Friday, August 18, 2017

Parshas Re'eh Messages 5777

פּרשׁת ראה:
The Sages Say:

Only be strong to not eat the blood…’ (Devarim 12:23)

Rabbi Shimon ban Azzai says:  The verse did not come except to warn you and to teach you until what you need to strengthen yourself with Mitzvos.  If with the blood, which is [relatively] light (easy) to guard from [eating], for a person does not desire it, it needed to strengthen you with regard to its negative Commandment, all the more so for the rest of Mitzvos! (Rashi HaKadosh from Sifri).

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A “Lamdanishe” Insight:

You are children to Hashem your G-d; you shall not cut yourselves, and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for the dead.’ (Devarim 14:1)

The Midrash uses a play on the word for not cutting ourselves (תתגדדוּ) and says that we should not make different groups (אגדוֹת) and be arguing with each other.  

One time, the Chofetz Chaim זצ"ל was asked by someone, why does the world need Chassidim and Misnagdim (non-Chassidim, in this case)?  And even amongst Chassidim there are many different sects.  There are those who engage more in learning, others more with Davening, and there are yet others who put a strong focus on song and praise or dancing.  What is the world lacking -- couldn’t there just be one group of Judaism with the same customs, etc.?

To this the Chofetz Chaim זצ"ל answered that before he asks about the sects with us, he should go and ask about the Emperor of Russia.  Why do they need so many types of army?  Foot soldiers, cavalry, navy, etc.  And what is the world lacking -- couldn’t there just be one type of soldiers using one kind of weapon, with one general over them all?  

Answering his own question -- and thus the question of the man, The Chofetz Chaim explained that since the army needs to defeat the enemy, they need different ways, and each way has its own special thing that other ones don’t.  

So it is with the war with the Yetzer Hara, said the Chofetz Chaim:  All the types of Chassidim -- aside even from the Misnagdim; all are soldiers in the army of Hashem, part of the war against the Yetzer Hara, and everyone does something to vanquish the Enemy; this one with their Davening and this one with their learning.  These with their praise and others with their blowing of Shofar (i.e. using music as praise to Hashem; an aid to serving Him, an expression of it, etc.).  Provided, he concludes, that the intentions of their heart is to their Father in Heaven. (Chofetz Chaim al HaTorah).

This piece is an especially important one for today:  Many people, if they disagree with someone else’s way of serving Hashem, they think that way is wrong.  But we need to understand what the Chofetz Chaim זצ"ל is teaching us; there are many good paths and many ways to serve Hashem properly, and they are all right -- as long as they are within the Laws of Torah and Halacha.  Indeed it is said ‘These and these are the words of the Living G-d.’

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Mussar Message:

See I put before you today a blessing and a curse.’ (Devarim 11:26)

Writes HaRav Zelig Pliskin שׁליט"א:  On the first word of this verse, Reaih, Ibn Ezra comments: “He (Moshe) is talking to each one individually.”

Although Moshe was speaking to the entire Jewish People, says Rav Pliskin, he started off in the singular to tell everyone to listen to what he had to say as if he were speaking to him alone.  When someone is delivering a lecture or giving a class, it is easy to think, “He is speaking to everyone else here.  I don’t have to take what he says seriously since he is not really directing his words to me.” But this is an error.  The way to grow from lectures and classes is to view the words of the speaker as if they were directed only to you.  Try it out.  The next time you are in an audience listening to inspiring words tell yourself, “The speaker has me in mind.  Let me see how I can utilize what he says for self-improvement.” (Growth Through Torah).

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Chassidishe Vort:

The Festival of Succos you shall make for yourself seven days… And you shall rejoice in your Festival… and you will be only happy (והיתה אך שׂמח).’ (Devarim 16:13-15)

The Rashei Teivos (first letters) of the words ‘אך שׂמח’ can spell the word ‘אשׁ’ (since the and can be interchangeable).  This alludes to us the fact that true happiness comes -- and we can be ‘only happy’ -- when we light up a spiritual Aish Kodesh (holy fire) within ourselves.  A burning love for Hashem and His Torah and Mitzvos; a burning desire to serve Him; and an overall warmth. (Tal U’Matar).

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Chazak V’ematz:

If there will arise in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream… saying: “We will go after other gods… and we will serve them.” You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of a dream… and that prophet or that dreamer of a dream shall be put to death…’ (Devarim 13:2-6)
We now read the portion dealing with a meisis u’meidiach -- someone who, Rachmana Litzlan (may Hashem save us) tries to lead people to worship idols.  

Says the Alter of Kelm (HaRav Simcha Zissel Ziv זצ"ל):  We have a principle that G-d’s reward for a good deed always outweighs His punishment for a bad deed.  Now a meisis u’meidiach, who tries to lead Jews to idol worship, is punished with death even if his efforts were unsuccessful.

From here we can deduce, says the Alter זצ"ל, how great is the reward of one who tries to bring his friend closer to G-d. (Sparks of Mussar).

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Maaseh B’Rabbi…

The Tzemach Tzedek (the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson זצ"ל -- not to be confused with the seventh one, who had the same name) would tell the following story:  
There was a very simple farmer who lived in a village near Yerushalayim.  Every week, when he would come to Yerushalayim to sell fruits, grains, and other produce, he would visit one of the Rabbanim in Yerushalayim, taking along his beloved Siddur.  The Rav would show him what to say from the Siddur until the next time he would come to Yerushalayim.  If Rosh Chodesh was approaching, the Rav would show him what he should say on Rosh Chodesh, and so on.  
Once, on one of his weekly trips to Yerushalayim, he found the streets deserted and the stores closed. "Is it Shabbos today?" he wondered.  He saw people walking with their Tefillin, so he knew that it wasn't Shabbos. "What happened today?" he asked them. "It's a fast day," they replied.  
The simple villager quickly went to his Rav and said, "Why didn’t you tell me that there was a fast day today?  I've already eaten by mistake.  I also didn’t say the special prayers for a fast day."
The Rav explained that this fast was decided upon only a couple of days earlier, and he didn’t know about it when they spoke last week.  "What's the fast for?" The Rav replied: "Since the onset of the winter, it hasn't rained.  The Rabbis of Yerushalayim decreed a fast day, to arouse Hashem's compassion so it will rain." "For a lack of rain you declare a fast day?" the farmer asked. "Yes.  Do you have another recommendation?" "When my field needs rain, I go outside, and I pray and it immediately begins to rain." "Do that now, too," the Rav said.  
The villager raised his eyes Heavenward and said, "Father in Heaven.  Your children need rain.  Will You let Your children die from thirst, Chalillah?" Immediately, the clouds came and it began to rain. (Meoros HaParsha).
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A Gut Shabbos to all!

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