DVAR TORAH After the detailed story of Eliezer finding a wife for Yitzchak, the Torah tells us that Avraham Avinu married once again, this time a woman named Keturah. Assuming that this story is presented in chronological order (interestingly, Rabbi Shmuel David Luzzato suggests this might not be the case), Avraham would have been at least 140 years old when this marriage occurred!
Why did he remarry at such an advanced age, and what is the Torah trying to teach us by recounting this episode?
According to Radak and Abarbanel, he chose to remarry to fulfill G-d’s promise that he would become the father of many nations. Because, according to them, that promise was a command! And when he fulfilled that command, notes the Abarbanel, miraculously G-d gave him children - even at such an advanced age!
On the other hand, according to the midrash that suggests that this new wife was Hagar, Avraham may have married her to atone for having expelled her from his home so many years before.
And yet, Rav Yaakov Meidan offers a third and most ingenious response.
He notes that the Torah tells us not only of Avraham’s marriage and the birth of six more sons but that Avraham sent them “kedma” - eastward.
Why was this detail important?
Explained Rav Meidan, because Avraham was trying to ensure that the Land of Israel would be buffered by friendly neighbors - by his other progeny.
In fact, Rav Meidan noted that the Torah offers two sets of boundaries for the Land of Israel. The first is a vast area of land promised to Avraham. And the second was a much smaller area given to the Jews who left Egypt.
Why the two sets of boundaries?
Wrote Rav Meidan because the smaller boundaries were specifically for the Jewish people. In contrast, the larger boundaries were to include all of Avraham's offspring–including Keturah and Hagar's children.
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HALACHA OF THE WEEK: How Early Can One Don Tallit and Tefillin? When traveling, especially at this time of year, it is often necessary to daven before sunrise. While this is permitted under extenuating circumstances [Mishna Berura 58 note 12] - and even if someone must go to work early in the morning [Iggrot Moshe Orech Chaim 4:6] - reciting Shma and Shemona Esrei before the time of "alot ha'shachar" (approximately 72 minutes before sunrise) is prohibited. (For a more detailed discussion of "alot hashachar" see: http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/halak58/08shachr.doc)
However, even when davening as early as "alot hashachar" is permitted, reciting a bracha on tallit and tefillin that early is questionable.
In the 70's during the oil crisis, Rav Moshe Feinstein permitted a person to make a bracha on tefillin as early as "alot hashachar, but did not extend that same leniency to a bracha on a tallit [Iggrot Moshe ibid.].
Rather, a person must don his tallit without a bracha, and then once the time of mi'sheyakir [lit. recognizing] arrives, the person should adjust his tallit and recite the bracha [Orech Chaim 18:3, Mishna Berura 18 notes 6-11]. Practically, many early minyanim do this "adjusting" following the bracha of "yishtabach".
But what is the time of mi'sheyakir?
In Shulchan Aruch [Orech Chaim 18:3; 30:1; and 58:1] it is defined as the time when a person can see his friend (with whom he is somewhat accustomed to seeing)at a distance of four amot (approximately 6-8 feet], or can distinguish between the colors of blue and white. (Interestingly, the Eshel Avraham [Orech Chaim 58] raises the question if there is a single objective time, or if each person's "mi'sheyakir" is different, and even if moonlight, or the reflection of light off of snow should be a consideration in determining this time)
While we have no definitive source for measuring this time in minutes or hours, the Kaf HaChayim [Orech Chaim 18:18] and Rav Y. Henkin estimated this time to be approximately one hour before sunrise. The Pri Megadim, ruled is was six minutes after "alot hashachar" and Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled it was 35-40 minutes before sunrise [ibid.]. Others measure the time of mi'shayakir using astronomical measures, between 10.2 and 11.5 degrees of the sun below the horizon.
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MAZAL TOV *to Rabbi Israel and Esther Porush on the engagement of their granddaughter, Tova Nathan, daughter of Yehudit and Rabbi Deon Nathan (Miami) to Yoni Leserman (LA).
*to Leonard and Pamela Cohen on the engagement of their grandson, Ephraim Warso, son of Brook & David Warso, to Tamar Herschberg (Woodmere, NY).
*to Naomi Samber on the birth of a great granddaughter. The proud parents are Rabbi Avraham and Shayna Millen.
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
Kiddush at KINS North is sponsored by Abe and Ronna Adler in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Abe’s father, Raphael Adler z’l, and by Morris and Malka Loterstein in commemoration of the 4th yahrtzeit of Malka’s father, Rabbi Benjamin Shandalov z’l – Harav Binyamin ben Zev and in commemoration of the 1st yahrtzeit of Morris’ mother, Miriam Loterstein z’l – Miriam Sara bat Mordechai.
A Donation to the Kiddush Fund was made by Alan and Jodi Gershman in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Alan’s father, Rabbi Bernard Gershman z’l.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
FROM THE DAYAN'S DESK - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays noon 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA - Wed. 8:00p/Shabbat 8:30a
BIRTHDAYS (cont'd) Mrs. Ilana Karesh (11/15) Gabriel Bass (11/16) Mrs. Sarit Lefton (11/16) Akiva Miretzky (11/16) Rabbi David Rosenberg (11/17)
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 - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 
SEFER YESHAYAHU - will resume 11/12