1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

Shalosh Seudos is sponsored by Mrs. Bertha Kutoff, l’ilui nishmas
Yisroel Leib Ben Mordechai a”h, Mr. Laibel Kutoff
Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Avrohom Yitzchok & Sorah Murray on
the birth of a daughter, Rochel Aliza. Mazel tov to the grandparents
Mr. & Mrs. Moshe & Marcie Murray and the entire mishpacha. May
she grow to Torah, Chupa and Ma’asim Tovim.
The entire kehilla is invited to a Kiddush following davening, sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Ari & Abbie Baumwald to express hakoras hatov to the shul for all the community has done for them.
Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. David & Giti Fredman on the bar mitzvah of their son, Moshe. Mazel tov to the entire mishpacha. May
they see much nachas from him and all their children. All are invited to a Kiddush at Kenesseth Israel.
Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Mordechai & Chira Dorfman on the engagement of their son Ari to Ilana Yarmak from Los Angeles. Mazel
Tov to the entire mishpacha. May the wedding take place b’shaah tovah
u’mutzlachas.
Rabbi & Mrs. Yaakov & Sari Waxman invite the community to a
vort in honor of the engagement of their daughter Chaya Tzipora
to Brachya Yehuda Bernstein at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Noam &
Laurie Jaffa, this Motzei Shabbos, Parshas Shemos, Jan. 10, 2015,
8:30-10:30 PM
Class for Women on Nevi'im, beginning with Sefer Yehoshua with
Rabbi Eliyahu Stern Tuesdays 2 PM - 2:45 PM at the Kollel
Hashavas Aveida: Found- Dodge car key also
Old Navy children’s black winter hat found outside the shul. Men’s black winter snow gloves.
Next week, Parshas Va'eira there will not be BNOS
Fri Erev Shabbos
Parshas Shemos Jan 9
Shacharis 6:43 AM
Mincha 4:35 PM
Light Candles 4:32 PM
Shabbos Jan 10
Shabbos Jan 17
Laws of Shabbos 8:15-8:30 AM –Rabbi Weinberg
Shacharis 8:30 AM
Latest Shema (MG”A/GR”A) 9:29/10:05
Latest Shemona Esrei (GR”A) 10:51
Following Davening– Laws of Shabbos-R’ Weinberg
BNOS 2-3 PM / Pirchei 3:25
Sifrei Chafetz Chaim, – Rabbi Roberts 3:55 PM
Laws of Shabbos 8:15-8:30 AM –R’ Weinberg
Shacharis 8:30 AM
Latest Shema (MG”A/GR”A) 9:29/10:05
Latest Shemona Esrei (GR”A) 10:50
Following Davening– Laws of Shabbos-R’ Weinberg
BNOS 2-3 PM / Pirchei 3:15
Sifrei Chafetz Chaim, – Rabbi Roberts 3:45 PM
Mincha 4:15 PM
Shabbos Over 5:42 PM
Avos U’banim 6:50
Sunday Jan 11
Earliest Donning of Tallis & TefillinSun- Fri 6:37-6:35
Earliest Bracha on Tallis Sun-Fri 7:09-7:07 AM
Shacharis 7:15 & 8:00 AM
Mincha 4:40 PM
Mon-Thurs Jan 12-15
Shacharis M-6:42, Tu & W-6:41
Th-6:40 AM
Mincha 4:40 PM
Mincha 4:25 PM
Shabbos Over 5:51 PM
Avos U’banim 6:55
Sunday Jan 18
Earliest Donning of Tallis & Tefillin
Sun- Fri 6:34-6:30
Earliest Bracha on Tallis Sun-Fri 7:06-7:02 AM
Frankel’s World of Judaica Hours
Sun & Fri 11- 1:30 pm & Mon- Thurs 12-6 pm
Fri Erev Shabbos
Parshas Bo Jan 23
Shacharis 6:35 AM
Mincha 4:50 PM
Light Candles 4:50 PM
Fri Erev Shabbos
Parshas Va’eira Jan 16
Shacharis 6:40 AM
Mincha 4:45 PM
Light Candles 4:41 PM
Good Shabbos!
The Kollel Korner
 Minchas Chinuch –Sun 8 AM with Rabbi Chaim Gibber
 Rabbi M. Kalatsky Thurs Shiur after 8:20 PM Parsha
Perspectives @ Kollel
 Partners in Torah Tues 8:15 PM @ Kollel
 Business Halacha: Ribbis in the workplace. Every
Wed 8-8:30 AM upstairs at the Kollel, by Rabbi Stern
Tefilla Class-Birchos Krias Shema with Mrs.
Tzipora Greenberg-Wed. 12-12:45 PM at her home.
Davening @ Yeshiva of Mpls
Shacharis is 7:40 Mincha 1:45 Maariv 9:05
Jr.
Mussaf Minyan for boys grades 5-8
Mincha Program Grades 4-8
To add a name to the Mi Sheberach L'cholim list,
call 917-753-7057 or email [email protected]
Gemachim Info—call Bella Smith 952-927-9670
Women’s Tehillim: Mons @ 8:15 AM at Perri
Kutoff's Home or 9:15 PM at Engelson’s home,
Jewish Library: Please circulate/donate children &
teens! Jewish books. Th 4-5 PM & Sun 10-11 AM @ the
Sherman home. Contact Juli Sherman 952.926-0334
Baby Gemach -soralasbabygemach.com
Order a Shtender: Call the shul office. Cost: $250.
Shatnez Lab, 4201 Sunset Blvd. back door,
Yoel Menashe Jeff Kreps, 612-868-3330
 Clothing Connection Gemach 952-929-9769
Tomchei Shabbos helps families w/ basic Shabbos necessities. Contact Rabbi Greenberg if you
know of anyone who could use this assistance, or
wants to sponsor. Sponsorship $35-week/ $150/ mo.
Schedule of Shiurim at Bais Yisroel
Likras Shabbos, BOYS 5-8
Fri 30 min before Mincha
Daf Yomi
Sun, after Maariv, M-F after 1st Shacharis & during Shalosh Seudos
Gemara Shiur-Mesechta Shabbos w/ Rabbi Weinberg M-F following 6:30 Shacharis
Amud Yomi with Rabbi Greenberg (see above)
Sun-Thurs 9:15-10 PM
Mishna Brurah with Rabbi Weinberg
Parshas Shemos
Mon-Thurs Jan 19-22
Wednesday is Rosh Chodesh Shevat
Shacharis M-6:38, Tu-6:37,
W & Th-6:36 AM
Mincha 4:45 PM
Shehiya
Torah Academy Store: Thurs 8:30—10:30 PM
19 Teves, 5775
January 10, 2015
Shacharis 7:10 & 8:00 AM
Mincha 4:45 PM
Chapter 3 Pgs. 53-57
Ongoings Goings-On
Volume 10: Issue 10
Parshas Shemos
½ hour before Shacharis Sun thru Fri
Bais Yisroel Shabbos Observer is a weekly publication that brings you
Divrei Torah on the weekly parsha & community events. To submit
items for publication please contact the Office by Thurs 11 AM, of
each week. For general information regarding activities, events or
membership please contact the shul office or HaRav Yechezkel Greenberg. To receive the BYSO by e-mail, please send an email to [email protected]
HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Shlita, Founding Morah D’asra (1990-2009)
Arnie and Hindy Frishman: Founding BYSO Editors
Congregation Bais Yisroel
4221 Sunset Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Phone: 952-926-7867
Hall Phone 952-926-0518 Ext 4
[email protected]
[email protected]
Webpage: www.baisyisroel.org
The Lesson of Yosef in Mitzrayim
Sefer Shemos begins by listing (again) the names of the Shevatim that traveled
down to Mitzrayim. One wonders, why is this necessary? In Sefer Bereishis the
Torah expounded at length about their birth, about Yosef’s sale to Mitzrayim,
about the whole family’s migration to Mitzrayim and about the Brachos that Yaakov gave each son. Every school child can recite the names of the Shevatim by
heart. What is the Torah teaching us by mentioning their names once again as the
introduction to Sefer Shemos? We know there isn’t even one letter in the Torah
that is extra and unnecessary, yet here we have five complete Pesukim that seem
superfluous.
The Alter of Kelm answered that the entire purpose of these Pesukim is for the
lesson that last three words teach us: “V’Yosef Haya B’Mitzrayim -- And Yosef
was in Mitzrayim.” Rashi asks what this could be coming to teach us; Yosef is
included in the 70 souls of Yaakov’s family, and we already know that he was in
The BYSO is Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Moshe & Marcie Murray
in honor of their newest granddaughter, Rachel Aliza
Mitzrayim. Rather, says Rashi, the Posuk is teaching us that it was the same
Yosef who shepherded his father’s sheep who became king of Mitzrayim; he
didn’t lose his innocence and righteousness despite his decadent surroundings
and rise to power in Mitzrayim.
R’ Yaakov Galinsky explains that the source of this explanation is the word
“Haya,” which always denotes something which remains constant.
And it wasn’t a simple feat! The Ben Ish Chai answers our question that the
Posuk is teaching us that as great as the challenges of the other Shevatim were in
adapting to the impurity of Mitzrayim and remaining free of sin despite their
surroundings, Yosef’s situation and test was much worse. The Torah is highlighting four major differences between their challenge and his. 1) They came
“Mitzrayma” which has the same Gematriya (numerical value) as “Shechina”
(Divine Presence), indicating that they came to live in Goshen, separate from
the rest of Mitzrayim and therefore separated from its impurity. Yosef, however,
had to live “in Mitzrayim.” 2) They came “with Yaakov” to Mitzrayim and
therefore had the support and influence of their great father to help them overcome the impurity that they encountered there. Yosef, on the other hand, was
sent down all alone to face his challenges. 3) They came “Ish U’veiso,” each
with his household. They had the protection from temptation of already being
married, while Yosef did not. 4) They came down with 70 people; Yosef came
down all alone. The power of Tzibur (congregation) is the greatest protection.
How did Yosef survive? Because he managed to always focus on the fact that
Hashem was with him; everything else became insignificant. He could have been
excused if he fell into despair from his situation, but he did not allow himself to.
He got through his Galus (exile) by always focusing on what was most important.
We find many examples of how Yosef always invoked the name of Hashem
throughout his ordeal in Mitzrayim. “His master saw that Hashem was with
him,” (39:3), and Rashi says that means that Hashem’s name was constantly on
his lips. When he resisted sinning with Potifar’s wife, he said (39:9), “How can I
do this? I will be sinning to Hashem.” The jailer saw that Hashem was with him
(39:23), and he told the butler and baker that “Hashem interprets dreams”
(40:8). He said the same to Paroh many times and to his brothers when they
came before him. He invoked Hashem when naming his children.
It is a lesson for us, as we are mired in our long Galus. We tend to get depressed
about things, and lose sight of the bigger picture, of how we believe that everything is really good, even if we don’t always perceive that immediately.
Take a look at a most inspiring example from our generation. Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin languishes in jail for over five years, facing a 27-year sentence
which is an extremely harsh sentence for the crime he was accused of. Somehow, though, he remains strong even under those circumstances. The letters he
writes home (and to Klal Yisrael at large) are full of Chizuk and Emunah, so
inspiring to others when it should be he who needs the Chizuk.
This is the lesson Yosef taught us; how to navigate the Galus and make it
through intact.

PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER: THE REBEL
by Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen
One of the heroic figures who briefly appears in the Torah is Batya, the daught-
er of Pharaoh. Her only mention in the Torah is with regard to the pivotal moment
in Jewish history when she drew baby Moses out of the river Nile. The Torah then
describes how she sent Moses to be nursed by none other than his real mother,
Yocheved, and then brought him back into the Palace to grow up as an honored
Prince. The Sages provide us with a number of extra details about Batya which can
help us develop a deeper understanding of her greatness.
The Torah tells us that the reason Batya was at the river was in order to wash herself. The Gemara in Sotah tells us that this was no normal washing; rather she went
to immerse in the Nile to cleanse herself of the idols of her father.(1) Rashi explains
this to mean that she was actually converting to the Jewish people.(2) Given the
context of the times that seems like an astounding act of rebellion against the values
and attitudes of the Egyptian nation and Pharaoh, her own father! Moreover, the
Jewish people were in the most unenviable situation imaginable at this point in their
history. Mired in a never-ending slavery to the cruel Egyptians, one cannot imagine
that many Egyptians would like to have joined this forlorn nation at this point. All
the more so would this be the case with regard to someone in the position of Batya
who was the daughter of the most powerful man of the most powerful nation in
the world!
The Gemara continues its account of what happened when Moshe appeared in the
river. It tells us that when Batya saw him she wanted to save him. Realizing that he
was obviously a Jewish boy, Batya's attendants tried to prevent her; they argued,
"the way of the world is that if a King makes decrees then even if the whole world
does not follow them, but at least his own children should follow them; yet you are
transgressing the decree of your father!" (3) The attendants had a very simple argument; that Batya should show loyalty to her father and follow his decrees. Yet Batya
did not listen to their entreaties, rather she greatly exerted herself to save the Jewish
baby. This indicates that Batya possessed a pervading sense of the moral course of
action even when it contradicted the moral imperative to obey one's father.
The Midrash develops further our understanding of the qualities of this unique
woman. In the Book of Chronicles we are told that Batya married a man by the
name of Mered. The Midrash tells us that Mered was none other than Kaleb Ben
Yefunneh, the man most famous for being one of the two spies who withstood the
arguments of the ten spies who spoke badly about the land of Israel. Why, then,
does the Prophet call him Mered whose root means rebel? The Midrash answers;
"he rebelled against the spies and she rebelled against the counsel of her father. Let
the rebel come and marry the rebel." (4) Again, we see the Sages emphasizing the
rebellious nature of Batya, but how this nature was applied in a righteous way, to
the extent that she is compared to the highly admirable 'rebel', Kalev, who overcame great pressure to act in the correct way.
These sayings of the Sages teach us how Batya epitomized the quality of going
against the beliefs and actions of the society in which she grew up. In this way she
emulated the first Jew, Abraham, who rejected the values of the society he grew up
in order to follow the true path. Batya emulated Abraham in a further sense, as well;
in the course of Abraham's rebellion he even acted in a seemingly disobedient manner towards his father, Terach who owned an idol store. The well-known Midrash
tells us how Abraham destroyed all but one of his father's idols and then claimed
that the biggest idol destroyed the others, thereby exposing the foolishness of his
father's belief system.We know that honoring one's parents is a fundamental concept according to the Torah so how could Abraham act in such a seemingly disrespectful fashion? The answer is that honoring one's parents does not mean that one
is obligated to follow in their lifestyle if it is incongruent with following God's will.
Indeed Jewish law clearly states that whilst a child must listen to his parent's requests, this is not the case if they command him to do something that contradicts
the Torah. Accordingly, Abraham was correct in rejecting his father's values and
exposing their fallacies, because that was God's will.
In the same way, Batya recognized that in the situation she was in - of seeing a
Jewish baby stranded in the river - that the morally correct course of action was to
go against her father's decree and to save the baby. Indeed, her rejection of her
father's belief system was not limited to this single action. The fact that she later
married Kalev means that she certainly converted to Judaism. Indeed the Midrash
reveals to us how God Himself viewed Batya: "Said the Holy One, Blessed is He,
to Batya, daughter of Pharaoh, 'Moses was not your son, yet you called him your
son. You too, are not my daughter, but I shall call you My daughter', As it is written: 'These are the sons of Batya' [which means] daughter of God." (5)
We have seen how Batya merited to join the Jewish people and be called God's
daughter, because of her brave commitment to following God even when it meant
disobeying her mighty father and rejecting his value system. This provides a vital
lesson to all of us. The Torah does place great emphasis on the importance of
honoring and listening to one's parents, however that is only within the boundaries of the Torah. Once the lifestyle and commands of one's parents deviate from
the Torah, then the child is obligated to follow the Torah. This is particularly relevant to people from non-observant backgrounds who face the challenge of family
opposition to adoption of a Torah lifestyle. However, in truth, honoring one's
parents does not include making the life decisions that they want their child to
make, rather one must search for the truth independent of his upbringing.(6) May
we all merit to emulate Batya in our search for truth. ( UWP Aish.com)
Helpful Halacha Highlights #26
(Excerpted from Halacha at Mincha/Maariv)
1. It is customary to cover one’s eyes with one’s hand while saying the first two
sentences (“Shema” and “Boruch Shem”).
2. One may not interrupt during the Shema with speech or any motion.
3. It is customary to hold the Tzitzis in one’s left hand during the morning Shema,
between the pinky and ring finger and opposite one’s heart. When reaching the
third paragraph, hold them with the right hand, too. When mention is made of the
Tzitzis one kisses them, and when mention is made of seeing them (‘ur’isem oso”)
one looks at them.
4. The word “Emes” immediately follows the Shema; one should say that word
together with the Shema without pause.
5. Shema consists of 245 words. In order to reach 248 (corresponding to the 248
limbs of the body) the Chazzan repeats the last three words aloud, and all should
listen to complete their count of 248. One who is davening alone should precede
the Shema with the words “Keil Melech Ne’eman,” as printed in the Siddur.
6. One who hears the congregation saying Shema, even if he has already said it
himself, should recite it with them, at least the first Possuk, so as not to appear as if
he doesn’t wish to accept the yoke of Heaven upon himself. For the same reason, if
he is lagging behind the congregation and has not yet reached Shema, he should
cover his eyes while the congregation says the first verse.