Pirkei Avos

Defence against evil

neighbour. Rabbi Naftali Reich asks: what if you have no contact to your evil neighbour- you , , have your life, and he has his. Does this still . ; apply? He answers this by saying says that eveNittai of Arbel said, distance yourself from a rything in the physical world is mirrored in the bad neighbor, do not befriend a wicked person, spiritual world. Just like there are germs in the and and do not rule out the possibility of retriphysical world, there are germs in the spiritual bution. world. So, by being near an evil person, you can contract these spiritual germs. The Sforno explains the Mishna as follows: You can ask the question: why did Hashem have to destroy the world with a Mabul? He could have just killed the evildoers. However, their wicked deeds had completely contaminated the actual Earth, so much so that it had to be subDo not befriend a wicked person: This is refer- merged in a huge Mikvah to clean it. ring to someone who is spiritually damaging. You should stay away from him yourself from This also works the opposite way. Once, the him even if he is a Chacham, a wise person, Chazon Ish was going for a walk in Bnei Brak, when he suddenly stopped, and says, It smells and will not harm you physically. good here. Why? Upon investigation, it was And do not rule out the possibility of retribu- discovered that two Yeshiva Bochurim had been tion: A Tzaddik who joins forces with a Rasha standing at that street corner, talking in learnwill be punished together with the Rasha. An ing! The Chazon Ish sensed this spirituality in example of this is Yehoshaphat, the righteous the air. king of Yehuda, who got punished for allying himself with Achaziah, the wicked king of Yisra- So, we see why this Mishna forewarns you to stay away from evil people. You will still imbue el. their wicked principles, even by just being near An alternative explanation of the first part of them. This why Nittai Haarbeili says Do not the Mishna, given by the Bartenura, is that it is befriend a wicked person. a case of Woe to a wicked person, woe to his Distance yourself from a bad neighbour: That you should remove yourself from the very vicinity of a person who harms other, as he is bound to harm you. ,

The Hasmonean High School Weekly Sedra Sheet

14th Kislev 10th December 2011
Dvar Torah

Living Torah
You are where your mind is

Issue No: 387 Shabbos Out: 16:50

Yaakov sent messengers ahead of him to Eisov, his brother, to the Land of Seir, to the field of Edom
Everyone is fully aware of the story at the beginning of this weeks parsha. Yaakov prepares to meet Eisov; he prepares himself for all eventualities to make peace, or to fight a war. The first stage in these preparations was to send messengers to Eisov. Who were these messengers? Rashi tells us that they were , literally malochim; this means the messengers were actual angels. At first thought this seems to be strange. From the story in the parsha the job that is performed by these malochim seems to be a simple job, easily performable by a human messenger. How does Rashi know that Yaakov actually sent real angels? The Mizrachi, Gur Aryeh and others say that the answer lies at the end of last weeks sedra.

accompany Yaakov in Chutz LAretz (outide of Israel). Now that Yaakov was on his way back to Eretz Yisroel the malochim of Chutz Laretz left him and the malochim of Eretz Yisroel came to escort him. Why didnt the malochim have their changing of the guard at border control? The malochim for Eretz Yisroel swapping at the point of entry to Eretz Yisroel? Rashi in Parsha Vayeitzei (28:12) says that malochim of Eretz Yisroel do not leave so how could they meet Yaakov whilst he was still in Chutz Laretz? Two answers: 1) Gur Aryeh: The reason why the Eretz Yisroel malochim came early to meet Yaakov was because Yaakov had an important job for them which was related to Eretz Yisroel. Eisov wanted to prevent Yaakov from obtaining Eretz Yisroel that was given to Yaakov by their father Yitzchok; so Yaakov sent malochim of Eretz Yisroel for this mission which was connected to Eretz Yisroel.

In this unusual circumstance they were allowed to leave the geographical Eretz Yisroel because the mission was connected to Eretz Yisroel. These malochim met Yaakov early : and were then sent on this mission. from that group (of angels) Yaakov took messengers.

The Chida adds that the place also stands for

Yaakov went on his way, and the angels of El-him met him. When Yaakov saw them, he said, "This is El-him's camp." 2) The Chida and the Gur Aryeh offer another answer that He named the place Machanayim emphasizes the power of the mind. The reason why they

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came to meet Yaakov whilst he was still in chutz laretz was Yaakov meets these angels and then Vayishlach starts with because Yaakovs mind was already focused on Eretz YisYaakov sending them on a mission to Eisov. roel. Even though his body was located in Chutz Laretz since his mind was fully focused on Eretz Yisroel it is as if he The place where Yaakov met these malochim was called was in Eretz Yisroel. Therefore, the Malochim of Eretz Yis camps, Is there any significance to this name? roel came to meet Yaakov in the correct place; as Yaakov, Why is the name of the place in the plural? courtesy of his mind, had already entered in to Eretz Yisroel. It is as if the malochim were not leaving Eretz Yisroel. Rashi explains that there were 2 sets of malochim (hence the plural). One set of malochim were to accompany Yaakov You are where your mind is. in Eretz Yisroel and the other group of malochim were to

Story

Dvar Torah

Rav Saadia and the Innkeeper

More than 1000 years ago lived a great and holy leader and teacher called Rabbi Saadia Gaon (892?-942). The Gaon (as the leading Sages of Babylonia Jewry were titled at the time) had many hundreds of pupils and all of them had a great thirst to learn. Even a casual movement or word from their revered teacher provided them a lesson for life. "What I didn't know was that several of my pupils had been searching for me, and several hours after I left the inn they appeared, hot on my trail. 'Did you see Rabbi Saadia Gaon?' they asked him, 'We have reason to believe that he was here.' "'Saadia Gaon?' replied the bewildered old Jew.'What would the great Rav Saadia be doing in a place like mine? Rav Saadia Gaon in my inn? No... I'm sure that you are very mistaken! There was no Rav Saadia Gaon here!' "But when the young men described me to him and explained about my exile and 'disguise', the old Jew grabbed his head and cried: 'Oy! Rav Saadia! Rav Saadia was here! You are right! Oy, Oy!' and he ran outside, jumped into his wagon and began urging his horse to go as fast as possible in the direction I had taken.

Preperation for war

It says in the pasuk Yaakov said: if Eisav comes to So Rashi wants to know how Yaakov could have carone camp and strikes it down (then I will fight with ried out tactical plans before turning to G-D. Clearly him) so the remaining camp will survive {32:9}. such a notion is unacceptable therefore Rashi was forced to conclude that Yaakovs manoeuvre of According to Rashi, Yaakov was sure that at least one splitting into two camps was not tactical but rather of his two camps would be saved and the fate of the part of his appeal to G-D. other one would be decided by Eisavs will, for I will wage war with him. To understand this we need to examine the content of Yaakovs prayer. Rashi writes this is what Yaakov Surely it would be easier to conclude according to said to G-d you gave me two promises firstly that the Ibn Ezra, who says that Yaakov was hopeful that you will guard me wherever I go and secondly return by dividing the camp at least one would survive. On to the land of your forefathers and I will be with you, what basis did Rashi conclude that he would have with these two promises I come before you. partial victory? Now, whilst G-d promised Yaakov that he would Even though the Rambam says that Yaakov knew of return home safely with his camp, Thus it turns out the promise given to Avraham that Eisav would not that Yaakovs division was not a direct preparation of wipe out the entire Jewish nation but only half of it. war but rather as he was about to turn to G-D in However, this does not seem like Rashis explanation prayer pleading for him to keep his earlier promises as he gives no hint of it. So we still have the question Yaakov found it necessary to delineate whom exactly of on what basis did Rashi conclude that he would he was praying for. Then armed with G-Ds protection have partial victory? Yaakov was confident that even if war would occur The Lubavitcher Rebbe answers that Rashi was puz- and Eisav would go to one camp containing Yaakovs zled by the following problem. When a person goes flocks and servants and strikes it down then the reto war his first reaction is that will help him either maining camp containing his family and the future of through a miracle or he will be assisted by above to the Jewish people will survive against Eisavs will fight within the laws of nature. He must also seek a for I will wage war with him. With the complete tactical plan. Nevertheless, by turning to G-D, you confidence that G-Ds promise would be fulfilled and make it clear that his salvation will not come through his family would be save Yaakov went to war. his own might but through the help of G-D. With this in mind it seems weird that Yaakov first made a tactical plan and then in the next pasuk davened to G-D.

One winter morning, two of his pupils happened to be walking in the mountains when they heard a strange sound on the other side of a hill. When they approached the summit they saw, to their great surprise, their master sitting on the snow-covered ground, weeping, praying and engaging in other acts of penitence. What could a tzaddik such as their teacher possibly need to repent for? Could he have committed some sin, G-d forbid? They hurriedly departed from that place. But later that day, they could no longer restrain themselves and asked their teacher what "After a short time he caught up to me, jumped from his the scene they had witnessed had been about. carriage and fell at my feet weeping: 'Please forgive me, Rav Saadia. Please forgive me; I didn't know that it was "I do that every day," he said to them. "Every day I repent you!' and plead with G-d to forgive my shortcomings and failings in my service of Him." "I made him stand up and brush himself off, and then said to him: 'But my dear friend, you treated me very well, you "Your failings?" they asked. "Of what failings does the were very kind and hospitable. Why are you so sorry? You Gaon speak?" have nothing to apologize for.'

"Let me tell you a story," said Rabbi Saadia, "about some- "'No, no, Rabbi,' he replied. 'If I would have known who thing that happened to me a while ago." you are, I would have served you completely differently!' "Suddenly I realized that this man was teaching me a very "At one point in my life I decided that all the honor and important lesson in the service of G-d, and that the purattention I was receiving from everyone around me was pose of my exile had been fulfilled. I thanked and blessed interfering with my service of the Creator. G-d must be him and returned home. served with joy, and without complete humility, joy is impossible. So I decided that I would spend several "Since then, every evening when I say the prayer before months in a place where no one recognized me." sleeping I go over in my mind how I served G-d that day. Then I think of that old innkeeper, and say to myself: 'Oy! "I dressed in simple garments and began my self-imposed If I had known about G-d in the beginning of the day what exile, wandering from town to town. One night I was in a I know now, I would have served Him completely differsmall inn run by an old Jew. He was a very kind and sim- ently!' ple man, and we spoke for a while before I went to sleep. Early the next morning, after I had prayed shacharis, I "And that is what I was repenting for this morning." bade him farewell and was again on my way.

Gematria of the Week:

" : The Baal Haturim elucidates a wonderful remez about Megilas Esther. " has the Roshei Teivos, 'Haman'. Haman, the most famously wicked descendent of Eisav, later attempted to destroy B'nai Yisroel, much like his evil ancestor, " , or as the Megillah puts it, "( ... Megilas Esther 3:13) (By Yoir Chalk)

Riddle of the Week: When is a person punished with 500 malkos after eating less than a kezayis of something forbidden? Answer to Last Weeks Riddle:
Who in the Torah used golden mice? Shmuel I 6:4 - Sarnei Pilishtim