Shabbos Newsletter - Torah from the Chevra, Hilchos Shabbos, Stories of Tzadikim, Mazal Tovs, BDE

Torah from the Chevra

Jerry Silverstein

Parashas Toldos begins a pivotal chapter with Yaakov and Esau already battling it out – while still in the womb. “VaYisrotzetzu Habanim Bkirbah”. The battle would continue throughout time, and represent the veritable struggle between good and evil, the Yetzer tov and Yetzer Hara. We learn of their sharply differing characters, where Yaakov sits and learns, and Esau hunts in the field.

One momentous day, Esau returns from the hunt, famished and exhausted. His ‘tired’ status is twice mentioned in the text. It is the day on which Esau finally killed the mighty warrior, Nimrod.

Recall that it was Nimrod who threw Avraham into a fiery furnace. This was regarded as one of the Ten Tests our forefather overcame – all of them successfully.

Yaakov had prepared the infamous adashim, a stew of red lentils. It was a symbolic food to mourn the passing of Avraham. Chazal tell us that Avraham passed when he did to avoid seeing Esau’s impulsive and evil character. It was on that same day that Esau agreed to forego and sell out his first-born status to Yaakov.

He asked to eat of the red stew: “Halitaina na min HaaDom Haadom Hazah” - Esau impulsively sells it, but will maintain that he still retains the first-born status.

Esau and his evil descendents will never live down being displaced by Jacob, who would become Israel. Throughout the Torah, indeed, throughout history, the descendents of Esau have sought to destroy Israel. Toldos contains hints of one such future event, Purim. “Halitaina na min HaaDom” contains an allusion to this, with its first letters, which spell out ‘Haman’, a descendant of Esau. (see Tur). As Esau sold out for some lentils and bread, so was Haman sold as a slave to Mordechai – for ten loaves of bread. (Megillah 14b). Esau never forgave Yaakov and would forever seek revenge. Esau felt cheated, as he reasoned that he was compromised during the birthright sale. After all, the Torah twice notes how tired he was, returning from the hunt that day.

Many days later, when Israel left Egypt, they would be attacked unprovoked by a tribe, Amalek, a direct descendent of Esau.

Perhaps they reasoned that just as the birthright was sold when Esau was compromised - tired from the hunt, so shall we attack Israel – when they are compromised. And so they did.

Remember Parashas Zachor: “Remember that which Amalek did to you when you were leaving Egypt, when they struck you, when you were tired and weary…”Dev 25;17,18)

Know that the Yetzer Harah is always stalking, either from within or without. It senses an opportunity to strike when we experience doubt, and feels justified – even dutiful in doing so.

We must always be on guard, as the very nature of the Yetzer Harah is having you as the target.

Indeed, it is our destiny to fight this opposing force with devaikus to Hashem, as Yaakov did, by studying Torah in the tent. There is no doubt we can defeat this, but we must always be on guard, and resolute in our mission and purpose.

Rabbi Mordechai Lebhar

Chodosh in the U.S.A & a Manageable Way to be Machmir

https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=213758

HALACHA CORNER

Hilchos Shabbos｜by R’ Mordechai Lebhar, שליט"א author Magen Avot, Rosh Kollel Link Kollel Los Angeles

Redacted by Dr. Emile Amzallag

May one read by candlelight on Shabbat?

The Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 275:1) rules that it is forbidden to read by candlelight, lest one tilt the light and cause it to burn even stronger, thereby transgressing the forbidden act of Mav’ir (igniting) on Shabbat. This applies even to candles that are very high up and are out of reach, since once the Sages enacted this rule, they applied it to all candlelight without distinction. Furthermore, although the Sages ruled regarding oil candles, it applies to wax candles as well, since they too can be caused to burn stronger by tilting them.

Rabbi Ben Zion Abba Shaul (Or LeZion, ch. 18, § 18) entertains the possibility that the wax used nowadays is less susceptible to requiring tilting in order to burn better than that used in the times of the Gemara, and that it would therefore be permitted to read beside wax candles. He writes that there is no significant difference and that it is similarly forbidden to read near modern day wax candles. Nevertheless, candles made of paraffin produce a more stable light and thus one may read by their light. Indeed, the Mishna Berura (M.B., O.H. 275:4) writes that stearin candles, which are derived from animal fat, were common in those days and were permitted. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Halichot Olam, vol. III, pg. 47), on the other hand, writes that one may even read by a wax candle nowadays.

Rabbi Baruch Toledano (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch) discusses applying the enactment of the Sages to electric light since one reading by a light may come to turn it on or off, or in the case of a dimmer, dim or brighten the light. However, he writes that the original enactment involved the case of a candle which begins flickering and therefore there is a concern that one will tilt the candle to allow it to burn better. Electric lights are stable and do not tend to flicker and thus the enactment does not extend to electricity.

Summary: One may read by the light of a paraffin candle on Shabbat. There is no issue with reading with electric lights on Shabbat.

Stories of Tzadikim｜From Sefer Yalkut Lekach Tov by R’ Yaakov Yisrael HaCohen Bayfus שליט"א, and translated by R’ Efrem Golberg שליט"א

Seeking Hashem

R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l, the great Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, would tell over a story to his students. When he was a young bochur (student) learning and teaching in Yeshivas Grodno, he went to visit his uncle, the Rosh Yeshiva of Novardok, R’ Avraham Yaffen zt”l. During his visit, he asked his uncle to show him the best bachur in the Yeshiva. R’ Yaffen pointed to one bachur and said, “This is the greatest amkan in the yeshiva, he has the most penetrating insights.” He next pointed to a different bachur and said, “He is the biggest masmid in the yeshiva, he is the most diligent.” And he continued to point to different bochurim and point out each one as the greatest. “This one for his Yiras Shomayim, incredible piety, or that one for his bekius, breadth of knowledge.” Rav Chaim said to his uncle, these are all great talmidim (students), but in the end which one is the greatest bachur in the yeshiva? His uncle took him to one of the corners of the Beis Medrash and showed him a bachur and said: “This is the greatest bachur in the whole yeshiva.” Rav Chaim was perplexed – in mentioning all the previous great bochurim, his uncle never even mentioned this bachur, yet he is the greatest in the whole yeshiva?! The Rosh Yeshiva answered, “This bachur’s defining trait is greater than all of the other bochrim in the yeshiva – this bachur is a mevakesh, he is a seeker and a searcher! The others may be smarter, more diligent, more pious, but he is the hungriest, he wants it the most.” That mevakesh toiled and learned in Torah all day and night for years until he attained the crown of Torah. He became the Gadol HaDor, the great Steipler Gaon, Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky zt”l.

Maase Shehaya - Hashgacha Pratis Stories ｜From R’ Tzvi Meir Zilberbeg שליט"א, Rabbi and Rosh Chabura of Nachlas Yaakov (Heard from his speech given at Yeshivas Shor Yoshuv – 12 Elul 5782)

The Power of Zikuy Harabim (Helping Others)

There was a Yid from Dallas, Texas who came to Eretz Yisrael. He visited one of the Mekomos Hakedoshim (holy sites) and he saw someone davening Mincha with great intention and pouring his heart out. This made a tremendous impression on him. As he was coming

back to America, he thought of how much he gained and grew from being in Israel and wished that he had asked the name of the Avreich who was davening Mincha at the holy site who had a huge impact on him. He was someone who had one of the biggest impressions on him in his whole life! In desire to show gratitude to that man, he decided to find a shul in Dallas and donate a large sum of money to that shul, specifically one which that Avreich would pray at if he were ever to come to Dallas. This shul was greatly benefited by the funding of this Yid.

Nobody knows who that Avreich is, and may Hashem help him have a long life, but when he comes to Gan Eden, they will show him his merits in Dallas in their increasing Torah and Yiddishkeit. He will respond, “Dallas?! I never heard of Dallas! What’s Dallas?” They will answer, “Because of this Mincha you prayed, made Dallas.”

Every one of us has a great power to help others to be more holy, pure, strong in their values, and greatly impacted. We are all servants of Hashem with all of our Torah, Tefillah, and Avodah. The Chida, R’ Chaim Yosef David Azulai zt”l, and many other tzadikim tell us, during the time of Ikva D’Meshicha (the “heel/footsteps of Mashiach'' or the time immediately before Mashiach), all of Klal Yisrael is standing on us. Zikuy Harabim is part of Klal Yisrael! One of the challenges we face in our time is how to use technology safely and responsibly and our leading Rabbis have provided us with the proper guidelines. We should try our best to follow those guidelines and help and support others as well.

Ribono Shel Olam, we are your servants, we want to be your servants, may it be Your Will that we merit to accept Mashiach Tzidkeinu in holiness, purity, and great mercy.

Kiddush Levana

We will perform Kiddush Levana this Motzei Shabbos (weather permitting).

Early Zman For Krias Shema

We will daven Psukei D’zimra at a speedier pace than usual this Shabbos (finishing no later than 8:55) in order to finish Krias Shema by the latest zman of 9:09am.

End of the Year Campaign

We are once again gearing up for our end of the year campaign and we can only do it with your help!

Word of mouth is a major component to a successful campaign. Please join the Whatsapp groups listed below where we will share campaign content (flyers, videos, call scripts and information) that you can send to your friends and family.

[These Whatsapp groups will only be active until the end of the campaign]

Please use the links below to join:

Women’s group

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FVIDPQI7D9UC0XvqyyIi9s

Men’s Group

https://chat.whatsapp.com/CAFfNlnUGOf3kLuZ4bJXHW

Please email link@linkla.org if you would like to create a Team with a goal.

(you will not be obligated to the goal amount selected)

Mazal Tovs

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Lori Lebhar upon the upcoming chasunah (this Wednesday night) of their son Shlomo to Elana Moinzadeh in Baltimore, MD.

Mazal Tov to Kiva and Debbie Cohen upon the chasunah of their son so Levi to Dassy Lansky this past Thursday night in Lakewood, NJ. May both couples build a Bayis Ne’eman B’Yisrael!

Kids’ Corner

We are having a great time at groups on Shabbos mornings - playing, laughing, davening,parsha and so much more!

A Gutten Chodesh Kislev! Save the date: NEXT Sunday, December 4th we are having an event you "Donut" want to miss, Our annual donut decorating event! 12-1:30pm

Be’ezras Hashem, We will be sharing TORAH TREASURES which showcases drawings and writings from our precious kinderlach!

Please reach out to me if your son or daughter would like to submit something.

WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR COUNSELORS FOR OUR BOYS GROUPS. If you have any leads or ideas, please, please reach out to me!

Good Shabbos

Dina Ram

Formula Gemach

With a huge national formula shortage we have made a formula gemach with drop off locations in the city and valley for kosher unexpired and unopened bottles of formula, donations (some formulas people are desperately seeking are a fortune now online) and we have started to match people up. The gemach is up and running in the valley now, it is in zechus refua sheelima Shayna Lia bas Shulamis a young mother in Pico. Please text 310 981 8553 or email formulagemachla@gmail.com if you need formula or can donate.