Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

 

1)         This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Rav Ari Shvat

3)         Mazal Tov

4)         Mi SheBerach

           

 

 

 

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This Week at Midreshet

 

What an amazing trip! You've already heard about the first two days- the last day in Eilat our girls had the option of hanging out on the separate beach or going on a fantastic climb for a beautiful mountain view overlooking Eilat. Surprisingly both were well represented and everyone was happy with their choice. On the climb, the girls heard the story of how Eilat was captured in 1948. Afterwards, everyone came together to have a fun filled afternoon banana boating, kayaking and peddle boating. Wet but happy, we then started our long journey back home.

 

This week, the girls had the honor of visiting Chevron with Vicky. They toured and got to meet many people who live there and were blown away by their bravery and Emunah.

 

Shana bet went on a day trip this week as well, to Ramat HaGolan, where they learnt a lot about the Six Day War and the Golani Brigade. They visited an army exhibition displaying each unit's ammunition and saw a real army exercise take place. As well as thrilling, it was very educational and insightful and the girls had a wonderful time.

 

Everyone is so excited about this week's Rakezet Shabbaton. On Tuesday night, the girls went to help their Rakazot bake challah's in preparation for Shabbat.  They will be hosted by families in Ramat Eshkol and are looking forward to having a beautiful and meaningful Shabbat with Rina Zinkin, Lauren Goldshmidt and Yehudis Smith. 

 

Don't forget to visit http://midreshetmoriah.com/pictures/ to see the gorgeous photos from our Eilat trip!

 

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Don’t Be Religious- Be G-dly!

Rabbi Ari Shvat

 

 

In Parshat Vayera, we find a difficult conversation between Avraham and Hashem. We recall that Avraham was recuperating from his recent Brit Milah and Hashem comes to visit him, Bikur Cholim. Suddenly, Avraham sees 3 Bedouin idolaters walking in the desert and says:

 

"Adoni, im na matzati chen b'einecha, al na taavor me'al avdecha"

 

The second half of the pasuk is clear: “Please don’t leave me”. But there is a difference of opinion whether first word should be interpreted as if Avraham is addressing the angels (Adoni-my Master), begging them to partake of his hospitality, or whether he is talking to Hashem (“A-donay), requesting that Hashem stick around and wait until Avraham finishes serving his “honorable” guests.

 

The second explanation sounds sort of chutzpadik, and even illogical. If one were talking to G-d Almighty Himself, he would probably consider it to be the highlight of his life, and would definitely not put Him on “hold” to wait in order to “take another call”! That’s why it’s so difficult to understand why the poskim hold according to the second explanation, that one isn’t allowed to deface that word (“A-donay”) because it’s a holy name.[1]

 

I heard a nice answer from R. Noch Weinberg, who says that the answer is found in the Sifre,[2] where we find the Tannaim debating whether to let Rabban Gamliel, the Nasi, serve them at his son’s wedding. R. Yehoshua says of course it’s ok, because we find that Avraham serves his Bedouin guests, to which R. Tzadok answers, that’s true, but why bring a proof from Avraham if you can prove from Hashem? Don’t we allow ourselves to partake of all that Hashem constantly “serves” us: health, food, rain, etc.?!

 

In other words, Avraham allowed himself to ask Hashem to wait, because when he saw the opportunity for Hachnasat Orchim, he realized that he has a golden chance to be like G-d and serve others. We must remember why G-d was by Avraham in the first place? Because He wanted to visit the sick, He wanted to give. Avraham had to make a decision between speaking to Hashem or being like Hashem, being a giver! The Torah comes to teach us that the goal is not to be “religious” (of which speaking to G-d would be the classic example), but to be G-dly (just like He constantly gives, so we, as imitatio dei- wishing to emulate G-d, must try to be givers).

 

Rav Kook[3] stresses similarly that the modern world is not interested in shallow religions, usually comprised of Bible stories told in a childish form. Thank G-d, mankind has matured, is more intellectual than he used to be, and is looking for depth. The world is very thirsty for high ideals, which the Torah, when studied properly on a high level, is the only answer!

 

The goal of the Torah is for us to totally identify with Hashem and His ideals, and that’s why to be G-dly is a higher level than to be religious (just observing the do’s and don’ts because He said so, without internalization or identification). It’s greater to be like Hashem rather than to converse with Him! Don’t be religious- be G-dly!

 

“Hachnasat Orchim (hosting guests) is greater than meeting the Schina!” (Masechet Shabbat 127a).  

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 

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[1] Rambam, Yesodei HaTorah, 6, 9.

[1] Sifre, Dvarim 38.

[1] Eder HaYakar, p. 137.

 

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Mazel Tov                  

 

Engagements:

Pam Shams (08-09) and David Ness on their engagement

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Batya Levine (04-05) and Eli Wiener on their engagement

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Michal Mazurek ('05-'06) and Michael Twersky on their engagement

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Birth:
Jamie(Miller) (01-02) and Marc Srolovits on the birth of a girl

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadla lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.

Sari (Stein) (01-02) and Simcha Willig on the birth of a girl

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadla lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.

 

Cara (Stamler) (08-09) and Michoel Shapiro on the birth of a boy

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadlo lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim. Kshem shenichnas lBrit kein yikanes lTorah lChupah ulMa'asim tovim.

 

 

 

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp

 

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Mi SheBerach List

 

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

 

Mazal bat Pircha (3/11/11)

Malka bat Tova (10/10/11)

Shimon Dovid Yehoshua bat Rena (6/10/11)

Rifaela Chana Rivka bat Shayna Dena (6/10/11)- diagnosed with Non-Hodgken's Lymphoma

Rachel bat Mindel (6/10/11) - Lymphoma

Tzuriya Kochevet bat Sara - mother of 4 with inoperable stomach cancer (25/9/11)

Chaya bat Zecil (22/9/11)

Perel bat Malka (21/9/11)

Rachaylle bat Turan (21/9/11)

Miriam Leah bat Reizel Dena (21/9/11)

Zechariya Kalman Hakohen ben Yael Margolit (18/9/11)
Refael Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (18/9/11)

Tzipora Sara bat Esther Leah (18/9/11)

David ben Miriam (18/9/11)

David ben Rachel (18/9/11)

Rachel bat Kochava (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)

Chana Gitel bat Sarah Chana (18/9/11)
Sarah Sipora bat Shifra (18/9/11)

Moshe Eliezer ben Esther Miriam (18/9/11)
Hilda bat Yaffa (18/9/11)
Moshe Yitzchak ben Shoshana (18/9/11)

Aviva Miriam bat Esther ( 11/9/11)

Osnat bat Clara (11/9/11)

Refael Matisyahu Yaacov ben Gittel Rivka (11/9/11)

Avraham Yehuda ben Davida Yehudit (11/9/11)

Tziporah Faiga Bat Sima Shaindel (11/9/11)

Chava Deena Etya Bat Chaya Tziporah Sheva (11/9/11)