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A Sichah from Maran Hagaon Rav Gershon Edelstein Shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevez – Behar-Bechukosai 5773 #57

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A Sichah from Maran Hagaon Rav Gershon Edelstein Shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevez – Behar-Bechukosai 5773 #57 A Sichah from Maran HaGaon Rav Gershon Edelstein shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevez – Behar-Bechukosai 5773 #57 Preparing for Matan Torah These are also the days in which the twenty-four thousand students of Rebbi Akiva died. The Gemara in Yevamos We are in the middle of counting the omer. The Sefer (62b) tells us that this was because they did not honor each other HaChinuch (Mitzvah 306) writes that when the Yidden left properly. The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 61:3) tells us that the lit. Their eyes were - עיניהם צרה אלו באלו Mitzrayim, they knew that the purpose of their exodus was in reason was because order to receive the Torah at Har Sinai. Already in Egypt, the narrow one to the other. This means that they didn’t look Yidden knew of Torah. We are told that the Tribe of Levi positively at one another. Seemingly, these two are intertwined, learned Torah throughout the entire 210 years in Mitzrayim. The as due to their looking at each other negatively, they also didn’t Avos as well, learned in yeshivos (Yoma 28b). When Yaakov respect each other. Yet we find another reason for their היתה עיניהם ,(Avinu descended to Egypt, he sent Yehuda before him to set up punishment in Midrash Koheles Rabbah (11:5 lit. Their eyes were narrow regarding - צרה בתורה זה לזה .a yeshiva. We also know that Shem and Ever set up a yeshiva All the aforementioned examples though, preceded Matan their friends Torah. The Yafeh Toar on the Midrash explains Torah. The Torah after it was given at Sinai is totally different. that they did not seek to help their friends in Torah. (See Ohr This Torah is governed by what the sages determine to be its Yechezkel - Emunah Pg. 122 for an explanation) understanding. We should take note of the great level of Rebbi Akiva’s When the Yidden left Mitzrayim they knew they were talmidim. The Gemara in Eiruvin (13a) relates that initially, headed towards Matan Torah. We see this from the fourth Rabbi Meir was not able to comprehend the depths of Rebbi and I shall take you unto Akiva’s teachings. He therefore left, learned from Rebbi - ולקחתי ,expression of redemption Me, as a nation. Chazal explain that this refers to Matan Torah Yishmoel, and only then returned to learn from Rebbi Akiva. at Har Sinai. This was a part of our exodus from Egypt and our We know how great Rabbi Meir was from the Gemara in redemption from tumah to kedusha - impurity to holiness. Klal Sanhedrin (24a). The Gemara tells us that anyone who Yisroel anxiously awaited this event and counted the days until witnessed him learning in the beis midrash saw that he was able the great event. Their joy intensified with each passing day. to “uproot tremendous mountains and grind them against each Each year during these days, this effect of a desire for other”. This expression means that his analysis of Torah was cleaving to Torah, and to prepare for accepting the Torah, incredibly deep and profound. Despite this, he was initially not returns to the world. Shavuos, which is known as the time of able to fully comprehend Rebbi Akiva’s teachings. If so, the the receiving of the Torah - zman Matan Toraseinu, was not students of Rebbi Akiva who were able to understand their a one-time event. Every Shavuos is a time for receiving the Rebbi’s teachings were very great in Torah. Torah, and is auspicious for success in Torah. The days of the We have previously mentioned the reason the students omer are auspicious for proper preparations for one to receive died precisely during these days of the omer. These are the days Torah, just as this time fostered growth when we left Egypt. On auspicious for acquiring Torah and hence, there is a much one hand, we should be happy that we are given an opportunity harsher judgment upon a person’s middos. This is because the to earn such great merits. On the other hand, we should be path to grow in Torah is through working on one’s middos. The cautious and afraid, as if we don’t utilize this time properly, the Passuk tells us the Klal Yisroel camped around the mountain, ויחן שם ישראל נגד :lost potential will be held against us. It is a serious aveira to yet it refers to everyone in the singular waste this opportunity. .And Yisroel camped there, next to the mountain - ההר 1 (Vayichan is the singular versus what the verse should have As we have mentioned numerous times, this is in line written, vayachanu) Rashi explains that Klal Yisroel is referred with the words of Rav Yisroel Salanter zt”l (Ohr Yisroel Letter He tells us that if a person prays for better middos, yet he .(14 כאיש אחד בלב to by the singular as they reached the level of As one person with one heart. They loved each other, just does not know how to correct them through the wisdom of the - אחד as one loves oneself. We also find that among the forty-eight nefesh - soul, the prayers will not help. The prayers will only ways to acquire Torah, middos are on the list a number of times. help that he will find a person who will be able to teach him how To summarize, these are the days auspicious for acquiring to change and attain better middos. In reality, it is not feasible to Torah. This is specifically done through working on one’s change without knowing what are the proper steps to facilitate middos. Given that the opportunity is so great, if one does not change. This principle is also true regarding growth in Torah. capitalize upon it, their sin is great. The judgment for not having This cannot be achieved without a lot of learning. Prayers perfect middos is stricter during these days, and this is the reason without learning will not yield results. to learn in a state - התמדה Rebbi Akiva’s students died precisely when they did. The reason that one needs There are many practical tools that facilitate success in with no interruptions and with great concentration, is as we are אם תעזבני יום יומיים אעזבך ;(Torah. The Gemara (Niddah 70b) relates that the students of told in the Sifri Devorim (11:22 If you shall leave me for a day, I shall leave you for two. When - מה יעשה אדם ,Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya asked him What should a person do in order to become wise in one distances himself away from Torah, the Torah also distances - ויחכם He itself from the person*. The sanctity of Torah is erased from him - ירבה בישיבה וימעט בסחורה ,Torah? He answered while not learning, and the yetzer harah can take control. “I shall should increase his learning, and only deal with business leave you for two” indicates that once a person stops learning it minimally. He was telling them that one should learn without is doubly as hard to resume, as the downfall is quicker than the interruptions. They questioned further, as many have followed uphill. Forcing oneself uphill is much more difficult than this path and have come up short. Many people do learn with plummeting down. When someone stops learning for an hour, tremendous hasmodo - uninterrupted, and with great it’ll take two hours to regain his position and continue concentration, and are not so successful. He explained that one ascending. must ask for wisdom from the One Whose wisdom one seeks - * The Torah is a spiritual reality. We find this in numerous . A person must also pray for places in Chazal. The expression “the Torah said” is commonplace יבקשו רחמים ממי שהחכמה שלו Divine assistance. in our works. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (101a) tells us that the In truth, we do pray for success in Torah quite often. In Torah wears sackcloth and mourns. The Yerushalmi (Chagiga 2:1) Return us, our tells us that the Torah rejoices, just as it did when it was given at - השיבנו אבינו לתורתך ,Shemoneh Esrei we say Har Sinai. “The words are as happy as on the day they were given פתח ,Father, to Your Torah. At the end of the service we say Open my heart to Your Torah. In the blessing of at Sinai.” The Menoras HaMaor tells us the story of a man who had - לבי בתורתך the Torah we ask that Hashem should make His Torah sweet in no family. Upon his passing, a woman came to bemoan his loss. The people asked her for her name, and she responded, Chagiga. As well, in the .והערב נא את דברי תורתך בפינו - our mouths After his burial, she was no longer seen. The people found out that brocho of Ahavah Rabbah we mention numerous requests for during his life this man would learn Maseches Chagiga over and over again. It was Maseches Chagiga that came to mourn him. The הוא יפתח ,success in Torah. In the Kedusha D’Sidra we ask He will open our hearts to His Torah. During the Sefer Chasidim relates that Maseches Moed Katan “said” to - לבנו בתורתו opening of the Aron Kodesh, which is known to be an eis ratzon Hashem, “Why don’t people learn me as much as other tractates?” Each Maseches is a spiritual reality, as the Torah is a spiritual יהא רעוא קדמך ,an auspicious time, we say in Aramaic - reality. When a person leaves Torah, the Torah also leaves him. It should be desired before You, to - דתפתח לבאי באורייתא This is the reason hasmodo is a must.
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