DVAR TORAH The Talmud [Nedarim 38a] teaches that during the first forty days that Moshe was on Mount Sinai, he learned the entire Torah from G-d each day, only to forget it, until finally G-d gave him the knowledge as a gift - "And He gave to Moshe, when He finished talking with him on Mount Sinai, two tablets of Testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of G-d" [Exodus 31:18].
What was G-d's purpose in teaching Moshe the Torah for forty days when He knew all along that Moshe would forget?
The Alshich HaKadosh suggests two explanations. The first is that Moshe needed to completely purify his soul to the highest degree to merit receiving the Torah and teaching it to the Jewish people, and each additional day that he learned served to purify him even further. And the second explanation was that Torah knowledge is only given as a gift to somebody who first expends effort and energy to earn it.
Rav Avraham Pam, ztz"l in his Atara L'Melech learned from here that when a person studies Torah and forgets it, one shouldn't become despondent and feel that it was for naught. Because the Torah that one learns still serves to purify and uplift one's soul and it also helps one to merit Torah knowledge beyond what would have naturally possible to attain and understand.
Tuesdays @ 8:30 pm - KINS Women's Tehillim Group each week at a different home. To stay informed - CLICK HERE
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Purim Part 1: Machatzit HaShekel The Rema wrote in Orech Chaim 694:1 that before Purim, there is a custom to donate half of the monetary unit of one’s time and place (e.g., half a dollar, half a pound, etc.). This custom commemorates the half-shekel that was donated in Adar to purchase animals for communal offerings. The custom is to give three times this half unit (e.g., $1.50) because, at the beginning of Parshat Ki Tisa [Shemot 30:13-15], the word “terumah” (donation) appears three times.
The common practice is for the synagogue to supply three half-dollars to be used for this custom. The person fulfilling this custom lifts the three half-dollars as an act of acquisition (kinyan) and then donates $1.50, returning the half-dollars to the tzedakah plate and relinquishing ownership of the half-dollars. Rabbi Yaakov Kametzky [Emet L’Yaakov page 160] wrote that one should give a little more than $1.50 in exchange for the three half-dollars because we avoid using tzedakah money to make change for own money. However, Sefardim rule that one should donate the value of three half silver shekels (approximately 9 grams). As of February 2022, this would equal $6.95.
The poskim offer three opinions as to when one should perform the Machatzit Hashekel: A) The Rama writes that one performs the Machatzit Hashekel before Mincha on Taanit Esther. B) Harav Yaakov Emden and the Chatam Sofer maintained that it is performed following Mincha on Taanit Esther. C) Magen Avraham rules that the custom of machatzit hashekel is performed on Purim morning [Magen Avraham 694:2].
If one did not donate the Machatzit Hashekel before Purim, it should be given as soon as possible during the month of Adar. If not then, Rabbi Yisroel Feinhandler [Avnei Yashfei 1:133] ruled that it can be performed for up to twelve months after Purim (until the following Nissan).
There is a debate among the authorities whether women are obligated to perform Machatzit Hashekel. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ruled that women are obligated [Halichot Shlomo Purim 18:3]. However, many have the practice that husbands perform Machatzit Hashekel on behalf of the women in his family. [Magen Avraham 694:3, Nitei Gavriel 27, Halichot Shlomo Purim 18:9 and Shevet Halevi 7:183].
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MAZAL TOV *to Naomi Samber on the birth of a great grandson. The proud parents are Rabbi Leib and Shalva Lehrfield. *to Esther Cardash on the birth of a great granddaughter. The proud parents and Rabbi and Mrs. Michoel Stern. *to Elise Glassenberg on the recent Bar Mitzvah of her great grandson, Simcha Wolf. *to Sandy and Art Aberman on the engagement of their granddaughter, Shany Wechsler to Benny Albom. *to Ephraim and Aviva Vilenski on the marriage of their son, Yosef, to Chaya Sheinbein. *to Hesh and Mimi Granek and Susie Robinson on the birth of a granddaughter and great granddaughter. The proud parents are Motti and Rachel Olshan. *to Matthew and Georgia Miller on the birth of a daughter. *to Morris and Malka Loterstein on the engagement of their son, Yoni, to Shana Edery.
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
The Week of learning, March 3 – March 8, is sponsored by Matia and Tracy Schultz in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Matia’s father, Harvey Schultz z’l – חיים לייב בן יצחק ז'ל.
Parent Child Learning this week is sponsored by Richard and Karen Lipman in honor of the birth of their grandson.
Thank you to our Parent Child Learning End of Year Party sponsors: Abe & Debbie Bajtner, Simcha and Ellen Freedman, Nechemia & Chani Gershman, Henry & Lisa Goldberg, Eli and Ayelet Kleinman, Jacob Roth, Yonah & Ronit Sturmwind, Phil and Roselle Zaret
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
SEMICHAS CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays 8:00pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - Shabbat 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 45 min. before Shabbat mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays 9:00am
BIRTHDAYS Yakir Reiss (3/2) Mr. Daniel Yahav (3/2) Coby Margolin (3/3) Meira Schultz (3/3) Daniel Bachrach (3/4) Eitan Kleinman (3/4) Mrs. Shuli Medow (3/4) Mr. Mark Lebowitz (3/6) Dr. Julian Ungar (3/6) Mrs. Lisa Goldberg (3/8)
ANNIVERSARIES Steve and Malka Miretzky (3/2) Oren and Noemy Skidelsky (3/6)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - Mondays 8:00-9:00pm
PARSHAT HASHAVUA - Tues. 12:30-1:30pm 
SEFER MELACHIM - Wed. 1:00-2:00pm
SEMICHAS CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays 8:00pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - Shabbat 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays 9:00am 
