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Shabbat Parashat Toldot 5782

Toldot | 2 Kislev 5782 | 06/11/2021

Parashat Hashavua: Change in Human Initiative Pattern

One of the major themes in Sefer Bereishit is the contrasts between each of the righteous patriarchs and matriarchs. We will only mention some of the terms used: Avraham represented chesed (kindness), Yitzchak epitomized yir’ah (awe), and Yaakov is the symbol of emet (truth) and/or tiferet (grandeur). Let us focus on a far less famous contrast – the nature of the struggles to emerge safely as a pillar of the Chosen Nation.

Ask the Rabbi: Tevila of Something that Turns into a “Meal Utensil”

I received an ornamental honey dispenser and glass plate. I want to use the plate every Shabbat to hold challa rolls for lechem mishneh. Does it require tevilat keilim, assuming that it was made by a non-Jew(ish company)?

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Message for Municipal Responsibility

My dear sirs and brothers – I find it to be a personal obligation to “awaken your spirits” in regard to the holy work that your honorable roles make you responsible for at this time. The situation in the city is very lowly at this time. In your hands – only in your hands – the lot of the city is found. Our holy city, besides its public value to us as its citizens, also has a great value to the nation. My dear sirs, do not retreat because of some obstacles, which you might encounter in your paths in the beginning of your work. If you will only choose to meet together, as the law requires the joint meetings of the council, you will succeed with Hashem’s assistance, to arrange the complicated matters of our city in a proper and desirable manner. From my perspective (as rabbi of the city), I give you my support to carry out matters according to what your hearts see as correct, which I will view as correct for the good fortunes of the holy city. This applies as well to matters connected to the financial state of the office of the rabbinate in the city, as well as other similar matters that require solutions. Just do not weaken your resolve to lead the public. This is especially true during these days, as Pesach draws closer, as the bitterness of the lot of our brethren who are poor affects every one of us whose human heart and Jewish spirit live in his midst. Be strong and exert yourselves, and Hashem shall be with you to set your actions in a manner that will bring respect and glory.

P'ninat Mishpat: Reservation of an I-pad Game – part I

The defendant (=def), a school within the broader Charedi community, reserved from the plaintiff (=pl) a navigation game for 100 girls to play in a forest, which includes madrichot, an app that needs to be installed on iPads, and riddles. The price was 3,500 NIS for the game and 1,200 NIS for renting the iPads. The arrangements were discussed by phone and WhatsApp between def’s secretary and social coordinator and pl’s secretary, who sent a contract to def. The contract states that if there is a cancelation within 36 hours of the event, the client has to pay 3,500 NIS and has to pay 10% of the order per month of late payment. Def’s principal asked about the appropriateness of the riddles for the girls and was assured that pl is religious, the riddles are appropriate, and the iPads will have only the game. Def’s secretary signed the agreement the day before the planned activity and def were told to go quickly to pick up the iPads by 6:00 PM. It turned out that the iPads had other apps, but pl told def they could be blocked. The principal thought it was okay, but checked with the supervisor, who rejected that idea, and def canceled the order before 6:00. Def refused to pay, and so pl is suing for 3,500 NIS for the cancellation and 7,700 NIS for paying 22 months late. Def counters that a school is obligated by a contract only if they attached a seal in addition to a signature, and the former was missing. Also, def claimed that they were given until 6 PM to confirm or cancel and that the iPads were not the type they could use.

Toldot 5782
Microsoft Word Document

Toldot 5782

We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for:

Nir Rephael ben Rachel Bracha
Yisrael ben Rivka

Rivka Reena bat Gruna Natna

Arye Yitzchak ben Geula Miriam

Neta bat Malka

Meira bat Esther

Together with all cholei Yisrael

Hemdat Yamim is dedicated

to the memory of:

Those who fell in wars

for our homeland

Rav Shlomo Merzel z”l
Iyar 10, 5771

Rav Reuven & Chaya Leah Aberman z"l
Tishrei 9 ,5776 / Tishrei 20, 5782

Mr. Shmuel & Esther Shemesh z"l

Sivan 17 / Av 20

Mr. Moshe Wasserzug z"l

Tishrei 20 ,5781

R' Eliyahu Carmel z"l

Rav Carmel's father

Iyar 8 ,5776

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

Tamuz 10 ,5774

Rav Asher & Susan Wasserteil z"l
Kislev 9 / Elul 5780

R' Meir ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld z"l

Mrs. Sara Brachfeld z"l

Tevet 16 ,5780

R' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

Rav Yisrael Rozen z"l
Cheshvan 13, 5778

Rav Benzion Grossman z"l
Tamuz 23, 5777

R' Abraham Klein z"l

Iyar 18 ,5779

Mrs. Gita Klein z"l

Av 4

R' Yitzchak Zev Tarshansky z"l

Adar 28, 5781

R’ Eliezer ben R’ Yitzchak Steinberg z”l

R' George Weinstein,

Gershon ben Yehudah Mayer,

a lover of the Jewish Nation Torah and Land

R' Jack Levin,
Chaim Yaakov ben Shlomo Yitzchak HaLevi z"l

Tamar Lichtenstadt z”l

Hemdat Yamim
is endowed by Les z"l & Ethel Sutker
of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker
& Louis and Lillian Klein z”l

A weekly divrei Torah leaflet: A Glimpse at the Parasha, Ask the Rabbi, From the writings of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, zt”l, Pninat Mishpat (Jewish Monetary Law).