kindertorah.JPG (19131 bytes)

subscribe.gif (2332 bytes)


From
Simcha Groffman

Previous Issues Back to This Week's Parsha
Kinder Torah books are available for donation to your educational institution.

Simcha's Kinder Torah on the Chumash - 330 pages
Awesome Days on the Yomim Noraim - 164 pages
You Left Mitzrayim on Pesach through Shavuos - 262 pages
Simcha's Kinderlach on the Chumash - 512 pages

Please contact the author.


Kinder Torah ©
For parents to share with children at the Shabbos Table

Parashas Va'eira

Admit It!

"Isn't this forest beautiful, dear?"

"Yes, so quiet and peaceful."

Mr. and Mrs. Shafer are enjoying their walk through the woods. Suddenly, whoosh! A medium-sized rock whizzes by Mr. Shafer's face.

"What was that? A rock! Who threw it?"

"It was one of those two young boys over there, dear. I saw them."

Mr. Shafer looks up and sees the two boys laughing. He slowly walks over to them.

"Boys, that rock flew right by my face. Another two inches and it could have landed in my eye. This is a serious matter. Now please, tell me which one of you threw it."

The boys look at each other and smile.

"Not me," the first one said.

"Me neither," chimed in the second one.

"Boys, this is no joke. My wife saw one of you throw the rock. Now, the guilty one must admit his mistake."

"You are the one making a mistake, mister. We didn't throw any rock."

Mr. Shafer is undaunted. There is an important message that needs to be heard here. He calmly continues.

"Boys, nothing bad will happen to you. In fact, there is something very good and valuable to be gained from admitting your mistake. Now, I ask you again, who threw the rock?"

Mr. Shafer looks into the eyes of the boys. First the first one, then next the second one. Back and forth he looks at them. A few minutes pass. Finally, the face of one of the boys begins to soften. His eyes fall. He opens his mouth to speak.

"I did it sir. I threw the rock."

"I see. First of all, young man, I want you to know that I forgive you completely. I was startled and frightened by the rock, but I hold no grudge against you."

"Thank you very much, sir."

"Secondly, I want you to know that your confession has accomplished something very important."

"What, sir?"

"It has made a positive impression in the Heavenly Worlds up above."

"Really? How do you know that, sir?"

"We learn it from this week's parasha, young man. Pharaoh and his nation were in the midst of being bombarded by the plague of hail. Ice on the outside, fire on the inside, these ancient ballistic missiles were the size of watermelons! They landed on trees and knocked them down. They cracked open and the fire inside burned everything that it touched. People and animals were also struck down by the huge hail balls. They wreaked total havoc upon the land of Mitzrayim. What was Pharaoh's reaction to all of this?"

"He sent for Moshe and Aharon. When they arrived he confessed (Shemos 9:27)."

"Excellent! He said, 'I have sinned this time. Hashem is the Tsaddik and I and my nation are the evil ones.' Do you know what reward he earned for that confession?"

"Please tell me, sir."

"Rav Zalman Sorotzkin points out that the Mitzri soldiers who drowned in the Yam Suf received kevura (burial) in the merit of Pharaoh's confession. The nation of Mitzrayim murdered and tortured the Jews in the cruelest possible way. Pharaoh shechted Jewish babies and bathed in their blood. He threw them into the river and he built them into the walls in place of bricks. He worked his slaves day and night, forcing them to sleep in the fields to make their quota of bricks. He gave women's work to men and vice versa."

"Oy va voy."

"Now look at Pharaoh's confession. He confessed under extreme duress - in the midst of a terrifying destructive plague. After the plague ended, his heart hardened and he returned to his evil ways. How much was such a half-hearted confession worth?"

"Apparently a lot."

"Yes. The soldiers of this cruel nation merited burial after their death in the Yam Suf. Such is the power of confession. Young man, you have earned for yourself something truly great."

"Thank you so much, sir. May I ask you something?"

"Yes. Please do."

"Why is confession so great? What gives it such power?"

"Excellent question, young man. Before one confesses, he realizes that he has done something wrong. That is the first step in solving problems. That is the first step in self-improvement. That is he first step in rising to higher madraygos (spiritual levels) in Avodas Hashem. That is the first step to greatness."

"Wow!"

"We were all sent down to this earth to work on ourselves. Hashem wants us to work hard to become the best that we can be. To do that, we need to realize our weaknesses. We have to admit our mistakes. If a person thinks that he is always right, he will never improve. He will be stuck forever in the same place, repeating the same aveyros over and over again. After 120 years, what will he have to show for his life?"

"Not much."

"Exactly. Fortunate is the person who realizes his mistakes, admits them, and works on correcting them. He is fulfilling his purpose in this world. He deserves all of the blessings."

"Thank you so much sir. You have taught me so much. You have changed my whole outlook on life."

"May Hashem bless you with much success young man. May you rise to the highest levels and become a big tsaddik!"

"Amen!"

Kinderlach . . .

We make mistakes. It is a part of life. We were sent down to this world to perfect ourselves. An important part of this is correcting our mistakes. The first step is realizing that we have erred. How fortunate are we when someone points out a mistake to us! He is doing us a big favor! We should thank him! Then we should admit that we are wrong. We should deeply regret what we have done. Sometimes an apology is necessary. The next time that we pray Shemoneh Esray we can formally confess to Hashem in the blessing of "selach lonu." We can complete our teshuva by resolving to never repeat the aveyra again. This is the path to greatness, kinderlach. Grow from your mistakes. Admit it.

Kinder Torah Copyright 2015 All rights reserved to the author Simcha Groffman


NEW!!! NEW!!! NEW!!! NEW!!!
"SIMCHA'S TORAH STORIES"
A Children's book by Simcha Groffman
To order your copy, contact the author
SIMCHA_B@NETVISION.NET.IL


Kinder Torah is now available in .PDF format
write simcha_b@netvision.net.il for details


Kinder Torah is now available in Hebrew
write simcha_b@netvision.net.il for details


4400 copies of Kinder Torah are distributed each week in Arzei Habira, Ashdod, Avnei Cheifetz, Bayit Vegan, Beit E-l, Beit Shemesh, Beit Yisrael, Betar, Bnei Brak, Detroit, Edmonton, Ezras Torah, Gateshead, Geula, Gilo, Givat Shaul, Givat Zev, Har Nof, Haifa, Hayishuv Einav, Katamon, Kiryat Sefer, the Kosel HaMaaravi, Los Angeles, Maale Adumim, Maalot Dafna, Manchester, Mattersdorf, Mattisyahu, Mea Shearim, Miami Beach, Monsey, Netanya, Neve Yaakov, Passaic, Philadelphia, Pisgat Zev, Queens, Ramat Gan, Ramat Sharet, Ramat Shlomo, Ramot, Rannana, Rechasim, Romema, Rechovot, San Simone, Sanhedria HaMurchevet, Shaare Chesed, Shevi Shomron, Telz Stone, Toronto, Unsdorf , Zichron Yaakov, and on the Internet at
www.shemayisrael.co.il/kindertorah/index.htm.


To support Kinder Torah, please contact the author at
P. O. Box 5338
Jerusalem, Israel 91052
Tel 972-2-585-2216,
Fax 972-2-585-6872
E-mail: simcha_b@netvision.net.il

Partial sponsorships are also available.


Back to This Week's Parsha| Previous Issues

This article is provided as part of Shema Yisrael
Torah Network
Permission is granted to redistribute electronically or
on paper,
provided that this notice is included intact.
For information on subscriptions, archives, and other Shema Yisrael
Classes, send mail to parsha@shemayisrael.co.il

Shema Yisrael Torah Network
http://www.shemayisrael.com
Jerusalem, Israel
732-370-3344