Parashat Vayakhel
Torah: Exodus 35:1 – 38:20
Maftir (Shekalim): Exodus 30:11-16
Haftarah (Shekalim): 2 Kings 12:1-17 (Ashkenazim); 2 Kings 11:17 - 12:17 (Sephardim)
This coming Thursday and Friday are Rosh Chodesh Adar HaSheni. Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah! – With the beginning of Adar, we increase joy! What about Second Adar? See below for my Purim contest!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.
Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov. On February 22, we'll be at page 16 (my pagination) of Chapter 3 of Berakhot (28b) - "Amar lei Eliyahu, l'Rav Yehudah..." - "Elijah, the brother of R. Sala Chasida, said to R. Juda...” The reading may be found at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpQwHh2XyWT9XYQ5OAjwxDbuVpXbzIDY/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpQwHh2XyWT9XYQ5OAjwxDbuVpXbzIDY/view?usp=sharing
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/
Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", but there is no post this week due to the passing of his mother.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah! – With the beginning of Adar, we increase joy! (BT Ta'anit 29a)
HERE'S A LITTLE PURIM TORAH CONTEST
As this is a Jewish Leap Year, it raises a question, and the person who gives me whatever I believe to be the best answer will be awarded one slightly used bottle of slivovitz (the decision of the judge and the amount of slivovitz remaining after he drinks from the bottle are in his sole discretion and are final): Since we are instructed by our rabbis to be joyful in Adar, and Adar is twice as long this year, does that mean that we will have twice as much joy in total this year than in non-leap years, or, does it mean that on any given day in the months of Adar, we are only half as joyful as we would have been in a non-leap year because our joy must be spread over twice as many days? There is no right or wrong answer! Be creative with proof texts!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah! – With the beginning of Adar, we increase joy! (BT Ta'anit 29a)
As this is a Jewish Leap Year, it raises a question, and the person who gives me whatever I believe to be the best answer will be awarded one slightly used bottle of slivovitz (the decision of the judge and the amount of slivovitz remaining after he drinks from the bottle are in his sole discretion and are final): Since we are instructed by our rabbis to be joyful in Adar, and Adar is twice as long this year, does that mean that we will have twice as much joy in total this year than in non-leap years, or, does it mean that on any given day in the months of Adar, we are only half as joyful as we would have been in a non-leap year because our joy must be spread over twice as many days? There is no right or wrong answer! Be creative with proof texts!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TALK IS CHEAP
‘And Moses assembled together all of the congregation of Israel and said to them: “These are the things the Lord has commanded, to do them.”’ Exodus 35:1
Miginzeinu Ha’atik: “There is no problem when it comes to gathering people together: there are countless committees and conferences, meetings and sessions ... they speak, debate, argue, and discuss endlessly. That is why Moses commanded “to do them.” The purpose of your meetings must be action!”
‘(Moses said,) ... “(God) has endowed (Bezalel) with the spirit of God, with wisdom, ability and knowledge, ... and inspired him to make artistic works in gold, silver and copper.”’ Exodus 35:31-32
Betzalel and Ohaliav Making the Ark of the Covenant
Rabbi Y. Avida says that money can elevate people or bring them down to the lowest depths. With it, one can build a Tabernacle for God or construct an idol. The reason God endowed and inspired Bezalel is because one needs great wisdom to know how to use gold and silver properly.
Similarly, on the half shekel given by every Israelite towards the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:13), the Jerusalem Talmud says that God showed Moses a fiery coin and said, “Like this one will they give.” Indeed, money is like fire - you can use it to heat your house, or you can use it to burn down the house.
Judaism’s teaching is clear - money itself is morally neutral. How you get it and what you do with it are what matter - that is how you determine the kashrut of money. Ultimately, regardless of countless discussions about how much money the synagogue needs, the end result is a lot of hot air, unless we take action, and we actually donate money to the causes that move us. Talk is cheap. Operating a synagogue, or any charitable organization, is not. If we talk the talk, but use our money for some ignoble purpose, all we do is bring down the house - God’s House.
Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorakh - A Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat!
Be Happy – It’s Adar! Shabbat Shalom!
HaRav HaGa’on Abba Reuven ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’litaDer Heiliger Shlabodkieville Rebbe
Av Beis Din - Chelm
Slivovitz Taste Tester
משנכנס אדר, מרבין בשמחה
From the beginning of Adar, we increase joy.
BT Ta’anit 29a
------------------------------------------------------
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
BT Ta’anit 29a
------------------------------------------------------
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
