Parashat Mishpotim

From Harav Wolpin

This week we are privileged to read the portion of Mishpotim. The Torah describes many different rules and laws, the majority of which apply to man and his fellow (bein odom lchaveiro). Immediately after we read about kabolas haTorah, we read about the laws applicable to man and his fellow. One should remember that without being honest and kind to a fellow human, the mitzvohs between man and G-d are worthless.

The Torah (shmos 22/24) encourages lending money to the needy and the details of how to collect debt, when applicable. It is written when one lends money to my nation, the poor man, with you..... The chida explains this phrase in several ways.

There was once a king who was in a very upbeat mood and he asked his prime minister "tell me, how much are "your" net assets worth"? The PM answered "approximately, twenty thousand dollars". The king became angry, as he knew, the PM was a wealthy man and he felt betrayed. The PM explained, "twenty thousand is the amount that I gave to charity, that is mine, the other assets can be taken away from me, they're not eternal".

Says the Chid"a, when one gives to a needy person he should give it as a loan so that the poor man is not embarrassed to take it and remember that what you give him, remains with you. Im kesef talve es ami, when you'll loan (give) money to my nation, es haoniy imoch - remember that what you give the poor man, remains with you.

The Chid"a adds another explanation, when a man of means withholds money from a poor man, G-d may punish him as if he stole from the poor man. As G-d put wealth in the hands of some and made others needy, it is only to spare the wealthy man in the merit of charity, and he is no more than an executive on G-d's estate. If he will not distribute the money according to G-d's will, he may be held accountable for mismanaged funds.

That is what the Torah is telling us "es He'oniy  imoch - the poor man is with you",  he is a partner.

May we all merit to always be kind and generous and always pass the trials we are placed in, whether between man and G-d or between man and his fellow mankind.

The Yahrtzeit of Rav Leibel'e Aiger Zy"a

This Wednesday nite begins the Yahrtzeit of the Great Gaon and Tzadik - Harav Leibel'e Aiger Zy"a.

Rav Leibel'e Aiger was a grandson of the Gaon of his "Dor", Rav Akiva Aiger zt"l.

He was also a Talmid of the Cheidushei Hari'm zt"l.

Rav Leibe'le married a woman from Lublin where he set up residence. Lublin was a city considered a metropolis of Chassidus. The spirit of the "Choze" Of Lublin hovered over the city.

Rav Leibe'le davened in the Bais Medrash of the "Choze".

Subsequently he became close to the Kodosh Rav M. Mendel of Kotzk Zt"l. Eventually his grandfather, Rav Akiva Aiger zt"l embraced his grandson realizing that he truly was a great person.

In the "Kotzker" Rebbe's surroundings he met the "Ishbetzer" Zy"a. He became very devoted to the "Ishbetzer".

Rav Leibel'e Aiger was Niftar on the same day of the month as his Rebbe, The "Kotzker".

YEHI ZICHRO BARUCH!!!

Belzer Rebbe Pained Over Assimilation

In a recent talk given by the Rebbe Shlita to his Chassidim, he expressed strongly that we must wage a major campaign to turn the tide of assimilation.

The intermarriage rate is above 50% in the U.S. alone.

Merkaz Rabbonei Europe at their most recent conference made the problem of intermarriage  a theme of their gathering. The Conference was held in Milano, Italy.

New Book on Child and Domestic Abuse

A new book on the issues of child and domestic abuse (in the orthodox world) has been published and being sold at various jewish bookstores.

The author, Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn has been working on this project for a while and deserves recognition for generating an awareness of a serious issue.

Maran Harav Eliyashuv Shlita Concerned Over IDF Conversions

Posek Hador - Maran Harav Eliyashuv Shlita, has warned against accepting the quickie conversions performed by the IDF and accepted by the chief rabbinate of Israel .

Along with Maran Posek Hador Shlita, Harav Chaim Kanyevsky Shlita, Harav Nissim Karelitz Shlita, also proclaimed those conversions null & void.

Geirus Problem in Israel

Maran Harav Eliyashuv, Harav Steinman and Harav Kanyevsky Shlita, have protested against accepting the quick conversions performed in the army.

The chief Rabbinate in Israel is commited to accept these conversions despite the opposition of the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel.

The three Gedolei Eretz Yisroel Shlita claim that there is no sincere “Kabalas Mitvos” in the IDF conversions.

Lakewood in Monsey this past Shabbos

The Lakewood Yeshiva's effort in Monsey appears to have been a success. The Shabbos & the Melave Malke were extremely meaningful and also assisted  their fund raising effort. The community of Monsey enjoyed the presence of the Roshei Yeshiva.

Bais Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, founded by Maran Harav Ahron Kotler zt"l, is the largest yeshiva in North America with over 5,000 students.

The largest Yeshiva in the world is the Mirrer yeshiva in Yerushalayim with over 5,000 students.