Shalom Friends;<\/p>\n
This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Parsha Terumah is being co-sponsored both anonymously dedicated for Hatslucha to children of the community and by Rabbi Tully and Hindy Bryks of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated dedicated in honor of their daughter Tamar’s upcoming marriage to Avraham Yitzchak Greenwald and lilui nishmas for Hindi’s Father, Moshe Zev ben Yosef, z”l. Both co-sponsors also dedicate this vort for the safety of the Chayalim and the liberation of all remaining hostages and their return home whole physically, mentally and spiritually. To our anonymous co-sponsor and to Mishpachat Bryks, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.<\/p>\n
You can celebrate a Simcha \u2014 a birth, a Bar\/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua.<\/p>\n
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to subscribe and, hopefully sponsor a Parshat HaShevua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, to subscribe or for further details.<\/p>\n
Best Regards,<\/p>\n
Moshe Burt Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/a> This author often cites points from previous vorts on a Parsha, or vorts from other Parshiyot if they seem applicable to make a certain point in a current vort. This is true regarding our citing of Parshat Terumah for 5784.<\/a><\/p>\n The Shem Mishmuel (Translated to English by Rabbi Zvi Belovski, Parshat Terumah, pg. 169-170) cites R\u2019 Shimon and comments;<\/p>\n \u201cThese are the three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of Kehunah and the crown of Malchut. But the crown of a good name is greater than them all.\u201d (Shem Mishmuel citing R\u2019 Shimon on Pirkei Avos 4:13)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This author cites Rabbi Mordechai Katz, from his sefer, \u201cLilmode U\u2019Lamed\u201d (p. 81-82) in a Parshat Hashevua (Parshat Mishpatim). Rabbi Katz cites from Yerushalmi Bava Metzia (Perek 2, Choshen Mishpat 266) a story about Rabbi Shimon Ben Shetach which sets a standard for Jewish sincerity in his dealing with with others and with Hashem:<\/p>\n It seems that one day Rabbi Shimon Ben Shetach needed to purchase a donkey for traveling. He purchased the donkey from an Arab. At that time, neither he nor the Arab noticed that the donkey bore a small package in it\u2019s saddle.<\/p>\n Sometime later, a student of the Rabbi found the package and opened it. He was amazed by it\u2019s contents. Rabbi Katz writes that the dialogue between Rabbi Ben Shetach and his student, and the story\u2019s conclusion went something like this:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a diamond, Rebbe\u2026 A perfect diamond. It must be worth an enormous amount. Sell it and you\u2019ll never want for money. Imagine all of the Mitzvot you will be able to do with the new-found money.\u201d<\/p>\n Rabbi Ben Shetach shook his head and responded \u201cI may be able to perform many Mitzvot with the money \u2026 but they will never cancel the demerit that will be mine if I keep property which is not mine. No, I will return the diamond to its rightful owner, the Arab.\u201d<\/p>\n But the student responded, \u201cwhy not keep the diamond? The Arab will never know of his loss.\u201d Rabbi Ben Shetach responded, \u201cBut Hashem will know what I have done. I did not earn the diamond and so it is not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Rabbi Ben Shetach was as good as his word and returned the diamond to the astonished Arab. \u201cI don\u2019t believe that anyone could be that honest\u201d said the Arab. \u201cThe Jews must have wonderful laws. Blessed be the G\u2019d of Rabbi Shimon Ben Shetach.\u201d<\/p>\n Rabbi Ben Shetach\u2019s strict adherence to Mishpatim, to common decency to his fellow man created a great Kiddush Hashem and should serve as an example for all to follow, to fulfill all of Hashem\u2019s Mitzvot with equal zeal.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The opening posukim of our Parsha state:<\/p>\n \u201cHashem spoke to Moshe, saying, \u2018Speak to the B\u2019nei Yisrael and let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion.’\u201d (Sefer Shemos, Perek 25, posukim 1 and 2 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides a brief commentary on Sefer Shemos, Perek 25, posuk 2 (page 445) :<\/p>\n “And let them take for Me” Rashi comments that the term “for Me” indicates that people should contribute for the Mishkan purely for the sake of Hashem’s name, not because of social pressure or quest for honor.<\/p>\n …Many comment that by contributing to Hashem’s causes, a Jew truly takes for himself, for personal benefit is far greater than its cost.<\/p>\n “Portion –Terumah” It implies a separation of a portion of one’s resources to be set aside (citing Rashi) for a higher purpose. The root of the word is “rum — to uplift” (citing R’ Hirsch), The effect of these contributions was to elevate the giver and his concept of the wealth with which Hashem had blessed him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n On these posukim, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin comments in his Sefer, \u201cGrowth Through Torah\u201d (pages 201 \u2013 202) :<\/p>\n Your motivation is a major factor in the ultimate value of what you do.<\/p>\n When you do something with pure motivations, your action is elevated. Work on your thoughts to have positive motivations when you do positive acts.<\/p>\n Rabbi Moshe Aharon Stern related that he was once walking with Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian in Yerushalayim. Upon seeing someone repairing the street, Rav Elya commented, \u201cSee how this person is constantly engaged in a Mitzvah, the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael (building of the Land of Israel). What is missing? Only the motivation for the sake of a Mitzvah! If someone only thinks about making a livelihood and nothing more, he loses all the wonderful benefits of fulfilling a Mitzvah. (Rabbi Zelig Pliskin citing Sefer Lev Eliyahu, Volume 1, page 30)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Toward the end of our Parshat, Torah records regarding the construction of the Mishkan:<\/p>\n “The middle bar inside the planks shall extend from end to end.” (Sefer Shemos, Perek 26, posuk 28 rendered to English in The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash, page 457)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi Pliskin comments on this posuk in his Sefer, \u201cGrowth Through Torah\u201d (pages 207 – 208) :<\/p>\n Targum Yonaton states that the center crossbar was made with wood that came from the trees that Avraham planted. [Rabbi Pliskin tells how he] heard Rabbi Mordechai Mann of B’nei Brak comment on this that these trees were planted by Avraham for the purpose of doing kindness for travelers. The center crossbar was placed right in the middle of the Mishkan to remind us that even when we are devoting ourselves to serving the Almighty we should never forget to have compassion for our fellow…, who is created in the image of the Almighty.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The point this author is making; that words and deeds and motivations that match, are just and uplifted, relate to questioning the moral and halachic adequacy [noun: sufficiency for a particular purpose]<\/a> of the highest levels of Israel\u2019s current governance as well as the lack of compassion of current high command of Israel\u2019s military, both to their subordinates as well as toward kol Am Yisrael relating to events leading up to 7 October, as well the conduct of this Milchamat Shel Torah. What is meant here relates to the hubris [noun: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance]<\/a> of top generals in demeaning the border guards who repeatedly reported on the preparations, the tunnel-building and training of the barbarous terrorist animals in the days leading up to the savage, murderous attacks of 7 October and the seizing of hundreds of Jewish and foreign hostages. In several cases, a general threatened subordinates, the border guards, with legal proceedings if another word of warning was spoken. Take note that among those either murdered or taken hostage by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and their “innocent” Gazan civilian buddies were the young women who were border guards.<\/p>\n What is also meant is questioning the government\u2019s words and deeds in their conduct of the war in light of their possible subservience [a servile or excessively submissive quality or manner]<\/a> to the Biden administration, and more recently, the Trump administration’s Middle East Envoy, in conduct of this war, in the current Gaza “ceasefire and drips and drabs of hostages for thousands of bloody-handed terrorists, and many discoveries made by our brave Chayalim in the field of battle, i.e. the apparent conspiracy and collaboration between the United Nations UNWRA personnel in Gaza\u2019s hospitals and schools and Hamas and their terrorist buddies. Also, there were apparent instances where Gazan so-called \u201cinnocent civilians\u201d took part in the attacks and the seizing of hostages as well as hostages held in the homes of Gazan “doctors” and UNWRA personnel. Words are critical and there are vast differences in word and deed between words like destroy and eradicate re: Hamas and all terrorists, and liberate, or “return” relating to the remaining hostages. (definitions below) Further, there is concern as to whether the lessons of Gaza of 7 October are being internalized concerning other potential fronts: the PA in Yehuda and the Shomron, Hezbollah in South Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen’s Houthies and possibly Turkey..<\/p>\n And this author could not conclude without questioning the words and deeds and motivations of certain Jews who were, or are in positions of power — political “leaders” and Middle East “negotiators” in both the previous Biden, and current Trump administrations.<\/p>\n Definitions:<\/p>\n Destroy [to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains], i.e. leaving segments or remnants of terrorists to strike again.<\/p>\n Eradicate [to remove or destroy utterly].<\/p>\n \u201cReturn\u201d which implies from previous recent experience \u2014 1 hostage for every 3 incarcerated terrorists.<\/p>\n Liberate which indicates freeing the hostages by the hand of the IDF as was the case at Entebbe.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Not withstanding the current horrendous “ceasefire” and drips and drabs of hostages in exchange for thousands of bloody-handed terrorists, may it be that our Chayalim, regardless of the machinations of their high command, emerge totally victorious \u2014 eradicating from the face of the earth Hamas, their terrorist buddies and the so-called \u201cinnocent civilians\u201d of Gaza who joined with Hamas in their murderous deeds, that the Chayalim return home whole \u2014 physically, mentally and spiritually and that the Chayalim Liberate, as in Entebbe, and bring home all remaining hostages. And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael.<\/p>\n May we, the B\u2019nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren \u2014 the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole \u2014 be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem \u2014 as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel,<\/a> as should the remains of the two chayalim from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V\u2019Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V\u2019Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel\u2019s and Judaism\u2019s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. May we fulfill Hashem\u2019s blueprint of B\u2019nei Yisrael as a Unique people \u2014 an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with \u201cthe nations\u201d and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge\u2019ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; \u201cKi Karov Yom Hashem Al\u2019Kol HaGoyim\u201d, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b\u2019yamainu \u2014 speedily, in our time\u201d, \u2014 Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
\nolehchadash@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/a>
\nskype: mark.burt3<\/p>\n
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\nMoshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network.<\/strong><\/a> He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh. <\/p>\n