Yosef Bronsteyn's Bar Mitzvah Talk May 9, 2009

Good Shabbos!

Welcome to my Bar Mitzvah.

Before I begin I want to thank my parents for choosing this public school to make my Bar Mitzvah in. It’s a good use of tax money!

Also I would like to thank my siblings, for um…um…uh…it will come to me later.

Anyway, on with my Bar Mitzvah speech.

It says in this week’s parsha (Vayikra 23:15)

“You shall count for yourselves on the second day of Passover from the day that you bring the Omer of the waving, seven weeks they shall be complete.”

The Book of Education, mitzvah #306, writes that this pasuck is telling us that it is a mitzvah to count 49 days from the second day of Pesach until Shavous.

Abayeh tells us in Tractate Menachos (66a) that it is a mitzvah to count the weeks as well as the days.

The Shulchan Orach, Code of Jewish Law, (Ohr HaChaim 489:8) writes that if one forgot to count one of the days they should count the rest of the days without a brocha.

The Mishna Brurah #37 explains that it is a dispute amongst our rabbis whether each and every single day is a separate mitzvah to count or all of the days when counted are one mitzvah.

According to the opinion that holds that all of the days are one mitzvah, if one misses a day, he can no longer continue counting because he is missing a part of this mitzvah. Therefore, he can only continue to count without a brocha.

The Minchas Chinuch asks what happens if someone such as myself becomes Bar Mitzvah in the middle of the counting of the Omer.

I became Bar Mitzvah, last Sunday night, on the 25^th day of the Omer. Can I count the rest of the days of the Omer after I became Bar Mitzvah? He answers that it depends on whether or not each day is a separate mitzvah of counting.

According to the opinion that holds that all the days are one mitzvah I missed all the days that I counted as a minor, which would mean, I cannot continue counting. However, according to the opinion that holds that each day is a separate mitzvah, by itself, I can continue counting because each day I will be doing a new mitzvah.

So what should I do?

Of course: S. T. Y. L. O. R.!

For those of us who might not know what that stands for, it means: Speak To Your Local Orthodox Rabbi! For me, that is obviously my Tatty.

My father told me that I can continue counting with a brocha unless of course I missed one of the nights, which I didn’t.

My father asked me a question.

The Nachalus Tzvi, in The Laws of Mezzuzah, #291 writes that a minor that puts up a mezuzah in his room fulfills the mitzvah of mezuzah. Therefore, when he becomes Bar Mitzvah he does not have to put it up again. If that is the case, according to the opinion that holds that all the days make up one mitzvah why can’t the minor continue counting? What is the difference between siferah counting and mezuzah?

I answered my father’s question by stating: that mezuzah is a din (law) relating to the house. The house needs to have a mezuzah. As a result of this, it does not matter who puts it up. If the mezuzah is up the mitzvah is done. But, siferah is a mitzvah for the person to count. Therefore, when one counts as a minor it is not really considered counting because he is not obligated. Because of this, when he becomes Bar Mitzvah he can not continue to count.

My father told me that Rabbi Chaim Brisker, zt”l, said this explanation regarding a different situation. Boruch She Kavanti. Boruch Hashem I thought of this insight!

Now that I am Bar Mitzvah, I feel more grown up. I will try my best to keep all of the mitzvas: to learn Torah, daven with kavana, use proper speech, to be kind to people and serve Hashem properly.

So, in keeping with the idea that after the 25^th day of the Omer I am responsible for all my mitzvas, including being a mentch, it is only fitting that I show my hakaras hatov to all that have come to be with me & helped me arrive at this occasion. I have no intention to leave anyone out.

Let’s begin with those who came from such long distances such as: Santa Cruz, Southfield, North Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Huntington Woods, Atlanta, Kendall, Philadelphia, Waterbury, Flatbush, Lawrence, Scottsdale, Tucson and South of Maryland Avenue! Thank you all for joining me as each one of you makes a difference.

Oh, I remember what I want to say about my siblings, Elisheva, Daniel, Avi, and Hillel: I couldn’t wish for a better Bronsteyn Bunch!

I also want to thank my Mommy and Tatty for everything that they have done and continue to do for me. They are the best example I could have for how to follow in the ways of Hashem. And I thank all of the volunteers, too many to mention, that have helped them put this simcha together.

I want to thank all my teachers and Rabbiam at The Phoenix Hebrew Academy for instilling me with Jewish knowledge. Specifically, I thank Rabbi Cohen for having the patience to teach me to lane my parsha and haftorah.

And of course we need to thank Richard C. Simis, the founder and educator of Madison Simis schools for allowing us to use their walk in refrigerator!

Nothing would be complete if I didn’t recognize from where everything comes, I thank and praise Hashem for all that he has given me.

Good Shabbos.

Vayechi-Who Is Really In Control?

There is a latent fear that gnaws at us. It slowly eats away at our calm stability like dripping water that cuts into solid rock (Avos Derabbi Nasan 6:2).

It is the trepidation of what will happen to the planet with all the capacity for massive destruction humanity has amassed. One bomb can instantly propel the island of Manhattan into extinction. A shutdown of all computers can send people scrambling for food and survival.
One never knows when this fear will surface in the form of panic-stricken screams.

Many of the world’s leaders have access to power that can thrust mankind into oblivion. And there is nothing we can do about.

Kings Don’t Rule

Rabbi Yehuda Kahane (Trumas Hakri, Pesach Shar), of whom my mother is a direct descendent, observes in the name of our Rabbis that such occurrences are not delegated to the power of men. This concept is clearly stated in Proverbs (21:1); the hearts of kings are in the Hand of God. He directs them in the direction that He chooses.
The same way that in American law personal autonomy is curtailed because of compelling state interest, freedom of choice of world leaders is impeded by God because of the overriding interest of humanity.
Washington might be gripped by excitement because of the new electricity of change that fills the air, but is that phenomenon the work of men?

Yosef Tells His Brothers Not To Fear

Yosef told his brothers that it is the work of God.
Don't be afraid of my power in Egypt, he told them. Even if I wanted to take revenge for the way you treated me, my propulsion into viceroy status has taken away my free choice. God acts instead of me (Genesis 50:19).

Therefore, there is no reason to fear, observes Rabbi Yonasan Eibshitz. As a matter of fact, we can be relieved if a person of shady character becomes a world leader because his appointment removes his free choice, rendering him powerless to harm others.
This is what the Talmud in Tractate Gittin (56b) means when it states that whoever creates difficulty for Israel is coronated a monarch. In other words, God protects the Jewish people from whoever punishes them by making him a king in order to take away his free will (Tznif Melucha by Rabbi Meir Reiss, pages 203-204).

Comfort In Faith

Global decisions are within God’s domain only.
In the face of this realization that global interest is not in our hands, the question we need to address is, what is our responsibility?

God declares, ‘You shall safeguard my mitzvos and keep them and I will be sanctified amongst the Jewish people.’
God has invested us with the responsibility for 613 directives (Talmud, Makkos 23b) that are enumerated in the Mosaic code.

Through all the vicissitudes of life, it is incumbent upon us to persevere in keeping these directives. They should be the object of our focus and concentration. When we do that, the beautiful light of our spiritual growth will shine from the darkness of a seemingly meaningless crucible that is our world, and God’s name will be sanctified.

Bar Mitzvah

This is an especially poignant message to one who has become Bar/Bas Mitzvah or has converted to Judaism. The entrance into the yoke of Divine commandments should inspire one to adopt as one’s mantra the instruction of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Path of the Just, Chapter 1) that it is the foundation of Jewish belief for one to clarify what is their obligation in their world.