Erev Shabbos Parshas Devorim, 5760

Dear Campers, AMUS"H

This Shabbos we get closer to Tisha B’av. It is Shabbos Chazon. It is so called because we read the Haftorah of the Chazon, the vision that the Navi Yeshaya had about Klal Yisroel and the danger it faced. But it is called Shabbos Chazon for another reason. In Golus we live with darkness. We are not able to see the truth. Chazal tell us that if all of Klal Yisroel would keep Shabbos perfectly then the geula would come. Because Shabbos lights up the world for us so that we can see the ultimate truth, and go on the straight path. On this Shabbos before Tisha A’av we hope that the kedusha will give us the vision to perfect our ways, so that the Geula Sheleima will come, and we won’t have to face the aveilus of this coming Tisha B’av. Rather it will become a Yom Tov for us.

Let us use this "Shabbos of Vision" for great things. Let our tefillos and zemiros reflect our yearning for Geula. May our learning bring us many zechusim so that we will be zoche to the Geula Sheleima Bimheira Biyomeinu.

A Gutten Shabbos,

Camp Kol Torah

('t w't) 'ufu ktrah kf kt van rcs rat ohrcs vkt

('t w't) cvz hsu ,urhmju icku

(s"f w't) .rtv ,t ubk urpjhu ubhbpk ohabt vjkab urnt,u ofkf hkt iucre,u

(j"f w't) ubcck ,t uxnv ubhjt wohkug ubjbt vbt

This is what the Bnei Yisroel were saying. Since the Meraglim, our hearts are afraid we will be punished in battle. If so can we go up?

(j"f w't) ohrucsv vbhag, ratf of,t upsrhu w'ufu hruntv tmhu

The Brisker Rov ZTVK"L explains: When one hits another person but does not get hit in return we do not see much hatred on the part of the instigator. But if he hits the person and gets hit back much worse, but continues to fight you know he must really hate the other person. Because he knows he will get beat up but still continues to fight.

R' Akiva Eiger… AH! R' Akiva Eiger. The name arouses in a Ben Torah both awe and love at the same time. For in a yeshiva hardly a sugya is learned without a Tzorich Iyun asked by R' Akiva Eiger. His chiddushim are brilliant. R’ Chaim Brisker said that in his chiddushim, R' Akiva Eiger has 8 different methods of learning gemoroh… and the Brisker derech is one of them. At the same time Gedolim said one can learn Yiras Shomayim from R' Akiva Eiger’s chiddushim. One can see his "anovoh" in every word of his Torah.

Trying to fully portray any gadol is impossible. But in the case of R' Akiva Eiger it is totally beyond our scope. Here are just a few vignettes about his holy life.

R’ Benyomin Wolf Eiger was the Rosh Hayeshiva in the city of Breslau. In a letter to his brother-in law R’ Moshe he included questions in halacha which baffled some of the greatest scholars of that period. R’ Moshe wanted to show his 12 year old son Akiva (Eiger) that there are some questions that remain unanswered even by great men. But immediately after presenting the difficulty to his son, Akiva responded with an answer. The father, unbelieving that this was the right answer, thought that his son did not comprehend the question. But after the long argument that followed he could not refute the answer. He sent the solution to his brother-in law who along with the other Gaonim was astounded by the remarkable grasp of the young boy. R’ Benyomin Wolf begged R’ Moshe to send Akiva to his yeshiva. Reluctantly R’ Moshe and his wife sent their son away to Breslau. The city of Breslau was so eager to welcome this young prodigy that they sent a fancy horse drawn wagon to bring him there.

In Breslau the Talmidim would toil over a sugya for a given period of time. This seder would be culminated by a series of shiurim delivered by R’ Benyomin Wolf to answer the difficulties of the Gemmoro. Akiva arrived at the end of such a study period, a day before the shiurim were about to begin. He asked his uncle for the topics to be discussed so he too could prepare to understand the shiur. His uncle told him not to bother. You must be tired from your long trip and it takes the "Bnei Hayeshiva" weeks to prepare. But Akiva persisted and stayed up, diligently delving into the depths of the Gemoros. The next day he discussed his observations and chiddushim with R’ Benyomin Wolf. His uncle explained that which it took us weeks to acquire you were able to think of in just one night. He immediately recited the berocho of "Shehechiyonu" and appointed his nephew as "Maggid Shiur" in the Yeshiva.

R’ Itzek Margolies a wealthy scholar from the great city of Lisa heard about the child prodigy in Breslau and wanted him as a son-in law. Escorted by two Rabbonim he came to Breslau to test Akiva. But to his dismay Akiva did not answer any of his questions. R’ Itzek expressed his disappointment to R’ Benyomin Wolf. He approached Akiva and asked for an explanation for his strange behavior. Akiva explained that they were asking him open Rashi and Tosfas and other questions that were simple to him. He did not want to embarrass them by showing them how easy their questions were. R’ Benyomin Wolf assured Akiva that it would be more embarrassing for him to return home without a shidduch for his daughter. Akiva then proceeded to discuss a topic with them and to astound them with his brilliance. R’ Benyomin Wolf asked Akiva’s parents permission to make the shidduch and so Akiva was engaged at a very young age.

When Akiva visited his future in laws for a Shabbos all of the Lomdim flocked to speak to him in learning. They were elated as the choson lived up to expectations. However, as it got closer to Shabbos Akiva refused to discuss anymore Torah with anyone. Throughout Shabbos and Sunday, much to the displeasure of R’ Itzek, Akiva kept a very low profile. R’ Itzek was so disappointed that he was beginning to have second thoughts about the shidduch. But as the week progresses Akiva was his old self, amazing all those who encountered him. The reason for Akiva’s silence was then revealed. Another choson who had a reputation for brilliance in learning was in Lisa for Shabbos. Akiva did not want to take away from the honor of that choson. He therefore remained silent, even though it meant degrading himself.

As a young kollel man his wealthy father in law supported him, aside from the dowry he was given. One morning a young talmid chochom named R’ Chaim Auerbach knocked on his door. He told R' Akiva Eiger there is a young talmid chochom in town struggling for parnasa. Being that R' Akiva Eiger was being supported by his shver he had no need for his dowry. Therefore R’ Chaim requested that he give his whole dowry to this talmid chochom. R' Akiva Eiger was happy to give a nice donation but understandably was unwilling to give up his dowry. R’ Chaim persisted, "What good does your money do locked up in a vault while a talmid chochom could put it to good use?" The conversation ended with R' Akiva Eiger giving a large donation but not his dowry.

Late that night R’ Chaim heard a knock at his door. Who could be here at this late hour? Why it was R' Akiva Eiger. "I decided to bring you my dowry for the young talmid chochom." R’ Chaim was surprised. "Why did you change your mind… and why at this late hour of the night?" he asked. R' Akiva Eiger said, " I still feel I am not obligated to give up my dowry. But as I was going to sleep I was making a cheshbon hanefesh for the day. I thought that maybe in our disagreement this morning I might have expressed myself in a way not according to your honor. I therefore came to bring you the dowry to appease you so that you will be mochel me."

R' Akiva Eiger was very close friends with R’ Yaakov Lorberbaum the Nesivos. Once they davened together in a certain town. By Krias Hatorah they gave R' Akiva Eiger an aliyah instead of the Nesivos. R' Akiva Eiger immediately fainted. People ran out quickly to get help. But the Nesivos realized immediately what was wrong. He bent over, and whispered to his dear friend: "They didn’t give you the aliyah because they thought you were greater than me. They gave it to you because the city of Posen where you are the Rov is larger than Lisa the city where I am Rov." R' Akiva Eiger felt better, and got up for his aliyah.

Someone once asked the Chazon Ish if we could believe such an amazing story. The Chazon Ish answered. "Whether or not this story actually happened I can’t say. But one thing is certain. For R' Akiva Eiger to be zoche to the amount of Torah that he was mechadash he had to possess that level of anovah."

R' Akiva Eiger once visited his son R’ Shlomo in Warsaw. The travel took its toll on the tzaddik. When he arrived in Warsaw he looked visibly weak, and pale. R’ Shlomo was very concerned about his father’s health and immediately wanted to call a doctor. "What doctor?" exclaimed the father. "I need a gemoroh. Because of the travel I wasn’t able to learn with menucha for a couple of days. This is why I am weak."

During his visit in Warsaw R’ Shlomo wanted his father to have a restful stay. He brought him to a beautiful park with exquisite flowers. Throughout this outing R' Akiva Eiger remained silent. R’ Shlomo then brought his father to a nearby museum… hoping that the interesting exhibits would relax him. He had arranged with the head of the museum that R' Akiva Eiger would be allowed to sit on an old throne previously used by great Polish kings of centuries gone by. R' Akiva Eiger sat on the throne. Throughout this visit he remained silent.

R’ Shlomo was eager to hear his father comment on this but he remained silent. After a while R' Akiva Eiger asked, "Where’s the baby?"

"What baby?" asked R’ Shlomo. As it turned out R' Akiva Eiger was so absorbed in his learning that he was oblivious to his surroundings. He had no idea he was sitting on some special throne. When he saw they sat him on a special chair he thought there was a bris and he was the Sandek.

Someone once asked R' Avrohom Eiger, his older son, what his father’s most outstanding maalah was. Was it his tremendous hasmodoh or his brilliant chiddushim? Was it his great bekius or his tzidkus? R’ Avrohom answered: "My father’s greatest maaloh was that not even for one second did he ever stop worrying about his fellow yidden.

With all of his hasmodoh, and busy schedule he found time to be mevaker cholim every day. As hard as it may be to believe he built a hospital to cater to yidden. The so-called enlightened Jews could not tolerate the fact that an old fashioned Rov built a hospital so they spread false tales to the authorities that there were unsanitary conditions in the hospital. When the inspectors came to check they were amazed to see what good condition the hospital was in. Those who spread the rumors were severely reprimanded.

Power of Tefillah

The Chasam Sofer once sent his father-in law R' Akiva Eiger, the name of a sick person to be mispallel for. A few weeks later R' Akiva Eiger sent back a letter. "There must be a mistake in the name you sent me. I am being mispallel but I am not being answered." The Chasom Sofer checked into the name, and indeed he had not written the name accurately. The Chasom Sofer praised R' Akiva Eiger’s power of tefillah that if he is not answered the only reason could be because of a mistake on the name.

There are two chiddushim here. First of all R' Akiva Eiger knew when he was being answered Min Hashomayim. This is similar to the great Tanna R’ Chanina ben Dosa. Secondly, he had such confidence in his power of tefillah that if he wasn’t answered there must be some mistake in the name.

Once R' Akiva Eiger visited a hospital and found a bedridden man surrounded by his relatives who were crying. He was suffering from a disease for which the doctors had no cure. The situation seemed hopeless. R' Akiva Eiger said, "let me summon the king’s personal physician who happens to be in the hospital at this very moment."

After promising to pay a handsome sum R' Akiva Eiger convinced the physician to come examine this patient. The doctor quickly ascertained that this was a rare skin disease that the king once suffered from. The only known cure was to get hold of a rare bird not found in this country and to use its blood to cure the illness. "Only the king could afford such a remedy but you’ll never be able to acquire this bird," he said.

R' Akiva Eiger isolated himself in another room for two hours. There he became deeply immersed in tefillah. After two hours of tefillah the bird appeared at the window. R' Akiva Eiger took it, the correct procedures were followed and the man was eventually cured.

I want a Borsalino.. Or will it be a Roche. I’m getting a Huckel or perhaps a Venzina. We are so concerned about a container for our heads that we are willing to spend oodles of money for them. Yet the container that Hashem made for our brain is free, and it is a lot sturdier. It lasts a lifetime.

1. The skull or Cranium is one quarter of an inch thick on top, and even thicker at the base.
2. It consists of 22 separate bones that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This allows the brain to swell if it is hurt.
3. The temporal bones (temples) are the hardest bones of the body. Because they must protect the delicate hearing mechanisms inside them.
4. These bones also help in the process of hearing by recording vibrations.
5. Inside the cranium several protective membranes and fluids surround the brain. The membranes are called "meninges" and give added protection.
6. A car has heavy springs that are shock absorbers. Without human shock absorbers around the brain it would be shaken up every time we hop or jump.
7. There is a fluid around the brain called Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF). It is produced in the roof of the brain and runs down the spinal column. This liquid acts as the shock absorber.
8. It also blocks out bacteria and poison
9. Speaking of protection… could you imagine the lungs and heart such vital organs… without protection? The rib cage protects these organs from any bumps and knocks.

All of my bones testify that there is a Borei Olam.

In Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim, siman reish nun it says: Even if one has many servants he should try to prepare something for Shabbos himself as the Great Amoroim used to do. The meforshim ask: Why is this different than all other mitzvos? Everywhere the din is, if the mitzvah can be done through someone else, you are not Mivatail Torah to do it. Yet over here by Shabbos one should do the mitzvah himself at the cost of Bittul Torah even if it can be done through someone else.

What is the difference?

Think! Tell Rabbi Schwarz an Answer! Win a Prize!

Answer to last week’s question:

If one harvested less than a shiur… it was eaten, and then again harvested less that a shiur he is oiver on an issur. Yet by Chometz if he bought less than a shiur destroyed it then again bought less than a shiur he is potur. Why?

Because, by the Melocho of Ketzira the aveirah is the act of harvesting. Lemaaseh he harvested a complete shiur. But by chometz the aveirah is owning a shiur of chometz, and he never owned a complete shiur of chometz.

What was the Jewish reaction to this tragedy? Many fled… others bribed. But most of the yidden were prepared to die Al Kiddush Hashem. On June 24, 1096 St. John’s Day the Jews of Cologne, Germany were massacred. Rabeinu Shmuel ben Yechiel a Rishon recited the brocho of Al Kiddush Hashem to which his young son answered OMEIN! He then proceeded to shecht his son so that he would not lose his neshomo to the mobs who were baptizing children. But this was not an isolated case. There were many recorded instances of suicides, and parents killing their children to prevent forced conversion to Christianity.

There is a kaboloh from previous generations about the Crusades. The big Tosfos in Perek Merubah in Bovo Kamoh was written by the Baalei Hatosfos a couple of days before they were taken away to be slaughtered. They knew that soon they would die. Yet they had the peace of mind to record those Tosfos. These Tosfos are so deep that many pages of Acharonim analyze them. And they were written under such stressful circumstances. How much the Torah meant to them.

The RAV"N (R’ Elozor b"r Nosson) writes, "Who had heard of such tragedy? 1,000 Akeidos in one day. By Adeidas Yitzchok the Malochim shouted, and cried. How could the sky remain bright? How can the sun shine? How could the world continue when so many infants and innocent children were destroyed?"

"Pour your wrath out on the goyim that do not know you." What was the end result of the first crusade? The history books would have us think that it was a glorious adventurous experience. Let us examine the facts, and we will learn that this is far from reality.

The rabble of people… men, women, and children traveled unarmed towards Eretz Yisroel. They were convinced that miraculously they would enter the Holy Land without even a trace of ammunition. In fact, they never even came near Eretz Yisroel. Moslem defenders near Turkey ambushed them. Over 20,000 perished.

But that was not all. Godfrey of Buillion and his brother Baldwin led 40,000 armed soldiers and 1,000 knights into Eretz Yisroel. They were in such a frenzy to murder that they did not realize who they were killing. They were out to kill Moslems. Many mideastern Christians, happy to be redeemed by the Crusaders ran out gleefully to greet them with open arms. The Crusaders not familiar with the Mid-east mode of dress, thought they were Moslems. They murdered many of their fellow Christians. Once in Eretz Yisroel they massacred both Moslems and Jews. The Jewish community in Yerushalayim ceased to exist, and was not re-established for many years.

What was the final gain of this first crusade? Many who came along for the joy ride found nothing to stay for. They returned to Europe. Those who remained built themselves big fortresses to protect themselves against invading Moslems. There was inner fighting between different landowners. They had no appreciation of the beautiful land. Instead of enjoying it they isolated themselves into their castles. They were at constant risk of being overrun by the Moslems.

In 1187 Egyptians led by Saladin successfully conquered parts of Eretz Yisroel from the crusaders. A few generations later the Mamelukes would totally wipe out the crusaders. They methodically destroyed their castles piece by piece. Today in Eretz Yisroel one can see traces of castles… a mere memory of a failed adventure.

There were other crusades… not much more successful than the first. In 1210 Steven, a child shepherd, led boys and girls to liberate the Holy Land. They said that being on pure heart they would succeed where others didn’t. In the end, most of them were massacred or were sold as slaves. In another crusade, a woman followed a white dove and claimed it was telling the people in which direction to travel. Many Jews on the way were slaughtered.

All in all, the crusades were a massive failure. Their effect was felt in Europe for hundreds of years through World War II. For they planted the idea that Jews were fair game anytime the goy so wanted. The blood libel became common in Europe after the Crusades. If something constructive came of the crusades it was the fact that from now on people did not follow the Church blindly. They realized what a stupidity the Crusades were… how much innocent blood was shed and realized the selfishness of the narrow minded Christian clergy. May Hashem avenge their actions.

"Ivan, what time did Lucas replace you last night?’

"As usual at midnight, my master."

"Did you see a flask of wine in the hands of the Jew?"

"Heaven forbid I should let such a thing get by. All I saw was a bottle of water."

The baron then turned to Lucas, "Liar! Scoundrel! You yourself brought the wine and got drunk. You are responsible for the Jew’s escape!"

Lucas cried out in despair, "Please my master… I swear the Jew gave me the wine."

"Silence! The flask did not fall from heaven. You brought it. And besides who cares where it came from? You drank it! Guards, take him away, and throw him into the pit. He will replace the filthy Jews." The guards did as they were told.

Now the baron paced back and forth… mumbling something. "Now what do I do with the sick Jewish baby?"

Ivan called out, "Master, perhaps you can give me the child. You know that my wife and I have no children. We would be happy to raise him as our own son.

The baron thought a moment and said, "Very well, take him. He will be your son. If only you can nurse him back to being healthy."

Many years passed. Ivan and his wife succeeded in saving the child. The child grew and brought much pleasure to his er… "parents." He was intelligent and pleasant. He had no worries in life for Ivan, and his wife pampered him. He excelled in his studies and was admired by all who knew him.

Yet there was a melancholy part to him that darkened his happy life. In the depths of his heart he felt a longing for something. He felt as if he were an orphan. But why? He had two loving parents. Why did he feel like he missed someone? He wondered why he had these feelings.

One day the lad came home white as a ghost. "What happened to you?" asked his parents. "I got into a fight with a couple of boys. We exchanged words, and fists. In middle of the fight they called me a dirty Jew. I showered him with a barrage of fists. But he continued saying that everyone knows I am the son of filthy Jews, and that Ivan took you off the street."

At first Ivan and his wife were shocked and silent. But they quickly pulled themselves together. In a calming voice Ivan said, " Don’t pay any attention to the boys nonsense. You know what foolishness one can speak at a time of anger."

The boy looked at them and said, "But it is not foolishness. They said the proof is that I am circumcised (bris milah), and I am."

Ivan bit his lip… his wife clasped her hands to her heart. They couldn’t deny the truth. They were forced to reveal the secret they had kept from him all of these years. It was as if a bright bight lit up his mind. Now he understood the reason for his strange yearnings.

From that moment the boy became restless. He posed many questions to his adoptive parents. Where are his real parents? This was a very painful time for Ivan and his wife. They were very attached to the boy and they loved him very much. But it was beginning to dawn upon them that they couldn’t keep their "son" here much longer. He too was very fond of his adoptive parents but he could not squelch the pangs of longing within him to become reattached to his natural roots.

One day Ivan called the boy aside. "My son," he said, "we love you very much. But we see that you are unhappy here. If you are unhappy, we are unhappy. As difficult as it will be for us to part with you we realize that it is best for you to find your family. We will not stand in your way."

Tears of both joy and sorrow welled up within the boy… joy that he was free to search for his roots, and sadness that he would leave his beloved home. "Do you have any idea where I can find my parents?" he asked. "I’m sorry I don’t," said Ivan. "They probably think you are dead. But do not despair. There is hope that the mysterious forces of longing within you will subconsciously guide to find your nation and your family." The boy hugged and kissed Ivan and started planning his journey.

TO BE CONTINUED