Publication Orh Haïm Ve moshe 11, rue du Plateau - 75019 PARIS • france Tel: 331 48 03 53 89 • Fax: 331 42 08 50 85

Lyon • Hevrat pinto 20 bis, rue des muriers 69100 villeurbanne • france tel: 334 78 03 89 14 • fax: 334 76 68 68 45

u.S.A • chevrat pinto 8 morris road • spring valley ny 10977 tel 1 845 426 1276 • fax: 1 845 426 1149 Contents israel • ashdod how hevrat pinto spreads torah and tzeddaka around the oroth haim ou moshe world ...... 3 rehov ha-admour mi-belz 41/6 Man’s Duty In This World: The Torah And Mitzvot...... 8 ashdod • israel tel: 972 88 521 527 • fax: 972 88 524 153 Man’s Goal In This World Is To Prepare Himself For The World To Come...... 14 israel • jerusalem the greatness and power of prayer...... 17 kollel oroth haim ou moshe kollel mishkan betsalel The importance of Tzniut ...... 20 yeshiva nefesh haim the wedding of rav raphael meir amram - the firstborn of the rehov bayit vagan 97 • jerusalem tzaddik Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Chlita...... 21 tel: 972 26 433 605 the evil inclination is conquered by the power of prayer...... 25 fax: 972 26 413 945 • 972 26 433 570 A Night of Spiritual Elevation, Torah, and the Fear of Heaven....29

The Magnificent Reception in Honor of the Tzaddik Rabbi David Pinto Shlita...... 35

“the parchments are burning but the letters are soaring on high his torah protect us”...... 37

The Gravity of a Machloket...... 44

The Hilloula of Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal - Essaouira, Morocco...... 47

Stories of the Tzaddikim...... 52

a tsadik has left this world - the gaon rabbi nissim rebibo zatsal...... 57

Kollel Yismach Moshe Toronto (Canada)...... 64

In memory of the Gaon Rabbi Yehuda yossef Ben Rabbi avraham yitchok wengrower Zatsal “When i saw this picture above, my Emouna on Hashem and his Tzadikim grow stronger” (Rabbi David Pinto) 2 how hevrat pinto spreads torah and tzeddaka around the world

t is said that Rabbi Haim Pinto granting financial assistance to any- sciousness, as well as the desire for Zatzal was responsible for helping one, especially those who study To- constant self-improvement. Around the poor in the community. Each rah, for it is upon them that the world the world, Hevrat Pinto thoroughly day, he hastened to distribute to rests. In fact, everyone should real- carries out important work among the needy all the donations that he ize that coming to the aid of those those who study holy texts. The sheer had received from people who came to who study Torah is the key to the number of those who frequent its in- askI him for a blessing. very survival of the Jewish people. stitutions gives honor to all men who The main goal of Hevrat Pinto con- In France as well, many Torah in- love Torah. sists of creating and maintaining, as stitutions and charity organizations For several years now, Rabbi best possible, those institutions aimed benefit every year from the support David has traveled around the world at teaching Torah. of Hevrat Pinto. In addition, dur- to spread Torah. With uncommon ing the last years Hevrat Pinto has eloquence, he encourages those Up to our day, not a single yeshiva greatly contributed to helping wom- who are far from Judaism to come or Torah institution in the Holy Land en with regards to Hachnassat Kal- closer, and in this way he has brought experiencing financial difficulty has lah. On this point we may say that thousands of Jews to do Teshuvah. ever been refused the least request for Hevrat Pinto, with G-d’s help, has What’s more is that he has brought grants from Hevrat Pinto. As everyone assisted in building many Jewish thousands of families spiritual and knows, Hevrat Pinto runs its own insti- homes. In addition, the organization financial assistance, enabling people tutions, along with all the considerable has built numerous mikvaot, namely to continue studying Torah and per- expenses that their operation entails. three in France, one in Russia, and forming mitzvot. Like all other institutions, Hevrat another in Sefat, Israel. In parallel to Just like his holy ancestors, it is Pinto has also experienced periods of this, Hevrat Pinto has contributed with great tzinah (discretion) that he financial difficulty. However these pe- financially to the construction of sev- practices Tzeddakah on a massive riods are much more severe because eral Torah centers around the world. scale. The mitzvot that are performed Hevrat Pinto has committed itself to Since the first year of its estab- do not require publicity. For example, aiding other organizations that do not lishment until today, Hevrat Pinto his father Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto operate under its auspices. has opened the doors to Torah study Zatzal did not head any yeshiva or Such is the legacy that Rabbi David (which people have expressed in- other institution. Nevertheless, he Pinto Shlita has inherited from his holy creasing interest in) and has pro- received hundreds of millions of ancestors. Simply put, it is to not refuse moted an awakening in Jewish con- Francs in donations. When he passed

The Hevrat Pinto (Paris FRANCE)

Yeshiva Pinto (Lyon FRANCE) 3 is with him in every- mation instituted by our great teacher, thing he does. the Tzaddik Rabbi David Hanania Let us begin Pinto Shlita. This was accomplished with the yeshiva by the construction of a synagogue, and kollel. These a mikveh for men, a study hall for are among the most women, and a Beit Midrash for Ba’alei magnificent in all of Batim. Naturally, all this helps the Europe, shining with members of the community to come their brilliance in closer to their Father in Heaven and Lyon-Villeurbanne, strengthens them in Judaism, be it by where both day and putting on Tefillin or by observing the night classes are laws of family purity. Concerning this given by the rabbis latter topic alone, thousands of pam- Shlita of the town. phlets have been distributed. Most im- The building in portant of all are the Torah classes for which the mikvaot youngsters each night, as well as two for men and women weekly classes for women. is housed is the This revolution has not forgotten most beautiful in Bussières, where a kollel and yeshiva Europe. (bearing the name of the Tzaddik Let us continue Rabbeinu Gershon Liebman Zatzal) with the building have been opened. They receive that we purchased considerable financial support each not so long ago. month from Hevrat Pinto. It houses a syna- Yad Mordkhai school in Paris re- THE NEW YESHIVA IN JERUSALEM gogue, a reception ceived tens of thousands of Euros in hall for the com- financial assistance, and the school of away, although people firmly believed that he had left a fortune in his bank account, the truth came to light: From around the world, evidence began pouring in from institutions that rendered homage to the Tzaddik for the considerable financial aid that he had provided them with. Furthermore, hundreds of households in which the father was studying Torah fulltime also benefited from his support. Hence it was only then that the mystery was cleared up concerning the enormous donations received by Rabbi Moshe MIKVA FOR WOMEN IN LYON - FRANCE Aaron, may his merit protect us. For the first time, we shall slightly munity, and a study hall for women, Rav Rottenberg Shlita also received a lift the veil concerning what is done who come there in search of piety similar amount of aid. In fact there are with your money and donations to and to increase their understanding in many institutions (numbering in the Torah institutions and charity origi- Torah through courses given by Torah hundreds and whose names we shall nations in France in general, and to greats. not list) that receive financial support the Oroth Haim VeMoshe institutions There is a Beit Midrash for men in particular. All this and more is ac- who are not fluent in Hebrew, which is complished by the merit of the Pinto used two or three times a week, and family’s holy Tzaddikim, as well as there is also Hessed Haim, a charity by the considerable efforts of their grandson, the Tzaddik Rabbi David organization that distributes food to Hanania Pinto Shlita. the needy. The spiritual desert into which the Today, Lyon has become a minia- Tzaddik David Hanania Pinto Shlita ture Jerusalem from which Torah and infused life was only accomplished mitzvot spring forth. through the merit of his holy ances- The Jewish community in Paris has MIKVA FOR MEN IN LYON - FRANCE tors and by the help of Heaven, which also experienced a profound transfor-

4 from Hevrat Pinto. In addition, the door is never closed to those asking for help, and everything is done with discretion, with no fanfare, and with- out anything in return. It is all done solely to serve Hashem. All this and more rests on the shoulders of our teacher, who draws holiness and purity from his saintly ancestors, may their merit protect us, Amen. Without this material and spiri- tual assistance, we would not be here today. As you are no doubt aware, we cannot send contributions from France to Israel, which is why all contribu- tions arriving in France are distributed only to institutions in France. However thanks to the generous support of our The new Torah Center “Oroth Haim Ou Moche” at Ashdod (Israël) American friends, we can also help This goes to helping the needy carry of yeshivot and charity institutions Torah and charity institutions in the out the mitzvot of the holidays and to that we help each month with sizable land of our forefathers. bringing a little light and happiness to financial assistance, the details of As everyone knows, the situation their homes. which we shall list only partly. in Eretz Israel is very difficult. There The prophet said, “If not for My We help support the yeshivot of are people who literally do not have covenant [the Torah], I would not enough to eat there. You also know Mir, Dushinsky, Kol Torah, and Ateret that each year, on the eve of Pass- have appointed days and nights, the Jerusalem, as well as the schools over and the holidays in the month decrees of heaven and earth” (Jer- that carry the name of Rav Shapira of Tishri, the Oroth Haim VeMoshe emiah 33:25). The Torah is an elixir of and Ahiezer. We also assist the Zohar institutions distribute essential food life, and the world cannot survive if we HaTorah yeshiva, which brings our for the holidays, which comes to fail to study it. young brothers closer to their Father more than 200,000 Euros per year. Thank G-d, there are hundreds in Heaven, and where we see great

Rabbi Moché Aaron Pinto Zatsal

The new Torah Center “Oroth Haim Ou Moche” at Ashdod (Israël)

5 Let us not forget the pearl of Ashdod, the community of Beer Moshe, which carries the name of the Tzaddik Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto Zatzal, may his merit protect us. This holy community brings to- gether G-d-fearing Jews, a portion of whom work to earn a living dur- ing the day and study Torah during the night, while the other portion consists of Avrechim who are im- mersed in Torah study both day and night. The Beit Midrash started out in a prefabricated building, but soon the The Synagogue in the new Torah Center (Ashdod) place became too cramped to con- tain those who studied there. It was therefore expanded, yet even then work being done thanks to the devo- amounts of it. However as we said at it was too small to shelter everyone tion of local rabbis. the outset, we will only slightly lift the who came to pray and the Avrechim Filled with wonder, our teacher veil concerning our activities, leaving who studied Torah there each day. and Rav, the Tzaddik Rabbi David most hidden. As it is written, “The At present, it is the largest kollel Hanania Pinto Shlita simply cannot hidden [things] are for the L-RD our in the Ashdod region, consisting of resist. He sends them no less than G-d, but the revealed are for us and 120 Avrechim who study along with 5,000 Euros each month, not includ- our children” (Deuteronomy 29:28). members of the community. ing a large donation that was given for purchasing a building. In Jerusalem we have opened a yeshiva for youngsters (including about 50 talented students who are given complete material support) in a building that we are currently reno- vating. We are expanding the prem- ises so that students can be more comfortable, and soon a kollel for about 100 Avrechim will open in the same place. Naturally, many institutions ask us for help and receive generous

The new Yechiva at Bayit Vagan - Jérusalem

Here too our teacher, with the help of our generous American friends, took an enormous burden upon himself, namely the construc- tion of an edifice that will be among the largest and most imposing in all Israel. It was built on a lot of 6,700 square meters and is under the su- pervision of Mr. Yehuda Zahavi, one of Israel’s best architects. It will eas- ily contain all those who wish to study and pray there. Near the gravesite of the Tzaddik Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto Zatzal is where the prefabricated building,

6 Lecture given by Rabbi David Pinto Shlita in the Buffault Synagogue in Paris which served as the first Beit Midrash, • Everything necessary for those help and support, as well as for the once stood. It has been temporarily who need it, particularly for members confidence that they have placed in moved to a nearby lot until our edifice of the community. us. will be completed in all its beauty That’s not all. Nearby on the lot, We thank the president of our near Shavuot of this year. additional housing units will soon be associations in the United States, the president of our associations in In this luxurious edifice (which will built to answer the needs of those France, the president of our associa- shelter more than 600 Avrechim and who are looking for an apartment at a good price and with reasonable con- tion in Mexican, the president of our students) we see daily progress in association in Canada, the president the construction of the following: ditions. All profits that may arise from these apartments will be devoted to of our association in Argentina, and the president of our worldwide Hevrat • A 500-seat synagogue. Torah institutions. Pinto and Oroth Haim VeMoshe as- • A completely subsidized recep- And the hand remains out- sociations. tion hall available for all who need it. stretched to increase and adorn the We would also like to thank all of Torah! • A very lavish mikveh. you for your generosity, which has al- • A yeshiva for the young. On this occasion, we would like lowed us to spread Torah and make it to thank all our institutions in France, shine around the world. May the merit • A kollel for some 200 Avrechim. the United States, Israel, Mexico, of Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal protect • Three different Beit Midrashim. Canada, and Argentina for all their you. Amen.

The Beit Misrash in the new Torah Center (Ashdod) The Mikva for men in the new Torah Center (Ashdod)

7 Man’s Duty In This World: The Torah And Mitzvot From Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita

lessed and praised be the Creator demonstrates for us. Are people ing the One. He is called the Master of the Creator for the goodness aware of this extraordinary wonder, that world (Alufo shel olam – Zohar III:16b). He that He shows us every day someone is watching over and protecting is represented by the aleph, the first of and at each instant. If today them at each instant as they sleep? the 22 letters. Now as we know, the word we want to describe the To top it off, when a person wakes up, aleph is formed by the same letters as the kindnesses of Hashem, which constantly he opens his eyes, gets dressed, moves world peleh (wonder), which means that all Baccompany us (especially this year), time of Hashem’s actions for us are a wonder his hands and feet, and attends to his af- itself would come to an end without such a fairs like everyone else. All this seems nat- of wonders. As it is written: “He Who alone description being complete. Neither would ural enough. However such is not the case! performs great wonders,” wonders each all the sheets of paper in the world be suf- In this situation as well, there is someone second. ficient to describe, be it even a small por- protecting and helping him at each second We need to reflect upon this. No one tion, Hashem’s kindnesses to us day after in order to ensure that everything functions can understand Hashem’s entire Creation, day. properly. It is not in vain that the Sages with exception to certain special beings We say this very thing in our prayers: said concerning the verse, “Let all souls who know the Creator and realize that He “To Him Who alone performs great praise [neshama] G-d” (Psalms 150:6) that brought about Creation so that it would wonders, for His kindness endures for- with each breath (neshima) we must praise have overseers who would shower it with ever” (Psalms 136:4). Hashem performs Hashem (Bereshith Rabba 19:4), for in re- everything it lacks. The question then aris- wonders for us at each instant, for His ality the Creator’s kindnesses surround us es: What is lacking in all of Creation? kindness is eternal – it exits for all time, at every step and at each instant. The answer is extremely simple. Every- without interruption. We also recite in the Yet because of our many sins, we are one should know that Hashem in fact pre- Shabbat prayer Nishmat Kol Chai: “Even oblivious to all this. We have become so pared a material world for man to live in, if our mouth were filled with song as the accustomed to the everyday conditions of but only on condition that he takes care of sea…we would still be unable to thank our existence that we have come to see the spiritual aspect contained in the mate- You…for even one of the innumerable them as being normal, natural, and per- rial world, for that is the main thing. That is myriads of favors, miracles and wonders manent. And if regrettably something does what a person will possess after his death. that You have performed for us and for our not work properly, we become filled with fathers before us.” While he is alive, it is forbidden for him to discontent like a pomegranate is filled with get excited only about the material aspect At the same time, however, we remain seeds, to the point that we in no way feel of Creation – which is superficial, the ex- fully unaware of the miracles that Hashem that Divine Providence is protecting each terior envelope – while neglecting its main performs for us at each instant. For exam- of us individually. People ask themselves contents, meaning the Torah. The Torah is ple, when someone is sleeping soundly, why such things happen. The answer is found within Creation, which continues to the Creator does not ignore him, but rather that, in order for a person to strengthen protects him at all times. When has such a exist primarily because of it. Without the himself and immediately engage in soul- thing ever happened: A king who remains holy Torah, from which Creation began, awake during the entire night to guard his searching before the awe-inspiring days of the material world would not exist. servants while they sleep, acting like a ser- Tishri, he must think a little. Actually, we have already said that Hashem, Who is the Master of the world vant to them! Yet Hashem acts in this way, 2. The Torah and Spiritu- for He protects His servants, the work of (Alufo shel olam), looked into the Torah to His hands, from all harm. ality: The Primary As- create the world. This means that from Di- In addition, when a person is sleeping pect of Creation and the vine spirituality, which is contemplating the the Creator, blessed be He, protects his Existence of the World Torah, Creation was brought into existence entire body so that his heart continues to Hashem is One and His Name is One, with its material aspect. The essential part beat, his blood pressure remains steady, and nothing exists other than Him. He was, of man’s work consists of changing the as- his blood continues to circulate, his brain He is, and He will be, and there is no god pect of the material, i.e., to change materi- continues to function, and his breathing but Him. He is the first and He is the last, ality into spirituality. However man can only does not stop, be it even for a single in- and besides Him there is no god. The Holy accomplish this if he has the will to do so. stant. All this is part of the marvels that the One, blessed be He, is the aleph, mean- Consequently, man’s duty is to exist

8 primarily from the spiritual. This is what is way it would transform the material body 4. I Created the Evil Incli- to nourish the material, not the reverse. A into an instrument of holiness, until it be- nation, and I Created the person must not look solely to materiality; comes holy in and of itself, and hence not Torah as its Antidote he must not take into account only what destroyed in the grave after a long life. In A person may ask himself the follow- his eyes see externally, while neglecting the same way that the body is transformed ing: If Hashem wants me to serve Him the main thing, the Torah, which maintains into a spiritual instrument, so too do all its with all my heart, why does the evil incli- Creation’s very existence. members. nation prevent me from doing so? A person must also realize that when To what can this be compared? It is The answer is that we must real- he leaves this world after 120 years, nei- like a moving car. The car’s goal is to ize that Hashem created a good entity ther honors nor wealth, nor anything that help a person get to his destination faster called the evil inclination, for the Sages his eyes have seen of the material world than he would on foot. An airplane has the have said that it is “very good” (Bereshith will accompany him (Perkei Avoth 6:9). goal of helping him get there even faster. Rabba 9:7). This means that the inclina- Even his body will remain in this world, rot- Nobody, however, asks himself why a car tion that seems evil to man (since it seeks ting away in the grave. Consequently, what or airplane was invented (or anything else to deviate him from the right path) in fact will he take with him in Gan Eden, if not the meant to help people in this way), because brings him closer to Hashem. The evil spiritual wealth that Hashem placed within it is clearly understood that such things are inclination turns a man into a Tzaddik, Creation, the Torah and mitzvot? These designed to bring people to their destina- as the Sages have said: “There where are found inside Creation. tions more quickly. Ba’alei Teshuvah stand, the greatest The same applies to man. Hashem 3. Feeding the Soul and Tzaddikim cannot stand” (Berachot 34b, created him, yet in order that he quickly Sanhedrin 99a). Man’s Goal in Life discovers his goal in this world – that he Actually, the question is a complicated A person should briefly reflect upon does not tire too quickly in finding it, for he one. Instead of saying that the evil incli- what will happen to his soul. At the time may be destroyed if he went too slowly on nation is very evil, it is even called “very it leaves the body, the latter will remain his own – the Holy One, blessed be He, good,” for the Holy One, blessed be He, on earth while the soul will hover over it, gave him the Torah. It helps us to discover saw that it is very good. What good did without permission to reenter it and bring it the secrets of Creation and uncover true Hashem see in it? back to life. The soul will then have no con- knowledge so that we would know with nection to the body (which is completely certainty what our true goal in this world It is precisely because of this situ- material), for it is called a spark of Divinity, is. The more a person puts an effort into ation – one in which the evil inclination breathed into the body by Hashem when a studying Torah, the more quickly he will confronts a person and drives him to do person comes into this world. understand what Hashem wants of him evil, yet he nevertheless wisely reflects What then is the goal of the soul? It and what his duties are. upon it and seeks the truth – that he will find the right path, as it is written: “If he comes into this world to look for spiritual However in the same way that a car says, ‘I have labored and found,’ you may nourishment, as it was used to having in may break down and must be repaired in believe him” (Megillah 6b). He will then the supernal world. It is helped in this quest order to regain its usefulness, so too does begin to study Torah once again and dis- by the study of Torah and the performance a person risk faltering in understanding the of mitzvot, but in this world it is struck by Torah. He may end up modifying the mitzv- cover the light, for it was only covered by materiality. What must it do in such circum- ot according to his whims and desires, and an external husk of materiality. Therefore stances? if he becomes unstable in observing them, this inclination is very good, for it leads a The soul must be helped by the body in he may do something in one way now and person to come closer to Hashem and to which it finds itself in order to transform the in another way later. What will happen in become very good. material into spiritual by the performance that case? There is the danger of a tremen- As I am writing all this, I am in an of Hashem’s mitzvot. Otherwise, what was dous spiritual collapse, for his deeds may airplane traveling from Paris to Montreal. a person created for? Did Hashem work to deteriorate and he will stop serving G-d. I have a tuna fish sandwich with me, create him solely to drink, sleep, and profit That person will then veer off in all direc- whereas everyone else here in Business from all the vanities of this world, to anger tions, perhaps even becoming profoundly Class has an abundance of fresh food Him and then to get punished? Is that the depressed and having doubts about his and unlimited drinks. goal? We must open our eyes and see that faith. At that point, what is the solution? The flight attendants pass nearby and we have not come into this world for that. It The solution, the true remedy, is to out of politeness they ask me if I want to was not to rejoice in the material and anger completely return to Hashem. When a eat. They are no doubt surprised when our Creator by not nourishing ourselves person completely repents of his sins and I refuse. Why would I forgo a delicious from the spirituality that He embedded wants to improve himself, Hashem will meal, with all sorts of salads, meat, fruits within Creation for us to find. accept his Teshuvah. Rapidly and easily, and vegetables, drinks, ice cream, and so The Holy One, blessed be He, gave he will once again become G-d’s servant, on, to eat something that looks like poor the Torah and mitzvot to man so that he and in accordance with Hashem’s will he man’s food? could observe them, so that the soul would will arrive at his true destination, which is A special, powerful force exists when only be nourished by spirituality. In this spirituality. we see people around us enjoying various

9 kinds of sumptuous meals, whereas we that case. This is why he entered the Holy Heaven he felt comfortable, without any have to content ourselves with a tuna fish of Holies with immense fear. How is it pos- fear of the angels or the seraphim, nor sandwich. This is especially true when sible that the High Priest could have had of the fire or clouds, because his body we know that these foods are forbidden. improper thoughts on Yom Kippur, and was completely pure. There he spent all Furthermore, the pleasing aroma of these not only that, but in the Holy of Holies? his time neither eating nor drinking. This foods makes its way to us, and we must How could that be, since he knew that he is all due to the fact that in Heaven the put an effort into not noticing them; we would die if he had such thoughts? evil inclination does not exist, and without must also not dwell on the fact that all In this we see that it was precisely in the evil inclination, there is no reason to these foods are forbidden. In doing so, we the Holy of Holies, in the most sanctified fear it. certainly carry out some words of Torah of places, that the evil inclination awaited This is why Moses feared nothing in and sanctify ourselves even more. the High Priest in order to arouse wicked Heaven. There, the evil inclination does It is just as we have said. In things that thoughts in him. In such a case he would not exist. Furthermore, the Shechinah are forbidden (and even for mitzvot), the die, and the forgiveness that Hashem resides there. However in this world, the evil inclination tries to entice us, to make wanted to give to the Children of Israel on place where the evil inclination resides, us stumble. However if you demonstrate Yom Kippur would not come through him. Moses was afraid of even being in the that you are stronger than it, this earns There is another astounding example Tent of Meeting (a sacred place), and the evil inclination merit! It tried to entice that we find with Moses. In Parsha Peku- he immediately left it. Thus he taught you, but you emerged victorious, thus the Children of Israel a lesson on how dei, it is stated that Moses alone erected demonstrating that you cherished the mitz- to conduct oneself in a sacred place. In the Sanctuary, brought in all its ves- vah. Otherwise, all the mitzvot could be addition, great care must be taken in a sels, placed the curtains all around, and performed without any special effort, and sacred place, for it is precisely inside the anointed Aaron and his sons (Exodus they would therefore have no importance Sanctuary that the evil inclination is liable chapters 39 and 40). It is then written: or value. It is therefore the evil inclination to make a person transgress. “The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, that brought you closer to Hashem. There are therefore great demands and the glory of the L-RD filled the Sanc- The Holy One, blessed be He, knows made of us in this world. We live in a tuary” (Exodus 40:34). This means that fully well that the evil inclination is very world entirely filled with falsehood and the Shechinah immediately rested upon powerful and that alone a person cannot vanity, so we must pay very special atten- the Tent of Meeting. resist it. This is why He provided us with tion to not fall into the power of the evil in- However right afterwards it is stated, the Torah as its antidote (Kiddushin 30b). clination. If Moses could not remain in the It has a pleasing fragrance, to the extent “Moses could not enter the Tent of Meet- most sacred of places because he feared that under the influence of this fragrance, ing, for the cloud rested upon it” (v.35). that he might come to having a slightly a person can conquer the evil inclination. This means that he could not enter the misplaced thought (even if the Holy One, Even more will a person study Torah and Tent of Meeting because the Shechinah blessed be He, protected him from all carry out the mitzvot, for at that point the was there, which is why he remained out- harm), how much more should we be par- evil inclination can no longer approach him side where the Holy One, blessed be He, ticularly attentive in an impure place! It is because of his great holiness, purity, and spoke to him. truly frightening when we think of it. spirituality. This is difficult to understand. Moses Due to our many sins, the generation remained in Heaven for 40 days and 40 5. The Evil Inclination is in which we live is filled with all sorts of nights, neither eating bread nor drinking Hidden in Man’s Heart abominations, sins, and erroneous con- water (Exodus 34:28). There he saw all ceptions. As a result, we must be espe- Since we have reached this point, I the celestial beings, fearing neither the cially vigilant and aware of the following thought that I would provide an example angels nor the seraphim. He spoke with thing: A Jew is born pure and he must of what we are discussing. Our teacher the Holy One, blessed be He, throughout also die pure, for after 120 years, how Moses, the father of the prophets (Vayi- the whole time, and he ventured into the can he present himself before the King of kra Rabba 1:15), warned us that the evil fire and clouds without fear. If such were kings, in the abode of His glory, in a state inclination is not always found in the most the case, it means that Moses had no fear of uncleanliness? impure places, but also in the purest of being in the supernal worlds that are Each person must carry out what our places of all. Even in places that people boundless and infinite, whereas in the Sages have said: “That your exit from the consider to be holy, the evil inclination small Tent of Meeting he was so greatly world should be as your entry therein” waits for a man in order to make him fall afraid that he didn’t enter it simply be- (Bava Metzia 107a). In this way – by be- into its trap. cause it was filled withH ashem’s cloud of ing clean of all sin and filled solely with Thus a warning was given to the High glory. Why was Moses not afraid in Heav- Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds – we will Priest concerning improper thoughts that en, whereas here below he was afraid? be able to see the face of Hashem and he risked having while he was in the Holy We learn a very important principle rejoice in all the good that is reserved for of Holies during Yom Kippur, lest he die in that Moses comes to teach us here. In the Tzaddikim.

10 6. Before Whom You and that there is no Judge or judgment. conquer the evil inclination? How can he Must Give an Accounting How can you accept running the terrible see the face of Hashem after 120 years Some people ask me, “Prove to me risk of realizing after 120 years that be- and say before the Celestial Court, “ ‘I that there’s a judgment after death, that cause of a doubt that crossed your mind, have lifted up my hand to the L-RD, the there’s reward and punishment after 120 you remained devoid of all mitzvot? What Most High G-d’ [Genesis 14:22], I who years. Maybe in reality there’s nothing af- will you be able to do in the world above? am nourished solely from spirituality and ter death, in which case I will have worked This is also a question of life and death not from vile materiality”? Is such a thing in vain to study the Torah and practice the for you.” possible? If a person wants to say that there is mitzvot all my life!” This is why we must thank Hashem no reward or punishment after 120 years, What is the answer to this question? for having given us days of mercy and and that there is nothing to see in Heaven I tell such people, “If you have a doubt favor, days of soul-searching in which we after death, the fact that he has a doubt can repent and improve ourselves. We concerning the judgment that occurs after concerning this subject is a sign that the can then remove from our hearts all the death, it is precisely this which obligates evil inclination is trying to distance him doubts that we had throughout the year you to remove doubt from yourself and from the truth, all while a person’s soul and strengthen ourselves from that point believe even more in Hashem, to repent screams out to him to not listen. This is on, clinging solely to the Torah, mitzvot, and strengthen yourself in Torah and because doubts arise in the heart only and good deeds. In this way we will return mitzvot, until your doubt is replaced by when one is not protected from the evil to our Heavenly Father, we will believe in certainty and you know that there is a inclination. However if a person is well Him, and we can ask Him for forgiveness, Creator and a judgment after 120 years.” protected by the holy Torah, it is then as in the verse: “I am my Beloved’s, and I also add, “I promise you that if you obvious that his doubts will completely my Beloved is mine” (Song of Songs 6: were to only try, you would see that you disappear. 3). are wrong, and you will come and thank To illustrate this idea, we may cite the However everyone must take the first me for having helped you realize that words of the Sages concerning Rephidim: step of “I am my Beloved’s,” and then there is a judgment after death.” I also As soon as Israel slackened (raphu) in the Holy One, blessed be He, will come say, “If you want to rid yourself of the their Torah study and mitzvot, Amalek at- closer to him, connect to him, and thus yoke of the Torah and mitzvot, given that tacked them and cooled their hearts (San- “my Beloved is mine.” As the Sages have you have a doubt, I have a question to ask hedrin 106a). Now we know that the word said, “Make for Me an opening as narrow you: When a doctor tells you that there Amalek has the same numerical value as as the eye of a needle, and I will open it is a slight chance that you may have a safek (doubt), as well as the numerical as wide as a hall” (Shir Hashirim Rabba serious disease, and he gives you some value of “dollar”. 5:2). A person must begin, and then the medication just to be on the safe side, This means that the power of Amalek Holy One, blessed be He, will come to his would you begin to argue with him as grows stronger when a person only tires aid, for “one who desires to purify himself to whether it will cure you or not? If the to accumulate silver and gold. Thus he is given help” (Yoma 38b). neglects Torah study and the performance medicine can do you no harm and can It is during these days of spiritual of mitzvot because he values money over only make you stronger, would you refuse awakening that Heaven definitely knocks them, even though they protect him from to take it simply because you doubt the at the door of every Jew’s heart: “The the evil inclination, which Amalek evokes. doctor?” In reply to my question, people sound of my Beloved knocking” (Song of This is why it is precisely at that time that tell me, “Naturally! When it comes to sav- Songs 5:2) and a voice replies, “Open to Amalek comes to him and instills a doubt ing my life, the doubt becomes secondary Me, My sister, My love” (ibid.). The Sages in his heart by saying, “Listen, it was only and I’ll take the medicine.” have said that the Holy One, blessed be because of your intelligence and luck that I then continue: “Consequently, what He, is extremely close to all who call upon you earned all this money, not because of would you say about the doubts you are Him in truth during those days (Rosh Ha- your prayers to Hashem!” have having about a judgment after 120 shanah 18a), and He is ready to accept Thus Amalek leads people from one years? You will obviously improve your their repentance. He stands behind the doubt to another, failure by failure, until conduct here in this world, given the pos- wall, watches, knocks at the door of each they fall completely into the abyss. Con- sibility that you can be judged after 120 Jew and says, “My son, repent. Do Teshu- sequently, everyone needs a great deal years. In addition, what would you say if vah wholeheartedly. Strengthen yourself of help from Heaven, and to work on you arrive in the world above and then in the Torah and mitzvot, and then you will themselves as well, in order to escape realize that there is a Creator, that there experience good in this world and in the from the grasp of the evil inclination and is reward and punishment, and that there World to Come.” is a judgment and a Judge? At that point, to find refuge in the shadow of the good you will no longer be able to improve your inclination. 8. Divine Providence on conduct! 7. Elul: “I am my Beloved, the Individual Level “Therefore your small doubts are com- and my Beloved is mine” This not only applies during the days of pletely irrelevant. It is impossible to say Here the famous question is asked: Elul and Tishri. Sometimes the Holy One, that all of Creation is answerable to itself How can a man, made of flesh and blood, blessed be He, awakens a person from his

11 spiritual slumber during the middle of the ize you. If it comes your way, it is a sign grasshoppers (concerning which are per- year, to the point that His specific provi- that you have sinned, for a person who mitted to eat and which are forbidden). All dence can clearly be seen at each step. hasn’t committed a sin is afraid of nothing. of a sudden the Rav said, “It’s too bad that Consequently, what more is needed? Do The Holy One, blessed be He, placed man we don’t have a grasshopper here to look people need clearer signs than that? above domestic and wild animals, and if at and examine!” To prove this, I will recount three won- he is afraid of them, it is because he has He had barely finished speaking derful stories that clearly show the work- sinned.” when a grasshopper from outside arrived ings of Divine providence at each instant, The boy then said to me, “Prove it!” In straight onto the Rav’s Gemara. He and stories from which people can learn how fact after a few seconds, the proof arrived, his study partner understood that this was much we must believe in Hashem. It also for at that very moment a lizard entered the from Heaven, and they looked at it from teaches us how we must return to Him room! I have no idea from where it came, or all sides to learn all the details of the laws completely in order to be declared inno- how it got into the room, but it got up onto concerning it. They eventually let it go out cent in the judgment, and thus to arrive the table, stood on its legs, and looked at by the window, but afterwards his study in the supernal world after 120 years in a the boy. At that point he was in a complete partner said to the Rav, “It’s too bad we let state of purity and cleanliness, filled with state of shock, gripped by an unbearable it go. I still have a question about it.” The spirituality. fear. I too was afraid, since I didn’t know Gaon replied, “It’s a pity that you didn’t say from where it had come, and on top of ev- this before. By observing the grasshopper, Story I: The Lizard and erything it was wintertime! Normally lizards I could have answered your question.” Complete Teshuvah are found in the summer, yet this one had Once again, the grasshopper retuned to During the week of Parsha Ki Tisa suddenly appeared in the room, and at the room until it came upon the Gemara, 5760, an orthodox man (one of the great- exactly the right time – precisely when the and at that point they truly understood that est benefactors of my yeshiva in France) boy had said that he was afraid of them! this was from Heaven. Some time later, the came with his son to see me. His son had The more the boy moved back, the Gaon Shlita confirmed this story to several veered from the path, to the point that he more the lizard approached him. I then people who asked him about it. was seeing a non-Jewish girl. The son said to him, “You see! I didn’t know that We learn a great principle from this: had studied, like everybody else, in a you were afraid of lizards,” to which the Hashem created everything in nature sole- yeshiva at first, but there he had been boy replied, “It’s true. Nobody knows.” I ly for Torah study and to teach the Jewish badly influenced by various lowly people, went on: “The lizard isn’t looking at me. It’s people, as in the case of the lizard, which to the extent that he arrived at the edge only looking at you!” had been created to bring a boy back to of the abyss. At first his father asked that The boy understood the obvious im- the faith. he accompany him to see me, but he cat- plications: From Heaven he was being egorically refused. In the end, however, he called to repent. He completely returned Story II: Those Who Per- finally agreed to meet with me. to Hashem, immersed himself in a mikveh, form a Mitzvah Suffer No Since I had already heard the boy’s left his non-Jewish girlfriend, and became Harm whole story, I set out to convince him. Yet a G-d-fearing Jew. Here we see that Hash- My secretary and I were to travel to everything that I said fell on deaf ears. The em put in my mouth what he had to be told, the United States at the end of Shabbat. boy listened to nothing I said, and he even for I certainly had not prayed for a lizard to A few days earlier, my secretary’s wife had began to laugh and make fun of the things show up! come to ask me for a blessing, for she was he was hearing. We learn a tremendous principle from complaining about a feeling of exhaustion “Do you know that the world has a this, namely that Hashem created every- that had been bothering her for the past Creator?” I suddenly asked him. The boy thing in the world with a definite purpose. few days. In addition, she also told me that there had been some tension in the home, replied, “Prove to me that a Creator exists!” It’s possible that He created that lizard and since they were about to be moving At that moment I looked at the father of this solely so that the boy could do Teshuvah, soon, she was feeling a great amount of boy, who beforehand was a believer, yet for it’s difficult to believe that there are liz- stress. What was she to do? now had completely lost his faith in Hash- ards running about in a yeshiva, and that At first I felt a little uneasy with regards em, and I didn’t know how I could help him. one of them could arrive in the exact room to this woman, for she is an excellent wife, The father had never asked me for any- that we were in to scare the boy. It was ap- letting her husband travel with me every- thing before, and here he was before me parently created for that very purpose. where I need to go. Thus there was ample with an enormous problem! When I told this story to the Rosh Kol- reason to give her a blessing. At that point All of a sudden I asked the boy, “What lel, who knows the boy’s father very well, the Holy One, blessed be He, put an an- do you fear in life? What are you afraid of?” he told me that a similar event happened swer in my mouth, and I said: “Your prob- He answered, “I’m afraid of lizards.” I then in Bnei Brak to the Gaon Rabbi Haim lems aren’t so bad. There are more serious said to him, “The lizard has a Creator. It Kaniewsky Shlita. He was once studying problems out there. There are people who doesn’t come along just like that to terror- with his study partner on the subject of are sick, who have very serious problems,

12 such as neck tumors. Before you, I saw a departure, but without a donation. I then studied and the mitzvot that we have not women with a tumor in her neck, so your thought to myself, “It is written, ‘Tzeddakah performed, for there is a Judge and there problems aren’t so bad.” protects from death,’ ” but I didn’t know if I is a judgment. I continued to speak to her in this vein, should ask him for a donation or not. I gave That being the case, what will we say continually mentioning (without realizing it) him a blessing, all while judging him favor- on the day of judgment, and what will we the story about the woman’s neck tumor. ably and telling myself that he might send answer on the day of reproof? We should My secretary’s wife listened to me and then me a donation later on. feel ashamed for each instant in this world went home. During the week of Parsha Shelach that we do not study and are not perform- At the end of Shabbat, before getting 5760, I received a telephone call from the ing mitzvot. In addition, we should thank into the airplane, I saw that my secretary’s United States. I was told that Mr. Azoulay Hashem for His miracles and wonders expression had changed. His face was had had a stroke and was dead at the age that accompany us each day, for we are of 52. I was completely taken aback at this emotionless and something was torment- the essential part and the pinnacle of Cre- news. The person with whom I stayed while ing him. I asked, “Why so somber today?” ation. Hashem created us in order that we He replied, “Two days ago, my wife began in the United States, and who told me this accomplish the goal of Creation – the holy to feel something like a small growth in her story over the telephone, was also thun- Torah. If we refrain from doing so, how will neck. This frightened her, and she imme- derstruck and overcome with fear. When I we be able to stand before Him, stained on diately went to the doctor. What the doctor asked him what he was afraid of, he said: that great and terrible day of judgment? said was also very alarming, and he told “On the day before Mr. Azoulay died, he her that some tests had to be carried out said to me, ‘Who knows what may happen It is our duty to transform the evil in- right away.” to me? Maybe tomorrow I will die. Who will clination into something that is very good. I immediately told my secretary, “Your say Kaddish for me?’ He even asked me to We must transform the material into the wife has absolutely nothing to worry say Kaddish for him after his death. When spiritual. We must study Torah, for it is the about.” I went to the United States with I asked him why he was speaking like this antidote to the evil inclination, which tries him, during which time his wife underwent – why he was thinking about dying even to make us transgress both in pure and her tests. The doctors did a biopsy of a though he was still young – he replied, ‘I impure places. We must conquer it and portion of her neck, and the results turned just have a feeling.’ In fact on the following completely eliminate all doubts from our out to be excellent. She had no tumor; ev- day, this feeling of his turned out to be ac- hearts. We have the ability to completely erything had disappeared. She then called curate, which is why I’m so shocked.” change ourselves for the better. We can her husband to tell him the good news, I said to him, “This is just as the Sages accomplish this by a complete Teshu- after which I said to him: “This is due to have said: Forty days before person’s vah, especially during these days, days the merit of those who support the Torah. death, he is told that he will die. The proof of mercy and kindness, when Hashem is When someone supports the Tree of Life, lies in the fact that he had this feeling. near and knocks at the door of our hearts. he lives, for it is said: ‘he shall live by them’ Some people die without sensing it at all, Let us improve our deeds, and may the [Leviticus 18:5], not die because of them. and so they leave this world without hav- covenant not be dissolved. Actually, those who perform a mitzvah suf- ing repented. However that man had a For this to occur, we must firmly awak- intuition, which means that he had merit fer no harm.” en ourselves throughout the year, particu- because Heaven announced it to him.” Story III: Complete larly during these present days, of which it It is written, “Repent one day before is said: “Rouse yourselves from your slum- Teshuvah before Dying your death” (Perkei Avoth 2:10). If that man ber, you who sleep. Awaken yourselves, Once while I was in the United States, was thinking about the day of his death you who have fallen asleep.” These are an elderly Jew by the name of Mr. Azoulay (since he had said that he would have no days that are particularly suited for repen- came to see me. He had married late in one to recite Kaddish for him), then he cer- tance. If they pass without anything having life and still had no children. He asked me tainly wanted to repent and therefore died happened, the reproof levied against us for a blessing to have children, and I asked in Teshuvah. Thus he is invited for life in him to do several things. He did them, and the World to Come. will be even greater, and we will have no answer to give before the Celestial Court. he then had three girls (triplets). When I We clearly see from all this that Hash- returned to the United States the following em’s individual providence accompanies If we conduct ourselves in this way, year, Mr. Azoulay came to see me with his us at each moment, day by day, throughout Hashem will certainly listen to our prayers three girls, and he gave a large donation the year. If such is the case in this world, and supplications, and He will bring us for our institutions. how much more is this true in the World to back to Him completely, for we are His In 5760, while I was once again in Come! The Holy One, blessed be He, will children, the pinnacle of Creation. We the United States, I was very surprised to call us to judgment concerning everything have the ability, after a long life on earth, notice that Mr. Azoulay did not come and that we have done in this world, especially to present ourselves in the World of Truth see me during my stay. However he even- concerning everything that we have not filled with blessings, Torah, mitzvot, and tually met me a few minutes before my done, meaning the Torah that we have not good deeds.

13 Man’s Goal In This World Is To Prepare Himself For The World To Come From Rabbi David H. Pinto Shlita

t is written, “They shall take for cepts, the most important of which crown and rings had been attached Me an offering; of every man is what we learn here, namely that a to the Ark? Instead, the rings should whose heart makes him will- man should build his life in the ser- not have been made at all, but rather ing, you shall take My offering” vice of G-d. He must observe how the poles should have been placed (Exodus 25:2). Rashi explains, the Sanctuary is built and his actions under the cover and firmly attached “ ‘You shall take for Me’ means ‘for must be inspired by it. to the body of the Ark so as not to MyI Name.’ ” Commenting on these be removed from it! If Hashem com- Consequently, the most impor- verses, Midrash Peliah states: “It is tant item in the Sanctuary, the one manded that the rings be made, and written, ‘Hear O Israel, the L-RD is that the Torah first commands be simply to slide the poles through our G-d, the L-RD is One.’ ” built in our parsha, is the Ark of the them (which is something only tem- During Seuda Shelishit in our Beit Covenant. This is the holy Ark in porary), what is the meaning of the Midrash, one of the rabbis asked me which the two tablets of the law were commandment to not remove them? two difficult questions. The first: Why placed, the area where the holy To- (Note: The Gemara states, “They did the Holy One, blessed be He, rah is found. In observing how the were loose, but did not come out say that it is precisely this mitzvah Ark was built and carried, we may [entirely]” [Yoma 72a]). that should be done “for My Name”? draw some lessons on how to wisely We can fully understand this in Are the other mitzvot not to be done lead our lives. accordance with what we have said, for His Name? Why it is precisely The Ark is built of wood and cov- i.e., that the entire construction of here that this is stressed? The sec- ered with pure gold inside and out. the Sanctuary and its instruments ond question: What is the mean- On the upper edge, the Creator allude to the edification of man and ing of Midrash Peliah (mentioned commanded that a crown be made his way of life. above)? What connection is there to adorn it, which itself consists of Man is charged with working dur- between the Shema and the mitzvah pure gold, as it is written: “You shall ing his entire life in order to resem- of Terumah (an offering)? make on it a gold crown all around” ble a holy ark, a vessel filled with Many holy books have already (Exodus 25:11). How is the Ark car- holiness and containing the Torah. asked the first question. However I ried? Four rings of gold were placed Thus when a righteous man leaves thought that I would base my reply, at its four corners, and two poles of this world, we say in his eulogy, with G-d’s help, on what I had said gold-covered shittim (acacia) wood “The Ark of G-d has been captured” during a lecture to the community. were fitted into the rings, and in this – “The holy Ark had been captured” First of all, let us see what the way it was carried. (Ketubot 104a). Torah says in this parsha. The Holy Concerning the poles, the Holy Man must also adorn himself with One, blessed be He, commands us One, blessed be He, commands, fine character traits, inside and out, to make a Terumah, meaning that “The poles shall remain in the rings just like the Ark. When performing everyone must offer according to of the Ark; they may not be removed mitzvot, he should always pay atten- his heart for the construction of the from it” (Exodus 25:15). This means tion to adding a gold crown to adorn Sanctuary. A person would in this that the poles were to permanently the mitzvah, as it is written: “This is way fulfill the mitzvah of Tzeddakah, remain in their place, without being my G-d, and I will adorn Him” (Exo- and with the silver collected from the removed, to the point that the Sages dus 15:2). From here the Sages offerings the Sanctuary and its in- said that whoever removes the poles learn, “Add beauty to the mitzvot” struments would be built. This would transgresses a positive mitzvah and (Shabbat 133b, Sukkah 11b). be a place for the Shechinah to re- deserves lashes (Yoma 72a). In addition, how was this holy side among the Children of Israel. Now when we first hear this com- Ark lifted and carried – how should We know that the Sanctuary al- mand, we have two reasons to be a person lead himself to ever higher ludes to and symbolizes many lofty greatly surprised: First, if Hashem’s levels of Torah and the fear of G-d? concepts for the Jewish people. Dur- will is for the poles to permanently In the same way that the Ark in the ing the construction of the Sanctuary remain by the sides of the Ark, why Sanctuary was carried with poles, a and the fashioning of its instruments, did He not command that they be person should hang onto the poles Hashem also alluded to various con- firmly attached to it, exactly as the of the Ark and thus be lifted and car-

14 ried along. What do the poles rep- G-d, namely that he should make during Tisha B’Av (Shulchan Aruch resent in the life of a person? The a ring around himself, a frame by Orach Chaim 552, Perkei D’Rabbi command, “You shall make poles of which to set limits for himself and Eliezer 35), and Jacob prepared len- shittim [acacia] wood” (Exodus 25: realize what is forbidden and what tils to eat after Abraham died (Bava 13) alludes to the Torah, which is is permitted, as in the case of the Batra 16b). A person will thereby re- also called a tree of life (Perkei Avoth railing that a person must build on call the day of death and be motivat- 6:7, Berachot 32b). This means that his roof (Deuteronomy 22:8). This is ed to give to Tzeddakah, and so he by the continual study of Torah, with also similar to the injunction to sanc- will emerge victorious in his difficult love and diligence, we will elevate tify oneself in permitted things (Ye- fight against the evil inclination. ourselves and ascend higher and bamot 20a). He must not leave this This is what the Holy One, higher (according to Psalms 84:8). frame, and in this way he will protect blessed be He, said when He asked We must also be careful to carry it, and elevate himself on the path that for an offering from the Children of and also to support those who study leads to G-d’s house. Israel: “They shall take for Me an it by carrying it with the poles, as it What do the rings represent? offering” (Exodus 25:2). He lov- is written: “It is a tree of life to those Hashem knows that a person’s ingly calls to us and says: Please, who grasp it, and its supporters are money is his life, and that his exis- realize that after 120 years you will happy” (Proverbs 3:18). tence depends on it. When a person only take along a Terumah, a word The more we put an effort into gives to Tzeddakah, he gives a part formed by the same letters as the carrying the poles (by studying To- of his heart with it (the word damim word Torah and the letter mem – the rah), the more we will elevate our- means both blood and money). This Torah that was given in mem (40) selves and increasingly recognize is a very difficult mitzvah to perform, days (Menachot 43b). You also take the full magnitude of its worth and for in reality it embodies a loss for along the mitzvah of Tzeddakah, as holiness. Thus from level to level, the one who carries it out, and he well as all other Torah mitzvot, for the more we know Torah, the more will worry about getting by. these are the only things that you we will love it, to the point of being will take with you. This is why today The Creator wants to help us faint with love for it. We will try at is the best time to accumulate even perform this mitzvah and make this all costs to observe the mitzvot and more merits through this mitzvah, for battle easier for us. This is why in to recite the holy letters of Torah. it will accompany you for eternity. His mercy Hashem reminds us of We will also spend a good deal of Let us now say that we fully un- money for it and the mitzvot, as we the day of death, the day when nei- ther silver nor gold will accompany derstand the aforementioned state- are told about the Tannaim, who ex- ment of Midrash Peliah, which cites pended enormous sums to carry out a person, but only Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds (Perkei Avoth 6:9). the verse, “Hear O Israel, the L-RD the mitzvot. is our G-d, the L-RD is One.” By at- At that point, money will no longer True, in seeing someone dem- taching the rings to the Ark, the Holy serve any purpose. onstrate great fervor in serving G-d, One, blessed be He, wanted to re- some of that person’s friends and as- Nevertheless, Hashem certainly mind us of the last Kriat Shema that sociates will be afraid that he is not does not want a Jew to be overtaken we will hear on the day of our death. acting appropriately and rationally. with sadness, which is harmful and This is to motivate us to take advan- They will feel that he is emulating a even destructive. The goal of such tage of our time and money here in shittim (acacia) tree in the sense of a reminder is solely for a person this world, while we are still alive, shtut (folly, foolishness) by spending to wake up, to realize that at each in order to accumulate the greatest a great deal of money on the per- moment in this world, he can give a possible amounts of mitzvot and formance of mitzvot. Without pay- little bit of money and thus acquire merits. a great mitzvah, that of Tzeddakah. ing any attention to those who are There is more. To awaken us as With a little effort, we can acquire a belittling him, he should persistently much as possible to the mitzvah of truly good thing, which will accom- continue along this path and support Tzeddakah, the Holy One, blessed the Torah without feeling the least bit pany us even then, once everything be He, has taught us the importance of doubt, just as the poles that were is over at the end of a long life. Each of this mitzvah by saying, “They forbidden to be removed. Actually, it coin that we give represents an ex- shall take for Me an offering” – for is Hashem’s will that he continues to tra mitzvah, and it is solely this mon- My Name. This means that one who study Torah, supports it financially, ey that produces wealth. gives Tzeddakah and supports the and observes the mitzvot. This is precisely why the Holy Torah is as if he supported Hashem Although Hashem desires perse- One, blessed be He, wanted the Himself, as if he were connected to verance in serving Him, He never- poles (which allude to Torah support) His Name. Actually, “for Me” signi- theless did not want the poles to be to be inserted into the rings, for the fies that giving actually relates to rigidly fixed to the Ark in such a way rings are round and recall the day of “My Name.” The giver will also re- as to be immovable. With regards to death and grieving, just as all round member that by giving, he builds the rings, there is a profound lesson things do. For example, we eat len- the Sanctuary, the abode of the holy to be learned by the one who serves tils at the home of the deceased and Shechinah, the place of the Creator.

15 Above all, the giver should re- (i.e., “for My Name”). Perform the world, and money no longer serves member that the Mishkan (Sanctu- mitzvah for Hashem’s Name, for it him any purpose. ary) is formed by the same letters as is “Me” Who commanded you, not This is what the Holy One, blessed the word Nimshach (drawn). Hence because you understand that it must be He, asks us to remember: Now, by the mitzvah of Tzeddakah, he be done. while you are still alive, use money also merits to be actually drawn to There is yet another flaw that a to obtain a good thing for yourself Hashem, to witness Heavenly as- person may have when performing that you will be able to take with you sistance, and to see that the Shechi- this mitzvah, namely that he does and will be extremely helpful. What nah’s abode is drawn inside the it as a routine thing, not as one of is this good thing? Put tremendous work of his hands by all his deeds. the 248 positive mitzvot. This is why effort into giving to Tzeddakah with This is what Hashem truly wants by Hashem tells us to not permanently a good, generous heart, doing so for teaching us this mitzvah, and conse- fix the poles in the rings, but only to the Name of Hashem. Create a con- quently it embodies something new slide them in and not to take them nection between your soul and the with respect to the other mitzvot, out. This means that the poles al- Creator, between you and His Name for it is written “for Me” (i.e., “for My lude to supporting the Torah, and in forever by giving to Tzeddakah. You Name”) which is not the case with this area Hashem says to do it in a will then merit to leave this world in the other mitzvot. temporary way, but without removing holiness and purity, in the oneness However there is something else them. That is, they must be left there of Hashem, the oneness that you that we still need to understand. The at each instant. This demonstrates helped to proclaim. Torah had already given the mitzvah a renewal at all times, which is the Let us say that we now fully un- of Tzeddakah (Deuteronomy 15:11), opposite of a mitzvah performed by derstand why it is said concerning so why does Hashem again com- rote. We must constantly renew our- the Terumah, “for Me” (i.e., “for My mand “for Me” (i.e., “for My Name”)? selves; we must not perform mitzvot Name”). Money can be a source of This becomes clear in light of what by rote. lack, and money is life (as we have we have already explained. Hashem In finishing, I again reflected upon said, the word damim means both knew that He would find people who another aspect of the same subject. money and blood). Man has trouble would give to Tzeddakah because I wrote all this during the week of parting from it, and he does so only of the Torah’s commandment, but the yahrtzeit of my uncle, the Tzad- if he has tremendous confidence in not wholeheartedly and with joy, and dik Rabbi Meir Pinto, may his merit Hashem. However even someone so they would not be connected with protect us all, who passed away on who has such confidence is liable their Creator. They would thus lose Adar 12, 5740. I had the merit of be- to give to Tzeddakah for personal the primary thing – being connected ing by his side to help him during the glory, not for the sake of the mitz- to His Name. last month of his life, until he passed vah itself, and so again there will be Now we know that the goal in life away. I remember that just before some defect in the performance of is to try to emulate Hashem, as the his passing, he was holding in his this mitzvah. Sages have said: “In the same way hand some money, which I tried to that He is merciful, so should you be remove. He was holding it so tightly, Consequently, if a person re- merciful…” (Yalkut Shimoni Beshal- however, that I was not able to do so members that after he dies his glory ach 245). If there is an imperfec- until his actually passing, for at that will not accompany him, that silver tion in a person’s heart, he will not point his grip slackened. and gold will not come with him, and that his body will only hear the eter- achieve life’s primary goal and its Why did such a thing happen? nal Shema Israel, then his heart will reward. This is why Hashem men- We may understand this according certainly soften and he will give to tioned this mitzvah to us a second to what we said above, that it is a time by saying, “for Me” (i.e., “for hint given by the Holy One, blessed Tzeddakah “for Me” – for the Name My Name”): Cling to My mitzvot and be He, to His children. Above all of Hashem – with a generous heart. carry out the mitzvah as you should, else, money symbolizes life to a To conclude, we may say by allu- and then you will be actually con- person, for it is used to obtain every- sion that the words li lishmi (“for Me, nected to My Name. thing he needs to continue living as for My Name”) are formed by the ini- However even when a person he desires. It is for this that a man tials of the words Lekachtem Yuchal performs this mitzvah, it may be struggles, as his soul is attached Leolam Shekulo Metukan Yafe (“You that two things are flawed in his do- to money (which is his life). When may take them forever in the World nation. True, he gives Tzeddakah, his day of death approaches, he that is entirely perfect”). In fact, only but he may be doing so because struggles to remain alive and clings the Torah and mitzvot accompany he is obligated to do it – to take pity to his money, meaning his life. Yet man in the World to Come, and it is on one who is in need. This is why when death finally arrives, all his ef- through them that he can connect to Hashem comes and says, “for Me” forts prove useless. He leaves this the Creator, blessed be His Name.

16 the greatness and power of prayer

The following remarks, my dear brother, which result, we ask Him to give us what we need. Prayer are drawn from the book by Rabbi Yechezkel Le- means that because we present our requests to winstein Zatzukal, will provide those who pray with Hashem, we thus proclaim that we do not have the several pieces of advice to more fully benefit from strength to do anything ourselves, and it is only from their prayers. With G-d’s help, may our prayers be Hashem that we receive what we need. Therefore, accepted with favor. my dear brother, through this realization and basic It is written kerum zulut livnei adam (Psalms 12: affirmation, we will merit that G-d answers our re- 9) which can be translated as, “When a strange quest. thing is exalted among the sons of men.” The Ge- During prayer, we must at least put an effort into mara states with regards to this: “These are the understanding what we are saying. Otherwise, our things of supreme importance, which nevertheless prayer is not truly valid. people neglect” (Berachot 6b). Rashi explains, “For Prayer should not be automatic, but rather con- example, prayer.” sists of supplications to G-d, requests that we ad- There is a special Segula in prayer. It can cer- dress to Him. tainly save a person from all harm, and although Prayer consists very simply of speaking with Torah study is equal to all the mitzvot, in terms of Hashem, which is why we must, when praying, feel being saved from hardships only prayer has this as if the Shechinah is before us. We must feel in special power. close proximity to Hashem. The object of prayer is to feel like a poor person, The best way to rekindle one’s faith is to pray devoid of all things, who must ask Hashem for ev- erything. This is because without Hashem’s mercy, with vigor, for the essential aspect of prayer is to it may be that a miracle will never occur and He will stand before Hashem and speak to Him. It is to feel not demonstrate His patience with us. that the Shechinah is before us; there is no greater stimulus for great faith. Now as we know, prayer We must understand just how precious prayer replaces sacrifices, and even when sacrifices were is. The Gemara asks why the Matriarchs were being offered in the Temple, everyone had a clear childless, and it answers: “Because the Holy One, vision of this. Thus when we pray, we must also blessed be He, longs to hear the prayer of the righ- clearly feel faith. teous” (Yebamot 64a). These words of the Sages are awe-inspiring. It is as if Hashem had desires The G-d of Abraham comes to the aid of the per- and wanted our prayers. son who sets aside a place for prayer. This means When we begin to pray for something, Hashem that we must set aside a place in our hearts where will no doubt help us, and our prayers will be an- there is nothing other than Hashem’s providence. swered. When we believe in Divine providence and know that nothing happens outside Hashem’s will, we We must believe that the Holy One, blessed be will merit receiving everything we need from Him He, hears our prayers, that He is filled with mercy, through our prayers. and that He gives us everything we ask for, as it is written: “Cry out [pray], and Hashem listens.” A man must pray three times a day, just as he eats three times a day. Each meal gives him suffi- The first thing that we should get used to is rec- cient energy until the next meal, just as each prayer ognizing and knowing that we are standing before is spiritual nourishment for his soul (Kuzari). Hashem. We must feel that we are addressing our requests to Hashem when we pray. It is obvious that we must understand the mean- A single prayer said in darkness and obscurity, ing of the words that we say while praying, and our said with a troubled spirit, which a person through ears must also hear what our mouths are saying. his efforts transforms into light, is more important The reason why prayer is so neglected is that we than 100 prayers that come easily, with the reward do not realize or understand its nature, its power, being in proportion to the effort made. or its greatness. All our prayers consist of simple Confidence in Hashem is the sole reason and words, which is why we do not accord enough im- goal of prayer. This consists of believing and recog- portance to them. nizing that “Everything comes from Hashem.” As a Quotes gathered by Y.H. (For the Healing of Habib Yossef Ben Hana Hanina) 17 ashdod • israel the new torah center oroth haim ve moshe jerusalem • israel the new yeshiva nefesh haim The importance of Tzniut By Yaël Hava Abitbol

t is fundamentally important to Tzniut, for it is the only way for women and night, for they’re men and that’s understand that Tzniut (modesty) to combat their evil inclination. their duty. But that’s not the case with is the way of giving a woman the The Chafetz Chaim Zatzal ex- me.” ability to overcome her evil incli- plained that the evil inclination’s It is a fundamental error to think nation. We know that men not attacks have become particularly like this! only have the mitzvot to keep, but are powerful in our times, when the ex- All women, whoever they may be, alsoI obligated to study Torah, which ile is soon coming to an end and the have the capacity to be holy and attain helps them to grow spiritually. greatly awaited arrival of Mashiach the heights of spirituality by perfecting Our Sages cite the words of Hash- gets closer each day. Just as a fire is themselves in the laws of Tzniut. em to His beloved people: “I created aflame until the time it is put out, the We must realize that every wom- the evil inclination, and I created the Tumah of Arayot (impurity of sexual an has within herself a potential for Torah as its antidote.” This is not sur- immorality) is also aflame and shoots Tzniut that comes as a heritage from prising, since Hashem first prepares upward until the arrival of Mashiach, the Matriarchs. a remedy before administering a the era in which it will be wiped off the A woman who progresses more punishment. Thus because of Torah face of the earth, as it is written: “I will slowly in the area of Tzniut should not study, men have ways to overcome remove…the spirit of impurity from be judged condescendingly, for “who- their evil inclination in all the areas the land” (Zechariah 13:2). that it attacks. If a man does not study, ever is greater than another, his evil The Vilna Gaon himself said that inclination is greater” (Sukkah 52a). he will therefore be held responsible just as every man who is immersed for his sins. In other words, the more difficulty a in Torah is capable of fighting his evil woman has in progressing in Tzniut, We also see that our father Jacob inclination, so too are women who are the greater her evil inclination is. prepared himself for a longtime before immersed in Tzniut, for it allows them Why is this so? Listen carefully: It arriving at Laban’s. In fact he studied to be victorious in the same way. is because her potential in the area of continuously for 14 years at the yeshi- Furthermore, we should realize Tzniut is that much greater! va of Shem and Ever in order to arm that the reward is proportional to the himself with a solid shield and protect Furthermore, as we have said, effort made. The reward of Tzniut is himself from the evil inclination, which “The reward is proportional to the to have children well-versed in Torah could await him there. effort.” In other words, the more a and outstanding in their good deeds, woman puts an effort into perfect- A woman also has tests to over- as it is written: “Your children will be ing herself in this area – which is not come. She can desire to do things like olive shoots” (Psalms 128:3). simply a good habit to take up, but that are forbidden in whatever area it Rabbeinu Bechaye wrote, “When also a positive commandment, as it may be, but she does not have Torah a man is righteous and humble, and is written: “Your camp shall be holy” study to overcome it. he has noble character traits, this is (Deuteronomy 23:15) – the greater From where will she be able to a testimony to the decency and good her reward will be! draw the strength necessary to over- thoughts of his mother. It is because We should regard our difficulties come her natural desires and weak- of these merits that she had such in the area of Tzniut not as faults, but nesses? a son, for a beautiful tree speaks rather as challenges! The answer is that a woman has highly of its roots.” In addition, every Today it is not simply one or two her own type of “vaccine,” her own woman who acts discretely can marry women who are confronted with the High Priest and give birth to High “remedy,” which is the equivalent of the challenges of Tzniut. Rather, all Torah study for men. It is this ability Priests, even if she is not a daughter women encounter certain difficulties of Tzniut that, when properly guarded, of a Priest, as it is written: “All glorious in this area. This stems from a certain encompasses everything. It empow- is the princess within; her clothing is slackening on our part in Tzniut. The ers a woman and makes her so holy embroidered with gold” (Psalms 45: only way that we can climb back up that she is capable of outsmarting her 14), an allusion to the clothes worn by is to strengthen ourselves in the ap- own evil inclination and resisting its the High Priest. plication of the laws of Tzniut. It is up relentless pressure. Can we, as women, tell ourselves, to us women to strengthen ourselves Today the evil inclination tries by “I would like to be like that Talmid as much as possible in Tzniut in order all means possible to fully carry out its Chacham, or like that Tzaddik, who to draw a shefa (abundance) of bless- task, meaning to distort the demands are so holy! But I don’t have the abil- ings and purity upon ourselves and to of Tzniut and Kedushat Israel. From ity to elevate myself like them. They speed up the arrival of Mashiach Tzid- this we see the extreme importance of spend their time studying Torah day kenu as much as possible.

20 the wedding of rav raphael meir amram - the firstborn of the tzaddik Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Chlita

ll roads lead to the Dan Sheva Berachot, for it is like an in- in silence to hear Hashem’s voice as Panorama hotel in Tel stance of indecency). This is in order He gave the Torah to Israel. This is Aviv... A huge crowd, to conserve holiness in all its purity what the Chuppah ceremony resem- including chassidim during the Chuppah ceremony, at bles. It is like the giving of the Torah and dynamic individu- that special moment which is soon on Sinai, for the goal of marriage is als from all classes and every com- to take place. to build a faithful and holy home in munity,A begins to flow like a river. All The father of the Chattan, Rabbi Israel on the foundations of Torah are headed to the same place, with David Shlita, walks toward the Chup- and holiness, on the path that leads everyone trying to get to the hotel pah, his face enflamed on one hand to the house of G-d, as our holy an- as early as possible. A caravan of and filled with immense joy on the cestors desired. taxis can be seen headed towards other. The Chuppah ceremony takes The Chuppah ceremony has be- the place, and why not? A wedding place on a raised platform so that gun, and the Rav Shlita, the father will soon take place at Tel Aviv’s everyone can see it well. In his hand, of the Chattan, covers himself in his Dan Panorama hotel, the wedding the Rav Shlita holds a cane that be- Tallit and begins to initiate the wed- of young man who is exemplary in longed to his grandfather, the Tzad- ding ceremony: “…Who sanctifies Torah and the fear of Heaven, the dik Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal (may his His people Israel through Chuppah firstborn son of the Rav and Tzad- merit protect us), who as we know and Kiddushin.” The father of the dik, the Admor Rabbi David Hanania performed many miracles. Whoever bride, Rav Shimon Haliwa Shlita, Pinto Shlita. holds it in his hand can give bless- reads the Ketubah, while the other Does this seem insignificant to ings by the merit of the Tzaddik with blessings are said by Rav Menach- you? Rav David Pinto Shlita is mar- an abundance of success and every- em Tzvi Berlin Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva rying off his firstborn son. Is there a thing that is good. of Chaim Ozer Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. Jewish heart that is not rejoicing? The event is very moving, and The last blessing is said by the father People’s eyes strain to see and be all eyes are fixed on the Chuppah of the Chattan, Rav David Hanania seen, to hear and be heard, to partic- to see how the ceremony progress- Pinto Shlita. The atmosphere is truly ipate with body and soul, with all 248 es. We then hear a murmur in the electrifying. It is an atmosphere of limbs and 365 sinews, in this holy joy crowd – the ceremony has begun! absolute purity and holiness, and it that will no doubt bring abundance One could truly hear a pin drop. This hovers over the heads of this holy to all the worlds. It will exert an influ- brings to mind the Ma’amad Har Si- people. From the bottom of their ence of joy, success, and everything nai, when not even a bird chirped or hearts, they bless this young couple good on the entire Jewish people. flew, when there was no lowing of that has established a home in Israel cattle, and the entire universe stood and added a stone to the wall of the The High Point: The Mov- ing Chuppah Ceremony The place is abuzz with people. Everyone waits for the crucial mo- ment: The Chuppah ceremony. Rabbi David Shlita arrives, and all eyes try to catch a glimpse of him and participate in the events of the Chuppah. The Rav Shlita, for whom the holiness and purity of the Jewish people are of prime importance, con- stantly asks for a complete separa- tion between men and women (since our Sages have said that when men and women mingle together during a The Houppa wedding, it is impossible to recite the

21 pate in the wedding of the firstborn son of the Rav Shlita. We meet them at every turn, each speaking their own language. However the hearts of them all burn with the hope of being able to give back to the Rav Shlita a little bit of love and affection, some honor and glory, for what he has done for them over the years. In addition to this, we see some guests who have happily arrived from all corners of the world. It is not without reason that they took the trouble to travel to Israel, the Holy Land, to attend this wedding. It was to show the Rav Shlita how much Jewish people. The Shechinah hov- as nearby people begin to sit down they want to emulate him in accor- ers over them, just as the Sages for the wedding meal. The assistants dance with the verse, “As water re- have said: “When man and woman of the Rav Shlita spare no effort in flects a face back to a face, so one’s merit it, the Shechinah is found be- receiving each guest and showing heart is reflected back to him by an- tween them.” them to their table or a comfortable other” (Proverbs 27:19). The eyes place during the meal. shine in seeing just what a Jewish Great Joy in All Corners A casual glance inside the wed- celebration is. The eyes glimmer in of the Earth ding hall shows the boundless es- seeing a Jewish house worthy of the teem that the Rav Shlita enjoys from noblest families of Israel. The Chuppah ceremony has every Jewish community. From all barely finished when joyous celebra- sides we see Jews from every cor- The Wedding Meal and tion breaks out in full force. All the ner of the earth, from all cities and the Joy of the Talmidei participants form circles and begin towns and from every community Chachamim dancing wildly in honor of the great – Chassidic, Lithuanian, Ashkenaz joy that has just erupted. Then, from and Sephardic – everyone seated If we are speaking about the na- all directions the crowd presses to- together to honor the Rav Shlita, ture of the meal, we can describe it gether in order for people to pass who is accepted and respected by by what the Sages have said: “If one before Rabbi David Shlita and con- everyone without exception, by all partakes of a meal at which a scholar gratulate him, and also to receive a the Jewish people regardless of sta- is present, it is as if he feasted on blessing from his holy mouth, which tus or community affiliation. the radiance of the Divine Pres- as we know accomplishes miracles. Next to each of the guests, who ence” (Berachot 64a). Everyone This moment is extremely elevated, have arrived from all corners of the clearly sees that the radiance of the a time of joy for the Chattan and Kal- earth, we see a great many from Divine Presence hovers over those lah, when the entire community is France, followers and students of who are seated. If such is the case blessed in a prayer that the home the Rav from there, who have made at each table, then a glimpse at the that has just been established be an every effort to travel from France and head table (where the Rav Shlita is eternal edifice. other European countries to partici- seated next to the father of the bride, Thousands of people pass before the Rav Shlita to congratulate him and receive his blessing, and the Rav Shlita pleasantly greets each one with great joy. At the same time, he gives each a copy of his book Pahad David, which covers vari- ous subjects. It has been published just in time for the wedding, and it contains in-depth articles on lofty concepts meant to teach people the path to follow and the proper steps to take in order to elevate oneself in the Torah and fear of G-d. Thus for a long time the crowd marches past the Rav Shlita, where-

22 To top it off, and again with rev- erential fear and in total silence, people listen to words of blessing and Torah from Rabbi David Pinto Shlita, who speaks in French in order to be understood by those who have come from France. People sense the emotion in each of the Rav’s words, and everyone clearly sees how he opens the gates of Heaven and tries to instill his listeners with an under- standing of the nature of this great celebration, the nature of the joy of a marriage. It evokes the statement in the Torah, “They shall make a Sanc- tuary for Me – so that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8), for The Gaon Rav Baroukh Ezrahi Shlita givins a Dvor Torah in the Seouda when a home is established on the foundations of Torah and sanctity, Rabbi Shimon Haliwa Shlita, along of Torah in attendance make their the Holy One, blessed be He, dwells with other Tzaddikim and Gaonim) words heard. in the home of the couple. clearly proves what the Sages have With reverential fear, people listen said, namely: “The Tzaddikim sit with to the enflamed words of the Gaon You Shall Be Joyful: Joy their crowns on their heads feasting Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman Shlita (the Breaks All Barriers on the brightness of the Divine Pres- son-in-law of the Gaon Rabbi Elazar ence” (Berachot 17a). Menachem Man Shach Zatzal). They The meal continues, yet at the Everyone is seated, yet in reality also listen to the words of the Gaon same time great joy breaks all bar- almost no one pays attention to the Baruch Mordechai Ezrahi Shlita (the riers. Between servings, the Rav sumptuous meals abundantly placed Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Israel), the Shlita descends from the platform before each, for all eyes are con- Gaon Rabbi Shimon Haliwa Shlita and heads for the dance floor, like stantly turned to the table of honor. (the father of the bride), and also the Moses descending from the mount Arriving there one after the next are Rishon Letzion, the Gaon Rabbi Sh- toward the people, and with all his Torah greats, Tzaddikim, Gaonim, lomo Amar Shlita. These men pour energy he begins to dance, as if uplifting the earth. The joy is over- and also ordinarily individuals who out blessings upon the head of the flowing, and everyone is singing and want to congratulate the Rav and re- Tzaddik, the Rav Shlita, and tell ev- eryone a little bit about his activities dancing in honor of the newlyweds. ceive his blessing. The guests, with throughout the world. In their speech- However legs do not tire, hearts do a reverential fear, kiss the hand of es, they also describe what the joy of not seek rest, bodies do not cease the Rav Shlita and receive a bless- a marriage is, as they bestow bless- moving, and with intense energy the ing and some words of Torah from ings upon the young couple. gathering dances with extraordinary him. This is a spiritually elevated and important time, one that certainly assures blessings and even opens the great bolts to the gates of de- liverance and mercy for all. This is why each one strives to be among those who receive a personal bless- ing, thus obtaining an abundance of blessing and success in this spiritu- ally elevated and holy time. Words of Torah and Blessing Dur- ing the Meal The meal continues for several hours. However since this is a true mitzvah meal, it is appropriate to say words of Torah to the Rav Shlita and to the father of the bride Shlita, and especially to the young couple. Thus Chief Rabbi of Israël the Gaon Rav Mordekhai Amar Shlita giving a one after the next, the great men Dvor Torah in the Seouda 23 is dancing) and dances with him in of the Sheva Berachot, as everyone the middle of a circle, and then we wants to join with those saying the hear shouts of joy that ascend to blessings “that rejoice groom with Heaven. This is not only with those bridegroom,” for joy pours out all its who live in Israel, but also with peo- benefits on everyone. ple who have come from abroad, and even with those who have come An Abundance of Bless- closer to Judaism by the merit of the ing and Success for All Rav – they too merit being close to the Jewish People him. They also merit a tap on the shoulder or a friendly hug by the This magnificent wedding cel- Rav, who wants to elevate them ebration finishes very late into the above the material world. night, and it certainly exerts a ben- eficial influence in the spiritual and While all this is going on, those material realms for everyone. It is dancing with the Rav Shlita can tes- already been noted that the word tify that it is not everyday that a per- beshirah is formed by the initials Son-in-law of Rav Chakh Zatsal, son has such merit, to dance with the the Gaon Rav Tsvi Bergman giving of the words yushpa shefa rav Rav Shlita after he has just married his blessings to Hatan & Kala bekol haolamot (“great abundance off his firstborn son. The moment is spreads to all the worlds”). In reality, enthusiasm, over and over without truly special, and it can have a very through the power of shirah (song) stop, without respite. beneficial effect on people because and music, the great joy that ensues People eventually get back to of its great joy. then spreads tremendous abun- their seats and continue the meal, With the end of the meal comes dance to all the worlds and on the but all of a sudden the dancing be- the public Birkat Hamazon. This is Jewish people (both collectively and gins anew with even more people! performed, followed by the recitation individually), an abundance of bless- The groom is then carried on peo- ple’s shoulders, as everyone dances around in his honor, for a groom is like a king. It seems that we could say, “One who has not seen the joy of this celebration has never witnessed joy in his life.” It is a little like the Simcha Beit Hashoeva, in which we draw the holy spirit, since from this joy everyone can draw an abundance of blessings and all that is good in life, for joy ascends to Heaven and opens gates there. From time to time, the Rav Shlita takes someone by the hand (either one of his students or someone who ing and success, children, life, and bountiful sustenance, in order that we may announce good things and be told good things. May Hashem help us in order that this joy truly exerts an influence over the entire Jewish people, that they may know deliverance and mercy. May we all merit the long-sought goal that “all flesh together will see that the mouth of the L-RD has spo- ken” (Isaiah 40:5) by the construc- tion of the Temple in all its glory and by the revelation of Mashiach our re- deemer, speedily in our days, Amen.

24 the evil inclination is conquered by the power of prayer Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Chlita

t is written, “Jacob departed ready been defeated) do at the Beit Rabbati 20). Actually, the angels from Beer-sheba…and he Midrash in order to fight the evil in- make a crown for Hashem with encountered the place and clination there? each word of prayer. They wait spent the night there because With regards to this, I thought until the last Jew completes his the sun had set” (Genesis 28: that I would explain a very profound prayer, and only then do they say, 10-11). The Sages, cited by Rashi principle in serving the Creator. The “Holy, Holy, Holy.” If a Jew does Iin the commentary on vayifga (“and not perform a complete prayer, or Torah, prayer, and the mitzvot are he encountered”), explain that this pathways and roads, conduits and does not pray with concentration, word designates prayer (Berachot guides on how to be drawn to the something is missing in the crown of 26b). The verse is therefore telling Creator and take upon ourselves the Holy One, blessed be He. How- us that Jacob instituted a prayer. the full yoke of the kingdom of ever Hashem is kind to the Jewish In fact the Gemara teaches that Heaven. It is true that the holy To- people, for there are Tzaddikim who the holy Patriarchs instituted our rah is the foundation that connects prolong their prayers and complete three prayers: Abraham instituted us with our Creator. However in the Creator’s crown by making their Shacharit, Isaac instituted Mincha, their wisdom and saintly spirits, the prayers ascend. Thus every Jew and Jacob instituted Arvit. Patriarchs felt that they had to insti- can connect to the Tzaddikim and I have a question, however, tute a specific channel for Jews, a also complete their crown. concerning this: Why did the holy channel of exceptional holiness and Despite a Jew’s emotion dur- Patriarchs institute these prayers? importance, by which the Children ing prayer, he sometimes feels an Is it not enough for us to study of Israel would come closer to their emotional cooling afterwards, a Hashem’s Torah and to carry out Creator and connect to Him. That sudden fall. Why does this hap- the 613 mitzvot? Why do we need channel is prayer. pen? It is because after prayer, the to pray? Is there anything special I shall explain what this means. evil inclination (that wretch) places about prayer that does not exist in When a Jew gets ready to pray, he itself before a man with the intention the Torah? has an idea of Who he is standing of beating him down – this occur- While we are on this subject, I before, Who he is about to pray ring precisely after he has finished thought of asking another question to, and Who is the One that he is praying – for it wants to immediately in a different area, which the answer about to present the desires of his break a Jew’s connection with the to the first question will satisfy as heart, asking Him to bestow them Creator. As a result, it is not enough well. The Sages say, “If that wretch for good and for blessing. Thus he for a man to have aroused his heart encounters you, drag him to the readies himself prior to prayer in during prayer, since right afterwards House of Study” (Kiddushin 30b), reverent fear of the King of kings. the evil inclination wants to again and in this way you will conquer it. He opens his mouth and recites attack, conquer, and make him fall Now if this concerns a Jew whose words of prayer as if counting silver into its power. whole time is devoted to Torah coins, with calm concentration. This It is true that we cannot get study, how could the evil inclination applies whether it be the morning closer to the Creator and connect have reached him? Where did it find blessings, Pesukei D’Zimra, or es- ourselves to Him without arousing and ensnare him? However if this pecially Kriat Shema, for when he our hearts in prayer and opening concerns a Jew that the evil inclina- recites the Shema by distinctly pro- them to a love for Hashem, an ever- tion has already affected and man- nouncing all its letters, the fire of hell radiant love. However it is precisely aged to overcome (which seems to is cooled for him (Berachot 15b). at this time that the evil inclination follow from the words of the Sages), Hence a powerful and indestructible wants to trap a man and make him how will he find the strength to con- bond is made between himself and completely lose everything that quer the evil inclination by dragging his Creator. he has gained. It is in this regard it to the Beit Midrash? For that mat- In addition, prayer is a crown for that the Sages have said, “If that ter, what can this Jew (who has al- the Creator of the world (Pesikta wretch encounters you.” If the evil

25 inclination meets you now, after Such being the case, we see they understood that he was made prayer (for it is constantly lying in that the essential thing is prayer, for of flesh and blood. A man such as wait to trap you), so as to disrupt it leads to a love of Hashem and a Adam, who was so greatly connect- your service of the Creator, how love of Israel. This is why our holy ed to his Creator, had no need to can you escape? “Drag him to the Patriarchs instituted the three daily arouse his heart through prayer. House of Study.” In other words, prayers, for they lead to a love of However a new era began after control the evil inclination by the G-d and also prepare the way for the sin. The worlds had been dam- power of the Torah. Torah study. Consequently, it is very aged, the pathways for abundance I shall clarify this point. This difficult for the Satan to see a Jew into this world had been blocked, subject deals with a respectable praying with concentration, for this and the letters of the holy Torah no man, a Jew who works on himself provides him with a great spiritual longer shined so greatly. Instead, and arouses his heart for Hashem elevation. The Satan therefore tries they had been swallowed inside during prayer. It is with respect to to reach a man as he leaves syna- Creation, where the eye of an ordi- him that the Sages say, “If that gogue, before he studies Torah. It nary man could not perceive them. wretch meets you,” which means must therefore be conquered imme- The evil inclination then began to that it will certainly encounter you. diately, not given a chance to win, gather strength in the world, and it Nevertheless you are to raise your by a person strengthening himself disturbed Adam and Eve by wicked guard and drag it immediately to right away through Torah study, the thoughts and deeds. Adam there- the Beit Midrash. Enter the Beit reading of Psalms, or the study of fore realized that he once again Midrash and study Torah there with Mishnayot. It is in this way that we needed a special catalyst that would as much vigor as possible. You immediately control the evil domain encourage and help him to connect will in this way be able to prolong of the Satan and his entourage. We to the Creator after the sin. know what the Sages have said your connection with the Creator At that point, Adam and Eve un- about this: “The world stands on of all the worlds. This means that derstood that they had to develop a three things: On the Torah, on the prayer arouses the heart and cre- way that would allow them to con- service, and on deeds of kindness” ates a bond between a Jew and his nect to the Creator. They saw that (Perkei Avoth 1:2). Creator, and this bond is evermore they were naked, naked of mitzvot strengthened by the power of the The Power of Adam’s (Bereshith Rabba 19:6) that con- Torah that a Jew then studies in nect man to Hashem. This is why Prayer for all the the Beit Midrash. He can thus com- they immediately began to sew gar- pletely dominate the evil inclination Generations ments together, making themselves and conquer it. During the time of the first man, belts. This means that they once The power of prayer is truly re- strength was not needed for prayer. again girded themselves with limits markable. We know that if we want This is because Adam was com- and barriers in order to find shelter to accomplish the King’s command, pletely pure and holy before his from all the obstacles in their way. we must love Him. The more a per- sin. The ministering angels roasted Yet in reality, how did they defend son loves the King, the more likely meat for him in Gan Eden (Sanhe- themselves against the evil inclina- he will be to carry out all His com- drin 59b), and he reached from one tion, which acted within them and mands. Furthermore because he end of the world to the other (Ha- wanted to destroy them? loves the King, everything that the gigah 12a, Sanhedrin 38b). As a They did so through prayer. They King loves, a person will also love. result, the Torah shone with a very began to call out to Hashem, and Through prayer, a person makes great light (since nothing in Creation by the power of their prayer they the Holy One, blessed be He, his was as yet damaged), to the point succeeded in arousing their hearts. King, mentioning all the verses that that the taste of a tree and that of its Thus they immediately attached proclaim His kingship in the morn- fruit were the same (Yalkut Shimoni themselves to the Torah with zeal. It ing blessings. Bereshith 8) and the entire world was in this way that they protected For a person to find a reason yielded to the Creator. themselves against the evil inclina- to be engaged in Torah study and In addition, Adam looked at the tion and were even able to defeat have a desire to perform mitzvot, world and saw the beauty of all it. In fact they were so successful he must love the King, the Holy Creation. In his immense fervor for that their reward was doubled, since One, blessed be He. How can he G-d, he knew what names to give despite the evil inclination’s opposi- achieve this love? By praying with all living things. He saw the hidden tion, they arrived at contemplating great concentration, negating body explanations in the Torah, to the ex- godliness. In fact we see that Adam and soul. Then, automatically, a tent that even the angels mistakenly used the power of prayer after his person loves all beings made in the called him G-d (Bereshith Rabba 8: sin, as the Sages have said: “He re- image of the King. 10). It was only when he ate that cited the Psalm ‘Mizmor Shir LeYom

26 HaShabbat. It is good to thank the prayers (Berachot 26b). It was the study at the Academy of Shem and L-RD…’ [Psalms 91:1-2]” (Bereshith power of prayer that purified and led Ever for 14 years (Megillah 17a). Rabba 22:13). This is a special them to such a lofty spiritual level Through this Torah study, he obvi- prayer of thanks. that they sang Shirat HaYam (the ously merited to elevate himself and When Adam saw that he had Song of the Sea), to the point of be- be protected from all forces of impu- committed a very serious sin, he ing able to say, “This is my G-d, and rity. Yet as soon as he followed his seized the method of prayer. It was I will adorn Him” (Exodus 15:2). It father’s orders (to travel to Haran to only in this way that he could once was in this way that they were able find a wife) and left Beer-sheba, it again arouse his heart for his Father to receive the Torah. is immediately written, “and he en- in Heaven and reconnect himself to We find something similar to this countered.” This means that he en- the Creator by studying, as we have with Jacob and Joseph, when they countered the evil inclination on the explained. were reunited after 22 years. Joseph way, and it wanted to conquer him and make him transgress. In fact when Adam began to fell upon his father’s neck and cried, pray, he saw that there was a real yet Jacob did not reciprocate or kiss What did Jacob do? He imme- link between himself and the Cre- him. What did Jacob do instead? diately stood up and prayed Arvit. ator. Thus by the thanks that he ut- The Sages say that he recited the He initiated the power of this prayer, tered in prayer, he became the first Shema (Midrash Aggadah Genesis and thus it was Jacob who “encoun- pious man in the world. After him, 46:29). In other words, Jacob chan- tered” that wretch, the evil inclina- King David also said in the Psalms, neled all his love for Joseph into the tion. He gathered all his strength “Guard my soul, for I am devout” Shema, into prayer. in prayer, thus meriting very lofty (Psalms 86:2). (Note: David’s soul We know that in the first verse revelations. It was to such a point was connected to that of Adam, of the Shema, a person must take that while he slept, Hashem stood since the 70 years of David’s life upon himself the positive mitzvah over him and made great prom- were the 70 years that had been re- of “You shall love your neighbor as ises to him. He certainly saw Mount moved from Adam [Bereshith Rabba yourself.” This is because it is im- Moriah in this place, for Mount Mo- 19:8, Zohar I:55a]). David had be- possible to say “You shall love the riah had moved there. When Jacob come devout through the power of L-RD your G-d with all your heart, awoke from his sleep, he said, “This prayer. He also said, “Your statutes with all your soul, with and all your is none other than the abode of G- were music to me” (Psalms 119:54), might” without loving your neighbor, d, and this is the gate of the heav- for to him the Torah was like psalm Hashem’s creation. ens!” (Genesis 28:17). Thus he also and prayer. In fact he achieved his Hence this was the state of the sanctified this place by the power of full greatness in Torah through the Children of Israel in the desert, his prayer, and he defeated the evil power of prayer, which enabled him before receiving the Torah. They inclination once and for all. (when combined with subsequent armed themselves with the power All this is actually alluded to in Torah study) to connect to the Cre- of unity and merited achieving a the word Arvit. In fact the word con- ator of the world and arrive at the love for the Creator, since the one tain the letters of the words iv’ar (“he greatest spiritual heights. who loves the King also loves His aroused”), boer (“this burns”), ra’av There is more. We see the only son, whom He loves as His (“hunger”), ra (“evil”), and tav. This power of prayer at the time of the own soul. When the Children of means that by the power of Arvit, giving of the Torah. It is written, “Is- Israel perfected their souls by the we can arouse our hearts for the rael encamped there, opposite the love of their neighbor, by the power Holy One, blessed be He, and it mountain” (Exodus 19:2), and the of unity, and by prayer, they also then becomes possible to conquer Sages have explained this to sig- merited perfection of character and the burning evil inclination, that old nify “as one person with one heart” achieved purity at the giving of the and foolish king, which always hun- (Mechilta ibid.). This means that Torah. Thus each Jew, if he puts an gers after Jewish blood and which is the Children of Israel achieved the effort into elevating himself through completely evil and always comes prayer, will be pure and merit receiv- highest level of unity before the giv- with its entourage of tav (400) an- ing the Torah. ing of the Torah. However we must gels of destruction. Thus the verse states, “To relate Your kindness understand how they achieved such The Importance of Arvit: a lofty level, since they did not yet in the dawn and Your faith in the Shining a Light into the possess the power of the Torah. nights” (Psalms 92:3), meaning that The answer is that they achieved Darkness during Arvit, which is “in the nights,” this through the power of prayer. Since we have arrived at this we can conquer the evil inclination. In fact they possessed the prayers point, we shall understand what is It was not in vain that Jacob insti- handed down to them by the Patri- written concerning Jacob. When he tuted Arvit. As we know, the Sages archs, who instituted the three daily left his father’s home, he went to have said that a Talmid Chacham

27 should not go out alone at night, for of winter. Arvit has the power to There are others who giggle when it is then that the forces of impurity protect a person from the dark- they pray. Their case is much more are most powerful (Berachot 43b). ness of the night, for in winter serious, for they fully understand However Jacob, who was alone at the day is short and two prayers the meaning of prayer, and they night, instituted Arvit precisely so are assigned to it (Shacharit and can come closer to the Creator and that through the power of prayer Mincha), whereas Arvit protects a progress in learning by the power everyone could conquer the forces person during the entire length of of prayer, yet they refrain from do- of evil during the night and arrive at a drawn-out winter night. All this is ing so. This is why every Jew must the sources of holiness. due to the devotion of Jacob, who understand the power and great- Since we are speaking of this, I instituted Arvit. ness of prayer. It is only through thought that I would explain anoth- I have reflected upon the great- concentrated prayer that we can er subject. Why did Jacob institute ness of this prayer. Actually, we progress in Torah and perfect our- Arvit in particular, and what is the find almost no Jew who is brought selves in serving Hashem. greatness of this nightly prayer as closer to Judaism by being taught Despite all this, we know that opposed to the prayers instituted the laws of Shabbat, family purity, most Jews in the world, although by Abraham and Isaac (Shacharit tithes of fruits and vegetables, and they are religiously uneducated and and Mincha)? so on. A Jew who is far from Torah do not study Torah, nevertheless As long as Jacob was dwell- and mitzvot will not understand that have solid faith in the Creator of ing in the home of his righteous he can come closer to Hashem in the world because of their prayers. father and mother, Isaac and Re- this way. On the contrary, he will They would never renounce the becca, he recited the prayers of mock everything that he hears. Shabbat prayers, and there are his fathers Abraham and Isaac. How can he be brought closer? some who would never renounce Yet when Jacob was commanded By teaching him to pray, to believe the three daily prayers. This is be- to leave his home and travel to in the Creator of the world, and by cause the power of prayer can in- Haran, he thought of Laban the Ar- opening his heart to the love and still faith in the heart of man. amean and realized that these two reverent fear of Hashem. It is only Yet because of our many sins, prayers would be insufficient. He in this way, through the power of they are content to pray without understood that he would have to prayer and by the help of Heaven, studying Torah. This is why the add another one to them. that we can bring Jews closer to Tanna said of them: “An ignoramus This is why Jacob considered their Creator. cannot be pious” (Perkei Avoth 2: returning (according to Chullin Conversely, to our great regret 6), for they have no enthusiasm 91b), telling himself: The place and shame, we find many people for Hashem’s Torah. It is a pity where my fathers prayed – where who regularly pray three times a that they do not overcome the evil my fathers instituted the prayers day, yet are still uneducated, scoff- inclination and taste the Torah, as – do I not need to add the prayer ers who mock everything that is it written: “Taste and see that the of Arvit in this same place so as to holy, all because “prayer without L-RD is good” (Psalms 34:9). They conquer the impure forces of the concentration is a body without a would then see how good Hashem night? He also added: Certainly soul.” Without a soul in the body, is. here the merit of my fathers pro- there can be no life. Thus if a per- This is why we must also con- tects me against Esau. The merit son prays without concentration, quer our material desires. It is pre- of the Torah also protects me here, his prayer has no life. Praying with- cisely in this area that the Satan yet in Haran, which is an evil place out concentration has no effect on succeeds in silencing the heart and without Torah and good deeds, the one who prays, and it’s a pity of man by telling him, “You are a these two prayers will certainly not that he prays. Such prayer can- Tzaddik and a Gaon who is care- be enough to save me. not give him the power to arouse ful about praying [without Torah].” This is why Jacob considered his heart, and it certainly does not We must connect ourselves to both returning in order to institute an have the ability to give him the Torah study and prayer, for prayer additional prayer. At that point the power to progress in Torah. makes serving G-d appealing and Holy One, blessed be He, brought However there are two catego- sweet, while the Torah helps man Mount Moriah to him (Chullin 91b). ries of the uneducated. There are to attain his goal in this world. This Jacob prayed there and instituted some who do not pray at all and is why we must also encourage Arvit for protection, demonstrating do not understand the nature of others to both pray and study, for his devotion to this nightly prayer prayer. It is only when their hearts in this way we can overcome the that is tremendously powerful, are aroused and we teach them evil inclination and come closer to particularly during the long nights that they begin to pray a little. Hashem.

28 A Night of Spiritual Elevation, Torah, and the Fear of Heaven

o celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the began growing 20 years ago – when I knew you, when yeshiva that carries the name of the Tzad- you were still young and not yet grown. Now, however, dik Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal in Lyon, the Ohr thanks to G-d, you have grown up on the knees of the Haim VeMoshe institutions organized a very Torah and the yeshiva! impressive gathering aimed at encouraging “When you were young, you were great. Why were peopleT and motivating them to study Torah. you great? Because one who elevates himself in the path Rabbi David Shlita, who came especially from Israel of Torah is already called a great man. Happy are you, for this event, delivered a moving address to the large holy assembly, that the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen you, and happy are you to have chosen to follow the paths of Hashem!” It was an inspiring evening that lifted the thousand partici- pants toward one of the most beautiful moments of Torah in the history of the Lyon yeshiva. In hearing this unexpected appeal, dozens of young peo- ple in attendance responded by placing themselves in front of Rabbi David Pinto Shlita, and promising to commit them- selves to an extra hour of Torah study each day at the yeshiva. It must be stressed that these people all work, and that they undertook this promise before the entire public gathering that filled the convention hall (the large part of which was com- crowd that completely filled the great hall, about 1,000 people. He said, “See just how much you love the Holy One, blessed be He! Before coming here, you knew what He was expecting of you tonight, and what you would be prepared to do for Him tonight – taking upon yourselves a little more of the yoke of the Torah and mitzvoth – and still you came. You didn’t come to eat or drink, or simply to have an enjoyable evening, but you came for the honor of the Torah, to make a resolution tonight to strengthen yourselves as much as pos- sible in honor of the Torah. To you I say: See the plants that I

29 heart of the listener. He added that everyone who faithfully deals with the public, the Holy One, blessed be He, gives them their reward. The Rosh Kollel, Rav Assaraf Shlita said, “It’s a dream come true to see hundreds of people who have come for an event like this, to hear words of Torah and take upon themselves the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who believed that the Torah had almost disappeared from France committed a grave error. Thank G-d, as we see, the Torah and its study are developing, in France and throughout the world, due to the devotion of the great men of our time. We ask Rabbi David prised of those from the elite of Lyon’s Torah-observant Pinto Shlita to not abandon us, community). to continue to visit us, and to pray for us.” Hundreds of Ba’alei Teshuvah, gentle and humble, That night one rabbi said, “This is a gathering of gen- came to this event solely to identify with the holy Torah erous people. They have come to thank Rabbi David and erase even more of what their past had profaned. Pinto Shlita and all who help him for their great generos- Now we may call them Bnei Torah and blessed by Hash- ity in having undertaken, here in our city, a holy task. It is em, may He protect them all. because of their merit that today we see a new genera- The rabbis of the city said the following during that tion of young people who will be called upon to spread magnificent evening: The one who remembers the city Judaism. In fact, the entire goal of Rabbi David Pinto Sh- of Lyon some 20 years ago would not have imagined lita is to reduce disbelief and to increase the love of G-d, that it would resemble a miniature Jerusalem today. By which is the reason why he had Heaven’s help in the fruit G-d’s favor, the initiative taken by Rabbi David Pinto Sh- of his work throughout the entire world, especially in the lita to open a kollel in a place that was a spiritual desert city of Lyon.” – where there was neither Torah nor the fear of Heaven Another Rav said, “The yeshiva is a source of faith, – has succeeded, whereas nobody gave him the slight- and one who wants to study a chapter of faith and trust in est chance of success. Today, thank G-d, 20 years later, Hashem can go to the Pinto yeshiva. I promise him that we can say that by his merit, daring, and courage, as well he will emerge filled with faith and confidence in G-d. If as the great risks that he took upon himself, there are you notice, hundreds of people have enhanced their ser- hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people who have vice of Hashem. They have come closer to Torah solely returned to Judaism and at least know the meaning of the because they have come closer to Rabbi David Pinto honor of Torah. Meanwhile, at the kollel there are about Shlita, and in him they saw a spring bursting with a love 40 Avrechim Bnei Torah, as well as hundreds of young for Israel, a man from whom we can learn how to conduct people who come to study Torah after work. All this is ourselves in serving Hashem.” because of Rabbi David Hanania Shlita, a person from a family of Tzaddikim, one of the men who supports all those who yearn for Torah. The Chief Rabbi of Lyon, Rav Wertenshlag Shlita, welcomed all the participants to that historic evening. He also thanked Rabbi David Pinto Shlita for the responsibility that he took upon himself 20 years earlier, namely to establish Torah institutions not only in Lyon, but throughout the world. He said that the success he experienced in this task came from speaking from the heart, for words that come from the heart enter the

30 Inauguration of a new Sefer Torah at Lyon

Inauguration of a new Sefer Torah at Lyon With the Rishon Letzion Rav Bakchi Doron Shlita

With the Rishon Letzion Hagaon Rav Ovadia Yossef Shlita

With Israel’s Chif RabbiChlita Rav Meyer Low Shlita

With Rav Reouven Elbaz Shlita

With the Gaon Rav Yehouda Leib Steinman Shlita With the Rishon Letzion Rav Mordekhai Eliahou Shlita With Rabbi Haïm Shmouel Loupian Zatsal

Rabbi Haïm Pinto of Casablanca Zatsal

With the GaonRabbi Yossef Kalatsky Shlita With the Admour of Beltz Shlita

With the Admour de Dushinski Zatsal

Inauguration of a Sefer Torah in Lyon - FRANCE Torah studies in Lyon - FRANCE

Giving a Lecture in Mexico City Torah studies (PARIS - FRANCE) The Magnificent Reception in Honor of the Tzaddik Rabbi David Pinto Shlita at Beit Yossef Tsvi (5 Tevet 5764)

n Tuesday night during the week of This great friendship saw the light of day dur- Parsha Vayigash (Tevet 5, 5764), ing the lifetime of the Gaon and Admor Y.M. Du- a reception took place in a large shinski Zatzukal, the Av Beit Din of Jerusalem. building belonging to the great in- When these two Torah greats met, the fabric of a stitutions of our friend, the Gaon wonderful friendship was woven between them. and Tzaddik, the AdmorO Rabbi Yossef Tzvi Du- shinski Shlita. It was simply mag- nificent, accom- panied with all the honor befitting both the guest of honor and the l o n g s t a n d i n g friendship that bonds the great Tzaddik and Kab- balist Rabbi David the Rabbi Giving a Dvor Torah in the Yechiva of Dudhinsky (Jerusalem Pinto Shlita to the Beit Yossef Tzvi During the lifetime of the Admor Rabbi Y.M. institutions. Dushinski Zatzukal, Rabbi David Pinto Shlita went to visit him several times, and the Admor even asked for a blessing for himself, his fam- ily members, and his students. He also asked him to give a course to hundreds of stu- dents in the main hall of his large yeshiva. Once, the Admor Rabbi Y.M. Dushinski With the new Admour of Dushinsky Shlita even lowered his

35 head before the Gaon and Kabbalist Rabbi David knew no bounds. Thus when the lights went out Pinto Shlita so he could lay his hands on him and in Jerusalem when the Admor Rabbi Y.M. Dush- bless him for good health and success, adding inski Zatzukal, the Av Beit Din of Jerusalem, left that he was a channel for bringing an abundance this world, the Kabbalist Rabbi David felt great of blessings to the Jewish people. The Gaon darkness arising in the direction of Jerusalem. Rabbi Y.M. Dushinski even visited him, despite the fact that walking was difficult for him in his fi- nal years. In spite of this, on several occasions he endeavored to see him so as to rejoice in his light. When there were family celebrations with the Gaon and Kabbalist, the Admor Y.M. Dushin- ski twice sent his son to Paris to celebrate with him. This is the history of their friendship, one that

With the Admour of Dushinsky Zatsal

It was only afterwards that we learned that, in fact, great darkness had come upon that night. The Gaon Rabbi David Shlita him- self organized an evening of eulogies, with thousands of people participating in his city of Lyon as well as in Paris. He wept bitterly over this heavy loss for the Jewish people. Consequently, it is obvious that this great friendship continues to go on, even now that his firstborn son, the Tzaddik Rabbi Yossef Tzvi Dushinski Shlita, received the crown of leadership for the great Beit Yossef Tzvi in- stitutions. There was therefore an amazing meeting between these two Torah greats. The Gaon, Tzaddik and Kabbalist Rabbi David Pinto Shlita also had the chance to visit the Beit Yossef Tzvi Torah institutions, out of which thousands of students have emerged and followed their saintly teachers and connected themselves to them. May Hashem ensure that all the bless- ings that the great guest gave to our teacher

Giving a Dvro Torah at “Beith Tzvi” - Jerusalem Shlita be fulfilled in us, and may we merit a complete deliverance. Amen.

36 “the parchments are burning but the letters are soaring on high his torah protect us” Eulogy delivered by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita for the Tzaddik and Gaon Rabbi Shalom Messas Zatsal, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem

he Letters are Soaring on the Torah certainly does not disap- High: The Torah Remains pear. Although people may grieve with Klal Israel. The Sages because the Torah has been burned, say that when the Romans nevertheless that Torah is definitely returned from the burial of not lost; it remains in the air. The one Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma, they found who grieves over it will merit breath- RabbiT Chanina ben Teradion study- ing in its letters, benefiting from the ing Torah and gathering groups in emanations of the Torah of this Tzad- public with a Sefer Torah in his arms. dik. Consequently, the Torah is not in The Romans enwrapped him in the Heaven, and the world continues to Sefer Torah and placed bundles of benefit from it. branches around him, which they In those circumstances, since the set on fire. They then brought tufts Executioner (although a non-Jew and of wool soaked in water and placed them on his heart so that he would die completely ignorant) was grieved over more slowly. His disciples said to him, what was being done to Rabbi Chani- “Rabbi, what do you see?” He replied, na ben Teradion, and because he had thoughts of repenting, he threw “The parchments are burning but the The Tzaddik, few month letters are soaring on high.” The Ex- himself into the fire and instantly mer- before his decease ecutioner said to him, “Rabbi, if I raise ited life in the World to Come. This the flame and take away the tufts of embodies the concept of the letters wool from your heart, will you bring The accursed Romans wanted the soaring on high. When we mourn me to life in the World to Come?” Jewish people to forget the Torah, and for a Tzaddik who has died, the Holy He replied, “Yes.” The Executioner they believed that they could achieve One, blessed be He, also pushes us added, “Then swear unto me,” and this by burning their book of study, the to benefit from his Torah, for the Torah Rabbi Chanina ben Teradion swore to Torah. However they were wrong. I re- learned by this Tanna or Tzaddik hov- him. The Executioner raised the flame member once in France having read ers in the air, and people need to be and removed the tufts of wool from his that, hundreds of years ago, a French protected by it. heart, and his soul quickly departed. king had taken and burned all the Si- This is what the Sages have said, The Executioner then threw himself fre Torah and holy books in France. namely that Moses’ influence is felt in into the fire, and a Heavenly voice The same thing happened in Russia, every generation in the 600,000 souls was heard saying, “Rabbi Chanina for this is what all our enemies have of Israel, for the Torah that he taught ben Teradion and the Executioner done to us. They have all wanted to to the Children of Israel in the desert have been assigned to the World to burn the Torah, not to tear it up. This is was transmitted to them, and when Come” (Avodah Zarah 18a). because when we tear something up, There was great darkness in the traces of it are left behind. However world at that time, for the Romans when we burn something, it disap- had killed many of the Jewish people, pears completely. The only thing that including the Ten Martyrs, the Tan- remains is ash. naim. However the words of Rabbi Chanina teach us something amaz- Concerning this, Rabbi Chanina ing. He said, “The letters are soaring ben Teradion teaches us that even on high,” yet what does this mean? when non-Jews burn the Torah, it What does it mean that the letters are does not actually burn. Its letters soaring upwards precisely when the fly up and remain in the air, and the Sefer Torah is burned? one who merits it can see them, for

37 Moses departed for the Celestial I do not wish to repeat his re- ten: “His mercies are on all His works” Academy, it remained with us (Tik- sponse, but suffice to say that this (Psalms 145:9). Yet in such a case, kunei Zohar 69:112a). The more we man has always been a great among why do we see such cruelty with re- study Torah, the more Heaven helps giants. He negated himself to request gards to the goat for Azazel? Why us to yearn for the Torah of Moses in a blessing for his wife, which dem- does the Holy One, blessed be He, our hearts. Moses was comparable to onstrates his extraordinary humility. not tell us to first slaughter this goat a Sefer Torah, and therefore the To- Someone who is prepared to set him- and then to throw it off a mountain? rah continues to hover over us. This self aside in order to receive a bless- We find allusions to Hashem’s is how Moses exerts his influence in ing is not an ordinary person. I said to mercy in sacred texts. The Sages every generation. him, “Rabbi Shalom, it’s only because recount that Rabbeinu Hakadosh Such was the great Tzaddik and you’re asking me for this blessing, experienced tremendous pain for 13 Gaon Rabbi Shalom Messas Zatzu- only because of your humility, that the years because he once agreed that kal. He left this world for another one, Holy One, blessed be He, will hear the a calf should be slaughtered. It was yet his Torah remains here, still in the prayer that you address to Him.” That being taken for slaughter when it fled air. The one who mourns his pass- was Rabbi Shalom Messas Zatzal. and tried to find refuge under Rabbi’s ing certainly benefits from his Torah, clothing. When Rabbi saw the calf, profiting from the merit of the Torah The Pain of a Tzaddik’s he took no pity on it and instead said, that he studied. Because we mourn Passing “Go, for you were created for this.” the passing of the Tzaddik and Gaon When Heaven saw Rabbi not taking The Sages say, “If one sheds pity on animals, no pity was taken on Rabbi Shalom Zatzal, we may benefit tears for a worthy man, the Holy One, him either, and thus he experienced from his Torah. May the Holy One, blessed be He, counts them and lays extreme pain for 13 years. His pain blessed be He, open our minds in or- them up in His treasure house” (Shab- disappeared when his maidservant der that we may better understand the bat 105b). We know that one who was sweeping the house and saw Torah of Rabbi Shalom Zatzal. weeps for a Tzaddik, the Holy One, some young weasels lying there. He About eight years ago, I was with blessed be He, counts his tears and said to her, “Let them be, for it is writ- Rabbi Yehoshua Dahan in Casa- the pain that he feels, and He forgives ten: ‘His mercies are on all His works’ blanca, Morocco for Passover. Rabbi his sins. Now we see something very [Psalms 145:9].” Rabbi’s pain then left Shalom Messas Zatzal was in Israel surprising concerning Yom Kippur. On him because he had pity on these ani- at that time, and his wife was having that day two goats are taken, one for mals (Bava Metzia 85a). health problems. He called Rabbi Ye- Hashem and the other for Azazel. The Consequently, why does the Holy hoshua in Morocco to wish him a hap- goat for Hashem is slaughtered, aton- One, blessed be He, not take pity on py holiday, and Rabbi Yehoshua told ing for the Jewish people, while the the goat for Azazel? Why do we see him that I was staying with him. I saw goat for Azazel is brought into the des- such cruelty in this case? As we have Rabbi Shalom’s extraordinary humil- ert and thrown off the top of a moun- said, it would have been better to first ity at that point, for when he spoke tain, being torn to pieces before even slaughter the goat before throwing it with me, he asked for a blessing for reaching halfway down the slope. It is down the mountain, thus preventing his wife. I said to him, “Rabbi Shalom, in this way that Hashem forgives all such an atrocious death. I am not great; I am small, whereas the sins of the Jewish people. We are now a few days before your are the Rosh Av Beit Din. You This is very difficult to understand. the holiday of Shavuot, celebrating teach Torah to the community, and We know that the Holy One, blessed the giving of the Torah. However we you have the merit of your prayers. be He, is merciful and takes pity on must prepare ourselves to receive Why are you asking for a blessing His creatures. This includes both do- the Torah, and the preparation for from someone like me?” mestic and wild animals, as it is writ- this begins as early as Passover. What exactly is the preparation that we undertake at Passover? It is the improvement of our midot. Actually, no one can say that he only has vir- tues; there are always midot that can be improved. We see that even after the death of Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon, a worm came out of his ear because he had heard Lashon Harah concerning a Talmid Chacham with- out protesting (Bava Metzia 84b). We must therefore prepare our- selves by working on our midot, which is the main part of our preparation. His son, Chif Rabbi of Paris Rabbi David Messas Pronouncing the Hesped The Gaon Rabbi Israel Salanter said

38 to himself, “I feel pain over the death of this animal, yet I don’t feel any pain for my wicked deeds, among them be- ing making others forgo Torah study, for people may be punished because of me!” When we think about things in this way, we will truly regret that our fellowman must die because of the Lashon Harah that we have spoken of him. We will regret the prayers that we did not properly say during the whole year, as well as all the evil deeds that we have committed. We need to ask forgiveness for this. The cause of evil deeds is pride, and the fact that a goat is thrown off the top of a moun- tain serves to awaken all men to their bad midot, for which many others have been punished. Even children have been punished for the bad midot The Tsaddik at the Bar-mitzva of Yoël Pinto of others, for children die for fathers, that there are 48 good midot to ac- things concerning man and his fel- may G-d help us. quire. Conversely, there are 48 bad lowman, as well as concerning man midot to perfect or uproot during the and G-d. The Torah is Acquired by days of the Omer until Shavuot, and Consequently, the question that Humility on the 49th day of the Omer we re- we asked can be answered. On Yom When we speak of Rabbi Shalom visit them all. Only then do we merit Kippur, everyone realizes how cruel it Messas Zatzal, a man who was a obtaining the Torah, as we run to- is that a live goat is thrown off the top great among giants, what immediately wards Hashem to receive it. As for of a mountain. However the answer to comes to mind is his immense humil- the one who has not prepared him- why this is done is found in the ques- ity. I remember that as a 10-year-old self, what will he receive? There is tion itself. Why do you feel pain and boy in Morocco, I saw Rabbi Shalom something to receive only if there pity for a goat that is thrown off the top passing in the street and I ran to kiss has been preparation beforehand. of a mountain, yet feel indifferent to his hand. Everything about him testi- The Mishnah states, “Moses re- the fact that you caused pain to your fied to his greatness. When the King ceived the Torah from Sinai” (Perkei fellowman during the entire year? of Morocco went to see him at his Avoth 1:1). It does not say, “Hashem Furthermore, what about all the home, Rabbi Shalom did not men- gave the Torah to Moses on Sinai,” pain that you caused the Creator tion this to the press. When important but rather “Moses received,” which of the world during the whole year? people were with him, he did speak of means that Hashem always wants What about the pain you caused the it or even mention it. In him we saw to give, but a person must want to Shechinah, for which you did noth- the teaching of the Sages being ful- receive. ing to lift from the earth? You have no filled: “Words of Torah are firmly held We must all be people who re- regrets about this, or about your neg- by one who kills himself for it” (Be- ceive. We should not have to ask ligence in Torah study and the scorn rachot 63b). The Sages also said that people and beg them, “Come and of the Torah that you forsook. You feel the Torah can only be acquired by one listen to a Torah class.” Instead, no pain for all this, yet you feel pain who submits himself to it (Taanith 7a). everyone should come running to for an animal thrown off the top of a Rabbi Shalom in fact submitted him- receive, ready to listen, and then the mountain? Better that you should re- self to the Torah. The one who knew receiver can in turn give and trans- gret sins between G-d and man, and him had great merit, and the one who mit, for even before we offer people between man and his fellow! did not know him certainly heard great the chance to come and study, they It may be that this is one of the stories about him. should already be prepared to take reasons why the Holy One, blessed I was with him last year, on the it upon themselves to do so. Like- be He, desired that it is precisely on evening before my son’s Bar Mitzvah, wise, even before we ask people Yom Kippur that a goat is unmercifully and I asked him some questions of to help their fellowman, they should thrown off the top of a mountain (with- Halachah concerning our traditions. already be prepared to do so. To ar- out being slaughtered first) to experi- What can I say! The Shechinah was rive at this level, we must prepare ence a cruel death. A person must ask resting on his countenance – Torah, ourselves by working on our midot, himself why this is so. When he does, extraordinary humility, and greatness for this allows us to receive, both in he will immediately wake up and say in a single person – and with this

39 help from Heaven.” Such was the Divine service and strength of Rabbi Shalom, may his merit protect us. Amen, may it be so, and through his merit may the Holy One, blessed be He, send us Mashiach, speedily and in our days. Amen.

Aaron is Silent: Every- thing that the Merciful One Does is for the Good We see in the Torah that after the death of Aaron’s two sons, Moses came to console his brother and said to him, “Of this did the L-RD speak, saying, ‘I will be sanctified through those who are nearest Me’ ” (Leviti- In the obsequies of the Tsadik cus 10:3). This means: I knew that humility he answered my questions night, we can clearly see the light of Hashem’s Name would be sanctified directly. He then called his son Rabbi the stars. at the inauguration of the Sanctuary, Daniel and said to him, “Daniel, our It is the same with the Tzaddikim. but I did not know through who it origins are from Morocco. I am your As long as they are alive, they shine would be, you or I. Now that your two father, but sometimes I cannot give so much that we do not see their light, sons are dead, I see that they were you advice. He [referring to me] is and it is almost impossible to benefit holier than you or I. It was they who Hashem had in mind by saying, “I your age, and he can advise you.” I from the light of their Torah. However will be sanctified through those who then answered him, “Rabbi Shalom, after their death (as we have ex- are nearest Me.” Immediately upon you are his father and he loves you. plained above), when the letters fly up Only you who can give him advice. hearing this, “Aaron was silent.” He into the air, we no longer see them. Can another person tell your son what did not say anything in response, but We then immediately begin to better to do?” Is there greater humility than was quiet. He received a reward for perceive the light of the Tzaddikim, this? Such was Rabbi Shalom Mes- this silence, for afterwards the Holy and we now sense this light that has sas: Simplicity and humility. One, blessed be He, spoke to him gone out. separately (Vayikra Rabba 12:2). Rabbi Shalom Messas Zatzal, who Certainly the angels have won and has left for the Celestial Academy, is If the Torah states “Aaron was si- the holy Ark has been captured (Ketu- up there now and looking at us, look- lent,” it is because there is some se- bot 104a). He was taken from us, but ing at his children and this entire holy cret in this, something for us to learn. his Torah was not taken. The letters gathering that has gathered in his Actually, it is not easy for a father to fly about in the air, and the one who hear that his sons are greater than honor. As a result, it is certain that him, more holy than him, and that from Heaven he has dispatched a wants to take them can do so. His To- they have died during his lifetime. group of emissaries and angels who rah protects us, and all the books that The pain of not having benefited from say, “Let us go down and see what he wrote, all the Halachic decisions he his sons, from the light of their Torah people are saying about him.” What took, all the agunot he allowed to re- and their holiness, was immense. are we saying about him? There are marry, all these have remained for us. In France I was once presented with Consequently, it is certain that all this so many things to say that we can was extremely painful for Aaron. Yet no longer say anything, particularly a case of a woman who had ten chil- dren, some of which were suspected instead of telling Moses that he was concerning his immense humility. We suffering because his children had of being illegitimate. I therefore put can only think, “How regrettable it is died, he remained silent. that those who are irreplaceable have the question to Rabbi Shalom, and Now Aaron could have told Mo- died.” What a pity it is that our genera- he resolved the problem, for he also ses, “Why did they die precisely on tion did not merit knowing who Rabbi knew how to solve very difficult ques- the day of the Sanctuary’s inaugura- Shalom Messas really was! tions such as this one. tion? Why did both of them die rather The Meiri (at the beginning of Trac- By his saintly spirit, by the spirit of than one? Why did I not die in their tate Pesachim) compares the Tzaddi- his Torah, he knew who was a mamz- place, since they were not yet even kim to stars. Now stars shine during er and who was not, for he given help married, and I cannot see ‘grand- the day also, for they emit light like the from Heaven. The Holy One, blessed children [who are] like children’ [Ye- sun. However during the day we do be He, supported him to such an ex- bamot 62b]?” Despite all this, Aaron not see their light because the sun’s tent that he once said to me in his kept quiet. This silence clearly dem- own light hides it. However when the saintly manner of speaking, “Rabbi onstrates Aaron’s greatness, who sun disappears from view during the David, I am certain that I am given felt Hashem’s presence everywhere

40 The Tsaddik Rabbi Chalom Messas Zatsal giving a Dvar Torah to honnour the Hatan of the Bar-Mitzva

and knew that everything comes only then that we see if a man truly of going towards peace. Thus when from Him. If Hashem did this, it was loves G-d, or if it only appears that disputes arise, the statement “all its because it was His will. Therefore way. It is then that we see if he has pathways are peace” is not fully real- who was he, Aaron, to come and only a fair-weather love of G-d, com- ized. contest Hashem’s deeds? Who was plaining as soon as something goes Rabbi Shalom was not like this. he to protest? Only a man as great bad and crying about everything he Even when he was hurt, Shalom was as Aaron, who knew that everything lacks. Such a love of Hashem is far silent, just as “Aaron was silent.” It comes from G-d and that everything from being perfect. was in this way that Rabbi Shalom the Merciful One does is for the good Rabbi Shalom Messas Zatzal acquired everyone’s love, and of (Berachot 60b), could arrive at such suffered greatly during his life, yet him we may say that his Torah hov- a level without complaining. just from the way that he spoke of ers in the air. The proof is that from It is in man’s nature to bemoan Hashem, as well as the great love all around the world people have himself when in mourning; thus he that he had for Him, can we also say gathered for his funeral, and even cries and experiences regrets. How- of Rabbi Shalom, “Aaron was silent.” people who have never of him have ever Aaron kept quiet. A love for He accepted everything that came come to hear this eulogy. This is a Hashem burned in him to such an from Hashem with joy. As many peo- sign that his Torah hovers in the air, extent that when he heard that this ple told us, he loved peace and pur- and that anyone who wants to take it happened for Hashem’s honor – that sued peace, and he had no enemies, can do so. His Torah did not ascend it was in this way that the Holy One, either in Jerusalem or Morocco, or to Heaven and was not burned. It blessed be He, glorified Himself – he anywhere else in the world. He found remains here, as it is written: “It is immediately accepted it. Only a man common ground with everyone, and not in Heaven…. Rather, the matter who loves G-d can love His glory, he knew just what to say and how to is very close to you” (Deuteronomy and such a man takes no account of act with all people. This is because 30:12,14). himself in this world. Only a man like the Torah is acquired by peace, as this can keep quiet and not react. it is written: “Its ways are ways of The Torah in Not in Heav- Aaron was such a man. He kept pleasantness, and all its pathways en, but Close for You to quiet when he heard that Hashem are peace” (Proverbs 3:17). This is Accomplish was glorified by the death of his what the Torah wants, to lead peo- sons, and silence is acceptance. A ple towards peace. Unfortunately, The verse states, “He distributed love of Hashem and the ability to not every Rav understands that the widely to the destitute, his righteous- sense His presence are only ex- purpose of the Torah is peace, even ness endures forever” (Psalms 112: pressed during a time of testing. It is though every Rav has the intention 9). Someone who teaches Torah to

41 the children of the poor who do not him. Nevertheless, he may end up of Rabbi Eliezer’s words and proofs, have Torah, or to the uneducated, his losing it. However a Talmid Cha- why did they let him bring them in righteousness will endure forever. cham will never lose his wealth (the the first place? This is especially so This is because teaching Torah is Torah), and he will be honored and at the end, when Rabbi Eliezer said called giving Tzeddakah, for the To- esteemed everywhere he goes, for that Heaven would justify him, and rah is called Tzeddakah (Yalkut Shi- the Torah elevates him. It is concern- indeed a Heavenly voice announced moni Vayera 2). ing this that we weep. Nevertheless, that the Halachah was in accor- Such was Rabbi Shalom. He was Rabbi Shalom’s Torah hovers in the dance with his opinion. At that point famous among the poor, the needy, air, and whoever wants to take it can Rabbi Yehoshua arose and said, “It and the uneducated, and it was pre- do so. is not in Heaven” (Deuteronomy 30: cisely with them that he elevated In addition, the Torah can even ex- 12). The Torah is here on earth, and himself, teaching them the ways of ert an influence on a non-Jew, as in we pay no attention to a Heavenly peace. One who teaches Torah to the story of Rabbi Chanina ben Tera- voice. This is astonishing! If Rabbi someone who already knows Torah dion (Avodah Zarah 18a). When the Yehoshua also rejected a Heavenly has great merit. However one who Executioner heard that Rabbi Chani- voice, then why did he allow Rabbi teaches it to someone who knows na’s Torah was soaring upwards, he Eliezer to say what he did? Why did nothing of Torah has tremendously repented and threw himself into the a Heavenly voice need to speak, if it greater merit. We see this with Mo- fire, thereby meriting life in the World was only going to be silenced? Why ses, who taught Torah to the Jewish to Come. What was it that made him did Rabbi Yehoshua do this? people, as it is written: “The Torah repent? It was the letters that soared We know that “The Holy One, that Moses commanded us is the upwards, and as a result he earned blessed be He, looked into the To- heritage of the Congregation of Ja- the World to Come at the same time rah and created the world” (Zohar cob” (Deuteronomy 33:4). It is also as Rabbi Chanina. II:161b). This means that the Torah written, “Remember the Torah of Mo- is found in all of Creation, for all of ses My servant” (Malachi 3:22). Now The Gemara recounts the famous Creation knows that there is a To- it is said of him, “his righteousness story of the oven of Aknai that Rabbi rah, and it is fixed into each thing. endures forever” (Psalms 112:9), for Eliezer ben Hyrcanus believed to be However in all of Creation, only man he gave great Tzeddakah to the Jew- pure, whereas the other Sages be- can speak, which is not the case ish people. This is what Rabbi Sha- lieved it to be impure (Bava Metzia with all the rest. Furthermore, the lom Messas did as well. 59). Rabbi Eliezer did many things to justify his opinion, to the point of stat- Torah was only given to the Jewish The Sages have taught, “Pay ing that he would be proved right by people, which is why Rabbi Eliezer heed to the children of the poor, for a carob tree, a stream of water, the Hagadol believed that although all of the Torah goes forth from them” (Ne- Creation cannot speak, it could still darim 81a). The Torah brings great walls of the Beit Midrash, and Heav- en itself. However the Sages would prove that the Halachah follows his happiness, and whoever teaches opinion. This is because the world it to the children of the poor brings have none of it, and each time they rejected his proofs by saying that was created by means of the Torah them life, since afterwards they be- and it is fixed in Creation. It knows come Bnei Torah, and there is none Halachic matters are not decided by how it was made, and it can prove wealthier than one who possesses any of these things. what is true and what is not. Torah. A man who is rich in money This is very difficult to understand. believes that this money belongs to If the Sages constantly rejected each This is precisely why the Sages did not agree with Rabbi Eliezer. They allowed him to bring proofs from a carob tree, a stream, and the walls of the Beit Midrash because they knew that the Torah is found in all of Creation. It could therefore prove what is true, meaning that the Halachah did not follow his opinion. Thus precisely because the Torah is found in all Creation, they brought a proof that the Torah is not in Heav- en, but rather is here on earth and fixed into everything of the world. This is why, in the end, they told Rabbi Eliezer that one does not bring proofs from that which does not speak, or from something in The Tzaddik Rabbi Chalom Messas Zatsal bless Yoël Pinto which the Torah is found, but only from man himself, who can speak.

42 According to this, we will un- air and pour out his saintly spirit on in His Torah that the Halachah fol- derstand what Rabbi Eliezer said: whoever desires it. lows the opinion of the majority, and “Again he urged: ‘If the Halachah In the course of studying Torah, in this His children defeated Him. agrees with me, let the walls of the we often merit saying the same The Torah is here, as it is stated: house of study prove it,’ whereupon things as the Vilna Gaon or the “It is not hidden from you and it is the walls inclined to fall. But Rabbi Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger, or even not distant…. Rather, the matter is Yehoshua rebuked them, saying: one of the Rishonim. Are we like very near to you – in your mouth and ‘When scholars are engaged in a them? Do we possess their holi- your heart – to perform it” (Deuter- Halachic dispute, what [right] have ness? We do not even come up to onomy 30:11,14). Consequently the you to interfere?’ Hence they did their ankles! They studied so much not fall, in honor of Rabbi Yehoshua, Torah that they merited to give this Torah is found here, and so we have nor did they resume the upright, in or that explanation, whereas we, the duty to “learn it and learn it, for honor of Rabbi Eliezer. They are the small among the small, merit everything is in it” (Perkei Avoth 5: still leaning” (Bava Metzia 59b). The giving the same explanations as 22). If you don’t find something in it, walls of the Beit Midrash had heard they did. This is something that we it is because you have not looked much Torah, and their merit was have already mentioned. It is the through it enough. You are therefore great. They could therefore testify letters of the Torah of this Rishon, not interested in it and have not put for Rabbi Eliezer. However Rabbi of this Rav, of this Tzaddik, which enough effort into studying it. Yehoshua scolded them and said hover in the air. We have breathed Such was the greatness of Rabbi that they should not interfere with a them in and receive them from Shalom Messas’ Torah. I heard from discussion among the Sages. Hashem. We then have the merit to his son, Rav David Messas Shlita, In the end, when Rabbi Eliezer state them. that a few hours before his passing said that Heaven would prove him Rabbi Eliezer Hagadol, who was on Friday, he was still writing a re- correct, Rabbi Yehoshua replied, “It discussing the oven of Aknai with sponsum with regards to releasing is not in Heaven.” It remains here the Sages, certainly knew that in a on earth; the letters soar upwards, Halachic matter the decision goes an agunah. This is truly astound- yet they remain here. If there is a according to the majority (Berachot ing. We have also heard how this discussion among the Sages, there 37a). Yet if so, why did he argue with elderly man, a man filled with days, is a principle which states that we them? He certainly had no selfish in- sometimes sat down to study for the go with the opinion of the majority tentions. Rather, he wanted to show entire night until morning, without (Exodus 23:2). Even if the majority the whole world that even when we the slightest realization that it was bring proofs from all of Creation is incorrect, we follow it. Rabbi Ye- already daybreak. I once heard that (from a carob tree, a stream, and hoshua came to teach this principle: he had to be told that it was time for even from a Heavenly voice), even The Torah that Moses brought down Mincha, for he had studied so much for the Jewish people is not found in then the Halachah does not follow the one who is alone in his view; it during the night that he remained Heaven, but is here on earth, and still follows the opinion of the major- learning until Mincha of the follow- whoever wants to take it can come ity. In fact it is stated in the Torah ing day. He had not realized it, for and do so. that we must go according to the he was entirely immersed in Torah. His Lips Move in the majority (Exodus 23:2). In addition, This is because the Torah is not in even if Rabbi Eliezer was punished, Grave Heaven, and from Heaven he was since the Sages no longer spoke to given help in Torah. Happy is he! When a Tzaddik leaves this him and they burned everything that Happy is his lot! world, his Torah remains here, as he had pronounced pure, even then Consequently, the passing of the Sages have said: “The lips of he kept quiet and accepted his re- a [deceased] scholar, in whose jection. this Tzaddik is a terrible thing for name a traditional statement is True, the Gemara recounts all Israel. Yet thank G-d, Israel is reported in this world, move gen- that Rabbi Nathan asked Eliyahu not abandoned, and Hashem has tly in the grave” (Yebamot 97a). HaNavi, “What did the Holy One, left us the remnant of the letters of The Torah that he studied during blessed be He, do in that hour?” Eli- his Torah, which hover in the air, a his lifetime certainly walks before yahu replied, “He laughed [with joy], fragrance of his Torah. The Torah him in the World to Come, as it is saying: ‘My sons have defeated Me, has not disappeared, and it was not said: “Your righteous deed will pre- My sons have defeated Me’ ” (Bava burned. It did not ascend to Heaven, cede you” (Isaiah 58:8). The Torah Metzia 59b). This is because He had but has remained here and contin- awaits him in the World to Come. pronounced the oven to be pure, ues to nourish us. However his mouth, which studied while the Sages had pronounced Torah, remains here, especially if it to be impure. How can the Holy May his memory be a blessing, he has written Torah commentar- One, blessed be He, be defeated? and may he be a good defender ies. True, the Tzaddik is gone, but Is there someone who has ever for the entire community of Israel. the letters of his Torah hover in the defeated Him? However He wrote Amen, may it be so.

43 The Gravity of a Machloket

hen the Children of ach and Talmud. Then to finish, we The Sages have said, “Come Israel were about to shall refer to some recommendations and observe how grievous a thing receive the Torah at that our Sages have given us. strife must be, seeing that the Holy the foot of Mount Si- Let us first cite the tragedy that Lot One, blessed be He, exterminates nai, it is stated: “Israel experienced after having unleashed all memory of one who foments strife! encamped there, opposite the moun- a machloket: “There was quarreling For so it is written: ‘A flame came forth Wtain” (Exodus 19:2). Rashi makes the between the herdsmen of Abram’s from the L-RD and consumed the two well-known comment, namely that the livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s hundred and fifty men’ [Numbers 16: verb “encamped” is in the singular, livestock” (Genesis 13:7). 35]. Rabbi Berekiah commented: not the plural. This means that Israel The Results? Following this quar- How grievous a thing must strife be! encamped “As one person with one rel, Lot chose to live in Sodom, a city The Celestial Court as a rule inflicts heart.” filled with the wicked and perverse. penalties only on sinners who are This underlines the fact that dur- When a war broke out nearby, the twenty years old and upward, and the ing the journeys of the Children of enemies of Sodom took Lot captive. terrestrial court does so only on those Israel in the desert, there was not one This did not spare Abraham either, who are thirteen years old or more, stage that was not marked by quar- who went to rescue him and exposed yet in Korach’s strife babies of a day reling and dissention, or in short a himself to all the risks inherent in such old were burned and swallowed up machloket (dispute). However as they an undertaking. Next came the de- in the bottomless abyss, as it is writ- prepared to receive the Torah, they struction of Sodom, in which Lot lost ten: ‘With their wives, children, and were united as a single person. The part of his family, his wealth, and fi- infants…they and all that was theirs most complete harmony was to reign nally his wife. He then sinned with his descended alive to the pit’ [Numbers among the Children of Israel when daughters. they were to receive the Torah. This is 16:27,33]” (Bamidbar Rabba 18:4). the principle of kol Israel arevim zeh As for the machloket involving bazeh (“all Israel are guarantors for Korach and his followers, everyone The Mishnah’s View of one another”), an expression that has should draw a lesson from it. In fact a Machloket a numerical value of 26, that of Hash- concerning this subject, it is said in a The Mishnah discusses two types em’s Name. This means that if harmo- Mishnah in the name of Rabbi Akiva: of machlokot: “Any dispute that is for ny reigns among them, the Shechinah “Korach’s assembly has no part in the the sake of Heaven will have an abid- (Divine Presence) will live with them World to Come, as it is written: ‘The ing result; and that which is not for (Sanhedrin 27b). If there had been an earth covered them over’ – in this the sake of Heaven will not have an incident involving a machloket, Hash- world – ‘and they perished from the em would not have given them the To- midst of the assembly’ – in the next” abiding result. Which is a dispute for rah, and the world would have ceased (Sanhedrin 109b). The Zohar views the sake of Heaven? The dispute be- to exist. In fact it is written, “If not for this in the same way and teaches that tween Hillel and Shammai. And which My covenant [the Torah], I would not Korach (who aimed at thwarting the is not for the sake of Heaven? The have appointed days and nights, the unity of the world) was wiped out from dispute of Korach and all his assem- decrees of heaven and earth” (Jer- all worlds (Zohar 176:1-3). bly” (Perkei Avoth 5:17). emiah 33:25). On the subject of Korach and his As for the differences between Hil- This means that a machloket not assembly, the Gemara states: “ ‘So lel and Shammai, the Gemara speci- only affects some people, but threat- Moses stood up and went to Dathan fies, “For three years there was a dis- ens all of humanity and puts the foun- and Abiram’ [Numbers 16:25]. Resh pute between Beit Shammai and Beit dations of Creation at risk. Lakish said, ‘This teaches that one Hillel, the former asserting, ‘The Hal- We will attempt to illustrate this by must not be obdurate in a quarrel.’ achah is in agreement with our views’ citing several incidents. Very simply, Rav said, ‘He who is unyielding in a and the latter contending, ‘The Hal- we suggest that we reflect upon this dispute violates a negative command, achah is in agreement with our views.’ thorny issue together in order to not as it is written: “Let him not be as Ko- Then a Bat Kol issued announcing, fall into the trap of a machloket. In rach and his assembly” [Numbers 17: ‘Both are the words of the living G-d, this way, we will always be ready to 5]’ ” (Sanhedrin 110a). The Mishnah but the Halachah is in agreement with receive words of Torah. Berurah states that whoever main- the rulings of Beit Hillel’ ” (Eruvin 13b). We shall first cite instances of a tains a conflict transgresses this pro- Once this decision was taken, the fol- machloket as they appear in the Tan- hibition (Mishnah Berurah 156:4). lowers of Shammai yielded to it.

44 Even in times when debates were by the Jewish people with the death Yet the consequences with re- the liveliest, as for example when one of 24,000 disciples who were as great gards to Rabban Gamliel did not end school forbid while the other permit- as these two. with that trying voyage. Actually, the ted, friendly relations between their Because of this machloket, all the tears that Rabbi Eliezer shed follow- disciples were never compromised. generations were punished. This is ing his excommunication got the bet- Despite their different opinions on the why we observe laws of mourning ter of Rabban Gamliel, and shortly many problems concerning marriage every year from Passover to Shavuot, afterwards the shofar was sounded and divorce, weddings took place be- meaning that there are no marriages, to announce his death. This tragedy tween members of each school (Ye- celebrations, and so on. This is how had been predicted by Rabbi Eliezer’s bamot 13b). In this way they practiced the machloket of Rabbi Akiva’s dis- wife as she saw him crying, for she the words of the prophet Zechariah ciples ended, with all its tragic conse- said: “I have received this tradition when he proclaimed, “Love peace quences and aftereffects. from my father’s house: All gates are and truth” (Zechariah 8:19). locked, except the gates of wounded A Machloket Among feelings.” The Machloket of Rabbi Torah Scholars Con- Although it began by words of To- Akiva’s Disciples cerning a Halachah rah, this machloket ended in tragedy. The Gemara recounts that Rabbi This machloket is described in the Akiva had 24,000 disciples who all The Destruction of the Talmud. The parties involved were, died at the same time, between Pass- Temple on one side, the Sages represented over and Shavuot. A lack of Achdut by Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Ye- Above all, let us not forget that (unity) may be considered as the hoshua, and on the other side Rabbi a machloket creates hatred, which beginnings of a machloket. Hence Eliezer. The Halachah in question was the cause of the destruction of this entire tragedy was the result of a concerned a stove made from seg- the second Temple. As for the first machloket, “for they did not treat each ments that had entered into contact Temple, it was destroyed because other with respect” (Yebamot 62a). with Tumah (spiritual impurity). In of the three cardinal sins: Idolatry, Thus it was because of a machlo- Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion the stove adultery, and the spilling of blood. We ket that 24,000 Talmidei Chachamim remained Tahor (pure), whereas for must therefore conclude that hatred died. Furthermore, we must not for- the Sages (meaning Rabban Gam- is as serious as these three sins, for get that these scholars, whom the liel and Rabbi Yehoshua), the stove which a person must allow himself to Chafetz Chaim classified as artzei became Tameh (impure). To prove be killed rather than commit. halevanon (“cedars of Lebanon”), de- his point, Rabbi Eliezer appealed to In light of these events, which voted their entire lives to the study of miracles, but the Sages nevertheless were experienced by the entire Jew- Torah and its meticulous application in maintained their stance. Since Rabbi ish people, it is not surprising to see the service of both G-d and man. Yet Eliezer retained his view, the Sages our Sages persistently teaching us in spite of this, their merit was unable excommunicated him. Such was Rab- in each generation the dangers that to annul the death sentence levied bi Eliezer’s punishment following this the authors of a machloket expose against them because of a simple machloket. When he learned of this, themselves to, dangers that extend machloket. tears dripped from his eyes and even to their family and friends, even to the Because of this machloket, the crops experienced a disaster that re- entire Jewish people. This instruction entire Jewish people were punished, duced them by a third. will enable the Temple to be rebuilt as the Gemara underlines: With the We also know that Rabban Gam- and prevent us from stumbling into death of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples, liel was a victim of this dispute. this sin. “The world remained desolate” (Ye- First of all, as he was traveling at Here are some points to ponder: bamot 62b). The Jewish people lost sea a huge wave arose to drown him. We must realize that those who en- its teachers, its guides, its supports, Realizing that this was a result of the gage in a machloket will also say that and in short its foundations, thus ex- machloket, he exclaimed, “It appears it is for the sake of Heaven. This rea- posing them to all possible dangers. to me that this is on account of none soning, however, is a ruse used by the Rabbi Akiva had to travel to the south, other but Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus.” evil inclination, a trick by which it tries where he formed five new disciples, The Gemara continues: “Thereupon to make a person perish. After all, is it including Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai he arose and exclaimed, ‘Sovereign not said that the road to hell is paved and Rabbi Meir Baal Haness. It was of the Universe! You know full well that “with good intentions”? only from these scholars that the I have not acted for my honor, nor for We also need to realize that a Torah was reestablished. Cognizant the honor of my paternal house, but for machloket must be extinguished from of the caliber of Rabbi Shimon bar Yours, so that strife may not multiply in its very outset. Otherwise it will quick- Yochai and Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, Israel!’ With that, the raging sea sub- ly evolve and become, G-d forbid, un- we can imagine the loss experienced sided” (Bava Metzia 59b). controllable and destructive.

45 Following an incident in which or his money) yet he did not react in Rabbi David Pinto continues: certain people opposed an orthodox kind. A person’s wisdom is not mea- “When there is a discussion be- organization, Rav Steinman Shlita ex- sured by his scholarship, but rather tween the Tzaddikim of the genera- pressed himself in one of his letters as by the lack of his reaction (i.e., by his tion, it is not up to us to stick our nos- follows: “In a machloket, each person silence) with regards to those who at- es into the business of these spiritual is convinced that he is right, and no- tack him (Perkei Avoth 3:13). More- giants. We do not have the right to get body thinks that he is wrong. In such over, those who allow themselves to involved, for in any case our personal a case, the other person is obviously be humiliated, rather than to humiliate opinions will not be heard. We have considered to be wicked, and there- others – those who suffer insult and no influence on the matter. Conse- fore it seems permissible to belittle do not react in kind – are described quently, why should we get involved? him by all possible means, even if this by the Torah as being “like the power- Why should we open our mouths to means denouncing him to the authori- fully risen sun” (Judges 5:31). It is in speak against a cherished and holy ties or bringing him to court.” this sense that our Sages interpreted person of the Jewish people? How To our great sorrow, in recent the passage, “He suspends the earth can we speak against Tzaddikim, times we see more and more wid- upon nothingness” (Job 26:6). It is Rabbis, or Torah scholars? ows and orphans (G-d help us). Who also in this sense that they say, “The “We must adopt an attitude of faith. knows if this does not have its origin world exists only on account of him We must believe in Hashem and be in the sin of disputes? Although the in- who restrains himself in strife” (Chul- certain that all His ways are fair and dividuals punished have nothing to do lin 89a) straight. However it is impossible with disputes, we know that with Klal Rabbi David Hanania Pinto Shlita to believe in Hashem if we do not Israel, people are “guarantors for one affirms that even a wicked individual believe in the Tzaddikim of the gen- another.” How much more is this true who commits sins, yet refrains from eration, regardless of who they are. In when we lend an ear to quarrels or speaking ill of his neighbor and does fact it is written, ‘They believed in the believe what we hear in them! not like disputes, will end up repent- L-RD and in His servant Moses’ [Exo- Given the gravity of a machloket, a ing. If unity reigns among Jews, they dus 14:31]. If we believe in the Tzad- person should strive with all his might will finish by taking to the right path, dik, we will arrive at faith in Hashem, to flee from it as from death (Peleh even if they are devoted to idolatry. and in so doing we will see good Yoetz). Let us keep in mind the words This is what we see with warriors in fruits in this world and in the World to of our Sages (as cited by the Chafetz the generation of Ahab, who because Come. Amen. Chaim): “A home in which discord of their unity were always victorious, “Let us therefore work on our mi- reigns finishes by being destroyed; even though they were idolaters. dot [character traits], whatever our a synagogue in which discord reigns Rabbi David also underlines the level may be, for this will enable us to will see its faithful dispersed and gravity of interfering with the discus- love one another and not quarrel with remain deserted; in a city in which sions of the Torah scholars of the each other in any way. Let us not for- discord reigns, blood will be spilled. generation: “Who can assure us that get that the main thing is the effort that When two Torah scholars from one we can raise a generation of young- a person puts into coming closer to city, or two rabbinic courts in one city sters, upright and G-d-fearing, if we Hashem. May it be His will that we be quarrel, they finish by dying. Dissen- speak in such a way against Tzaddi- truly guarantors for one another, for tion between rabbinic courts brings kim and Rabbis? It is not in vain that this will bring us to the Final Redemp- destruction into the world. As long this is called ‘freedom of expression,’ tion. Note that the numerical value of as peace reigns among the hosts of for the ways of expressing oneself so arevim zeh bazeh [‘guarantors for one Hashem, it also reigns among the ce- harmfully then become completely another’] is the same as geula kerova lestial hosts, as it is written, ‘He estab- free, leading to a total rejection of the [‘imminent redemption’], yavo shilo, lishes His sublime abode in the Heav- yoke of the Torah and mitzvot. Now and mashiach, namely 358.” ens and founds His unity on the earth’ the Sages have said, ‘Beware of their Let us therefore be careful to erase (Amos 9:6). When is His sublime glowing embers, lest you be burnt all traces of division, and may shalom abode established? When His unity – for their bite is the bite of a fox, their (peace) and kavod reign among us. is founded on earth, meaning when sting is the sting of a scorpion, their The word vehitpaleg has the same the Jewish people are united in har- hiss is the hiss of a serpent, and all numerical value as the expression mony” (Derech Eretz Zutah 9). How their words are like fiery coals’ [Perkei kabtzenu yahad meherah (“gather us great is the person who has never Avoth 2:10]. Are these not terrifying quickly”). Because of this, the world been caught up in a machloket! Nev- things? Does a person not realize that will continue to exist and even satisfy ertheless, he should not exhibit pride after 120 years he will have to give the Holy One, blessed be He, Who about this. The only situation about an accounting for such talk, that he will allow us to fully enjoy the good- which a person should feel pride is will have to explain why he listened ness of Heaven as well as the com- one in which he was mistreated (be to disparaging remarks about Torah ing of Mashiach, speedily in our days. it by a slight to his honor, his person, scholars, yet did not protest?” Amen!

46 The Hilloula of Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal - Essaouira, Morocco Elloul 5763 (September 2003)

n Friday, September 19 at 6:00 institutions connected to Rabbi Pinto. The At the end of the nearly three-hour flight, am, close to 150 people gath- faithful that frequent these institutions, those during which a strictly kosher breakfast was ered at Roissy airport outside of around Rabbi David Pinto Shlita, are their served, the arrival at Essaouira’s airport Paris. A member of the organiz- benefactors. made a very solemn impression. Besides an ing committee of the 5763 Hill- On the tarmac of Roissy airport, the outside temperature hovering around 75°F, it oulaO of the Tzaddik Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal Hevrat Pinto group headed toward the plane was about a quarter past ten in the morning welcomed the group of pilgrims, assembled that would bring them to Essaouira. After local time, and Rabbi David Pinto Shlita per- there to take a flight specifically chartered for takeoff, some passengers donned their Tallit sonally welcomed each pilgrim as they got off Hevrat Pinto by Mondair. The scheduled flight and Tefillin and prayed Shacharit, and thus a the plane. is direct and non-stop to Essaouira, Morocco. prayer service took place at close to 30,000 Such a scene bore a much greater resem- In the concourse of Roissy airport, people feet. The tzibur constituted a cross-section of blance to an official trip from a political figure greeted one other and began to chat. Some the Jewish people, and in it could be found than to a religious gathering. The Rav insisted already knew one another quite well and a great number of different nationalities, all on personally welcoming each participant. had made several pilgrimages to the Sage united by the same Hebrew prayer. Thus despite the terrorism problems that Mo- of Mogador (Essaouira), Rabbi Haim Pinto Standing before us was a melting pot in rocco experienced, those who usually under- Zatzal. Thus one portion of the pilgrims con- which Askenaz and Sephardic origins merged took the Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal pilgrimage stituted the nucleus around which the Hilloula to unite the Jewish people. The connection still came to honor the Tzaddik of Mogador. was maintained. Rabbi David Pinto Shlita that is Torah is undeniable. Rabbi David Pinto Shlita accorded each knew that he could count on them, much like It is in this way that the miracle of Judaism person great importance. The support of the an army general relies on his loyal and de- is explained, wherein each soul represents a pilgrimage, despite the suicide bombing that voted soldiers. link in the chain that stretches back to our Pa- Morocco recently experienced, as well as the In fact surrounding Rabbi David Pinto triarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. murder of a Jew a few days earlier, took on Shlita were several hundred, perhaps thou- We constitute a single group in which great importance. sands of people from around the world, there one is responsible for the other. This also il- Following a warm welcome at the airport, to become partners of Hevrat Pinto. They lustrates the principle that there is much more the group was transported by bus to the Ryad were there as much from France as from than a Jewish people; there is more than a Mogador Hotel in Essaouira, which was host- the United States, Latin America, Israel, and Jewish community permanently connected ing the participants of the Rabbi Haim Pinto generally from every country where there are simply by denominational links. Zatzal pilgrimage for the fifth time. As always, it must be said that the quality of the hotel and the catering were at a level befitting the occasion. We must underline the professionalism of the entire team from Hevrat Pinto and the patience of the orga- nizers, particularly Mr. William Marciano, Mr. Knafo, and Mr. Afryat. During lunch, Rabbi David Pinto Shlita addressed the group in the dinning room. He explained their scheduled program in Ess- aouira, especially the atmosphere of kedusha (holiness) in which the three-day pilgrimage was to proceed. As the Rav made clear, we were the ambassadors of those who were not able to make the trip, and who therefore depended on us for their prayers to be answered. The Rav encouraged the faithful to travel as early as that afternoon, if they so desired, to the grave of the Tzaddik of Mogador, whom

47 we had come to honor and who would give hammed VI, in which the Cherifien Sovereign pable. After Kiddush and the end of the first us his blessing. Among the faithful, one group was pleased to hear of our pilgrimage, and course, the Rav was adamant that our joy made it to the Jewish cemetery in Essaouira guaranteed that it would take place under the should intensify. to pray by the grave of Rabbi Haim Pinto best possible conditions. During the course of Songs followed one another in an at- Zatzal, and there they implored G-d’s mercy this short drasha, the Rav referred to events mosphere of warmth, and we could hear all through the merit of the Tzaddik. Meanwhile, that were transpiring in Israel, to the attacks, the participants wholeheartedly singing Hadi hundreds of others rested themselves after the dead, and the wounded. Hilloula Mazal Mazal, as well as the song the tiring journey, while still others visited the For the Rav, the difficult situation endured Mashiach Habibi Ya Habibi, which Rav David city of Essaouira. Soon the time came for wel- by the Jewish people in Israel and throughout Pinto Shlita loves hearing. coming Shabbat. the world is painful and difficult to understand. That Friday night was studded with songs At about 6:00 pm local time (8:00 pm in The proximity of the holidays of Tishri, for and increasingly sumptuous dishes. The meal Paris) in the hotel’s prestigious ballrooms, which we were preparing ourselves, incites ended with magnificent fruit baskets that were Mincha was observed, followed by Shir repentance, Teshuvah and soul-searching in distributed to each table. Hashirim that precedes Arvit. During the general. The Rav made it clear to the audi- reading of Shir Hashirim, one tune followed ence that each of us must undertake our own Saturday morning at 7:00, the Rav as- another, as each person sang with both heart spiritual accounting when the year draws to sembled a group of individuals to whom he and voice, accompanied by the sounds of tal- an end. gave his first Davar Torah on that Shabbat day. ented paitanim. The Rav then alluded to an idea that he Rabbi David Pinto Shlita led the Arvit had this past Friday morning in his room, Gathered around Rabbi David Pinto Sh- prayer of Friday night, then gave a drasha namely how Hashem can (according to cer- lita were pilgrims from Latin America (Mexico, on this special Shabbat preceding Rosh tain Chachamim) judge the world on Rosh Brazil, Argentina, etc.). The morning service Hashanah. The Rav thanked all those who, Hashanah in the blink of an eye, while ac- began around 8:15 am, taking place in an at- from near and far, were participating in the cording to other Chachamim He makes each mosphere of Kedusha and contemplation. Hilloula. He told us that it was because of his person stand before Him, judging each per- We listened, as is the custom, to the read- faith in Hashem that he decided to proceed son individually, case by case. ing of two parshiot (Nitzavim and Vayeilech), with the pilgrimage, despite the uncertainty The Rav concluded his Davar Torah, ex- which Mr. Roger Haziza brilliantly read with of the moment connected with the problems plaining that there is one method of judgment, great fervor and special enunciation of the of terrorism. and that it is both rapid (meaning in the blink cantillation notes. On that occasion, Rabbi David Pinto Sh- of an eye) and exacting for each member of At the end of the Torah reading, the Rav lita personally thanked all the participants to Klal Israel who are judged individually. At 8: gave a Davar Torah in which he insisted the Elul 5763 Hilloula. He also used that time 45 pm, we went to eat in a dinning room in that the congregation there on this Shabbat to refer to a letter from His Majesty King Mo- which the atmosphere of Shabbat was pal- in Essaouira should hear what Mr. Shalom

48 (Charlie) Dadoun, a pilot with American Air- (where he was making a stopover) and told At that point, Rabbi David Pinto Shlita lines, had experienced a few days before the him to immediately go to the nearest hospi- underlined the merit that we had to partici- events of 9/11. tal because his colleague was suffering from pate in the pilgrimage of Rabbi Haim Pinto A descendant of Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal, a case of food poisoning. If he had eaten the Zatzal. Mr. Dadoun explained that the merit of the same meal, his life could be in danger. He At the end of the morning service, the was sure that he was saved by the merit of Tzaddik has come to his aid on several occa- Rav greeted each participant. the Tzaddik, and he committed himself to sions in his life. eating only kosher food from then on. The Shabbat meal began at 1:00 pm, To be hired by American Airlines, a pilot with different, evermore sumptuous dishes Today Mr. Dadoun is an observant Jew, must accumulate a certain amount of flight being served. Songs then followed one an- and as such he observes Shabbat and the time, and as it turned out, Mr. Dadoun was other, each more beautiful than the preced- holidays. missing the minimum amount of hours. He ing one. The meal lasted almost two hours. During the summer of 2001, and con- nevertheless called Rabbi David, who put him During the course of the afternoon, the tinuing up to a few days before September at ease by telling him to immediately go for an Rav gave a class to women. 11, Mr. Dadoun was piloting flights 93 and interview. The merit of Rabbi Haim Pinto Zat- 92 on Boeing 737s and 747s. He had been Meanwhile, other rabbis gave classes zal, Rav David said, would handle the rest. piloting these flights, from New York to San for the entire afternoon, and even ordinary After a test on a flight simulator, it became Francisco, for more than four years. pilgrims from Latin America assembled to evident that Mr. Dadoun had the piloting skills A few weeks before the catastrophe of study the Torah in Spanish. of someone who had twice as many hours as 9/11, American Airlines decided (given its The Mincha prayer service began at the flight instructors had ever seen. Thus the increasing number of passengers) to use around 5:30 pm, followed by a royal Seuda company hired him. Boeing 767s for these flights. Fortunately Shelishit that was served on the patio of the During a flight several years ago, a non- for Mr. Dadoun, he had no experience in hotel. It included delicious cakes and drinks Kosher meal was served to Mr. Dadoun, piloting this type of aircraft, which ended that the guests savored with delight.

and having the moral fortitude to adhere to his up saving his life. However his entire crew, Arvit began close to 7:15 pm, followed by religious heritage and saintly origins, he did the one with which he normally flew up to Havdalah. Everyone then prepared for the not eat it. Instead, he gave it to a flight atten- a few days earlier, perished. Mr. Dadoun night of the Hilloula, which would take place dant who had asked him if she could have it expressed himself both in English and in in the hall of the Ryad Mogador Hotel in Es- for herself. Mr. Dadoun therefore gave her his French, and the entire audience was moved saouira, then at the Jewish cemetery. own meal, and on that very night the compa- by his account and the miracle he had ex- A devoted participant of the Hilloula, Mr. ny’s head office called him in his hotel room perienced. Elie Mellul and his orchestra ensured the suc-

49 his hand to the poor – which will not in any way detract from his wealth. On the contrary, it is a way of connecting oneself with others and performing mitzvot. We left for the ancient Jewish synagogue of Essaouira at about 1:30 in the morning, and in the middle of the night nearly 500 people gathered to recite selichot and blow the shofar. That was the high point of the pilgrimage, when hundreds of people gathered around and within the mausoleum of the Tzaddik Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal and cried out to Hashem. Rabbi David Pinto Shlita made it clear that the gates of Heaven were open and that harsh decrees would be annulled and good would be granted. Women followed after the men into the mausoleum. Thus added to the sounds of prayer and shofar blasts were the shouts of women. At about 3:30 in the morning, candles were lit in designated places and their flames illuminated the night sky of Essaouira. cess of the event with the help of Charlie (a his trips. Some doctors had told this man (a participant of the pilgrimage) until 1:00 in the Jew) that he had only a few months to live. It was during this occasion that we could morning. He provided a musical atmosphere One piece of advice that he received from see just how much effort the Moroccan au- thorities had put into ensuring that the Hill- that allowed everyone to fondly remember them was that he should travel while waiting oula would take place under the best possible the tunes that they loved. The Hilloula that for the end. The man was in great despair, conditions. Welcoming hundreds of people evening began at 9:30 pm, when Rabbi David and Rabbi David Pinto Shlita advised him in a very short time frame and arranging for Pinto Shlita gave a Davar Torah. During his to undertake a pilgrimage to see the Tzad- the many journeys and security of every par- discourse, he first thanked Rabbi Haim Pinto dikim of Morocco and Israel, and to pray to ticipant is quite a feat. More than 500 military Zatzal for welcoming us to his town: “The Hashem, to cry out and beseech G-d to save and police officers were in charge of security Tzaddik of Mogador is with us at this time. It is him. He did what the Rav advised, and a few during the course of our pilgrimage. we who need him, that his light may guide us months later this man returned to see his doc- and show us the path to follow.” tors, those who had told him to travel while Upon returning to the hotel, a short night awaited the group. Shacharit took place from For Rabbi David Pinto Shlita, participating awaiting his end. 8:30 to 9:00 in the morning, followed by in a Hilloula of this nature means taking a little In light of the prognosis that the doctors breakfast. Kedusha and bringing it home. had made, they questioned whether it was By about 11:30 am, the pilgrims once The Rav recalled a story that some were really him who had been sick. Perhaps it had been his brother? He seemed to have been again found themselves in the mausoleum familiar with. Once in Mogador some fisher- of the Tzaddik of Mogador, continuing the cured, for the signs of his illness had disap- men were unable to catch fish for Shabbat, pilgrimage that began the night before. Each peared. The man’s doctors asked him which since a storm was raging. The Tzaddik Rabbi participant had the opportunity to pray and physician had treated his illness. Haim Pinto Zatzal therefore gave one of the be greeted by Rabbi David Pinto Shlita. It is fishermen a shoe, which he was to throw into Aware that his answer would seem with definite peace of mind that we found our- the sea. When he did so, fish were caught for paradoxical, he replied, “I was healed by selves being led in such circumstances. both Jews and all others in Mogador. the dead.” In fact the Tzaddikim that he ad- At 1:00 pm, the Hilloula began in the large dressed himself to had given him the healing During the course of his speech, Rabbi hall adjacent to the new Jewish cemetery in that he awaited. David Pinto Shlita explained that for a Hilloula, Essaouira. It is located in front of the ancient it is important to be happy and joyful. We must Prayers, tears, emunah, and hope annul cemetery in which Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal is understand that joy has an effect in Heaven, harsh decrees. buried, near the Atlantic Ocean. that Hashem appreciates the joy of the Jew- Addressing himself to all the participants The meal on that Sunday afternoon was ish people. The Rav recalled the importance who had come for the pilgrimage, Rabbi eaten in the presence of the Moroccan au- of the holidays and joy. He explained that we David Pinto Shlita asked them to thank the thorities. They had come on the occasion of must demonstrate our faith in Hashem; we Tzaddik Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal for having the Hilloula of the Tzaddik Rabbi Haim Pinto must have emunah (faith), which enables a allowed them to undertake it. Zatzal to greet Rabbi David Pinto Shlita and person to overcome many obstacles. The moment then arrived for the selling all the pilgrims who had traveled to Essaouira. For the Rav, a man who does not believe of mitzvot, in which donors from around the The official delegation as a whole took the op- in Hashem has a difficult life indeed. world once again demonstrated that money portunity to eat with our group. Rabbi David Pinto Shlita recounted the is not an end in itself. Rather, the duty of one The Rav recited a blessing for King Mo- story of a man that he had met during one of who possesses money is to share it – to open hammed VI, the royal family, and the Mo-

50 roccan people. During his sermon, the Rav Mr. Gaby Kaddoche, the President of say that when a Tzaddik leaves this world, his explained that from his point of view, the the Jewish Community of Marrakech and greatness becomes amplified with time. As Tzaddikim who are buried in Morocco must the person responsible for all the holy sites the Torah says, a Tzaddik is called alive even of Morocco, then said a few words. He re- be rejoicing to be in such a land. He pointed after his death. to the Moroccan flags that were waving inE s- called the attachment of the Jews of Morocco saouira’s Jewish cemetery, a powerful symbol – wherever they may be in the world – to the We are the witnesses to such an evolu- that attested to Morocco’s attachment to the land they were born in and to their departed tion, with the merit of Rabbi Haim Pinto Zat- Tzaddikim buried there. holy rabbis. zal increasing day after day. The aid that he In response to the Rav’s words, a rep- After lunch, Rabbi David Pinto Shlita and provides to those who beseech him increases resentative of the Moroccan Royal Kingdom the members of the official delegation went from year to year, with pilgrims becoming expressed their thanks and delivered a mes- to the Tzaddik’s mausoleum. During that stronger in their faith and observance of Ju- sage of peace and tolerance. She confirmed ceremony, the solemnity of the place and daism, bringing their families and friends with the day brought about a special holiness. We her desire that we return on a regular basis to them, and becoming ambassadors of Hevrat Morocco, where we are at home. On this oc- also saw how, within the span of nearly three Pinto around the world. casion, a solemn tribute to King Mohammed decades, Rabbi David Pinto Shlita had carried V and King Hassan II was made. Their good in his wake men and women of every origin, At the end of these pilgrimage celebra- relations with the Jews of Morocco was a fact, people who have learned a little more of the tions, a special flight chartered by Hevrat and a message of friendship and encourage- importance of Tzaddikim as a whole. Pinto from Mondair brought us back to Paris, ment from His Majesty King Mohammed VI Therefore the more that Torah values filled with spiritual energy and good resolu- was read: are taken into consideration, the more the tions. We were certain to have been heard in memory of sages from previous generations “Our goal is to courageously fight against Heaven by the merit of our venerated Tzad- is perpetuated. terrorism and to maintain tolerance. This pil- dik, Rabbi Haim Pinto Zatzal. May his merit be grimage is a testament to great courage, and Time does not diminish faith; it strength- a source of blessing for us and the entire Jew- we must fight against those who repudiate ens it. ish people, and may Hashem bless and pro- the message of Judaism and other revealed This annual visit to Rabbi Haim Pinto Zat- tect our teacher Rabbi David Hanania Pinto religions. For Morocco, this consists of being zal by means of the pilgrimage allows us to united to protect the heritage of all who have affirm that this ritual, rooted in the practices Shlita and his entire family. May Hashem also lived here, and it is with reference to this past of Jews from around the world, strengthens help him with all his institutions for the glory of that the future can be built.” the universal message of the Bible. We may the Torah. Amen.

51 Stories of the Tzaddikim fter the death of our re- the young man appeared in the dream from it.” The Rav asked the dead vered teacher, the au- of the old administrator that had sold man to identify himself by name, but thor of Megaleh Amukot, him the burial plot adjacent to that of he responded that this was forbidden a young man living in the Megaleh Amukot, demanding that for him to do. To calm the dead man, Krakow went to see the he transfer his body to the grave that whose voice could be heard coming administrator of the Chevra Kadisha he had purchased. from the other side of the partition, the Abecause he wanted to purchase the Rav said, “As a result, if it is forbidden This dream, which the old man burial plot adjacent to the grave of the paid no attention to in the beginning, for you to identify yourself and to give Megaleh Amukot. This young man occurred again the next day and the your actual name, we cannot grant was not known as a famous Talmid day after that. The young man warned your request. The money has thus Chacham, which is why the admin- the Chevra Kadisha’s administrator been distributed to the poor for your istrator rejected his request, one that that if he did not obtain the adjacent soul to rest in peace. And now, go seemed marked by a sign of pride and plot, he would convene him to the Ce- and rest in peace.” However the dead vanity. The Gaon and Tzaddik who lestial Court. man refused to give in. He repeated had just left this world was among This severe warning greatly wor- that the administrator had not kept his the greatest names of Torah. He had ried the old man, who did not know word, and he demanded that he rec- written many works, and it was impos- how to get out of this predicament. tify his mistake. sible to give the plot adjacent to his It was to the point that, in his fear Upon hearing these words, the grave to someone who was unknown, and distress, he went to find the Rav Rav was filled with great consterna- a common man, this being contrary to of the city and told him everything tion. He finally had the idea of saying, Halachah. that had happened and asked him “If such is the case – if your soul is Yet the young man did not give up, for advice. The Rav was astounded so great that it is forbidden to reveal and when all the administrators went when he heard the story. He severely your identity – then take action your- home, he went to speak to one of the reprimanded the old man for what he self and make your body role from its oldest ones who remained there. He had done, and demanded that he give present resting place to the burial plot implored him to give his approval for him the money he had received so that you asked for and purchased with this purchase, for his soul ardently that he could give it to charity. This your own money on the day before yearned for that place close to the would allow the avrech’s soul to rest your death.” The Rav promised him Gaon and Tzaddik. “No price will in peace. Nevertheless, the Rav ab- only that he would make the Chevra seem too much for me,” he repeated solutely refused to give him permis- Kadisha aware of this decision so that to the elderly man who was over 80 sion to transfer the dead man’s body the plot adjacent to the grave of the years old. “I will give you whatever to the unused burial plot adjacent to Megaleh Amukot would not be given price you ask.” the grave of the Megaleh Amukot. to anyone else. The next day, when “Do you agree to pay 1,000 silver The old administrator was overcome the members of the Chevra Kadisha rubbles?” the old man asked with a by fear. What was he now going to of Krakow went to the cemetery, they little sarcasm. The answer did not do? The Rav gave him his cane and found a new grave that they did not take long: “Yes!” the young man de- ordered that he go to the grave of the recognize and which they had not clared, and he took out the money young man and summon him to Din dug. The administrators then con- from his wallet and handed it to the Torah at the Rav’s home three days vened to discuss the situation and old man. This elderly administrator hence in the afternoon. Since the old decided to erect a headstone upon told himself, “What’s preventing me man feared for his life, he obeyed. it, and since they were unaware of from taking this money? I don’t have To his great surprise, the dead man the dead man’s name, they decided much longer to live. I’m old and this accepted to present himself to a Din to inscribe the following words upon man is young, hardly 20 years old. Torah as the Rav had asked. it: “His Neighbor will Testify for Him.” From now until the time he passes When the old man arrived at the This story spread far and wide. away, there will be other administra- Rav’s home at the prescribed time, he (An Excerpt from the Archives of tors, and who among them will come saw that in the room in which the Rav the Krakow Chevra Kadisha) to me and claim this money?” Now the studied was a partition that had been next day, the bitter news spread that set up, behind which the dead man Remove Anger from Your this young avrech had suddenly died. was to be. The Rav was seated on The Chevra Kadisha was called upon the other side, and with him was the Heart and Evil from Your to take care of his burial, but since no Chevra Kadisha’s administrator. The Flesh one was aware of the secret agree- spirit on the other side of the parti- Rabbi Chaim of Kossov, author of ment that he had concluded with the tion presented his grievances: “I ob- the Torah work entitled Torat Chaim, old man, the administrators chose a tained the rights to the burial plot and related that he once traveled to a burial plot that seemed appropriate to purchased it with my own money. No town to perform a certain mitzvah them. The night following the burial, one has the right to chase me away there. While on route, he stayed in a

52 village and readied himself to spend he was given the fourth Aliya his heart ing, and there he saw him immersed the night with a local Jew. The latter was filled with anger. He waited until in his studies, oblivious to the fact was very happy to be able to host him, the end of the service and went to ex- that someone had just arrived. The and he prepared a bed for Rav, who press his irritation to the Gabbai. “To man was hesitant to disturb him, then retired for the night. After mid- someone as honored as myself you but ended up telling himself that he night the Rav heard someone reciting give only the fourth Aliya? Someone had to reimburse his debt on time. the blessing for Torah study with great of my status should get the sixth, or He therefore approached Rabbi Sh- concentration. He then heard him the Maftir!” emuel and said that he had come to beginning to study Gemara. When In Heaven the verdict was immedi- pay back his loan, then deposited a daylight broke and there was enough ately pronounced, and the deceased bill of 100 rubbles on the Rav’s open light to make out shapes, the Rabbi was given the choice of either (1) Gemara. saw a blind old man lying in a bed and Coming back in another incarnation Meanwhile Rabbi Shemuel, ab- studying with great devotion. The old to repair this sin, or (2) Suffering three sorbed in his studies, noticed nei- man said that he was the father of the minutes of shame in Heaven. Natural- ther the identity of the Jew who had Rav’s host, and that for 20 years he ly, he chose the second penalty. suddenly appeared, nor the money had separated himself from all worldly All of a sudden, the gates of Gan that was on his Gemara. He had the things and was occupied exclusively Eden were opened and an angel vague impression that someone had with Torah study and serving G-d. came to bring him to where he was to been standing next to him, and out of He had not the slightest contact with be put to shame before all the Tzad- politeness he had nodded his head in anyone, and he wanted nothing other dikim in Heaven: “See this putrid drop his direction. The Jew, however, took than Torah. He lived with his son, who – he had the insolence to say that the this as a sign that Rabbi Shemuel had took care of all his needs, and was fourth Aliya was not enough for him.” acknowledged his repayment of the completely free to devote himself to When Rabbi Chaim would relate loan, and at that point he left the Beit serving G-d. The Rabbi, who then re- this story, he would finish by saying: Midrash. alized that he was in the presence of “Know that the Holy One, blessed When the Rav finished studying, a man of great spiritual stature, asked be He, had pity on that great man, he closed his Gemara without notic- that he enter into a firm pact with him, lessening his punishment so that he ing the bill within it. He then put it back such that whoever would die first did not feel too much shame. Other- on a shelf and went home. would come back in a dream and tell wise, he would not have been able to Rabbi Shemuel had the habit of the other how he was judged in Heav- withstand it any longer, and he would checking the free-loan fund ledger ev- en. He accepted, and they agreed to have asked to return on earth rather ery week to verify that payments were their pact. than to suffer this shame, be it only being made on time. To those who Some years later the blind man for a minute more. From this we learn had not yet made that month’s pay- died. He kept his promise and came what harm we do to ourselves by an- ment, he sent a reminder letter. As he to Rabbi Chaim in a dream. He told ger and stubbornness. was checking the ledger that day, his him the following: “When my soul rose eye spotted the name of a Jew whose to Heaven, there was a great problem A Mistake Rectified repayment date had already passed among the Heavenly host. When they Rabbi Shemuel Shtrashun (the 15 days earlier, yet there had been no brought me into the Celestial Court Rashash) directed, among other sign of him. Rabbi Shemuel gave him and began to examine my case, they things, a free-loan fund that issued the benefit of the doubt, telling himself realized that during the last 20 years loans of substantial amounts to who- that the borrower was no doubt in a of my life I was spiritually elevated ever was in need. Now the reality of tight situation, and that he should give and pure, and as a result I had atoned things is that if any such institution him one or two more weeks until he for my sins, to the last trace of impure treats its borrowers gingerly, it ends could repay such a hefty loan. Two thoughts, to the extent that I was up slowly disappearing. Therefore weeks then passed, but still nothing, clean of all sin and filled with Torah Rabbi Shemuel established very so Rabbi Shemuel sent him a notice and mitzvot. Then all of a sudden an strict rules governing the repayment to repay. angel dressed in black cried out, ‘You of loans, demanding that borrowers “But I already reimbursed you wish to grant Gan Eden to this man? make regular, monthly payments. about a month ago, at the due date,” Yet he has scorned the Torah in public One day, a G-d-fearing but un- the man responded. and has still not repented!’ ” learned Jew from Vilna arrived at the “I don’t understand what you are The angled explained what he Rashash’s free-loan fund and bor- saying!” Rabbi Shemuel told him, meant in detail. rowed 100 rubbles, which he was to gently but firmly. “When did you pay When he was younger, the man repay in one lump sum three months me, and where is your receipt?” had taught young boys in a village later. “How can the Rabbi have forgot- far from where he lived. He stayed When the time came for repay- ten?” the borrower responded in as- there all winter long and returned to ing the loan, the borrower came to tonishment. “I placed a 100 rubble bill his hometown for Passover, where he Rabbi Shemuel to give it back to him, in front of you in the Beit Midrash, and was known and honored as a Talmid but he did not find him at home. He you even nodded at me to indicate Chacham. Once he went to Syna- then went to the Beit Midrash, where that everything was in order. Perhaps gogue to pray on Shabbat, but when Rabbi Shemuel studied every morn- I should have asked for a receipt, but I

53 didn’t want to disturb you, and I relied the events of that day. He had prob- gan to regain his vitality, like someone on your memory.” ably been immersed in study, and the who had gone from the lowest depths “Never!” Rabbi Shemuel said res- Jew had entered and no doubt spo- to the greatest heights, and tears of olutely. “I did not see you at the Beit ken to him of this loan repayment. Yet joy welled up in his eyes. He was un- Midrash, and you did not give me any at the time nothing of this registered able to make a sound. He grabbed 100 rubble bill. You’re simply trying to in his mind, and without wanting to in- the hand of Rabbi Shemuel with such avoid paying your debt. I’m not in the terrupt his study, the man must have warmth, it seemed that all the shame habit of accepting loan repayments placed the bill on the open Gemara he had experienced up to that point without issuing a receipt or returning and thought that the Rashash had no- was worth it just to hear this fabulous an acknowledgment of debt. ticed, then he must have quietly left. news. It placed him in a state of joy For his part, the Jew continued to It was in this way that Rabbi Shemuel that he would have never dared imag- assert that he has already paid. True, reconstructed the incident, followed ine in his sweetest dreams. he did not have a receipt, but he knew by which a terrible feeling of anxiety Thus the two men were happy. that he had repaid his loan. overcame him. He had but one ques- One had found a way to rectify his Rabbi Shemuel told him that since tion in his heart: How could he get this mistake, and the other had found a the money belonged to the com- Jew out of the mud? wonderful wife for his son. They de- munity, he did not have the right to Rabbi Shemuel did not hesitate parted from each other warmly, and overlook it. Furthermore, if he did not before having the man summoned, after a few days the engagement repay his loan within eight days, he who appeared before him with an icy was celebrated with great pomp and would summon him to a Din Torah. stare. The Rashash rose before him, ceremony in the Rashash’s home, ac- After a week, Rabbi Shemuel sum- and without any explanation as to why companied by the presence of Torah moned the borrower to a Din Torah, he was asking for his forgiveness, he scholars and dignitaries of Vilna. at which the latter vigorously asserted went straight to the point: “Tell me In Vilna itself, people were say- that he has already repaid his loan. yourself how I can obtain your forgive- ing that Heaven must have decreed The judges were about to render ness for all the suffering that I caused this marriage from the outset, for who their decision, but Rabbi Shemuel you. For my part, I am ready to forgive would have had the idea to propose intervened and told them that he was you in public before everyone and ex- such a match to the Rashash? This prepared to wait a few more weeks. plain what happened in order to give event thus transformed itself into a Perhaps the Jew would feel remorse you back everything you have lost.” marvelous matchmaker. during that time, admit to the truth, The Jew, who was completely bro- (Hizorharu Bichvod Chavareichem) and repay his debt. ken, remained still. He responded to In the meantime, news of what Rabbi Shemuel’s proposal with the The Power of a Good had happened spread. People heard certitude of a man who had lost all Deed that the Rashash had summoned the hope: “For me, that means nothing. From the story that follows, I man to the Beit Din, and that he had People will say that your honor want- learned just how great an influence the gall to unabashedly contradict the ed to save me from the misery I was a good deed has, even the simplest Rashash. It goes without saying that in. My name has already been used one, when done by an upright man the general public took the Rashash’s as a byword for disgrace. My son had with the intention of performing a side, with some people even venting to leave the city he was in, so great mitzvah. their fury on the man by heaping in- was the shame he experienced. What We know that in his final years the sults on him. His assertion that he had can you give me, or what can you add Chofetz Chaim decided to journey to already repaid his loan was viewed to such a request for forgiveness?” Eretz Israel, with his plan being to set- with scorn, and he was fired from his These somber words pierced the tle in Petah Tikva. In view of this great job, one from which he was already noble soul of Rabbi Shemuel, for he event, the small town built a beautiful squeezing out a meager living. His possessed a great heart and had home for the greatest Rav of the gen- boss openly told him that if he could now fully understood the scope of this eration, and public restroom facilities lie to the Beit Din for 100 rubbles, he good Jew’s distress in all its horror. were also built nearby for those who could also steal from him, which per- He then began to reflect upon the sit- wanted to come and meet the great haps he had already done! uation very carefully, and all of a sud- Tzaddik. For various reasons, the The man had a son of tremendous den he straightened up and his face Chofetz Chaim was prevented from virtues who studied in a yeshiva in Vil- lit up. He looked at the man straight fulfilling his dream of coming to Eretz na, yet the shame he felt was so great in the eye and spoke to him with an Israel, but be that as it may, every- that he had to leave both the yeshiva almost ecstatic voice: “Your son is in thing was still built. Then one year on and Vilna! another town? Send someone to get the eve of Yom Kippur, the Gaon and Then one day, as Rabbi Shemuel him and have him brought to me. I will Tzaddik Rabbi Eliyahu Dushnitzer consulted the same Gemara where take him as my daughter’s husband!” Zatzal began to bustle about in the that ill-fated treasure lay, he saw the (Note: The Rashash’s daughter was public restrooms, cutting and prepar- bill of 100 rubles. At that very instant an orphan that he had adopted as a ing toilet paper for Yom Kippur. A non- it all came back to him: A Jew had in young girl). observant boy passed by at the time, fact entered the Beit Midrash on that The eyes of the Jew lit up as a and he looked with great curiosity at day! Rabbi Shemuel began to go over smile broke out on his face. He be- Rabbi Eliyahu’s activities. He finally

54 approached and asked him what he above all kept this matter in mind so The Repentance of was doing. Rabbi Eliyahu explained that he could repay him measure for Rabbi Saadia Gaon to him, patiently and gently, that since measure when the time would come. People say that throughout his life, tomorrow was Yom Kippur and many However the rich man remained Rabbi Saadia Gaon Zatzal mortified people were expected to come to wealthy for his entire life, and so the himself by rolling in the snow and by pray, he had to make preparations for Rav never had an opportunity to pay performing other acts of penitence. the good of the public. him back for his good deed. His disciples found his behavior The boy was so astonished by this Many years passed, and the rich strange, to the extent that they asked noble deed that he told him that every man left this world. However Rabbi him, “Our teacher, how can you re- piece of paper the Rav had cut had Chaim had still not forgotten his good pent? Do you sin? We know that you made a deep impression in his heart. deed for the impoverished bride. He are a great Tzaddik, so why all this By the influence of that deed, the boy ordered his assistant to inform him suffering?” He replied to them, “My came to the Yom Kippur prayer ser- when the rich man’s funeral would dear students, there are two types of vice and completely returned to G-d. take place, for he wanted to be in at- repentance: A person can regret his He would often burst into tears when tendance. sins, or a person can regret even his recounting that every piece of paper To everyone’s surprise, during the mitzvot. It is for the latter that I repent, that the Tzaddik tore had also torn his funeral Rabbi Chaim stayed close to for each day I become more aware heart. the casket at all times. People were of the greatness of the Holy One, astonished because Rabbi Chaim blessed be He, and each day I per- The Reward for Helping was known for his great diligence in fect myself more than the day before. Young Newlyweds Torah study, yet now he had left his I repent from my imperfect past, and I We know that wearing a Tallit ef- studies to accompany a deceased truly regret not having known the Holy fectively protects a person against man whose life was filled with rumors One, blessed be He, and His Torah as evil spirits. However during the time of impropriety. I know them today!” of Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, the inhabit- Their surprise increased when He continued: “I learned this from ants of his town believed that even they saw Rabbi Chaim waving his a very simple Jew. One day I found the merit of giving a beautiful Tallit to hand in all directions, as if he felt myself in a distant city, and I went to a someone enables a person to arrive something there. Yet there was no- Jew who didn’t know me. Naturally, he in peace in the hereafter, in a world body next to him. When the funeral acted with me in accordance with the mitzvah of hospitality, as he should. that is completely good. Here is that procession arrived at the cemetery After a few days, some people who story: and the deceased was about to be recognized me came by and told oth- One day Rabbi Chaim of Sanz lowered into the grave that had been ers that I was staying there. The entire set aside his Torah study in order to dug for him, Rabbi Chaim once again city was buzzing with excitement, and accomplish the mitzvah of helping a waved his hands to the four cardi- everyone came to receive my bless- young woman to get married. With nal directions, and he also waved ing and to ask for my advice. When that in mind, he went with his friend the cane that he was holding in his my host saw all this, he was overtak- Rabbi Moshe Rappaport to make hand. That being done, Rabbi Chaim en by remorse, bitterly regretting that the rounds of the well-to-do in town. went home. One of those close to he had not welcomed me with greater While on route they stopped by the Rabbi Chaim asked him to explain honor. From that point on, he provided place of a wealthy man who was hos- his strange behavior during the fu- me with finer sheets and served me pitable to neither G-d nor men, for he neral. Rabbi Chaim told him of the meals fit for the holidays. Despite all took Torah mitzvot lightly and was deceased’s noble act when he was this, however, when I left his place he not among the orthodox of the com- collecting funds for a poor bride, and fell to my feet and begged my forgive- munity. Yet despite this he respected because of that deed he wanted to ness: ‘May our Rav forgive me for not the Rabbis, and the visit of these two attend his funeral. “Then,” Rabbi having honored him as I should.’ I told Torah greats gave him immense sat- Chaim said, “when I was following him that he had done everything he isfaction. the deceased, I saw a great number possibly could, and I thanked him very When Rabbi Chaim explained of destructive angels who wanted to much for it. Nevertheless, he did not their reason of their visit, the rich steal his soul away, claiming that it stop asking for my forgiveness, and I man inquired as to the sum that they belonged to them. Seeing that, I be- gave him my blessing.” still lacked for the wedding. “We still gan to wave my hand and I chased Rabbi Saadia Gaon finished his need money for the shtreimel and the them away. However at the cemetery story by saying: “From that day on, I Tallit,” the Tzaddikim told him. they returned and assembled togeth- drew a lesson from a Kal Vachomer: Such items were considered to er to remove him, so I again tried If a person can feel so much regret be expensive during those times, with all my strength to chase them that he has not sufficiently honored a and not everyone could easily af- away, and I succeeded. He therefore human being, how much more should ford them. Yet the rich man did not merited being laid to rest in peace in a person feel regret when it comes to hesitate, and he gave them the en- a world that is entirely good, all be- properly honoring the King of kings, tire amount that they lacked. The cause of the mitzvah of the Tallit that the Holy One, blessed be He? And two Rabbis were very pleased by he purchased with his own money for how greatly should one feel regret for this kindly act, and Rabbi Chaim the groom. the omissions of the past!”

55 Enchanted Paradise are certainly asking yourselves what of Glory, and I will not move from there Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira of happened to the great defender, Rabbi until I hear the footsteps of Mashiach.’ Munkacz assembled his disciples and Levi Yitzchak. Why did he also fail to ” told them the following story: end the exile? Had he not promised that The Rabbi of Munkacz was quiet. he wouldn’t be blinded, that he would “Before closing his eyes for the fi- He interrupted his visionary story, lost shake the Throne of Glory and that the nal time, the great defender of Israel, in his thoughts. One of his disciples heavens would be torn asunder?’ The Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, may arose and asked, “What happened to Tzaddik of Ujhely continued: ‘When his merit protect us, said to those gath- Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, the Tzad- Rabbi Levi Yitzchak left this world and ered around him on his deathbed: ‘Are dik of Ujhely, after he left this world? his soul ascended to the heavens, the you not surprised that all the Tzaddikim Had he not promised that he would not ministering angels welcomed him and who moved heaven and earth all their rest until the steps of Mashiach were were about to lead him to the palaces lives to annul evil decrees against the heard?” of Gan Eden, just as they had done Jewish people remained silent when with other Tzaddikim. However Rabbi The Rabbi of Munkacz answered they rejoined the Celestial Assembly? Levi Yitzchak stubbornly said to them, his disciples: Why did they not shake the Throne of “Leave me alone with your Gan Eden “So, you want to know what hap- Glory? Where is the Tzaddik of Sas- – I will not be blinded by it! I left the pened to the Tzaddik Rabbi Moshe sow, Rabbi Moshe Leib, who loved lower world where mortals suffer and of Ujhely? Before him too the gates of Israel so much that even a baby crying await the redemption of Mashiach. I will Gan Eden were immediately opened, in its cradle gave him no rest? Where is go to the Throne of Glory and present but he was obstinate and refused to the holy Baal Shem Tov himself? Why my case before the Creator Himself! I are they not encouraging Mashiach to enter. The angels begged him, but he will convene a Din Torah and not leave come and put an end to the sufferings had only one answer: ‘No! My heart from there until the dark exile below is of Israel?’ Nobody in his entourage, will not permit me to sail into a sea of ended. Only then may you lead me to however, could answer these ques- light with the greatest Tzaddikim, while Gan Eden!” A noise was heard from the below mortals drown in a sea of tears.’ tions. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak then gath- midst of the Celestial Assembly. Since ered his strength and said, ‘When a Once again a storm arose in the Ce- the time that there had been a Gan lestial Assembly. Was it possible that Tzaddik ascends to Heaven, a place Eden in the heavens, nothing like this a Tzaddik such as Rabbi Moshe, who in Gan Eden is immediately made for had happened before. The place of a had arrived in Heaven filled with Torah, him. Angels welcome him with love, Tzaddik such as Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of mitzvot, and good deeds, was standing gather him in their arms, and lead him Berditchev had been set aside in Gan outside Gan Eden? This time as well, to palaces of glory. The utter splendor Eden! Besides, all the great Tzaddi- of a palace’s brilliance and the radi- kim, all the Tannaim and Amoraim, the the angels found a way to make Rabbi ance from on high blinds the eyes of entire holy congregation of the Baal Moshe forget his promises. What did a Tzaddik. Because of his amazement, Shem Tov, awaited him there. However they do? The Tzaddik of Ujhely was a he completely forgets the anguish of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was obstinate: “I tremendous Torah scholar and greatly this world and the suffering of the peo- beg your pardon, but I will not enter! loved to discuss difficulties in Torah. ple who remain in it. A Tzaddik would I fear that the brilliance of the splen- He was also a tremendous speaker suffer if he were to separate himself, be dor of these palaces will turn my heart who used to speak in public for hours. it only for a moment, from the worlds away from the sufferings of those liv- The angels approached him and told of splendor of the Ten Sephirot to look ing below.” What did the angels do? him that beyond the gates of Gan Eden upon the suffering of men. Everything As we know, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak loved was a group of Talmidei Chachamim concerning them in this lower world music and also played the violin, with who wished to hear words of Torah holds almost no interest for him.’ Rabbi which he accompanied his melodies of from him. A terribly powerful desire to Levi Yitzchak reflected for a little and Kaddish. The angels went to get King utter words of Torah began to fill Rabbi then assured them by saying, ‘I promise David and placed him near the gates Moshe. He approached the group and you, however, that I will not be blinded of Gan Eden. King David then began started to present novel teachings to there. I will not soar about in Heaven in to play one of his psalms on the vio- them and words that ear had never complete serenity while here below the lin, and little by little the sweetness of heard and mouth had never spoken. Jewish people live in pain and poverty the melody drew Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Up to the present time, he is still dis- as they anxiously await Mashiach. I will up to its gates. At the moment that the cussing Torah with that group in Gan not listen to the voices of angels and I Tzaddik’s feet crossed the threshold of Eden, and once again we no longer will not enter Gan Eden. I will stand be- Gan Eden, he was blinded by its bril- see an end to the exile.” fore the Creator and shake the Throne liance. Thus he too, the great Tzaddik, of Glory. I will not rest until my prayer also forgot us and abandoned us to our The Tzaddik of Munkacz finished for the Jewish people is granted. Only anguish.’ his story by saying, “Thus, everyone then will I take my place with the Tzad- ‘However,’ the Tzaddik Rabbi in Heaven dwells in the presence of dikim in palaces of glory.’ ” Moshe of Ujhely said, ‘I do not know the Shechinah and forgets our world The Rabbi of Munkacz went on with how to sing and I have never held a below. The merit of our holy Tzaddikim his story: violin in my hands. King David will not certainly protects us in this world and “When Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, draw me into Gan Eden. I will stand in the World to Come, but we can only the Tzaddik of Ujhely, heard what the outside, prostrating myself before the count on our Father in Heaven, for He Tzaddik of Berditchev had promised Creator. I will take a vessel filled with never forgets.” before his death, he said: ‘Well, you tears to spread out before the Throne

56 a tsadik has left this world - the gaon rabbi nissim rebibo zatsal By Rabbi David Hanania Pinto

ach time that a Tzad- midot that enable a man to achieve dik leaves this world, greatness: Diligence in Torah study it is deprived of one of and humility. He possessed these the foundations upon to the point that people were not which it rests. As we aware of his greatness, for he con- know, the world endures by the cealed them in his immense wis- meritE of the Torah and those who dom in order not to fall into pride study it day and night. – “This is why I cry!” French Jewry has still not re- Thirty years ago, when we were covered from its shock. It still does still young, whenever we looked for not truly realize who it has lost – a our teacher Rabbi Nissim Zatzal, man gone to his resting place while we always knew where to find him. leaving us to our sorrows – our Be it day or night, during holidays teacher Rabbi Nissim Rebibo, may or vacation time, he was always in his merit protect us. the Beit Midrash, hidden beneath a Not only was he one of the great- pile of open books that he was dili- est Poskim of our generation, he gently studying. He was happy with was also one the greatest men of his lot. He never protested to G-d I had the great merit of study- our time because of his lofty midot, when experiencing great hardship, ing with him for a few years at the the full measure of his greatness and he never stopped studying. Sunderland yeshiva. He as the lion and deeds not being describable When his wife the Rebbetzin fell ill, and leader of our group, and all by words. Woe to us, for the world he studied with still greater fervor the rabbanim respected him and has lost a Tzaddik and a Chassid. in order for her to recover by the appreciated his Torah knowledge. Who will give us his equal? He left merit of the Torah. In fact Hashem They knew that he was born for us prematurely – suddenly – we heard his prayers and completely greatness and called upon to be- had no time to prepare. If he had healed her. departed in the usual way, our grief come great in Torah. Despite all Our teacher always hid in every would have been lessened. Yet this, he was discreet and extreme- Beit Midrash in such a way that now, in our situation, the passing ly humble. In our generation, there nobody realized that he was sitting of this Tzaddik is a punishment for was no other Gaon and Tzaddik in there at the back of the room. One us. Our pain is even greater for not Torah and midot who knew how to day we met during an important having appreciated the true value conceal his deeds as well as him. event to benefit the kollel, and I of his greatness during his lifetime. Woe to us, for he left us as or- asked him to speak in order to mo- It is only now that he has left phans, devoid of our spiritual fa- tivate the audience. He replied that us that we discover the greatness ther. Who can we rely upon today? it was precisely me that he wanted of his holiness, his Torah, and his Who can lead us in the paths of the to hear speaking. Hundreds of midot. The pain of his passing is holy Torah? books could be written about his excruciating, and our eyes still We know that the evil inclination life, about his greatness in Torah, weep over the death of the Tzad- attacks a man with full force when his humility, and his generosity. dik. Woe to us, woe to us! Who will he is immersed in Torah study. We It was only when we heard the now support us in difficult times? also know that it vigorously attacks exceptional praise from all the rab- We know that the world endures one who desires to be insignificant banim delivering eulogies at his fu- only through the merit of the Torah, before the Torah and men, one neral, when they revealed the im- and today who in the world of Torah who desires to grow in the midah portance of this giant among giants and among the rabbanim can take of humility. Rabbeinu Nissim Zatzal who lived among us in our genera- his place? possessed the two most important tion, that we understood that there

57 betzin, for his sons and entire fami- ly, and for the holy community. May he know in Heaven that today we miss him very much, and may we merit seeing the resurrection of the dead. Amen and amen. This is the proper place to re- count an amazing story that hap- pened to me, one that will allow us to understand, be it ever so slightly, just who is Holy One, blessed be He, and to realize that everything that we do comes from Him, Who directs even the minutest details of events. This is what happened. On Wednesday, July 29 1998 I received a call from Dayan Rav Nissim Rebibo Shlita, the Av Beth Din of Paris, who asked me to come that night to a fund-gather- ing event being sponsored for the yeshiva. I told him that I had to go to Chicago, where a gathering of thousands awaited me. Yet Rav Rebibo repeated that if I came, this would encourage people to give generously, and so asked me, out of love for the Torah, to accept. Having grown up in a Torah environment, and having been initiated into it since my childhood had been a great light in our midst. we may completely return to Hash- in my parents’ home, I thought of We never realized it, however, and em. May it be that through the merit how I was ready to do anything, I asked myself how it was possible, of his Torah, the Holy One, blessed without exception, for the sake when he was still among us, that be He, will hasten the coming of of Torah. This was equally the we were blind to the point of not Mashiach. Amen and amen. May case of the Sefat Emet of Ger, perceiving his greatness! We keen- he intercede for his wife the Reb- who at an early age was already ly sense his absence now that he is gone, a sign that our generation was not worthy to benefit from his light. Here it is that today a little of his glory and brilliance have been revealed to us. Of individuals like him it is written, “They have gone to their resting place; they have left us to our sorrows.” I had the merit of studying with him every Thursday for the entire night in the Sunderland yeshiva. Everyone loved him, and he had no problems with any Rav or other person, for he was honest with Hashem and others. May it be Hashem’s will that he pray for us in Heaven, in order that

58 from New York on Wednesday night (via Geneva). I prepared for the trip for close to four days, then cancelled, but then decided to go anew, yet cancelled again. The end of the story is that I cancelled my trip to New York and I left for Chicago, via New York, with a return via Zurich. And all this because I had deferred my trip to Chicago a month earlier because of Rabbi a great intellectual, having born into it, and having grown up Rebibo’s event. written numerous works, without among the great and righteous of And what a miracle! The same mentioning that already at age the generation. New York-Geneva return flight that I had cancelled ended terri- 23 he was appointed as Rebbe I therefore told him that I would bly, as the airplane crashed and of thousands of Ger Chassidim. take part in the event of that night, all aboard perished. If I had de- One day his accomplishments an event dedicated to the study clined Rabbi Rebibo, I would have were being told to the Maggid of Torah, and at the same time I of Mezritch, who, far from being left for Chicago, and a month later cancelled my flight to Chicago. But surprised, responded with the I wouldn’t have cancelled the trip think well - who won in all of this, following parable: Someone to New York; I would have taken me or Rabbi Rebibo? If I had left wished to scale a very high that New York-Geneva flight. But for Chicago, I would have raised mountain, but one that was very by the merit of Rabbi Nissim Re- an enormous amount for my insti- dangerous to climb. For months bibo, I had my life given to me tutions, while in cancelling I was he climbed without stop, but finally anew, and I had been saved. Thus managed, all exhausted, to arrive losing money for them. In addi- it was I who won out in all this, all at the top. And once there, what tion, not only did I speak in that because of faith in G-d, a faith that did he see? A small child sitting night’s activities to bolster Rabbi I felt so vividly, I could see it before there. “I had to labor for months Rebibo’s institutions (which, thank my very eyes. and months to get up here! How G-d, brought in a lot of money) but This story illustrates something did you - how could you do it?!” he I also influenced others to give that we’ve often said, and it is that asked the child. The child replied, generously and gave them my the evil inclination, which is the “You had to climb the mountain, blessing. It would seem therefore same thing as the Satan and the but I was born here.” And so it that I was the loser, while Rabbi Angel of Death (Bava Batra 16a), is with the Torah. Many have to Rebibo was the winner. But the wants to root out faith from the go through a lifetime of struggles conclusion of the story will show hearts and minds of men, and to to develop the traits necessary you to what point I was the winner make them forget all of G-d’s good- to acquire the Torah and reach in this extraordinary tale. ness and generosity. This is why the highest levels, yet there are A month later I was on vaca- the Torah begins with “Bereshith,” others who are, so to speak, born tion in Nice, where I began to in the beginning - to indicate to us there. Such was the case with the prepare for a trip to New York. I that it consists of a beginning, but Sefat Emet of Ger. And that is why was hesitating between going to that we, the Children of Israel, are I didn’t refuse what Rav Nissim New York (via Geneva) on Sun- the end. We must by faith take on Rebibo’s request, for I know day with the return on Tuesday, that role. For without Israel, there the value of Torah, having been or going on Monday with a return is no beginning.

59

Kollel Yismach Moshe Toronto (Canada)

or community to possess The Kollel Yismach Moshe, on lead many individuals and groups a Kollel is truly a sign of the name of the venerable Tsadik in their own pursuit of Torah stud- its maturity and sophisti- Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto Zatsal, is ies. This is done at all levels; from cation, as a Kollel in its comprised of family men who com- introductory to advanced, in four midst can further raise mit themselves to spending their languages, always with much en- the level of its community to new entire days from morning till late F thusiasm and devotion. From all the heights. evening, seven days a week in ad- The Kollel is unlike any of the ex- vanced Torah study. Under the very directions, the sounds that fill the isting institutions in the community. capable leadership of the Rosh Kol- Bet Hamidrash are the most beauti- It is a unique force and a unifying lel (dean) Rabbi Eliyahu Attias Sh- ful sounds of sanctity. force. It declares that the Torah is lita, a compatible group of families The Kollel is open for the partici- our guiding light and we all stand was identified and invited to join in pation of all. As per literal translation staunchly behind it. being amongst its first. Their level of of the Word Kollel – inclusive, the The Sephadi Kollel in Toronto commitment and caliber is second was a realization of a dream, par- to none. In a relative short term, the entire community is welcome to ticularly of Mr. Prosper Lugassy, Kollel has earned respect and re- avail themselves of the Kollel; in- while dream are usually experi- nown, both locally and abroad. deed are bid to. enced while asleep, with Mr. Pros- The Kollel is most deserving of per Lugassy a group of visionaries Yismach Moshe is an dared to dream awake. It is due educational/religious institution. A the support of everyone. The Kollel their leadership, convictions, cour- place, where the holy words of G-d grows both in numbers and activi- age and relentless focus that the and our venerable sages are stud- ties. Support for the Kollel is of ut- ied virtually around the clock. The Kollel came to be. This was a monu- most priority. mental task. Because of genuine learning of these rabbis and that of humility, the names of those who their wives is as serious and impor- May the merit of the venerable envisioned a community Kollel, will tant to them as their role as teach- Tsadik Rabbi Moshe Aaron Pinto not be mentioned. ers. Each member is responsible to protect you and your Family. Amen

sefaradi kollel of toronto “yismach moshe” 4119 bathurst street • north k, ontario m3h 3p4 tel: 416 636 5557 • fax: 416 636 8903

64