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had left on a journey. All manner of accusations flew around with regards to his sudden disappearance only making the queen feel worse. What seemed like years later, she heard that her sons and daughter-inlaws were returning, but her despondent mood remained. One day there was a massive up cry in the country. The king was returning! People were ecstatic and finally the queens mood lifted. In Aleinu we say: Bayom Hahu Yihyeh Hashem Echod Ushmo Echod. Whilst we are in Golus, Hashems name is disgraced and mocked. People accuse him of abandoning His nation out of a lack of concern. When Moshiach arrives we will rejoice, not only due to our salvation but also because our, father, our king, whom we love so much will finally be recognized as supreme ruler over the whole world.May this year be the year that sees the coming of Moshiach Zidkenu and the universal acceptance of Hashem as The One. Gut Shabbos and Kasiva Vechasima Tova. By Yoir Chalk
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The Hasmonean High School Weekly Sedra Sheet 23rd Issue Shabbos - September no. Ends @ 5771 2011 380 7:45
Story
Dvar Torah
Hidden Potential
Rabbi Yosef Karo (Author of the Shulchan Aruch) once encountered an extremely difficult sugya in the Gemora. After many days and nights of toil, he finally succeeded in understanding its meaning. At a nearby table in the Beis Hamedrash sat a man who would come every evening for an hour or two of learning. Although his business consumed the bulk of his day and his Gemora skills were limited, he diligently pursued his nightly Daf of Gemora. Rabbi Yosef noticed that this man was approaching the very sugya that had given him such difficulty; curious as to how his neighbour would deal with it, Rabbi Yosef listened in. To his great surprise, the businessman mastered the passage without any difficulty, immediately hitting upon the very interpretation which he had himself arrived at only after so much effort. Rabbi Yosef was greatly distressed by the incident. Obviously, he thought, there is something lacking in my understanding of Torah. Why else would it have taken so much time and hard work on my part to see what is so readily obvious to even a part-time, rather unexceptional Gemora? student of That night, Rabbi Yosef had a dream, in which it was revealed to him the significance of what had occurred. Know, he was told, that from the time that the Torah was given at Har Sinai, no man had understood the particular insight which you have uncovered. This is why you had to labour so strenuously to work it out -this aspect of the Hashem's wisdom had yet to enter our world of earthly intellect. But your efforts and hard work opened the channel by which this truth was revealed. Having opened this channel, you have made this truth readily accessible to every mind that approaches the study of Hashem's Torah. We can see from this story that each and every single person has an insight into Torah that only they can give. If they were to go through life without ever giving their unique insight then this insight would be forever lost from the world. By Micha Athersych
Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech
Reb Shimshon Pinkas in his sefer Tifferes Shimshon writes that in actuality, the two sedras we read this week are in fact just one but sometimes they are split up and separated in order to ensure that Parshas Nitzavim is read the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana. He then adds that Nitzavim is always before these auspicious days as it contains much mussar, rebuke pertinent to this time in the calendar. He continues by quoting the passuk (19,18) in Parshas Nitzavim - -- This passuk is talking about when a person will hear all the various words of rebuke and curses that may come about due to our disregard of G-ds instruction and say to himself, these curses do not apply to me at all and He will bless himself in his heart saying there will be peace for me, although I walk as my heart sees fit. The next passukim then go onto to describe the punishment for one who so brazenly desecrates the Torah Then the wrath of G-dwill burn against that manAnd G -d will eradicate his name from the heavens above Now, this punishment isnt coming on one who simply defies G-d, but one who defies Him and disregards Him with not even a modicum of fear for the punishment from Hashem that will befall him. This, Rav Pinkus writes is also true on Rosh Hashana. One who stands before G-d on these days with his head held high, thinking that he is perfect with nothing to change is the very one unto whom all these punishments will be enacted. However, on the other hand, if, as we stand in our court case thinking the scary words of Unesana Tokef; who will live; who will perish; who with water; who with fire etc. and we realize that we are standing before G-d and we are fearful of the wrong we have done as we cry out to Hashem for mercy, mercy will surely be bestowed unto us. In fact, our Rabbis teach us that this is the very job of the Shofar. On Rosh Hashana as we stand at our court case before G-d as our prosecutors stand by waiting, we blow, as commanded by G-d, the Shofar. The reason for this is for the sounds it makes, which we are told is meant to remind us of crying and is what goes to heaven and destroys all claims of our attackers thus allowing us to be judged as innocent. A very interesting mashal is given to illustrate a point. Say there was a boy who one day didnt behave properly in school and before hed got home, his teacher had telephoned his parents to describe their childs behavior that day. From that phone call until the child gets home his parents are thinking about what punishment to give the child. However, as he walks in the door, suddenly his finger gets caught in the door and he lets out a massive, loud cry and scream. His parents will come running to the door, check hes okay and comfort him. Any thought of punishment will be immediately forgotten and even more than that, theyll buy him sweets and gifts to comfort him and make him feel better. This is exactly the same on Rosh Hashana. When we blow the Shofar it represents our, the Jewish peoples, most heartfelt cry it is a cry that pierces the heaven and destroys our attackers claims. Therefore, when we realize that, as we approach the day of judgment on which all happenings of the year are decided, all illnesses are given and all money distributed and we dont say to ourselves that we are perfect with nothing to change and we appreciate that we must ask of our Creator mercy, for us, our friends and our family, immediately G-d will have mercy on us and write us and seal us for a year of goodness, happiness and health. Gut Shabbos and Gut Yom Tov. Ksivah Vchasima Tova By Yaakov Levy (Headboy)
Saying of the Week Man's chief superiority over animals is his power of speech; if he abuses it, he is no higher than they. - The Sassover Rebbe
Yisroel is trapped in a room. The room has only two possible exits: two doors. Through the first door there is a room constructed from magnifying glass. The blazing hot sun instantly fries anything or anyone that enters. Through the second door there is a fire-breathing dragon. How does Yisroel progress?
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(Courtesy of Y. Prager)