Kol Yaakov - Modiin JLC

Libraries are usually quiet
places to allow for contemplation
and concentration.
Yet, if you walk into a Torah
study hall, you may be surprised
at the decibel level and the
noise. Why is it that Jews study
out loud? Parashat Ki Tavo offers
an insight to solve this puzzle.
What truly distinguishes us from the
animal kingdom? Many argue that the
distinctive quality of the human being is the
power of speech and communication. This
week’s parasha offers a potent lesson into
just how powerful an effect speech has on
leading to changes in behavior.
The opening passage of Ki Tavo
describes the commandment for a
farmer in Israel to bring his first
fruits to the Temple and say: “I
declare today before Hashem that
I have come to the land that
Hashem swore to our forefathers
to give us.” (Devarim 26:3) The farmer then
continues to recite a special formulation
thanking Hashem for His goodness.
We can understand the special form-
ulation and offering of thanks, but why
must the farmer preface with stating clearly
exactly why he is there? Rashi explains that
the purpose of this declaration is to show
that the farmer is not unappreciative for
the land of Israel. But isn’t the farmer’s
very coming a display of his gratitude?
Why must he actually say it?
We derive from here an important lesson
for Jewish living. Speech is a much more
PARASHA insights
REPRINTED WITH KIND PERMISSION OF OHRNET MAGAZINE, PUBLISHED
BY OHR SOMAYACH INSTITUTIONS; AVAILABLE AT: OHR@OHR.EDU
And even though
every prayer is answered,
there are
prayers which are answered in days, and
prayers which are answered in years.
The essence of one’s prayers should
be for the whole community, rather than for
oneself. And the ideal time for those prayers?
Immediately after one
has performed a mitzva.
The Chafetz Chaim
(continued on other side)
ד " סב
No.264 18 th Elul 5770/28 th Parashat
August 2010
Modi’in 19:48
19:44 London 20:46
19:55 Manchester 21:07
18:49
Kol
Yaakov
by Rabbi Baruch Leff
PARASHA INSIGHTS BASED
ON, AND INSPIRED BY,
THE TEACHINGS OF
RAV YAAKOV WEINBERG,
OF BLESSED MEMORY.
forceful and explosive
force than we usually
consider it. Expressing
gratitude through speech
is very different from merely
feeling or thinking it. This is
because although what we
think about shapes who we
are, to a certain extent, what
we say forms our identities much more.
The concept of vows, and the consequences
for breaking them, displays this.
Vows are discussed in Bamidbar 30:3:
“If a man takes a vow to Hashem,
or swears an oath to prohibit a prohibition
on himself, he shall not profane
his word, he shall keep all
words that have come out of his
mouth.” The language employed
here for the prohibition is not
of the usual kind. The Torah
could have said “lo yaavor (do
not violate)” your word; instead,
it uses “lo yachel - do not profane.” There’s
clearly a message conveyed by using the
more dramatic choice of “do not profane.”
In addition, the second half of the statement
also stresses speech more than is
necessary, when it states: “...keeping the
words that have come out of the mouth,”
and not simply: “...keep your promises.”
Why?
The Torah uses the language of “do not
profane” your words. Don’t cheapen them,
because a word is a reality. The problem
with breaking a vow is not simply that one
PARASHA
insights
In time of trou- “And we cried out to Hashem, the G-d of our
ble it’s not enough
fathers, and Hashem heard our voices...” (26:7)
to pray only using
the regular words of our set prayers, but
rather, one must cry out to Hashem; then one
is answered immediately. For notice here that
the verse does not say that Hashem heard our
prayers, but that He heard our voices!
RABBI LAZER BRODY SEE POSTER
ON BACK
RETURNS TO MODIIN FOR DETAILS
THIS COMING
MONDAY
NIGHT
Loud
Libraries
(continued on other side)
Men’s
1-to-1
LEARNING GROUP
TUESDAYS
8:00 - 9:00 pm
Kipodan Shul
Men’s
FRIDAY
MORN I NG
LEARN I NG
with Coffee
& Rugelach
For details:
05276-31301
Women’s
1-to-1
LEARNING GROUP
MONDAY EVENINGS
For details:
08-974 1302
Boy’s
LEARNING/
ENRICHMENT
4 th - 7 th GRADES
7:10 - 8:10 pm
Beit HaKnesset
KIPODAN
(Rehov Kipodan)
Beit HaKnesset
RIMON
(Rehov Rimon)
For registration:
05276-31301
Lessons
EXPERIENCED
TEACHERS
PERSONAL
ATTENTION
FOR DETAILS, CALL
05276-31301
Details from Yonatan Libman: 972-8-9741550 email: jlc@modiinjlc.com Visit our website: www.modiinjlc.com
g
g
g
g

To change our life situation – what life
does or does not give us – is not simple.
For Hashem chooses our environment with
care. He selects our strengths and weaknesses
on an exact basis. As a doctor calculates his
prescription before he writes it down, so too,
Hashem decides our circumstances – who will be strong
and who weak; who wise, and who foolish; who wealthy
and who poor. (Talmud Bavli, Nida 16b)
Therefore, to change our life situation, we need to
change ourselves. Only once we are different people with
different sets of needs, will we, in turn, receive different
types of heavenly help.
To change ourselves, however, is not simple…
Think about a raw potato – not very appealing. If we
eat it as it is, besides the unpleasant taste, we end up with
Kol
Yaakov
Loud
Libraries
is being dishonest; it is
much more than that. You
destroy the reality that you
have created when you violate your vow.
Saying something out loud has a deep and profound
effect upon the human personality. It is not as we think
- that speech is only significant when speaking one’s
mind in public as opposed to in private - because a vow
is as obligatory stated in private as in public.
Rather, the strength of bringing thoughts from the
mind into the realm of speech applies even in privacy.
We may think that cursing at someone or using foul
language in private is harmless. While it is preferable
to cursing in public, it still does considerable damage
to one’s spirituality because when thoughts become
speech, a more powerful transformation has been effected.
Speech creates a new reality, and has a strong
impact upon the person who speaks it.
If we have thoughts that we shouldn’t have, we
should dare not say them. Lusts and desires spoken
achieve a force that words left unspoken do not have.
The same is true for positive growth. If I think thoughts
of improvement I do not attain much growth. But saying
that I want to learn more, love Hashem, pray, love
my parents more, love my spouse more, is already more
than just an undertaking; it is already in the physical
realm, to a certain extent, and is somewhat as if I have
carried out my words.
And if I do have thoughts that I should not have,
saying aloud that I wish I would not have them is a great
benefit for removing them. There are times when we are
allowed to falsify facts and mislead for ‘the sake of
peace’. This is derived from Hashem Himself, who did
this in order to maintain peace between Avraham and
Sarah (See Rashi, Bereishit 18:13. This concept cannot be universally
exercised, and one should consult a halachic authority for
specific questions as to its application.) Regarding Yaakov’s
deceivingly diverting Yitzchak’s blessing from Esav to
himself, the Torah approves of his behavior, as does
Yitzchak upon discovering what had occurred (see Bereishit
27:33), and considers this episode a justified event for
the proper development of the Jewish People.
A word that is unrefined or rough has an effect upon
us and taints us. A spoken word changes us. We must
carefully consider our words and not haphazardly state
YOUR GENEROSITY IS
HELPING EXPAND OUR
PROGRAMS IN MODIIN
P.O. BOX 4105 MODIIN ILLIT 71919 ISRAEL
stomach pains. However, if we cook it
first – roast it until it is soft – it’s
delicious. Now, while no one asks the
potato if it minds being cooked – being
grilled on a fire or boiled in a pot – still,
we do it. Even though the potato might find
this uncomfortable, painful, we go ahead. This is something
we just need to do – and we do it.
And similarly, if we want to improve our life situation,
we must be ready to sit ourselves on a fire or in a
pot, and cook – at least a little. For, (to be to continued) make real
changes needs real efforts – discomfort, and even pain.
Still, the results of such labors – of such cooking – make
the trouble well
worthwhile. A lecture for men and women by
(to be continued) the internationally-acclaimed bestselling
author and spiritual guide
by Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz
Cooking
our opinion.
We must make
sure our message
is properlyarticulated.
We must
be careful how
we speak to
others, and
how we convey
our thoughts.
This insight
is the reason
why verbal
confession before
Hashem is
such an integral
part of
teshuva (repentance)
- the
8:15 pm
Monday
30 th August
Entrance: ₪15
How to
Win a
Favorable
Verdict
Beit Haknesset
ODAYAH
Rehov Nahar Hayarden/
Nahal Zohar, Givat C
For directions, call:
0527 631301
For sponsorship/co-sponsorship opportunities,
please email : jlc@modiinjlc.com
major theme of the month of Elul - in our preparations
for the High Holidays. As the Rambam states (Laws of Repentance
2:2, paraphrased):
“Repentance means to abandon the sin, remove it
from one’ heart, and resolve never to repeat it. One
must also regret the action. And one must confess
with his lips and say all of these things that he has
pondered in his heart.”
The phrase “with his lips” is similar to the Torah’s use
of “all that One comes of out more of his mouth”, to emphasize the
enormous than power that Fifty speech has in transforming a person
to repent. Hashem knows our thoughts, so it is obvi-
designs of
ous that we do not verbally state anything for His sake.
Rather, the Fridge
confession must occur for our growth’s sake.
Thoughts Magnets
must be released through the lips in order for
lasting change to take place. Without verbal confession,
without speech, repentance has not been achieved and
any thoughts of change will most likely dissipate.
This is Tel:
(972)
also why only thinking about Torah when we
504111697
study does not have the same power as verbally saying
Torah out loud, and indeed, some opinions maintain
that no blessing is required when only thinking Torah.
(See Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 47:4, with Mishna Brura)
The information won’t be recalled as well either, as
the Talmud states (Eruvin 54a): “The saying of Torah is of
the essence of learning Torah.”
So, don’t hold back -
speak your mind.
Reprinted with permission from
aish.com
a leading Judaism website
THIS PUBLICATION CONTAINS WORDS OF TORAH: PLEASE TREAT IT WITH RESPECT; DON’T ALLOW IT TO BE DISCARDED IN GARBAGE