Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi

Volume 2 Number 38 Brought to you by Naaleh.com

Tomer Devora: Examples of G-dliness
Class #5
Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen
The sefer, Tomer Devora, is based on a the foundation of all mussar and against another, the level of love and
verse in Micha, “Mi Kel komocha..”-Who is machasava. It is a prerequisite for emunah respect for the other person can never be
like you Hashem. It describes how man and avodat Hashem. Chesed is a form of the same. In contrast, when a person does
should adopt Hashem’s Thirteen Attributes giving. When a person gives of himself, he teshuva, he becomes even closer to
of Mercy, transforming himself from a mere indicates that he is investing in something Hashem. This is the level we should strive to
human to a G-dly individual. This class spiritual and eternal. The Jewish nation achieve with those who wrong us. While a
focuses on the middah of chesed as distinguish themselves as being merciful, tzaddik can have a relationship with
expounded further in the verse, “Ki chofetz modest, and kind. We do not pride ourselves Hashem, a baal teshuva is in the category of
chesed hu..”-Hashem desires chesed. on our physical prowess or intelligence. The a servant who is even closer to his Master.
In the heavens above, there are angels Torah tells us “Vahavata l’reicha The Midrash asks, why is Magen Avraham
whose sole purpose is to receive and komocha…” Ahava comes from the root called Avraham’s bracha? Does it not say
present the chesed of the Jewish people to word “hav”-to give. We indicate our love by Elokei Avraham? Avraham brought
Hashem, particularly in a time when they giving of ourselves. Our goal should be to Hashem’s existence into the world with his
are not following the Torah. This chesed give without expecting anything in return. actions. Similarly, when we emulate
intercedes for them and sweetens the Even those who hurt us, should be the Hashem’s middot, our divine like aspect
judgment. Even terrible sins punishable by recipients of our chesed. This is how comes to the fore. We glorify Hashem with
death, merit forgiveness through chesed. Hashem acts with us and this is our basis for our righteous actions and bring His
Why is chesed so significant in the eyes of emunah. presence into the world. May our efforts to
Hashem? The text in Micha reads further, “Yashav perfect our inner selves sanctify Hashem’s
The Michtav M’Eliyahu writes that giving is yerachameihu..”-Hashem is merciful to name and bring atonement for all of Klal
those who return. When one person sins Yisrael.

Contemporary Halacha
Meat & Fish
Class#18
Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Michael Taubes
Rav Kana taught that if one bakes bread in changed since ancient times and the danger problem when they are cooked together
an oven with roasted meat, one cannot eat referred to no longer exists. Nevertheless the however it is still better to eat or drink
this bread with dairy. Further on the Gemara Chasam Sofer rules that “Minhag avoseinu something in between courses. The
in Pesachim writes that Rava B’Parziska k’din”-the customs of our forefathers are like widespread practice in Klal Yisrael during the
prohibited consuming fish that had been law and therefore we do not mix fish with Shabbat meal is to drink liquor between fish
roasted in an oven with meat, together with meat. However we cannot say that the laws and meat.
dairy. Mar B’rav Ashi adds that one should of meat and fish are stricter than the laws of Chazal categorized poultry the same way as
not even eat the fish itself because it causes meat and dairy. meat with regard to the laws of meat and
bad breath and tzoraat. The Shulchan Aruch writes further that one dairy. Therefore the halacha would be the
The Shulchan Aruch develops this halacha should wash ones hands and eat something same in regard to fish and meat too. Some
further and writes that not only may one not to wash out ones mouth between fish and Sefardic Poskim prohibit consuming fish with
eat fish roasted in an oven with meat, but one meat because it can lead to tzoraat, and dairy. Rav Akiva Eiger notes that there is a
should refrain from eating fish and meat “Sakanta chamura m’issura”-Matters of practice to refrain from drinking water after
altogether. The Rema notes that b’dieved if danger are more stringent than prohibitions. fish because that too is a danger. Indeed as
one already cooked fish and meat together it The Magen Avraham disagrees and notes noted, the custom is to drink schnapps.
is permitted. This is corroborated by the that we find many examples in Gemara where Perhaps the minhag to say L’chaim after
Shach. The Beer Sheva disagrees and rules Chazal tells us about dangers which are not drinking an alcoholic beverage stems from
that even b’dieved one may not eat it since found today. This is because our natures have this idea.
this is a question of danger. The Chasam changed and we dwell in different lands. Living a Torah life means living a measured,
Sofer notes that the Rambam did not cite this Therefore there is room to be more lenient focused, existence. There is meaning and
din at all. He postulates that the case here. The Mishna Berura rules that we follow purpose behind everything we do. May our
mentioned in Gemara may have referred to a the Rema who holds that one does not need studying and knowing the halachot well help
particular fish, or that human nature has to wash ones hands between fish and meat. us reach our ultimate purpose.
The Rema writes that fish and meat are only a

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 Parshat Vayechi and The Tenth of Tevet
Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles
Parshat Vayechi is unique in that it is a Asara B’tevet was the seed that was original Hebrew. With Targum Hashivim,
parsha stuma, a closed parsha. There are supposed to arouse the Jews to repent. Ezra’s work was weakened and the inner
no extra spaces between it and the Had they taken these warning signs aspect of Torah was lost. This is what we
preceding parsha. Rashi explains that this appropriately they could’ve prevented the need to rectify on Asara B’tevet. The Leket
teaches us that the hearts of Yaakov’s Churban. We are not fasting so much for V’halibuv writes that it is not enough to
children were closed in expectation of the what occurred, but rather to rectify the know the factual ideas of Torah. One must
suffering that awaited them with the coldness and apathy that settled upon the bring a spirit of simcha, enjoyment, and
impending bondage. What does this Rashi Jews and caused the destruction. This is passion into our home with the mitzvot. As
really mean? reflected in Parshat Vayechi. There is no parents, our obligation should be to make
There are three consecutive fast days in space for contemplation. Chazal say that Judaism a meaningful experience for our
Tevet. The eighth day of Tevet commemo- the Jews were exiled because they denied children. We need to kindle our homes with
rates the day that the Torah was translated Hashem and Malchut Beit David. the inner light of Torah so that our children
to Greek, the ninth day memorializes the Malchut Beit David is the idea of hashga- feel the joy and beauty of Judaism.
death of Ezra and Nechemia, and the tenth cha pratit. When Natan Hanavi came to The Churban came due to baseless hatred.
day is a communal fast to mark the day reprove David, he immediately admitted his We can rectify this by working on feeling
that Nevuchadnetzar began the siege of error and looked to correct his ways. When more responsibility for our fellow Jews.
Jerusalem. Rav Krem asks, why do we suffering comes upon us, our focus should Shevet Dan is related to the month of
fast on Asarah B’tevet, which occurred not be on the stick that hit us. The stick is Tevet. Dan was the ma’asef, he collected
three and half years before the Churban? just an agent, a sign from above, and we the stragglers. Our purpose too, is to
Is it not adequate for us to fast when the must attempt to look beyond it to rectify our emulate Dan and reach out to all the lost
destruction actually occurred? The evil deeds that caused it. Today, when we souls that never merited to know Torah.
Avudraham notes that in a way Asara no longer have prophecy, we must pray to The third level of Asara B’tevet connects
B’tevet is even more significant than Tisha Hashem to open our eyes to rectify that the messages of the ninth and tenth of
B’av in that if it would ever fall out on which we need to. When Hashem sees us Tevet. When Ezra Hasofer passed away,
Shabbat it would not be pushed off like responding correctly, our suffering is the people did not realize what they had
Tisha B’av. Why? reduced. lost. Similarly, one of the purposes of Asara
The Rambam writes that the primary The second level of Asara B’tevet is the B’tevet is to awaken ourselves to the
purpose of a fast is not grief and mourning, connection between the eighth, ninth, and immense loss we experienced with the
but a call for us to repent in the very areas tenth days. These three days of mourning destruction of the Temple. We need to feel
that caused the tragedies to occur. Rav commemorate the tragedy of the weaken- the pain of the Shechina over our exile. The
Krem points out that Asara B’tevet can be ing of Torah. When the Greeks ordered the Chatam Sofer writes that on Asara B’tevet
explained on three levels. The first level Torah to be translated, they caused the heavenly courts decided that this would
clarifies the link between Vayechi and darkness to descend upon the world. The be the beginning of the end. In the same
Asara B’tevet. When Hashem brings Torah is like a rock that can be splintered in vein, every year there is a judgment
punishment upon an individual or nation, many directions. It contains layers of depth whether the Beit Hamikdash will be rebuilt
He doesn’t do it all at once. At first, He and meaning that can be interpreted in again that year. Tisha B’av already
sends warning signs and if the person has many ways. When the Torah was happened, but Asara B’tevet has the ability
a sense of obligation, he takes it to heart translated, it lost its beauty, multiplicity, and to affect the future. May our heartfelt
and tries to ferret out the deeper reason full essence. teshuva and tefillot on this pivotal day be
behind it. Ezra was on the level of Moshe in that he answered for good.
promulgated the study of Torah in its

Rebbetzin’s Perspective III Class 2

Excerpted from Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller’s Question and Answer series on Naaleh.com

Question: doesn’t make the family look good or it to take yours too?”
Sometimes I see people who are undermines your own honor somewhat, The idea is for your reproof to come from a
somewhat close to me, dressed in a then it won’t work. However, if this is not place of companionability, caring, and
manner that is way beneath their level in where the person herself wants to be honesty. If you’re close to the person you
other areas. Should I just daven that they either, then you can give it a shot. can talk to her about the issue. If the
overcome this challenge themselves or The best way to approach her would be to person in question is young, I would
should I say something? talk about yourself. You can say, “You know recommend you read the book, “Six
after I had my third baby, nothing fit me Diaries” by Aliza Goldin, about a teacher
Answer: either. I had to replace everything.” Or, “I’m who had her students keep journals about
The first step is to ask yourself if you have going shopping on Tuesday. Do you want to tzniut, which were later discussed. You may
a positive relationship with the person. If come along?” If it’s a practical problem, try get some very good ideas there.
you don’t, your comments may just make to come up with a solution. You can say, “I Trust yourself. If you say what you need to,
the other person defensive. The next step know this seamstress who is great at fixing. with warmth and respect, you can end up
is to honestly consider why you want to The skirt I just bought is too short and I’m changing things for the better.
correct the person. If it is because she taking it over to her today. Do you want me

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visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 2