48 Steps To Torah

Continuing on from last weeks piece, Pirkei Avos lists two more ways to acquiring Torah that also come under the category of Bmiut which as mentioned last week means with limiting or by controlling. The first one is Bmiut Sichah which literally means to minimize conversation. This does not mean to stop talking but rather one has to learn to use the power of speech effectively. Conversation must be used to communicate with others but it can be quite dangerous as well. Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, the Chofetz Chaim, spent a lot of his life teaching us the way in which we should use our speech. One of the hardest challenges faced by all Jews is Loshon Horah. It causes lots of problems and many arguments arise because of it. Speech also happens to be one of G-ds greatest gifts to mankind, as the Targum Onkelus points out in Parshas Bereishis. Speech is therefore one of the distinguishing features between us and animals and we need to use it productively. Today, everyone is in his own little corner and struggles by himself. We need to be together with others, not to watch a film, but to be together and communicate. Genuine conversation is your chance to explore entire worlds. Unlike a movie, this world is real, not imagined. And the resulting relationship is infinitely more rewarding. As accustomed as people are to "speaking," very few actually "communicate." Speaking is natural and automatic. But communication is an art which

must be learned and practiced. Start by changing your attitude. Have you ever sat on a coach on the way to an outing? Youll find yourself sitting there on your iPod watching films or listening to music because you feel there is nothing else to do. Try speaking to the person next to you for a change. Conversation is a gift and once we learn how to use it properly and not idly then we can really acquire wisdom. The second is Bmiut Schok which literally means to minimize laughter. This kinyan does not want to stop us laughing, but rather to teach us that it should be used in the right way only and we should refrain from using laughter to insult people as it can be very destructive. We need to understand what laughter is used for. Laughter happens when the unexpected occurs. When two contradictory things occur the surprise catches us off guard. Hence the more unexpected the two occurrences are, the funnier it becomes. Laughter is an integral part of emotional health. You don't have to waste time to release tension. You just need to hear a good joke, or have the comical sense to see the absurdity in daily life. Relay that positive energy into movement, growth, and power for something meaningful you need to do, such as your Torah learning. Life will always be more productive if youre happy for the right reasons.

THE HASMONEAN HIGH SCHOOL WEEKLY SEDRA SHEET

2nd February 2013

This Shabbos, Daily Nach will be up to Melachim Beis Perek 17 . Email dailynach@gmail.com to join or visit www.dailynach.com for more information.
Dvar Torah

Issue No: Shabbos In: Shabbos Out:

422 4:35 5:41

Parshas Yisro is perhaps the most pivotal point in Jewish history. Klal Yisroel are given the Torah. The Aseres Hadibros are delivered by Hakadosh Boruch Hu Himself. Chazal teach us that there is a generic difference between the first five of the Aseres HaDibros and the last five. The first five are Bein Odom LeMokom - between man and G-d- and the second five are between man and man. If we closely examine the first set there seems to be a major problem with this idea. The commandment of Kabeid Es Ovicha (honouring ones parents) seems to be in the column of Ben Adom LeMokom. Yet it is clearly a commandment between man and man. Why is this the case? If we examine the idea of honouring ones parents and the role our parents play in our lives we notice a beautiful idea. Rav Shimshon Rephoel Hirsch comments that our parents are the agents of the Almighty, sent down to help, guide and set us on a path of living Btzelem Elokim (in the image of G-d). We then grow up, get married and hopefully do the same for our children. It's part of the circle of life. But this incredibly important job of being a parent is G-d sent. Our parents are on a mission to help us achieve our best, to bring up children that will affect change

in the world some way or another. Thus, with this in mind, we can answer our original question. Honouring ones parents is not just a humanistic duty- it's quite clearly something far greater then that. We honour our parents as emissaries of the Almighty himself. In honouring our parents we are effectively honouring Hashem. Thus it's necessary to place this commandment on the side of Bein Odom leMokom. But I would suggest another powerful lesson that we can learn from here is the idea of achieving. Each and every one of us has the power and the abilities to change the world. After all, G-d expects us to be His emissaries at some point. We have to understand that therefore we are significant. We all have the potential to make a significant difference some way or another. If Hashem can trust us with his children then he is trusting us with his world. It's ours to keep, to cherish but ultimately to make a difference. Each and every one of us has that power, to give! Each of us on our own level. Believe in yourself, believe in your people, believe in your world. The Almighty is holding your hand.

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Yartzheit Story

Dvar Torah

This Tuesday, 25th Shevat, will be the 130th Yartzheit So, the great Friday night came. Eyes glistening, the of Rav Yisrael Salanter ZTL, the founder of the Mus- man brought Rav Yisrael Salanter home from Shul, sar movement. back to his house. Frenzied preparations had been going on the whole week. The house was spotless, Rav Yisrael Salanter was once visiting a town, when a the table beautifully laid. student of his approached him to ask him to be a guest at his house for the Friday night meal. The man sat down to eat together with his illustrious guest. A man of his word, Rav Yisrael did not stop to I am genuinely sorry, but I will only eat at a house sing, or to converse with his host. Rather, they where I am assured about the standards of Kashrus, washed, ate the challa, ate the fish, ate the main replied Rav Yisrael. course, ate dessert, and bentched. The host watched Oh, Rebbe, you dont need to worry about my in amazement, as the beautiful meal that he had kashrus. All the meat that we buy is from a holy, envisaged went down the drain. pious butcher, who wouldnt supply us with anything Rebbe! spluttered the host. What happened? Why less than the best meat in terms of kashrus. And did you insist on rushing through the meal? Rebbe, the atmosphere at our Shabbos meals! We spend large amounts of time discussing Torah In response, Rav Yisrael summoned the cook. I apolmatters, ranging from the weekly parsha to intricate ogize for making you rush so much tonight. I hope it Halachic debates. And the zemiros! Rebbe, you have did not cause you too much trouble, being forced to never heard such zemiros! Please, come to eat at my serve one course after the other with such haste. house on Friday night! The mans eyes pleaded with Rabbi, replied the cook. You do not know what a Rav Yisrael Salanter as he said this. difference you have made to my evening. The meal Rav Yisrael decided that the mans kashrus was to be usually finishes so late that when I get home, I am trusted, and he agreed to eat at his house. But on exhausted. Now, however, it is very early, and I am one condition, said Rav Yisrael. I will only eat at free to leave! your house on Friday night if you agree not to drag Once the cook had left the room, Rav Yisrael turned out the meal. to his host. Your conduct on Friday night is comReluctantly, the man agreed. If that is what it would mendable and noteworthy- but it should not come at take to get Rav Yisrael to eat at his house, then that is the expense of others. what he would have to do.

And one was called Eliezer, since the G-d of my logic. fathers helped me and saved me from the sword of Moshe, on the other hand, was the son of the Godol Pharaoh. (18:4) HaDor, Amram, and therefore represented the path There are two rather intriguing Midrashim concern- of Mesorah. ing Moshe and his offspring. The first is from BamidWhen the Midrash says that Yisro wanted Moshes bar Rabbah: When Moshe went to heaven to receive first son to be brought up for Avodah Zorah, he the Luchos, he heard Hashem learning the Sugya of meant that he wanted him to be brought up with the Para Adumah saying R Eliezer says that a Para Adusecond system, Yisros system of a logical path to mah has to be two years old. After hearing this, result in following Judaism. All the subsequent chilMoshe called his son Eliezer after him. dren would be brought up following the Mesorah of The second is in the Mechilta which says that when Moshe. Moshe took Tzipporah as a wife, Yisro made Moshe The only place in which the idea of logic doesnt work swear that he would bring up his first son for Avodah is with a Chok, where there is no clear logic and we Zorah and all subsequent ones would be brought up do it just because of our Mesorah. for Hashem. There are two opinions regarding the reason for Para Now, I dont know about you, but I dont understand Adumah; one that it is a true Chok, the other that it is how Moshe would agree to bring up his first-born to be Mechaper for the sin of the Eigal like a mother son for Avodah Zoro. And what was so significant wipes up its childs mess. According to this reason, about what R Eliezer said that made Moshe name the Para has to be older than 3 so it can bear chilhis son after him? dren. R Eliezer held the Para had to be two, not of R Schwab answers in his Sefer, Meein Beis childbearing age therefore he must have believed HaShoeva, that there are two ways to follow Juda- that Para Adumah is a Chok. Since a Chok can only be ism: Either one can follow the Mesorah of their par- followed through Mesorah, Moshe named his second ents or they can work it out using their own logic. son, the one dedicated to Hashem and Mesorah, after this same R Eliezer. A well-known Midrash states that Yisro tried all the different types of Avodah Zorah before finally con- Good Shabbos cluding that Judaism was the real McCoy and thus represents the second option, finding Judaism using

Gematria:
And you shall discern from among the entire people, men of accomplishment. (18:21) The leaders of Klal Yisrael had to have all the usual qualities of leadership; they had to be confident and unafraid of making decisions. There is, however, another qualification that is required for leadership. They had to be more than just leaders they had to be Torah leaders. What qualifies someone to be a Torah leader? The Mishnah in Avos lists 48 attributes necessary for one to acquire and internalize the Torah, such as study, attentive listening, articulate speech, and so on. A leader of the Bnei Yisrael must have these 48 attributes. Yisro understood this. He therefore counselled Moshe to search out , men of accomplishment. But of what sort of accomplishment? People who were accomplished in the 48 areas mentioned in the Mishnah. The numerical value of ,accomplishment, is 48.

Riddle: How is water from the sea like atonement like a cow? (Hint: Translate into Hebrew) Last weeks riddle:
Who waited 17 years between a Shema and a Boruch Sheim? Answer:

Yaakov. When he was reunited with Yosef, he was saying Shema. When he was on his deathbed 17 years later, the Midrash tells us that he was saying Boruch Sheim. Hence, there were 17 years between his Shema and his Boruch Sheim.