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4 Adar II, 5784 - March 14, 2024 | Mordecai Plaut, director | Vayishlach - 5782 Published Weekly
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A Conversation with HaRav Yisroel Ganz shlita

HaRav Ganz says:

The Zohar HaKodosh in parshas Terumah has a wonderful story: Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were staying in an inn, and they got up at midnight to learn Torah. The daughter of the owner of the inn got up and lit them a candle, and then stood behind them to listen to their Torah.

Rabbi Chiya looked behind them and saw her standing there. He said, "For a candle is mitzvah and Torah is light." What is it about candles that women merit it. Women do not merit Torah; men do and they thereby bring light to the candle.

The daughter heard this and began to cry. Her father woke up from the crying and asked why she was crying. He then also began to cry. It came out that the daughter had gotten married two months ago.

Rabbi Yosi asked, "Is the chosson worthy?"

The father answered, "I saw him jump from the second floor in order to answer, Amen, yehei Shemei Rabba. When I saw such mesiras nefesh for tefillah I took him for a chosson and I was sure that he would be great in Torah. But now it turns out that he even does not know how to bench Bircas Hamozone."

Rabbi Yosi said, "Maybe he will have a son who will be great in Torah."

As they were talking, the chosson was also woken up from the crying.

Rabbi Yosi looked at him and said, "I see that the light of Torah will come from him to the world."

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They Just Do Not Like Him

In Washington they do not like Netanyahu. This is an uncontroversial fact. Many reasons can be cited, but the bottom line is that Netanyahu is damaging Biden's path to a second term in the White House. One they were friends but now they stand in opposition.

Maybe there are some who still remember Netanyahu's speech in Congress against Biden's old boss, Barak Obama and his support for Iran. Maybe it is Netanyahu's once close relationship with the previous — and maybe the future — president Donald Trump. Maybe it is the judicial reform in Israel that the current Israeli government tried to pass, and received very negative press in the United States. Maybe it is all of the above that have soured Biden on Netanyahu. It is a fact that Netanyahu was not invited to Washington for a long time after he took office. And recently Biden was quoted as saying that Netanyahu "causes more harm than benefit for Israel."

The dominant fact is that Biden, even at his advanced age, wants to win a second term. But he knows that the policies of the current government are supported by most of the Israelis. Even Benny Ganz, who was greeted warmly on his recent trip to Washington, supports the military policies of the current government. Even much of the opposition in Knesset is behind it. And even in Washington they agree that Hamas must be destroyed.

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The Miracles of Purim by HaRav Shlomo Brevda zt"l

In honor of Purim, we present these translations and excerpts from HaRav Brevda's world famous shiurim on Purim, and his best-selling sefer on Megillas Esther and Purim — Kiymu Vekiblu — which was reprinted many times. They provide a deep insight into the underlying lessons of Purim. The material has been prepared specially for Yated, and some of it has never before appeared in print.

This was first published about 30 years ago.

Part I

Klal Yisroel sinned but Hashem prepared the refuah considerably in advance of the macco that threatened them. The entire Megilla shows how seemingly unrelated events were eventually, as a result of HaKodosh Boruch Hu's eitza, used to save Klal Yisroel and to cause the downfall of their enemies.

The entire government of Achashverosh's vast empire was moved to Shushan because that was where Mordechai and Esther were. Two very difficult achievements were necessary for the atzas Hashem: Vashti must be out of the way, and Esther must be installed in her place. These were both quite impossible-looking goals, as was explained.

However, Hashem was turning screws. Achashverosh was trying to live down his past as a stable boy, and held a big feast. Then he held another feast for the people of Shushan, at which he displayed himself as a "man of the people," (in order to aggrandize himself) by declaring that everyone could have whatever he wanted. His pride was rising to tremendous heights, at the same time that Vashti his queen was getting fed up with him. Hashem was clearly planning a clash.

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Rain and Kinneret Watch

by Dei'ah Vedibur Staff

Our weekly report of the rain and the level of the Kineret - Winter, 5784.

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Outstanding Articles From Our Archives


Opinion & Comment
New Chapters from the Life and Teachings of R' Yisroel Salanter zy'a Excerpts from the memorial book, Kedosh Yisroel published about two years ago - yahrtzeit: 5 Shvat, 5643

Maran R' Yisroel Salanter's initiative of dividing the Shas among his disciples, alongside an additional proposal in the town of Memel which anticipated the idea of the Daf Yomi by a few decades * A self imposed exile by Maran R' Yisroel Salanter

A Ben Torah Must Be Extremely Cautious

We know to what great extent did Maran uproot from within himself every inclination towards self-importance or self- interest - to the point which these were almost wholly nullified and he was free to let his thoughts burst forth and seek the ultimate truth, unhampered by personal desires.

I heard one of his talks to adherents in which he sought to guide them. One of his points was that a ben Torah must be very careful not to be overly adamant in defending his view.

He spoke at length on the responsa of the Geonim where we see that even after they stated a reply to a question, the answer was often challenged by the person quoting an explicit gemora showing the opposite. The sage who was asked the question was able, through his acute knowledge, to refute the question according to his original premise, sometimes even using the very quote to uphold his own opinion.


Home and Family
The Many Against the Few: Bais Yaakov - From a Tender Seedling to a Fruitful Tree

By Yehudit Golan

Part VI

Going out to the Transit Camps

Registration took place in cities and towns throughout the country. Through the Yeshivah Committee, teachers were even sent to Tiberias, Tsefat, Nahariya and other cities where they registered students for schools belonging to Chinuch Atzmai, the fourth sector of education. For a week, they went door to door according to a list that was supplied to them before by a friend of the activists. The immigrants merited to see chareidi people, young girls modestly dressed, which was a refreshing change from the secular activists that they had had enough of seeing.

"We felt as if we were walking in the path of Soroh Shenirer. She, too, had sent young girls to distant towns where there were Maskilim, Bundists and Communists. Today, I wonder how could she have sent young girls to such isolated places? It's true that there was the local rabbi who gave moral strength and backing. But it seems like it was a time of action. We also registered the students at the behest of the rabbis who said that there was no other choice and we have to go out. And even so, whole communities were erased from Israel."

Going out to the transit camps was also undertaken after consulting with gedolei hador. Three students who were about to finish their studies in the seminary were sent to the Ein Shemer Transit Camp and three others to the one in Rosh HaAyin. The pretext was to learn Hebrew with the immigrant children but the goal was to connect with the mothers and to serve as a constant reminder that in Israel, too, there is spiritual life, and Torah and mitzvos are valid here just like abroad.




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