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A Taste of Torah

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A Taste of Torah Parshas Chukas June 18, 2021 A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul Keep Talking by Rabbi Dov Holczer Watch Your Words This week’s parsha discusses the for ourselves at our much lower level; if Rabbi Mordechai Shapiro served as a rav in Miami Beach for decades until incident known as mei meriva (the the Torah has told us the tale, we ought his passing. In the early 1950s, he lived waters of strife). The Torah tells us that to learn from it. A basic question that in Eretz Yisrael. One Shabbos shortly following the death of Miriam, the water emerges from the story is the focus on after his arrival there, he visited the that had miraculously emerged from a speaking to the rock rather than striking Chazon Ish (Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya rock (in the merit of Miriam) ceased to it; why was this so important? Karelitz; 1878-1953) with his cousin, flow. The Jewish People complained to Rashi tells us that had Moshe spoken Rabbi Shlomke Berman, a great Moshe about the lack of water. Hashem to the rock, the Jewish People would Torah scholar who was a nephew of told Moshe to take his staff and speak have learned a valuable lesson: If an the Chazon Ish. to the rock, ordering it to give water for inanimate object such as a rock, which During their visit, the Chazon Ish the nation. receives neither reward nor punishment, asked Rabbi Berman for the time. Rabbi Shapiro was surprised, since As described by Rashi’s expansion of nonetheless responds to Hashem’s on Shabbos, leaving a private domain the verses, Moshe initially followed the orders, how much more so must we while wearing a watch is problematic orders of Hashem and spoke to the humans, who do receive reward and due to the restriction on carrying. rock, but no water emerged. He then punishment based upon our actions, Although there was an eruv in Bnai proceeded to hit the rock, and a trickle of obey Hashem’s orders! Brak that would permit such carrying, water came out. He then hit it a second Still, the lesson is unclear. When the many people, including the Chazon time, at which point water gushed out, rock gave water upon being struck, the Ish and Rabbi Berman, did not rely providing sufficient water for the needs Jewish People would still have learned upon the eruv due to various halachic of the Jewish People. concerns. It was thus strange for the that it is important to obey Hashem’s Chazon Ish to ask Rabbi Berman for Hashem then tells Moshe (Chukas orders. What vital opportunity was lost the time, as he knew that his nephew 20:12), “Because you didn’t believe in due to Moshe’s failure to speak to the would not be wearing a watch. Me to sanctify me before the eyes of the rock? It was then that Rabbi Shapiro Jewish People – therefore, you shall not Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986) recalled hearing that the Chazon Ish bring this congregation to the land I explains that had Moshe talked to the often gave reproof to people in an have given them.” rock, even after his initial attempt to indirect fashion so as not to cause There is an enormous amount of speak to it and its failure to respond, them discomfort, hoping they’d discussion among the commentators a great lesson would have emerged: pick up his message. Rabbi Shapiro regarding what exactly Moshe did wrong Keep talking and don’t give up, because realized that he was wearing a watch, and he surmised that the Chazon Ish to warrant this punishment, from the eventually, the message will penetrate. If wished to indirectly tell him that he obvious hitting the rock instead of a rock, which is not a conscious being, should not be relying upon the eruv. speaking to it to the way he spoke to the eventually responds to what it is told, Rabbi Shapiro thereupon removed Jewish People before hitting the rock, how much more hope there is to reach his watch and gave it to the Chazon calling them “rebels.” The consensus a person, who is capable of intelligent Ish for safekeeping. among the various approaches is that thought and of learning and discerning The Chazon Ish placed the watch whatever the shortcoming, it was a between right and wrong!. on a bookshelf and, smiling, said, minute error, and Moshe, being of Let us expand on this idea. By speaking “Good, good, Reb Mordechai! Now incredibly great spiritual stature, was to a person, one can eventually influence that I have something that belongs to held to an extremely high standard. the individual to realize, on his own you, you will have to visit me again!” accord, what is correct and right and Indeed, Rabbi Shapiro returned to Despite the exacting level to which what is evil and wrong. True, it may take pick up his watch and to visit the great Torah leader. This ultimately Moshe was held, it is still important some time for the message to seep in, but that we try and derive practical lessons with the passage of time and persistence, continued on back continued on back Kollel Happenings Halacha Riddles Last week’s question: How could hand eating further (Shulchan Aruch Orach SUMMER NIGHT SEDER FOR washing require another hand washing? Chaim 179:1). If the person wishes to BACHURIM BEGINS NEXT Answer: If a person washed mayim eat more bread, he must wash again WEEK acharonim at the end of the meal in for the bread before making the new The Kollel’s Summer Night order to recite Birkas Hamazon, but bracha. Seder for Bachurim begins decided to eat again, he must make This week’s question: How can the Sunday night. Boys who are a new bracha on the food, as washing recitation of one blessing prevent the out of school join the Kollel’s mayim acharonim creates a state of hesech recitation of four blessings? night seder. Refreshments hada’as, or removal of one’s mind from available. Raffles, as well as a weekly stipend for those who attend consistently. Contact Lives of Our Torah Leaders Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher, Rabbi Meir Shapiro - Part IV [email protected] for In addition to his powerful intellect, rabbonim, including Rabbi Shlomo more details. Meir was also recognized for his Mordechai Schwadron, better known SPRING-SUMMER AVOS great oratorical and leadership as the Maharsham, who was one of UBANIM ON SHABBOS skills from a young age. He recived the greatest halachic authorities of his AFTERNOON semicha (ordination) from numerous time. The Kollel’s spring-summer Avos Ubanim program continues this Shabbos A Taste of Torah afternoon at the Kollel Torah continued from front Centers in West Denver and the recipient will internalize the message under his care, only to have those lessons Southeast Denver. Learning and improve his behavior. shrugged off or ignored. Over the course begins one hour before By striking the rock, however, a very of time, though, a balanced repetition mincha, followed by nosh and different lesson emerged: If you don’t of these lessons, life circumstances, and prizes. The month of Tammuz respond to mere words, it is necessary personal introspection will often lead the recipient to realize the truth and wisdom is sponsored by Reb Moshe to force a change of behavior. Rather of these ideas. Berkowitz in memory of his than providing the opportunity for father, Reb Shlomo ben Reb the rock to gradually absorb the will of Two important lessons emerge from what Aryeh Leib. Thank you, as well, Hashem and then respond positively, Moshe should have done. One, if you are to Denver Human Services Moshe forced the issue by hitting it. This influencer of others – and most everyone for their partnership in this lesson, that a person can be influenced is, in some way, shape or form - never give program. For sponsorships to change through continuous teaching up imparting the ideas that will, slowly and more info, email info@ and influence, rather than forcing a but surely, make an impression upon denverkollel.org. superficial obedience through force, was your listeners. At the same time, we must lost when Moshe chose to strike the rock. also be willing to listen and contemplate MILE HIGH TORAH PODCAST On a practical level, if you think about it, what we are being taught by others. If we FROM THE KOLLEL you will realize that often, a person in a would like to, indeed, be smarter than a A wide variety of Kollel classes position of influence – such as a teacher, rock, we must allow the words of wisdom and short, inspiring Torah a parent, or a communal leader – will others share with us to penetrate and thoughts are now available try to impart ideas and lessons to those change us. on many podcast platforms such as Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Stories for the Soul Amazon Music. You can also continued from front access the latest podcasts at developed into a personal relationship, for criticizing the Jewish People too the Kollel’s website, www. from which Rabbi Shapiro gained greatly. sharply. Although his reproof was denverkollel.org. In this week’s parsha, Moshe is taken to warranted, Hashem punished Moshe for task, according to some commentators, not doing so in a softer manner. To sponsor Torah Weekly, delivered weekly in print and via email to thousands of Jews worldwide, email [email protected] Denver Community Kollel 1395 Wolff Street, Denver, CO 80204 303-820-2855 [email protected] www.denverkollel.org To receive Torah Weekly by email, email to [email protected].
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