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Friday, December 27, 2013 / " "

Vaeira

Candle Lighting: 4:45 Havdala: 5:50

Note: The Halachic times listed here are from www.myzmanim.com.

Focusing On Potential
By Etan Soclof, 10 t h Grade
The prayer of Yigdal is a summary of the 13 principles that every Jew must believe or otherwise be guilty of heresy according to Rambam in his commentary on Maseches Sanhedrin. In this very important Zemer, it is said, , There did not arise in Yisroel anyone like Moshe ever again - a prophet that gazes at [Hashems] image. And this is true. Moshe was the greatest Navi ever. Moshe led Bnei Yisroel out of Mitzrayim and brought down the Torah from Har Sinai. It was through him that Bnei Yisroel became an Am and it was he who gave Bnei Yisroel their purpose. Who could possibly argue that anyone could ever reach the Madreigah that Moshe Rabbeinu did? And yet, this is exactly what Rashi does in this weeks Parsha. Troubled by the inconsistency of the order of the names of Moshe and Aharon in Perek Vav, Rashi concludes that the Torah is trying to show that Moshe and Aharon are equal. How can this statement possibly be made without contradicting both common sense and the sacred words of Yigdal? Lets put this question in abeyance. The Gemara in Yevomos mentions that Tzadikim are judged more harshly than Reshaim or Beinonim. But how could this be? Tzadikim, who are closer to Hashem should have greater merits than Reshaim! Should they not deserve a little more leeway and Rachmonos than your average Joe? An answer may be that the everyone is judged based on their own potential. Tzadikim, who can achieve greater accomplishments, must live to

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a higher standard and must fulfill more substantial expectations. From this point of view, judgement is not so much a statement of how many mitzvos youve done, but rather a calculation of how much you have achieved in comparison to what you could have achieved. After having established this principle, perhaps our original question can be answered. Aharon is not being compared to Moshes greatness and achievements for Moshe would surely dwarf him and his accomplishments. Rather, he is being compared to Moshe in the subjective sense of reaching ones capacity. Hashem had an agenda for Moshe and He had an agenda for Aharon and they both lived up to their potential and did what they were supposed to do with a full heart and unbelievable Emunah. In that sense, they were equal. This concept applies to our lives. Hashem granted us all with different talents and

" abilities, different strengths and weaknesses.

Because we are all so different, Hashem cannot possibly expect us all to become Tzadikim. On the contrary, Hashem expects us to reach our own potential whatever that may be. No one knows what his or her potential is, and therefore one must strive to be the greatest he or she can. But, at the same time one must not get caught up in other peoples accomplishments. On his deathbed, Rav Zusha is known for saying, When I die, I will not be asked why werent you like Moshe Rabbeinu or the Rambam. He will ask me why wasnt I Rav Zusha? Why didnt I understand my potential and why I never found my inner being? That is what I am afraid of. We can clearly see that after 120 years, you will not be compared to someone else, you will be compared to the perfect version of yourself.

Nicknames
By Talya Engelhart, 12 t h Grade
Its always interesting to look at peoples contact lists on their phones. By simply scrolling up and down you can get a sense of each persons relationships and social circles. One who is in found under their full name is an acquaintance; someone who has the firstname-only status is a close friend; and someone whos saved as a short nickname or some obscenely long sentence talking about how cool they are is a best of friend, because they were around during the stage where adding yourself to someones phone was cool. The names people call you and the names you call others really reflect the relationship you have with others. At the Sneh, Hashem tells Moshe that to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov He was called Kel Shakkai But to Moshe He will now be referred to as Shem Hashem. Why does Moshe get to have a special name for Hashem unique from what everyone else called Him? What

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does this say about Moshes relationship with Hashem? Moshe was different from the Avot in that Moshe asked questions. He didnt accept what he was told with a thank you and a smile, but he really delved into what Hashem was asking of him. This back and forth dialogue and Hashems positive encouragement of Moshe created a unique bond between them that Hashem didnt have with the others. It

was because of that bond that Moshe was rewarded with the honor of calling Hashem by a new name. We can learn from this that it is not only okay to ask questions, but it is important to ask questions. Through delving deep into halachot and mitzvot, we can appreciate what Hashem expects of us, and through that, we too can have a closer relationship with Hashem.

Formation of a Nation
By Rabbi Kenny Pollack
The Ketav Sofer asks the famous question about why we have the four languages of freedom. ,, , Why do we need all four? Arent they all saying that we left Egypt and went into Israel? He answers that they all really point in one main direction to teach the same message. At the time we went into slavery, there were two levels of our Galut. The outer level was our being physically worked by the Egyptian taskmasters. The inner level included our being emotionally and psychologically hurt as well. Just as there were two levels of being slaves in Egypt, there were multiple levels to leaving. The first was the leaving of Egypt, and the second part of it was entering the Land of Israel years later. But even in these two levels, the Ketav Sofer explains again that each step has a superficial aspect and a deeper meaning. In leaving Egypt, the people had to be physically removed from the land (), but they also had to have the emotional pain from all the suffering removed (). In going to Israel, the people had to physically go into the land to get their freedom (), but they also had to become a nation . At the end of the day, the journey is all about becoming a united nation. That is what Hashem told Yaakov from the beginning-this is the culmination of that promise. On Seder night, we say the long Hallel on the 4th cup for this reason. The cup representing , the final Lashon of Geula, is what is most symbolic for what we have been striving. We add the celebratory Tefillah in honor of Bnei Yisraels joining together and forming a nation.

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Shabbat Table Discussion Questions:

By Avi Hartstone, 10 t h Grade
1. What is the significance of Aharon marrying the brother of Nachson ben Aminadav? (6:23) (Note: He was the individual who, according to the Midrash, enters into the Yam Suf first. He was also the Nasi of Yehuda.) 2. Why does Hashem only reveal his special name to Moshe but not the other Avot? (6:3) 3. Why does Hashem say to Moshe "Aharon will be YOUR prophet? (7:1) 4. Why does Hashem harden Paro's heart, isnt it true that all humans are supposed to have free will? (7:3) 5. Why does Aharon need to physically stretch out his staff in order to make Hashem do an action? (8:1)
Email us at FMSshemesh@gmail.com with your answers, and we will choose our favorite one to publish every week!"

Brought to you by: Staff: Editor in Chief- Ari Bar-Shain Associate Editors- Eli Meyers, Etan Soclof, and Yosef Coleman Layout Manager- Zev Karasik Faculty Consultant-Rav Rick Schindelheim Distribution Manager-Rivka Coleman Faculty Manager-Yael Blau Head Writers-Avi Hartstone and Zak Fleischman Student Writers: o Alan Soclof o Ami Shamir o Ben Jaffe o Bentzion Goldman o Jenna Fox o Jennifer Brenis o Joey Senders o Michael Brenis o Mordechai Blau o Sarah Pincus o Seth Weiss o Sonny Kugelman o Tali Laserson o Talya Engelhart o Yonah Bar-Shain o Zach Zlatin o Ziva Bibbins

Special thanks to Bentzion Goldman for designing the new MiMizrach Shemesh logo!

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