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Posts Tagged ‘Chinuch’

Parshos Va’Yakhel-Pekudei: The Mishkan Was Built With These Two Words.

Posted in Hadracha, Hashkafa, Parshas Hashavua, Torah, tagged , , , , , , on March 6, 2011 | 1 Comment »

“Thank You”.

Yes indeed, “Thank You”.

These Parshos reiterate and enumerate the building of the Mishkan and the manufacturing of the Bigdei Kehunah.

In Parshas Pekudei, when Bnai Yisroel completed the building of the Mishkan and Bigdei Kehunah, the Posuk tells us: “Va’Yi’re Moshe Es Kol Ha’melochoh Ve’Heenai Osuh Oy’soh Ka’Asher Tzee’voh Hashem Keyn Osuh, Va’Yevoreich Osum Moshe“. (39, 43).

Rashi on  Va’Yevoreich Osum Moshe says:  Omar Lo’Hem: Yehi Rotzon She’Tishreh Schechinah Be’Ma’aseh Ye’deichem.

Asks Rav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L, what reason was there for Moshe Rabbeinu to bless Bnai Yisroel for completing the building of the Mishkan? After all, they were commanded to carry out the Tzeevui Hashem; for them to have not done so would have been a grave Aveirah resulting in severe punishment.

Further, says Rav Pincus, we see in Parshas Shemini, after Moshe and Ahron completed the cycle with the Avodas Hakorbonos to inaugurate the Mishkan, the Posuk tells us that they again blessed Bnei Yisroel with the very same Brocho: “Va’Yovoh Moshe Ve’Aharon El Ohel Moed Va’Yeitzu Va’Yevorchu Es Ho’ohm”.  And says Rashi, the Brocho was the same: “Yehi Rotzon She’Tishreh Schechinah Be’Ma’aseh Ye’deychem”.

Why did Bnei Yisroel merit to receive this Brocho twice? Once after they had completed their own hishtadlus in building the Mishkan, and second,- after Moshe and Aharon followed up by completing their own Avodas Ha’Mishkan?  What connection did Moshe and Aharaon’s own Shimush Hamishkan have to do with Bnai Yisroel?

Says Rav Pincus, indeed all of this is intertwined and connected; Moshe and Ahahron’s Avodas Hamishkan would not have been possible without the foundational work done by Bnai Yisroel.

We therefore learn a most valuable lesson in Hakoras Hatov from this: In the same way we show Hakoras Hatov to Hashem by making a Brocho before and a Brocho after-for all the Chasodim He does for us; so too are we required to show Hakoras Hatov to those of our friends, family, and work colleagues that do us a favor by saying “Thank You” twice: Once before the favor is done and then after the favor has been completed. Chazal tells us that failure to acknowledge the good done for us by our friends, family, and acquaintences will ultimately lead to deny and ignore the good Hashem does for us.

Showing Hakoras Hatov before and after receiving a Chesed is the foundation of Yahadus and brings Sholom (Peace), Satisfaction, and Happiness.

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Parshas Ki Sisah: What’s In Your Wallet?

Posted in Chinuch, Hadracha, Hashkafa, Parshas Hashavua, Torah, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

A popular Ad/Commercial playing nowadays in the secular media is from a well-known Bank that touts the benefits of owning their credit card and all of the wonderful products and services you can purchase with it; their hook tag line is the question, “What’s in Your Wallet”.  It’s certainly a catchy phrase designed to increase a consumer’s conspicuous consumption; but lest the Madison Avenue advertising company responsible for this campaign preen for kudos, be it known that this weeks Parsha was first to pose and answer this question from the perspective of  Torah Hadracha and Hashkafa.

Bnai Yisroel were commanded to give a Ma’chatzis Ha’Shekel for the purpose of carrying out their Census.

The Posuk tells us: “Zeh Yitnu Kol Hoh’Oveir Al Hapekudim Ma’chatzis Ha’Shekel Be’Shekel Hakodesh…Lo’seis Es Terumas Hashem Le’Chapear Al Nafshoseichem“.

Harav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L poses three questions on this Posuk:

1.  What is the Torah’s message that this small amount of a half shekel had and has the power to atone and save one’s Nefesh and to prolong life and the quality of it?

2.  Why does the Torah describe the Macahtzis Ha’Shekel as “Shekel Hakodesh”?

3. Why does Hashem emphasize  a specificity in the coin type of Machatsis Ha’Shekel with “Zeh Yitnu”?

Rav Pincus brings the Rashi; “Zeh Yitnu”- Heroh Hakodesh Boruch Hu L’Moshe Ke’min Matbeyah Shel Eish U’Mishkoloh Ma’chatsis Ha’Shekel, Ve’Omer Lo: Ko’Zeh Yitnu”.

The Torah’s message, says Rav Pincus, is that our Tzedakah should be with Matbeiyos Shel Eish to be given with a bren, with enthusiasm, with a Simchas Ha’Chaim, and with an empathy and kind words to and for the recipient; “Ko’zeh Yitnu”.  The characteristic of Eish is that it cleanses and does not allow impurities and foreign particles to enter the mix.

And the sources of our monies as well as its expenditures must be “Shekel Ha’Kodesh”; the power of Tzedakah and hekdesh of money is not only in the support of Torah, Chessed organizations, and needy individuals but also as much in the avoidance of that which is antithetical to Torah values and Hashkafah. Such negative expenditures, says Rav Pincus, diminish ones Beis Mikdash Me’At and devalues his “Shekel Ha’Kodesh.

The Torah’s message to us, say Harav Pincus, is that Kesef Yehudi is not a Mah Be’Kach but are “Matbeiyos Shel Aish” and we therefore have a Choiv Kodesh to preserve, protect, and use  it Be’Kedusha; “Ve’Oz YeShamshu Le’Chapear al Nafshoseinu, Ve’Yoveeyu Berochos Merubos El Boteinu”.

“Zeh Yitnu”

“What’s in your wallet”?

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Parshas Tezaveh: Do Clothes Make The Man Or Man Make The Fashion?

Posted in Chinuch, Hadracha, Hashkafa, Parshas Hashavua, Torah, tagged , , , , , , , on February 11, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Is the question often posed by the fashion cognoscenti in the secular Fashion capitals of the world; Paris, Rome, Milan, and Madison Avenue. Their answers and the “fashionable” clothes they manufacture cater to and elicit from the baser human instincts.

Le’Havdil, our Torah Hakedosha takes a different perspective. In this weeks Parsha, Hashem commands Moshe: Ve’Ohsisa Bigdei Kodesh L’Aharon Oh’Cheey’choh L’Chovod U’Lesifores.

Rav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L  says that the Torah’s message on Fashion re: the singular, beautiful, and holy clothing worn by the Kohanim during their Avodas Hashem in the Bais Hamikdosh applies to all of us for we are all “Kohanim”.  ‘Ve’Atem Tiyu Lee Mamleches Kohanim V’Goy Kodosh’. Each one of us, Klal Yisroel, stand and serve constantly before Hashem with our Tefilllos, Kiyum HaTorah, Mitzvos, and in our interactions with the secular society we live in.

And therefore says Rav Pincus, we are just like the Kohanim in the Beis Hamikdash, each one of us has the obligation to be clothed in “Levushei M’Yuchad”, so that we are recognized as Me’Shorsei Hashem.

What is the definition of a Jewish “Levushei M’Yuchad” asks Rav Pincus: They have three characteristics:

1.  The clothes should be Tzenua-modest,

2.  They must not contain Shatnez,

3.  They should contain a Levush of Mitzva, i.e.; Tzitsis.

Clothes, says Rav Pincus, protects us not only from the external elements, cold, heat, etc. but also protects us internally, our Neshama from succumbing to our baser human instincts and behaviors. The proper clothing has a level of Kedusha that serves to protect us from harmful external influences.

Rav Pincus notes that the first people to wear clothes were Odom and Chava as it says: VaYa’as Hashem Elokim Le’Odom U’LeIshto Ketonos Ohr Va’Yalbeesheim”.

Rav Pincis references the Chazal in Bereishis Rabbah that notes the Milah “Ohr” (with an Eyin) is a remez for the word Ohr ( Aleph-light) to indicate that one who clothes himself with clothes that are “Levush M’Yuchad” will be zocheh to be clothed and protected in and by the Ohr-Light of the Torah.

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Today, Zayin Adar, is the Yahrtzeit, Lzecher Nishmas our Zaide, R. Avrohom Ben R’ Yechiel Mechel ZT”L, one of the founders and Gabbaim of the Chevrah Kaddisha Morya, West Side, New York. Yehei Zichro Baruch.

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Children At Play

Posted in Chinuch, tagged on January 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

In Ofakim where we live, there is a big playground for children right outside our window. This park is literally in the courtyard of many of the frum familes living in our enclave. On Shabboss afternoon, the park is full of Yiddisher Kinderlach, Kein Yirbu!

One day a member of our Kehilla approached me with a complaint. It seems that his window overlooks the park downstairs and he could not take his Shabbos afternoon nap without being awakened by the noisy children!

I told him –  Baruch Hashem the children are playing loudly and boisterously! When the children are playing loudly, we (as parents) can be comfortable with their interaction. However, when they are (all) gathered together and “shushking’ and talking silently amongst themselves, that is when we need to start worrying about what it is they are discussing etc!

<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>

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Proper Chinuch Means Being Pro-active

Posted in Chinuch, Shabboss, tagged , , , , on January 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

We have no time to be mechanech our children today! We are always angry with our children. We know how to tell them don’t do this, don’t do that…we reproach them and admonish them when they do something bad….we are perfectly reactive parents! How about being mechanech them properly in the first place, to  teach them what is right and what is wrong, instead of simply punishing them when they do something wrong!

My Wife is a Principal and Mechaneches in the girls school where we live in Ofakim. She came home one day and told me about a girl in school who was chutzpadik to her teacher. She asked me for advice on how to deal with the situation. I asked her for clarification and said, are you looking to punish this girl? She told me she was indeed looking to punish her. Well, I said, – if you are looking to punish her for being chutzpadik, why don’t you just take a knife and cut out her tongue! Of course my Wife replied that this was not what she had in mind! So I said to her, if you are asking me for my advice, then I would tell you that a better method than leveling punishment, is to actually teach her what it means to be refined in ones speech and not to be chutzpadik! Therefore, my advice is that for the moment you should do absolutely nothing. Instead, devote time in the coming days to talk to the girls about speaking properly. Then, if she should speak chutzpadik again after that, you can worry about punishing her!

<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>

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Dieting and Chinuch Have Much In Common!

Posted in Hadracha, tagged , , on December 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

To diet, is a beracha here in America. In fact, if the concept of dieting didn’t exist, people would literally eat themselves into oblivion. When it comes to dieting, the key to success is to eat and not stay hungry. When you eat right, you lose weight. However, when you force yourself into starvation, you will ultimately come to eat the wrong foods and will be unable to sustain a diet.

The same is true in Chinuch habonim. Children are hungry and our job is to feed them, so to speak. If you tell your child, don’t go to this neighbor, don’t watch videos, don’t do this or that,…you are starving your child and it will only work so long as the child is under your juristiction and it won’t be long before they break free and wind up “eating” the wrong things.

The only way to combat this hunger, is to “fill up” the child with the right food; with Kosher concepts and healthy dosages of Chinuch.

Howcome we have no time to be mechanech our children? Why is it that 85 – 95% of our chinuch is reactive instead of pro-active? That is to say that when our children are bad etc., we slap them, we punish them, we scold them, etc. At this point, we have already lost the game.

Our job is to be pro-active, to actually find the time to spend with our children, to be mechanech them and to teach them what is right and wrong before a problem arises.

I’ll never forget a story that happened to me when I was about 8 years old. We lived in Williamsburg, in Brooklyn N.Y. Our family was large, bli ayin harah and we all grew up in a healthy atmosphere and environment. Still, my parents were very busy. My father was a principal at the time in Yeshiva Torah Voddas and a Rav in a shul. My mother was a teacher as well.

I remember the time that my mother took me, Shimshon, for a walk down Lee Avenue. I was eight years old. She took me for a walk all by myself and even bought the two of us ice cream to eat. I’ll tell you, I always knew and felt until that point that I was loved within the context of my family and as one of the siblings. However, for the first time I witnessed how Mommy actually loved me as an individual…that she loved me with my own personality!

I am now Baruch Hashem a father and a grandfather. I can tell you that this episode and the feelings I felt, still warms my heart to this very day!

Chinuch….

<Heard from Rav Shimshon Pincus>

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