‫בס“ד‬

Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei/haChodesh 27 Adar 5770/March 13, 2010 Vol. I Num. 22

Parshat HaChodesh- ―This is Our Time!‖ R’ Meir Lipschitz

This Shabbat, in anticipation of Pesach, of the present, our ability to fully ―‫― ‖קבעת עתים לתורה‬Did you set aside time
we read Parshat HaChodesh, which experience the moment as it happens. for Torah study?‖ Man has many
describes Hashem commanding Moshe Retrospection and anticipation are only r e sp o n s ib i l i t ie s — e a t i n g , f a m i l y ,
to sanctify the beginning of each important if they allow us to appreciate exercise, education, work, etc—but he
month. He is told ―‫‖החדש הזה לכם‬, ―This and enhance the present. This is the must also make time to learn Torah. We
month will be for you.‖ Seforno essence of man‘s control over time: To are not excused from learning because
(Shemot 12:2 ―‫ )‖לכם‬tells us that at that remember what has been, look forward of our other needs and obligations,
moment we were given mastery over to what will be, and make the most of instead we are charged to set aside time
time. Now that the Jewish nation was the moment right now. for torah learning and personal growth.
free they could interact with time on We must take the moments we have
We often hear people say that they are
their own terms, unlike slaves who are before us and subjugate them to our will,
―killing time.‖ My Rebbe, Rav Moshe
subject to the will of their masters. It is make them bend to our purpose, and
Stav in Yeshivat Kerem B‘Yavneh, used
that freedom which charges us with the express our mastery over them.
to tell us that this is not a Jewish concept;
obligation to master time and do with it
he even went so far as to say that he I recently heard from Rabbi Efrem
as we choose.
didn‘t even understand the idea of Goldberg in Boca Raton Florida an
Mankind is the only species which can killing time. Killing time suggests that insightful homiletic approach to this
fully understand and relate to the the current moment is meaningless question of ‫קבעת עתים לתורה‬. He suggested
passage of time in three dimensions because we are simply awaiting the that we may be able to insert a comma
outlined by the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Dov next, arguably more significant, into the phrase and instead of, ―Did you
Soloveitchik: retrospection, moment. However, Judaism believes set aside time for torah‖ read it as ―Did
anticipation, and appreciation. The first that each moment is precious and you set time, in accordance with Torah?‖
relates to the past and our ability to should be capitalized on; time should This is a different question; it is not a
recall events that have happened never be killed. question about whether we learned or
already, and this plays a major role in not, but rather we will be asked if we
Another expression of our mastery over
our Pesach experience as we recount viewed time from a Torah perspective.
time relates to our ability to schedule
the experience of the exodus. Did we kill time or use it? Did we
future responsibilities and structure our
Anticipation refers to our capacity to sanctify time or squander it? Did we
time so we can accomplish everything
envision the future and shape it through recall, anticipate, and appreciate the
we are meant to accomplish. The
our actions, which is also a component moments of our lives? Did we control
gemara (Shabbat 31a) teaches that after
of the Pesach experience as we look time or did time control us?
a person dies, he is asked several
forward to the ultimate redemption.
questions, the second of which will be It is at this critical juncture in the Jewish
The third dimension is the appreciation
year, the anniversary of our freedom
from Egyptian slavery, that we must
Parshah Questions Meir Lipschitz
rededicate ourselves to expressing our
(Sources are provided to help the reader research answers) mastery over time and use it to seize,
sanctify, and uplift each moment in our
 How many chapters of Tehilim did Moshe author? lives. mlipschitz@torontotorah.com
(Rashi Shemot 39:43, Rashi Tehillim 90:1, Tanchuma Shemot 11)
 Why do the laws of Shabbat introduce construction of the Mishkan?
(Rashi, Ohr HaChaim, and Netziv to Shemot 35:2) This week’s Toronto Torah is
 Why is fire singled out amongst all the laws of Shabbat? dedicated in the memory of
(Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Kli Yakar, Seforno, Baal HaTurim, Rabbeinu Bachaye, Golda Koschitzky z”l
Ramban, Zohar, Shaarei Aharon, and Netziv to Shemot 35:3) On her upcoming Shloshim this
 For children: Why was Moshe commanded to erect the Mishkan, if construction by coming Tuesday. May her neshama
one man was physically impossible? have an aliyah.
(Rashi to Shemot 39:43) To dedicate a Toronto Torah, call (416)781-1777
mlipschitz@torontotorah.com or e-mail dedications@torontotorah.com.

Yeshiva University
Center for the Jewish Future
 Beit HaMikdash: Unifier of Our People R’ Netanel Javasky

At least three times a day, no matter ―And he camped‖, referring to a of the Mishkan, the foundation and
where in the world we find ourselves, single individual, not an entire Nation. components which hold the entire
we all turn towards the same location. The Midrash explains that this Mishkan in place, must be donated
We orient ourselves towards the site abnormality should not be by all of Israel equally.
where our home once stood, a overlooked; this expression signifies
sanctified home where all Jews are Rav Yonatan Sacks adds that this
the powerful unity which we attained
welcome. This unifying of our hearts explains the special sacrifices that
prior to the giving of the Torah, in fact
and minds toward this spot were sacrificed upon the
a prerequisite for Kabbalat HaTorah.
accomplishes and fulfills an ultimate consecration of the Mishkan. The
Similarly, to capitalize on the spiritual
goal of the Mishkan, and by Ramban (Vayikra 9:3) says that the
potential of the Shechina in our midst,
extension, the Beit HaMikdash: the calf that was offered came to atone for
to infuse our lives with G-dliness when
unification of Am Yisrael. the sin of the golden calf and the goat
creating the permanent ―Har Sinai‖,
came to atone for the sale of Yosef,
Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky points to the we must be one Nation, a complete
whose multicoloured coat was dipped
first word in this week‘s Parsha as entity without any divisions. This is
in the blood of goats. Why are we
symbolic of this unique quality of the why before the momentous occasion
recalling the sale of Yosef at the
resting place of Hashem. The Parsha of the building of the Mishkan, the
opening of the Mishkan? How is this
introduces the building of the home of G-d in this physical world,
deed connected in any fashion to the
Mishkan with the phrase, ‫ויקהל משה‬ there needed to be a call of gathering,
resting of the Shechina among Klal
‫את כל עדת בני ישראל‬, ―And Moshe a call to unite and place our
Yisrael? Rav Sacks explains that at
gathered the entire congregation of differences aside as we began this
the opening of the Mishkan, there
Israel.‖ Every time Moshe had great endeavour.
was no room for any disunity at all. If
anything to tell the Nation, an Rashi at the beginning of Parshat Ki there was any remnant of the feud
ingathering of the people was Tisa notes that there were a number of which sent Yosef into Egypt, the
necessary, yet the Torah never different Terumot, donations, for the Divine Presence could not be
explicitly states this procedural building of the Mishkan, each with complete. The goat offering was
technicality. Why here does the different donation options. The meant to atone for any last residue of
Torah emphasize that the Children of Machatzit HaShekel, the half-shekel disagreement and divisiveness that
Israel were gathered? coin, of which the silver was melted may have lingered among our Nation,
Before Kabbalat HaTorah the Torah for the sockets of the Mishkan, was and to ensure that going forward we
states, ―The Jewish people camped incumbent upon everyone. For this were truly ―like one man with one
there opposite the mountain.‖ The donation, every member of Klal heart.‖
M i d r a s h T a n c h u m a n o t e s a Yisrael was equal, ―The rich shall not Rav Yaakov adds that it was only after
peculiarity with the Hebrew word ‫ויחן‬, add, nor the destitute deduct from the the Mishkan was built and the Jewish
as the literal translation would be half-shekel.‖ The silver of the sockets People possessed this unifying
structure that each tribe created and
used a unique flag. Lacking this
The 613 Mitzvot – Mitzvot 27&39 : unification, a unique flag may be
viewed as a point of contention or
Not to produce or own idols, or human forms discord, but with the creation of the
unifying factor, that which unites us
all, it was clear that we were all
Mitzvah 27 prohibits a Jew from There is some dispute regarding
producing an idol which will not be working towards the same goal.
manufacturing or owning idols, and
Mitzvah 39 forbids the creation of worshipped. Rambam ruled that Based on this, it comes as no surprise
three-dimensional forms of human forming an idol is prohibited that the lack of unity and the baseless
beings, whether for worship or for regardless of the idol‘s purpose; hatred that engulfed our people
general enjoyment. Animal forms may Ramban ruled that forming an idol is during the Second Temple period
be sculpted, so long as they are only prohibited only if the intent is for would be deemed by our Rabbis as a
intended for enjoyment rather than worship. decisive factor its destruction. Let us
worship. In addition, Chaz al If an item has been worshipped by non- unite with the motto of baseless love
understood the biblical text to Jews in the past, but its own followers and friendship toward one another to
prohibit creating forms of celestial have rejected it, then that item does not create the unifying factor, the Beit
bodies and angels, as well as human retain the status of an idol.
HaMikdash, once again, in our midst.
beings. The prohibition even includes
creating forms mimicking the torczyner@torontotorah.com njavasky@torontotorah.com
different parts of the Beit haMikdash.

2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com

Rosh Tzurim
“For from the top of the rocks (Rosh
Tzurim) I see him, from the hills I behold
him: a nation that dwells alone, that will
not be counted among the
nations” (Bamidbar 22:9)
Rosh Tzurim is located within Gush
Etzion, along the mountainous ridge that
runs from Jerusalem and Beit Lehem to
Hevron. The settlement known as Ein
Tzurim that originally existed there was
destroyed in the War of Independence
and rebuilt elsewhere. With the return
of Jewish presence to Gush Etzion after
the Six-Day War, Rosh Tzurim was
established on the original site of Ein
Tzurim, and named – in memory of the
original settlement – with the inspiration Answer: We only follow the view that matzah
of the verse, ―For from the top of the
rocks I see him…‖(Bamidbar 23:9).
The population of Rosh Tzurim consists writes this explicitly. Therefore, one does
of about 50 kibbutz members, aged 33- not recite a berachah before eating the
54, graduates of Bnei Akiva in Israel and matzah at the end of the meal.
around the world and about 120
children. Another 6 families live in the
Nof Tzurim neighborhood with another
25 children. In addition, 26 families with
about 50 children are renting homes in
Rosh Tzurim without joining as Offering‖ (Pesachim 119b s.v. Ayn), we still
members.
Rosh Tzurim boasts several educational since we already recited a berachah [on
institutions: a toddlers‘ day-care center
run by the Gush Eztion Community
Center, a kindergarten, and ―Reishit‖
elementary school (grades 1-3) – a
framework that mainstreams children
with special needs, and Orot Etzion
Girls‘ High School. The regional
elementary school is located in nearby
Alon Shvut, while high-school students
attend local schools, study in Jerusalem
or the Religious Kibbutz High School in
Yavneh. There is an informal education
program that operates both during the
school year and – especially – during
the summer vacation, as well as an
active branch of Bnei Akiva. Most high
school graduates study at yeshivot and
midrashot prior to their I.D.F. or national
service.
Rosh Tzurim operates a dairy as well as
a turkey farm. Nearby there are
orchards of cherries, nectarines, apples,
kiwis and berries, as well as a vineyard.
There are also agricultural plantations
situated further away, on the coastal
plain, belonging jointly to the three
kibbutzim of Gush Etzion. The ―Mei
Tzurim‖ factory, situated on the kibbutz
and producing equipment for water
purification, was recently purchased by
Visit us at www.torontotorah.com
Ha’Am V’Ha’Aretz
R’ Moshe Chalawah—Maharam Chalawah
Torah in Translation
Reciting a Berachah on
the Afikoman
Shut Maharam Chalava 108
You also asked why we don‘t recite a
berachah before the matzah we eat after the
meal on Pesach [the Afikoman], since this
was instituted as a remembrance for the
korban pesach. Just as we perform a mitzvah
when we drink each cup of wine [and we do
recite a berachah before drinking each cup],
so we should practice for this!
is used at the end of the seder specifically to
ensure that one does not forget to complete
the seder [after the meal]. R‘ Aharon haLevi
Further: Even according to Rabbeinu
Shemuel ben Meir (Rashbam), who views the
consumption of the afikoman as [the
essential mitzvah of] ―remembering the
matzah that was eaten with the Pesach
The Maharam Chalava passed away
do not recite a berachah [on Afikoman],
circa 1370, at the age of 80.
matzah] at the beginning of the meal.
This is similar to the words of the Rashbam
(in our Gemara, this is Rashi, not Rashbam
RL), who wrote (Pesachim 119b s.v. Ayn),
―This is the broken matzah we eat at the end
of the meal as an obligation. Perforce, we do
not recite a berachah on the matzah we eat at
the end of the meal even though it is an
obligation. This follows the opinion of Rav
Chisda, who stated regarding Marror
(Pesachim 115a), [regarding a Jew who only
possesses lettuce for both karpas and
marror], ‗After filling his stomach [at
karpas], how could he return and recite a
berachah on it [at marror]?‘ Therefore, one
recites both berachot at the beginning, and
one eats matzah at the end for an obligation,
without a berachah.‖
a private entrepreneur.
Historical background: In 1946 the ―Ein
Tzurim‖ group settled on this site. In 1948
Gush Etzion was attacked and conquered
by the Jordanians, and the kibbutz
members were taken into captivity. Upon
their release they established Ein Tzurim at
a different site, in the north of the Lakhish
region. Rosh Tzurim was established on the
original site in 1969. The kibbutz has
Russell Levy
R‘ Moshe Chalava, the Maharam
Chalava, was born circa 1290 in
Barcelona. Having originally studied
under the Rashba (R‘ Shlomo ben
Aderet), he continued learning under
the latter‘s son R‘ Yehudah, after the
Rashba‘s passing in 1310. He
corresponded with the Ran (Rabbeinu
Nissim ben Reuven) and Rabbeinu
Peretz, whom he held in the highest
regard. The Rabbi of Tortosa (in
Catalonia) for 30 years, he had
halachic questions addressed to him
from all parts of Spain in his life.
These responsa were only in
manuscript form until 1987, when they
were published for the first time.
Though he wrote a commentary on
the entire Talmud, only R‘ Moshe‘s
commentary on Pesachim is extant; it
was published for the first time
relatively recently, in 1873. In this
commentary, he often focuses on
elucidating Rashi (R‘ Shlomo
Yitzchaki), and introduces novel and
innovative approaches to the text.
rlevy@torontotorah.com
This is not similar to the four cups of
wine, regarding which the Sages
enacted a new mitzvah for every cup
[and it is not one mitzvah with four parts].
Furthermore, some of our Sages
disagree regarding those four cups, and
rule that one should not make a berachah
on each cup of wine, and they have
lengthy proofs [see commentaries on
Pesachim 109b].
[The Rashi printed in our gemara uses
slightly different reasoning than that
which is quoted in the name of the
Rashbam above, but the conclusion
remains unchanged.]
undergone extensive organizational
cha nge s w ith a lm ost com plet e
privatization, with a view to promoting
community life together with individual
independence. Further construction in
the community neighborhood will allow
for expansion and greater variety.
Adapted from an article originally
published by Torah miTzion.
3
 Schedule for the Week of March 13, 27 Adar
Shabbat, March 13
7:50AM R‘ Azarya Berzon, Ramban al haTorah: Or Chaim
Following Hashkama R‘ Azarya Berzon, Clanton Park
4:30PM R‘ Mordechai Torzcyner: Rav Kook's Maggid of
Redemption, 18 Maimonides Ct., Thornhill
4:45PM R‘ Azarya Berzon, Masechet Kiddushin, Mizrachi Bayit
Sunday, March 14
8:00AM Pre-Pesach Community Beit Midrash with R’
Hershel Schachter at TCS, see flyer above
9:15AM Itamar Zolberg: Shiur in Hebrew, Zichron Yisrael Men
and Women ‫בעברית‬
8:30PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Masechet Kiddushin, Shaarei
Shomayim
Monday, March 15
1:00PM R‘ Mordechai Torczyner: Foods of the Seder, JCC Must
RSVP to 416-638-1881x4106
8:30PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Rambam‘s Hilchot Talmud Torah,
Clanton Park Men
8:30PM Russell Levy: Abortion and Halachah, 30 Manorhaven Rd. 3:40PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Hilchot Muktzah (Advanced), Clanton Park Men
Tuesday, March 16
11:00AM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Masechet Pesachim (Advanced),
Clanton Park Men
1:30PM R‘ Mordechai Torczyner: The Book of Amos, Shaarei
Shomayim with Mekorot
4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim!
Tuesday, March 16 (continued)
7:30PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Shiur in Parsha, Westmount
8:00PM Netanel Javasky: Medical Halachah, Shaarei Tefillah
8:30PM R‘ Mordechai Torczyner: Minchat Chinuch, Clanton Park
Wednesday, March 17
9:15AM R‘ Mordechai Torczyner, Weekly Torah Class (Haggadah), 239
Franklin, Babysitting provided Women
2:00PM R‘ Mordechai Torczyner: The Foods of the Haggadah, MaRS Men
and Women
7:30PM R‘ Meir Lipschitz, Ramchal‘s Derech Hashem, Kehillat Shaarei
Torah Men and Women
8:00PM Pre-Pesach Symposium at Shaarei Shomayim, see flyer above
9:00PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: The Structure and Secrets of the Haggadah, Part
III of III, Or Chaim
Thursday, March 18
11:00AM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Masechet Sukkah (Advanced), Clanton Park Men
7:00PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Shiur for Fathers at Or Chaim
8:30PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Halachah and Life Issues, Clanton Park Men
9:15PM R‘ Azarya Berzon: Halachik Man and the Lonely Man of Faith,
Clanton Park, Men
Visit us at www.torontotorah.com