‫בס“ד‬
Toronto Torah Beit Midrash Zichron Dov
Parshat Mikketz/8th Candle
Patience: The Key to Crisis Management
We are often confronted with crises
which require our attention and
intervention; we need to develop and
implement a timely and well-
constructed plan. Our parshah offers
helpful advice for facing such
situations.
After Yaakov refused to accept
R e u v e n ’ s o f f er t o g u a r a n t ee
Binyamin’s safe return from Egypt,
Yehudah allowed some time to pass
before approaching his father anew.
Eventually, Yaakov did agree to send
Binyamin with Yehudah in order to
buy food from Egypt. These events
force us to ask the following
questions: Why did Yaakov agree to
send Binyamin with Yehudah, but not
with Reuven? Was Yehudah’s a better
offer? A matter of timing? Some
combination of the two?
Rashi on Bereishit 42:38 tells us that
Yaakov turned Reuven down as a
result of his foolish suggestion that his
sons should die if he would not bring
Binyamin safely home, saying, “My
firstborn is a fool… Are his sons not
also my sons?” Rashi’s use of the
midrash gives us insight into Yaakov’s
thought process. Although they did
need food, Yaakov was not willing to
Parshah Questions
(Sources are provided to help the reader research answers)
 To whom was Reuven referring when he said, ‫?את שני בני תמית‬
)Baal HaTurim Bereishit 42:37)
 What does the word ‫ וחמש‬mean?
(Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam, and Radak to Bereishit 41:34)
 Why did Yosef not contact his father?
(Ramban Bereishit 42:8, Midrash Tanchuma Yoshon p.66, Daat Zekeinim MiBaalei
haTosafot Bereishit 42:1)
 For children: What can we learn from the words ‫?נער עברי עבד‬
)Rashi Bereshit 41:12)
Yeshiva University
Center for the Jewish Future
2 Tevet 5770/Dec 19, 2009
risk the lives of two of his grandsons to
guarantee the safety of his beloved,
youngest son.
Yehudah however, approache d
Yaakov from a different angle; he
pledged to be in eternal sin should he
not return with Binyamin. He also
waited until the famine had grown
harsher and there was a greater threat
to the entire family’s survival. Yaakov
agreed to Yehudah’s suggestion, and
we have two ways to understand
Yaakov’s agreement: (a) Yehudah’s
proposal of eternal sin as opposed to
Reuven’s offer of the death of his sons,
or (b) the elapsed time and
accompanying harshness of the
famine.
At the end of his life (Bereishit 49:4),
Yaakov chastised Reuven for his
impetuous nature. It was this nature
which led him to sin by switching the
bed of his father’s wife Bilhah. It was
his impulsive nature which caused
Reuven to lose his place as the chosen
heir of Yaakov. Yehudah, on the other
hand, was willing to wait out a situation
and suggest a plan of action which
would be accepted and more readily
implemented.
Meir Lipschitz
mlipschitz@torontotorah.com
Vol. I Num. 10
Meir Lipschitz
Perhaps we can apply this latter lesson
to Yaakov’s initial rejection of Reuven;
perhaps Yaakov turned down Reuven’s
offer because it was inspired by his
characteristic impulsiveness. In his zeal
to rescue his brother Shimon (and
continue the search for Yosef), Reuven
was willing to endanger his brother
Binyamin, and his own two sons. His
suggestion was rejected immediately
by Yaakov, for although his intent was
noble and his sincerity convincing, it
was a foolish idea. As the midrash asks,
“How could Reuven ever have thought
that Yaakov would accept such a
pledge?”
In contrast, Yehudah waited until he
knew that Yaakov would no longer be
able to refuse to send Binyamin; the
situation would require that he take this
risk in order to ensure his and his
family’s survival. Yehudah’s suggestion
and oath was not much better than
Reuven’s, since his father would not
want him to be in a state of perpetual
sin, but Yehudah knew he needed to
present a convincing argument as well
as a consequence of great value in
order to receive Yaakov’s approval for
the mission. Yehudah was able to
succeed, where Reuven failed, by
waiting for a more fortuitous time to
approach Yaakov. Yehudah was no less
sincere in his desire to protect
Binyamin and rescue Shimon, but he
was able to control himself and wait for
a more opportune time to suggest it to
Yaakov.
Yehudah did what Reuven could not,
control his emotions and desire to help,
and created a plan that would achieve
his intended goal. It is important to
implement this lesson, and emulate
Yehuda’s actions and approach in
order to most effectively deal with
situations as they arise in our lives.
mlipschitz@torontotorah.com
Huram, Hiram, Hirom and Chanukah
This is an abbreviated version of a
longer article, published in the
Center for the Jewish Future’s
“Chanukah To Go” on-line. The
longer version is available at http://
www.yutorah.org/togo/chanuka/
articles/Chanuka_To-Go_-
_5770_Rabbi_Torczyner.pdf.
In presenting the seventh chapter of
Melachim I as our haftorah for the
second Shabbat Chanukah, the sages
(Megilah 31a) introduce us to a story
of three men with near-identical
names, as well as a moral lesson of
broad sweep and penetrating depth.
Our story begins not in our Haftorah,
but in Divrei haYamim II 2:10-13,
which includes this message from
Huram, King of Tyre: I have now sent
you a knowledgeable, understanding
man, my master craftsman Huram. He
is the son of a woman from Dan and
his father is a man of Tyre; he knows
how to work in gold, silver, copper,
iron, stone, wood, purple wool, blue
wool, linen and crimson, and to
engrave any engraving and to design
any design which would be given to
him, along with your wise men and the
wise men of David your father. As the
Malbim notes, this occurred at the
start of the construction of the Beit
haMikdash.
Melachim I 7:13-14 mentions another,
similarly-named craftsman: And King
Solomon sent and took Hiram from
Tyre. He was the son of a widow from
the tribe of Naftali, and his father was
a man of Tyre, a coppersmith. He was
The 613 Mitzvot – Mitzvah 10 : Not to eat
items containing chametz on Pesach
This Mitzvah prohibits eating
mixtures which contain chametz, on
Pesach. In addition to actual breads
and cakes, this includes foods of
which some small part is leavened
grain; the Torah instructs us to stay far
away from leaven on Pesach.
This care may teach us a lesson
regarding laziness, the year-round
equivalent of chametz. chametz
2 Visit us at www.torontotorah.com
filled with knowledge and
understanding and intelligence, to
perform all of the tasks involving
copper. He came to King Solomon and
performed all of his tasks. This Hiram
is not the same as the earlier Huram;
he works only in copper, he arrives
at the end of the construction, and his
mother is from Naftali. This Hiram is
the man named Hirom in the Haftorah
for the second Shabbat of Chanukah.
[The Artscroll Stone Chumash
incorrectly identifies that Hirom as
King Hiram of Tzur; this is an error.]
This story is about more than an odd
interplay of names, though; both
Melachim and Divrei haYamim take
pains to present us with the lineage
of both craftsmen - the son of a
woman from Dan and a father from
Tyre, and the son of a woman from
Naftali and a father from Tyre. Why is
this information germane?
A midrashic approach (Shmot
Rabbah 40:4) offers deep moral
guidance: Great and small are equal
before Gd. Betzalel was from Yehudah
and Ahaliav was from Dan, and he was
paired with him.R’ Chanina said:
Great and small are equal… The
Mishkan was created by these two
tribes. So was the Beit haMikdash –
Solomon from Yehudah, with Chiram,
“the son of a widow from the tribe of
Naftali.”
Betzalel and Ahaliav, the team
responsible for construction of the
original Mishkan, were the products
results when a baker is slow to process
his dough; when we are slow to
perform a mitzvah, the resultant loss of
the opportunity is considered chametz
at any time of year. Just as we avoid
any product with the slightest bit of
chametz on Pesach, so we should avoid
any degree of laziness all year long.
torczyner@torontotorah.com
R’ Mordechai Torczyner
of opposite families, the royal clan of
Yehudah and the tribe that travelled
last, Dan, son of Bilhah, Rachel’s
maidservant. The two men could not
have hailed from more different
backgrounds, but together they built
the first building on earth where Gd
would be manifest and the Jewish
people could gather in worship.
Shlomo and the two Hirams, as the
midrash noted, carried the same
theme into the first Beit haMikdash.
Shlomo from Yehudah was paired
first with a descendant of Bilhah’s son
Naftali and then with a descendant of
Bilhah’s other son Dan to assemble
the first permanent home of HaShem.
Abarbanel (Melachim I 7:14) makes
this point even stronger in his
explanation of Hiram’s father’s
Tyrean lineage. Noting that Tyre
might simply refer to a geographic
origin, Abarbanel then adds that
Hiram might actually have been a
product of an intermarriage. This
possibility underscores the message
of the midrash above, that a Jew is
Jew, regardless of his background,
and that any of us can grow to
greatness.
Rav Mordechai Elon adds that this
message may have special relevance
for Chanukah, as we read about the
gifts brought for the mishkan by the
leaders of each tribe. The first nasi to
bring a gift is Nachshon ben
Aminadav, leader of Yehudah, and
the last nasi to bring a gift is Achira
ben Einan, leader of Naftali, from
Bilhah. With this we are taught, yet
again, that the entire nation exists on
the same plane. Each leader’s gift for
the mishkan is significant, but each
also functions as an equal part of the
greater unity.
This theme also unites the two
haftarot of Chanukah; both set the
table for our eschatological future.
On the day when we will truly stand
together, when we will look not at
tribe and lineage but at the
knowledge and understanding and
talent of the individual, then we will
merit a final ‫ חנוכת הבית‬for the ‫בנין עדי‬
‫עד‬, the eternal Beit haMikdash.
torczyner@torontotorah.com
 Ha’Am V’Ha’Aretz
R’ Mordechai Yosef Leiner—The Mei HaShiloach Russell Levy
Born in 1801 in Tomashov, Poland R'
‫שדרות‬
Torah in Translation
Mordechai Yosef Leiner was a student of ‫איתמר זולברג‬
Mei HaShiloach Part 2
the Kotzker Rebbe, Menachem Mendel ‫וַּ ִּ ּיבֶּ ן אֶּ ת הַּ ַּּביִּ ת וַּ יְ כַּ ּ ֵּלה ּו וַּ ִּ ּי ְס ּפֹּן אֶּ ת הַּ ַּּביִּ ת‬
Parshat Miketz of Kotzk, who also hailed from ‫ (מלכים א פרק ו‬5‫ֵּּג ִּבים ּו ְש ֵּדרֹּות ָּּבא ֲָּרזִּ ים‬
Tomashov. Eventually R' Leiner became )‫פסוק ט‬
May G-d be gracious to you (‫)יחנך‬, my son the first Izhbitzer Rebbe.
‫ כמעברה‬3491 ‫העיר שדרות הוקמה בשנת‬
(Bereishit 43:29):
R' Leiner's primary disciples were R' )‫עבור עולים מארצות איראן (פרס‬
A gemara (Berachot 33a) states: “Why is
th Yehudah Leib Eiger, grandson of R' ‫ הועברו למקום גם‬3491 ‫ בשנת‬.‫וכורדיסטן‬
Havdalah said during ‫[ חונן הדעת‬the 4
Akiva Eiger, R' Tzadok HaCohen of ‫ שדרות של אותם‬. ‫עולים ממרוקו ורומניה‬
blessing of the amidah, “gracious giver of
knowledge” RL]? Rav Yosef said: Since it Lublin, and his grandson R' Gershon ‫הימים היתה מקום מיוחד המשלב קהילות‬
[Havdalah] is about wisdom, they Henoch, the Radziner Rebbe and author ‫ אירופה וארצות המזרח החיים‬,‫מצפון אפריקה‬
instituted it in the blessing of wisdom”. of Petil Techelet.
‫באחווה ולומדים לקבל את העדות השונות‬
As well, the Talmud Yerushalmi (Berachot The Ishbitzer held a unique view of the ‫ עד היום אפשר לפגוש את‬. ‫בעם ישראל‬
5:2, 39a) states: “If there is no knowledge,
concept of hashgacha pratit, Divine ‫המתיישבים הראשונים בבתי הכנסת של כל‬
how can one differentiate [between
supervision of the individual. R’ Leiner ‫ אחד מראשוני‬. ‫אחת מהעדות השונות‬
Shabbat and the week RL]?”
considered every event in this world ‫ נתן היה טוראי‬.‫שדרות היה נתן אלבז ז " ל‬
These statements teach that knowledge is
and every action taken by man to be ‫ ב שע ה שעס ק בפ עי לו ת‬. ‫בחי ל הר גל ים‬
the ability to distinguish between two
absolutely determined by G-d. ‫ שמע נתן‬, ‫שיגרתית של פירוק רימונים‬
ideas.
For this reason Yosef blessed Binyamin R' Leiner was considered a very holy ‫נקישה המעידה על כך שרימון עתיד‬
with grace (‫)חנינה‬, from the gracious giver man; R’ Tzadok related that the Ishbitzer ‫ נתן לא היסס ויצא‬.‫ שניות‬4 ‫להתפוצץ בעוד‬
of knowledge (‫)חונן דעת‬. The Tribe of never engaged in sichat chulin, idle ‫ התרחק ככל שיכל ונשכב על גבי‬,‫מן האוהל‬
Binyamin was tasked with snatching that chatter. Ahavat yisrael, love of every ‫הרימון כדי למנוע את פגיעת חבריו שישבו‬
knowledge which is good among the non-
Jew, was another of R' Leiner's ‫ במעשה זה הציל נתן חיים של‬. ‫בסמוך‬
Jews and bringing the booty back to
Israel, as I have already explained hallmarks; he taught, in his commentary .‫חיילים רבים‬
previously. As well, when he sees that on the verse, “And you shall not wrong
‫ ממעמד של‬,‫במשך השנים התפתחה שדרות‬
bringing this knowledge into Israel would one another," that one should be
not be beneficial, then he sends it back. extremely careful not to harass anyone, ‫ חברות רבות‬. ‫מועצה מקומית הפכה לעיר‬
, ‫ החל מתעשיה‬, ‫הקימו מפעלים בשדרות‬
For this task, Binyamin needs great even those who are sinners, in any way.
equanimity. This is similar to one who runs ‫בין‬ . ‫ טכנולוגיה והייטק‬, ‫ מזון‬, ‫טקסטיל‬
The Izhbitzer’s best known work is his ‫המפעלים אפשר לראות חברות מובילות‬
down a steep hill into the valley below;
stopping in the middle of the hill and commentary on the Parsha, "Mei , ‫ ע ל י ת‬, ‫ א ו ס ם‬5 ‫ב מ ש ק ה י ש ר א ל י כ מ ו‬
standing in one place is exceptionally HaShiloach". He passed away on the 7th .‫ספקטרוניקס ואמדוקס‬
hard for him. Only one who has the of Tevet, 1854. rlevy@torontotorah.com
strength to stop at that speed can stand in ‫העיר שדרות ידוע כעיר מוזיקאלית ואמנים‬
one spot. ‫ אלה ספגה פגיעה קשה ובמשך שישה‬.‫לידם‬ .‫רבים גדלו בה‬
So, too, this tribe has equanimity when it ‫ כאשר בארץ‬, ‫ימים אושפזה בטיפול נמרץ‬ ‫) נחת‬1003 ‫ באפריל‬31 ( ‫כג ניסן תשסא‬- ‫ב‬
sprints to collect booty. If they see ‫ ביום‬. ‫הרעישו עולמות בתפילה לרפואתה‬ ‫ שדרות נכנסה‬.‫הקאסם הראשון בעיר‬
something deficient, they leave it behind. ‫ מ סר ה א ל ה ה י " ד א ת‬, ‫שי ש י י א ש ב ט‬
. ‫למציאות של חיים בצל התקפות הטילים‬
This is the meaning of the verse (Bereishit ‫ רוח גבורה מיוחדת‬.‫נשמתה לגנזי מרומים‬
‫ שיגרת חיים המתבססת על‬, ‫פחד וחרדה‬
49:27), “Binyamin is a ravenous wolf, in .‫יש בעיר הזאת‬
the morning he will eat spoils.” This ‫ למקרה‬,‫ למצוא את המחסה הקרוב‬,‫הישרדות‬
means he will run to capture everything. ‫ לדצמבר‬12( ‫ ל כסליו תשסט‬,‫שנה שעברה‬ ‫ כל אלו‬, "‫שבו תשמע האזעקה " צבע אדום‬
“And in the evening will distribute the ‫ החליטה מדינת ישראל לא לשתוק‬,)1003 ‫ אך גם‬.‫נעשו למנת חלקם של תושבי שדרות‬
booty,” meaning that he will take that . ‫יותר למצב המחפיר של העיר המותקפת‬ ‫בתוך המציאות הקשה תושבי שדרות לא‬
which contains good, and he will discard
‫רוח הגבורה של חנוכה באה לידי ביטוי‬ ‫ לא עזבו את המקום אלא חיזקו איש‬,‫נשברו‬
that which does not contain good.
‫את רעהו ואף את אלפי האנשים שבאו כדי‬
This is the blessing that Yosef gave him, ‫במבצע צבאי " עופרת יצוקה " שהביא‬
‫ במוצאי שבת בא‬. ‫לחזק את תושבי שדרות‬
“May G-d be gracious to you, my son”, ‫ בימים‬. ‫שסופו של דבר שקט יחסי לאיזור‬
‫ חזרו תמיר אבקסיס ואחותו‬, ‫ו ' שבט‬-‫אור ל‬
that he will have the profound knowledge ‫אלא ממשיכה שדרות להתפתח ולהוות סמל‬
‫ לפתע נשמע ה‬. ‫אלה מסניף בני עקיבא‬
and selectivity to separate and distinguish
.‫של אחדות וגבורה בקרב עם ישראל‬ ‫ סוככה אלה על‬,‫ באין מקום מסתור‬,‫אזעקה‬
between good and bad.
izolberg@torontotorah.com ‫אחיה ומנעה את פגיעת הטיל שהתפוצץ‬

Visit us at www.torontotorah.com 3
Shiur in review: Halachah and 21st Century Medicine
With recent great strides in the
scientific world, specifically regarding
advances in DNA profiling and genetic
screening, we are treading in
unfamiliar halachic waters. What is
the halachic response to the use of
DNA? Should finds made through
these scientific methods be
admissible in a beit din?
Potential Problems
Criminal Law
The Torah teaches with regard to
criminal law, “A single witness shall
not stand in testimony against any
man, for any iniquity or for any
error, regarding any sin that he
may commit; by the mouth of two
witnesses or three witnesses the
matter shall stand.” (Devarim 19:15)
The requirement for two witnesses
is uncompromising; no matter how
compelling the evidence, the
matter shall only stand by the mouth
of witnesses. A gemara (Makot 6b)
states that if two people watch an
incident together, and the window
from which they are watching is
only large enough for them to view
the incident one after the other, the
testimony is not acceptable. That
they are in the same room,
watching the same incident, does
not matter; this testimony in
unacceptable. This indicates that in
the world of criminal law, Halacha
would most definitely not accept
DNA evidence, no matter how
conclusive it may be, as it is not
verbal evidence given by witnesses
based on their observation of an
event.
Astronomical Numbers
Rav Zalman Nechemya Goldberg of
Yerushalayim notes that some object
to accepting DNA for matters of
Schedule for the Week of December 19, 2 Tevet
Sunday, December 20
8:15AM Community Beit Midrash at Marlee Shul
9:00PM R’ Azarya Berzon: Masechet Kiddushin in-depth, Shaarei
Shomayim Men and Women
Monday, December 21
8:00PM Itamar Zolberg: Classic Jewish Thought, Shaarei Tefillah Men
and Women
Tuesday, December 22
1:30PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Trei Asar-The Twelve Prophets,
Shaarei Shomayim with Mekorot Cancelled this week
8:30PM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: Minchat Chinuch, Clanton Park Men
Cancelled this week
4 We would like to thank koshertube.com for filming our shiurim!
Netanel Javasky
halachah due to the astronomical the eye can see, even if it is very small
statistical percentages presented by and can only be seen in the sun, is
scientists and laboratories. At times, considered a creature.
a lab may claim that the odds of
That which the naked eye cannot see
finding someone else with this exact
is of no significance for halachic
DNA (unless, of course, the
matters; this ruling of the Aruch
individual has an identical twin) are
HaShulchan has tremendous
one in a trillion. Since the lab has
ramifications in many areas of
never checked the DNA of even
halachah, and Rav Chaim Jachter
close to a trillion people, some
suggests that this may be a reason
argue that these large numbers are
why DNA evidence would not be
merely estimates, and one cannot
admitted in a Halachic court. Since
rely upon them for halachic matters.
DNA is most definitely invisible to the
Rav Zalman Nechemya rejects this naked eye, it warrants no halachic
claim, noting that DNA evidence attention.
should be no worse than personal
However, Rav Mordechai Willig
identification. The Torah allows us
suggests that even if we were to
to identify an individual based on
accept such an approach, DNA could
his appearance, knowing quite well
be utilized to identify remains of a
that there is a small chance that
dead husband, thereby releasing his
another person, somewhere in the
wife from her agunah status. Rav
world, may look exactly like the
Willig notes that Chazal (See Yevamot
identified individual. The Torah is
117a) were very lenient for the
not concerned for such an
testimony of eidut ishah, testimony
uncommon and rare possibility, and
that a woman’s husband has died.
therefore allows such identification
Although in all other areas of
in court. Similarly, argues Rav
halachah we require two kosher
Goldberg, although the labs have
witnesses, for eidut ishah we even
never checked the masses for a
accept people who are normally
positive match, nonetheless, the
deemed unqualified, such as a
miniscule odds may be relied upon
professional gambler. Rav Willig
for halachic matters.
concludes that perhaps in other areas
The “Invisible” Argument of halachah, such as determining
paternity, DNA may not be accepted,
Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein
but when discussing identifying
comments in his Aruch HaShulchan
remains of a deceased husband, the
(Yoreh Deah 84:36):
fact that DNA is invisible to the naked
The Torah did not prohibit that which eye is insignificant.
the eye cannot see, for the Torah was
Netanel Javasky presented this shiur as
not given to angels. Otherwise, note
part of his ongoing series at Bnai Torah
that some scientists write that the air
on Halacha and 21st Century Medicine.
itself is full of tiny creatures, and that
This shiur was the 1st of 2 on DNA in
every time a person opens his mouth
Halacha. To hear this complete shiur, or
he swallows some of them! Certainly
Part 2 of this topic, please visit our
their words are irrelevant; even if this
website at www.torontotorah.com
is so, it is insignificant because the
eye cannot see them. But anything njavasky@torontotorah.com
Wednesday, December 23
11:00AM R’ Mordechai Torczyner: The Torah of R’ Shimshon Raphael
Hirsch, 239 Franklin, Women Cancelled This week
8:30PM Meir Lipschitz: Parshah: Peshat, Derash and More, Clanton
Park Men
Thursday, December 24
8:30PM R’ Azarya Berzon: Machshavah and Life Issues, Clanton Park
Men
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