To downlaod the KINS Yizkor Booklet click here DVAR TORAH Because the seventh day of Pesach is the anniversary of the splitting and the crossing of the Red Sea (see Rashi Shemot 14:5) our Torah reading focuses on that day, that miracle and the song of praise - the "Shirat HaYam" - sung by the Jews.
This song is not only an exceptional expression of gratitude, but also the source of an important halacha - the goal of performing all of our mitzvot with beauty. Explains the Gemara (Shabbat 133b), that the words “This is my G-d and I will glorify Him" (Shemot 15:2) - teach us that we must beautify ourselves before G-d though our aesthetically pleasing performance of mitzvot: Acquire a beautiful etrog, make before me a beautiful Sukkah, a beautiful sefer Torah, beautiful tefillin, and so forth.”
Which also extends to the holiday of Pesach. For example, the Chatam Sofer used to make sure that special silver utensils were used at his seder, and in the city of Izmir there was a custom to decorate the table with wreaths and fresh flowers.
But why did the Torah choose to teach us this lesson of "hiddur mitzvah" specifically in the words of the "Shirat HaYam"?
Rabbi Zvi Cheshin, one of the Roshei Yeshiva at Mir Yerushalayim explained that the Mishna (Pirkei Avot 5:4) teaches that there were ten miracles which occurred at the splitting of the sea, while Yalkut Me'am Loez identifies 50 such miracles!
Why were all these miracles necessary? Wouldn't it have been enough to "simply" split the sea and let the Jews cross? Why did G-d add all these miracles to the basic miracle?
The answer, said Rabbi Cheshin, was to show His love for the Jewish people. Because when G-d performed a miracle for His new nation, He wanted to do it in the magnificent way possible - He did a "hiddur mitzvah."
Which is the reason that this "song" is the source of this special mitzvah. Because just as G-d di for us, we want to do for Him. The splitting of the sea showed us how much G-d loved us. "Hiddur mitzvah" – the beautiful tefillin, the beautiful etrog, and the beautiful seder – all show G-d how much we love Him!
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Chametz she’Avar Alav haPesach As a safeguard, our rabbis prohibited to eat or benefit from any chametz which was in the possession of a Jew during Pesach [Rambam Chametz U'matza 1:4; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 448:3]. Such chametz, referred to as “chametz she’avar alav haPesach”, is not only prohibited after Pesach, but remains prohibited as long as that chametz remains in existence, and nothing can be done to permit it! [Pri Chadash, ibid.]
However, as a rabbinic decree, if the food that was in the possession of a Jew only contained a minimal amount of chametz, mixed with other non-chametz ingredients the prohibition of “chametz sh’eavar alav haPesach” does not apply [Mishna Berura 447:101]. So too, inedible products containing chametz such as make-up, perfumes, shampoos, and cleaning products are not subject to “chametz she’avar alav haPesach” [Magen Avraham Orach Chaim 447: 46]
If one is unsure whether or not a particular food item is subject to the rules of “chametz she'avar alav haPesach” one may derive benefit from the item, though it is forbidden to eat it [Magen Avraham Orech Chaim 449:2] In the event, of significant financial loss, those doubtful items may also be eaten [however, that not being able to eat these items will cause one significant financial loss, then they may be eaten, as well [Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 448:3]. Similarly, one who was unaware of the prohibition, such as a “Ba’al Teshuva” is exempt from any penalty [Rivivot Ephraim 5:312].
When one buys chametz products from Jewish-owned stores and supermarkets after Pesach one is required to ensure that the owner had sold his chametz before Pesach in a mechirat chametz. According to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, even if the store remained open and sold chametz during Pesach, the mechirat chametz is still valid, and therefore, after Pesach one may purchase food from the store [Iggrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:149, 2: 91].
However, chametz that was purchased by a Jewish-owned store during Pesach may still be a problem. According to Rabbi Pinchas M. Teitz, even such chametz is permitted to be purchased after Pesach. However, Rabbi Feinstein disagreed [Iggrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:96] and did not consider it possible to sell the chametz acquired by supermarkets during Pesach.
As a result, according to his opinion, one cannot purchase chametz in a Jewish-owned supermarket—even if we know that the chametz in that supermarket was sold prior to Pesach—until it is reasonable to assume that the majority of inventory was either purchased before or after the eight days of Pesach.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * Hillel Shapiro who is recuperating at home. * to Ephraim Rimel and Itai Rimel * to Shifra Yehudis Orlian who is recuperating at home * to Irv and Lynne Shapiro who are recuperating at home * to Joe Samuels who is recuperating at home.
CLASSES @ KINS During the COVID-19 crisis, all of our shiurim will be online and can be accessed live at https://zoom.us/j/8618119980 or at https://www.congkins.org/video-shiurim.html Thank you to Matia and Tracy Schultz for sponsoring a virtual shiur this week in memory of their father, Harvey Schultz - Chaim Leib ben Yitzchak, z”l.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Rabbi and Mrs. Yechiel Bresler (4/19) Mr. and Mrs. Sam Medow (4/23) Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Karesh (4/28)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mr. Barry Smith (4/14) Joseph Silverstein (4/14) Michali Goldberg (4/14) Mrs. Sharon Pick (4/14) Chava Magence (4/14) Mr. Josh Ross (4/15) Mrs. Louise Mayefsky (4/15) Avraham Yechiel Neikrug (4/16) Meital Matanky (4/17)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to (cont'd) Judah Cohen (4/17) Mrs. Devorah Neiman (4/17) Yehuda Dov Reiss (4/19) Mr. Barry Semer (4/19) Yossi Smith (4/20) Jonah Strahlberg (4/21) Mr. Kenny Landsman (4/21) Mrs. Keren Dukes (4/22) Shimmy Halpert (4/22) Binyamin London (4/23) Mr. Lawrence Yablong (4/23) Mrs. Vivienne Sklar (4/24) Mrs. Amanda Bachrach (4/24)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park 2800 W. North Shore Ave • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
3 MINUTE HALACHA – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
PARSHAT HASHAVUA with Ephraim Rimel-Fridays 9am
SEFER MELACHIM – LIVE Sunday @ 9:00am