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'Kiddush HaChodesh, A fresh new start'
The Pasuk uses the term ‘vichamushim’ to describe Bnei Yisroel
when they left Egypt. There are a number of explanations for what
'vichamushim' means.
[1] It means that only one fifth of Klal Yisroel left Egypt. Four fifths of
Klal Yisroel were killed during the plague of darkness, because they
weren't befitting to be redeemed.
[2] A second explanation for 'vichamushim' is that the Jews were
armed with Mitzvos. A question on this explanation is that the Pasuk
tells us that on the very last day before they left, they were ‘naked’ of
Mitzvas. So what Mitzva did they have now when they left?
[3] Targum Yonasan says 'vichamushim' means each family had '5
tafla'. Tafla means children, so the simple understanding of the
Targum is that each family had five kids. A glaring question on this
explanation is that from EACH pregnancy the women had [at least]
SIX kids. So what then does the Targum mean that they only had
FIVE TAFLA?
The Baeir Yosef provides us with a beautiful approach that answers
all the questions and ties all three explanations together. He
explains that the four fifths of Klal Yisroel who died, were only the
Jews twenty or older who were of age to be punished in the heavenly
court. Their children were certainly not deserving of punishment and
were therefore not killed. Thus there were many orphans who had
no parents. Suggests the Baeir Yosef, the remaining one fifth of Klal
Yisroel adopted all the orphaned kids! That is what the Targum
means when he says 5 ‘Tafla', i.e. five FAMILIES of kids. That
besides their own offspring, each family adopted four other families
so that all the children of the four fifths of Klal Yisroel who died would
have surrogate parents! That was the big Mitzva that they were
armed with when they left Egypt. According to the Baeir Yosef’s
approach, all three explanations are one and the same!
We all know that throughout the recent generations there have been
many Jews who have chosen different paths and have not remained
committed to Yiddishkeit. They have produced many 'orphans',
children and even grownups who don't know anything about the
beauty and depth of Yiddishkeit, and what our purpose in life is.
There are a number of organizations and special people to help fix
this sad trend. All of the Gedolei Yisroel laud their work and
encourage and ask all of us to do our share in this holy Mitzva. We
can all support these organizations [each person according to
his/hers financial situation] AND do our share in bringing these
‘orphans’ close to Yiddishkeit, by inviting them to our Shabbos
meals, talking & acting respectably in the work place & on the street,
etc.
I just wanted to tie this into ‘Inyanei Diyoma’ [the topic/matter of the
day]. Why is it, that people are so into watching and rooting for sports
teams when they aren’t the ones playing it? I think the answer is that
Hashem put into the world the strength to associate oneself with
others. ‘The team from my city that’s me’.
Like every mida, character trait, and force in the world, there is the
ability to channel this dynamic for the good. Just like one is proud
when the team in his city wins the World Series or the Super Bowl,
one should try to be proud of the spirituality of one’s city. We should
take pride in the special Rabbonim of our cities. We should take
pride in the great Yeshivos, schools, and Shuls of our cities. We
should take pride in the unity, chesed projects, and gemachs of our
cities. And just like people care so much for strangers on the team
that don’t know them at all [and may not care one bit about them] let
us try to use that force to care for and bring close Jewish strangers
who are distant from Judaism.
In the merit of this crucial Mitzva which parallels the Mitzva they had
when the left the exile of Egypt, may we merit soon the final
redemption speedily in our days.
Please send comments to sygross@gmail.com.
The Pasuk uses the term ‘vichamushim’ to describe Bnei Yisroel
when they left Egypt. There are a number of explanations for what
'vichamushim' means.
[1] It means that only one fifth of Klal Yisroel left Egypt. Four fifths of
Klal Yisroel were killed during the plague of darkness, because they
weren't befitting to be redeemed.
[2] A second explanation for 'vichamushim' is that the Jews were
armed with Mitzvos. A question on this explanation is that the Pasuk
tells us that on the very last day before they left, they were ‘naked’ of
Mitzvas. So what Mitzva did they have now when they left?
[3] Targum Yonasan says 'vichamushim' means each family had '5
tafla'. Tafla means children, so the simple understanding of the
Targum is that each family had five kids. A glaring question on this
explanation is that from EACH pregnancy the women had [at least]
SIX kids. So what then does the Targum mean that they only had
FIVE TAFLA?
The Baeir Yosef provides us with a beautiful approach that answers
all the questions and ties all three explanations together. He
explains that the four fifths of Klal Yisroel who died, were only the
Jews twenty or older who were of age to be punished in the heavenly
court. Their children were certainly not deserving of punishment and
were therefore not killed. Thus there were many orphans who had
no parents. Suggests the Baeir Yosef, the remaining one fifth of Klal
Yisroel adopted all the orphaned kids! That is what the Targum
means when he says 5 ‘Tafla', i.e. five FAMILIES of kids. That
besides their own offspring, each family adopted four other families
so that all the children of the four fifths of Klal Yisroel who died would
have surrogate parents! That was the big Mitzva that they were
armed with when they left Egypt. According to the Baeir Yosef’s
approach, all three explanations are one and the same!
We all know that throughout the recent generations there have been
many Jews who have chosen different paths and have not remained
committed to Yiddishkeit. They have produced many 'orphans',
children and even grownups who don't know anything about the
beauty and depth of Yiddishkeit, and what our purpose in life is.
There are a number of organizations and special people to help fix
this sad trend. All of the Gedolei Yisroel laud their work and
encourage and ask all of us to do our share in this holy Mitzva. We
can all support these organizations [each person according to
his/hers financial situation] AND do our share in bringing these
‘orphans’ close to Yiddishkeit, by inviting them to our Shabbos
meals, talking & acting respectably in the work place & on the street,
etc.
I just wanted to tie this into ‘Inyanei Diyoma’ [the topic/matter of the
day]. Why is it, that people are so into watching and rooting for sports
teams when they aren’t the ones playing it? I think the answer is that
Hashem put into the world the strength to associate oneself with
others. ‘The team from my city that’s me’.
Like every mida, character trait, and force in the world, there is the
ability to channel this dynamic for the good. Just like one is proud
when the team in his city wins the World Series or the Super Bowl,
one should try to be proud of the spirituality of one’s city. We should
take pride in the special Rabbonim of our cities. We should take
pride in the great Yeshivos, schools, and Shuls of our cities. We
should take pride in the unity, chesed projects, and gemachs of our
cities. And just like people care so much for strangers on the team
that don’t know them at all [and may not care one bit about them] let
us try to use that force to care for and bring close Jewish strangers
who are distant from Judaism.
In the merit of this crucial Mitzva which parallels the Mitzva they had
when the left the exile of Egypt, may we merit soon the final
redemption speedily in our days.
Please send comments to sygross@gmail.com.
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