Bnei Buzz - Parshat Eikev

Newsletter: 17 | Parsha: Eikev
Candle Lighting: 5:28pm | Motzei ShabbAs: 6:19pm
In This Edition
Meet the team!! (page 5)
Picture of the Week


Letter from the Editor
Hello all you bnei buzzers
How has your week been? Are you over the moon with your incredible Rosh? Did you have the most epic Camp
school launch? Have you signed up for Machane Nitzavim Hayom yet?
Mazeltov to Jordy Sank and Sara Tauby on their upcoming wedding.
We are so lucky to be celebrating Jordys Ufruf this week at Bnei Shul
‘וְאָ ַכלְתָּ וְשָׂ ָב ְעתָּ וּ ֵב ַר ְכתָּ‘
‘You shall eat and you will be satisfied, and you shall bless’
The pasuk that is written above is actually our commandment to say Birkat Hamazon.
The Gemara points out a really interesting fact. The Gemara says that this pasuk only contains an obligation to say a brocha after eating...
So then the question that we have here is, from where then do we know that we need to bless the food before we eat as well?
The Gemara answers the question simply- that surely if we are obligated to make an after brocha, we should also probably make a ‘before’ brocha
After answering the question, the Gemara adds another question...
The Gemara asks: There is a pasuk in the Torah that obligates us to make a brocha before learning Torah. So then how do we know that one is suppose to make another brocha after learning?
This answer, nearly exactly mirrors the previous answer -being that if we know that we have to say a before brocha when learning torah, then surely we should have to make a brocha after learning Torah too.
Now our main question after learning about both eating and learning torah is:
Q. Why is it more easily understood that we should say a brocha before eating rather than after eating, and then while learning it is the opposite way round? I would think that it would seem more obvious to say a brocha after learning than before?
A. In our physical world, anticipation is a very powerful force and most of the time, unfortunately, the pleasure doesn’t live up to the promise. Sometimes the hype is ‘over-hyped’ and then the actual event doesn’t live up to your expectation.
In Marketing there is a theory called: Sell the Sizzle, not the Steak- meaning that just by looking at the steak your mouth waters. However when you actually bite into it, its just not that good. Therefore, the sizzle is always better than the steak!
This little ‘steak’ theory helps us answer our question.
If we are obligated to say a brocha after eating, when the actual pleasure has warn off, then surely before eating when the pleasure is great and there is so much excitement and anticipation, you are obligated to say a brocha. However, we know that in spirituality, it is the opposite.
Many times we have to push ourselves to learn, or do something kind for someone else and the pleasure beforehand is insignificant. But, afterwards, when you’ve finished learning or have done the kind deed, your pleasure is absolutely incredible!
Therefore, if before learning when the pleasure is really not that great, we are obligated to say a brocha, then certainly afterwards when we feel like we are in ecstasy, we are obligated to say a brocha!
In spirituality the steak is ALWAYS better than the sizzle!
Shabbat Shalom Holy People
Hannah Swartz
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A vort in short (Hachshara 2017)
Throughout the entire book of Bamidbar, it appears as though Hashem is slowly preparing Bnei
Yisrael for life in Eretz Yisrael, a life in which the Jews will need to be self sufficient. Living in Eretz Yisrael would mean a life where the Jews no longer rely on Hashem for miracles in order to survive, but rather work the land in order to gain their sustenance.
Upon first glance, life in the land of Israel appears to be a life of independence, separate from God, completely man-driven. However in this week’s Parsha, Parshat Eikev, Moshe reminds Bnei Yisrael before entering the land, that without Hashem’s help, they have no hope of survival. The Pasuk states:
ַֽויְַענְּךָ֮וַיְַּרִעֶבךָ֒וַיֲַּֽאכִֽלְךָ֤ ֶאת ַהמָּ֙ן ֲא ׁשֶ֣רAא־יָדְַ֔עתָּוְלֹ֥איְָד֖עוּן ֲאבֹתֶ֑יךָ◌לְמַַ֣עןהוֹדֲִֽעךָ֗כִּ֠ילֹ֣א ַעל־ַהּלֶֶ֤חםלְַבדּוֹ֙יְִחיֶ֣הָֽהאָדָ֔םּכִ֛יַעל־כָּל־מוֹצָ֥אִֽפי־יְהוָ֖היְִחיֶ֥הָהאָדָֽם׃
He subjected you to the hardship of hunger and then gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had ever known, in order to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but that man may live on anything that the LORD decrees.
This Pasuk ties in with another one only a few verses later which we recite every time we say Birkat Hamazon:
וְאַָכלְּתָ֖וְשָׂבְָ֑עתָּוּבֵַֽרְכּתֶָ֙את־יְהוָ֣הֱאAהֶ֔יךָ◌ַעל־ָהאֶָ֥רץַהטֹּבָ֖הֲאׁשֶ֥רָֽנַתן־לָֽךְ׃
When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.
When analyzing this Pasuk, all the components seem to make sense, except for the last one. It makes sense that we eat, feel satisfied, and thank Hashem, but why is it that we thank Him for the land that He gave us and not the food that we have just eaten?
The answer lies in the fact that oftentimes, we as human beings attribute final product to our own ingenuity, and forget Hashem’s generosity. When a baker bakes a loaf of delicious bread, he is paid the credit for his handiwork, and we forget about the wheat and rain which Hashem so graciously provided in order to make that same loaf.
It is for this very reason that Moshe emphasises that only with Hashem’s blessing will they be able to live in Eretz Yisrael. He tries to ensure that even though Bnei Yisrael may feel as though they are completely in control of their livelihood, baking their own bread and pressing their own oil, in actual fact, everything lies within Hashem’s hands.
Be’ezrat Hashem, we should all try to recognise that no matter how hard we may work, all of our success comes from nowhere but Heaven. It is only because of Hashem’s active role in our lives, and the generosity he bestows upon us, that we succeed and thrive.
Shabbat Shalom all the way from Ein Hanatziv.
Yonatan Ovad
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Get to know your maddie
Maddies Name: ari Chipkin Shichva: Morasha
Q. Chippy, what Shichva are you from? A. Lehava
Q. Choose a movie title for the story of your life? A. ‘The Mysterious Case of Benjamin Button’
Q. What was your childhood nickname? A. Él Chupacabra
Q. If you could be anything but human, what would you be? A. A Mongoose, because they kill snakes
Q. At which store are you most likely to max out your credit card? A. Dischem
Q. Do you have any strange phobias? A. Disagreeing with Lori
Q. What’s your favorite TV series? A. House of Cards
Q. Which emoji do you use most often? A. ! "
Q. What are 3 adjectives that best describe you? A. Fast, Fearsome, Ripped
Q. 1 interesting fact that you should know about me is...? A. I speak fluent Latin
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meet the team
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Shichva Shoutouts
Gurim
A. The most interesting thing I’ve bought would be a chameleon (on the side of the road on the way to Sun
Q. What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve ever bought?
Orot
A. A monsters inc watch in grade 12 Orot!!!! Shabbat shalom legends. It's great to send a shout out to you guys once again. Wow what an amazing week it's been. Camp is so close and orot is literally taking over the world never mind Hartenbos! Get pumped orot legends. It's going to be unreal!
YUVI HH
Morasha
A. The most interesting things I ever buy are random things from Typo .'
Good shabbos to the BEST shichvah out there!! Get ready for the most unreal camp together!! Xx CAYLA SOLOMON
Tzion
כולם כולם כולם כולם
A. The most interesting thing I've ever bought was a fish ( head from the shuk on hadracha for RabAttack (Dan Rab). Come ask me the story, it’s a fat lag! Howzay Tzion! I'm so honored and excited to be joining such a power shichva with incredible channies! We're going to have the most unreal time running the camp site this December! Get signed up and ready for unlimited gees! CHANAN EMDIN
)# Hoooowsit Gurim
Hoooowsit! Hope you are all getting ready for the best 3 weeks of your lives! Camp is around the corner... lets
$%$
GABI BENDER
Roim
A. A Golden Snitch watch Howsit Roim! Can't wait to be jolling with you legends for the craziest 3 weeks of our lives in December. Shout out to all the Roim ladies for Women's day - we appreciate you! Hope you guys have an unreal Shabbos!
JESS LEIBOFF
Moledet
A. Pink, fluffy handcuffs Moldedet you don't understand how pumped I am to be your Rosh for camp this year! Get excited and Get ready for a year of absolute GEES and Mayhem. Have a lekker
City
smash it
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shabbos legends!!


Parsha Pop Quiz
Parshat Eikev 1. Moshe told the Bnei Yisrael that if they follow Hashems’s commandments, He would remove all the
sickness and evil diseases they had in Egypt. What would become of those diseases?
2. Moshe realized that the people were afraid to fight against nations who seemed strong and
numerous. To calm their fears, what did Moshe tell the people to do?
3. Moshe tells the Bnei Yisrael that even after they defeat all their enemies, there would still be some
hiding out and ready to defeat them. What did Moshe promise would happen to these people?
4. The Bnei Yisrael were told to be most careful not to adopt the gods of the nations. How were they to
dispose of the idols which they found?
5. Moshe anticipated a future danger for the Bnei Yisrael when they become wealthy and satisfied with
their position in the land. What did he say could happen?
6. For what reasons were the Bnei Yisrael allowed to possess the Land?
7. When Hashem saw, time after time, how wicked and stiff-necked the Bnei Yisrael were, He offered a
new deal to Moshe. What was it?
8. Moshe fasted 40 days and nights to prevent Hashem from making good on His contingency plan.
What was Moshes’ argument that convinced Hashem not to destroy the people?
Answers:
1. Hashem would lay them upon those who hated Israel.
2. Moshe told them to remember what Hashem did to Paroh and all of Egypt, and that He would do the same to the nations the people would encounter.
3. Moshe told them that Hashem would send hornets that would chase the nations out into the open.
4. They were told to burn the idols with fire, being careful not to remove the gold and silver.
5. Moshe said that the people would forget all that Hashem had done for them, and say in their heart,
“my power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.”
6. They were allowed to possess the Land because of Hashem’s promise to Avraham, Yitzchak, and
Yaakov, and because of the wickedness of the people already living there. Moshe emphasizes that it
is not because the Bnei Yisrael were righteous–in fact, they had defied Hashem time after time.
7. The new deal was that Hashem would blot out the children of Israel and make a new, bigger, and
more holy nation from Moshe.
8. Moshe argued that Hashem had redeemed the people from Egypt and taken them into the desert. If
Hashem were to destroy the people, the Egyptians would say that He had not been powerful enough to take them into the land, and that He hated them so much, He took them into the wilderness to destroy them.
.
Questions:
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Pictures of The week
Maddies camp launch
CAMP SCHOOL LAUNCHES
MTA & Limmud 2017 Gap year Pictures
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Fun and Games
Riddles Questions:
1. A boy and a Doctor went fishing. The boy was the Doctors son but the Doctor wasn't the boys father. Who is the Doctor?
2. I run over fields and woods all day, under the bed at night I sit, but not alone. My tongue hangs out, up and to the rear, awaiting to be filled in the morning. What am I?
You’ve Got to be joking...
It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Etch. Etch who? Bless you!
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Riddles
Answers:
A1. The Doctr was the sons mother!
A2. A shoe!


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CAMP POSTER
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Shabbat Shalom
A huge huge mazeltov to Jordy Sank and Sara Tauby on their upcoming wedding.
We are so excited to celebrate with you both.
/BneiSA
011 485 1695 | [email protected] | www.bnei.co.za
See you next week
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