Parsha Perspectives RABBI LEIBY BURNHAM Even in Their New, Taxing Environment
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PARSHAS KI SAVO | 16 ELUL 5769 | 5 SEPTEMBER 2009 Parsha Perspectives RABBI LEIBY BURNHAM even in their new, taxing environment. What וכתבת עליהן את כל דברי התורה הזאת בעברך למען אשר better way to obtain that skill than by etching the Torah into stone while thousands of feet of תבא אל הארץ אשר ה' אלקיך נתן לך ארץ זבת חלב ודבש !water tower above you כאשר דבר ה' אלקי אבתיך לך “When you cross, you shall write upon them all the words of this Torah, in Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis (1864-1953, Russia order that you may come to the land which Hashem, your G-d, is giving you, a – Israel) was renowned for the diligence he applied to his Torah study, and would make a land flowing with milk and honey, as Hashem, G-d of your forefathers, has siyum (a celebration upon finishing a book or section of Torah or Talmud) every time he spoken to you.” (Deuteronomy 27:3) finished the entire Talmud, a common occurrence for him. Once, only two weeks after n this week's parsha, Moses gives the Jews instructions to be carried out upon one of these siyums, he called his family together for yet another one. Even though entering Israel. One of them is difficult to understand. Moses tells the people: Rabbi Bengis could study at such a rapid pace, no one could possibly finish the entire Talmud I in two weeks. They asked him how it was possible that he was completing it again so "When the day comes that you cross the would make it quite difficult for the people to soon. Jordan to the land that Hashem, your G-d, is do their task. What could be behind this giving you, erect large stones and coat them unusual set of instructions given to the Jews? He explained to them that this was for a with whitewash. You are to write on them all separate learning cycle. Wherever Rabbi Bengis Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rubin, author of The Talilei statements of this Torah while crossing; in went, he would carry with him a small Talmud. Oros, explains that this was exactly the type of order that you come to the land that Hashem, Whenever he had an extra few minutes, environment that Moses wanted, so they could your G-d, is giving you, a land flowing milk and whether it was a delay in a wedding, funeral, or learn an important lesson. The Jews had lived honey, as Hashem, the G-d of your bris where he was officiating, a long line at the in the desert for forty years, existing in a forefathers, promised." grocery store, or if he arrived early to a meeting, protected environment with all their needs he would take out that Talmud and study. It It would be quite understandable if Moses told miraculously met. They had fresh food took him fifteen years, but eventually he them to write the Torah on special stones delivered to them daily in the form of manna, finished the entire Talmud simply by using immediately after crossing into Israel, or even they had a miracle well that would emit those moments that one can steal out of our just before, but the wording indicates that he streams of water which would pass by each hectic day, before they get stolen from us! instructed them to write the Torah on stones tribe, and they had the Clouds of Glory protect while in the middle of the Jordan River! them from their enemies. Once they entered While few could match Rabbi Bengis’ regimen, (Malbim, Deut. 27:3) Israel, their life would be radically different. the message is clear. Despite his many other They would have to toil diligently to draw food obligations, he managed to find free time that Furthermore, the Talmud tells us that a great from the ground, draw water each day, and go would have been otherwise unproductive. This miracle occurred while the Jews crossed the to war to protect themselves. The idyllic life message is more relevant today than ever. Jordan. The water stopped flowing, as though they had in the desert would be a thing of the Despite all the technological marvels that “save there was a dam, to allow the Jews passage on past. us” so much time, we seem to be busier than dry land. Normally, when there is a dam the ever. Pausing to discover ways to make the river water backs up creating a lake, but here Despite the dramatic change in lifestyle, they raging river of modern life come to a stop so the water stacked up higher and higher, until it were determined to continue studying the that we can have some dry land, will afford us reached towering heights! (Talmud, Sotah, Torah. Torah study had to become a central the opportunity to etch Torah knowledge into 35A) This surely did not create a serene writing aspect of their life even with a hectic and our hearts. environment, where scribes could sit quietly, stressful schedule. This was the message that etching the Torah into stone. The Jews were in Moses gave to them on their way to Israel: that Rabbi Burnham can be reached at: a stressful and frightful environment, which they must continue to engage in Torah study [email protected] Talking Points KI SAVO RABBI ELAZAR MEISELS 1. AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE Kamma 92a broad daylight, because then, even if he cannot see, “When you finish tithing all the tithes of your produce others can and they can assist him. When he gropes Why did the poor have to surrender their baskets while in darkness, others are of no help to him either. – in the third year…and you have given to the Levi… the wealthy folk were allowed to keep theirs? You shall declare before Hashem, your G-d, ‘I have Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor, Toldos Yitzchak removed all the sacred portions from my house. I have 1. It was done to spare the feelings of the poor You will grope about – When the persecutor shows given the appropriate ones to the Levite and to the because the wealthy folks brought the most beautiful up, the escape route will be an easy one, but you will orphan and widow, following all the commandments fruits, which were removed from the basket by the grope about like a blind man and have no success in Kohanim. The fruits offered up by the poor were of finding it. – HeEmek Davar (Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda You prescribed to us. I have not violated your significantly lesser quality and not fit to be displayed. Berlin) commandment, nor did I forget.” 26:13 Therefore, the Kohanim took the fruit along with the basket so that no one should have the inferior quality Ksav Sofer (Rabbi Abraham Samuel Benjamin Nor did I forget – I did not forget to bless you for the of his fruit visible to the masses. – Rabbi Aharon Baksht Sofer) explains this verse to refer to the sorry state setting aside of tithes. – Rashi of the Jewish people in exile who always seek 2. The wealthy person believed that his beautiful To bless you for the setting aside of tithes – This means of escaping our troubles. Just as a blind basket and fruit were signs of his prominence and cannot refer to the blessing recited over the mitzvah man gropes helplessly about and rarely find what grew haughty as a result. By refusing to take his for that is only of rabbinical origin. Rather, it means basket, he was reminded that G-d detests haughtiness he’s looking for, so too, the Jewish people will that he did not forget to bless and praise the Almighty and was disinterested in his wealth. The poor person, attempt all sorts of means to escape persecution for the mitzvah to give these tithes. Instead, they were on the other hand, who struggled mightily just to without success. They’ll forgo their unique heritage given with the greatest joy and love. – Maharal (Rabbi afford a simple lattice basket, showed up with a in an effort to blend in with the populace. They’ll Judah Loew, 1525-1609) humble heart wishing he could do even more. To dress in the latest styles and fashions so as not to Although the obligation to recite a blessing before demonstrate the great love that the Almighty has for stick out and draw attention to themselves. They’ll the performance of a mitzvah is only of rabbinical those who serve him with humility, the simple basket refrain from educating their children Jewishly so as origin, in truth, it has its roots in Scripture. This is too, was taken as part of his offering. – Darchei to ensure a top-notch secular education. They’ll because we are scripturally obligated to perform a Mussar refuse to circumcise their sons so their Jewish mitzvah with joy and love for the Almighty. It is lineage should never be discovered. All of these Mei HaShiloach by Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner evasions won’t help them one iota, and they’ll this overwhelming excitement that our sages (1804-1854) points out that a lattice basket has asked us to express verbally through the recital of eventually have to realize that the only way a Jew holes in it and is a symbol of the need for one to will ever escape the trials of the exile will be the blessing beforehand. The blessing reflects our behave consistently both inwards and outwards. If eager anticipation to performing His mitzvos, and through a return to Torah, the true source of his one performs a mitzvah unhappily, but gives off special status.