LeKavod Newsletter - Parasha Ki Teitzei 5780

LeKavod Shabbos Ki Seitzei 5780

8/28/2020 Printable Shabbos Reading Materials Specially Formatted for Easy Reading For a free subscription, email Services@JewishHeritage.org Srulie Toiv- Editor / Stories Compiled by Daniel Keren ‫לעילוי נשמת נחמה בת ר׳ נח ע״ה‬

“Lady, Move Your Baby!”

My friend Faigie was invited by close friends, Ruchama and Akiva Leiner, to the bris of their first-born son. It was a lovely spring day. Putting a lightweight blanket over her own newborn, Faigie strolled leisurely, enjoying the fifteen-minute walk to the home of Ruchama’s parents. As she entered, a roomful of happy faces greeted her. After mazel tovs were exchanged, the Leiners graciously guided their guests to their places at the carefully arranged tables. Faigie was happy to find herself among old friends. She parked the carriage in a quiet corner near the table so she could keep her eye on the sleeping infant. It felt wonderful to relax and meet people she hadn’t seen in ages. She was in the middle of listening to a fascinating story when a lady Please Daven for Cholei Yisroel &

R’ Dovid Tzvi Ben Rifka Rochel

In memory of “THE BOSS” of CTV … MR. NEWHOUSE ‫ע״ה‬

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approached her. “Why don’t you take your baby over there?” she said, pointing to another table. “Over there,” Faigie said as she told me this story, “was the other side of the crowded room, not near anyone I knew, and was difficult to get to. I thought to myself, the baby’s sleeping, not bothering anybody. And the carriage isn’t in anybody’s way. But what bothered me more than anything else,” she went on, “was the lady’s attitude. She sounded like the type who just didn’t like babies around. I smiled and hoped she’d leave it at that. “But the woman insisted, ‘This is not a place for a baby.’ I didn’t want to make a commotion in front of everyone, so I decided just to move with the baby. I had to weave through tables and squeeze past a pole till I got to the other side of the room – ‘over there.’ Sitting in my new seat, not near anyone I knew, do I have to tell you how I felt?” She didn’t have to tell me. I thought it was the end of the story, but one look at Faigie and I sensed there was more to come. “With no one to talk to and nothing to do, I glanced back to where I had been sitting. And blinked. For the first time, I noticed the very large fan that was blowing strongly exactly on the spot where the carriage had been parked.” (The Other Side of the Story

by Mrs. Yehudis Samet The Weekly Vort.

The Would Be Opera Singer And the Tomato Purchase By Rabbi Moshe Borgor There was a young Austrian woman who had a beautiful voice, a gift. Her father came to the Kopshintzer Rebbe zt’l one day crying that his daughter has found a bad friend who gotten her involved in the Opera scene. She had been interviewed and accepted by the Vienna Opera house as the leading soloist not exactly the position LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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for a religious Jewish girl. The Rebbe asked to speak to her. He could immediately tell that she was a G-d fearing, modest girl and that it was just the evil inclination trying to take hold of her. She explained to him that under no circumstances would she be prepared to give up on this great opportunity. This was a dream come true for her. She was looking forward to being the shining star of Vienna and the world. The Rebbe told her he understood what a huge sacrifice it would be for her to give up on her dream. It is a very big challenge to give up on the fame and fortune that this position promised. He told her that if she would be strong and turn down this role she would be blessed with a son who would light up the world with his Torah and guidance. ‘The Opera is something that comes and goes’ he told her ‘but a righteous son is something that lasts forever’. This brave young woman agreed to the Rebbe wholeheartedly & went on to have a son who did indeed light up the world with his Torah, the famed Shevet HaLevi, Rav Shmuel Wosner zt’l (1913-2015). Rav Wosner was one of the surviving students of the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva in Poland & went on to become one of the greatest Rabbis in Bnei Brak and the world. Rav Shimon Harari, zt’’l was a very Holy Jew who was famous for his daily bursts of inspiration between Mincha & Maariv. He used to choose something topical & relatable to the congregants. One day his son Rabbi Boruch Harari had picked up some tomatoes on his way home. He had paid 10 shekel a kilo. It became obvious to him that he had been ripped off because everyone else (seemed) to be charging 3 shekel a kilo. He was livid & wanted to give the seller a piece of his mind. When he stopped in for LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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Mincha, his father was emphasizing the attribute of overlooking & giving in. He gave the following example ‘If a person bought tomatoes worth 3 shekel a kilo for 10 shekel a kilo, it isn’t worth getting angry about it. ‘On the contrary you helped another Jew. Consider it as if he asked you for help.’ Rav Boruch was astounded by the clear providential message to him & just another of the many examples where his father seemed to show a spirit of Holiness in his message. Oneg Shabbos (UK).

New/Old Security Technology From the desk of Yerachmiel Tilles Four years ago, Rabbi Dov and Sarah Henig, the emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Chengdu, China since 2012, returned there with their three small daughters from a visit to Israel, where he is from (she is from Brooklyn). The rabbi tells: After a very long flight and with lots of suitcases in tow, we headed towards the complex where our house is. But the security guards wouldn't let us in. They told us that they need to call the police. What was the reason? While we were away there were many robberies in the area, so they were sure that during the three weeks we had been out of the country the robbers had also "visited" our house. The police officers arrived with devices to check fingerprints and walked with us towards our home. We opened the doors with a heavy heart. When burglars break in, they also leave a big mess. We were also worried to see what they took. We all went inside and thank G-d, everything was in its place, looking exactly as we left it. Nothing was stolen from us; all was well. Two weeks later I received a phone call from the commanding police officer in the area. He said "Rabbi, please come. I want to meet with you!" I LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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arrived at the police station and immediately was shown into his office. He says to me, "Remember what happened when you arrived and we told you about the burglars? Well, we caught them! And can you guess what our first question to them was? It was: 'Why didn't you break into the house of the foreigners, the home of the Rabbi?' "In reply, the burglars took out their phones and showed us photos of the doorways of your home, and that thing attached on the right side of the doorframe of each of your external entrances. They said, 'We know how to deal with and control many different security cameras, alarms, remote programs, wireless and WiFi systems, but this is a technology that is completely unknown to us. That's why we took photos of it, so we can investigate it and know how to deal with it in the future.'"

The commander turned to me & asked, "Rabbi, maybe this is special technology from Israel? Perhaps you can bring it here as well!" The capital of southwestern China's Sichuan province, with the country's fifth highest population, more than 16 million in the 2019 census.

The Forgotten Pair of Tefillin

A rosh yeshiva in America of the previous generation tells that in the Holocaust, he and his brother escaped to the forest and joined a partisans' army. There were Jewish partisan groups and non-Jewish ones, and generally, they didn’t mix. This time, these two Yidden joined a nonJewish partisan group. They were the only Yidden among them. The partisans always had a person hiding up in a tree, to see whether the Nazis were approaching. Once, he came down and told the partisans that LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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soldiers were approaching. They immediately escaped deeper into the forest, and the two brothers went along with them. But then they remembered that they forgot to take their tefillin with them. They didn’t know what they should do. If they wouldn’t go back to get the tefillin right then, who knows when they would have another opportunity? On the other hand, their partisan friends were telling them that it was dangerous to go back; their enemies would surely find them. They decided to go back for the tefillin. They didn’t want to lose out on this great mitzvah and wanted to act with mesirus nefesh They went back using alternate routes (and not through the regular paths in the forest) to avoid detection by the enemy. When they got to their old camp, they found their tefillin where they left them. With immense joy, they put them on and davened Minchah. Then they went back to the rest of the partisans, and they found them dead. The Nazis had killed them all. Only the two brothers survived, because of their mesirus nefesh for tefillin. Hashem performs wonders for His children. Torah Wellsprings

The Succah on the Roof

A story is told about a person who lived in an apartment building in Manhattan.

As there was no place to build a succah, he asked permission from the owner of the building to build his succah on the roof. The owner said that he would rent the roof to him for $799. The Yid explained to him that there was no reason to charge him for the roof since no one was using it, but this wealthy man insisted that he rent it.

As if that wasn't enough, he wanted a signed contract in front of a lawyer that he is LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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renting the roof. The Yid didn’t understand why he was making such a big deal about a rental for a week, but he didn’t have a choice other than to agree to those terms.

Many things were littering the roof. He spent time cleaning up, so he could have a place for his succah, & that's when he found a bag, filled with expensive gems, concealed under an old rotting pipe. He brought the bag to the police so that they can assist in finding the rightful owner. A few days later, the police contacted him that the owner of the gems wasn't alive anymore, & according to the law, all the gems belong to him, the finder. The owner of the apartment building heard about the treasure that was found on his roof & claimed that since it was found on his roof, it should go to him. The matter went to court, & the court ruled that since the money was found when the roof was legally rented out (& there was a document signed by the parties & a lawyer, legalizing the rental), the money should go to the finder. Torah Wellsprings

‘The Treasured Nation’: ‫עם סגולה‬ He taught children in Talmud Torah for more than 22 years. He married off 4 children & he was now marrying off his 5th daughter. When I asked him how he was going to marry off his daughter, he replied as he always does: “By saying Bircas HaMazon with kavanah from a siddur. This is a tried & true segulah, why do I have to try harder than this?!” I replied, “Fine.” About a month later we met again in the office. This time he grabbed hold of me & said, “Do you have doubts about the Creator? Do you disparage segulos? If Chazal say that saying Bircas HaMazon inside with kavanah is a segulah for parnasah, then why disparage it?

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What do you think, there are limits to the Creator?!” I was caught off guard by his attack, & I apologized that I had no intent to disparage, I was simply curious… He wanted me to hear him out until the end: “A week ago I went to several addresses in Yerushalayim that I have gone to before marrying my children just to put in the effort. It was cold outside, & there was no answer at the first 2 addresses. I went out in the cold to another house, perhaps they would answer. “Suddenly, a cab stopped & asked me to join him as he was going near that address. I was glad because that had always been a good address & it was difficult to walk. I felt that I would be successful since no one answered at the first 2 houses. I had not finished thanking the driver when he apologized that he had to hurry to the other side of the city for a fare. He asked if I wanted to get out or continue with him. “I remember that there was someone in that neighborhood who gave me 50 shekel last time & I decided to stay in the warm car. I arrived and knocked lightly on the door. A boy opened the door who I did not recognize. I asked if I had the wrong address, his father came & invited me inside. He explained that he had recently rented the house & was pleased with the mitzvah. “After talking Torah for a few minutes, he gave me $500 from his wallet. Instead of 50 shekel I had $500. Upon leaving I told him another dvar Torah about tzedakah & he gave me another $100. I thanked Hashem with all my heart and went on my way. “Suddenly, something told me to go back & again I knocked lightly on the door & the man answered. I apologized, but I asked if he were returning overseas, could I give him my address so that if anyone sent money LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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it would help. “He invited me back inside. He asked me how much I needed for the wedding & I told him $10,000. He thought for a moment, took out his checkbook and wrote the sum. “I asked him to write several checks as it is easier to cash & he agreed to this as well & he sent me off with the full amount. Now tell me if you should stamp your feet & go crazy. When I tell you there are segulos of Chazal & one of them is to say Bircas HaMazon with kavanah!!! Isn’t it worth it!!!??? Tiv Hakehila.

The Rebbe Rashab And the Maskilim By Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

As preparations are beginning for the new school year and seminars over zoom are being held for the mechanchim and mechanchos (Jewish religious teachers), to ensure that it be a successful year, I decided to post a section of a chapter from my upcoming biography on the Rebbe Rashab, where he espouses his views on the criteria of an educator. The threat that the authorities will evict him from Lubavitch because of him being so outspoken didn’t faze him. A short introduction to the background to the story will give you a clearer perspective of what was happening: The Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, zt”l, 1860-1929) successfully persuaded the fund of YKA to stop supporting the maskilim(so-called Enlightened Jews who rejected the legitimacy of the Torah) and instead they used the remaining 650.000 francs to partner with him to build a weaving factory in Dubrovna, employing and providing a decent living for two thousand Jews.

However, the maskilim weren’t going to accept this defeat without a battle. On Monday, the 6th of Teves, 5663 (1903), at five in the afternoon, an inspector from LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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the regional education ministry came to the Rebbe’s house. He demanded an explanation as to why the Rebbe opposed the educational and vocational schools of the maskilim. “The instructors in these schools deny the authenticity of the Torah,” the Rebbe replied. “They do not observe the mitzvos, and they speak against our religion. Furthermore, the curriculum, as well, is antithetical to our religion.” “But the teachers are certified,” countered the inspector. “By whom?” “By the government.” The Rebbe replied: “The government should not get involved in religious matters, nor does it have the right to do so. The ministry doesn’t realize that for the Jewish people, education is a religious affair and not an academic one, as it is with other nationalities. “We Jews are obligated to educate and guide our children only in accordance with the guidelines that were given to us by the Creator at Sinai.

These are the guidelines our ancestors had self-sacrifice to follow, and we must fulfill them with the same passion, without allowing anything to interfere.” “Rabbi Schneersohn!” replied the inspector. “Your limitations are restricting the government’s power. You are saying that the government can take care handle certain things, but in other matters, it has no right to voice its opinion. Not only does this mindset smell of disrespect to the government’s authority, it is outright rebellious!” “This is something for the judges to decide,” the Rebbe replied. “Let them decide whether saying ‘I am a Jew, I love and fear the G-d of my fathers, and I will obey His commandments without allowing anything to interfere’ is considered rebelling against the laws of the land. On my part, I am not concerned at all, for I LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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fear no punishment whatsoever. No one has the right to force someone else to change his opinion with regard to religion!” “I didn’t come here,” retorted the inspector, “to hear your opinion about the educators and curriculum of the schools that the government helped establish for its Jewish citizens. I am here to inform Rabbi Schneersohn of the following message and warning from the regional director of education, in the name of the director of the entire Vilna province, which was decided two months ago. “Honored citizen Rabbi Schneersohn: You must cease to interfere with the work of the maskilim among the Jewish people. This includes refraining from speaking or writing against them. If not, you will be evicted from the entire region, including Mohilev, Vitebsk, Minsk, Vilna, and Kovna!” The Rebbe was not fazed by this threat. Calmly and confidently, he replied: “I hear your warning, and I am replying in no uncertain terms: No punishment or circumstance will change my ironclad decision, that it is forbidden for every Jewish man or woman to allow their children to attend the heretical schools of the maskilim. With the help of the Almighty, I will broaden my opposition to their schools to the greatest extent possible! “If I am exiled from the Vilna province, I will go wherever Divine Providence makes my dwelling, and there I will establish my chadorim to teach and guide Jewish children based on the foundation of Torah and mitzvos. Those students, in turn, will purify the Jewish streets from the poisonous heresy against the Creator and His Torah espoused by the maskilim. “I am astonished,” the Rebbe continued.

“You come in the name of education and philosophy, yet you speak as if you are a LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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representative of brutal force. Please give over the following to the local regional director, as well as to the Vilna regional director: It is unheard of for a debate of ideas to be won through the power of a fist! “I have informed you of my reason, that education is a religious matter. Only those who are personally observant may be teachers, and the curriculum must be in accordance with our religion. Yet, you reply with the strength of a fist.” Evidently, the Rebbe’s words were effective, as the officials did not follow through with their threat.

How Many Apples?

Baron Rothschild had purchased 5 apples from a grocer & as he walked down the street with his young grandson, a beggar asked for some food. Mr. Rothschild handed the man 2 apples then asked his grandson, “How many apples do we have?”

The boy, proud to show off the math he was learning, said, “We had 5 apples & gave away 2, so we have 3.” His grandfather corrected him. “We have 2 apples,” he said.

“The apples we will eat will be gone in a few moments, but the apples we gave to that poor man will live on as a merit forever.” He paused for emphasis as he looked into the boy’s eyes: “We only have what we’ve given away.” Migdal Ohr.

The Man with the Kaparos Chicken

Someone told the Tchebiner Rav zt'l that he has older children, and he hasn't yet found a shidduch for them. He was worried about that. The Tchebiner Rav told him the following story: "One Erev Yom Kippur, before dawn, a person was walking to LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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do kaparos. He held a chicken in one hand, his other hand held the machzor, and then his eyeglasses slid off his nose to the ground. What should he do? “How could be pick up his eyeglasses? If he puts the chicken down for a moment, it will run away. He certainly can’t put the machzor on the ground. So, he stood there perplexed, not knowing what to do." "So, what did he do?" the man asked. "I don’t know," the Tchebiner Rav replied. "But one thing I'm certain of; he's not standing there anymore." With this story, the Tchebiner Rav was telling him that life goes on.

There are hurdles, there are challenges, but they pass. The difficulties aren't forever.

Reb Yehudah Rabinovitz zt'l (a student of the gaon of Tchebin) told the following mashal: When you look at the horizon, you think that the horizon is the end of the world, and there is nothing after that. However, if you travel there, you see that the world continues onward. Now, the end of existence seems to be several miles ahead.

If you go there, you will see that the world goes on, and there is still more to go. He told this mashal to explain how it is in regards to chasunos. People think, "I have money for the upcoming chasunah, but how will I manage the next ones? I still have several children; how will I manage? Where will I get the money from?" But when one reaches the horizon, he discovers another horizon before him. Similarly, when one passes one hurdle, Hashem will help him pass the others as well. Torah Wellsprings

The Fulfillment of Rav Aharon’s Promise

Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro told a story about a holocaust survivor who lived in Borough Park. He walked the streets aimlessly & alone. Rav Aharon Kotler would LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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take time out of his extremely busy schedule to give the man hizuk weekly. One day, the Rav told the man that when he remarries he will have a daughter, and the Rav will dance at this man’s daughter’s wedding. The man was doubtful but he went on his way. Just as the Rav said, the man later remarried and had a daughter. When she was about 10 years old, Rav Aharon Kotler sadly passed away. The man was devastated by the Rabbi’s passing. Years later, the daughter got married. The dancing had just begun, & in walks Rav Shneur Kotler, the late Rav Kotler’s son.

He danced & danced with the father of the bride, & brought tremendous joy to the kallah. The father took the Rabbi aside and asked, “We are so honored to have the Rav but what brought Rav Shneur here?” The Rabbi answered, “10 years ago before my father passed away, he called me into his room and told me, ‘There’s a man in Borough Park who I told I would dance at his daughter’s wedding but I will not be able to. Take his name and address, and follow the girl’s life. When you hear that she is a bride, go to the wedding and dance in my place.’” It is well known that when Rav Aharon was passing away, he had a meeting with Rav Shneur about the entire future of B’nei Yisrael. But first on his list was this promise he made to dance at a little girl’s wedding. Rabbi Amram Sananes as written by Jack E. Rahmey.

The Pious Thief By Menachem Posner

Of all the stories told about the great Rabbi Yisrael, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, this is perhaps one of the strangest and the most wondrous. Among Rabbi Yisrael’s many chassidim was a learned man, a pious Jew who was regarded by all as a LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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righteous individual. Like so many others in Poland in those years, he was beset by poverty. He had, thank G-d, many mouths to feed, but no steady source of income.

“Rebbe,” he said one day to Rabbi Yisrael, “please advise me. How can I support my wife and children? I simply cannot bear to watch them suffer, hungry and inadequately clothed. Is there anything I can do?” “It appears to me,” replied the holy man, “that all avenues of earning are closed to you. There is but one channel through which you can receive your sustenance, but it is a profession you would never consider.” “My dear teacher,” replied the man, “I am so desperate to feed my family that I will do anything. No profession, no matter how lowly, is beneath my dignity.” “If you insist,” said the sage grudgingly, “I can tell you, but you will not be happy with what you hear. It is revealed to me from the heavens that the only profession in which you can succeed is thievery. If you turn to stealing, nothing can stand in the way of your success.” Sadly, the chassid returned home. “How can I ever steal?” he thought to himself. “It is against the will of G-d.” Time passed, and the chassid and his family grew more and more hungry. One night, he began to reason with himself. “G-d allows us to break the holy Sabbath for the sake of saving a life,” he figured. “Why should stealing be any different? My family will soon starve to death. Let me go out and see if I can steal a little something. As soon as G-d wills it, I will have a few coins of my own, and I will pay them back.” With that, he went to the deserted marketplace. He walked among the shuttered stalls and shops, trying the locks. Finally, he found an open door. He quietly slipped inside, tiptoed toward LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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the back and rummaged around until he located the cash box, which was unlocked.

With his heart in his throat, he withdrew a single coin and fled homeward as fast as his legs would carry him. The next morning, he went to the baker and bought bread for his wife and children. The following morning, the shopkeeper was greeted by an open door flapping in the breeze. Suspecting the worst, he entered his store and was surprised to see that none of the merchandise had been disturbed. In fact, even the cash was still in his box, save for a single coin. Word spread quickly, and people began to talk about the strange robber who took just one coin. After the poor man and his family finished their bread, the man tried his hardest to resist the temptation to “borrow” another coin. But the sight of his hungry children proved too much for him, and he found himself once again walking among the deserted market stalls.

Once again he located an open door, and was soon holding another coin. This became a regular occurrence. Every few weeks a single coin would be missing from another shop, and no one had the slightest idea who could be the one behind the rash of minirobberies. Guards were posted at every store in town. But the honest thief managed to slip through their fingers. After all, the righteous Rabbi Yisrael had assured him that he would find success in thievery. One night, the mayor himself decided to stay up late and see if he could solve the mystery. Dressed as a civilian, he waited in the shadows, watching for any sign of movement. Finally, he saw a hunched figure hurrying away from a shop. “I got you!” he cried, grabbing hold of the man’s collar.

“You thought you could run away, but I’m not going to let go of you. Tomorrow I’ll LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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bring you to the mayor, and he’ll see to it that you are properly dealt with.” “Please have mercy on me,” begged the distraught thief. “I’m just a poor man trying to borrow a few coins to support my starving family. Everyone can attest that I never took even a single penny more than what I needed. If the town finds out that I was the one, I will be ruined. This will stain my good name and standing in the community forever. Believe me, G-d is my witness that I plan to pay every penny back just as soon as I am able.” The thief continued to beg, and the undercover mayor finally relented. “I’ll tell you what,” he said. “You’re obviously a skilled thief. Do me this one favor, and I’ll let you free. I have secret knowledge that the mayor of this town just received a large sum of money. He has it in a box under his bed. There is a small window to his bedroom. If you can manage to squeeze into his room and come back with the box of treasures, we can split it evenly between ourselves, and I’ll let you go free.” “I cannot do that,” protested the chassid. “I’m not a burglar or criminal. I took just what I needed. How can I rob an innocent man of what is rightfully his?” “That’s your decision,” replied the mayor. “Either you do as I say, or I report you in the morning.” Left with no choice, the chassid made his way to the mayor’s house, but soon returned empty-handed. “Thank G-d, I did not take a thing,” he told his captor. “I crept into the room and was about to look for the box, when I heard voices. The mayor’s household assistants were talking among themselves, saying that they were planning to slip some poison into their master’s morning tea and then make off with his treasure. We must warn the mayor as soon as possible.

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He may even reward us.” As soon as the mayor heard the man’s words, he said, “You go home, and I’ll warn the mayor. Just give me your hat, so that I can later identify you.” With that, the mayor returned to his mansion. The following morning, as soon as his tea was served, he had it fed to one of the dogs, who immediately began showing signs of distress. He had caught his servants in their treacherous act. As soon as the drama of his near-death had subsided, the mayor summoned the leaders of the Jewish community. “Do you know who owns this hat?” he asked them. “He is the one who has been stealing from the market.” “It cannot be,” they replied. “We know the owner of that hat. He is one of the most respected men in our community, a gentle, G-d-fearing scholar of the highest order.” “No matter,” replied the mayor.

“Summon him immediately.” When the brokenhearted man was brought before him, the mayor asked, not unkindly, “Is this your hat? “The leaders of the community have told me about you, & it is truly out of character of you to have been out pilfering coins in the market,” continued the mayor, whom the man now recognized as his captor from the night before. “It seems to me that you must have been sent by heaven to save me from the plot of my staff, who tried to take my life & steal my money. It is only right that you should have half of the treasure as reward for your actions last night.” The poor man had never seen so much money in his life. He immediately set aside a significant portion for charity, and then went back to repay all the shopkeepers from whom he had taken coins. He then devoted the remainder of his life to charity, prayer, Torah study and other lofty pursuits. Chabad.Org LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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Maakeh In The Bais Hamikdosh

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld Have a topic you want to read about? Email berachsteinfeldscorner@gmail.com

The Torah tells us in Devarim 22:8 that when you build a new home you should make a “maakeh,” a special gate, for your roof so that you should not spill any blood in your house as one may fall from the roof. The Sifri says that it is mashma from the posuk that only a roof is chayev; how do I know that a pit, cistern or reservoir also needs a gate? The answer is that the posuk ends off with the phrase, “no blood should be spilled in your home.” If so, why does the Torah mention the word “gag-” roof? It comes to teach us that the ramp of the mizbeach and the heichal and ulam were not required to be fenced in. The Mefaresh in the Sifri explains that the heichal of the Bais Hamikdash had a maakeh of three amos as seen in Middos 4:6. The Rambam in Bais Habechira Ch 4 tells us the description of the Bais Hamikdash and does not tell us about a maakeh regarding the ramp of the Mizbeach or in the ulam. In Halacha 3 he does mention that the heichal had a maakeh of three amos. The question on the Sifri is as follows. Since we know that a Bais Hakneses and or a Bais Hamedrash are exempt from maakeh as they are not considered a house for the purpose of a “dirah” as we see in Chulin 137a and would therefore exclude the heichel as a place of dwelling as well. In addition, the heichal is considered the house of Hashem and not a personal home, so we darshen lecha velo shel govoha. What was the purpose of having three amos for a maakeh if it is sufficient to just have ten tefachim which is eight tefachim less than three amos?

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The Netziv says that based on our Bavli that exempts a Bais Hamedrash or Bais Hakneses, it would stand to reason that the Bais Hamikdash definitely does not require a maakeh. Based on this premise, the Netziv says that we see from the Sifri there was a maakeh in the Bais Hamikdash. This would explain the Sifri’s argument on the Bavli and would require a Bais Hakneses or a Bais Medrash to have a maakeh. The reason there was a maakeh in the Bais Hamikdosh according to the Bavli was not there to protect people from falling, but more like a beautiful design in the architecture of the Bais Hamikdash. That is the reason it was higher than the regular maakeh, to show it as a beautiful design in the building itself. The Rogotchover in Tzofnas Paneach in Devarim says that the chiyuv of making a maakeh exists as soon as the building is finished. When the BaisHamikdah was finished, before it was even used, it had a din of chol and not kodesh, therefore there was a chiyuv of maakeh. Reb Chaim Kanievsky asks in Derech Emunah that since there was no intent to use the roof at all, there would seem to be no chiyuv to build a maakeh. Reb Chaim explains that it was mechuyav with a maakeh since they ate korbanos in the heichal. It was considered a bais dirah despite the fact that they did not use the roof. However, a Bais Hakneses and a Bais Hamedrash, which is not a bais dirah at all, would not be required to have a maakeh. Hence, we see a difference between the Bais Hamikdash and Bais Hakneses. This line of reasoning argues with the above Netziv. We see from here how important it is to keep your property safe! Make sure your house is safe both physically and spiritually!

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Business Halacha Institute - Lost in the Rescue The summer months were almost over. Most vacationers had already returned from the summer resorts and lakefronts to their homes in the city. A few boats were still floating on the lake and some swimmers swam near the shore. Mr. Zimmerman was on a boat not far from the shore when he noticed a commotion. People were shouting for help: “Someone is drowning!” Mr. Zimmerman immediately headed over with his boat. He saw a man lying in the water. Mr. Zimmerman fumbled with the cellphone in his pocket, but it was stuck. Without thinking twice, he jumped in to save the man. With great effort, he dragged him from the water to the side of the lake. Hatzolah volunteers who had assembled began lifesaving measures. Baruch Hashem, they were able to stabilize the man and send him to the hospital, where he recovered. Meanwhile, Mr. Zimmerman returned to his boat. He tried using the cellphone that was in his pocket, but it had been ruined in the water. The phone was brand new and expensive. Mr. Zimmerman was happy and proud to have saved the man’s life, but wondered about the cellphone. Was it fair to request reimbursement for the phone? Mr. Zimmerman discussed the issue with his chavrusa. “The man didn’t ask you to jump in the water,” said his chavrusa.

“Wasn’t it obvious that I had to do that?” said Mr. Zimmerman. “If you felt you had to, then why should he have to pay?” countered his chavrusa. “The phone was ruined for his benefit,” argued Mr. Zimmerman. “You could have taken it out of your pocket,” argued his chavrusa. “I couldn’t get it out,” said Mr. Zimmerman.

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“Anyway, my mind was focused on saving him, and time was of the essence.” Mr. Zimmerman decided to ask Rabbi Dayan. “I jumped into the water to save someone’s life and my cellphone got ruined,” he said. “Is the man liable for the ruined phone?” “The man is liable for the phone,” answered Rabbi Dayan, “if he is able to pay and time was precious. “There is a prohibition to stand idly by when a person’s life is in danger: ‘Lo saamod al dam rei’echa’ (Vayikra 19:16),” explained Rabbi Dayan. “Saving a life is also included in the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah.

There is a mitzvah to return lost property, all the more so one’s life (hashavas gufo)! “Regarding hashavas aveidah of property, a person is not required to forgo his own money to save another person’s property,” continued Rabbi Dayan.

“However, a person is required to forgo money to save another’s life, such as by hiring rescuers or equipment. Because of the prohibition to stand idly by, a person is even required to give up all his wealth to save another Jew from imminent danger!” (C.M. 426:1; Marcheshes 1:43; Encyclopedia Talmudis 10:344). “Then why is the person liable?” asked Mr. Zimmerman. “This is derived from the case of a person who is being chased by murderers and escapes by damaging other people’s property en route,” said Rabbi Dayan. “One who saves himself at another’s expense is liable for the damage. Similarly, the rescued man is required to reimburse you here if he can pay” (C.M. 380:3; Sma 426:1; Rema, Y.D. 252:12). “What if I knew beforehand that the person is unable to pay?” asked Mr. Zimmerman. “That is not a reason to avoid saving his life,” replied Rabbi Dayan. “The obligation LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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remains to save a fellow Jew” (Meiri, Sanhedrin 73b; Shulchan Aruch Harav, Hil. Nizkei Haguf #7). “In your case, since seconds were critical, the person whom you saved is liable for damage to your phone,” concluded Rabbi Dayan. “If you could have easily removed the phone, he would be legally exempt, since the loss was not necessary for the rescue. It would be common decency to pay, nonetheless, since it is difficult when saving a life to consider all the monetary ramifications”.

ISRAEL NEWS SHTIGLITZ UK Seeks Israeli Drones to Enhance Coastal Surveillance - The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) awarded Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of an Israeli defense company, with a contract worth 990,000 pounds, to develop unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance coastal surveillance. The program will showcase how drones could be deployed to search for missing people or vessels and for surveillance on land and sea. The UK is increasingly keen on using drones to keep watch on its coasts, after the arrival of small groups of migrants on dinghies. Last year, 1,800 people made it to the country this way and the number has been steadily increasing. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Israeli Company Develops Smart Cane for the Blind - Israeli medical devices company RenewSenses has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) cane to help blind or visually impaired people to navigate independently, the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) said Thursday. The device, easily installed on a regular cane, provides audio information about LeKavod Shabbos Magazine  Ki SEITZEI 5780  THE JEWISH HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND

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what is in front of the user, and vibrates as they approach an obstacle. It consists of infrared sensors, which detect distances, and a camera that connects to a smartphone application. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Recovered Covid Patients Sought for Volunteer Service - The Israeli Health Ministry is promoting the use of recovered coronavirus patients as volunteers in hospitals, The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday. In a letter to hospital directors around the country, Dr. Vered Ezra, head of the Medical Division of the Health Ministry, urged them to adopt a program pioneered by Hadassah-University Medical Center’s Ein Kerem campus in Yerushalayim, the 1st hospital anywhere to enlist former COVID patients to assist medical staff. A spokesperson from Hadassah said in a statement, “From experience & in light of Dr. Ezra’s letter, I strongly recommend that hospitals adopt the Hadassah volunteer model that arouses interest in hospitals around the world.” ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Talking Turkey Chaim Yankel decided to venture out of his native Chelm to get a job in a nearby city working at the grocery store. On his first day, a lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked Chaim Yankel, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"

Chaim Yankel replied, "No, they're dead."

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