Miriam bas Irene Taita Malka survived her 6 hour dangerous operation but has been partially paralyzed. She is grateful for our prayers and to be alive and sometime after Pessach approximately Apr. 15^th will have a second operation to remove the remaining lymphoma and with the help of the good L-RD will recover. She is a young mother so please keep her in your prayers.

Please pray that Shaul ben Rivka and his wife Michal Rachel bas Geula will be able to have a viable child.  

HASHEM ANSWERS PRAYERS EVEN OF NON-JEWS: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/06/brianna-priddy-waitress-stolen-drivers-license_n_2821419.html?1362603150&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D279733

Egypt has no money to spray for locusts so they can enjoy the plague the problem is this week we had to spray because they crossed the border: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4351644,00.html

Parshiyos Vayekhel – Pekudei

In my Drasha on last week’s Parsha for a change I left out the theme of Shabbos but now I will bring down the link with this week’s Parsha. Every year I come across the same problem with the dozens of potential converts who contact me. They want to observe Shabbos and I have to bring down last week’s end that it is a Sign (Oat in modern Heb. OS in Ashkenazic Heb. - in Yemenite Heb. It becomes Oath with the soft TH and that is probably the root of the English word Oath or Covenant) between the ME and the Bnei Yisrael and not yet potential converts no matter how noble the soul within them is so that they must violate for a minute one of the categories below.

This week we come across the mention of only one of the 39 Categories of Melacha for Shabbos this is based on the categories of work in the Mishkan. The Av or Major Melachos are: http://www.ou.org/chagim/shabbat/thirtynine.htm

1. Carrying
2. Burning
3. Extinguishing
4. Finishing
5. Writing
6. Erasing
7. Cooking
8. Washing
9. Sewing
10. Tearing
11. Knotting
12. Untying
13. Shaping
14. Plowing
15. Planting
16. Reaping
17. Harvesting
18. Threshing
19. Winnowing
20. Selecting
21. Sifting
22. Grinding
23. Kneading
24. Combing
25. Spinning
26. Dyeing
27. Chain-stitching
28. Warping
29. Weaving
30. Unraveling
31. Building
32. Demolishing
33. Trapping
34. Shearing
35. Slaughtering
36. Skinning
37. Tanning
38. Smoothing
39. Marking

Of course there are what we call Toldos or secondary levels of Melacha which are forbidden. The above link has details on each Melacha and links to other sites on Shabbos.

These Parshiyos this week we conclude both the needs of making the Mishkan and Sefer Shemos. The area of the courtyard of the Mishkan was one standard swimming pool square or 25 meters by 25 meters which was just right for Aaron and his sons. In the time of Shiloh, the number of Cohanim was much larger and needed a larger courtyard area outside of initial enclosure.

35:1 And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them: 'These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.

Moshe came down with the second set of Luchos on Yom Kippur.

Moses called… to assemble: Heb. וַיַּקְהֵל. [He assembled them] on the day after Yom Kippur, when he came down from the mountain. This [word] is a hiph’il [causative] expression [i.e., causing someone to do something], because one does not assemble people with [one’s] hands [i.e., directly], but they are assembled through one’s speech. Its Aramaic translation is וְאַכְנֵשׁ.

2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a Sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.

It is necessary to state the punishment for even if one does observe Shabbos out of love, the Yetzer will come and say aw just this once break it after all HASHEM is patient and compassionate and full of mercy. Therefore we learn of the punishment of death for a violation or Kares or a sacrifice by accident.

Six days: He [Moses] prefaced [the discussion of the details of] the work of the Mishkan with the warning to keep the Sabbath, denoting that it [i.e., the work of the Mishkan] does not supersede the Sabbath. -[from Mechilta]

3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the Sabbath day.'

You shall not kindle fire: Some of our Rabbis say that [the prohibition of] kindling was singled out for a [mere] negative commandment, while others say that it was singled out to separate [all types of labor]. -[from Shab. 70a]

To this day there is a dispute about using electricity if it is building Chazon Ish or kindling according to the German Jewish Rabbis of the late 1800’s. Having worked in electronic components and from my youth playing with a Van-digraph generator I have come across many electronic sparks including the ignition of automobiles and hold like the Yerkes.

4 And Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: 'This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD, whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, the LORD'S offering: gold, and silver, and brass;

We had this before we were interrupted by the Egel HaZahav (golden calf) incident but that was between HASHEM and Moshe and now it is brought down to the level of the Bnei Yisrael.

Generous-hearted person: Heb. נְדִיב לִבּוֹ. Since his heart moved him to generosity, he is called “generous-hearted” (נְדִיב לֵב). I already explained the offering for the Mishkan and its work in the place of their command [Exod. 25 through 34].

6 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair; 7 and rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia-wood; 8 and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; 9 and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate. 10 And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;

The Mishkan: The bottom curtains, which appear inside it [the Mishkan], are called Mishkan. its tent: That is the tent [made] of the curtains of goat hair, made for a roof. and its cover: The cover of ram skins and Tachash skins.

I have previously identified through the book “Zos Chullin” that the Tachash was a kosher animal with a skin of many colors (Rashi in Parsha Teruma) the only animal who fits that description and that of the Unicorn (Keres see Iyob 39:9) is the Giraffe. The Wikipedia had an interpretation that it is the legendary “Re’em” mentioned in our literature and its height and strength could match the animal. From a scholarly standpoint the animal was rare in Eretz Yisrael and seen mainly in Africa after the Deluge of Noach so that these skins would be of high value and being large it would be necessary to take far less skins to cover the Mishkan and much better weatherproofing.   

12 the ark, and the staves thereof, the ark-cover, and the veil of the screen; 13 the table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread;

In Hebrew literally face bread or facing bread as Rashi explains it:

The showbread: I already explained (Exod. 25:29) that it was called לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים because it had faces [i.e., surfaces] looking in both directions, for it was made like a type of box, without a cover.

14 the candlestick also for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light;

As I believed that I explained that the Menorah was about 2 meters height as I saw from the Temple Institute Gold one in Yerushalim perhaps less as it was placed in a special enclosed area. The Cohain Gadol in any event would have to stand on a step or ladder to light it as it was forbidden for him to raise his hand above the Tzitz (mitre) which had Kodesh Le HASHEM written on it.

And its implements: Its tongs and its scoops. its lamps: Ses luzes, lozes in Old French, spoons in which the oil and the wicks are placed. and the oil for lighting: That too required wise-hearted [people] because it was different from other oils, as is explained in Menachoth (86a): he picks it [the olives] at the top of the olive tree, and it is crushed and pure.

15 and the altar of incense, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;

And the screen of the entrance: The screen in front of the eastern side, for there were no planks or curtains there.

16 the altar of burnt-offering, with its grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, the pillars thereof, and their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;

its pillars, and its sockets: Heb. אֶת-עַמֻּדָיו וְאֶת-אִדָנֶיהָ. Thus “courtyard” (חָצֵר) is referred to here both as masculine and feminine [since עַמֻּדָיו is a masculine possessive and אִדָנֶיהָ is a feminine possessive], and so are many [other] nouns. and the screen of the gate of the courtyard: The screen spread out on the eastern side, [covering] the middle twenty cubits of the width of the courtyard, for it [the courtyard] was fifty cubits wide, and fifteen cubits of it toward the northern side were closed off, and similarly toward the south. As it is said: “The hangings on the shoulder [shall be] fifteen cubits” (Exod. 27:14).

This area in the Mishkan and a larger area in the Beis HaMikdash was where the simple Cohanim would serve Am Yisrael.

18 the pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords; 19 the plaited garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.'

First of all Chabad translate this as mesh-work garments. What holy place or holy things were covered by these garments? The answer is given by Rashi:

The meshwork garments: to cover the ark, the table, the menorah, and the altars when they [the Israelites] would leave for their travels.

20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and brought the LORD'S offering, for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all the service thereof, and for the holy garments. 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought nose-rings, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and girdles, all jewels of gold; even every man that brought an offering of gold unto the LORD.

Hindsight is better than foresight – in our case we read the English translation and know things in the case above using the old translation we don’t know what these girdles are for they are not the corset girdles in our language today. Rashi therefore was needed to explain that they are bracelets. The Chabad translation follows Rashi and Onkelos and clears things up for us: The men came with the women; every generous hearted person brought bracelets and earrings and rings and buckles, all kinds of golden objects, and every man who waved a waving of gold to the Lord.

With the women: Heb. עַל הַנָּשִׁים, lit., [the jewelry was still] on the women. The men came with the women and [stood] near them. (The reason the Targum [Onkelos] left the passage in its simple sense is that he does not render וַיָּבֹאוּ הָאִנָשִׁים as וַאִתוֹ גַבְרַיָא, and the men came, but he renders: וּמַיְתַן, [and the men] brought, meaning that they brought bracelets and earrings while they were still on [i.e., being worn by] the women, as Rashi writes on “spun the goat hair” (verse 26), [which signifies that the women spun the hair while it was still on the goats].) bracelets: Heb. חָח. This is a round golden ornament placed on the arm, and it is the צָמִיד. and buckles: Heb. וְכוּמָז. This is a golden ornament placed over a woman’s private parts. Our Rabbis explain the name כּוּמָז as [an acrostic]: כַּאן מְקוֹם זִמָּה, [meaning] here is the place of lewdness. -[from Shab. 64a]

23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, brought them.

And every man with whom was found: Blue wool or purple wool or crimson wool or ram skins or Tachash skins, all brought [them].

24 Every one that did set apart an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia-wood for any work of the service, brought it.

This is what the men contributed for the Mishkan work to be more detailed in the next chapter.

25 And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats' hair.

These two Psukim mention women and from these we can learn out that men and women doing the holy work were separated. Husbands and wives interacted as did sisters and brothers to coordinate the measurements. (I wrote in the name of Rabbi/Engineer Tuvia Muskin about the missile built in the 1960’s that was a millimeter or centimeter off and could not have the sections joined do to the slightest construction leeway and a small item like an O-ring caused the Challenger disaster.) Measurements for the Mishkan were holy and had to be precise similar to building a missile.

The Talmud describes that the spinning of goats hair fibers end to end required enormous skill and good hands and eyesight.

Spun the goat hair: This constituted a superior skill, for they [the women] spun it on the backs of the goats. -[from Shab. 74b]

27 And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; 28 and the spice, and the oil, for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto the LORD; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses to be made. 30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel: 'See, the LORD hath called by name Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. 32 And to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skillful workmanship. 34 And He hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

The first time these artisans are mentioned is when Moshe is before HASHEM now we encounter not the theory but the practice. I assume that since Betzalel was related to Hur who was Aaron’s brother-in-law he was also known to Moshe. Oholiab must have been well known for his skills.

35 Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the craftsman, and of the skillful workman, and of the weaver in colors, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any workmanship, and of those that devise skillful works.

36:1 And Betzalel and Oholiab shall work, and every wise-hearted man, in whom the LORD hath put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD hath commanded.' 2 And Moses called Betzalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it.  

In another place also wise women are mentioned but it is a language custom to include women under the category of men. It is also a more modest presentation.

3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning.

The wealthy as mentioned above donated the precious stones but the poor kept giving like those who give a small amount in the Synagogue daily like a dollar in the morning and evening in some Schuls in the States or for the poorer a quarter and a Shekel in Israel.

4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they wrought. 5 And they spoke unto Moses, saying: 'The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.' 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying: 'Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.' So the people were restrained from bringing.

Unlike governments and charity organizations that exist today, once the necessary amount was collected, Moshe called a stop to the donations. (Originally in modern times the March of Dimes was founded to help find a cure for Polio when Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine and Albert Sabin the oral vaccine the bureaucrats in the organization would be unemployed so immediately they started the war on birth defects so as not to lose their jobs. We find this need to perpetuate bureaucratic work in Megilla Esther with a second assembly of gathering of virgins after Esther had already be chosen queen for the bureaucrats had to justify their existence –not so in our Parsha!)

 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 8 And every wise-hearted man among them that wrought the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains: of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the skillful workman made he them. 9 The length of each curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had one measure.

This combined with the thickness of a Tefach or about 100 mm gives us 14000 mm x 2000 mm then divide by 1000 mm cube for a 1 kilogram of water for the Cohanim to purify in a stream or Mikvah and the Gemara stating that it took 300 Cohanim to Tovel the curtain is not a ridiculous number. For we have length, weight and surface tension of the water and weight of the curtain itself making its resistance a few tons at least. (It might not have been completely necessary such a large number but it was much easier to distribute 10 or 15 kilograms per man than a heavier weight.  

37:1 And Betzalel made the ark of acacia-wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, in the four feet thereof: even two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of acacia-wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 And he made an ark-cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold: of beaten work made he them, at the two ends of the ark-cover:

Hollow, out of boards: Heb. נְבוּב. נְבוּב means hollow, and similarly [we find in the verse]: “and its thickness was four fingers, hollow (נָבוּב) ” (Jer. 52:21). hollow, out of boards: The boards of acacia wood were [placed] on all sides, and the hollow [part] was in the middle.

8 one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end; of one piece with the ark-cover made he the cherubim at the two ends thereof.

from the mirrors of the women who had set up the legions: Heb. בְּמַרְאֹתהַצֹבְאֹת Israelite women owned mirrors, which they would look into when they adorned themselves. Even these [mirrors] they did not hold back from bringing as a contribution toward the Mishkan, but Moses rejected them because they were made for temptation [i.e., to inspire lustful thoughts]. The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “Accept [them], for these are more precious to Me than anything because through them the women set up many legions [i.e., through the children they gave birth to] in Egypt.” When their husbands were weary from back-breaking labor, they [the women] would go and bring them food and drink and give them to eat. Then they [the women] would take the mirrors and each one would see herself with her husband in the mirror, and she would seduce him with words, saying, “I am more beautiful than you.” And in this way they aroused their husbands desire and would copulate with them, conceiving and giving birth there, as it is said: “Under the apple tree I aroused you” (Song 8:5). This is [the meaning of] what is בְּמַרְאֹתהַצֹבְאֹת [lit., the mirrors of those who set up legions]. From these [the mirrors], the washstand was made, because its purpose was to make peace between a man and his wife. [How so?] By giving a drink from the water that was in it [the washstand] to [a woman] whose husband had warned her [not to stay in private with a certain man] and she secluded herself [with him anyway. The water would test her and either destroy her or prove her innocence. See Num. 5:11-31]. You should know that they were actually mirrors, because it is said: “The copper of the waving was seventy talents… From that he made…” (Exod. 38:29, 30), but the washstand and its base were not mentioned there [among the things produced from the seventy talents. Thus,] you have learned that the copper of the washstand was not of the copper of the waving. So did Rabbi Tanchuma expound [on the matter] (Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 9; Num. Rabbah 9:14). And so did Onkelos render: בְּמֶחְזְיַתנְשַׁיָא [“the mirrors of the women”], which is the Aramaic translation of מַרְאוֹת, mirrors in French. So we find in Isaiah (3:23) וְהַגִּלְיֹנִים (sic), which we render: וּמַחְזְיָתָא, and the mirrors. who congregated: to bring their donation.

9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark-cover were the faces of the cherubim. …

40:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and thou shalt screen the ark with the veil. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the bread that is upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. … 30 And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, wherewith to wash; 31 that Moses and Aaron and his sons might wash their hands and their feet thereat; 32 when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they should wash; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

The commandment to start the project to build the Mishkan started after Yom Kippur. It was not easy to obtain the precious stones and Giraffe skins etc. Some were available and some were not. I am uncertain if the large boards were available so readily. It took time in fact a wee bit more than five months the Mishkan was ready.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.—

Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting: But one [other] passage says: “And when Moses would enter the Tent of Meeting” (Num. 7:89), [which is an apparent contradiction]. The third passage [verse 35] came and reconciled them: “because the cloud rested upon it.” You may henceforth say that as long as the cloud was upon it, he could not enter, [but when] the cloud withdrew, he would enter and [God] would speak with him. -[from Torath Kohanim, Shalosh Esrei Middoth, Thirteen methods, Section 8]

36 And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

We now have the portable Mishkan with the portable Mizbayach and holy items and the items for the service of the Cohanim. Next week we start on Sefer Vayikra and the Korbanos.

Chazak, Chazak v’ NitChazak.

The Double Surprise

Last Wednesday my grandson Yosef Yitzchak, who was named after my grandfathers, my great-grandfather, my step-father’s father and my son-in-law’s grandfather, was Bar Mitzvah. I had spoken on the occasion of the Bris Mila of the two oldest grandsons of the Education of a Jewish Family. This time I had a surprise for all. Education of a Jewish Child starts in the womb of course with Kosher Food and Family Purity and the crib through schooling until Mitzvos. However, I had forgotten to add then one more thing -  behavior by example.

I started out my surprise with the following words: “40 years ago I began learning the Daf Yomi and I had the greatest plans to finish the Talmud in the shortest time I could. Then came the Yom Kippur War and work days from 7:30 A.M. to 9:15 P.M. plus Friday and I continued to learn after work. The Talmud got hard for my teacher with some small Tractates and we continued. I moved a few times and jumped in classes from Hebrew to Yiddish and even recordings in English. Finally 18 years ago I was close to finishing the Talmud but I was missing about 20 or so Dafim. It was at that time I was worried about finding a Shidduch for my daughter and her marriage. So I started Bava Basra from scratch and finally completed it. I wanted to show by example that despite wars, army service, over time at work, moving, planning a new Yeshuv, etc. I was able to complete the Talmud.” I then concluded Bava Basra (176 Dafim) and Shass Gemara.

But that was not the only surprise of the evening. Yosef Yitzchak after being sung down in his speech suddenly took a Mishna and began making a Siyum of a Seder of Mishnayos. I was thrilled and surprised. His older brother who is very bright had not done this although he completed a few sections of the Talmud on his own. So once in a while a grandfather can get Nachas from a Torah Filled Grandchild. 

Sinas Chinam Destroyed The Temple

The war of Lapid against the Charedim and Sara Netanyahu against Bennett is going to cost parts of Eretz Yisrael to go to the enemy. When I read that Netanyahu was willing to make a coalition with Lapid, I knew that we were in trouble and not because I am a super-psychic or I suddenly got prophecy but because of the general principle mention in the Tisha B’Av story by our Sages. Tuesday morning I awoke to the news that Netanyahu is going to make a gesture to Obama about giving away more territory to the PLO Terrorists. All this without talks and without them giving up even a handshake in return well guess what it is not Netanyahu or Obama running the show. You see those who go against HASHEM bring the evil decree upon all of Am Yisrael. THIS IS WHY I EMPHASIZE TIME AND TIME AGAIN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GUARDING THE SHABBOS, KASHRUS AND FAMILY PURITY. If you don’t wear Tephillin you lose out on the reward but if you violate the Shabbos we all lose out on Moshiach.

From Miriam Esther: I found this Torah Commentary to inspire me to do my best to be happy and joyful no matter what challenges or difficulties I face.

From Partners in Torah by Rabbi Eleazar Meisels ...

"In order to truly participate in the Tabernacle service, the donation (half-shekel) had to be made with a sense of joy and excitement at being able to participate in this wonderful opportunity. Attitude, in this case, was even more important in the eyes of G-d than the donation itself.

This point is illustrated by Yona, the youngest son of a prominent rabbi, who was all alone in the Treblinka concentration camp. His entire family - parents, siblings, wife, and children - had been murdered before his eyes. Yona was weak and emaciated and hung onto life by a thread. Surprisingly, his spirit never wilted. He radiated joy and had a ready smile for every person he would meet. On the rare occasions that he found a few moments to pray or don tefillin, his joy knew no bounds. Others marveled at this ability to remain cheerful and positive. How he performed Mitzvos with excitement was completely beyond their comprehension. Yona was an enigma.

One of Yona's bunkmates, who had long cast off any affiliation to Judaism, demanded to know what right Yona had to smile in the miserable state they were in. Was he oblivious to the pain he suffered? Was he unaware of the suffering of those around him? Did he actually enjoy the torment he endured at the hands of the accursed Nazis?

Reb Yona said sympathetically, "My dear friend, don't think for one moment that I am not terribly pained by the loss of my family. I loved each of them more than words can convey. Don't think that I'm unmindful of your pain or the suffering of the others. It hurts me more than I can bear. But please realize, the Nazis have taken everything from me. They've taken my wife and children. They've taken my parents. They've taken away all of the holy books from which I used to study. They've taken away my tallis and tefillin. All I have left with which to serve G-d is joy. Only my love for Him and my enthusiasm for serving Him still remains with me. Shall I allow them to take that from me as well?"

Although most of us have not, thankfully, suffered on the scale of Yona, we all face painful life circumstances. When challenges and difficulties come our way, we can find comfort and even joy in our freedom to serve G-d with gladness."

 

Many people have mentioned this to me recently in hopes of the speedy coming of the Moshiach and it does appear to be part of the process but not necessarily as strong as Iran. Yeshaya 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. 2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus; and the remnant of Aram shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, says the LORD of hosts. 4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. 5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathers the standing corn, and reaps the ears with his arm; yea, it shall be as when one gleans ears in the valley of Rephaim. 6 Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, as at the beating of an olive-tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the branches of the fruitful tree, says the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 In that day shall a man regard his Maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel. 8 And he shall not regard the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall he look to that which his fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images. 9 In that day shall his strong cities be as the forsaken places, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel, after the manner of woods and lofty forests; and it shall be a desolation. 10 For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and thou hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy stronghold; therefore thou didst plant plants of pleasantness, and didst set it with slips of a stranger; 11 In the day of thy planting thou didst make it to grow, and in the morning thou didst make thy seed to blossom--a heap of boughs in the day of grief and of desperate pain. 12 Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters; but He shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm. 14 At eventide behold terror; and before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

The Talmud began to lament about the weakening of the ability of people to Judge fairly all the more so in our day when they jump from case to case without going deeply into one and finishing it. Shabbos 139A: It was taught. R. Jose b. Elisha said: If you see a generation overwhelmed by many troubles, go forth and examine the judges of Israel, for all retribution that comes to the world comes only on account of the Judges of Israel, as it is said, Hear this, I pray you ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, etc.  They are wicked, but they place their confidence in Him Who decreed, and the world came into existence. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring three punishments upon them answering to the three sins which they cultivate, as it is said, Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. And the Holy One, blessed be He, will not cause His Divine presence to rest upon Israel until the wicked judges and officers cease out of Israel, for it is said, And I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin. And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning, etc.
'Ulla said: Jerusalem shall be redeemed only by righteousness, as it is written, Zion shall be redeemed with judgement, and her converts with righteousness.
R. Papa said: When the haughty cease to exist [in Israel], the magi shall cease [among the Persians]. When the judges cease to exist [in Israel], the chiliarchi  shall cease. 'When the haughty cease to exist [in Israel], the magi shall cease [among the Persians]'; as it is written, And I will surely purge away thy haughty ones. When the judges cease to exist [in Israel], the chiliarchi shall cease, as it is written, The Lord hath taken away thy judgements, he hath cast out your enemy.
R. Melai said in the name of R. Eleazar son of R. Simeon: What is meant by the verse, The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers? 'The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked' refers to the judges who become a staff for their sheriffs; 'the sceptre of the rulers' refers to the scholars in the families of the judges. Mar Zutra said: This refers to the scholars who teach the laws of the public¹⁸  to ignorant judges.
R. Eleazar b. Melai said in the name of Resh Lakish: What is meant by the verse, For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness? 'For your hands are defiled with blood': this refers to the judges: 'and your fingers with iniquity', to the judges' scribes; 'your lips have spoken lies' to the advocates of the judges; 'your tongue mutters wickedness' — to the litigants.

Some thoughts on Pessach for a listing of Halachos go to the OU, Torah.Org, Aish HaTorah, Chabad, etc. See also my BlogSpot from the last two years

A few words of advice on Pessach preparations: Now is the time to order hand Matzos and have cabinets ready to collect the Kosher Le Pessach goods. One should take care of cleaning out his car of Chametz so that he can purchase the Pessach goods. One should have a plan for cleaning out the rooms of the house for Pessach. If you are like I am, leaven food does not go into the bedrooms unless one has a sick child and then I often substituted rice or corn for leaven to give to the child. Assuming that a person has a private house in the States with even 5 bed rooms, a playroom and a livingroom and kitchen (which is much larger than the homes of many of my readers) one should devote a day or less to cleaning up the rooms. Toys that can be washed which might contain Chametz can be either washed or put aside and sold for Pessach depending on the time of the parent. Clothing one only needs to check cuffs and pockets for Chametz. The person if they have time can start working on the kitchen cabinets and cleaning of the rugs with rug cleaner such as the brand Sano sells in Israel. Any brand is good as it renders any crumb that was not vacuumed inedible for a dog and null and void. In the same vein one not need to be ridiculous and look for a Heckshir on bleach, oven cleaner, pure or distilled mineral water. Sometimes things go too far. One should however check recommendations for medications and deodorants with the OU or their LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi). Also mouthwash and soaps one needs to make sure that they are not made from Chametz. Most of the Colgate – Palmolive brands, Right Guard was approved in previous years but sometimes something new crops up and should be checked out. Washing detergent is made from chemicals which a dog would not eat. Pure salt does not need a Heckshir. However, grains should be checked through for wheat, barley and the five species as a celiac patient would check. Mustard is forbidden from the Talmud. Other spices should have a Heckshir.

Hellmann’s Mayonnaise should have an OU-P used by the strictest Geffen mayonnaise is OU-P and uses cottonseed oil along with Ketchups and other products. Osem in Israel and Knorr from Israel produce a line of soup mixes and some puddings and gelatin kosher for Pessach. Your local kosher butcher should have all products kosher for Pessach. Fish even with perhaps Chametz in the gut is neutralized prior to Pessach and can be cleaned but canned fish needs a Heckshir. It is always a good idea to wash all vegetables with kosher le Pesach soap or salt water or vinegar to remove germs and harmful pesticides if you do not purchase organic. Vegetables that have their stems cut off should be purchased only from a Kosher Store or with the Stems as one does not know what type of a knife was used unless it is only used for vegetables.  

As I stated last year Rav Moshe Feinstein TzZal allowed the use of peanuts and the oils that we normally use. Although Canola grows like Mustard, it was not part of the Rabbinical Gezaira from the Talmud and therefore is permitted. Maize aka US Corn was unknown in the world prior to the discovery of the Americas and since it is one of the basic foods in the Americas in my humble opinion should not be treated like Kitniyos and certainly since we allow rice baby food and whole rice for vitamin B deficiency can be used for baby food or celiac Ashkenazi Patients. Certainly it is permitted to Yemenite Jews and many Sephardic Jews. However, those Ashkenazim with a strong tradition or solid Minchag from Eastern Europe should go according to the stricter custom. Baalei Teshuva, Gerim and those Americans who are Frum but lost their customs due to whatever reason may take the more liberal approach without worry. WE WILL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE STRICTER THAN OTHERS. The easiest thing in the world is to forbid things including Matzos mixed with water for cakes, Matzo meal and milk cereal, Matzo pieces and crumbs or Matzo-ball soup in the Ayn Gebrochts custom of some Chassidim and any Am HaAretz can forbid these things. It takes a Rav to permit these things.

The baking of the Matzos from the time that water mixes with the flour until the batch is mixed, rolled and baked should take place in under 18 minutes. I personally hold by the first 18 minute Matzos that come from the machine or cleaning the equipment every 18 minutes. Rabbi Breuer of blessed memory allowed Horowitz-Margareten Matzos baked in a constant assembly line with only the batter pans being cleaned every 18 minutes and the mixing blades. The reason being is that the conveyor belt prevented the Matzos from sticking to the conveyor belt which was then cleaned and scrubbed before return.

Contact your LOR about selling your Matzos. It is customary to mention all places where the Matzos are in the house or sheds. Also contact your LOR regarding of times to stop eating leaven Erev Pessach, the time to suspend the Chametz and the time to start burning and the last time for eating the Appikoyman on the first night of Pessach. Siferos HaOmer starts the second night of Pessach whether in Aretz or in Chutz LaAretz. In Eretz Yisrael we count Siferos HaOmer in Gallus after the second Seder.   

The attitudes in Israel are changing regarding attacks on children. http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=305461

THE HOLOCAUST MUCH LARGER THAN SUSPECTED: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4351915,00.html

PM comes out against anti-religious bigotry in Israel: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=305088

OU Kosher Pre Pesach Webcast With Rabbi Yisrael Belsky and Rabbi Hershel Schachter “Preparing the Home, Preparing the Head” Tuesday, March 12 – 2:30 PM EST Log in: http://oukosher.org/prepesach   Email your questions to: Safrane@ou.org

Here is an unknown story from Paris. http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/381421/Horrific-fate-of-Parisians-who-tried-to-flee-Nazis

Hit and run leave three Jews dead: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/newborn_orphan_dies_crash_after_TgNuryWvZSSSIDHQLe8MXM Captured: http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=305560

Shass and Aguda declare war on the hilltop youth funds: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165843#.UTRqk1fQOHA

Peace seeking Rabbi of Tekoa passes away: http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=305321

AIPAC-Sponsored Bill could save Israel Aid http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165897#.UTYD0Gz8LIU

Israeli Oligarch was almost assassinated in the Ukraine:  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4352356,00.html

Medical Innovation from Israel: http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=305105

Character will not give his wife a divorce escaped but still had handcuffs or legcuffs off due to the Av Beis Din. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4353281,00.html

MK calls for harsher sanctions on violators of the right to divorce of the wife: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165970#.UTg7imz8LIU

The 4^th component of the soul is called Chaya and sometimes people use it to go the extra steps to help others even firemen risking their lives: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-elliott/united-airlines-holds-plane_b_2820787.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl25%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D279672

PLEASE NOTE ROSH CHODESH NISSAN IS ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE WEEK AKA TUESDAY AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT ON MONDAY EVENING STARTS THE SEDER SO WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO PREPARE. THIS WEEK IS PARSHA HACHODESH! AKA SHEMOS CHAPTER 12 – THIS MONTH IS THE BEGINNING OF ALL MONTHS.

Be aware of forged certificates stating that a person is collecting for a worthy cause. For this robs money away from Yeshivos and Legitimate Cases

One thing is a local man or woman who visits your Schul weekly or monthly for a donation even without a certificate. I see the same people in FL sometimes for years and sometimes recently because of unemployment. Since they are in front of the Kosher Market or in the Schuls I believe them. However, because a lot of money is involved one should be wary of scammers who go from town to town.

This is A Tzeduka Scam brought to my attention from Miami and running elsewhere in the States the man is forging certificates that he collects charity and goes over and over again to various places. This is the 3^rd time these past 12 months he is running around Miami with a forged certificate and pulls this off in other towns. He must be getting tax free hundreds of thousands of dollars a year which would normally go to the needy. Since this is the third time on a forged certificate, I have decided to bring this down here. It is because of real needy people and institutions have money taken away from them by these scammers.  If one earns $1000 a month after taxes and gives 10% to charity them one has $100 to give to charity and this crook is looking for that instead of a worthy person or cause. Give to your local poor and legitimate Yeshivos that are known. Google with your smart phone places in Israel that you have never heard of. Has anybody in Israel ever heard of an Institution called “Ahavat Israel” or Yisrael? I have a funny feeling that this exists only in the man’s growing bank account or mattress.

He’s back in town again, and again this time collecting with a forged certificate.  The collector’s name is given on the document as “Rabbi Moshe Habosha”.  The “certificate” states that he is collecting for “American Friends of Ahavat Israel”, and there are validity dates given as February 18, 2013 to March 18, 2013.  At the bottom left, there is Permit #08 4096, which is actually a number that we used for someone else.  (It’s now up to 4104) There are no circular seals showing, and certainly you would not feel 3 of them, raised, along the right margin where they are supposed to be.  There are other flaws that we will not take the time to itemize now.

WE DID NOT ISSUE THIS CERTIFICATE!!!  WE DO NOT ENDORSE THIS PERSON FOR ANY COLLECTING, WHETHER PERSONAL OR FOR AN “ORGANIZATION”!!! Be aware of this collector, and since the forged document states “This permit is solely the property of the Vaad and is subject to confiscation”, then you may indeed confiscate it, if you are strong and willing to deal with the consequences. This is the previous alert regarding this person:

UNITED ORTHODOX COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF SOUTH FLORIDA

VAAD HATZEDAKA

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE PRESUMPTION THAT ALL COLLECTORS WHO COME TO TOWN ARE INSIDIOUS, TRICKSTERS, EVIL, ETC.  DO NOT USE THIS ALERT AS A PRETEXT TO DIMINISH YOUR TZEDAKA.  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE OTHER LEGITIMATE AND DESERVING PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS TO WHOM YOU COULD INCREASE YOUR DONATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE LOCAL.

The first individual was presented on our “rogues gallery” alert about collectors, back in December. We know he has arrived in town.  We’ve seen alternate spellings of Chabusha and Habusha.

Moshe Habusha

Last year we received an email of a forged certificate that he presented to someone who was complaining that Habusha was coming too often. The donor didn’t even suspect it was a phony document, but it had clearly different handwriting from legitimate certificates, and also didn’t have the 3 raised seals along the right side of the document.  He did have a personal problem a few years ago with a serious injury to his daughter, but he also collects for an “organization” that was benefitting mainly a relative. The above is what we sent in December.  There is a bit more that we didn’t state at that time.  A la Paul Harvey, the rest of the story:

Back in 2008, we were notified by the Gabbai of a prominent Miami Beach Shul that the person was collecting with a teudah that was altered in its date from 2006 to 2008.

IN ORDER TO DETECT FORGERY, LOOK FOR THE 3 RAISED CIRCULAR SEALS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DOCUMENT.   YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL THEM.  CHECK THE DATES OF VALIDITY AND EXAMINE IF THEY WERE ALTERED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE YEAR.  THE HANDWRITING ON THE DOCUMENT SHOULD RESEMBLE THAT OF THE SIGNATURE (UNTIL WE CHANGE TO COMPUTERIZED).  LOOK FOR THE PERMIT NUMBER AT THE LOWER LEFT, WHICH IS NOW UP TO 08-4078.  CHECK TO SEE WHETHER THE PHOTO WAS INSERTED INTO A CUT CERTIFICATE, OR PLACED OUTSIDE THE PLASTIC LAMINATION, INSTEAD OF BEING TOTALLY CONTAINED INSIDE THE UNCUT PLASTIC.  THE PHOTO SHOULD RESEMBLE THE COLLECTOR.

Inyanay Diyoma

The Israeli Mafia at work. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165725#.US8nG1fQOHAUnder Obama besides food stamps fraud other crimes pay:  http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=304821

Again the US may be aiding Al Qaeda: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4350608,00.html

Failures of the USA in Syria: http://www.debka.com/article/22795/US-joins-Russia-in-drawing-ceasefire-lines-for-ending-Syrian-war

The Israeli Mafia at work. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165725#.US8nG1fQOHA

State’s Witness in the Olmert case suddenly dies! http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=304991

The US and Europe sell out Israel but the real laugh at the end of days when Iran sends them the bombs into their major cities they are lost in living their own self lies: http://www.debka.com/article/22797/Washington-sets-stage-for-Israel’s-back-off-from-demand-to-shut-Fordo

PLO Pallywood Reichstag Burning: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4351050,00.html

The Golan Heights and Jordanian Border in the Syrian war and poses a danger: http://www.debka.com/article/22799/Syrian-no-man’s-land-bordering-Israel-and-Jordan-is-up-for-grabs

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4351270,00.html

From Anita: The truth - http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/who-really-cares-about-the-palestinians/

Besides 3 shells in the north one rocket in the south: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165773#.UTJWU1fQOHA

Executive Order 13603 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness

When the natives get restless the best way to stop the unrest is to make a small war with guess who? http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4351839,00.html

Syria border is hot that is why Barak went to Hagel: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4352349,00.html Update with Russia and the UN involved:

http://debka.com/article/22803/Washington-Hizballah-has-got-hold-of-chemical-weapons

Egypt and its Islamification goes further and further into Chaos: http://debka.com/article/22801/Kerry-talks-economics-finds-Morsi-preoccupied-with-Islamizing-Egypt

Barak and Hagel meet: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=305409

When Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon Tuesday, March 5, he heard for the first time in years American criticism of the Israeli army for under-reacting – in this case to the chemical weapons threat emanating from Syria. Israel was also berated for under-estimating this menace and failing to take into account the likely need to send troops into Syria. Barak received official US confirmation that chemical weapons had reached HIzballah. {Debka}

Jihadists aka Al Qaeda in Syria: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165954#.UTeLOWz8LIU

It was reported that Al Qaeda linked groups captured the CEO of the Middle-East Region of Exxon Mobile in Sinai but I didn’t find the link.

Guess who is coming to Venezuela to continue the terror link?  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4353694,00.html

While the relations with anti-Semitic Turkey cools off war games are conducted with the Greeks: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/166002#.UTlhZ2z8LIU

Now for M. Wolfberg’s Story “Support Group”

Good Shabbos Everyone.   The Torah in this week's portion hints about the importance of supporting Torah institutions, as we read this week about the mitzvah to give a half shekel for the up-keep of the Mishkan (tabernacle).  The following inspirational story will inspire all of us to give generously to institutions which teach our children Torah, which is the Tree of Life.
        R' Binyomin Wilhelm, founder of Yeshivah Torah Vodaath and other worthy institutions, succeeded where many others failed. He succeeded because he was a man of deep emunah (faith) and iron-willed determination. More importantly, he was always ready to give of his time and energy, even when some might have argued that the problem could not be solved.
        R' Binyamin was born in Poland around the year 1885 and was orphaned at the age of eleven. He then went to live with his grandfather in a one-room apartment. One morning, Binyamin awoke to discover that his grandfather had died suddenly during the night. Now he was alone in the world. He did not attend yeshivah because there was no organized system of yeshivos as it exists today. Every father had to see to it that his son learned with a melamed (Torah teacher) who was paid directly by the parents of his students. If a boy's father could not afford to pay the melamed, or the boy was an orphan, he very often grew up ignorant of Torah.
        When he was sixteen, Binyamin received a letter from a friend who had emigrated to America and was living in New York. The friend knew of Binyamin's tragic situation and implored him to join him in the "new country." Binyamin soon boarded a ship without a penny in his pocket. He paid his way by working in the ship's kosher kitchen.
        Upon arriving in Mew York, Binyamin was welcomed by a small group of old friends. At a get-together, he and his friends solemnly vowed to always live faithfully by the Torah and never to compromise on a single mitzvah or halachah, no matter how great the pressure. This was at a time when finding a job in America was almost impossible for those who kept Shabbos, and when kashrus supervision in America hardly existed.
        Binyamin opened a successful hardware business, married a deeply religious girl from a fine home and settled in Mew York's Lower East Side. He attended Torah classes every day, and through intense study and effort, developed into a respected talmid chacham.
        In the early part of this century, the Lower East Side boasted the largest Jewish population in America. Most of its Jews lived in crowded apartment buildings. Across the river in neighboring Willamsburg lived another large concentration of Orthodox Jews. Willamsburg had many blocks of large single family homes, something which was quite appealing for a young, growing family.
        R' Binyamin and his wife moved there in 1917 and were very happy in their new dwelling. But there was one major problem. In the Lower East Side, Yeshivah Rabbi Jacob Joseph had already been founded, but in Williamsburg there were no yeshivos. R' Binyamin's oldest son was four years old; R' Binyamin was determined that his son receive the Torah education that he himself had been denied.
        He approached a number of prominent Jews living in Willamsburg. They all responded the same way: Their neighborhood was not the place for a yeshivah. Though they were religious, they were resigned to sending their children to public school, where they could receive a quality secular education. Yeshivos, they felt, belonged to the "old world" of Europe. One man pointed to the palm of his hand and told R' Binyamin, "When hair will grow here, there will be a yeshivah in Williamsburg."
        One day, a man met R' Binyamin in the street and asked if he had had any success in his quest to start a yeshivah. When R' Binyamin responded in the negative, the man said, "R" Binyamin, take my advice. Stop asking others to start a yeshivah; start one yourself."
        Over the next four months many nighttime meetings were held in R' Binyamin's home. His wife served herring and kichlech in the hope of attracting a crowd. But the meetings were not successful and it seemed as if the predictions of failure were correct.
It is customary in many shuls to read the entire Book of Devarim on the night of Hoshanah Rabbah. Such was the custom in the Poilisher Shteibel, one of the largest and most prominent congregations in Williamsburg.
        On the night of Hoshanah Rabbah in 1917, R' Binyamin made his way to the front of the Poilisher Shteibel and pounded on the bimah for attention. He said, "I will not permit the reading to commence until we resolve an urgent matter — the future of our children. Many are convinced that they can continue sending their children to public school and watch them grow up as Torah Jews. This is a grave error. Without Torah our children will not be Torah Jews. And without a yeshivah, they will have no Torah."
        At the conclusion of his address, R' Binyamin asked for pledges toward founding a yeshivah. One of the shul's wealthy members, Mr. Aharon Goldman, wrote out a check for one thousand dollars, and a furrier named Mr. Wolf pledged five hundred dollars, both enormous sums in those days. Many others came forth with smaller pledges.
        As news of R' Binyamin's Hoshanah Rabbah "protest" spread, people came forward to offer their participation in a founder's committee. A few months later, a building on the corner of Marcy Avenue and Keap Street was rented. Forty-five children were registered for the yeshivah, which was to open its doors the following September.
        But when September arrived, the picture became clouded once again. With only forty-five children spread across five grades, there was not enough tuition to pay the necessary rebbeim, secular studies teachers and office staff. At a committee meeting held a few days before Yom Kippur, the committee voted to postpone the yeshivah's opening for one more year.
        The only dissenting vote was R' Binyamin's. "How can we wait another year?" he demanded. "What of the children who might become lost to us this year, and might never be brought back? How can we face the Ribono shel Olam on Yom Kippur after having made such a fatal decision?"
        After hearing R' Binyamin's heartfelt plea, the committee decided to postpone a final decision until after Yom Kippur.
        R' Binyamin spent the Holy Day in a most unusual manner. He arose early on Yom Kippur morning, and instead of going to shul, davened alone in his house. He spent the rest of the day going from shul to shul making appeals — not appeals for money, but for children. He appealed to fathers and mothers to save their children, and future generations, by registering them in the yeshivah that was soon to open. When the fast had ended, R' Binyamin returned home after a very successful day. Forty-five more children would now be enrolled in the yeshivah.
        With projected income from tuition now doubled, the committee voted to open the yeshivah in a few days. Yeshivah Torah Vodaath had been born.  (Shabbos Stories, Reb. Shimon Finkelman, p. 105)
        R' Binyamin has tremendous merit; he is credited with generations of Jewish children and adults who have been able to learn Torah because of his deeds.  Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory In Memory of Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) of blessed memory Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah

Have a wonderful Shabbos and ladies and gentlemen please-please do not go overboard Pessach cleaning remember one can sell any possible stains of Chametz for Pessach that has not be completely removed or destroyed or poured over with oven cleaner or bleach or in some way rendered unfit for a dog to eat.

Rachamim Pauli