Parshas Va’airo| The Kollel Connection

January 16, 2014 – Candle lighting 4:41 pm, Shabbos Ends 5:50 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

This week we read Parshas Va’airo. In the Parsha we read  many times that Hashem tells Moses that He is hardening the heart of Pharaoh. The commentaries ask, how could Hashem harden the heart  of Pharaoh? Is this not denying Pharaoh free will – the ability to choose whether to sin or not?

At the end of the parsha, we read of the plague of hail. The Torah tells us that the plague was so strong that it destroyed much of the crops of Egypt. Pharaoh was so overwhelmed by this plague, that he summoned Moses and Aaron and asked them to pray to Hashem that the hail stop, and he will then let the Jews go. ( Exodus 9:28). The Torah then tells us that Moses responded to Pharaoh,  telling him that he will pray that the hail stop,  but he knows that Pharaoh and his servants do not yet fear Hashem. The Torah then mentions that the hail had destroyed the flax and barley, but not the wheat and the spelt… The Torah tells us that they were not destroyed because they were afilos – which means that miracles (niflaos) happened to them. The Torah then proceeds to tell us that Moses went and prayed for Pharaoh that the hail should stop.

The Ohr Hachaim poses a simple question: Why do we have to hear about which crops were destroyed and which were not in the middle of the story? Isn’t that detail out of place? Why doesn’t it just say that Pharaoh asked them to pray, and they did,…?  The Ohr Hachaim answers that this fact – that some of the crops were miraculously spared from the hail – was what prompted Moses to say that Pharaoh would not really let the Jews leave. Once Pharaoh saw that there was a miracle and some crops survived, he let himself believe that there was more than one Deity in control, and that some other Deity prevented Hashem from destroying the crops under its control. That is why it is so essential for the Torah to tell us about this miraculous saving of the crops, to understand the hardening of Pharaohs’ heart.

Nachmanidies explains, this is really the explanation of why Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh. Once Pharaoh was under attack from the first few plagues, he would have given in just to escape them. Hashem made his heart harder, so that he will make an objective decision whether to return to Hashem or not.

Often we feel overwhelmed by a challenge that we face in life. If we can just bear this thought in mind –  if the Almighty picked a given situation for us, it’s because we can rise to that situation and overcome the challenges that face us from it, then we will have a much easier time dealing with it. This episode of Pharaoh has to teach us that all details of any struggle that we have are given to us with Divine providence, that will enable us somehow to shine from the circumstance that we have to deal with.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Shemos| The Kollel Connection

January 9, 2014 – Candle lighting 4:34 pm, Shabbos Ends 5:43 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

The Kollel connection this week is again dedicated in memory of  Debbie Mindel, who tragically passed away last week. May Hashem comfort her husband Ray, her children Reva  and Simon, and the entire family amongst the other mourners of Israel.  

This week we read Parshas Shemos. In the Parsha we read the episode of Moses and the burning bush. Moses was walking in the desert, taking care of his father in law’s sheep, when he saw a burning bush. The bush was on fire, but was not being consumed. Moses turned, and went to see this wondrous sight. In the medrash, there are two opinions of how far out of his way Moses went to see this. Rav Yochanan says he went three steps. Raish Lakish says he merely turned his neck to see it. When he did, Hashem said to him “You have pained yourself to see this, I will now reveal myself to you”. What does this medrash mean? Is the little effort of walking three steps, or of turning his neck, enough to give Moses the reward of being the redeemer of the Jewish people?

Rav Dessler explains in the name of the Alter of Kelm, that this is a classic fulfillment of what our Sages have taught us “If you open your heart the size of an eye of a needle, I will open it the size of the doorways of the temple.” Hashem waits for us to make that first step. When we do, he gives us the strength to see it through to the end. Moses made that first step – either walking three steps, or turning his head. Once he did, Hashem rewarded him with limitless success.

The famous commentator Rav Leib Chasman offers a powerful analogy to drive this point home. There was once a person who was starving, in dire need of food and drink. As he traveled and got weaker, he chanced upon a house that had a table laden with food and drink, available for anyone who wanted to come in and take it. The only problem was, that the door to the house was locked! The  traveler found a key ring full of keys, and tried every single one. Not one of them worked for this door!!! The only possibility he had left was to take a file and just file away one small tiny piece of metal on one of the keys, so it would work in this hole. Imagine the pain of this person if he does not have a file to do that!! All the wealth and success that he needs is waiting to be his, if he could just do the small task of removing one small piece of metal. If he doesn’t do it, he will end up dying on the doorstep of this house.

In our life, we have a similar challenge. We have to find meaning in life, find a connection to Hashem and feel our relationship with Him. It sometimes feels like a big challenge. The only difference is, we do have the  file and key to open the door to success. All we have to do is open our hearts a little bit – the size of the hole of a needle, and we will then find ourselves connected to Hashem totally. If we can use the key that we have – if we can make that first step with all our hearts, we can then be assured that we will find the connection to Hashem in all aspects of our life that we so desperately need.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Vayechi| The Kollel Connection

January 6, 2014 – Candle lighting 4:27 pm, Shabbos Ends 5:36 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

The Kollel connection this week is dedicated in memory of Debbie Mindel, who tragically passed away this week. Debbie was responsible, caring and always full of a special energy. In the year we had the privelege to know her, we watched her amazing growth along with her family.  She brought with her smiles and joy and made us feel uplifted every time we met her.  Her sudden untimely passing leaves a void that is impossible to fill.

May Hashem comfort her husband Ray, her children Reva  and Simon, and the entire family amongst the other mourners of Israel.

This week we read Parshas Vayechi. In the Parsha we read the blessings that Jacob gave to each of his sons before he died. In the blessing of Judah, we find a very interesting verse that it used, with a very uplifting and powerful message. When Jacob tells of the great success that will be the future of Judah, he says “Red eyed from wine, and lben shinayim maichalav – white toothed from milk” (Genesis 49:12). The simple meaning of these words is that Judah will have such an abundance of wine, that his eyes will look red, and such an abundance of milk, that his teeth will look white. This is a blessing of material wealth for the tribe of Judah.

Our Sages, in a play on the words, offer another thought. “Better is a person who whitens his or her teeth (lbun shinayim)  by smiling at someone, than one who gives them milk to drink (maichalav). (Talmud, Kesuvos 111b). The Alter of Slabodka points out an amazing lesson that we learn from this statement of our Sages. Imagine how much respect we would have for someone who schlepped every day to various hospitals and institutions, to give milk to the residents there who so desperately needed it. Words could not be enough to describe the kindness of this person. Yet, the Sages point out that even greater is one who smiles at another person and lifts their spirits. The wealth of opportunity that this opens up for us is indescribable. Throughout our day, as we come in contact with people from all walks of life, we have a constant opportunity to lift people’s spirits and to make them feel good – just by smiling at them. What a special opportunity!! The Sages instruct us “Accept every human being with a pleasant expression. This is to say, that if a person gives someone all the gifts that there are in the world, but does so with a sour face, it’s as if they have given nothing. However, if they accept their friend with a smile it is considered as if they had given them all the gifts of the world.” We have to realize the hundreds of opportunities that we have to do kindness in such a simple way, every day, and utilize them by giving people hope and  a good feeling – all with one friendly smile!!!

The Talmud tells us that one time the Sage Rav Broka Chuzaah was in a marketplace and met Elijah. He asked Elijah if there were any people in this particular marketplace who were assured a place in the world to come. Elijah pointed to two men. Rav Broka ran over to them, and asked them what they did. They replied, “we are jesters. Whenever we see someone who looks sad or depressed, we go over to them and cheer them up” (Talmud Taanis 22a). The clear lesson we are taught is how careful we must be to try to lift other people’s spirits.

We all mourn the loss of Debbie Mindel who lived a life bringing joy to others. She was a unique woman who lifted the spirits of all.  In the short time we were privileged to know her, she inspired us! May Hashem help us all follow in her footsteps and five strength to Ray, Reva, Simon and her entire family at this time.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Vayigash| The Kollel Connection

December 26, 2014 – Candle lighting 4:22 pm, Shabbos Ends 5:36 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

The Kollel connection this week is dedicated as a merit for Debbie Mindel, Devorah bas Raizel Chaya, may she have a complete recovery among all those who need it!!! Our thoughts and prayers are with Debbie, her husband Ray, her children Reva  and Simon,
and the entire family.

This week we read Parshas Vayigash. The Parsha tells us of the dramatic revelation of Joseph to his brothers, when he finally told them who he was. “I am Joseph, is my father still alive? And the brothers could not answer Joseph, for they were shocked from him” (Genesis 45:3). The Medrash tells us that this incident is lesson for each of us, as we will one day be unable to answer when Hashem gives us rebuke at the end of our lives. The famous question asked is, where do we see in the words of Joseph a statement of rebuke? Didn’t he just ask his brother’s a question?

The story is told of an expert teacher who had to give his students a lesson on a fast day. As they sat down for class, he looked at the faces of his students, and he could see all over them how they really did not want to be in class, but were stuck there because they had no choice. He realized that with this kind of attitude, the day would be a disaster, with a slew of complaints of how weak and tired they are because of the fast. As they sat down, before they began to study, the teacher told them “I am weak today because of the fast, let’s instead play a card game together”. With great excitement and energy, the entire class began to play, with no thought of the fact that it was a fast day. After 15 minutes, the teacher told them, “I had thought that due to the fact that it is a fast day, you will not be able to focus. However, I see that when you are excited, you have no problem even though it’s a fast day. Come take your books and let us begin to study, using the same energy and excitement you had to play cards”.

Joseph’s brothers had told him how he must have mercy and let Benjamin go back, out of concern for the health of their father Jacob. Joseph told them, if that is your concern, how could you have sold me to slavery 22 years ago? What happened to the worry for the health of our father Jacob then?

This, the medrash teaches us, is the yardstick that we each have to use in our own lives. The same way we find energy and excitement in our drive to earn money, to provide for our family, and to attain our physical goals in life, we must also show in our drive to attain spiritual goals in life. When we feel a lack of passion for the spiritual side of our life, we have to learn from the areas of life that we enjoy, and develop the same feelings for our drive to serve Hashem.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Toldos | The Kollel Connection

November 21, 2014 – Candle lighting 4:20 pm, Shabbos Ends 5:28 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

The Kollel Connection is dedicated in memory of the innocent victims of the barbaric terrorist attack that took place in Jerusalem this week. May Hashem bring comfort to all the widows and orphans caused by this tragedy, may He grant a speedy recovery to all those injured by these attacks, and may He avenge their deaths from the wicked animals who perpetrate such crimes.

This week we read Parshas Toldos. The Parsha begins will the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau. Isaac and Rebecca had been married 20 years, and they prayed that they be granted a child. Hashem heard their prayers and Rebecca became pregnant with twins. The Torah tells us that a very unusual thing occurred. There was a struggle in Rebecca’s womb. The Torah does not explain the nature of this struggle, but the Sages do. When Rebecca would pass by a house of Torah, Jacob would give her pain, as he strove to leave her womb. When Rebecca would pass by a house of idols, Esau would try to leave her womb. Rebecca was concerned with the opposite directions she was getting from her  children, and asked for an explanation from Hashem.

One of the most basic questions asked here, is to try to understand why Esau would  try to leave his mother’s womb when she passed by a house of idols?   After all, he was still a little baby in his mother’s womb. Our Sages teach us that when a child is its mother’s womb, it is the best time of its life. It need not do anything to support itself, yet it has the ability to learn the entire with an angel provided for this express purpose. Why then, would Esau want to leave his mother’s womb, and not experience the special holiness that was provided there? More than that, if Esau had not been born yet, how could he already have such an evil inclination to sin? Was he created with a handicap? Could he be held accountable for anything he did wrong?

There is a beautiful lesson here.  We often look around, and see a person who seems to have none of the challenges that we do. We get jealous of them, and envious. We feel like throwing up our hands and saying “it’s too hard!”. We have to realize, that this attitude is a mistake. Each one of us is born with a different challenge; Each one of us is created with a different situation – that will help us reach our perfection. The fact that Esau may have had a desire from the beginning of his being to go and to serve idols did not absolve him from his obligation to try to overcome that desire. Indeed, that was the very challenge that Hashem had created for him to overcome.  When we feel a desire to run after a sin, – even something as basic as running after our evil inclination away from pure goodness, we have to realize that this challenge was given to us to overcome it. Rather than giving in to it, as Esau did, we have to learn to rise against it, and to overcome it.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Chayai Sarah | The Kollel Connection

November 14, 2014 – Candle lighting 4:25 pm, Shabbos Ends 5:33 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

The Kollel Connection is dedicated this week in honor of the upsherin (first haircut) of Zechariah Biron. Mazel tov to his parents, Naftoli and Tzirel Leah Biron, and to their entire family!!!

This week we read Parshas Chayai Sarah. In the Parsha will learn the story of the search for an appropriate wife for Isaac. The Torah tells us that Abraham dispatched his trustworthy servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. When Eliezer arrived in Aram Naharaim, the birthplace of Abraham, he waited by the water well to find a good match. The Torah then tells us that a girl came by to get water for her family. When she left from the well, Eliezer ran after her. The Sages ask, what made Eliezer run after this girl? They explain that when Rebecca came to the well, the water rose to her.  Eliezer saw this, and realized that she must be a special person, and therefore ran after her.

Where do the Sages see in the Torah that the water rose toward Rebecca? Nachmanidies explains that when the Torah tells us later that she fed all of Eliezer’s camels, it says “and she drew the water for all his camels” (Genesis 24:20). That clearly indicates that  Rebecca not only gave the water to the camels, but also drew it up from the well. When Rebecca took the water for herself, it just says “and she filled her jug” (Genesis 24:16). It does not say that she drew it,  and our Sages deduce from here that she did not have to draw it – as the water rose by itself. When Eliezer saw that miracle, he ran after her.

The commentaries ask, if Rebecca was so righteous, and the water rose to her so that she shouldn’t have to draw it when she took it for herself, why wouldn’t the water rise also when she had to give the camels to drink?

The Kedushas Levi offers a beautiful thought, that provides us with an amazing lesson and attitude for life. When Rebecca was drawing water for herself, Hashem made a miracle that the water rose, so she would not have to have the pain of drawing the water. Later, however, when she was drawing the water for Eliezer’s camels, she was involved in an act of chesed, an act of kindness. Doing that was a mitzvah. The more a person exerts themselves in a mitzvah, the greater the power of the mitzvah is. Therefore, Hashem did not make a miracle for the water to rise by itself, so that Rebecca would have to work on drawing the water and get a greater mitzvah.

The lesson we are taught is to appreciate any efforts that we expend for a mitzvah.  Rather than trying to lessen our efforts for a mitzvah, we must value them and appreciate them. They provide us a chance to make our mitzvah more powerful, and an opportunity for growth with them.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Lech Lecha | The Kollel Connection

October 31, 2014 – Candle lighting 5:40 pm, Shabbos Ends 7:15 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

This week we read Parshas Lech Lecha. The Parsha begins with the test that Hashem gives to Abraham, telling him “Go from your land, from your father’s house, to the  land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). The commentaries wonder, if Hashem’s intention was to have Abraham go to the land of Israel, why didn’t He tell Abraham right away that he should go to Israel? Why did He leave it so ambiguous, having Abraham travel and not even know where he was traveling to?

The Stiepler Gaon gives a beautiful answer. He explains that human nature is, when we travel somewhere, we constantly analyze how much more time / distance is left on our trip. If Abraham would have known that he was headed to Israel, then the travel that he endured would have been much easier. He would have constantly had a thought, “only 400 miles left”,  ”only 300 miles left”, …. Now that he had no idea where he was going, he was left with a constant question in his mind: “How much longer to my journey?” He never had that feeling that the journey was coming to an end. That made the trip so much harder, and left him with a much greater challenge in his journey.

This idea is one that we often find ourselves in. In our journey through life, we often find ourselves in a situation of challenge. We want to grow, we want to start to do a mitzvah better, but we have no idea where this will take us to. We may feel that the challenge of not knowing where we are headed to, seems to be overwhelming. At that time, we have to remember that we are descendants of Abraham – and we have the strength to follow in his footsteps. Just as he traveled to the unknown, following the will of Hashem to wherever it would take him, so too we must travel in life, to wherever Hashem expects us to go.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Ki Tzaisai | The Kollel Connection

September 5, 2014 – Candle lighting 7:06, Shabbos Ends 8:13

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.   We appreciate your comments and feedback. The Kollel Connection is dedicated this week in memory of Melvin Robbins, whose yartziet was this week.  

This week we read Parshas Ki Tzaisai.  Parshas Ki Tzaisai contains many varied commandments. At the end of the Parsha, the Torah tells us “A complete and correct weight shall be for you, and a complete and honest measure shall be for you … (Deuteronomy 25:15).  Rashi quotes the words of our Sages that the ending words “shall be for you” indicate that if we are honest, Hashem promises us that in return we will have something – a lot of material success. Indeed, the Sages teach us that when a person passes away, the first question he is asked in heaven is, “were you honest in business”?

The Chofetz Chaim adds, that when a person does what they are supposed to, blessing resides in all that they do. He explains that when a person does what Hashem wants, Hashem brings His Divine presence to be with him or her. Just as when a wealthy parent visits a poor child, they bring something along with them, so too when Hashem comes to us, He brings blessing to us. However, that’s only true if we are honest. Too often we get overcome with temptation, and end up doing something dishonest. In that case we are like a child whose parent comes to give him a present, but he slams the door and doesn’t let his parent in. The Chofetz Chaim explains that Hashem stands by a Jew’s door waiting to give him or her blessing and success. But instead of acting with honesty and allowing Hashem in, he or she does something dishonest, and Hashem removes the blessing He was waiting to give us. This is the power that being honest has, aside from the merit it carries in the world to come.

There is a story brought down of a time in the last two hundred years, when there was a drought in one of the Arab Lands. The local King summoned the Jewish Rabbis, and told them “I know that if you pray there will be rain. I am decreeing that if there is no rain within the next seven days, all the Jews in my Kingdom will be thrown into exile and banished from here.” The Rabbis declared public days of prayer and fasting. As the seventh day approached, they declared a special day of prayer, where every single man, woman, and child must appear in the main synagogue in town. The next day thousands of Jews gathered to pray. Suddenly, the entire crowd was silenced, as the Rabbi announced “whoever has the power to help now and doesn’t, will not have atonement for this.” Suddenly, a simple shopkeeper who sold vegetables called out “Wait for me!” he ran to his store, brought back his scales that he used to weigh the produce that he sold, and put them on the table. He then burst out in tears “Master of the world! In my entire life I was careful to give every single customer what they paid for! I never took money that I didn’t deserve! In the merit of my honesty, please have mercy upon your people that we won’t die in a drought, and we won’t be banished from our homes!

As soon as he finished speaking, the skies darkened, and rain came down.

This is the power of honesty and integrity that bring the greatest blessing from Hashem.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Bamidbar | The Kollel Connection

May 23, 2013 – Candle lighting 7:57, Shabbos Ends 9:06

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

This week we read Parshas Bamidbar.  In Parshas Bamidbar the Torah teaches us about the flags that were set up for each tribe in the desert. Rather than having one national flag for the entire Jewish people, each tribe had its own individual flag. In this week’s parsha we learn that these flags were set up in the second year from when the Jews had left Egypt. A classic question asked by our commentaries is, why would Hashem have had them wait a full year – till the second year from the Exodus, to command us to set up the individual flags for each of the tribes? Why couldn’t the commandment to make flags for each tribe be given as soon as the Jewish people left Egypt?

In a beautiful thought, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky tells us that the flags given to each tribe could have presented a challenge for the Jewish people. We all understand that when Americans see the famous picture of marines putting up the flag on Iwo Jima, there is a patriotic feeling that is aroused in them. When a Russian sees the Russian flag raised over Crimea, he feels a patriotic flow of emotion. In the case of the tribal flags that the Jewish people had, however, there was a danger of having bad feelings aroused. Since these flags were tribal ones, it was very possible for each tribe to feel that their flag or symbol separated them from the totality of the rest of the Jewish people. Therefore, the first year that the Jewish people were in the desert they were not given the mitzvah to make these flags – so as not to cause any feelings of separation between Jews.

The second year, there was a new factor to take into consideration. We know that the Talmud describes the unifying factor the Temple has on our prayers. When a Jew lives to the North of Jerusalem, he turns to the South to pray. When a Jew lives to the South of Jerusalem, he turns to the North to pray. If he or she is to the east, they face west, and if they live to the west, they face east. The end result is that every Jew all over the world is facing the same direction to pray. This is an amazing factor that expresses and causes unity among all Jews.

This, Rav Kamenetsky explains, is exactly why the commandment to make flags could only take place in the second year of the Exodus. Once we had the Tabernacle built, and we had the unifying factor that would bind all Jews together in place, we could now show the individual power of each tribe. As long as everyone was headed in the same direction, with the same goal of serving Hashem in mind, we were fine to have the individual flags that stood for each tribe’s unique strengths. Just as the limbs of a body have their own individual jobs, but all work together for the same cause, hopefully each Jew sees their own individual personality as part of one great power that serves Hashem together.

Hopefully, as we think about this concept of unity accomplished by having the Tabernacle to bring us together, we can all find the commonality we need in our times to bring the Jewish people. Certainly we  have a lot of different strengths, and a lot of different ideas. If we can use them all for one common goal of serving Hashem, they will hopefully unite us together as one.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

To sponsor an issue of the Kollel Connection, please email BJOC@bensalemoutreach.org  Sponsorships are only $36 a week.

Parshas Bechukosai | The Kollel Connection

May 16, 2013 – Candle lighting 7:51, Shabbos Ends 9:00

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

We appreciate your comments and feedback.

The Kollel Connection is dedicated this week in honor of the upsherin (first haircut) of Zechariah Biron. Mazel tov to his parents, Naftoli and Tzirel Leah Biron, and to their entire family!!!

This week we read Parshas Bechukosai. In Parshas Bechukosai, the Torah tells us of  the blessings that will occur if we keep the Torah and keep its commandments. Then, the Torah proceeds to list 98 curses that will befall the Jewish people if we don’t study the Torah, and don’t heed its commandments. The graphic details of horror and punishment that we are warned will befall us, are enough to melt even the stiffest heart. Because of the harshness of these curses, they are usually read in a lower and quicker tone than the rest of the Torah reading. There were Synagogues where they were read so silently, that it was almost as if the one reading the Torah was reading them to himself. The Chofetz Chaim spoke out against this custom, explaining that this is not proper. If  we are obligated to read these curses from the Torah, then it is obvious that Hashem wants us to hear them and to be moved by them, so that we will improve our behavior and come closer to Him. If they are read so low so that no one hears it, we have defeated the purpose of having this Torah reading.

In truth, when we hear these curses that are promised to the Jewish people if we do bad, a question does come to mind. As we know, Judaism teaches us that Hashem created the world to give us pleasure. He has created a special place, the world to come (Olam Haba), where we will one day get the greatest pleasure imaginable. In the meantime, to get to that world, we have to go through challenges in this world. Every time we do a positive deed, (a mitzvah), or we overcome temptation to do a sin, (an avairo), we earn reward in the world to come. Every time we live through a situation of challenge, (a nisayon), we become more perfected, and earn more of a reward in the world to come. This is all explained in beautiful detail in the first chapter of the classic work “Path of the Just” (Messilas Yeshorim).  Where do the horrific punishments spoken of in this week’s Parsha come in to all of this?

In a beautiful analogy, the commentators explain that the very punishment that Hashem promises us, is also an illustration of his love and care for us. Imagine the child who runs into the street in front of his parents’ house. Miraculously, he or she is not hit by a car. What do a caring father or mother do? Will they ignore the incident and pretend that it didn’t happen? Such an attitude will certainly encourage the child to do such a reckless and crazy thing again. A loving parent, who truly cares about the life of their child, will make sure that some form of punishment is given to them. Although it may be bitter for the child right now, in the end the parent may well be saving their child’s life.

In a similar way, we have to understand the concept of punishment from Hashem. Certainly punishment is hard to accept, and we hope not to have to taste it. Certainly it is easy to talk when we are not the person who has to experience it. However, the fact is that Hashem did not rely simply on the promise that He made to us of everlasting reward to make sure that we live our life the way that we should. Even though that promise of eternal pleasure that is the most powerful feeling in the world should have been enough to motivate us, He loves us to much to rely on that alone. In order to make sure that we live our life properly, in order to for us to use the golden opportunity that life presents to us, He has warned us of horrible punishments if we don’t listen to Him. This is exactly what a loving parent does when they want their cherished child to succeed in life – to push them forward by promising dire consequences for misbehavior, so that they will not copy the mistakes of others.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

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