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Volume I, Issue 34
PARSHA INSIGHTS "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you were leaving Egypt, that he happened upon you on the way, and he struck those of you who were hindermost, all the weaklings at your rear, when you were faint and exhausted, and he did not fear Hashem" (Ki Seitzei 25, 17-18)."The magnitude of Amalek's sin is revealed to us by the declaration of the Torah - "Hashem maintains a war against Amalek, from generation to generation" (Beshalach 17, 16). Why is the act of Amalek's waging war against Bnei Yisroel considered a more severe sin than the act of any other nation who fought with Bnei Yisroel? The Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveichik zt"l, points out that the Torah clearly states that the severity of Amalek's sin lies in the fact that "he did not fear Hashem." How, asks the Brisker Rav, does war against Bnei Yisroel by Amalek demonstrate their absence of fear in Hashem? The Brisker Rav explains that the manner in which Amalek waged war against Bnei Yisroel proved that they had no fear of Hashem. The Gemora (Bava Kamma 79b) inquires as to why the Torah is more harsh with a ganav (one who steals only by night) than with a gazlan (one who steals by day or night). The Gemora explains that the gazlan steals even during daylight, since he does not fear anyone, neither man nor G-d. On the other hand, a ganav steals only at night in order to avoid man, since he fears being caught. The fact that he does not even consider that Hashem is watching shows that he has no fear of Hashem at all. The Brisker Rav asks why should the gazlan, who is totally not afraid of anyone, not receive a harsher punishment than the ganav, who does fear people? The Brisker Rav explains that although the gazlan definitely lacks in his fear of Hashem, it is not the dominant factor that motivates his actions. The overriding factor is the gazlan's character deficit of desire for money, which he cannot overcome. The ganav, however, methodically plans every move, plotting and calculating the optimum times for success in his illegal endeavors. By making such calculations in an effort to avoid being apprehended and punished by man, without ever taking into account that Hashem is always watching, the ganav clearly demonstrates that he does not fear Hashem at all. Similarly, the Midrash explains the verse "when you were faint and exhausted" means that Amalek desired to find the optimum time in which Bnei Yisroel would be most vulnerable to attack. From the fact that Amalek made such calculations without even including Hashem in the equation, it is evident that Amalek totally lacked fear of Hashem. However, other nations who waged war against Bnei Yisroel did not plan their battles against Bnei Yisroel. They fought with Bnei Yisroel whenever the opportunity arose. Calculated moves to avoid Hashem, proves a total lack of fear of Him, a greater sin than fighting against Bnei Yisroel. Since Amalek believed that they could defeat a tired and weary Bnei Yisroel, while completely ignoring the power and might of Hashem, Amalek was punished measure for measure as Hashem, himself, waged war against them.
"It shall be when Hashem, your G-d, gives you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance to possess it. You shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven - you shall not forget" (Ki Seitzei 25, 19). Hashem does not give a command to his creations that is impossible to fulfill (Avoda Zora 3a). Since it is natural for a person to forget, as well as beyond his control, how can Hashem command Bnei Yisroel not to forget what Amalek perpetrated upon us? This command seems to be a set up for failure. The Telzer Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Katz zt"l explains the command of "you shall not forget" in the following manner. Hashem dictated that future generations should strictly adhere to the commandment that "you shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven," and not develop a philosophy which teaches that the current Amalekites are a kinder and gentler version. One may philosophize that the dark age Amalekite carried a hatred for Bnei Yisroel, but the modern, educated Amalekite desires to live in peace with Bnei Yisroel. No, says the Torah, the animosity that Amalek harbored for Bnei Yisroel is so ingrained within them, no matter how many generations elapsed from their first "encounter" with Bnei Yisroel, the fire of hate still burns in their system. Only by completely eradicating Amalek from this world, will Bnei Yisroel eliminate the evil influence of Amalek.
TABLE TALK THE DILEMMA Boruch has questions that he thinks Company B's technical support person may be able to answer concerning a separate project that is totally unrelated to the program evaluation. Is it permissible for Boruch to ask these questions to this technical support person? Would your answer differ if Boruch called this technical support person with a question concerning the product that is being evaluated and then asks him a question regarding the unrelated project?
(Consult your Rav for a proper halachic ruling) WHO AM I?
1. I had the world at my feet.
(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 caused death and destruction; I was the product of miscalculation; I caused the break up of a famous pair; I had a living spirit but was never born - The golden calf Congratulations to Mrs. Nadine Czako, Dr. Eli Fink, Mrs. Shani Hefter, Aliza Krainess, Ben-Tziyon Krainess, Chezky Millstein, Mr. Neil Parks, Tzippy Resnicoff, Nechemia Rosenberg, the Schabes Family, the Solomon Brothers, Nachman Teren and Avi Zuckerman
HOW "VERSE"ATILE ARE YOU?
A. "And the Jews struck at all their enemies with the sword,
slaughtering and annihilating…." (Please send your answer to gkrainess@adelphia.net. The answer will appear in next week's issue)
TORAH RIDDLE What was the name of King Achashverosh's horse which Haman lead through Shushan with Mordechai riding on top? (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: When is it permissible to eat any type of food without first making a brocha or responding amen to another's brocha? When one is an onein (After the death of a parent or any of the specified seven relatives, a person has the status of an onein prior to burial). Congratulations to Rabbi Calman Fishman, Mrs. Devorah Ben Gedalyahu and Mr. Nosson Czako. THE KOLLEL FAMILY MAZEL TOV Rabbi and Mrs. Avrohom Adler upon the birth of a girl Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Gamzeh on the engagement of their daughter, Ronit Mr. Boruch Milman on his engagement Mr. and Dr. Fred Schwartz on the bar mitzvah of their son, Yisroel Shimon Ezra FAREWELL Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hawk who are relocating to Silver Springs, Maryland
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD Over five hundred people attended the Kollel's Evening of Inspiration on February 17, which featured Rabbi Yissocher Frand. The assembled were fortunate to hear an insightful and stirring address, which conveyed the importance of prayer. The evening evolved into a tremendous exhibition of Kiddush Hashem, as six siyumim were celebrated by fifteen avreichim, baalei batim and high school students. The Kollel thanks all who assisted in the arrangements for the event and everyone who attended it. ************************************************ 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
(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. THIS WEEK'S ONEG SHABBOS IS SPONSORED BY
CEDAR-GREEN COMMUNITY KOLLEL: |
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
info@shemayisrael.co.il
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il
Jerusalem, Israel
732-370-3344