Parshas Tetzaveh | The Kollel Connection

February 27, 2015 – Candle lighting 5:31 pm, Shabbos Ends 6:40 pm

Note: Times are for Bensalem; Check your local calendar for exact times in your area.

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

Welcome to the Kollel Connection.

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This week we read Parshas Tetzaveh. It is also Sabbas Zachor, the weekend that we read the section in the Torah in which we are commended to eradicate all vestige of the evil nation Amalaik.

Rav Laib Chasmen, one of the late mussar (ethics) commentators, points out a lesson from the story of Amalaik that is important for every Jew to recognize. What was the origin of Amalaik? The Talmud (Sanhedrin 99b) tells us that there was a woman named Timna. She desired to convert to Judaism, and join the house of Abraham. When she came to Abraham to ask to join his people, he turned her down. In spite of the fact that Abraham’s entire life was dedicated to reaching out to people and introducing them to monotheism, apparently he saw in this woman something that made him feel that she was not the right person to convert. Isaac and Jacob subsequently also rejected her. In the end, she married a son of Esau named Eliphaz, and they had a son named Amalaik. This son became the arch enemy of the Jewish people. Why was he born from her? Because the Patriarchs should not have pushed her away, but should have accepted her. (Ibid)

Rav Chasmen points out, we know that Abraham tried all the time to reach out to people. The very fact that he did not accept Timna, indicates that he saw something wrong with her. Indeed, we see that her son was the  wicked Amalaik. Nevertheless, Abraham is faulted for pushing her away. The lesson is obvious: In life, we often are able to help people come closer to Hashem but for various reasons, we hold back. This is wrong. We learn from this episode of Amalaik that we must reach out to whoever we can, and bring them closer to Hashem, to the best of our ability.

Wishing you and your family a Great Shabbos!!!!!!!! 

Rabbi Moshe Travitsky

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