Bnei Buzz Vaetchanan

Newsletter: 16 | Parsha: Va’etchanan Candle Lighting: 5:25pm| Motzei ShabbAs: 6:16pm
In This Edition
Get ready! Get ready! Get ready! (page 5)
Picture of the Week


Letter from the Editor
Hello all you bnei buzzers
Have you had the most fabulous week? Are you ready for the most epic Shabbat? I hope you are
extremely, insanely and madly excited for ALL the camp announcements and incredible launches coming your way!!
’"איְִהיֶהלְך ֱא"ִהים ֲאֵחִרים ַעלפָּנָי‘
‘You shall not recognise the gods of others in my presence’
Back in the day, the people used to worship and bow down to idols. Today though, its very different and people view bowing down to ‘stones or rocks’ as something that is silly and childish.
Q. If this is so, then how can all the Torahs numerous warnings against idol worship be relevant to us today?
We learn that idol worship actually started with Enosh who was the grandson of Adam. Even though Enosh served idols, he still believed in Hashem- after all, his very own grandfather Adam, was created by Hashem himself. However, the people of Enoshs’ generation did not have the same view. They were amazed by the stars and the galaxies and felt the need to honour them in the way that one should honour a king. (Hashem). The people served them with the intension that they were fulfilling Hashems will. The people also tried to manipulate the stars into serving themselves- they knew magic that allowed them to do this!
Even though it is true that idols cannot function independently without Hashem, because they receive life and power from Him, they were able to do some things that the people wanted them to do! For example: when Hashem created a drought, the idol worshippers were able to manipulate nature and make it rain!!!
The reason why idol worship is wicked, is because the real purpose of creation is to get closer to Hashem through self perfection.
However, manipulating systems that ultimately require no growth, defeats the purpose of creation!! Hashem makes a drought so that we can improve ourselves and make a connection with him - not so that we can manipulate the situation and ‘beat the system’!
When Hashem gives us a challenge and puts an obstacle in our path, we may search for a quick fix in order to get out of it- maybe pay some money and get that difficulty removed!
However, that is totally not what Hashems wants us to do- He wants us to improve on ourselves.
Hashem wants us to use that pain to improve our own personal spiritual growth and if we take the ‘easy way out’ we are in some way, commiting a form of idolatry and ultimately defeating the purpose of creation!
When you are put face to face with a challenge, you need to ask yourself: “Do I see this challenge as an irritating disturbance or do I see it was an opportunity for growth?”
Shabbat Shalom Holy People
Hannah Swartz
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A vort in short (Hachshara 2017)
The list of national tragedies which fell on Tisha B'Av is astounding. The destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash, the destruction of the second Beis Hamikdash, the destruction of the city of Betar, the expulsion of Jews from Spain and the beginning of World War I are all part of this.
The ‘coincidence’ of these events falling on Tisha B'Av was meant to teach us that only the Hand of Hashem guides these national events.
Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva were walking in the vicinity of Rome. From far away, they heard the sounds of a thriving metropolis, and three of them began to cry, but Rabbi Akiva laughed.
They said to him, “Why are you laughing?” {Rabbi Akiva responded:]“And you, why are you crying?” “These barbarians, who bow to idols and burn incense for false gods, are living in peace and security, while we, the footstool of whose G-d is burnt with fire – should we not cry?” He said to them, “That is exactly why I am laughing. If people who violate the will of G-d have it so good, how much better will those who act according to His Will, have it?”
Another time, the same scholars were walking towards Jerusalem. When they reached Mt. Scopus (from which it is possible to see the Temple Mount), they tore their clothing. When they arrived at the Temple Mount, they saw a fox running out of the area where the Holy of Holies had been. They began to cry, while Rabbi Akiva laughed.
They said to him, “Why are you laughing?” He responded, “Why are you crying?”
“If from the place about which it is written, ‘And the stranger who enters there, shall die,’ we see a fox coming out, should we not cry?” “For that very reason, I am laughing. Isaiah the Prophet said, ‘I will bring two reliable witnesses regarding my People, Uriah the Priest and Zecharia ben Yevarech’yahu. ‘(Isaiah 8:2) Now what do Uriah and Zecharia have to do with each other? Uriah prophesied in the time of the First Temple, and Zecharya in the time of the Second Temple! But the verse in Isaiah makes Zecharia’s prophecy dependent on Uriah’s.
“In Uriah’s case, it is written, ‘Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed under like a field.’ (Michah/Uriah 3:12) In the case of Zecharia, we find,
‘Yet again, elderly men and elderly women will sit in the streets of Jeruselam (and each will have a staff in his or her hand from great age. And the streets of the city will be full of children, playing in her streets) (Zecharia 8:4-5)
Until I saw the fulfillment of Uriah’s prophecy, I had some doubt as to whether Zecharia’s prophecy would come true. Now that I have seen Uriah’s prophecy fulfilled in full detail, I know that Zecharya’s prophecy will also be fulfilled.”
Hearing that, Rabbi Akiva’s colleagues said to him, “Akiva, you have comforted us. Akiva, you have comforted us.” (End of the tractate Makot)
We read Eicha on Tisha BAv. Eichah. Lamentations. Aleph, yud, chaf, heh. Moshe said: “Eichah e’sah l’vadee {How can I bear alone (the difficulties of this nation)} [1:12]”. Yirmiyahu mourned: “Eichah yashvah badad {How did this come about that she (Yerushalayim) is sitting alone} [Eichah 1:1]”.
We find those same four letters composing a different word in Breishis. After Adam Harishon had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge he was hiding in Gan Eden. Hashem asked him: A’yechah {Where are you}? Aleph, yud, chaf, heh -- A’yechah... Aleph, yud, chaf, heh -- Eichah...
If we ask ourselves: A’yechah? Where are we? What are we doing with our lives? Are we connecting to Hashem or are we distancing ourselves from Him? Are we fanning that spark or are we extinguishing it? If we are asking those questions then we don’t need to come to a state of Eichah {Lamentation}. If we need Hashem to ask us A’yechah, then we’re in need of an Eichah
We know that the second Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because of שנאת חינם(baseless hatred) and in order for the third Beit Hamikdash to be rebuilt, we need to practice אהבת חינם(baseless love). Through this we will hopefully be able to achieve אחדות(unity).
The chofetz chaim wanted to try and change the whole world and he realized he couldn't. He then tried to change Europe, and he realized he couldn't do it. He then tried to change Lithuania, and again realized that he couldn't do it. He decided to try and change his home town of Radin, once again he realized that he couldn't do it. He then tried to change his street, but he couldn't do it. He thought he could try to change his wife, but he couldn't do that. He eventually decided to change himself and he was successful in changing himself and in changing himself he changed the whole world.
Before we want to place blame on anyone else or try and change anyone else, we always need to look at ourselves first. However we need to start looking at ourselves and not push the blame onto other people.
When there's an emergency on a plane, the instructions are that you must first secure or put on your own oxygen mask before you help others. We need to work on ourselves and help ourselves before we are able to turn to help others
As all events that we view as ‘punishments’, the objective is to cause a person to assess and mourn his personal state of destruction. Only that can lead to the ultimate redemption.
Our sages tell us that those who mourn the destruction of Jerusalem will merit seeing it rebuilt with the coming of Moshiach.
May that day come soon, and then all the mournful dates on the calendar will be transformed into days of tremendous joy and happiness.
Daniella Waxman
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Get to know your maddie
Maddies Name: Gidon Ronthal Shichva: Tzion
Q. Gidon, what Shichva are you from? A. Hagvurah
Q. Choose a movie title for the story of your life? A. The Princess Diaries
Q. What was your childhood nickname? A. Gidonk
Q. If you could be anything but human, what would you be? A. Sunshine. To brighten up everyone’s day.
Q. At which store are you most likely to max out your credit card? A. @Home buying wedding presents.
Q. Do you have any strange phobias? A. Hate the sound of tin foil..
Q. What’s your favorite TV series?
A. Watching Accounts videos on YouTube. #Lit. And Love Island
Q. Which emoji do you use most often? A.
Q. What are 3 adjectives that best describe you?
A. 1) Happy 2) Not happy 3) Nice 4) Do what I want
Q. 1 interesting fact that you should know about me is...?
A. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not actually Zac Efrons identical twin. Sorry for the
confusion
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From the Desk of your Rosh Machane Martin Skudicky
Good Shabbos one and all!
Thank G-d we have had such an unbelievable year so far with Bnei Akiva.
Now, I can not believe its that time of year again where we shift our focus to the biggest gees of the year - MACHANEH!! Get pumped, get ready because your Roshim, Camp Theme, New Additions & some surprises are all coming your way!
We will be coming to your school soon so get excited because Machaneh is here...
Shabbat Shalom Everyone
Martin Skudicky
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Parsha Pop Quiz
Parshat Va’etChanan
1. Moshe asked Hashem if he could “go over” and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan.
According to Moshe, whose fault was it that Hashem refused? Did Hashem leave the matter open
for negotiation?
2. Hashem made one concession to Moshe in this negotiation. What was it?
3. Moshe begs the Bnei Yisrael to listen to Hashems’s laws and to follow them. What was the reward
for following this order?
4. What did Moshe say would happen if the Bnei Yisrael built idols and were evil in their ways?
5. After the people would be scattered all over the world and lose their connection to Hashem, was
there any chance of returning? At what time?
6. Why does the Torah forbid forming any likeness of Hashem (idols)?
7. There is a reference in this week’s Parasha to the “iron furnace.” What does this refer to?
8. For those who commit idolatry, Hashem says He will remember the sin for how many generations?
And for how many generations will He remember those who obey Him?
9. Moshe tells the people that they were chosen by Hashem, even though they were one of the
smaller nations. Why were they chosen?
Answers:
1. Moshe thought that the Bnei Yisrael Israel were responsible for Hashem’s refusal. The matter was not
open for discussion.
2. Hashem allowed Moshe to just see the land.
3. The reward was that they may live (thrive and multiply) and go in and possess the land which
Hashem gave them.
4. Moshe said they would soon perish off the land and would be destroyed. Those left would be
scattered among the nations and would be a minority. They would soon assimilate and become just
like the people around them.
5. Yes; the people would have a chance to return at the “end of days”.
6. The Torah explains that the people only heard Hashem’s voice–they never saw any form. Therefore it
is forbidden to recreate a likeness as it would be a desecration.
7. The “iron furnace” is a description of (Mitzrayim) Egypt .
8. Hashem says he will remember sins until the third and fourth generation, and He will be merciful to
the 1000th generation for those who commit good deeds.
9. They were chosen because Hashem loved them, because Hashem had made an oath to their fathers,
and because Hashem saved them from slavery in Mitzrayim.
Questions:
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Pictures of the week
Maddies & channies learning
MTA & Limmud 2017 Gap year Pictures
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Fun and Games
Riddles
Questions:
1. If a red-house is made of red bricks, has a red wooden door, and a red roof, and a yellow-house is made of yellow bricks, has a yellow wooden door, and a yellow roof, then what is a green-house made of?
2. I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. Who am I?
You’ve Got to be joking...
Q. What do you call a Chinese billionaire? A. Cha-Ching!
Q. What happens to a frogs car when it breaks? A. It gets ‘toad’ away
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Riddles Answers:
A1. Glass
A2. The letter E


Shabbat Shalom
/BneiSA
011 485 1695 | [email protected] | www.bnei.co.za
See you next week
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