ืืืจื ืจืืืชืื ื
ื ืชื ืชืชื ืื ืืื ืืจืข ืืืื ืืชืชื ืื (ืื,ื)
ืคืืจืฉ”ื: ื ืชืื ืชืชื ืื- ืืคืืื ืืื ืคืขืืื.
ืืจืื”ื (ืคืืื”ืฉ ืืืืช ื,ืื) ืืืืฉ ืืื ืฉืืฉ ืื ืืืฃ ืืืืืื ืืฆืืงื, ืขืืืฃ ืฉืืชื ืืืฃ ื ืชืื ืืช ืฉื ืืืื ืืื, ืื ืชืื ื ืืืช ืฉื ืืืฃ ืืืืืื ืืขื ื ืืื, ืืฉืื ืฉืืจืืืื ื ืชืื ืืช ืืฆืืงื ืชืชืขืืจืจ ืืฆืื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ื ืชืื ืช ืฆืืงื ืคืขืืื ืจืืืช, ืืฉื”ื ืื ืชืื ื ืืืช ืฉื ืืืฃ ืืืืืื ืชืชืขืืจืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืช ืื ืชืื ื ืจืง ืคืขื ืืืช.
ืขืคื”ื ืคื’ ืืืจื ื ืืืืื ืืจื ืืืืื ืืจืื ืคืื ืงื ืืฆืืื”ื: “ื ืชืื ืชืชื ืื- ืืคืืื ืืื ืคืขืืื”, ืืืฉ ืืืื ืืืขืืืฃ ืจืืืื ื ืชืื ืืช ืขื ืคื ื ื ืชืื ื ืืืช, ืืขื”ื ืืืื ืืืืฉื ืืคืกืืง “ืืื ืืจืข ืืืื ืืชืชื ืื” – ืืืื ื ืฉืชืฉืชืจืฉ ืืฆืื ืืืืช ืื ืชืื ื ืืืชื ืืืจืืืช ืืื.
ืืืงืืื ืืกืคืจื “ืคืืชื ืฉืขืจ” ืืืชื ืืืจื”ื ืืฆ”ื ืืืจืื ืืืืจ ืืืื, ืืืืื ืืจื ืืฉื ืคืื ืงื ืืฆืืง”ื, ืืืชืื ืืืจืื ื”ื: “ืืืืช ืื ืชืื ื ืืืชื ืืืชื ืืขืืงืจืืช, ืื ืืืื ืขืื ืืืกืจ ื ืคืฉื ืืชืช ืืืืจืื, ืืืขืฆืื ืื ื ืื ืืื ืืืื, ืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืจืจื, ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืช ืื ืื, ืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื, ืืื ืจืง ืืืืืื ืขื ืืืจืื, ืืืื ืืฆืคืืช ืืฉืื ืชืฉืืื ืืืืื, ืืขื ืืฃ ืืืืชื ืืืงืื ืคืจืกืื ืืืื ื”ื, ืืฆืืื ืืืฆื ืืข ืืช ืขืฆืื, ืืืืกืชืชืจ ืืืืืจื ืืคืจืกืื, ืขื ืฉืืื ืขืืฉื ืขืฆืื ืืื ืฉืืื ื.
ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืขื ืืื ื ืืขืืื ืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืืช ืืขืื”ื, ืขื ืฉืื ื ืื ื ืืคืืื ืืืฆืืข ืงืื ื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืช ืืืฉืืืืช ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืช ืืจืืืื ืืช ืืืื ืืืื ืืืื’, ืืืฆืืจื ืื ืื ืืืคืืืช ืฉืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืฆืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจืื ื, ืืจื ืืคืืื ืจืืืง ืืืฆืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื. ืืื ืืฆืืจื ืืืคืืื ืืื ืขืืฉื ืขืฆืื ืืฉืืจืืื, ืืืื ืืืื ืชืืื ืืชืช ืืชื ืืกืชืจ, ืืฉืื ืฉืื ืื ืืชื ื ืืฉื ืืื ืฉืืื ื”.
ืืืจื ืืืืื
Hagaon Harav Moshe Finkel zt''l
ืืืืื ืืจื ืืฉื ืคืื ืงื ืืฆืืง”ื
ื”ื ืืื ืชืฉืก”ื
ืืืืื ืืจื ืืฉื ืคืื ืงื ืืฆืืง”ื ืืื ืงืืฉืจ ืงืฉืจ ืืืืื ืขื ืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืฉืืื ืืงื’. ืื ืชืืืื ืืชืืืืื ืืืฉืืื ืืื ืืจืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืจื ื ืืฆ”ื ืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืฉื ืื ืืจืืืืช ืืืืจ ืฉืขืื ืืช ืืืฉืืื. ืืื ืืฃ ืืฉืชืื ืืฉืืืจ ืงืฉืจ ืขื ืจืืื ืืืืืจื ืืืฉืืื. ืื ืืืืจ ืฉื ืื ืืจืืืืช, ืืืฉืจ ืืื ืคืืืฉ ืชืืืื ืืืืฉืืื, ืืื ืืชืขื ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืฉืืืื, ืืืขืฉืื ืืืืฉืคืืชื.
ืกืืคืจ ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืฉืืื, ืืจื ื.ื.ืง. ืฉืืื”ื: “ืคืขื ื ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืขื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ”ื ืคืื ืงื ืืฆ”ื ืืืืชื. ืืกืืื ืืืืืื ื ืฉืื ืืืจ”ื ืืฉืื ืืืืฉืคืืชื. ืืืืจ ืฉืฆืืื ืชื ืืคื ืื ืืช ืฉืื ืืืฉืคืืชื, ืืื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืฉืืื ืืงื’ ืืฉื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื? ืืื”ื ืืื ืืชืขื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืกืื ืฉืืฃ ืืื ืืื ืืชืืืืื ืืืฉืืื, ืืืืจ ืืคืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืฉืืื ืืงื’.
ืืฉ ืืฆืืื, ืืืกืืฃ ืืืืจื, ืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืขืฉืจืืช ืฉื ืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืืืื ืืืฉืืื. ืืืืชื ืื ืืชืขื ืืื ืืช ืืืืืืช, ืื ืืื ืืขืืจื ืื ืฉืืฅ ืฉื ืืืืื ืืืื ืื ื ืืกืืื ืืืืืช ืคืจืืื ื ืกืชืจืื. ืื ืืืชื ืืชืขื ืืื ืืช ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืืืช ืืืืชืืืช, ืืืืืืช ืืืืคืชืืืช, ืื ืืฉืืืช ืฉืืืขื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืคืืช, ืืื ืฉืจืืฆื ืจืง ืืืฉืชืชืฃ ืืื ืฉืื, ืืชืขื ืืื ืืช ืฉื ื ืคืฉ ืืืื ืืขืืื ืืืฆืืืืช.
ืืฉื ื ืืืืจืื ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืฉืคื ืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืฆื ืงืฉื. ืืจืืคืืื ืืืจ ืื ื ืชื ื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืชืงืื. ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืจืืคื ืืืืจ ืฉืืืืืง ืืืืคื ืื. ืืื ืืืจ ืื ืืืจ”ื ืืฆ”ื: “ืืืืจื ื ืฉืืคื ื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืื ื ืืืฉืืื, ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืจ?” ืืจืืคื ืฉืืืข ืื ืืืื ืืืคื ืืืืื ืื ืชืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืืื, ื ืืื ืืฉืืืข ืขื ืืื ืื ื ืืืฉืืื ืืจืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืฉืืฃ ืืืฆื ืงืฉื ืื ืื, ืื ืืฉื ืืืืจืื ืืชืืื ืืื ื ืืจืืข.
ืชื ืฆื”ื
ืืฉืืืื ืืืื
Harav Hagaon Meir Tzvi Shpitzer Shlita
ื ืืฆื ืืื ืืขืืื ืงืจืื ืื ืคืกืื
ืข’ ืืืืช ื’ ืข”ื ื ืืฆื ืืื ืืขืืื ืงืจืื ืื ืคืกืื ืขืืืช ืืืื ืืืื. ืืข”ืฉ ืืืจ ืจ’ ืืืกื ืืื’ ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืืช ืืืื ืืื ื ื ืคืฉืืช ืืืืืชื ืืืื ืฉืืชืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืชืจื ืืื ืื ืืขืฉื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืฉืจืื ืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืช ืื ืคืฉ. ืืืื’ ืืง’ ืืื ืืขืชื ืืจืื ืืฆืื, ืืคืืจืฉ”ื ืฉืืงื’ ืืจ’ ืืืกื ืืก”ื ืืคืืื ืื ืืชืจื ืื ืคืืกื. ืืืชืืก’ ืืง’ ืืจ’ ืืืกื ืืื ืืฆืื ื ืืืื ื ืืจืืืื ื ืืืืืื ืฉืืฉ ืฉื ืงืจืืืื ืืชื’ ืืื ืืจ’ ืืืกื ืืื ื ืคืืกื ืืื ืื ืืขืื ืื”ื, ืืืฃ ืฉืืง’ ืืื’ ืืจืื ืืฆืื ืืื ืชื’ ืืืงืืืื ืืืจ ืืืชืื ืืืืจ ืืืืื ื ืืืงื ืื ืืขืื ืื”ื. ืืื ืฉืืง’ ืจืื ืื ืืขืฉื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืฉืจืื ืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืช ืื ืคืฉ, ืืืื ื ืื ืจืื ืืืขืืื ืื”ื. (ืืจ’ ืืืกื ืืื ื ืืืฉืฉ ืืงื’ ืื). ืืื ืจืฉ”ื ืคื’ ืชื’ ืืื’ ืืืงืืืื ืืืจ ืืืชืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืขืืฉื ืืืจ, ืืื ืคืืกื ืืคืืื ืืื ื ืืขืื ืื”ื ืืจ’ ืืืกื, ืืืคืืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืขืื ืืืืืง ืืื ืขื ืจืื.
ืืข’ ืจืข”ื ืกื’ ืจื”ื ืฉืืงืฉื ืืืจื ืื ืืกืช ืืื ืงืจืื ืืืคืืจืฉ ืืงืจื ืื ืืกืืชื ืืืื, ืื”ื ื ืืฆื ื’ ืงื”ืค ืืฉืขืช ืืขืฉื. ืืืกื’ ืจื”ื ืืืื ืชื’ ืืชื ืื ื ืืืฉืืืช ืื ืืขืืืช ืืืืืืช ืฉืื ืืกืช ืื ืจืื ืืขืืื ืืืคืืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืคืกืื ืืืื ื ื ืคืฉืืช ืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืฆื ื’ ืงื”ืค. (ืืื ืจืข”ื ืืกืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืช ืืื”ื ืืื ืืื ื ืืฆื ื’ ืงื”ืค). ืืืื’ ืืคื”ื ืฆ”ื ืืงืืฉืืืช ืืืืจื ืืจืื ืืฆืื (ืืข”ื ืืงืฉื ืจืข”ื ืืกื’ ืจื”ื), ืืืื ื ืืืงืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ื ืืขืืื, ืื ืงืฉื ืื ืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืืืจื ืืื”ื ืืื ืืกืืช. (ืืืืืง ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืช ืืื’ ืืืกืชืืจ ืฉืืืจืื ืจืืื ืืขืืื ืืืชืจ ืืื ืืกืช). ืืืื ืืฉืืข ืืงืืฉืืืช ืืืืจื ืืื ืืกืชืืจ ืืืืงืื ืงืจื ืืื”ื ืื”ื ืืื ืชื’ ืื ืจืข”ื. ืืืืื ืฆ”ื ืืขืืงืจ ืงืจื ืืืจืื ืืฉืืืช ืื ืืื”ื,ย ืืงืืฉืืืช ืืืืจื ืืื ืืืขืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืื, ืืื ืืืกืืช ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืืื ืื”ื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื”ื. (ืื ื ืจืื ืคืฉืื ืืื ืชื’ ืจืข”ื ืืืงื ืืฉืื ืืืืกืืช ืืืืื ืื ืื ืขืืื ืืื ืขืืื ืชื).
ืืืฉื”ื ืจืืืขืื ื”ื ื ”ื ืชื’ ืงื’ ืจืข”ื ืืืกืืช ืฉืื ื, ืืืืจื ืืกื ื’ ืก”ื ืข”ื ืืืืืื ืื ืื ืขืืื ืืืื ืขืืืช ืืืืืืช ืืคืกืื ืืืื ื ื ืคืฉืืช ืืื ืืื ืืฆืืจืฃ ืืคืกืื. (ืื ืจืื ืืื”ื ืืืกืืฃ ืืฉื”ื ืืงืื”ื ืืืกืืช ืืขืืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืขืืื, ืืืื ื”ื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืงืจื, ืืื ืงืฉื ืืงืืฉืืืช ืืืืจื ืฉืืงืฉื ืืจืื ืืฆืื). (ืืืขื”ื ืืืื ืืืจืืืืืช ืืื ืืฉื ืก’ ืชืืืช ืืจืืื, ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืช ืืงืจื ืื ืืกืืชื ืืืื ืืื’ ืืกืชืจ ืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืงืจืื ืข”ื ืฆ”ื ืืกืชืจ ืืืืื ื ืืื ืืืืื ืื ืขืืื).
ืงืืฉืื ืชืืื
Maran Hamashgiach Hagaon Harav Aaron Chodosh, ztโl
ืืื ืืงืืืฉืื ืชืืื, ืืื? ืื ืื ื ื’ ืืืงืืื. ืืืจืื”ื ืืช”ื ืคื’: ืืฉื ืฉืื ื ืงืืืฉ ืื ืืชื ืชืืื ืงืืืฉืื, ืืฉื ืฉืื ื ืคืจืืฉ ืื ืืชื ืชืืื ืคืจืืฉืื.
ืืื ืืืชื ืืื’ ืืืืื (ืคื,ื): ืืืื ืืื ืงืืืืฉ ื’, ืืืื ืืืจ ืืืชื ืื ืืืืืช ืืช ื’ ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืฉื ืฉืืื ืืชืืื ืขื ืืื, ืฉืืื ืงืืจื ืืฉืื ื ืืืฉืืฉ ืช”ื ืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืชื ื ืื ืืช ืขื ืืืจืืืช, ืื ืืืจืืืช ืืืืจืืช ืขืืื ืืฉืจื ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืชืืจื ืืฉืจื ืจืื ืฉืืืื ืชืืจื, ืืื ืืื ืืืจืืืช ืฉืื ืืืื ืชืืจื, ืคืืื ื ืฉืืืื ืชืืจื ืจืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืืชืืงื ืื ืืขืฉืื ืขืืื ืืืชืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืจ ืื ืขืืื ืืชื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืชืคืืจ.
ืืืืืงืื ืฉืืขืื ื (ืืืจืื ืชืชืฆ”ื): ืื ืื ืืชื ืื’ ืืืงืืื – ืจ’ ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืชื ืื’ ืืืงืืื – ืืืื ืฉืืชื ื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืื ืื. ืจ’ ืืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืงืจืืืื ืื ืื, ืฉื ืืืจ: ืื ืื ืกืืืื ืืื, ืืืืืจ: ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืื. ืืืืืจ: ืืจืข ืืจืขืื ืื ืื ืืฉืืืชืื. ืืืืืจ: ืืืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืขืื ืืชื ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ื ื-ื ืื, ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืื’, ืชืืืื ืืืืจ: ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืื’, ืชืืืื ืืืืจ: ืืืงืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืขืื ืืชื ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ื ื-ื ืื.
ืืื ืืืชื ืืื’ (ื”ื ื.): ืฉืืื ืฉืื ืืืจื ืืกืจืืคืืก ืืจืฉืข ืืช ืจ”ืข ืื ืืืงืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืื ืืื ืืคื ื ืื ืืื ื ืืคืจื ืกื, ื”ื ืืื ืฉื ืืฆืื ืื ื ืืื ืืืื ื ืฉื ืืืื ื, ื”ื [ืืืจืื] ืื ืฉืืืืืืชื ืืืืื ื, ืืืฉืื ืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืฉืืขืก ืขื ืขืืื ืืืืฉื ืืืืช ืืืกืืจืื ืืฆืื ืขืืื ืฉืื ืืืืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืฉืงืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืืื ืืืฉืงืื ืืฉืฉืืข ืืืื ืื ืืืขืก ืขืืื, ืืืชื ืงืจืืื ืขืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืื ืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืขืืืื, ืืืจ ืื ืจ”ืข ืืืฉืื ืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืฉืืขืก ืขื ืื ื ืืืืฉื ืืืืช ืืืกืืจืื ืืฆืื ืขืืื ืฉืื ืืืืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืฉืงืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืืื ืืืฉืงืื ืืฉืฉืืข ืืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืฉืืจ ืื ืืื ื ืงืจืืื ืื ืื ืืืชืื ืื ืื ืืชื ืื’ ืืืงืืื.
ืืืฉ ืขืื ืืจืื, ืืืชื ืืื’ ื”ื ืคื. ืจืื ืืจ ืืจ ืื ื ืชืืจื ืืื ืื ืื ืฉืงืืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืจื, ืฉืงื ืืืืืืืืื, ืืชื ืืืจื ืืจื ืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืขื ืชืื ืืืจื ืืืืื, ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืขื ืื ืื ื ืืืจืืื ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืคืื ื ืืืืช ืื ืืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืจืืืื ื”ื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืจืืืช ืฆืืืงืื ืชืฉืืืจ.
ืืืืจ ืืืจ ืจืืฉ ืืืฉืืื ืืฆ”ื ืฉืืฉืืืช ืืืจ ืืื ืืฉืคืื, ืืฉืคืืช ืืืจ. ืืขืื ืืืชืจ, ืืชืืืืืื ื ืงืจืืื ืื ืื, ืืข”ื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืช ืืจืืื, ืฉืืืืื ืืืืจ ืจืื ืคืืื ื ืฉืืื ืชืืจื ืืืฉืืืช “ืืืจ” ืืื ื ืืื ืืจืืื, ืืืฉืจื ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืชืืจื ืืฉืจื ืจืื ืฉืืืื ืชืืจื ืืื’.
ืฆืจืืืื ืื ื ืืืืืืง ืืืืืืชืื ืฉื ืืงื”ื, ืืืืืืช ืืืืืช ืืืืืืืืช ืืกืืื, ืื ื ืจืืืฉ ืืข”ื ืืืื, ืืืืืื ืื ื”ืื ื ืื ืืื ืืื ื ืขืื ืฉืืช ืืืื ืื ืืื”.
โซโชParshaโฌโฌ โซโชPreview
Harav Hagaon Binyamin Cohen Shlita
The Sweet Days are Upon Us
Parashas Reeh/Shabbos Mevorchim Elul
Harav Hagaon Binyamin Cohen shlita
In this parashah, we find the mitzvah to build a Beis Hamikdash, in the place that Hashem will choose, and where we will bring korbanos. The Torah specifies a lav not to bring korbanos anywhere besides the Beis Hamikdash: ืึดืฉึผืึธืึถืจ ืึฐืึธ ืคึผึถื ืชึผึทืขึฒืึถื ืขึนืึนืชึถืืึธ ืึผึฐืึธื ืึธืงืึนื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืชึผึดืจึฐืึถื.
R’ Yerucham Levovitz, in Daas Torah, asks a simple question regarding this lav. Hakadosh Baruch Hu occupies the whole world โ ืึฐืึนื ืึธื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึผึฐืืึนืืึน โ so why is it that a korban may only be offered to Him in the Beis Hamikdash? He explains, based on the Sforno in Shemos, that there was a big difference in the world before cheit haโeigel and afterward. Before cheit haโeigel, the Shechinah dwelled in the entire world: ืึผึฐืึธื ืึทืึผึธืงืึนื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึทืึฐืึผึดืืจ ืึถืช ืฉืึฐืึดื ืึธืืึนื ืึตืึถืืึธ ืึผืึตืจึทืึฐืชึผึดืืึธ. But afterward, Hakadosh Baruch Hu stipulated that the Shechinah would dwell only in the Beis Hamikdash: ืึฐืขึธืฉืืึผ ืึดื ืึดืงึฐืึผึธืฉื ืึฐืฉืึธืึทื ึฐืชึผึดื ืึผึฐืชืึนืึธื. R’ Yerucham explains that the cheit haโeigel resulted in a ืงืืงืื, which caused the Shechinah to limit itself only to the mikdash, a holy and pure place.
Subsequently, korbanos could be brought only in a designated place of hashraโas haShechinah, a holy and pure place that Hashem chose.
R’ Yerucham adds that the avodah of every Yid is ืึฐืฉืึธืึทื ึฐืชึผึดื ืึผึฐืชืึนืึธื,as Chazal taught that the use of the plural form โ ืึผึฐืชืึนืึธื, rather than ืึผึฐืชืึนืืึน โ indicates that every person must create a dwelling place for the Shechinah within himself, a place that is holy, pure, and free of sin.
He brings a mashal to help us better understand the idea that there is one place in the world that is pure and holy, where the Shechinah resides and where korbanos can be brought. In the physical world there is a concept of a health resort, with springs, minerals, and clean, healthy air, where people rejuvenate themselves for a few weeks and draw strength to remain healthy for the entire year.
Similarly, he says, in the spiritual realm there are places of kedushah, which are known as yeshivos. A yeshiva has this kedushah of a person putting himself in to the makom hamikdash โ ย the beis midrash โ from where he can draw strength for a long time afterward.
There are also times in the year โ Elul, the yemei haratzon โ that are filled with spiritual power. A person can connect himself with this time, especially in a yeshivah, and use it to recharge himself with spiritual energy to last throughout the year.
This week is Shabbos Mevorchim of Chodesh Elul, the month whose name is an acronym for: ย ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื ืึดื. These words come from the passuk in Shir Hashirim (6:3):ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื ืึดื ืึธืจึนืขึถื ืึผึทืฉึผืืึนืฉืึทื ึผึดืื. Rashi explains ืึธืจึนืขึถื ืึผึทืฉึผืืึนืฉืึทื ึผึดืื to mean that Hashem shepherds us in a place thatโs easy, smooth and calm.
But I heard another explanation from R’ Yisroel Dovid Shlesinger. If a shepherd is leading a flock of sheep and one sheep strays from the flock and is about to fall over a cliff, the shepherd has two options. He can approach the sheep and hit it, so that it will jump back and return to the group, but that option wonโt work for a sheep thatโs weak and doesnโt have the strength to accept the blow. If such a sheep is hit, it might die, and the shepherd might lose the sheep. The other option is for the shepherd to take a sweet-smelling rose and put it under the sheepโs nose. Upon smelling it, the sheep will want to follow the fragrance, and the shepherd will then slowly move the rose toward the flock until the stray sheep rejoins the others.
Similarly, in Elul, Hashem shepherds us back to the group with โrosesโ: with a good smell, with a geshmak, in an easy way.
Hakadosh Baruch Hu shepherds us with such love โ ืึธืจึนืขึถื ืึผึทืฉึผืืึนืฉืึทื ึผึดืื โ that weโre able to reciprocate and answer back: ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื.
Donating the โIโ
R’ Avraham Schorr explains the words ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื at the beginning of the passuk to mean that a person has to take his ืึฒื ึดื, his โI,โ and give it to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The first step in avodas Hashem is for a person to worry about his own avodah and think about his own growth. But thereโs a higher level that a person must strive for, which is: โWhat can I do for Klal Yisrael? What can I do for Hakadosh Baruch Hu?โ The avodah of Elul is to take the I and devote it to Hashem and to Klal Yisrael: ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื.
For example, when a person learns Torah, he aspires to become a talmid chacham and know Torah. But a ben Torah also has to strive in his learning for an additional dimension, which is his responsibility toward Hakadosh Baruch Hu and Klal Yisrael. Klal Yisrael needs his Torah!
Once, the Israel Air Force was carrying out a dangerous training exercise, and the people in charge approached the Baba Sali, R’ Yisrael Abuchatzeira, to ask him when is the best time and the best day to carry out this exercise. He advised them not to do it between the hours of two and four, which is bein hasedarim, a time when yeshiva bochurim are not learning as much. Rather, he said, do the exercise in the middle of seder, because the power of Torah learning saves the world.
We have to feel this responsibility of ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื โ โIโ am doing it for Hakadosh Baruch Hu. This is the avodah of Elul: to think about Klal Yisrael, to think about Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
This Shabbos, we can bear in mind that Elul is a time of yemei ratzon, days of love, ืึธืจึนืขึถื ืึผึทืฉึผืืึนืฉืึทื ึผึดืื. Now is a time of weakening in Klal Yisrael and in the yeshivos, due to the coronavirus, and thereโs a lack of limud haTorah. For bnei Torah specifically this is a difficult time, with many restrictions, especially here in Eretz Yisrael where yeshivos are subject to many regulations: bochurim have to stay in yeshiva the entire time, in โcapsules,โ unable to go out.
But now is the time when we can step up to the plate โ ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื: I want to give my โIโ to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, I want to do for Klal Yisrael. Klal Yisrael needs the bnei Torah, who are the cream of the crop, the ones who have responsibility for Klal Yisrael.
Klal Yisrael is waiting for us! We need to feel this responsibility and declare, ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐืืึนืึดื: Iโm going to take my โIโ and use Chodesh Elul to learn undisturbed. I wonโt be able to go here or there, Iโll be able to sit and learn Hakadosh Baruch Huโs Torah properly, bโretzifus. Yes, Iโm worried about Hakadosh Baruch Hu and Iโm willing to give myself up to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Then, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will respond withืึฐืืึนืึดื ืึดื : He will be to us, and weโll be zocheh to feel the sweetness of ืึธืจึนืขึถื ืึผึทืฉึผืืึนืฉืึทื ึผึดืื.
We should all be zocheh to mekabel the month of Elul and its avodah bโshleimus and bโsimchah and be zocheh to all the brachos.
Gut Shabbos.