepared to part with them cheaply. He named a ridiculously high price, and was surprised when the Ropshitzer agreed immediately. I have one more request, said the Ropshitzer. Can I purchase your coat and hat? The farmer agreed, persuaded by the cash, and the Ropshitzer walked off with the onions, a coat and a hat. A short time later, a farmer appeared outside the Chozeh of Lublins house with a sack full of onions. Jews from all over gathered to buy onions before Shabbos. Then, suddenly, the farmer announced that he was stopping for the day. No more onions! But please, begged the people, at least let us buy one for our Rebbe. He is a very holy man, and it can only result in good for you. The farmer considered it. Ok, he eventually replied. But on one condition. I have to sell it to your Rebbe personally.

The Chassidim were shocked by the mere suggestion of this. To allow this crude farmer into the holy Chozeh? Eventually, they decided to let him in. Although it was unbefitting, it was surely worth it for an onion When the farmer entered the Chozehs room, the Chozeh was polishing his Kiddush cup. This cup was no ordinary cup. The Chozeh had received it as a gift from one of the great Chassidic Rebbes, and it was said to be a cup of great sanctity. However, not just anyone could drink from it. It was only used once a week, on Friday night in the Chozehs house. The Chozeh raised his eyes as the farmer strode into the room. How much do you want for your onions? asked the Chozeh. Wait, not so fast, answered the farmer brusquely. First things first, I want a drink. Some whisky was brought out for the farmer. Thats it?! cried the farmer. This is all you can offer me? Give him the whole bottle, said the Chozeh. This, however, just made the farmer even more angry. What do you take me for, a drunk? No! Forget it! Im not selling you a thing. The Chassidim attempted to calm him down, but to no avail. As he was about to leave, he turned to look at the Chozeh. You know what, he said, Ill sell you an onion if you let me drink from your cup. There was silence in the room. To drink from the Chozehs cup? Even the Chozehs closest Chassidim werent allowed to do that! All eyes turned to the Chozeh. Slowly, he nodded. If that is what it would take, that is what he would do. A drink was poured for the farmer. He then opened his mouth and said, with great concentration: Baruch atah Hashem shehakol nihyeh bidvaro! A wide smile broke out on the Chozehs face. Rav Naftoli! he said! Its you in disguise! You deserve to drink from this cup!

For on this day he shall atone for you to purify you; from butcher, however, continued shouting the abuse, until Rav all your sins, before Hashem you will be purified. (16:30) Chaim finally lost patience and shouted back, Insolent one! Leave the court immediately! In the Mishna in Yoma (85b), Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah interprets the Possuk by moving the comma between the This incident occurred in the month of Av, and two months words sins and before, and placing it after the word later, right before Yom Kippur, Rav Chaim called his sons in Hashem. The Possuk will read For on this day he shall and told them that he wants to go to the Tailors shul atone for you to purify you; from all your sins before Ha- where the butcher davens, in order to ask him for forshem, you will be purified. He explains that on Yom Kippur giveness for insulting him. one can only atone for a sin between man and G -d (your They went to the shul, and managed to find him amongst sins before Hashem) but Aveiros between man and man the large crowd. Rav Chaim, along with his three sons, cant be atoned for until one appeases the wronged party. approached him and asked him for forgiveness for insulting A couple of daf later, the Gemara cites the following teach- him. The butcher, however, was not interested and said ing from R Yitzchok: Anyone who upsets his fellow man, hed only forgive him if hed pay him back the three thoueven through mere words, must appease him, as it says, sand rubles. My son...You have been trapped by the words of your Rav Chaim thereupon told the butcher, I will ask you for mouth. Do this therefore, my child, and be rescued...Go forgiveness again, and then a third time, in the presence of humble yourself and placate your fellow (Mishlei 6:1 -3). these three men, as the Halacha requires. After this, I am The question is why did R Yitzchok teach this from a Possuk not required to pursue the matter further. But I want you in Mishlei? Havent we already learnt it from a possuk in to know that the reason I am apologizing is not because I the Torah? think I have committed any aveiroh in this case, for the Rav Chaim Brisker answers this question based on an inci- Midrash teaches us that it is permitted for a person to dent which occurred with him. One time, a case was insult someone if he was insulted by him first. However, on bought in front of his Beis Din where someone was suing the eve of Yom Kippur there is an obligation to ask forthe butcher for the large sum of three thousand rubles. Rav giveness from ones fellow for any insult he might have Chaim tried to encourage them to settle on a compromise given him even if it was fully permitted or deserved. but the butcher, believing that he had done nothing wrong, Rav Chaim later explained that this is what R Yitzchak refused. With no other choice, Rav Chaim ruled against the meant when he taught that Anyone who upsets his fellow butcher, and required him to pay the whole sum. Upon man even through mere words must appease him. He hearing the verdict the butcher was enraged, and started was not merely repeating what the Mishna had already screaming words of abuse at Rav Chaim like Thief! taught. Rather, he added that even if no sin was committed Murderer! Rav Chaim tried to explain that by the laws of at all, a person who has upset or insulted a fellow man the Torah if he didnt accept the compromise he had no must still seek his forgiveness. choice but to obligate him to pay the whole sum. The

Gematria:
The passuk (16:3) says Bzos yavo aharon (with this Aharon will come). Rashi and the Baal Haturim explain that the word Bzos is gematria 410, which is an allusion to the first temple, which stood for 410 years. The midrash that Rashi quotes, Vayikra Rabbah, goes on to explain that this means that 18 Kohanim Gedolim who follow after Aharon will be considered like Aharon himself, in the sense that they remained righteous, and therefore were an extension of Aharon (which is contrasted to the second beis Hamikdash, where the Kohen Gadol was not righteous for large periods of time). The Minchas Yehudah explains that Rashi was picking up on the fact that passuk should have written Beleh (with these, in the plural), i.e. the two animals used as offerings. Rashi explains that the wording was changed in order to allude to the message explained above.

Riddle: If you vote guilty, he'll be innocent. If you vote innocent, he'll be guilty. How does this work? Last weeks riddle: Which sedra is the only one whose Haphtora is longer than the sedra itself? Answer:

When Nitzavim and Vayelech are joined, we lein the Haftora from Yeshaya 61:1 -11, 62:112 and 63:1-9. This comes out to a total of 32 pesukim, longer than Parshas Vayelech, one of the sedras that this Haftora is connected to.