‫בס”ד‬

Vol. I:21

A Collection of Inspiring Insights

Besamei HaTorah

…Beneath the Surface

R’ Shmuel Winzelberg

‫פרשת נשא תשע"א‬

Parashas Naso 5771

Pirkei Avos 6

Compiled by: Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg

(‫כג‬:‫כה תברכו את בני ישראל )ו‬ So shall you bless the Children of Israel (6:23) (:‫זר המברך ברכת כהנים עובר בעשה )כתובות כד‬ A non-kohein that blesses the 'Blessing of the Kohanim' transgresses a positive commandment. (Kesubos 24b)

Staten Island Z’manim

Rashi explains on this Gemara: ‫כה תברכו‬, so shall you bless – ‫אתם ולא זרים‬, you and not non-kohanim, and a negative precept that comes about because of a positive commandment is positive ( – ‫לאו הבא מכלל עשה‬ ‫)עשה‬. Rabbeinu Bachya explains: ‫כה תברכו‬, HaKadosh Boruch Hu gave the 'Blessing of the Kohanim' as a gift that they should have the strength to bless the people. In Parashas Korach (18:8, see Rashi) the Kohanim were given 24 gifts (‫)מתנות כהונה‬, and together with this gift of the 'Blessings', the total becomes 25 – the same gematria (numerical equivalent) as the word ‫כה‬. (Chaim shel Torah)

Candle Lighting: 8:04

Sof Z’man Krias Shema: Mogen Avraham: 8:18 / Gra: 9:10 Sof Z’man Tefillah (Shacharis): 10:25 Havdalah: Tzeis HaKochavim: 9:13 Rabbeinu Tam (72 minutes): 9:36 Next Week: B'ha'alos'cha Candle Lighting: 8:08

Parshah Thoughts

Ideas and Reflections

Rabbi Aron Moshe Jacobsohn The end of the Parshah enumerates the gifts of each and every one of the Nesi'im (Tribal leaders). Why do we need to mention every one individually? Ramban explains the need for repetition to stress that all the Nesi'im were equally important, as were their gifts. Rabbi Eli Mansour offers a different approach to this. Firstly, something which is important is worth repeating, and when one has an important message he will constantly repeat it. Additionally, the repetition shows the greatness of the Nesi'im. A person’s natural tendency is always to try to out-shine his predecessor. The fact that they did not do this, but rather they each offered the exact same offering, displays that they weren't looking for personal honor— and this warranted the extra six pesukim (verses) for every Nasi (an extra sixty six pesukim in total).

Shabbos Treasures

The Precious Gift of Shabbos

The Chofetz Chaim (Chofetz Chaim al HaTorah, Bereishis 2:3) writes that Shabbos is a day that is not like the other days of the week and is full of brachah and kedushah. Therefore, it would be very wise to try our best to start Shabbos as early as possible and end Shabbos as late as we can. This way, we can spend as much time as possible on the kadosh day. The Chofetz Chaim also says that Shabbos is a precious gift for us from Hashem. Therefore, anyone who tries to take away time from Shabbos by ending early, is really only cheating himself from gaining all that Shabbos has to offer (Menucha V’Simcha, p.43).

The Siddur Speaks

A Closer Look at Davening

‫ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד‬ Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all

Part IV eternity. In the introductory paragraphs of Perek Shira, there is an interesting Yalkut Shimoni (Tehilim 889) in regard to Dovid HaMelech. When Dovid, king of Eretz Yisroel finished writing Sefer Tehilim he felt very proud, and said before HaKadosh Baruch Hu: "Is there any creature that You created in Your world that recites song and praise more than me?" At that moment, a frog came to Dovid HaMelech and said to him: "Dovid, don’t be so proud, because I sing song and praise more than you. Not only that, but for every song that I recite, three thousand parables can be derived from it." The fourth perek of Perek Shira, the chapter entitled ‘Song of the birds and swarming creatures on dry land and at sea’, includes the song of the frog. When the frog sings to Hashem, the words it recites are: ‘Baruch shem k’vod malchuso le’olam va’ed!’ HaGaon Rav Elazar Menachem M. Shach, zt”l, in his commentary on Perek Shira (HaTehilah V'HaTiferes) explains that we learn from the frogs a lesson in mesiras nefesh, giving up of one’s life for the service of Hashem. As is taught in the Gemara (Pesachim 53b), during the plague of frogs that Hashem brought on Mitzraim, the frogs jumped into the hot ovens to sanctify Hashem’s Name, even though they were not commanded to do so. We, who have a mitzvah to glorify Hashem’s Name, must certainly give of ourselves in this way, should the situation present itself.

B’Kitzur…

A Quick Look at Hilchos Tefilah

If one has a set time for learning or has to be at work, which is forbidden to start prior to davening, and for whatever reason he cannot daven with a minyan of ten men, he may daven by himself earlier than the time the shuls start, as long as it is after sunrise. (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:12) Sponsored By:

The Ways of Hashem Working on our Middos

Rabbi Yehoshua ben P'rachyah teaches that one should make for himself a rav, a master or a teacher that he should look to for guidance and direction (Avos 1:6). Pirkei Yisrael says that the time one should apply this is when he learns and davens, and that the 'Rav' that he should make for himself be none other than HaKadosh Baruch Hu. He must form in his mind and thoughts that Hashem is standing directly in front of him, and through this practice one will gain yiras Shamayim, fear of Heaven. Furthermore, this will strengthen the feeling of the realness of Hashem, and that there is none besides Him. (HaMeor She'B'Avos)

Pearls of Wisdom

…A Word for the Ages

Whoever thinks words of Torah will nullify all types of evil thoughts from his heart and mind. (Avos D'Rebbi Nosson 20)

L’Maaseh…

A Tale to Remember

One day, a man who was very distraught came to the Chazon Ish for help and advice. He told the Chazon Ish that he was quite ill and that the doctors did not have any effective medication for him, and told the man that he had only four days left to live. The Chazon Ish opened a chumash to Parashas Bereishis, and turned to the first pesukim (verses) of the parshah. He said to the man, "Look what Hashem created on the first day," and the Chazon Ish began to recite all the things which Hashem created on the first day of Creation. "Look what Hashem created on the second day," and again the Chazon Ish read the pesukim, and listed one by one the things which were created on the second day. He continued with the third day, and the fourth day. "If the Creator of the World was able to create so many things in four days, don't you believe that in four days He can create a medicine for you which will heal you completely? Four days is a very long time!" The Chazon Ish encouraged the man not to give up hope, but rather, he should daven for himself and plead with Hashem that He heal him. He reminded the man that the Gates of Tefilah are never locked, especially before the tefilah of a sick person— which is tefilah at a time of tzarah, distress. The eyes of the man lit up at the words of the Chazon Ish and he began to daven fervently for himself, following the instructions of the tzadik. An unbelievable miracle occurred, and a new medicine was imported to Eretz Yisroel from America in the following days. This sick man was one of the first people that the medicine was tested on, and it proved to be successful to fight his illness. Within a short time, the man was healed completely! (Borchi Nafshi)

Sponsored by: Avrumi Bram In loving honor of my parents & grandparents with heartfelt . thanks for everything they have done and continue to do.

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R’ Shmuel & Bonnie Winzelberg

‫ שמואל זנוויל בן לוי ז"ל‬:‫לז"נ‬

V’halachtah B’drachav

‫בס"ד‬

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