ShmosVa'eira

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื•

Maran Rosh Hayeshiva Hagaon Harav Refoel Shmulevitz, ztโ€l

ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืžืจื—ื‘ืช ื“ืขืชื• ืฉืœ ืื“ื
ื•ืœื ืฉืžืขื• ืืœ ืžืฉื” ืžืงื•ืฆืจ ืจื•ื— ื•ืžืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืงืฉื” (ื•,ื˜)ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ืฉืœืคื ื™ ืžืœื—ืžืช ื”ืžืคืจืฅ, ื›ืืฉืจ ืฉืจืจื• ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืชื— ื•ื“ืื’ื”, ื ืฉื ืžืจืŸ ืจืืฉ ื”ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื” ื”ื’ืื•ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืจื‘ื™ ืจืคืืœ ืฉืžื•ืืœื‘ื™ืฅ ื–ืฆื•ืง”ืœ ืฉื™ื—ื” ื•ื”ื‘ื™ื ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืื•ื””ื— ื”ืง’ ืขืœ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ “ื•ืœื ืฉืžืขื• ืืœ ืžืฉื” ืžืงื•ืฆืจ ืจื•ื— ื•ืžืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืงืฉื”” – ื›ื™ ืœืฆื“ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื ื™ ืชื•ืจื” ืœื ืฉืžืขื•, ื•ืœื–ื” ื™ืงืจื ืงื•ืฆืจ ืจื•ื— ื›ื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืžืจื—ื‘ืช ื“ืขืชื• ืฉืœ ืื“ื.
ื•ื”ื ื” ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ืœื ื• ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืื•ื””ื— ื”ืง’ ื›ื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืžืจื—ื‘ืช ื“ืขืชื• ืฉืœ ืื“ื ืฉื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื”ื›ื™ืœ ื‘ืชื•ื›ื• ืœื ืจืง ืืช ืงื•ืฉื™ ื”ืžืฆื‘ ืฉืœ ืขื›ืฉื™ื•, ืืœื ื’ื ืืช ืžื” ืฉืžื•ื‘ื˜ื— ืื—”ื›, ื•ื–ื”ื• ืžื” ืฉืžื•ื˜ืœ ืขืœื™ื ื• ื‘ืฉืขื” ืงืฉื” ื›ื–ืืช.

ื•ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ, ืขืช ืฆืจื” ื”ื™ื ืœื™ืขืงื‘, ื”ืื•ืžื•ืช ืžืชื’ืจื•ืช ื–ื• ื‘ื–ื• ื•ืžืชื’ืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื™ืฉ ื”ืจื‘ื” ืฉื—ื•ืฉืฉื™ื ื•ื™ืจืื™ื ืžืคื ื™ ื”ื‘ืื•ืช. ืืš ืื™ื ื ื• ืžืชื‘ื•ื ื ื™ื ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ ื”ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ื”ืขืœื™ื•ื ื” ืื™ืš ืฉื”ื™ื ืžื•ื‘ื™ืœื” ืื•ืชื ื•, ื•ืืช ืขืงื‘ืชื ื“ืžืฉื™ื—ื ื‘ื“ื•ืจื ื• ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉ ื‘ื• ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืกื™ืžื ื™ื ืœื›ืš.

ื•ืžื” ืขืœื™ื ื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื‘ืขืช ืฆืจื” ื›ื–ื•? ืชื‘ืข ืžืจืŸ ืจื””ื™, ืืžืจื• ื–ืืช ื›ื‘ืจ ื—ื–”ืœ ื‘ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช (ื“ืฃ ืก”ื’ ืข”ื) ื”ืจ ื˜ื‘ื™ ื”ืจ ื™ืืฉื™ื” ื›ืœ ื”ืžืจืคื” ืขืฆืžื• ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ืชื•ืจื” ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื›ื— ืœืขืžื•ื“ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฆืจื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ ื”ืชืจืคื™ืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฆืจื” ืฆืจ ื›ื•ื—ื›ื”, ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืฆื™ื ื• ืฉืืžืจ ื”ืžืŸ ืœืžืจื“ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื“ ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืงืžื™ืฆืช ื”ืขื•ืžืจ (ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื“ืฃ ื˜”ื– ืข”ื): “ืืชื ืžืœื™ ืงื•ืžืฆื™ ืงืžื—ื ื“ื™ื“ื›ื• ื•ื“ื—ื™ ืขืฉืจื” ืืœืคื™ ื›ื›ืจื™ ื›ืกืคื ื“ื™ื“ื™”…

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื

Maran Rosh Hayeshiva Sar haTorah Hagaon Harav Chaim Shmulevitz, ztโ€l

ื ื•ืฉื ื‘ืขื•ืœ ืขื ื—ื‘ื™ืจื•

ื”ืžื•ืฉื’ ‘ื ืฉื™ืื” ื‘ืขื•ืœ’ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืขืœ ืžื™ืžื“ ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ื‘ืžื•ืฉื’ื™ื• ื”ืขื™ืœืื™ื™ื ืฉืœ ืžืจืŸ ืจืืฉ ื”ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื” ืฉื””ืช ื”ื’ืื•ืŸ ื”ืจื‘ ื—ื™ื™ื ืฉืžื•ืืœื‘ื™ืฅ ื–ืฆืœืœื””ื”. ืžืจื’ืœื ื‘ืคื•ืžื™ื”: “ืกื›ืœื™ื ืกื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืฉืœืฉืืช ื‘ืขื•ืœ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ืจืง ืœืขื–ื•ืจ ืœืฉื ื™. ื›ืืฉืจ ืื“ื ื ืคืฆืข ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ื—ื‘ืฉื• ืื•ืชื•, ื”ื•ื ืžืกื•ื’ืœ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื”ื›ืœ ื‘ื›ื•ื—ื•ืช ืขืฆืžื•, ืื‘ืœ ื”ื•ื ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื‘ืขืœ ื™ืกื•ืจื™ื…”.

“ืœืขื–ื•ืจ ืœื• ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ, ืืš ืžื” ืขื ื ืฉื™ืื” ื‘ืขื•ืœ?”, ื”ื™ื” ื–ื•ืขืง, “ื‘ืžื” ื ื™ืชืŸ ืขื›”ืค ืœืขื–ื•ืจ ืœื• ืขื›ืฉื™ื•? ืœื”ืชื—ืœืง ืืชื• ื‘ื›ืื‘ื•!”, ืชื‘ืข.

“ืœืฉืืช ื‘ืขื•ืœ, ื›ื•ื•ื ืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ืคืฉื•ื˜ืŸ – ืœื”ืชื—ืœืง ืขืžื• ื‘ืžืฉื”. ื•ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ: “ื›ืืฉืจ ืื—ื“ ื ื•ืฉื ื—ื‘ื™ืœื” ื›ื•ืœื ืžื‘ื™ื ื™ื ืืช ืกื‘ืœื• ื•ืžื˜ื™ื ืฉื›ื ืœืขื–ืจื”, ื•ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ื ื•ืฉื ื—ื‘ื™ืœืช ื™ืกื•ืจื™ื? ืื–ื™ ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื˜ื•ืช ืืช ื”ืœื‘ ืืœื™ื•!”.

ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื•ืžืข ืขืœ ื—ื•ืœื” ื›ืœืฉื”ื•, ื”ื™ื” ืคื•ืจืฅ ื‘ื‘ื›ื™. ืœืขืชื™ื ื”ื™ื” ื ืข ืื ื” ื•ืื ื” ื‘ื—ื“ืจื•, ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ืฉืจื•ื™ ื‘ื—ื•ืกืจ ืžื ื•ื—ื” ื•ื‘ืื™ืŸ ืžืจื’ื•ืข ืœื ืคืฉื• ืžืจื•ื‘ ืฆืขืจ.

ื‘ื”ืœื•ื•ื™ื™ืชื• ื”ืฉืชืชืฃ ืกื•ืžื ื‘ืฉืชื™ ืขื™ื ื™ื•. ืœืฉืืœืช ื”ืžืœื•ื•ื™ื ืžื” ืจืื” ืœื‘ื•ื ื•ืœื™ื˜ื•ืœ ื—ืœืง ื‘ื”ืœื•ื•ื™ื”, ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ื”ืื™ืฉ: “ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืืฆืœ ืจ’ ื—ื™ื™ื, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืชืขื ื™ืŸ ื‘ืžืฆื‘ื™. ื›ืฉืฉืžืข ืฉื”ืจื•ืคืื™ื ืจื•ืื™ื ืืช ืžืฆื‘ื™ ื›ื—ืกืจ-ืกื™ื›ื•ื™, ืฉืžืขืชื™ ืฉืคืจืฅ ื‘ื‘ื›ื™ ื ื•ืจื ื›ืขืฉืจื™ื ื“ืงื•ืช…”.

ื›ืฉื‘ื ืœื ื—ื ืืช ืืœืžื ืชื• ืฉืœ ืื—ื“ ืžืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื•, ื™ืฉื‘ ื“ื•ืžื ืœืจื’ืข ืงืœ, ื•ืื—ืจ ื‘ื›ื” ื‘ื“ืžืขื•ืช ืฉืœื™ืฉ ืฉืขื” ืืจื•ื›ื”, ื‘ืœื™ ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืžื™ืœื” ืžืคื™ื•.

(ืžื— ื•ืœื‘, ืขืž’ ืง”ื”-ืง”ื•)

ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื™ ื”ืœื›ื”

Harav Hagaon Meir Tzvi Shpitzer Shlita

ื•ืืจื

ื”ื ื•ืฉื ืืฉื” ื™ื‘ื“ื•ืง ื‘ืื—ื™ื”

ื•ื™ืงื— ืื”ืจืŸ ืืช ืืœื™ืฉื‘ืข ื‘ืช ืขืžื™ื ื“ื‘ ืื—ื•ืช ื ื—ืฉื•ืŸ, ื•ืžื›ืืŸ ื“ืจืฉื• ืฉื”ื ื•ืฉื ืืฉื” ื™ื‘ื“ื•ืง ื‘ืื—ื™ื”.

ื•ืข’ ืฉืœ”ื” ืค’ ื•ืืจื ืฉื™ืขืฉื” ื›ืžื• ืฉืฆื•ื• ื—ื–”ืœ, ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืคื•ืจืฉ ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ื›ืคื•ืจืฉ ืžืŸ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื.

ื•ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ืค’ ืœืš ืœืš, ืœืžื” ืืžืจืช ืื—ื•ืชื™ ื”ื™ื ื•ืืงื— ืื•ืชื” ืœื™ ืœืืฉื”, ื•ืข’ ื‘ืจื›ืช ืื‘ืจื”ื, ื‘ืจื•ื“ื•, ืฉืคื™’ ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืืžืจืช ืื—ื•ืชื™ ื”ื™ื, ื•ื”ืจื™ ื™ื‘ื“ื•ืง ื‘ืื—ื™ื” ื•ื–ื” ืื‘ืจื”ื, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื•ืืงื— ืื•ืชื” ืœื™ ืœืืฉื”.

ื•ื”ื ื” ืข’ ืžืฉื™ื‘ืช ื ืคืฉ ืค’ ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืฉื›ืชื‘ ืจืฉ”ื™ ื“’ ื›”ื‘ ื ืขืžื” ืืฉืช ื ื—, ื•ืงืž”ืœ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ืœื” ื’’ ืื—ื™ื, ื•ืื—ื“ ืžื”ื ืชื•ื‘ืœ ืงื™ืŸ, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื™ืœื“ื” ื’’ ื‘ื ื™ื, ื•ื—ื ื”ื™ื” ืจืฉืข.ย  ื•ืžืฉืžืข ืืคื™ืœื• ืื— ื’ ืจืฉืข ื™ื–ื”ืจ ื•ืœื ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื“ืขืค”ื™ ืจื•ื‘ ื™ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื ื™ื• ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืื• ื“ืจืฉืข ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ื™ื•ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืœืœ.

ืื›ืŸ ืข’ ืงืจื™ื™ื ื ื“ืื’ืจืชื ื—”ื‘ ื™”ื— (ื•ืžืขืฉื” ืื™ืฉ ื—”ื’ ืขืž’ ืจืœ”ื•) ืœื”ืชื™ืจ ืื ื™ืฉ ืขื•ื“ ืื— ื›ืฉืจ, (ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืขื™ื™ืŸ ืื ื”ื’ื™ืจืกื ื‘ื’ืž’ ืื—ื™ื” ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืขื ืงืžืฅ ื•ื—ื™ืจื™ืง, ืื• ืขื ืคืชื— ื•ืกื’ื•ืœ). ื•ืข”ืข ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืžืฉื” ื—”ื‘ ื‘ืฉื ื“ืชื•ืœื” ืขืœ ืจื•ื‘ ืื—ื™ื, ื•ื—ืฆื™ ื—ืฆื™ ืžื•ืชืจ.

(ื•ืข”ืฉ ืขื•ื“ ืงืจื™ื™ื ื ื“ืื’ืจืชื ืื•ืœื™ ื ืชืงืœืงืœ ื˜ืจื ื ืชื—ื ืš ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื™ืจ”ืฉ ื•ื”ื•ื ืชื™ื ื•ืง ืฉื ืฉื‘ื”. ื•ืข’ ืืจื—ื•ืช ืจื‘ื ื• ื—”ื ืจืก”ื” ื“ืœื ืฉื™ื™ืš ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื’ืž’ ื‘ื–ื””ื– ืฉื”ืจื—ื•ื‘ ื˜ืžื ื•ื›ื•’ ื•ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื›ื•ื—ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืื‘ ืœืคืงื— ืขืœ ืžื”ืœื›ื™ ื”ื‘ืŸ ื•ื—ื™ื ื•ื›ื•. ื•ืข”ืข ืžื›ืชื‘ื™ื ื•ืžืืžืจื™ื ื—”ื• ืื’ืจืช ืชืฉื™”ื˜ ื•ืžื” ืฉืฉืืœืช ื•ื›ื•’ ืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ื ื•ื›ื•’ ืื™ืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืืžื•ืจ ืืœื ืœืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืžื“ื•ืช ื•ื”ืชื›ื•ื ื•ืช ื”ื ืคืฉื™ื•ืช ื•ื›ื•’ ืื‘ืœ ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ ื“ืขื•ืช ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืžื” ืฉืฉืืœืช ืฉืื—ื™ ื”ืื ืžืฉืชื™ื™ืš ืœืื ืฉื™ ื•ื›ื•’ ื–ื” ืื™ื ื• ืฉื™ื™ืš ื›ืœืœ ืœืžืืžืจื ื“ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืœืื—ื™ ื”ืื ื›ื™ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื“ืขื•ืช ื”ื•ื ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืžืกื•ืจ ืœื™ื“ื™ ื‘ื—ื™ืจื”.

ื•ื”ื ื” ืขื“ ื›ืืŸ ืžืฆืื ื• ืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืœืื—ื™ ื”ืื. ื•ื›ืชื‘ ืจ ื‘ื—ื™ื™ ืกื•”ืค ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื•ืช ื“ื•ืžื•ืช ืœืื—ื•ืช ื”ืื‘. ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืกืชื‘ืจ ืœืคื™ ืคืž”ื’ ืงื›”ื— ืก”ื‘ ืฉื”ื ืงื‘ื•ืช ืขื™ืงืจ ื‘ืชืจ ืžื–ื’ ื”ืื‘, ื•ื–ื”ื• ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืืช ืื‘ื™ื” ื”ื™ื ืžื—ืœืœืช, ื•ืœืคื™ื– ืžืกืชื‘ืจ ื›ืž”ืฉ ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื‘ื—ื™ื™ ื•ืชืคืืจืช ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื›”ื˜ ื™’ ืฉื”ื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ืŸ ืื—ืจ ืื—ื•ืช ื”ืื‘.

ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ืขื™ืจื• ืขืœ ืจ’ ื‘ื—ื™ื™ ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›”ื“ ื™”ื ืฉื›ืชื‘ ื“ื˜ื‘ืข ื”ื‘ืŸ ื ืงืฉืจ ื‘ื˜ื‘ืข ื”ืื ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืฉืœ ืื‘, ื•ืœื›ื ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ืื•ืœื™ ืžื””ื˜ ืืžืจื• ืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืœืื—ื™ ื”ืื, ื•ืœื ื›ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ื‘ืค’ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช.

ื•ื›”ื› ื‘ืก’ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืค’ ื•ื™ืฆื ื‘ื“”ื” ื•ื™ื’ื“ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืœืจื—ืœ (ื›ื™ ืื—ื™ ืื‘ื™ื” ื”ื•ื) ื•ืชื•”ื“ “ื•ืืคืฉืจ ืฉืจืžื– ืœื” ื›ืžื• ืฉืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ ืื—ื™ ื”ืื ื”ื› ืžื”ืจืื•ื™ ื‘ื ื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ ืื—ื•ืช ื”ืื‘”.

ืžื™ื”ื• ืข’ ื™ื‘ืžื•ืช ืก”ื‘ ืข”ื‘ ื•ื”ื ื•ืฉื ืืช ื‘ืช ืื—ื•ืชื• ื•ื›ืชื‘ื• ืชื•ืก’ ื‘ืฉื ืจ”ืช ื“ืœื ื ืงื˜ ื‘ืช ืื—ื™ื• ืืœื ื“ื•ืงื ื‘ืช ืื—ื•ืชื• ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื ื‘ืช ืžื–ืœื• ื›ื“ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืœืื—ื™ ื”ืื. ื•ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ื“ืื™ืŸ ื“ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืœืื—ื™ ื”ืื‘. ื•ืื•ืœื™ ืž”ืž ื“ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืœืื—ื•ืช ื”ืื‘.

ื•ืข’ ื—”ืก ืื”ืข”ื– ืงื™”ื’ ื‘ืงืœืงืœื” ืื—ื•ืช ื”ืžืฉื•ื“ื›ืช ืžื•ืชืจ ืœื‘ื˜ืœ ื”ืฉื™ื“ื•ืš ื“ื›ืžื• ื“ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœืื—ื™ ื”ืื ื””ื” ืœืื—ื•ืช ื”ืื.

ื–ื”ื™ืจื•ืช ืžื›ื—ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืจืข

Maran Hamashgiach Hagaon Harav Yechezkel Levinshtein, ztโ€l

ืคืจืฉื™ื•ืช ืืœื• ืฉืœ ื™ืฆื™ืืช ืžืฆืจื™ื ื™ืฉ ื‘ื”ื ื›ืžื” ื”ืืจื•ืช ืฉืžื”ื ื ื•ื›ืœ ืœืœืžื•ื“ ื“ืขื” ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืžื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ื•ื—ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืจืข.

ืื™ืชื ื‘ื’ืžืณ (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ, ืงื™ื.) ืดืืดืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœืžืฉื” ื—ื‘ืœ ืขืœ ื“ืื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ื•ืœื ืžืฉืชื›ื—ื™ืŸ, ื”ืจื™ ื›ืžื” ืคืขืžื™ื ื ื’ืœื™ืชื™ ืœืื‘ืจื”ื ื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ื-ืœ ืฉื“-ื™ ื•ืœื ื”ืจื”ืจื• ืขืœ ืžื“ื•ืชื™ ื•ืœื ืืžืจื• ืœื™ ืžื” ืฉืžืš ื•ื›ื•’, ื•ืืชื” ืืžืจืช ืœื™ ืžื” ืฉืžืš ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœื” ื•ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ืืชื” ืื•ืžืจ ืœื™ ื•ื”ืฆืœ ืœื ื”ืฆืœืช ืืช ืขืžืšืด.

ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื—ื–ืดืœ ืืœื•, ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ื˜ืขื ื” ื›ื‘ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืขืœ ืžืฉืจืขืดื” ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ืœืžื” ื”ืจืขื•ืช. ื•ืจืื” ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ (ืฉืžื•ืช ืจื‘ื”, ื•ืืจื ื•, ื) ืดื•ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” ื‘ื™ืงืฉื” ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ืœืคื’ื•ืข ื‘ืžืฉื”, ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉื ืกืชื›ืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฆืขืจ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื“ื™ื‘ืจ ื›ืŸ, ื—ื–ืจ ื•ื ื”ื’ ืขืžื• ื‘ืžื™ื“ืช ืจื—ืžื™ืืด.

ื•ืขื•ื“ ืฉื ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ, ื”ื”ืดื“ (ืงื”ืœืช, ื‘, ื™ื‘) ืดื•ืคื ื™ืชื™ ืื ื™ ืœืจืื•ืช ื—ื›ืžื” ื•ื”ื•ืœืœื•ืช ื•ืกื›ืœื•ืช ื›ื™ ืžื” ื”ืื“ื ืฉื™ื‘ื ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ืืฉืจ ื›ื‘ืจ ืขืฉื•ื”ื•ืด, ืดื”ืคืกื•ืง ื”ื–ื” ื ืืžืจ ืขืœ ืฉืœืžื” ื•ืขืœ ืžืฉื”, ืขืœ ืฉืœืžื” ื›ื™ืฆื“, ืฉืฉืœืžื” ืขืžื“ ื•ื”ื—ื›ื™ื ืขืœ ื’ื–ื™ืจืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื•ืืžืจ: ืœืžื” ืืžืจ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœื ื™ืจื‘ื” ืœื• ื ืฉื™ื, ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฉืœื ื™ืกื•ืจ ืœื‘ื‘ื•, ืื ื™ ืืจื‘ื” ื•ืœื‘ื™ ืœื ื™ืกื•ืจ ื•ื›ื•’, ื•ืœื›ืš ืืžืจ ืฉืœืžื” ืžื” ืฉื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืžื—ื›ื™ื ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืžืจืื” ืœืขืžื™ ืฉืื ื™ ื™ื•ื“ืข ื“ืขืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ืื•ืชื• ื”ื“ืขืช ืฉืœ ื”ื•ืœืœื•ืช ื•ืกื›ืœื•ืช ื”ื™ื•, ืœืžื” ื›ื™ ืžื” ื”ืื“ื ืฉื™ื‘ื•ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ืืฉืจ ื›ื‘ืจ ืขืฉื•ื”ื•”,ื•ืขื™ื™ืดืฉ.

ื•ื ื•ืจืื•ืช ืœื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ, ืฉืœืžื” ื”ืžืœืš ืขืดื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ื—ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ื”ืื“ื ื ื›ืฉืœ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ, ืขื“ ืฉื”ื’ื“ื™ืจ ื–ืืช ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ื›ืกื›ืœื•ืช ื•ื”ื•ืœืœื•ืช ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื‘ื ืื—ืจ ื’ื–ื™ืจืช ื”ืžืœืš. ื•ืขื™ื™ืดืฉ ืขื•ื“: ืดื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ืžืฉื”, ืœืคื™ ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœืžืฉื” ืฉืœื ื™ื ื™ื— ืื•ืชื ืคืจืขื” ืœื™ืœืš, ื•ืžืฉื” ืœื ืฉืžืจ ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื” ืืœื ื‘ื ืœื”ืชื—ื›ื ืขืœ ื’ื–ื™ืจืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื•ื›ื•’, ื•ืขืดื– ื ืืžืจ ืฉืื•ืชื” ื—ื›ืžื” ื•ื“ืขืช ืฉืœ ืžืฉื” ืฉืœ ื”ื•ืœืœื•ืช ื•ืกื›ืœื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ื•ื›ื•’ืด. ื—ื–ื™ื ืŸ ืžื”ื›ื ืขื“ ื”ื™ื›ืŸ ืžื’ื™ืข ื›ื— ื”ืจืข, ืฉื™ืชื›ืŸ ื•ืืฃ ืžืฉืจืขืดื”, ืื“ื•ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื, ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื™ืคื•ืœ ื•ืœื”ื™ื›ืฉืœ ื—ืดื• ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ื”ื•ืœืœื•ืช ื•ืกื›ืœื•ืช.

ื”ืกื™ื‘ื” ื•ื”ื’ื•ืจื ืœืขื ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืžื‘ื•ืืจื™ื ืืฃ ื”ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื—ื–ืดืœ ืฉื ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ, ื•ืืฃ ื‘ื–ื” ื ืจืื” ื ืคืœืื•ืช, ื”ื”ืดื“ (ืงื”ืœืช ื–, ื–) ืดื›ื™ ื”ืขื•ืฉืง ื™ื”ื•ืœืœ ื—ื›ื ื•ื™ืื‘ื“ ืืช ืœื‘ ืžืชื ื”ืด, ืดืืจืดื™ ื‘ืจ ืกื™ืžื•ืŸ ื–ื” ืžืฉื”, ืขื•ืฉืง ืฉืขืฉืงื• ืื•ืชื• ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื ื™ื”ื•ืœืœ ื—ื›ื ืขื™ืจื‘ื‘ื• ืื•ืชื• ื•ื›ื•’, ืืœื ื”ื ืฉื”ืงื ื™ื˜ื•ื”ื• ื•ืืžืจื• ืœื• ื™ืจื ื“’ ืขืœื™ื›ื ื•ื™ืฉืคื•ื˜, ื•ืืฃ ื”ื•ื ืžืงืคื™ื“ ื•ืื•ืžืจ ื•ืžืื– ื‘ืืชื™ ืืœ ืคืจืขื” ื•ื›ื•’ืด. ื•ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ืฉื™ืชื›ืŸ ื•ืืฃ ืขืœ ืžืฉื” ืจืขืดื” ื”ืฉืคื™ืขื• ื•ืขืจื‘ื‘ื• ืืช ื“ืขืชื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ื”ืจืขื™ื ืฉืœ ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื, ื•ืขืฉื• ืขืœื™ื• ืจื•ืฉื ืขื“ ืฉืืžืจ ืดืœืžื” ื”ืจื™ืขื•ืชืด, ื•ื ืขื ืฉ ืžืฉื” ืขืœ ื–ื”. ื•ื ืคืœื ืœืจืื•ืช ื›ืžื” ื—ืžื•ืจื” ื•ืจื‘ื” ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื”ืžื•ื˜ืœืช ืขืœื™ื ื•, ืฉื™ืชื›ืŸ ื•ืืฃ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ื™ื›ืฉืœื• ื•ื™ื•ืฉืคืขื• ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ืื—ืจื™ื, [ื•ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืคื” ืžืขื•ืจื‘ ืืฃ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื’ื•ื“ืœ ืื”ื‘ืช ืžืฉืจืขืดื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื›ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ืฉื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื—ื–ืดืœ ืดื•ืœืคื™ ืฉื ืกืชื›ืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฆืขืจ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ืŸืด, ืื‘ืœ ืžืดืž ื”ื ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืคื” ื˜ืขื ื” ื•ืชื‘ื™ืขื” ืขืœ ืžืฉืจืขืดื”], ืืดื› ืžื” ื ืขื ื” ืื ืŸ ื™ืชืžื™ ื“ื™ืชืžื™, ื—ืœื•ืฉื™ื ื‘ื“ืขืช ื•ื‘ื‘ื™ื ื”, ื”ืœื ื•ื“ืื™ ืฉืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื ืื ื• ืœืกื›ื ืช ื”ื›ืฉืœื•ืŸ ื‘ื—ื˜ื, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื ื• ืœืกืžื•ืš ืขืœ ื“ืขืชื ื• ื•ื”ื‘ื ืชื ื•, ื•ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ืฉื—ื™ื™ื‘ื™ื ืื ื• ื‘ื–ื”ื™ืจื•ืช ืžืชืžื“ืช ื•ื‘ื‘ื“ื™ืงื” ืงืคื“ื ื™ืช ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืฆืขื“ ื•ืฆืขื“ ืžืžืขืฉื™ื ื• ืฉืœื ื ื›ืฉืœ ื•ื ื™ืคื•ืœ ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ื”ืจืข.

ื•ื‘ืืžืช ืฉืขื ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืฉืœ ื’ื•ื“ืœ ืงืจื‘ืช ื”ืื“ื ืœืจืข ืžื’ืœื” ืœื ื• ืชื•ืจื” ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื”ื‘ืจื™ืื”.

ื—ื•ื” ืืžื ื• ืขืดื”, ื™ืฆื™ืจืช ื›ืคื™ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, ื ื›ืฉืœื” ื‘ื—ื˜ื ื•ื ืชืคืชืชื” ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื ื—ืฉ ื”ืขืจื•ื ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข, ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืฉื•ื˜ื™ื ืฉื“ื•ืžื” ืฉืืฃ ืชื™ื ื•ืง ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืกืคืจ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื“ื—ื•ืชื ื•ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืืœื ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื‘ืœ, ืฉืืžืจ ืœื” ื”ื ื—ืฉ “ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืื›ืœื›ื ืžืžื ื• ื•ื”ื™ื™ืชื ื›ืืœื•ืงื™ื”, ื•ืจืื” ื‘ื—ื–ืดืœ (ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช, ื’, ื”) ืฉืืžืจ ืœื” ืžืŸ ื”ืขืฅ ื”ื–ื” ืื›ืœ ื•ื‘ืจื ืืช ื”ืขื•ืœื, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ื™ืฉ ืœื”ืชืขื•ืจืจ ืžื—ื˜ื ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ืฉืขืœ ืืฃ ื›ืœ ื’ื“ืœื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ืื“ื”ืดืจ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ืžื” ื›ื’ืœื’ืœ ืฉืœ ื—ืžื” (ืชื ื—ื•ืžื, ืื—ืจื™, ื‘), ื•ืื™ืชื ื‘ื—ื–ืดืœ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ื—, ื™) ืฉื‘ืขืช ื‘ืจื™ืืช ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื˜ืขื• ืžืœืื›ื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืงืฉื• ืœื•ืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ื• ืฉื™ืจื”, ืžืดืž ื ื›ืฉืœ ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืดืฉืžืขืช ืœืงื•ืœ ืืฉืชืšืด, ื•ื”ืœื ื˜ืขื ื” ื–ื• ืฉืœ ืฉืžืขืช ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืืฉืชืš ื”ื™ื ื˜ืขื ื” ืืฃ ืœืื ืฉื™ื ืงื˜ื ื™ื ื›ืžื•ื ื•, ืขืื›ื•ืดื› ื’ื‘ื™ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ื—ื–ื™ื ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืื“ื ื›ื— ื ื•ืกืฃ ืฉืœ ื”ืชืคืชื•ืช ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืืฉื”, ื•ืืฃ ืœืื“ื”ืดืจ ื”ื™ื” ืงืฉื” ืœื ืฆื— ื•ืœื’ื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœ ื”ื›ื— ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ.

ื•ื›ืŸ ื™ืฉ ืœืจืื•ืช ื’ื‘ื™ ื—ื˜ื ื”ืขื’ืœ, ืฉืขืžื“ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืžื“ืจื™ื’ื” ืขืœื™ื•ื ื” ื›ืดื›, ืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ืงืจื™ืขืช ื™ื ืกื•ืฃ ื ืืžืจ ืดืจืืชื” ืฉืคื—ื” ืขืœ ื”ื™ื ืžื” ืฉืœื ืจืื” ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื•ื–ื™ ื‘ืžืจืื” ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื”ืด (ืจืฉืดื™ ืฉืžื•ืช, ื˜ื•, ื‘), ืขืื›ื•ืดื› ืœืื—ืจ ืžืขืžื“ ื”ืจ ืกื™ื ื™, ืฉื ืชืขืœื• ื™ื•ืชืจ ืขื“ ืฉืคืกืงื” ืžื”ื ื–ื•ื”ืžืชื• ืฉืœ ื ื—ืฉ ื•ื”ื’ื™ืขื• ืœืžื“ืจื™ื’ืช ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืงื•ื“ื ื”ื—ื˜ื, ื•ืžืดืž ื ื›ืฉืœื• ื‘ืขื’ืœ.

ื•ื™ืกื•ื“ ื”ื—ื˜ื ื‘ืขื’ืœ ื”ื™ื” ื›ื“ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืดืจืื™ืชื™ ืืช ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ื•ื”ื ื” ืขื ืงืฉื” ืขื•ืจืฃ ื”ื•ืืด (ืฉืžื•ืช ืœื’, ื”), ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉืœืžืจื•ืช ื›ืœ ื’ื“ืœื•ืชื ืœื ื ืื‘ื“ื” ืžืืชื ื”ืžื™ื“ื” ื”ืจืขื” ืฉืœ ืงืฉื™ื•ืช ืขื•ืจืฃ, ื•ืืฃ ืฉืคื ื™ื ื‘ืคื ื™ื ื“ื™ื‘ืจ ื“ืณ ืืชื, ืžืดืž ื”ืžื™ื“ื” ืœื ื ืขืœืžื”, ื•ืžื“ื” ื–ื• ื›ื•ื—ื” ืจื‘ ื›ืดื› ืขื“ ืฉื”ื—ื˜ื™ืื” ืืช ื“ื•ืจ ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืื” ืื•ืชื ืฉื ื™ืช ืœื–ื•ื”ืžืชื• ืฉืœ ื ื—ืฉ.

ื•ืžืขืชื” ืคืฉื•ื˜ ื›ืžื” ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื ืื ื• ืœืจืข, ื•ืื™ืœื• ืื ื• ืื™ื ื ื• ื™ื•ื“ืขื™ื ื–ืืช ื›ืœืœ ื•ืกื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืื ื• ืฉื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื ื• ื›ืฉืจื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืจื™ื. ื•ืจืื” ื‘ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื, ื•ืืชื—ื ืŸ ื“, ื˜) ืฉื›ืชื‘ ืฉืžืขืžื“ ื”ืจ ืกื™ื ื™ ื‘ื™ื˜ืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืกืคื™ืงื•ืช ื‘ืืžื•ื ื”, ื•ืœืื—ืจ ื›ืดื– ืืžืจ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืขืชื” ื ืจืื” ืื ืชืขื‘ื“ื• ืืช ื“ืณ, ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืืฃ ืœืื—ืจ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืจ ื›ืœ ื”ืกืคื™ืงื•ืช ื™ืชื›ืŸ ื•ื™ื›ืฉืœ ื‘ื—ื˜ื, ื›ื™ ื›ื— ื”ืจืข ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืื•ื“, ื•ืชืžื™ื“ ืขื•ืžื“ ื‘ืกื›ื ื” ืชืžื™ื“ื™ืช, ื•ื›ื“ื—ื–ื™ื ืŸ ืฉืžืฉืจืขืดื” ื ื›ืฉืœ ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืžื™ืขืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื, ืขืื›ื•ืดื› ืื ื• ื—ื™ื™ื‘ื™ื ืœื”ื™ื–ื”ืจ ืžืื•ื“ ืฉืœื ืœืฉืžื•ืข ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื—ื˜ื ื•ื›ืคื™ืจื”, ืฉื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ืžืกื•ื’ืœื™ื ืœื”ืฉืคื™ืข ืขืœื™ื ื• ื•ืœื”ื•ืจื™ื“ื ื• ืขื“ ืœื—ื˜ื ืžืžืฉ, ื•ื›ืดื– ื ื›ืœืœ ื‘ืžื” ืฉื ืชื‘ืืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื—ื•ื”ืดืœ ืดืœืžื“ื• ื”ืจืข ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืœื”ื‘ื“ืœ ืžืžื ื•ืด.

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Harav Hagaon Binyomin Cohen Shlita

Taking His Word to Heart

Parashas Vaโ€™era

Harav Hagaon Binyamin Cohen Shlita

At the end of this weekโ€™s parashah Hakadosh Baruch Hu tells Moshe Rabbeinu to urge the Egyptians to bring all their servants and livestock inside, so they should not be destroyed during Makkas Barad. The Torah subsequently informs us that only the God-fearing among Pharaohโ€™s servants heeded this warning: ื”ึทื™ึผึธืจึตื ืึถืช ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทืจ ื”’ ืžึตืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึตื™ ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนื” ื”ึตื ึดื™ืก ืึถืช ืขึฒื‘ึธื“ึธื™ื• ื•ึฐืึถืช ืžึดืงึฐื ึตื”ื•ึผ ืึถืœ ื”ึทื‘ึผึธืชึผึดื™ื. ื•ึทืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืœึนื ืฉื‚ึธื ืœึดื‘ึผื•ึน ืึถืœ ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทืจ ื”’ ื•ึทื™ึผึทืขึฒื–ึนื‘ ืึถืช ืขึฒื‘ึธื“ึธื™ื• ื•ึฐืึถืช ืžึดืงึฐื ึตื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึทืฉึผื‚ึธื“ึถื”.

It seems surprising that the God-fearing Egyptians were specifically from the ranks of Pharaohโ€™s servants. We would have expected that some of the populace would have been yerei shomayim, but we know that the avdei Pharaoh were the furthest thing from God-fearing! Yet the passuk seems to indicate that only avdei Pharaoh were yerei Hashem. This is especially puzzling in light of the fact that Barad was the seventh makkah, and after undergoing six makkos the Egyptians should long have learned to fear Hashem. After all, Hashem did not harden their hearts, only Pharaohโ€™s.

Furthermore, why are those who brought their servants and livestock inside considered to be yerei Hashem, if they were doing this to save their possessions? They were acting out of love of money, not out of fear of Hashem!

To this we can answer that they acted out of a combination of love of money and fear of heaven. But the Meshech Chochmah offers a novel understanding of this passuk. He explains that after Moshe Rabbeinu instructed that the animals be brought inside, the servants of Pharaoh actually went out and tried to ensure that no Egyptian would listen to Moshe โ€“ and they threatened to punish anyone who did. The Egyptians then faced a dilemma: Should they fear the word of Hashem, who said to bring the servants and animals inside, or should they fear the avdei Pharaoh, who said they shouldnโ€™t listen to Moshe? So when the passuk says: ื”ึทื™ึผึธืจึตื ืึถืช ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทืจ ื”’ ืžึตืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึตื™ ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนื” ื”ึตื ึดื™ืก ืึถืช ืขึฒื‘ึธื“ึธื™ื• ื•ึฐืึถืช ืžึดืงึฐื ึตื”ื•ึผ, what it really means is those who feared Hashem more than they feared the servants of Pharaoh brought their animals inside. The Meshech Chochmah sees the mem of ืžึตืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึตื™ ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนื” as similar to the mem of ื˜ื•ึนื‘ ืฉืึตื ืžึดืฉึผืึถืžึถืŸ ื˜ื•ึนื‘, which also means โ€œmore than.โ€ According to this interpretation, the passuk is actually referring to the rest of the Egyptians, not the avdei Pharaoh, and telling us that those who brought in their animals did so because they feared Hashem more than they feared the avdei Pharaoh.

Pay Attention!

Who didnโ€™t listen and left his animals outside? We would expect that if those who did fear Hashem brought their animals in, then those who did not bring their animals in were those who did not fear Hashem. Yet the Torah presents the contrast slightly differently, describing the one who did bring his animals inside as ื”ึทื™ึผึธืจึตื ืึถืช ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทืจ ื”’ and the one who did not asื•ึทืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืœึนื ืฉื‚ึธื ืœึดื‘ึผื•ึน ืึถืœ ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทืจ ื”’.

This divergence conveys an important lesson regarding yiras shomayim. What does it mean that a person is not a yerei shomayim? It means that he doesnโ€™t bring Hashemโ€™s word to his heart; he doesnโ€™t pay attention or invest the time and effort to listen to dvar Hashem. And what does it mean that a person is a yerei shomayim? It means that he pays attention to what Hashem says and focuses on listening to Him.

In the introduction to Makkas Barad Hakadosh Baruch Hu tells Moshe:ื›ึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึทืคึผึทืขึทื ื”ึทื–ึผึนืืช ืึฒื ึดื™ ืฉืึนืœึตื—ึท ืึถืช ื›ึผึธืœ ืžึทื’ึผึตืคึนืชึทื™ ืึถืœ ืœึดื‘ึผึฐืšึธ โ€“ โ€œThis time, Iโ€™m going to send all of my plagues to your heart.โ€ This description is specific to Makkas Barad. In what way did it โ€œhit the heartโ€?

Looking further into the actual makkah, we see that Makkas Barad was not only hail โ€“ it came along with kolos, thunder, as well, as the Torah says: ื•ึทื”’ ื ึธืชึทืŸ ืงึนืœึนืช ื•ึผื‘ึธืจึธื“. Later, when the makkah ended, the passuk says: ื•ึทื™ึผึทื—ึฐื“ึผึฐืœื•ึผ ื”ึทืงึผึนืœื•ึนืช ื•ึฐื”ึทื‘ึผึธืจึธื“. Rav Shalom Schwadron explains that the purpose of the thunder was to affect peopleโ€™s hearts, thereby bridging the gap between the mind and the heart. This represented the uniqueness of this makkah, and thatโ€™s why Makkas Barad was described as targeted at the heart. Rav Shalom adds that this is the source of Rav Yisrael Salanterโ€™s chiddush that study of mussar has to be done โ€œื‘ืฉืคืชื™ื ื“ื•ืœืงื•ืชโ€ โ€“ itโ€™s not enough to merely think the words in your mind, you have to say the words over and over out of your mouth aloud, with a niggun, with hislahavus and hispaalus. Thatโ€™s the way you can bring mussar into your heart: ื•ึฐื™ึธื“ึทืขึฐืชึผึธ ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื•ึทื”ึฒืฉืึตื‘ึนืชึธ ืึถืœ ืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ึถืšึธ. And thatโ€™s how you can reach the level of a yerei shomayim who takes dvar Hashem to heart, through the power of kolos.

The Mesilas Yesharim, we know, compares the yetzer haraโ€™s tactic to that of Pharaoh, who decreed that Klal Yisrael should be kept very busy so that they would not have time to think of revolting or going to war against the Egyptians: ืชึผึดื›ึฐื‘ึผึทื“ ื”ึธืขึฒื‘ึนื“ึธื” ืขึทืœ ื”ึธืึฒื ึธืฉืึดื™ื ื•ึฐื™ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึผ ื‘ึธื”ึผ ื•ึฐืึทืœ ื™ึดืฉืึฐืขื•ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื“ึดื‘ึฐืจึตื™ ืฉืึธืงึถืจ. Similarly, says the Mesilas Yesharim at the end of perek beis, the yetzer hara tries very hard to keep a person so busy that he has no time to take things to heart and take stock of his life or examine his actions and his daily routine. The yetzer hara knows that if a person were to set his heart to pondering his ways even a little bit, he would immediately be filled with remorse, and that remorse will grow until the person finally abandons his wrongful ways.

This is exactly the lesson we see in the above pesukim, and this is the secret to achieving yiras shomayim. The difference between a yerei shomayim and one who is not a yerei shomayim can be boiled down to ื•ึทืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืœึนื ืฉื‚ึธื ืœึดื‘ึผื•ึน: a bit of simas lev, hisbodedus, hisbonenus, thinking about what we are doing with our lives. To achieve yiras shomayim, a person doesnโ€™t need to make major changes. All he needs to do is pay attention, learn a little bit of mussar, think about life, and contemplate his actions.

Hakadosh Baruch Hu should help us to become genuine yerei shomayim, and we should be zocheh to all the brachos in the Torah.

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