DVAR TORAH
"And Esav returned from the field and he was tired [a-yeif]" [Bereshit 25:29].
Rabbi Nissan Alpert noted that this is the first time in the entire Torah that we find the word "a-yeif", that someone was tired. And what's even more interesting is that this description was never assigned to Avraham, Yitzchak or Yaakov, all people who worked hard and had every reason to be tired!
Rather, Esav is the first person about whom the Torah notes that he was "tired." Why?
According to Rabbi Alpert, the answer is that being "tired" is NOT a Jewish concept. For if a person's entire life is involved in spirituality - in Torah and in Mitzvot - then G-d promises us - "Those whose hope is G-d will have renewed strength; they will grow wings like eagles. They will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not grow weary" [Isaiah 40:31].
But not Esav, whose primary role in life was "hunting" - accumulating material gain. If a person's life is devoid of spirituality, then it is very easy to become worn out. But we who trust in G-d will not become tired nor grow weary.
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Why do we cover the challahs before we make kiddush on Friday night?
The Tur [Orech Chaim 271], based on a Yerushalmi (not found in our editions) suggests the most famous answer to this question - to avoid “embarrassment.”
But what does that mean? Simply that when faced with foods of different brachot, halacha would usually mandate that we should first say the bracha on bread before the bracha on wine. But since we want to say kiddush first, we cover the challah to “hide it” while we drink the wine.
Yet, according to the Talmud, the main reason we cover the challahs is based on the principle [Pesachim, 100a; Magen Avraham 271:7 and Mishna Berurah 271:15] that one should cover all of the food on the table before reciting kiddush on Friday night.
Why? Because it is considered an honor to Shabbat [“Yikra de-Shabata”] if kiddush is recited first, and only then is the food brought to the table in honor of the newly sanctified Shabbat. Therefore, by covering the challah during kiddush and uncovering them once kiddush is over, it is as if they weren’t there and only "brought to the table" after kiddush.
But if that’s the case, why not wait and only bring the challah afterward? In reality some people do wait (for example, the Vilna Gaon did!) [Ma'asei Rav 118]; however, most don’t [Tosafot, Pesachim 100b]. Why?
According to Rabbi David Segal HaLevi, the Taz [Yore Deah 178:7] placing the challahs before Shabbat begins and keeping challahs on the table is a way to honor Shabbat.
Another possibility is because of the problem of muktza. Since the Shabbat candles are on the table, were it not for having the challahs there from before Shabbat, the table would not be able to be moved because it would be considered a base for a muktza item [Mishna Berura 277:18].
Finally, to fulfil the halacha of "setting the Shabbat table" in preparation of Shabbat [Orech Chaim 262:1] since challahs are key to a meal, the table is not considered "set" unless the challahs are there [Kaf HaChaim Orech Chaim 262:21].
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wed. 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR – 3:00pm 
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
PARENT-CHILD LEARNING - 1 hour after havdala
