Parshas Bo January 22, 2021 A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul United Partial Service Practice Makes Perfect by Rabbi Aharon Wilen Two ninth-grade students at the Yeshiva In the introduction to the mitzvah of Rosh service to be done, it is irrelevant that the of Staten Island came to the dean, Chodesh (declaring the new month) that sun and moon seem to be competing for Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, for a “court is given in this week’s parsha, the verse (Bo the same space. Serving Hashem is done case.” One had borrowed a cassette 12:1) says that Hashem spoke to Moshe on His terms, not ours. This idea was, in recorder from the other and had swung and Aharon together. Rashi points out that fact, part of Hashem’s intended message to it by its strap, causing it to hit a wall usually, the mitzvos were given through humanity through the sun and moon. and break. The teenagers wanted to Moshe alone. Here, though, Hashem In a perfect world, the sun and moon chose to honor Aharon by including him would exhibit a unity of purpose despite know whether the borrower was liable in the revelation. Why was this mitzvah the their identical roles. However, the reality for damages. place to include Aharon? that we live in is intentionally imperfect At that time, the yeshivah was There is a perplexing passage of Talmud and left for us to complete. In our reality, studying Tractate Bava Metzia, (Chullin 60b) that relates that when initially such perfect unity while sharing the same parts of which discusses the laws created during the Six Days of Creation, space is an aspiration for us to work toward of shomrim (watchmen), including the moon was the same size as the sun. The and does not naturally exist. Because the a sho’eI (borrower). Rav Reuven moon complained to Hashem, saying that world is not created with this perfect asked the borrower, “What are the two kings could not share the same crown. reality, the sun and moon cannot actually responsibilities of a sho’el?” The boy Hashem responded, “Go shrink yourself.” demonstrate it; the moon, having pointed replied correctly that a borrower is The moon responded, “Why do I deserve out this imperfection, now had to shrink liable even for unavoidable accidents. to become smaller just because I have a so as not to be the same as the sun. This “And he is certainly liable for valid complaint?” After trying to placate was not a punishment for complaining, the moon, Hashem saw that it was still but, rather, giving the moon its own negligence,” responded Rav Reuven, upset. This, says the Talmud, is why there unique existence and its own role, as its indicating that there was no question is a korban chatas, a sin offering, included cycles serve to create the Jewish calendar that the borrower was liable in this the sacrifices of Rosh Chodesh; Hashem and to determine the start of the new case. commands, “Bring an offering to atone for months. This reality exists, however, with The boys walked away satisfed that the fact that I made the moon smaller.” something missing, an imperfection, the their question had been resolved, but The tale shared by the Talmud is meant to lack of perfect unity, and so Hashem asks Rav Reuven was troubled that they had convey a message of the moon’s purpose us to atone for the imperfection he placed come to him with a question whose in Creation, but before discussing what in Creation on Rosh Chodesh. On a answer was so plainly obvious. That that lesson is, the story itself demands deeper level, this means that He left it to us night he asked his father, the great an explanation. The moon’s complaint to revisit and stress this important lesson. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), was that there are two entities that are Rosh Chodesh, which marks the start of “How can it be that they are learning performing exactly the same role. Having a new moon, is the time when we reflect these laws in yeshiva and they cannot two luminaries that are exactly identical, on the cycle of the moon. We take note of apply it to their own lives?” Rav Moshe said the moon, seems redundant. What was its current size and how its shrinking leads responded, “Ask them what they wrong with this complaint that warranted to its growth. As we say in the blessing of learned when they began studying shrinking the moon? Furthermore, for kiddush levana (sanctifying the new moon), Talmud.” Hashem’s part, He surely had a good this cycle symbolizes that the moon will, reason for creating the sun and the moon one day, be returned to its original state. Rav Reuven followed this directive and as identical bodies, so why did He then If we work to achieve this type of reality discovered that both boys had begun shrink the moon, defeating that purpose? around ourselves and succeed in perfecting with Tractate Brachos, which focuses Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon explains that the intended unity of Creation, then the on prayers and blessings. Rav Moshe, there is a flaw in the moon’s reasoning. sun and moon will be altered to the original hearing this, was not surprised, and The moon referred to itself and the sun intended state of coexistence devoted to said, “In Brachos, they learned some as “kings,” inasmuch as they provide light the service of Hashem. things that, to their minds, are not put for the world. Neither the sun nor moon With this in mind, we can understand into practice. They learned that the is king, however. Hashem is King, and the why this mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh was ideal time for praying the Shemone luminaries in the sky are there to do His revealed to Moshe and Aharon together. Esrei of shacharis (the morning prayer) bidding. And if this is how He wants His Moshe and Aharon are an example of continued on back continued on back To receive Torah Weekly by email, email to [email protected] to email email, by Weekly Torah receive To [email protected] [email protected] www.denverkollel.org www.denverkollel.org Denver Community Kollel Kollel Community Denver 303-820-2855 80204 CO Denver, Ave, 14th W. 5080 To sponsor Torah Weekly, delivered weekly in print and via email to thousands of Jews worldwide, email [email protected] email worldwide, Jews of thousands to email via and print in weekly delivered Weekly, Torah sponsor To the Torah way of life. of way Torah the for all podcasts. all for it’s all right if you don’t do them. 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