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Volume I, Issue 29

Parshas Bo

PARSHA INSIGHTS

Rashi brings that Rav Masya the son of Cheresh used to say, "It is written in Yechezkel (16,8), 'Now when I passed by you, and looked upon you and behold your time was the time of love' - the time has come to fulfill the oath which I swore to Avrohom that I will redeem his children. But they did not have merit in order that they should be redeemed, as it says in Yechezkel (16,7), 'and you were naked and bare.' Therefore, He gave them two commandments, the blood of the korban Pesach and the blood of milah (circumcision), as they circumcised themselves on that night (the fourteenth of Nissan)" (Bo 12,6). The Maharal says that these two specific mitzvos of milah and korban Pesach which were chosen by Hashem in order for B'nei Yisroel to merit redemption were not merely two mitzvos chosen at random, rather they represent a specific concept. Their intrinsic values are the fundamental upon which B'nei Yisroel's liberation is predicated.

The Maharal explains that at this point in time, B'nei Yisroel were slaves to Pharaoh and subservient to him. The yoke of Pharaoh had to be removed from upon their shoulders and they had to come under the domain of Hashem. Milah represents B'nei Yisroel becoming servants of Hashem, since every servant has a sign which identifies him as belonging to his master. As we say in Birchas Hamazon (Grace after Meals), "for Your covenant which You signed in our flesh."

However, for a person to be considered a total servant it is not sufficient that he should be under another's control. It is also necessary for him to act in a role of service. By performing the korban Pesach, B'nei Yisroel were manifesting the act of service to Hashem, as we find that korban Pesach is designated by the Torah as an avodah - "what is this avodah to you" (Bo 12,24).

Even though the korban Pesach is the epitome of service to Hashem, its performance is only a single act. The mere fact that someone performs a single act that he is commanded to do, does not indicate that the performer is a servant of a commander. Maybe the person acted because he likes the commander or enjoys performing the task that was ordered. Even if one's action was the product of his subservience, an outside observer would not be able to ascertain that he is subservient, since there is no sign that the commander has acquired ownership of the performer.

Only the combination of a sign that one is owned and his action in servicing proves one's total commitment to being the servant of another. By marking B'nei Yisroel with milah and then ordering them to serve Hashem through korban Pesach, Hashem turned B'nei Yisroel into His servants in the fullest concept of being a servant.


"And you shall keep it (Pesach) a feast to Hashem; throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever (Bo 12,14). Since the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash, the Jewish People have been in exile and enslaved among the nations of the world. Therefore, what is the purpose for us in celebrating Pesach, the Festival of Freedom, when we are not actually free?

The Meshech Chochma answers that this question is only a concern to one who considers Pesach as the commemoration of the Exodus from physical oppression and slavery. Understanding the Exodus in its true essence, renders this question moot. When Hashem freed B'nei Yisroel from Egypt, it was not merely a liberation of the physical, it was a spiritual emancipation, as well. Hashem took Bnei Yisroel out of a corrupt Egypt, so that we would become His People. In freeing us from the bondage of slavery, Hashem placed His Presence upon us in order to make us a holy nation and His eternal people.

In light of this explanation, the connection between the beginning and end of the posuk can be well understood. The Torah states "And you shall keep it a feast to Hashem," meaning that if you shall celebrate Pesach "as a feast to Hashem," indicating that indeed this is a celebration of a spiritual liberation, then "you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever," then Hashem promises that you will be able to observe Pesach even during periods of exile.

TABLE TALK

THE DILEMMA
(What is permitted to do in this situation?)

Boruch has to attend a business luncheon at a non-kosher restaurant. The restaurant offers to provide a kosher meal for Boruch from a kosher caterer. Assuming the kosher meal is heated and served according to halacha by the restaurant, would it be a problem of maris ayin for Boruch to eat the kosher meal at that restaurant?

(Consult your Rav for a proper halachic ruling)

WHO AM I?
(Guess who I am from the following clues)

1. I am blessed.
2. Women love me.
3. I add to your davening.
4. I am the subject of Rosh Hashana.

(Please send us your answer by e-mail to gkrainess@adelphia.net. The answer will appear in next week's issue)

Last week's clues and answer: I was economical support; I was marked with plagues; I swallowed my competitors; I went from a man of earth to a man like earth - Moshe's mateh (staff)

Congratulations to Chaim Mordechai Barkin, Rabbi Calman Fishman, Amram Kaplovitz, Chaykie Mann, Dena R. & Hadassah M. Mann, the Mann Twins, the Solomon Brothers, Yisroel Schwartz, Mr. David Wayntraub (Michigan) and Avi Zuckerman.

CAN YOU SAY THAT?
(How well do you know hilchos Shmiras Halashon?)

Is it permissible for Reuven to praise Shimon in the presence of a large group of people?

Answer: No. This is due to the fact that in a large group of people there is a good possibility that at least one person does not like the person being praised. This in turn will likely bring this person to respond with a disparaging comment. This is considered avak loshon hora (the dust of loshon hora), because even though Reuven did not speak loshon hora, he did cause loshon hora to be spoken about Shimon. (Sefer Chofetz Chaim)

TORAH RIDDLE

Yocheved married Elitsafon and gave birth to his children. 1) How was Elitsafon permitted to marry Yocheved after Amram had divorced her, since Amram had decreed that everyone should divorce their spouses, in order to avoid more children being born and the Egyptians killing them? 2) How could Amram have remarried Yocheved after she had married Elitsafon - this is prohibited under the ordinance of a man remarrying his divorcee after she had married someone else?

(Please send us your answer by e-mail to gkrainess@adelphia.net. The answer will appear in next week's issue)

Last week's question and answer: Did Moshe Rabbeinu have any other brothers besides Ahron? If yes, name them? Yes, Eldad and Meidad. When Amram divorced Yocheved she married Elitsafon and gave birth to Eldad and Medad.

Congratulations to Chaim Mordechai Barkin, Rabbi Calman Fishman, Amram Kaplovitz, the Solomon Brothers and Mr. David Wayntraub (Michigan).

THE KOLLEL FAMILY

MAZEL TOV

Dr. & Mrs. Nosson Goldfarb on the birth of a son

Mr. & Mrs. Leizer Neuman on the engagement of their grandson

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD


CEDAR-GREEN COMMUNITY KOLLEL
proudly presents
AN EVENING OF INSPIRATION
featuring
RABBI YISSOCHER FRAND

SUNDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 2002
GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE
(RESERVE THE DATE)

************************************************

The Cedar-Green Community Kollel Friday Evening Parsha Classes will convene this week at 8:00

*Beachwood………………Contact Rabbi Katz 360-9153

*The Huntington-Green Apartments

Rabbi Levi's group……….Contact Rabbi Levi 381-1617
Rabbi Nadoff's group……Contact Rabbi Nadoff 291-2692
Rabbi Newman's group….Contact Rabbi Newman 381-4497
*University Heights………..Contact Rabbi Charlop 291-8981

(Please inform us if you wish to have a happy or solemn occasion or a community or personal event posted on the Community Bulletin Board - Thank you.)

To sponsor an issue of Oneg Shabbos, please contact Leib Chaim Krainess, Director of Kollel Development at (216) 559-0638 or gkrainess@adelphia.net.
To receive Oneg Shabbos by e-mail, please provide us with your e-mail address by contacting us at (216) 559-0638 or gkrainess@adelphia.net

THIS WEEK'S ONEG SHABBOS IS SPONSORED BY
MR. & MRS. REUVEN GANCZ
FOR THE YAHRZEITS OF
YOSEF MEIR ben BENYOMIN TZVI
AND
MOSHE ben YISROEL CHAYIM

 

CEDAR-GREEN COMMUNITY KOLLEL:
2573 LARCHMONT ROAD, BEACHWOOD, OHIO 44122
216-360-9153 / 216-559-0638


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