Volume 23 Number 32
Produced: Wed Mar 6 22:40:55 1996
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Administrivia
[Avi Feldblum]
120 yrs; Mishlo'ach Manos
[Mordechai Torczyner]
A ray of light in the darkness
[Shmuel Himelstein]
A Torah thought at this aweful time
[Shmuel Himelstein]
Eruv = Walled City?
[Yeshaya Halevi]
Haman's Calculations
[Elozor Preil]
How can we celebrate?
[Eliyahu Shiffman]
I am a Jerusalemite
[Israel Rosenfeld]
Lesson from the Megillah
[Moishe Kimelman]
Pesach and list of Days
[Chaim Schild]
Purim question: Homon in a pot
[Mordechai Perlman]
Purim question: Obligation of Mishloach Monos
[Mordechai Perlman]
Terrorism on a Bus
[Steve Gindi]
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From: Avi Feldblum <feldblum@...>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 22:35:12 -0500
Subject: Administrivia
Hello All,
This has been a bit of a tough early week for electronic lists. Someone
tried a version of spamming, where they forged email messages
subscribing real and fake addresses to all the email lists they could
find. Since Shamash hosts many lists, that meant the listproc got hit
with repeated requests to join 250+ lists. That, together with the
bounced messages generated from the bad address requests, was enough to
basically bring the system to it's knees. A few of us worked to stop any
additional requests from getting through, and then to remove all the
bogus subscriptions from all the shamash lists. As a result, you did not
get a chance to see the Purim edition before Purim. This evening I will
send out a number more of the Purim messages, even though we are already
somewhat passed even Shushan Purim.
Avi
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From: Mordechai Torczyner <mat6263@...>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 02:00:40 -0500 (EST)
Subject: 120 yrs; Mishlo'ach Manos
Thanks to Rabbi Moshe Bernstein, I have a source for the 120 year
limit. There is a Midrash, brought in Midrash Rabbah as well as in
certain old Targumim, indicating that Hashem chose to begin shortening
human lifespan in a move designed to shrink the human ego. I hope to post
the Midrash's exact location soon...
On a different note, it seems as though every Yeshiva Day School
student has heard that the 2 Types of Food for Mishlo'ach Manos should be
of 2 separate Berachos. I cannot find a source for this idea in any of
the standard Sefarim, which includes the Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, and
their commetnaries, as well as the later Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Chayyei
Adam, Mishnah Berurah, Aruch HaShulchan, Teshuvos VeHanhagos, and various
compilations of Hilchos Purim. Not only that, but it this rule is in
direct contradiction the language of the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, which
say that one can (should?) use 2 portions of meat; as of now, I only now
of "SheHakol" Meat (although if we can claim to have Mezonos bread, can
Mezonos Meat be so strange?...)
So does anyone have a source for this widespread custom?
Mordechai Torczyner
http://pages.nyu.edu/~mat6263
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From: Shmuel Himelstein <himelstein@...>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 20:40:22 +0200 (IST)
Subject: A ray of light in the darkness
As you are all probably aware, security has been beefed up tremendously
in Jerusalem, to the extent that we have soldiers at many bus stops and
other areas.
Today, Shushan Purim, a friend of mine who was waiting at a bus stop,
told me that a goodly number of people across the entire Israeli
spectrum stopped to bring these soldiers - men and women - Mishloach
Manot, while storekeepers in the area kept bringing them soft drinks
throughout the day.
A little good news in this dark time.
Shmuel Himelstein
<himelstein@...>
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From: Shmuel Himelstein <himelstein@...>
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 19:51:02 +0200 (IST)
Subject: A Torah thought at this aweful time
At this terrible time, I'd like to repeat a Hassidic comment I once
heard.
We are told that when Aaron's sons died, he remained silent, *vayidom
Aharon* - and in fact our Sages praise him for his ability to accept the
Divine decree.
A higher level than even this, says a Hasidic rebbi, is that described
by King David in Tehillim (Psalm 30, Mizmor LeDavid), where David
writes, *Lema'an yezamerecha chavod velo yidom* - "You are to be praised
in glory, and not in silence" - that even in the most difficult of
situations Hashem must be praised.
May all of the Jewish people be comforted at this time of our national
mourning.
Shmuel Himelstein
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From: <CHIHAL@...> (Yeshaya Halevi)
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 17:02:18 -0500
Subject: Eruv = Walled City?
Shalom, All:
Despite the fact this is being written on Shushan Purim, this is
a real question:
If the premise of an eruv is to establish a "wall" around an
area, do cities which have an eruv qualify as "walled cities" when it
comes to celebrating Shushan Purim? In respect to any other laws or
customs -- outside of carrying on Shabat -- dealing with walled cities?
<Chihal@...> (Yeshaya Halevi)
[Since a walled city has to have been walled at the time of Yehoshua, I tend to
doubt that there are too many cities that had eruvim then. Mod.]
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From: <EMPreil@...> (Elozor Preil)
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 16:56:18 -0500
Subject: Haman's Calculations
>Haman, however, was a non-Jew, who reckoned night after day. In other
>words, according to his calculation, Moshe was born on 6 Adar and died
>on 7 Adar. He therefore did not die on his birthday, indicating that he
>did not fulfil his mission - undoubtedly a bad sign for the Jews, thus
>making Adar a suitable month to carry out his plan.
Pretty cute "lomdus" [Talmudic logic - Mod.] , but this not only assumes
that Haman knew the "chap" [point/new idea - Mod.] that Moshe was born
at night, but that he was at the same time ignorant of the fact that the
Jewish day begins at night. Which yeshiva did he go to?
Remeber, thirty days before the holiday we begin to prepare...
[But when the moderator gets overloaded, at least I try to avoid "ovar
zemano, batul korbano" - get it out before it's totally too late :-) -
Mod.]
Kl tuv,
Elozor Preil
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From: Eliyahu Shiffman <RLSHIFF@...>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 09:48:42 +200
Subject: How can we celebrate?
In the face of what has happened, three times last week and now again
today, how do we celebrate Purim? How *can* we, with the graves still
fresh, with the country sitting shiva? Do we curtail our
celebrations/observances to the minimum required by halakha, or is this
davka a time when we must push ourselves to celebrate? I imagine that
there have been Purims in Jewish history that fell in the midst of
horror -- what did we do then? I think we have an obligation to
preserve our young children's innocence as long as possible, but I also
think we cannot just conduct ourselves as per usual. Is "mish'nikhnas
Adar, marbin b'simha" (when we enter the month of Adar, we increase our
joy) a description or a prescription? How can Purim be used as a tool
for guiding our reactions to the tragedies that have taken place? Is it
possible to drink enough to see the Moredekhaic side to the Hamanic
events we are witnessing?
Eliyahu Shiffman
Beit Shemesh, Israel
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From: <iir@...> (Israel Rosenfeld)
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 96 12:08 +0200
Subject: I am a Jerusalemite
I quote the Pesach Haggadah:
"In each generation, they stand over us to destroy us,
it is Hashem who saves us from their hands". Yes, I and mine will
celebrate Purim this year.
Happy Purim.
Yisrael
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From: Moishe Kimelman <kimel@...>
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 1996 16:02:46 +1000
Subject: Lesson from the Megillah
It occured to me today while looking over the Megillah that there may be a
lesson to be learnt that is relevant to today's tragic situation in Israel.
Mordechai sends Hasach to Esther to tell her to approach the king and plead
on behalf of the Jewish people. Esther refuses on the grounds that she will
most likely be killed in the process, and thus achieve nothing. Mordechai
replies that the Jewish people will be saved by other means if Esther does
not follow his instructions, and Esther will be the one who will suffer for
not doing her utmost to save her people. Upon hearing this Esther relents
and acquiesces to Mordechai's request.
Now what made Esther change her mind? The gemara tells us that she remained
a tzadekes throughout the entire time she was in the royal palace, so she
obviously had the Jews' welfare uppermost in her heart, and she must have
realized that Hashem would surely save his people. Her contention that her
efforts would be futile seems to be beyond reasonable doubt. So too her
suggestion that the king (who had not called for her for thirty days) would
surely summon her soon, and that it would then be an opportune time to deal
with the matter, seems to be flawless. After all what was the rush?
Haman's date for the destruction of the Jews was eleven months away.
The Megillah tells us that when Esther at first refused to approach
Achahsverosh: "vayagidu l"Mordechai es divrei Esther" - "and THEY told
Mordecahi the words of Esther". Why "they"? What happened to Hasach?
Every child who went to a Jewish day school knows the answer to those
questions. The Targum tells us that when Haman saw Hasach carrying messages
between Mordechai and Esther, he realized that some plan was afoot, and he
killed Hasach.
This may be the clue to Esther's change of mind. Even though her
credentials as a stateswoman were impeccable, and her policies were
well-thought out, when she saw that innocent people were being killed, she
realized that a change of policy was in order. It was time to discard all
statesman-like endeavours, and to get rid of the enemy without delay.
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From: <SCHILDH@...> (Chaim Schild)
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 08:32:15 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Pesach and list of Days
I really see no reason to make one's on chiddushim on this mneumonic.
Its quoted in full in Taamei Minhagim U'Mkorim HaDinim (approximate title).
Unfortunately, its not in front of me and I keep forgetting to check but
I think Atzmaut is not there.
Chaim
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From: Mordechai Perlman <aw004@...>
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 00:52:47 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Purim question: Homon in a pot
The Talmud tells us of a dispute as to whether Homon made
himself into a god or not. Assuming the opinion that he did make
himself into a god, if a k'zayis of Homon fell into a pot of meat, does
it make the meat forbidden to eat? Do we say that Homon is "nosein
ta'am lifgam" (gives off a taste which is not enhancing) because of the
refuse poured on him, or do we say that this is not enough to destroy
his regualr taste, perhaps because he tasted of refuse all the time?
Comments?
Mordechai Perlman
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From: Mordechai Perlman <aw004@...>
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 01:07:04 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Purim question: Obligation of Mishloach Monos
It's clear that cattle are obligated to give Mishloach Monos
because in the m'gilla it says (9:19), "and Mishloach Monos each man to
his friend". And we know that cattle are called men, as it says (Sh'mos
21:35) "And if an ox which is a man will smite his friend the ox ...".
Therefore they are included in the obligation.
The question is, is the ox who gores a person obligated? Since
the ox showed by his very action of killing the person, that he doesn't
think much of people, do we say that this action excludes him from this
mitzva or not?
Also, what about a Para Aduma? Do we say that since it is so
rare, therefore it wouldn't have a friend, and is free from the mitzvo?
Mordechai Perlman
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From: Steve Gindi <steve@...>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 12:22:37 +0200 (IST)
Subject: Terrorism on a Bus
I have put this posting off for a week and after hearing of todays
terrorist activities I wrote it.
I have never been known as a hawk and have no intention to become
one.
I had heard nothing before getting on the number six bus one week
ago. I sat on the bus while the radio was cranking out up to the
minute news about a terrible act of terrorism on two busses. 25
people dead! Demonstrators screaming, "Peres is a traitor!" "Rabin
is waiting for you!"
I sighed.
Just after my sigh the bus arrived at the seen, just past Jerusalem's
Eged - Central Bus Station, one building away from close family
friends, across the street from a massive office building project
which is to improve the Israeli economy. I was not prepared for
my eyes to be filled with the veiw of many hearses carting away
bodies and limbs and of the blackened frame of the totally destroyed
number 18 bus.
I cried and said "Baruch Dayan Haemet."
The government, for the past year or two, has been spewing out
what bargains it has been giving to Mr. Arafat. They have not held
him to his words to stop his war to drown the Jewish people in
the Sea. He has been touring the world informing the leaders that
he has finally won a battle or two.
If we are to proceed with peace we must see to it that the
Palistinians keep their word to stop terrorist activities. The
Israeli government can not afford to continue to give the
Palistinians more autonomous regions. The men who performed the
acts came from Hebron which is to be given to the Palistinan
Authority in the coming days. The Government does not plan to stop
this free give away. Apparently we must keep our part of the deal
and the Palistinans need not.
Steve Gindi
NetMedia - Customer Services
<Steve@...>
http://www-public.netmedia.net.il/~steve
Phone: 02-795-861 Fax: 02-793-524
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End of Volume 23 Issue 32
