Generous

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

The Gemara in Maseches Megillah (4b) discusses the possibility of observing Purim and reading the megillah on Shabbos. Rabbah and Rav Yosef agree that Megillas Esther cannot be read on Shabbos, but they dispute why that is.

Rav Yosef says that Purim does not fall out on Shabbos because “eineihem shel aniyim nesuos lemikra megillah.” The impoverished people look at the calendar during the cold months of winter, waiting eagerly for Purim. Purim and megillah offer a promise of hope for the poor. They know that it is a day when people are most generous and they can count on receiving many handouts. If Purim would fall on a Shabbos, the poor would lose the opportunity to raise much-needed sums for their families. Thus, Chazal arranged for Purim and megillah reading to always take place on a weekday.

Chazal bear in mind the needs of the people, and set an example for us, as well. Adar is a month of joy. The poor are happy because they await the Purim contributions, and our happiness is intertwined with theirs.

The month of Adar is ushered in by the reading of Parshas Shekolim, which discusses the obligation of each person to contribute a half-shekel to the Mishkon.

For the rich, machatzis hashekel is a pittance; it doesn’t arouse any feelings of satisfaction normally associated with giving. For the poor, it is an imposition on those already stretched to the limit.

Yet, this mitzvah symbolizes the essence of communal giving, because tzedakah isn’t about the giver. Tzedakah is about the recipient. What the Torah seeks to accomplish with the donation is that the giver negates any self-interest or benefit associated with giving. The motivation in philanthropy should be to bring joy to the needy recipient. By contributing selflessly we are acting like Hashem who dispenses goodness to people without the expectation of receiving anything in return.

Hashem told Moshe, “Veyikchu li terumah - And they should take for Me a donation.” Rashi explains that the word li refers to lishmi. The donations should be lesheim Shomayim and not for any personal reason. The purest form of tzedakah is when it is given lishmah when the person performing it receives no benefit.

Hearts of Generosity

It is interesting to note that the parsha that deals with appealing to the Jewish people for donations to construct the Mishkon specifically does not ask for anyone to give.

The posuk states (Shemos 25:2), “And they shall take for Me an offering, from each person whose heart wishes to donate you should take My donation.” In other words, if a person chooses to give of his own free will, then those in charge should take his contribution. They should not solicit donations for the Mishkon and should only take from people who have generosity in their heart.

Apparently, in order to merit a share in the House of Hashem, a person must willingly give of his money. Someone who needs to be forced, cajoled or flattered to contribute has not earned the right to be part of constructing a building to house kedusha.

A person who appreciates the benefits of holy places - yeshivos, shuls, botei medrash - is the type who contributes to making the world a better place. Thanks to generous people, our world has grown to historic proportions. Because of them, there is enough money to support Torah institutions without having to resort to people who don’t appreciate our mission.

Parshas Shekolim and Parshas Terumah are prerequisites for Purim, the day identified with the mitzvah of kol haposheit yad nosnim lo, when we negate personal feelings and gladden the hearts of the unfortunate.

In the parshiyos that we lain during chodesh Adar, we transition from the redemption of Am Yisroel from a foreign land and the development and evolution of the nation, to the practical details of erecting a Mishkon and bringing korbanos.

In Hashem’s instructions to Moshe Rabbeinu regarding how and from whom to solicit material necessary for the construction of the home of the Shechinah in this world, He directs him to look for a character trait: “Veyikchu li terumah mei’eis kol ish asher yidvenu libo tikchu es terumosi.”

Moshe Rabbeinu was commanded to accept contributions only from people who possessed “nedivus halev.”

The Vilna Gaon explains that although the Shechinah rests in the heart of every Jew, there is a need for a place where all hearts can join together. The Mishkon was be that place and the nedivus lev was be the prerequisite to take part of constructing the gathering place for the Shechinah which resided in the hearts of good Jews. What is it about this attribute that made it so vital?

Feeling for Others

In Parshas Shemos (4:13-14), when Hashem asked Moshe to be His representative and return to Mitzrayim to redeem the Jewish people, Moshe protested and suggested his brother, Aharon, for the position. The posuk states that Hashem was upset with Moshe and told him that his brother Aharon would happily welcome his return to Mitzrayim, joyful that Moshe was selected for the exalted position.

The posuk states, “Vero’acha vesomach belibo - And when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart.” Rashi states that in reward for his heartfelt joy over the promotion of his younger brother, Aharon merited donning the Choshen, which was worn over the heart, and serving as the kohein gadol in the Mishkon.

Aharon’s selfless joy over his brother’s promotion proved his worthiness to serve in the inner sanctum, lifnai velifnim. Aharon Hakohein, the same person who was happy for his brother Moshe, was the one who was the quintessential “oheiv shalom verodeif shalom.”

Because he was blessed with a good heart that could rejoice for his brother, he was able to bring peace between his fellow Jews. He was able to relate to other people and their problems, drawing people together and minimizing the rifts between them. He was able to accomplish this because it wasn’t about him. It was about them.

Baalei mussar say that to feel the pain of another is to be a mentch, but to share in the joy of someone else’s success requires one to be a malach, an angel.

Aharon, possessing the middah of “vero’acha vesomach belibo,” was angelic, unencumbered by the jealousy that hamstrings lower people.

Nedivei lev, people who characterized by their selflessness, are able to appreciate, rejoice with and work towards the good fortune of others, as they possess a divine middah. The converse is true as well: Where there is envy, jealousy and divisiveness, there cannot be Elokus.

The Mishkon, that ultimate place of hashro’as haShechinah, had to be created through nedivus lev, because the middah is found amongst those who are connected at their roots to Hashem. The nediv lev is able to be generous with what he has and feel other people’s joy, because his life is guided by the belief that no one gets what is not meant for him and that Hashem has a distinct plan for each individual. He models his character after the middos of Hakadosh Boruch Hu, as Chazal prescribe, to be merciful because Hashem is and therefore become closer to Him (Sifri, Eikev).

Nedivei lev understand that we are all brothers and sisters, irrespective of our financial standing, and that each person has a singular role and situation. The heart of the nediv lev is pure and holy, his life a chain of goodness, happiness and greatness. Nedivei lev exist to help and support others. People such as they are integral to the mission of the Mishkon Hashem. They are a source of inspiration to others, and their life is a string of positive reinforcement directed at their fellow man. They can share and give, because they know that they lose nothing by doing so.

Time of Joy

There is no better time than now to start educating ourselves to be forces for good.

Adar is the month of happiness. Mishenichnas Adar marbim besimcha.

This obligation of increasing joy as the month begins is present only in Adar. Even during the month of Nissan, when we celebrate our greatest Yom Tov, there is no mitzvah to be marbeh besimcha.

On Pesach we were freed from slavery and domination by Paroh. Following the neis of Purim, we were still “avdi d’Achashveirosh” in exile. The happiness of the month of Adar requires an explanation.

Chazal derive that on Purim we accepted anew, and willingly, Torah Shebaal Peh. Though delivered to Moshe Rabbeinu at Har Sinai, it came to us through much toil and is mastered to this day only through arduous ameilus.

On Purim, the day that commemorates a miraculous salvation brought about through working hard to do teshuvah, we merited accepting the Torah anew and gladly received the word of Hashem that is arrived at through drashos and ameilus.

We work with our minds and hearts to acquire Torah and thus merit serving as vessels for the Shechinah. Only those who are ameilim in Torah can achieve perfect traits and reach the level of nedivus lev. The devotion to Torah and mussar coupled with the abandonment of selfish thoughts enable man to rise to the level of being able to construct a home for the Shechinah in this world.

People who are selfish are unable to overcome their jealousy and distrust of others. They can’t participate in an endeavor that benefits all equally. Donations that are forced cannot construct a collective home for the Shechinah. The Mishkon can only be erected through unity and shared purpose. The miracle of Purim was achieved through perfect achdus.

When the Jews engaged in discord, the Bais Hamikdosh was destroyed, and because we continue to squabble and succumb to sinas chinom, it has not yet been rebuilt.

Bridging Divides, Spreading Unity

There is so much good in our world, yet, at the same time, there is way too much animosity. There are too many arguments and too many people working against each other. There is an absence of nedivus lev. We must work to overcome the divisions that exist, break down the walls that are being erected, and work together to bring about harmony and generosity - nedivus lev - without enmity, without agendas, and without acrimony.

The Yomim Tovim of Purim and Pesach are times associated with helping the less fortunate. Across our communities and kehillos, there are families struggling to maintain and uphold their dignity. They are our neighbors and friends. They sit next to us in shul and stand next to us in line at the grocery store. We fail to see the load they are carrying and the burden that is breaking them.

No one asked to become an almanah or a yasom, or for their marriage to fall apart, or to lose their job or suffer a financial downturn. It is their lot and it is our responsibility to be there for them.

Part of our own mandate in a season of simcha - the joy of Purim, the simchas Yom Tov of Pesach - is to see to it that our simcha is complete by creating simcha in others. As Jews would bring their maaser sheini to Yerushalayim, they would recite viduy. As the posuk states, they would say, “Asisi kechol asher tzivisoni - I have done as You commanded.”

Rashi explains that this refers to the obligation to be happy and to cause others to experience joy: “somachti vesimachti.”

We take our own simcha to the next level by increasing simcha around us.

We live in scary times. Our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel vote next week, and it is far from sure that anti-religious candidates will be defeated. In America, a socialist is increasing his delegate count and may be on the march to becoming the Democrat Party nominee for president. Even if he doesn’t win, his rise shows how precarious the state of democracy and freedom really is.

A virus is raging throughout China, spreading to countries across the world, with no signs of abating. Nobody knows how this will end and what impact it will have on the world’s economy if it lingers.

Adar is the month of simcha. We need to have faith that all will end well, increasing our tefillos and acts of charity to increase our zechuyos during this eis tzarah.

May we all merit much Adar joy.

Truth and Justice

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

In the world in which we live, truth is a rare commodity. Fiction, deviation, misinformation and half-truths are pervasive. The only way to have a real connection to the truth is by following the Torah. Mishpotim, the laws that govern finances, must have a basis in the Torah in order for them to be truthful and just.

In focusing on Parshas Yisro, which teaches us about Mattan Torah, and in Mishpotim, the parsha that follows, a theme emerges. The drama and glory of Maamad Har Sinai were an introduction to the laws governing how we deal with each other.

The depth of the connection between the two parshiyos is revealed by the Sefas Emes, who explains that “Ve’eileh hamishpotim asher tosim lifneihem” is the natural consequence of “Anochi Hashem Elokecha.”

The posuk states, “And these are the laws that you shall place before them, asher tosim lifneihem,” teaching that even though these laws appear to be rational, Jews are forbidden to adjudicate their disputes in secular courts. Even if the secular laws seem to be the same as those that appear in the Torah, we must know that they are not.

There are truths and then there is the Torah’s truth, composed and transmitted by the One whose seal is truth. We don’t live our lives in accordance with social mores and customs of the world around us. We live with Hashem’s truth. We faithfully follow the laws of the land, but when we have a financial dispute with a fellow Jew, we turn to experts in Jewish law to adjudicate the matter.

The world runs on a form of fiction, a lie that is compelling and enticing and bears all the similarities to the truth. But it is still a lie. The system of justice presents itself as honorable and precise, but all too often we find that the people who administer justice are lacking in fidelity to a just code.

RUBASHKIN

When I became involved in the case of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and began to examine the legal case against him, things didn’t make sense. It was obvious that the case was built on a vendetta and did not come about as a result of someone’s pursuit of justice. I was, and still am, a neophyte when it comes to the law and legal terms, so I turned to Sholom Mordechai’s lawyer and asked him to explain the case to me in a way I could understand. The lawyer is a very respectable, accomplished leader in his field in the state of Iowa. He said to me, “Let me tell you something: If people would know how the justice system works, there would be rioting in the streets.”

It is only recently that people have become educated about what goes on in the name of justice and have begun fighting back. Groups such as the Innocence Project work to get innocent people out of jail and have been successful in a number of cases. Klal Yisroel came together for Rubashkin, and thankfully his 27-year sentence was commuted by the president. You have seen ads in this paper for the past couple of weeks on behalf of Rabbi Osher Eisemann, known as a tzaddik for his work on behalf of special children. He is another victim of over-zealous prosecutors.

IT’S ALL A GAME

The Justice Department went after one of the president’s friends who made some outlandish claims about his high connections. The old man’s braggadocio earned him a 5 a.m. wake-up call from a group of armed riot police who had come to arrest him. He was put on trial in front of an Obama judge. When he was found guilty, prosecutors asked the judge to sentence him to 7-9 years in jail for the first-time offender who was found guilty of a process crime.

The president pointed out the injustice involved and tweeted about it. The Justice Department concurred and asked the prosecutors to withdraw the request for the long sentence. The four prosecutors involved in the case resigned in protest. The president responded, “Who are the four prosecutors (Mueller people?) who cut and ran after being exposed for recommending a ridiculous 9 year prison sentence to a man that got caught up in an investigation that was illegal, the Mueller Scam, and shouldn’t ever even have started?”

Now, it was revealed that the jury foreperson is an open Trump-hating supporter of the Mueller investigation, shedding more bad light on the way justice was administered.

Civil libertarians lashed out at the president and accused him of interfering in the administration of justice. Because it has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with whose side you are on. The president, through prison reform, has allowed people with excessive sentences to leave jail early and attempt to lead normal lives once again. His experience with the Justice Department should lead him to increase his efforts to clean up the legal swamp so that all Americans can experience true justice.

Therefore, even when from outside appearances it seems that the Torah and secular laws are similar, they are not. One who trades the Torah system of jurisprudence for the secular one has blasphemed the Divine order of things and rejected the truth in favor of a system lined with fiction.

It’s all a game. Some people play baseball, some play football, and some play the truth.

UNTETHERED TO POLLS AND POLITICS

There is no truth outside of the Torah. In the big world out there, everything is fake. You cannot accept anything at face value. Leadership is about acting, about feigning sincerity and compassion, intelligence and presence. Politicians, especially now in the electoral season, poll test every word they say and every action they undertake. They have no real beliefs. Driving them, at their core, is ego.

Take a look at Mike Bloomberg, who you will be hearing a lot from pretty soon. First, he was a Democrat, but then he wanted to be mayor of New York in the shadow of Giuliani, so he converted and became a Republican. Now he wants to get rid of Trump, who he hates, so he became a Democrat once again. For the past few years, he has been spending his billions supporting the Democrat agenda to ingratiate himself with politicians from coast to coast. On the way, he has jettisoned the policies that allowed him to successfully govern New York so that the liberals will embrace him.

There is nothing real and true about anything said by most people in government. Take a look at Benny Gantz, who wants to unseat Binyomin Netanyahu and become Israel’s prime minister. How many times has he flipped his attitude towards the religious community? Every time the polls dip this way or that, he flips and flops.

Untethered to polls and politics, the Torah is eternally true and relevant. We, who are loyal to Torah, are not affected by today’s trends and fads, and we know that they will not stand the test of time. To compromise on truths for momentary appeal is to engage in a fictitious fleeting pursuit. To water down what we are and what we stand for to appeal to the world is a foolish endeavor we dare not engage in, no matter how tempting the desire.

Anyone whose neshomah was at Har Sinai must learn this parsha and realize that if we study Parshas Yisro and accept the Torah and its truth but fail to study and properly observe the laws contained in Parshas Mishpotim, our acceptance of Torah is lacking. Yisro is contingent on Mishpotim. One who doesn’t properly carry out the laws of Choshen Mishpot can be neither a ben Torah nor a mokir Torah. Someone who lacks respect for the property of others practices fake religiosity. A deceitful person and those who lack integrity and are generally untrustworthy have essentially not accepted the word of Hashem into their hearts. Those who engage in fraud and disrespect are not only dishonest and uncaring, but have failed in their commitment of naaseh v’nishma.

Sometimes, people neglect or bend the laws of Choshen Mishpot because they place the pursuit of finances above all other values. In so doing, they demonstrate their human frailty as well as a lack of faith in the Divine order. At times, man’s vision becomes clouded. We must endeavor to always be honest and upstanding in our dealings, not permitting our own interests to subconsciously cause us to err.

The pursuit of money cannot be so extreme that it drives us to steal, cheat and be unscrupulous.

Yisro has to converge with Mishpotim.

The Torah that we follow is comprised of emes, and its paths lead to true peace. In order to achieve proper lasting relationships and friendships, they must be based on honesty and fidelity to the truth. If we are evasive or deceptive, as charming as we try to be and as hard as we try to mask our differences, we will ultimately fail. Our scheme will be discovered, and we will be left without friends or fortune, alone and forsaken.

Acting with strength and truth, and guided by the Torah, we can make the world a better place and prepare it for the coming of Moshiach. By being honest, facing up to our differences and surmounting them, we can reach accommodations that last over time.

We need shalom, but we have to equally value emes. We need great men to embrace others and draw them close, but we also need great leaders who will chart a course of truth and tradition, telling us when battles cannot be settled through compromise.

Without Mishpotim - honesty and uprightness in all areas - there is no Yisro. This means being honest in business, careful with the money of others, and aware of our mandate of how to behave with other people.

OUR MANTRA

The wife of the Chazon Ish ran a small textile business. She once had a disagreement with a customer, who suggested that they ask her husband to adjudicate the matter. They approached the Chazon Ish, who ruled that the customer was right.

The Chazon Ish sensed that his wife was hurt that he ruled against her. He spoke to her softly and gently. “Tell me,” he said, “of what value is life if we possess even a lira that is not ours?”

She was placated by her husband’s explanation. What he said should be our mandate.

Just as life has no meaning without Torah, so is the order of creation interrupted by a lack of mishpot. When the baal korei reads the Aseres Hadibros, we sense that we aree hearing the song of life itself.

Mishpotim is the second half of that song and is just as critical. Hashem Elokeichem emes. His seal is emes. May we, the People of Truth, act in a way that will allow us to stand proud when the time of ultimate truth arrives.

The Coin of Chevron

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

This week, we learn of the zenith that man reached when the Bnei Yisroel were given the Torah at Har Sinai. The moments at Sinai were the culmination of the world’s creation, as Chazal derive from the word bereishis, with which the Torah begins. They say, “Bereishis, bishvil Yisroel shenikreu reishis, bishvil haTorah shenikrais reishis.”

The Gemara (Avodah Zorah 9a) states that from the time of the world’s creation, there were 2,000 years of emptiness before the Torah was removed from its place On High and given to the Bnei Yisroel at Sinai. The Gemara (Shabbos 88a) teaches that Hakadosh Boruch Hu made a condition with the creatures of creation that if the Jewish people would accept the Torah, He would permit the world to remain in existence, but if they would refuse the Torah, Hashem would destroy the world.

The essence of creation, and the existence of the world as we know it, is kabbolas haTorah. As long as we remain accepting of the Torah, the world can exist. If we would let go of the Torah, the world would cease to exist. It is a constant equivalency.

I always knew that, but this week I learned a new twist to this concept.

One of the many gifts that Hashem has given me is that I have developed a closeness over the years with Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim.

Every time I am in Eretz Yisroel, I visit him and merit that we discuss matters of Torah and hashkofah. This week he is visiting the United States, delivering shmuessen and shiurim in various yeshivos in the New York area and a major address at the Dirshu Siyum Hashas Sunday night.

We were speaking on Sunday morning, and he told me that he wants people to know that while the other reasons he came to the United States are important, to him the most important component of his visit is to help Yeshivas Chevron.

In the United States, everyone knows of the large role of the yeshivos of Mir and Brisk, also Ponovezh, but few know and appreciate the large role that Chevron plays in teaching and spreading Torah.

The rosh yeshiva recounted that Rav Nochum Partzovitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir, would say that the mesirus haTorah at Har Sinai continues today in the yeshivos. Rav Dovid said that every day, when he enters the great bais medrash of Yeshivas Chevron, “I see 1,500 bochurim happily engaged in the study of Torah. I hear the kol Torah. I feel the joy and I see the realization of what Rav Nochum said. I see the mesirus haTorah at Har Sinai continuing in the Chevroner bais medrash.

“The Chevron Yeshiva is like no other,” he explained. “Chevron is the only yeshiva that carries the direct uninterrupted mesorah from its founding in Slabodka by the Alter 139 years ago through today.”

Slabodka, the mother of yeshivos, was founded in 1881 by the Alter of Slabodka. Most of the yeshivos that followed were founded and led by students of the Alter of Slabodka. The derech hayeshivos, down to the style of davening, is from Slabodka. But the only yeshiva with a direct chain leading back to the Alter and his progeny, uninterrupted by war, is Chevron.

Where Will They See It?

Listen to Rav Eliyohu Eliezer Dessler mourn the churban of the yeshivos during World War II (Michtov M’Eliyohu, Volume 1, page 70): “My dear children, give me your hearts and listen well to what I say. Our generation is different than others, for it is one of destruction. No, we cannot appreciate or comprehend the wealth that we had that was destroyed and is gone.

“The memories are still fresh, but they fade with time, and presently we have nothing. We are empty.

“The spiritual wealth, the air of the yeshivos, the ambition for greatness and truth, the lomdus, the yiras Shomayim, the loving connection each one felt for the other, these are all gone and not with us anymore… The Shechinah has departed from amongst us; our children will not see it in us. And if we will tell them of what was, of what we saw and what we lived, to them it will be only a story and not reality.

“We saw the Shechinah in the hearts of the holy people, but where will they see it?”

Bastion of Greatness

The yeshivos were the lifeblood of our people, the home of the Shechinah, of the holy Torah scholars, of those who spread and taught Torah and mussar, and then it was all destroyed and went up in smoke. That impacted all the yeshivos, except Slabodka, which was transplanted to Chevron and from there to Yerushalayim. From there, the kedusha never departed, the holy ones never left the bais medrash, the Shechinah remained there, and the mesirus haTorah of Sinai took place there uninterrupted from 1881 until this very day.

What is so special about Chevron?

Listen as Rav Yitzchok Hutner depicts the experience of a bochur in Chevron, (Pachad Yitzchok, Michtovim, 166):

“If there was a coin that would symbolize the greatness of Yeshivas Chevron, on one side there would be engraved an image of toiling in Torah and aliyah, caring for - and concentrating for - itself. On the other side there would be an image of light with rays of warmth shining forth in a wide circle encompassing the near and the far.

“At the inception of the yeshiva in Chevron, two main characteristics formed its existence: the freshness and vivaciousness of the heart and the stretching of muscles in the pursuit of Torah and yirah. These two characteristics merged into one flow.

“It is hard to say which attribute is the father and which is the child. Is it joy brought on by being engaged in the holy work or are the holy efforts enabled by being in a state of joy? In truth it was both, simcha brought on by avodah and avodah brought on by simcha, with the crown of the nobility of talmidei chachomim glittering upon them.

“Added to that is the spirit of Eretz Yisroel, which brings forth extra blessings upon the efforts of the students, allowing each one to attain, according to his own abilities, to unanticipated levels.

“Everyone in Chevron knew that the days spent here developed his personality, and that created the idyllic spirit that hovered in the air and created the atmosphere in this factory which creates great men. This is how the simcha and intense avodah were raised to the level of creating a great person.

“And this brings us to the second side of the coin: the appearance of the freshness of youthful energy, combined with intelligence and talent, internal pressure to grow, and the song of exalted youth, when they are totally dedicated to Torah, creates a live portrait of the supreme greatness of Torah.

“This precious individual – the student of Chevron - sharpens hearts and impresses other hearts. These hearts combine and gather around a great circle of dedicated friends who clutch the corners of the mizbei’ach, so they can be warmed by the flames that burn on the holy altar.

“Even those who were distant would direct their hearts and bring upon themselves the light that shone from Chevron.

“It was impossible for anyone who encountered this reality to refrain from taking a step towards greatness. Even for those who only merited a fleeting brush with this live performance of Torah majesty, it was impossible for them to continue on without being inspired by the honor and glory of Torah…”

That greatness continues until this very day within the halls of Yeshivas Chevron. The greatness and majesty of Torah are evident there. The sounds of sweetness and joy rise to a crescendo as bochurim, energized by their inner drive to rise and excel, engage themselves and each other in the pursuit of growth in Torah.

The great rosh yeshiva sits among them, providing guidance and direction, demonstrating through his actions and knowledge the superior heights to which man can reach if he dedicates himself to clinging to Torah.

The rosh yeshiva says, “The mesirus haTorah of Har Sinai is real in Chevron. I feel it every day. I welcome everyone to come visit our yeshiva. Come see 1,500 future leaders of Klal Yisroel as they fight to grasp every word of Hashem’s Torah.”

With Every Step

Slabodka is famed for the gadlus ha’adam that the Alter excelled in bringing out in his talmidim. Every talmid was treated differently and nurtured according to his individual talents and nature, guided to realize his fullest potential for greatness. Slabodka also stood for romemus, exalted loftiness, brought on by dedication to Torah, to chaveirim, to mussar, and to kiyum hamitzvos.

The students of the legendary master stood out not only in their greatness in Torah and kiyum hamitzvos, but also in the way they carried themselves, the way they spoke to other people, and the way they performed mitzvos and maasim tovim. They carried themselves with pride, they acted with dignity, and they lived with an inner joy and satisfaction on high levels of dedication to Hashem and his Torah. With every step taken and every word uttered, they were mekadeish sheim Shomayim and added to the world’s kedusha.

Who are we? What do we stand for? What defines us? Most of us don’t usually think of such heady questions, but if we are serious about our Yiddishkeit and why we are in this world, we do have to be able to readily answer them. Talmidim of Slabodka and the other yeshivos were always able to do so. They knew why they were here and lived their lives in that spirit. It is incumbent upon us to work upon ourselves to reach that level and comport ourselves as people who understand our role, obligation and mission.

And while we are discussing our obligations and our missions, it is a good time to remember that we must never compromise. Torah must remain supreme and its support uncorrupted by expedience. There is enough money in our world to support all the Torah institutions without compromising on principles and halacha. We must remain ever-vigilant and cognizant of our actions and their repercussions.  

A Living Commitment

After my conversation with Rav Dovid Cohen, I left to participate in the cheder feerin of my grandson, who had just recently had his upsherin. It was heartwarming to watch how Rav Chaim Dovid Birnhak, the primary rebbi at Yeshiva K’tana of Lakewood, masterfully welcomed little Eli into the world of Torah.

I was overcome by the love and dedication he displayed as he went through each one of the Alef-Bais letters with the little boy he had never met. He lovingly held the “chosson” on his lap as he spoke of the sweetness of Torah and placed honey on the letters alef, mem and sof. While keeping the attention of the class, he made learning so geshmak for the future talmid chochom that he was ready to leave his morah and go to learn in the rebbi’s class every day.

The mesirus haTorah of Har Sinai that is alive in the bais medrash of Yeshivas Chevron is also tangible in the primary classroom of Yeshiva K’tana of Lakewood and in every bais medrash and classroom where rabbeim and talmidim dedicate themselves to knowing why they were created and what their mission is.

That same mesirus and kabbolas haTorah are present in the hearts of good Yidden who follow their mesorah and expend their efforts to grow in Torah and kiyum hamitzvos. Let us dedicate ourselves to be among those who feel a renewed transmission of and commitment to Torah every day.

Insane

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz 

How many times do you hear people discussing something and exclaim, “That’s insane.” The truth is we are living in insane times. So much of what goes on really is insane.

Let’s take a look at the news. As soon as President Donald Trump was sworn in, the Washington Post called for his impeachment. Impeachment? He just got into office. He didn’t even do anything yet. How could he be impeached and on what basis? It didn’t matter.

The Democrats were sure that Hillary Clinton would be elected president, putting them in charge of Congress and the White House. They saw the continuation of their control, power and everything that comes with it. And then, in one fell swoop, it all collapsed. The non-politician, who didn’t play by the rules and campaigned on an anti-incumbent platform, had won against all odds. They had to stop him in his tracks and not permit him to carry out his plans. They would make sure he would fail.

They voted against everything he wanted, but he succeeded anyway. Not only did he succeed, but he did so on an historic level. He got the economy moving well. More people have jobs now than ever before. The economy is chugging along at a pace that Obama and the Democrats had said would be impossible.

Trump signed a trade deal with China, something that everyone said would never happen; he renegotiated the hated NAFTA trade deal with Mexico and Canada and got a new deal approved. The stock market is at historic highs.

For practical purposes, Trump ended ISIS. He killed the head of ISIS as well as the head of the Iranian terror corps. He recognized Yerushalayim as the capital of Israel and approved the annexation of the Golan. He set forth a realistic peace plan for the Mideast. At each one of these junctures, none of the predicted rioting and violence broke out.

His adversaries tried taking him down, claiming that he had colluded with Russia. The Democrats attempted to fabricate other scandals. Nothing worked. Nothing stuck. They appointed a special prosecutor and he came up empty. Not only that, but after being promoted as the most capable person for the position, the special prosecutor showed himself to be way past his prime.

The Impeachment Circus

Finally, they hit on a telephone call the president had with the president of Ukraine and thought they had caught him red-handed. With time running out and the election approaching, they took their chances and decided to impeach the president based on second-hand information conjured up by a so-called whistleblower. A transparent ruse, but they were desperate.

The president called their bluff and released the transcript of that conversation, which showed that he had done nothing wrong. Yet the die had been cast, and the Democrats rolled out their impeachment hearings in Congress.

Impeachment’s main cheerleader proved himself to be a serial liar when the transcript he presented of the president’s conversation with the Ukrainian president was shown to be as bogus as his previous claim that he had proof that Trump colluded with Russia to get elected. Equally phony, as it turned out, was his claim that he and his staff had never met with the whistleblower, and he didn’t know who he was.

After holding a biased investigation and rushed hearing, Congress voted to impeach the president, even though they knew that the Senate would exonerate him. It was an insane waste of time and energy and showed Congress to be a partisan group beholden to the progressive wing of the party and unable to thoroughly analyze an issue and its ramifications.

The circus moved to the Senate and the charade continued, but the Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, so the charade was kept to a minimum. After both sides presented their cases, the president was exonerated and allowed to continue in office, while the corrupt Joe Biden continued bumbling his way through Iowa.

Historic Peace Plan Wins Unprecedented Support

Meanwhile, the president continued to perform in office on behalf of the country and hotspots around the world. Putting impeachment behind him, even before it was over, he flew off to Davos to highlight the country’s booming economy. Last week, he rolled out his long-awaited Mideast peace plan.

Every president has tried to force peace on Israel, and it hasn’t worked. This president fashioned a plan based upon what is just and correct, working with Binyomin Netanyahu as well as Arab states, who over time have come to accept Israel’s existence and work with the Jewish state they had previously fought.

Since 1967, much has changed. The United States doesn’t need Arab oil anymore. Arab states are fearful of Iran and its intentions, and the Palestinians have done nothing to improve their lot, spurning every effort to assist them.

You would think that Democrats and Republicans would support the plan, which offers a realistic blueprint for giving the Palestinians a whole lot more than they deserve, while satisfying Israel’s security needs and historic connection to the land.

Yet, because we live in insane times, Joe Biden, whom liberal Jews view as a dear friend, said that the plan is a “political stunt that could … set back peace.” The responses from other Democrat candidates for president proved just as disappointing. Senator Warren is very upset that the plan is a “rubber stamp for annexation” that “offers no chance for a real Palestinian state.” Bernie Sanders says that it “will only perpetuate the conflict.”

Everyone else saw the virtues of the plan. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Qatar and Oman all recognized the historic possibilities of Trump’s proposal. Everyone except Iran and Turkey and those beholden to them, has supported the plan. Even the Europeans, no great lovers of Israel, came out in favor, some more than others.

Everyone realizes that the Trump plan will set the new bar when dealing with America, unless something should happen and President Trump does not win re-election.

The world realizes that Israel seeks peace and the Palestinians have only one interest: to obliterate Israel. Everyone has had enough of their shenanigans, terror, and ineptitude. The Sunni Arabs and the West want the issue to go away already, so they can work together with each other to neutralize Iran. It’s insane that only the American and Israeli left don’t get it and are rallying for the poor Palestinians.

A Solution from the Wise Men of Chelm

What else is insane?

If you have traveled on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway - and who hasn’t? - you know that this vital New York City artery is in dire need of repair and expansion. The highway simply can’t hold all the traffic of the people in the expanding city. The BQE can’t handle three times the amount of traffic it was built to accommodate.

The mayor appointed a committee to come up with a rescue plan for the road. They came back with a recommendation to cut out two lanes and make the highway two lanes in each direction instead of three. This will make it harder for people to get around in cars and force them to find alternative means of transportation. As if, in a city of millions of people, with millions more passing through, removing the ability to get around will help the people and the city.

What could be more insane, more counterproductive? And when New York City’s population starts shrinking and people stop coming in to shop and to do business, they will appoint another commission to figure out why.

And do you know what else is insane? Paroh.

Moshe appeared repeatedly before Paroh and warned him that if he didn’t free the Jewish people, he would be struck by supernatural occurrences brought about by the G-d of the Jews. The makkah came, Paroh and his nation suffered, and he said that he would let them go. Then, as soon as the makkah passed, Paroh returned to his stubborn ways.

We look at Paroh and laugh at his stupidity. It was so obvious that if he would acquiesce to the will of Hashem, he and his country would be freed of the afflictions and they would be allowed to return to living normal lives. How can it be that Paroh and his nation failed to recognize that?

The Ramban (Shemos 14:4) writes that the biggest of all the nissim that transpired with Paroh was that he and his army chased after the Bnei Yisroel at the Yam Suf, even after seeing that the sea opened for them. How insane it is that even though they saw the sea split supernaturally to allow the Jews a path of escape, they charged in after them full force, convinced that they would defeat the Jews and their G-d.

It is easy for us to read the pesukim and mock Paroh and his people that they were too senseless to recognize that what befell them was from Hashem, and to finally acquiesce to Hashem’s request. But if we take an honest look at ourselves, we have to admit we quite often behave the same way as the insane Mitzriyim.

Hakadosh Boruch Hu created us and sustains us and provided us with the Torah to guide us. As the Ramban writes at the end of last week’s parsha (13:16), the foundation of our belief is to know that those who follow Hashem’s guidance are blessed and those who don’t, suffer the consequences.

Hashem causes things to befall us so that we recognize that we aren’t following His ways and need to rectify our actions. When a person gets sick or has other problems, they are messages from Hashem, communicating our need to do teshuvah, no different than the messages Paroh received.

Too often, however, we are like Paroh and attribute what happens to teva, nature. If there is a hurricane and it damages our property and causes us losses, we don’t get the message. Instead, we say that too much warm water rose from the ocean and collided with cooler air. We forget that everything that happens to us is by Divine design for a reason. Nothing is haphazard. Nothing happens by itself, not even the coronavirus.

Understanding Shomayim Language

There was a Jewish merchant from China whose travels led him to Europe to seek out new avenues of distribution and sources of goods. Before heading home, he made a detour to the hamlet of Radin to seek a brocha from the Chofetz Chaim. He introduced himself to the Chofetz Chaim.

“Foon vanet kumt a Yid?” asked the Chofetz Chaim.

“I am from China,” the man told him.

“Vos hert zach in China?”

“It’s very difficult there,” said the man. “There is no proper chinuch. There is no shechitah. It is very hard to keep Shabbos.”

“It is a tzoras rabim,” responded the Chofetz Chaim. “In many countries around the globe, Jews are experiencing the same problems. I published a sefer for them. It’s called ‘Nidchei Yisroel.’ Please take some seforim with you and distribute them in China. The sefer teaches how to maintain your Yiddishkeit in difficult surroundings.”

The Chofetz Chaim paused. “What else is doing in China?” he asked.

The man discussed the state of the Jews there, not sure what else to add. He told the Chofetz Chaim that he had been away from his country for several weeks.

“Before you left,” asked the tzaddik, “what were people there speaking about? What were they writing about in the newspapers?”

The visitor thought for a moment, suddenly recalling an incident that had been widely covered by the newspapers back home. He shared the account with the Chofetz Chaim.

“The Chinese government built a huge dam, making available a tremendous amount of land for agriculture,” said the man. “But the dam was built very sloppily and could not withstand the awesome power of all the water it had backed up. The dam collapsed and flooded a very large area. 100,000 people died.”

The Chofetz Chaim was visibly shaken and became emotional.

“Oy vey. Oy vey. The middas hadin is running rampant! It has reached as far as China,” he said.

The man was perplexed.

“Can I ask the rebbe a question?” he queried. “Why is it that when I told you about the matzav of the Jews in China, you accepted it without much emotion, but when I told you about the Chinese people, you cried bitter tears?”

“During your European trip, were you in Warsaw?” asked the Chofetz Chaim of his visitor.

“Yes,” the man replied.

“How many Jews live there and what percentage of the population are they?” asked the Chofetz Chaim.

“There are about 300,000 Jews out of a population of a little over one million,” said the man.

“If a man stands on a soap box on a street corner delivering a speech in Yiddish, who is he addressing?” questioned the Chofetz Chaim.

“The Jews who are passing by, of course,” responded the man. “Why are you asking?”

“But you yourself said that they are but a minority in the city, correct?”

“Sure,” said the man, still confused. “But the goyim don’t understand Yiddish, so if someone is speaking in Yiddish, he must be addressing the Jewish passersby and not the gentiles.”

“Exactly,” replied the Chofetz Chaim. “The same is true with the dam that burst in China. When the water was unleashed to kill 100,000 people, that was the language of Heaven. It was a warning from Hashem. But the Chinese don’t understand ‘Shomayim language.’ We do. The Jews are the ones who cry out on the Yomim Noraim, ‘Mi bamayim.’ We understand that when such occurrences take place, they are meant to send us a message. But how are we, in Radin, to know about what happened? That’s why Hashem sent you here. He sent you to tell us what took place and for us to hear the Heavenly speech.”

Hashem is patient and loving, and sends us one message after the other as he waits for us to turn to him in tefillah and teshuvah. Let us not be insane. Let us get the message. Remember from where we come and the source of everything so that we can improve and better ourselves, and merit all the brachos reserved for those who follow Hashem’s Torah.

Let’s not get into a rut. Let us not fall prey to personal and communal makkos. Let us always be alert and on guard to recognize what is going on around us and remember that “hakol bishvil Yisroel.”