A Tzaddik, or righteous person, makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. - Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach (Bereishis 7:1) Parshas Eikev CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA

Teshuva - Seize The Moment

“And now, what does Hashem ask of you…” (10:12)

The Ohr HaChaim explains that since after a person transgresses one of Hashem’s commandments, he or others may believe that their way back to repent and return is either sealed or distant, and would be a very daunting journey. Therefore the pasuk uses the word, VeAta, meaning, ‘And now.’ As Chazal explain in Medrash Rabba, VeAta refers to teshuva. We must seize the moment and take the opportunity to do teshuva, to repent and return, right now. The Ohr HaChaim thus rereads our pasuk as saying, “And if you sinned and transgressed against Hashem, and now, what does Hashem ask of you?” And now — at this moment, when you wish to repent and return to Him and do teshuva — how do you rectify this matter and fix your wrongdoings? Answers the pasuk: “By fearing Him.” This alone is sufficient to now appease Hashem and reconcile with Him once again.

“And to walk in his ways…”

- 1 of 29 - Our pasuk continues, adding this second condition. The Ohr HaChaim here brings a Chazal from Vayikra Rabba: “If you have done bundles and bundles of transgressions, then do bundles and bundles of mitzvos to outweigh them.” In order to explain this, the Ohr HaChaim now cites the Rambam, who introduces a novel insight in his commentary to the Mishna at the end of Meseches Makkos: If a person angers Hashem with sin and transgression, then even if he does just one single mitzvah, yet fulfills it to its utmost potential, that single mitzvah has the power to give him merit both in this world and the next.

The Ohr HaChaim then clarifies the idea further by bringing the following mashal:

There were once two servants who served the same king. One of them was a faithful servant, whose perfect actions caused him always to find favor with the king; in fact, the king never had reason to be angry with him, ever. One day, this faithful servant came before the king bearing a gift, an offering of a beautiful turtledove!

The second servant, however, was not faithful. He did not serve the king properly, neglecting his duties and angering his master. One day, he, too, showed up with a gift for the king: a large, fat ox.

Now, whose offering was more pleasing to the king? Naturally, we can imagine that the king shall rejoice and be happier even with the small, white, pure dove than with the fat ox, simply because of the nature of all the grief and anger that the second, unfaithful, neglectful servant caused the king in the first place!

This, says the Ohr HaChaim is why the pasuk tells the Baal Teshuva, “Walk in His paths, perform bundles of mitzvos” — because you angered Hashem when you transgressed, now, in order to do teshuva, you need bundles and bundles.

Praises for the Ohr HaChaim Hakodosh

Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Komarna tells us that the Baal Shem Tov had taught that the soul of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh had the Ruach of Dovid HaMelech, from the supernal realm of Atzilus. The Holy Baal Shem Tov, himself, had the soul of the Nefesh of Dovid HaMelech from the supernal realm of Atzilus. This is why the Baal Shem Tov desired very much to meet the Ohr HaChaim. Had they met, this nefesh and ruach would have joined together, which would have drawn down and revealed the next higher soul levels of of Atzilus (Neshama and Chaya), and then the final redemption would have come (Nesiv Mitzvosecha, 1:9).

- 2 of 29 - The Beis Avrohom of Slonim, in the name of the first Slonimer Rebbe, author of Yesod HaAvoda, explains this lofty concept with a little more detail: The holy Baal Shem Tov’s derech avoda was based on Tefilla, prayer, and he had the nefesh of Dovid. The holy Ohr HaChaim had the ruach of Dovid, and his derech avoda was through Torah. Had they met, then together they could have drawn down the soul level of Nishmat Dovid (the neshama of Dovid), and if this Neshama level would have joined with the nefesh and ruach of the Baal Shem Tov and the Ohr HaChaim, respectively, then Moshiach Ben Dovid would have arrived (Beis Avrohom, Shavous, p161). Gedolim Be'misasm Yoser

Yahrzeits For Parshas Eikev

Rav Mordechai Ashkenazi His father, Reb Chaim Peretz, was a shochet in (Ha'Mordechai) (Av 22) Horensteipel. When Ren Chaim Peretz was 60

Rav Eliyahu Hakohen Dushnitzer years old, his wife died, leaving him with three (Mashgiach Lomza Yeshiva Petach Tikva, daughters. He asked his rebbe, Rav Mordechai Nachlas Eliyohu) (Av 22) Dov, the son-in-law of Rav Chaim Sanzer, Rav Shmuel Meyuchas of Yerushalayim whether he should remarry. On the latter’s (Av 22) recommendation, he married a young woman, and he fathered three sons. The oldest was Rav Yaakov Yisrael. At the age of 11, Rav Yaakov Yisrael was recruited to learn with Rav Yosef Rav Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky The Yosel Hurvitz at Novardock. At 19, he was sent Steipler, Kehilos Yaakov (Av 23) by the Alter of Novardock to head a yeshiva at Rogatshov. After a stint in the Russian army, he was appointed rosh yeshiva of Novardock at Pinsk. The Chazon Ish saught him as a husband for his sister. He authored many works, most notably Kehillas Yaakov. His son, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, is a leading Torah authority in Yisrael

Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, the Steipler Gaon, author of Kehillas Yaakov (1899-1985).

- 3 of 29 - Rav Binyomin Aharon Selnick Ashkenazi Rav Shimon Goldstein (Av 23) Masaot Binyomin (Av 23)

Rav Shimon Goldstein (1942-2005). Born in Rav Binyomin Aharon Solnik, son of Rav Williamsburg to Reb Dovid and Rochel Avrohom, was a talmid of the Rema and of the Goldstein, he learned in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, Maharshal, and one of the leadingTalmidei and was orphaned of both his parents at a Chachomim in Cracow. young age. He resided with his grandmother for a few years. After her petirah, he moved After the Rema’s petira, Rav Binyomin Aharon into the Chaim Berlin dormitory as a young moved to Silesia and later to Podheitz. He teenager. He became very close to the rosh corresponded in halachic matters with many yeshiva, Rav Yitzchak Hutner, who had a major Gedolim of his time, notably the Maharam of hashpa’ah on his derech halimud and hashkafa. Lublin; Rav Yosef Steinhart, the Zichron Yosef; Despite his difficult situation, he was one of the and Rav Mordechai Yaffe, the Levush. His sefer happiest talmidim in the yeshiva. After his Mas’as Binyomin includes 112 teshuvos. marriage, Rav Shimon continued learning in the yeshiva, and joined the staff as a rebbi Rav Binyomin Aharon’s sons were all Gedolim. three years later. Rav Shimon never left the His son Rav Yaakov Yukel was the mechaber of koslei bais medrash for any other employment Nachalas Yaakov on Rashi’s commentary on the until the day of his petirah, a beloved eighth Torah. Rav Avrohom was Rav of Tarnopol and grade rebbi for decades. later Rav in Brisk.

His son-in-law was Rav Menachem Mann, Rav in Vienna and later Chief Rav of Austria. Rav Tzvi Hirsch Horowitz (Av 23)

Rav Binyomin Aharon was niftar on the twenty- third of Menachem Av 5370/1610. Son of Rav Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz, the Chozeh of Lublin

Zecher tzaddik livrachah. He was named after his father’s father- in- law, www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-23-ava Rav Hirsh of Lanczut. ugust-19/ His first marriage was to the daughter of Rav Aryeh Leib of Valtshisk.

His second marriage was to the daughter of

- 4 of 29 - Rav Nota of Chelm. merchant selling coral. He also owned factories in Brody and Vienna. He studied Torah all his When Rav Hirsch MeShares of Rymanow was life and chose Brody as his hometown among ill, he heard of it and visited him saying, our her great scholars and sages. He opened his names are the same: you are named Rav Tzvi own Bais Medrash in his home and paskened Hirsch ben Sprintza and I, too, am Tzvi Hirsh and wrote responsa, corresponding with such ben Sprintza., I hereby accept your decree of Gedolim as the Noda BeYehuda, Rav Refoel death upon myself. He passed away a short HaKohen of Hamburg, the Shaagas Arye, the .and was laid to rest Chasam Sofer and Rav Akiva Eiger תקצ''גwhile later on 23 Av in Rimanov. He was on good terms with the Chassidim and Rav Moshe Yechiel Michel Paket (Av talmidim of the Mezritcher Maggid. 23)

Rav Yisroel Charif of Lvov (Av 23) He was counted among the famed Chachomim Rav Dovid Sutton Dabbah (Rav & Av of the Kloiz in Brody and studied Kabbola in the Beis Din of Beunos Aires, Yaaleh Hadas) shteibel with other Mekubolim, next to the (Av 23) kloiz.

.תקפח He passed away on 24 Av

Rav Efraim Zalman Margolius Mate Efraim (Av 24)

Rav Dovid Ortinberg Tehilla L'Dovid (Av He became a talmid of his uncle, Rav 24) Alexander, and of the Mekubol, Rav Yitzchok HaKohen ben Rav Yoel, the Rav of Koretz and later of Ostrog. Rav Efraim also studied under Rav Dovid Ortinberg was the son of Rav Yisrael Rav Yechezkel Landau, the famed mechaber of Tzvi, a descendant of Rav Zev Wolf of Zhitomir, the Noda BeYehuda. the Ohr HaMeir, and of the inner group of Chassidim of the Saraf of Strelisk.

He was known to be humble and modest, shunning all honors and running away from After the petira of the Strelisker Rebbe, Rav them; he did all he could not to serve in the Yisrael Tzvi traveled to the court of the rabbinate as a source of livelihood. In his youth Ruzhiner Rebbe. His son, Rav Dudia, as he was he was appointed Rav of Ohanov, but he quickly called, was a devoted Chassid of the Ruzhiner gave up the position. He turned down the offer and later of his children. of the post of Rav in Frankfurt de Main, after Rav Tzvi Hirsh Horowitz passed away and left Shortly after his marriage, he was asked by the the position vacant. Instead he became a kehilla of Berditchev to serve as Dayan in their

- 5 of 29 - city. This was a prestigious position: the city Son of Reb Tzvi Aryeh. was home to many Talmidei Chachomim, and it was just forty years since thepetira of the Son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Kobilansky, who is Kedushas Levi of Berditchev, whose influence son-in-law of Rav Meir Horodotsky, who is the was still strongly felt. (After the petira of the son of Rav Duvid Leikes, a talmid of the Baal Kedushas Levi, no one was ever named Rav of Shem Tov. Berditchev. He could be called Dayan, but not Reb Tzvi Aryeh succeeded his father ,תקע''ב Rav of the city; no one could replace the In Kedushas Levi.) as rav and rebbe in Alik. He established and expanded the Chassidus his father founded, Even as Rav, Rav Dudia continued to travel to and was close to Rav Mottele Tshernobler and the Ruzhiner Rebbe and, after his petira, to his Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta. son Rav Avrohom Yaakov, the Sadigura Rebbe and, later, to the Boyaner Rebbe. He was noted Some of his Torah was published in his son’s for his utter bittul to his Rebbes, despite his sefer, Gedulas Mordechai and later published being a Rav, or, as someChassidim said, together with the Torah of the other tzaddikim because he was a Rav and Talmid Chochom. of Alik in Likkutei Torah and Tal Oros.

Rav Dudia wrote several well-knownHalocha He passed away in Alik / Olek 25 Teves / Av .תר''ט seforim: Tehilla L’Dovid on Hilchos Shabbos 1849 and Shoham V’Yoshpeh on the Rambam. His sons were: Rav Tzvi Aryeh of Falshtein, Rav Niftar on the twenty-fourth of Av 5670/1910, he Mordechai his successor in Alik, and Rav was buried in Berditchev. Yisroel of Dilitin.

Zecher tzaddik livrachah. A 660- page, hand- written manuscript of his chiddushim on Torah and Shas called Keser www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-24-ava Malchus on Torah and Shas resides in the ugust-20/ Jerusalem National Library (unpublished).

Rav Aharon of Terbeli (Machneh Rav Avrohom Chaim Horowitz of Linsk Aharon) (Av 24) (Av 25)

Rav Sholom Halperin (Vasloier Rebbe) Rav Yaakov Meshulem Orenstein (Av 24) (Yeshuos Yaakov, Av Beis Din of Lvov) (Av 25)

Rav Yeshaya Menachem (Av Beis Din of Krakow, Biurim Kibdu Hashem) (Av 25)

Rav Yosef Dovid Landau (Av 25) Rav Moshe Hager of Anitiniya (Av 25)

- 6 of 29 - Rav Noach Naftali Rabinowitz Admor of Rav Eliyohu Boruch Goldschmidt Dear Kobrin, Birchos Lo'ad (Av 26) Daughter (Av 26)

Rav Noach Naftoli, born in 5596/1836, was the Rav Eliyahu Baruch Goldschmidt (1935-2000). son of Rav Yisrael Yaakov, who was the son of Rav Elya was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the famed Rav Moshe of Kobrin. He was the where his parents had moved in 1938, along son-in-law of his uncle, Rav Boruch Chaim with their three-year-old son, in flight from Levin, a son-in-law of Rav Moshe of Kobrin. Nazi Germany. Rav Elya moved to Lakewood in 1960 and drew close to Rav Aharon Kotler. He Following the petira of his grandfather, Rav spent 20 years at Lakewood, followed by Moshe of Kobrin, on the twenty-ninth of Nissan another 20 years as mashgiach ruchani at 5618/1858, Rav Noach Naftoli was appointed Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Rebbe by a group of his grandfather’sFallsburg. Rav Elya was suddenly niftar while Chassidim. (Most of theChassidim accepted working on a new sefer on Shalom bayis Rav Avrohom of Slonim as their Rebbe.) entitled Dear Son, planned as a counterpart to his best-selling Dear Daughter on the same Rav Noach Naftoli was known as ansubject. outstanding Talmid Chochom. His appearance Rav Yoel Teitelbaum (Satmar Rebbe, was regal. Divrei Yoel) (Av 26)

On the twenty-sixth of Av 5649/1889, at the age of sixty-three, Rav Noach Naftoli was niftar in

Komin, while cutting the bread at his table. Rav Yehoshua Heschel Charif Meginei Shlomo (Av 27) His sons, Rav Dovid Shlomo of Kobrin and Rav Aharon Levi of Diamatshcve, succeeded him as His wife was called Miriam. Rebbe.

Rav Yehoshua was a talmid of the Maharam of Many of Rav Noach Naftoli’s Divrei Torah were Lublin and a talmid of Rav Yehoshua Falk, the printed in the sefer of his grandfather, Amoros mechaber of the Sem”a. He served as the head Tehoros, under the title M’aamorim Tehorim. of the rabbinical court of Lvov outside the city. He authored two famous works:Maginei Zechuso yagen aleinu. Shlomo on the Talmud, where he defends the opinion of Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi) against www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-26-ava the authors of the Tosfos, and the responsa ugust-22/

- 7 of 29 - Pnei Yehoshua (not to be confused with the commentary on the Talmud of the same name, authored by his grandson and namesake). Rav Meshulem Feish Segal Lowy Av Beis Din of Tosh, Avodas Avodah (Av 27) He was laid to rest in the ancient Bais HaChaim adjacent to the Rema shul, near such Tzaddikim as the Rebbe Reb Heschel and the Bach.

His son Rav Moshe’s daughter, Teivel, married Rav Shmuel Shmelke Margolis, Av Bais Din of Elkish. Their son was Rav Elozor Roke’ach of Brody and Rav of Amsterdam, mechaber of Maasei Roke’ach.

Rav Yehoshua Heschel served in Grodno, Premisla, Lvov and finally in Cracow. Later in his life, he accepted the position ofRosh Yeshiva in Cracow alongside Rav YomTov Lipman Heller, themechaber of Tosfos YomTov, who served as theAv Bais Din.

As he lay on his deathbed, he turned to the The Torah world was plunged into mourning on heads of the community who surrounded him, the 27th of Menachem Av 5775 with the petira saying, “Make way for Rashi, whom I defended, of the Tosher Rebbe, Rav Meshulom Feish for he is coming to escort me to the Next Lowy, at the age of ninety-three. World.” One of the eldest and most venerated Rebbes of He was laid to rest in the ancient Bais HaChaim the generation, the Tosher Rebbe was adjacent to the Rema shul, near such Tzaddikim frequently hospitalized in recent years. Since as the Rebbe Reb Heschel and the Bach. Adar 5768/2008, when he contracted severe pneumonia, his health had been in a state of His son Rav Moshe’s daughter, Teivel, married decline. Rav Shmuel Shmelke Margolis, Av Bais Din of Elkish. Their son was Rav Elozor Roke’ach of Communities all over the Jewish world davened Brody and Rav of Amsterdam, mechaber of fervently for his recovery, and the name Rav Maasei Roke’ach. Meshulom Feish ben Tzirel was constantly on the lips of those who admired him, as his health fluctuated over the past years.

- 8 of 29 - Several weeks after the pneumonia, the Rebbe him as if he were crazy, because of his piety, recovered and returned home to Tosh, in and that made it possible for him to maintain a Canada, although very weak. When hereligious lifestyle. appeared in the Bais Medrash that Purim, the Chassidim cried with joy at what was seen as a In March 1944, Hungary was captured by the medical miracle. Germans. In April, the Jews of the region were assembled, among them the members of the Two weeks ago the Rebbe attended theLowy family, into the Nirgehaze ghetto, and marriage of his great-granddaughter. Yesterday from there they were sent to Auschwitz. Most his condition deteriorated drastically; he was of the Rebbe’s extended family perished there, classified as critical and his family wasand his father, the Rebbe, was murdered on summoned. In the afternoon hours, he was Rosh Chodesh Elul 5704/1944. niftar. After the Red Army entered Margita, the Rebbe The Rebbe was born in 5682/1922 in the village was released from the labor camp. He then of Nirtosh, known as Tosh to the Jewish traveled to Arad, Mako and finally to population. His parents were Rav Mordechai Kleinwardein. Segal Lowy, the eldest son of Rav Elimelech of Tosh, and Rebbetzin Tzirel, the daughter of Rav In 5706/1946 he married Rebbetzin Chava, the Yaakov Fekete of Nirbator. daughter of Rav Yehuda Weingarten of Yerushalayim, a descendant of the Rebbe Reb In 5690/1930, his father was appointed Rav of Elimelech of Lizhensk. nearby Demetcher. He was appointed by the survivors of Tosher At the age of twelve, the Rebbe traveled to Chassidus to serve as the Rebbe in Nirgehaze, Kalov, to the Yeshiva headed by his great-uncle, where he stayed for two and a half years. He the Rav of the city, Rav Menachem Braude, the served there as a Dayan on the special Bais Din Be’er Menachem. At that young age he was that helped agunos remarry after the war. At noted for his hasmoda and devotion to his that point, fear of the communist regime led learning and was recognized as an iluy. him to instruct his community to leave the country. On the 23rd of Kislev 5703/1943, his grandfather passed away, and his father, Rav After two years in Austria, in Adar 5711/1951 Mordechai, was appointed Rebbe. the Rebbe arrived in America. He first lived in Williamsburg, and later moved to Montreal, In 1943, the Rebbe was drafted to the forced Canada, where his older brother, Reb Chaim labor brigades in Hungary and sent to camps in Yosef, lived. Their sister, Fraidel, the wife of Koschitza and Margita. The overseers treated Rav Shmuel Meir Leifer, also survived the war.

- 9 of 29 - As soon as he arrived in Montreal, the Rebbe every day, no matter what. He spent most of his decided to establish his community outside the day davening, as each tefilla took many hours. city in order to avoid the influences of the Only after an exhausting Maariv did he allow outside world. himself to eat something — a meal that was breakfast, lunch and supper in one. In 5723/1963, the Rebbe established a Chassidic neighborhood named Kiryas Tosh in His Divrei Torah and stories were printed in the the Boisbriand suburb, about thirty kilometers seforim Avodas Avoda. from Montreal. Over the years many Chassidim flocked to him, and there are also Tosher The Rebbe was widowed on the 21st of Elul communities in Brooklyn, Monroe, London, 5756/1996 of his Rebbetzin Chava. He Eretz Yisrael and Belgium. subsequently married Rebbetzin Malka Lowy.

A full range of institutions was established in On the 18th of Teves 5758, the Rebbe’s eldest Tosh, including schools for boys and girls, a son, Rav Mordechai, son-in-law of Rav Yeshiva Gedola and Yeshiva Ketana, and Yechezkele Mertz, was niftar at the age of fifty. anything else a Jewish community needs. The petira occurred in the middle of Shacharis, Today, some four hundred families live there. when Rav Mordechai was saying Krias Shema. Since it was on a Friday, the Rebbe carried on The Tosher Rebbe loved peace and harmony his avoda throughout Shabbos as if all were and would pursue it; he avoided discord like regular, to the astonishment of the Chassidim. fire. He was known for his Ahavas Yisrael and disbursed tremendous sums for tzedoka. He The Rebbe’s other son, Rav Elimelech serves as was admired by all, and people from across the the Rav of Kiryas Tosh. His surviving daughters spectrum streamed to his court. Thousands of are Rebbetzin Tzirel Fish, Rebbetzin Fradel Chassidim from the United States and Canada, Katz, and Rebbetzin Sossie Kahana. The from Eretz Yisrael and from Europe, visited him Rebbe’s daughter, Rebbetzin Berocha Chana regularly, especially for Shabbosos and Yomim Mayer, predeceased him. Tovim, to witness his holy visage and to receive a berocha from him. Among those who came The Rebbe is also survived by many were many Chassidim of other courts, as well grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great- as Litvishe Yidden, businessmen, Sefardim and great-grandchildren. Ashkenazim. Zechuso yogein oleinu. The Rebbe’s Avodas HaKodesh was carried out with tremendous mesirus nefesh, the Chassidim www.hamodia.com/2015/08/12/the-tosher-rebb relate, and note that until his final days he e-zya-harav-meshulem-feish-lowy/ made sure to complete the entire Sefer Tehillim

- 10 of 29 - Rav Menachem Kohn (Av 27) Rav Chaim Dov Keller Sefer Chidekel, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivas Telshe Chicago (Av 27) Rav Menachem Kohn (1964-2006). Born to Mr. and Mrs. Yosef Yitzchak Eizik Kohn, both Holocaust survivors who had moved to Los Angeles after the war. He was the youngest of four brothers. A watershed in his life was his entry into the Telshe Yeshiva at the age of 14, following in the footsteps of his brothers who had also learned in Telshe. For the next 28 years, his neshama became bound to the yeshiva of Telshe, its Roshei Yeshiva and talmidei chachomim. Throughout the years, Rav Chaim Dov Keller was born in 1930 in New Reb Menachem penned his own chiddushei York City and attended Yeshiva Rabeinu Torah, and a number of years ago he published Yitzchak Elchanan (RIETS). When the Telshe two sefarim, one on Mesechta Beitza and the Yeshiva was established by Harav Eliya Meir second on Mesechta Moed Kotton. He called Bloch and Harav Mottel Katz, zichronam the sefarim Ateres Avi, in memory of his father. levrachah, in Cleveland in 1940, Rav Keller The day before the accident which took his life, joined the yeshiva and became a close talmid of Reb Menachem went to Monroe to daven at the Rav Elya Meir. tziyun of the Satmar Rebbe on his yahrtzeit. He also went to visit the current Satmar Rebbe. In 1960, Harav Avraham Chaim Levin and Harav Chaim Schmelczer, zichronam levrachah, founded the Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago, and Rav Keller joined the yeshiva the following year. Over many decades, he taught Torah to thousands of talmidim, and was one of the premier roshei yeshiva of his time.

Rav Keller was known for his forceful and eloquent defense of authentic Yiddishkeit, and was often called upon to deliver the unadulterated daas Torah though his powerful speeches and articulate writing. He was a prominent member of the Nesius of Agudas

- 11 of 29 - Yisrael of America. great-grandchildren.

Rav Keller married Chaya Devorah née Levin, Yehi zichro baruch. the daughter of Harav Eliezer Levin, zt”l, a talmid of the Chafetz Chaim and thehamodia.com longtime Rav in Detroit. After her passing, he Rav Yehuda Fattiah (Beis Lechem married tbl”c Rebbitzen Shulamis Prager. Yehuda) (Av 27)

Several years ago, Rav Keller published several Rav Yaakov Tzvi of Borsha (Av 27) volumes of Sefer Chidekel, a compendium of Rav Shmuel Tzvi Horowitz of Spinka his chiddushim. (Tiferes Tzvi) (Av 27) Rav Avrohom Mordechai Alter (Av 27)

Rav Keller’s last address was given in Telshe Rav Menachem Nachum Dov Ber Yeshiva on Purim of this year, and shortly after Friedman of Sadigur (Av 27) he was stricken with COVID-19. After being hospitalized for an extended period of time, his home was converted to a quasi-hospital room, and he spent the last few weeks being cared for Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin the Netziv (Av 28) in his familiar surroundings.

The levayah will be held outdoors next to the 1 Av (others say: 28 Av) Rav Naphtali Tzvi yeshiva at 3535 West Foster Avenue.Yehudah Berlin, the “Netziv of Volozhin” The aron will be brought to Lakewood for a levayah on Tuesday at 12:00 in Bais Medrash Son of Rav Yaakov Govoha, and kevurah will be in Eretz Yisrael on תקע''ז Wednesday. Born in Mir

Rav Keller is survived by ybl”c his wife, A descendant of Rabbeinu Elchanan Baal Rebbitzen Shulamis Prager; his sons Harav HaTosfos Shmuel Yeshaya Keller, Rosh Yeshiva in Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago; Harav Elya Meir Keller, At age 14, he married the daughter of Rav Ra”M in Yeshiva Yesodei Hatorah of Lakewood; Yitzchok of Volozhin. and his daughters Mrs. Kraindel Mannes, principal at Bais Yaakov High School inHe studied Torah in his father-in-law’s home for Chicago; Mrs. Sori Schechter, principal of Bais twenty years. During this time, he was known Yaakov of Lakewood; Mrs. Chani Treff of to stand all day long with his feet in a pail of Lakewood; and Mrs. Leah Bogen ofcold water by night. Yerushalayim; and many grandchildren and

- 12 of 29 - After his father- in- law’s passing, his brother- in- law, Rav Eliezer Yitzchok, became Rosh yeshiva and three years later, with his passing, Rav Shalom Ulman of Yerushalayim the Netziv became Rosh yeshivah. Author Daas Elokim (Av 28)

He published the following seforim: Emek She’elah on the Sheiltos; , Halachic Responsa as, Shut Mayshiv Davar, and HaEmek Davar, and Harchev Davar on the Torah; Maytav Shir on Shir HaShirim. a fire broke out and destroyed the Etz , תרמ''ו In Chaim Yeshivah, but the Netziv rebuilt and in Romania. He תר"ץthe secularBorn on 27 Cheshvan , תרל''טreopened it. Then, in authorities closed the yeshivah over the issue of studied under Rav Eliyahu Dessler and was one secular studies but he ardently fought against of the Michtav meEliyahu's favorite pupils. He the the wicked maskilim and Volozhin reopened served as a dayan in Tel Aviv. He was best known as a mekubal who studied and taught .תרמ''א again in the teachings of the Ramchal. The Netziv He passed away at age 78 in His most well known sefer is perhaps Daas Elokim where he studies the Ramchal's seder .תרנ''ג Warsaw on Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av HaShtalshelus of the Arizal adding a (Others say 28 Av) commentary culled from all the Ramchal's many seforim to give the nishmal for the His son was Rav Chaim Berlin AvBeisDin mashal. He was a chavrusa of such gedolim as Kobrin. Rav Chaim Friedlaner and Rav Yiutzchok Zilberman. He was perhaps best known for his His sons- in- law were; Rav Raphael Shapira commentaries on the works of the Ramchal. He AvBeisDin Babroisk and Rav Chaimpassed away on 28 Av 5773 at age 83 in the Soloveitchik AvBeisDin Brisk. Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City and was laid to rest on Har HaZeisim.

Rav Moshe Finkel (Av 28)

Rav Moshe Finkel, born in Mir to Rav Eliezer

- 13 of 29 - Yehuda Finkel. He gew up with his great- haTorah. grandfather, Rav Baruch Kamai, the Rav of Mir. He learned at Slobodka under his grandfather, The Rebbetzin grew up on Manhattan’s Lower Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel, the Alter of Slobodka, East Side, where her parents, Reb Avrohom, then at Kelm, where he learned bechavrusa z”l, and Mrs. Ita Devorah Kaplan, a”h, resided. with Rav Povarsky, then at BBaranovitch, under She was a student in the very first class of the Rav Elchanan Wasserman and Rav Shlomo neighborhood’s Bais Yaakov, and took great Heiman. Shortly before WW2, he immigrated to pride in having remained steadfast in her Yerushalyim and married the daughter of Rav commitment to Yiddishkeit at a time when Mordechai Davod Levin, author of Darchei many of her peers succumb to the rampant Dovid. There, he worked diligently under his assimilationist trends that prevailed at the father for the Mir Yeshiva (1909-2004). time.

Even while pursuing higher education, when challenged by classmates or professors, young Rebbetzin Sheila (Chava Sarah) Feinstein Sheila, with signature strength and down-to- (Av 28) earth logic, never shied away from standing up for her beliefs. At the levayah, held at the Yeshivah of Staten Island, Rav Reuven spoke of his lateIn the early 1960s, she would marry Rav Rebbetzin’s great dedication in her essential Reuven, ybl”c, Rav Moshe’s youngest child, role in enabling his own growth and decades who by then had already distinguished himself of harbotzas haTorah. for his great dedication and mastery of Torah. Despite becoming the daughter-in-law of one of “She supported me … she was mechazek me the Gedolei Yisrael, the decision to marry and took care of the whole olam hazeh part of a talmid chacham and to take a role in my life,” he said. supporting his years of study in kollel was hardy a popular or easy one at the time. With a commanding and regal presence, joined with exceptional intelligence and wit, Rebbetzin In addition to her key role in aiding her Feinstein’s dynamic personality propelled her husband’s growth, the Rebbetzin increasingly to be one of the pillars upon which her became one of the main caregivers to Rav husband’s yeshivah stood, and to be among the Moshe and his wife in their later years. Living most trusted and loyal assistants to her revered in an apartment nearby, the Rebbetzin became father-in-law, Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l. At a regular presence in the home of the elder the same, she was a highly respected educator Feinsteins, doing all she could to assist her for many years in New York City’s Public father-in-law, relating that she hand-sewed the School system and later in several mosdos robe he often wore around the house.

- 14 of 29 - In 1966, Rav Reuven opened a branch of years as the general studies principal at the Mesivtha Tiferes Jerusalem (MTJ) in Staten girls’ division of Yeshivat Shaarei Torah in Island, widely known as the Yeshivah of Staten Flatbush and afterward as curriculum advisor Island. Despite the many responsibilities of her at MTJ’s Lower East Side location. At both family and professional life at that point, the mosdos, the Rebbetzin took on her role with Rebbetzin played an active role in seeing to it tremendous dedication, seeing to it that the that the physical amenities of the yeshivah schools were run in a way that would best should be such that its talmidim would be able accommodate the student body and made to focus entirely on their studies. With a keen herself readily available for, staff, parents, and eye for detail and an understanding of the talmidim alike. challenges faced by a young bachur away from home, she saw to it that particulars like the As in her professional life, when dealing with menu and other comforts were such that the family and the broader community, the talmidim should feel cared for and nurtured. It Rebbetzin took a strong and sharp, yet loving is due in no small part to the Rebbetzin’s approach. dedication that the yeshivah has long been one of Klal Yisrael’s noted mosdos haTorah. “To read Eishes Chayil, it’s all about you,” her son, Harav Dovid Beinish Feinstein, said in For many years, the Rebbetzin worked an his hesped. “My father … once spoke about elementary-school teacher in New York public how people do chessed because … [on some schools. Even in the increasingly challenging level] they want something back. My mother culture of the city’s educational system, her did chessed shel emes for everybody.” majestic and forceful bearing garnered great respect. She would go on to be appointed a On July 24, the Rebbetzin and Rav Reuven were principal, a position that she successfully in a car accident. Rav Reuven suffered occupied for many years. As when she was a relatively light injuries, while the Rebbetzin classroom teacher, while maintaining discipline was hospitalized and listed in serious condition. and high academic standards, she also exuded Soon after the incident, initial reports had been a sincere sense of caring and devotion to the optimistic for her recovery, but in recent days, pupils in her charge. In the decades she spent she took a turn for the worse and in the public school system, the Rebbetzin not was niftar late Wednesday night. only raised performance levels in her schools, but was a source of widely recognized kiddush Following the levayah in Staten Island, the aron shem Shamayim with her intellect andwas flown to Eretz Yisrael for kevurah on Har integrity. Hamenuchos.

Even after retiring from her position in the The Rebbetzin is survived by, ybl”c, her public schools, the Rebbetzin served for many husband Rav Reuven, sons Harav Dovid

- 15 of 29 - Beinush and Harav Avrohom, daughters Rebbetzin Malka Eisenberg and Rebbetzin Ahuvah Weiss, as well as by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Yehi zichrah baruch. hamodia.com

Rav Yaakov Chaim Zelig Goldshlag (Yoraiach L'Moadim) (Av 28)

Rav Noach Chaim Eisenstadt (Av Beis Din of Shtetzin Litta) (Av 28)

Rav Avrohom Chaim Adess (Av 28)

Rav Avrohom Yaakov Hakohen Pam (Atara L'Melech) (Av 28)

Gedolim Be'Masayhem

Stories & Anecdotes

Gaon in 5719 (1959). The his youth and it features Rav Yaakov Yisroel Steipler sent him a letter “wonderful chiddushim on the Kanievsky The Steipler, requesting financial assistance most difficult areas of the Kehilos Yaakov (Av 23) for printing the first volume of order of Kodshim”. In the his magnum opusKehillas letter, the Steipler encourages

TRANSMITTING TORAH Yaakov. In the letter, the Rav Ruderman to write more Steipler wrote that he had such seforim. After showing Rav Ruderman would show seen and learned Ravthe letter to the talmid, Rav talmidim a letter that he Ruderman’s sefer Avodas Ruderman said, “I have received from the Steipler HaLevi that he had written in enough chiddushim to write

- 16 of 29 - ten more volumes of Avodas Torah a central part of their daughters. From the sanctity HaLevi, but I am now writing lives. and righteousness of these two leibidige seforim, living brothers alone, we see that the seforim, my talmidim.” Sanzer Rav’s blessings were Rav Yoel Teitelbaum Satmar Rebbe, Divrei Yoel fulfilled and that the Kedushas The Rosh Yeshiva continued, (Av 26) Yom Tov merited children “Teaching takes full blessed by Hashem. The concentration, as the Gemora Kedushas Yom Tov’s STORIES RELATED BY THE teaches that only if a Rebbe is grandfather, the Yetev Lev of TOSHER REBBE ABOUT REB similar to a Maloch should one YOEL TEITELBAUM Sighet, was similarly blessed seek to learn Torah from him. at his wedding by Rav Tzvi One Motza’ei Shabbos Kodesh, We know that a Maloch cannot Hirsch of Rymanow that he, parshas Eikev, the Tosher do more than one shelichus, too, would merit children, Rebbe sat at Melave Malka one job at a time. Teaching generations blessed by with his Chassidim and talmidim preoccupies me so Hashem. Obviously the Satmar related: completely that I cannot sit Rav was one of the blessed and write seforim.” Indeed, descendants of this beracha. This upcoming twenty-sixth of the Rosh Yeshiva invested Av is the Yahrzeit of the holy tremendous effort into (The Tosher Rebbe Shlit’a Satmar Rav. Even before he teaching and shaping each related the story of the Yetev was born, the Sanzer Rav, talmid. Lev’s chassuna in greater author of Divrei Chaim, detail on Motza’ei Shabbos testified as to his upcoming The Rosh Yeshiva established Parshas Toldos in the context greatness. Rav Yoel’s father, thousands of talmidim. Among of Rav Hirschel of Rymanow’s the author of Kedushas Yom them, hundreds became Yahrzeit.) Tov, was childless for many Gedolei Torah and Marbitzei years and when he came Torah who continue his legacy Rav Hirsch of Rymanow was a before his Rebbe, the Sanzer and illuminate the Torah world Kohen and had the minhag to Rav, the Divrei Chaim with their shiurim and bless Klal Yisrael, bestowing promised him in a letter that chiddushei Torah. Although of abundant berachos and he would have children course, there was a special goodness upon them. blessed by Hashem. His focus on establishing talmidim Whatever he said was fulfilled. prophetic words were, of who would becomeTorah When he was younger, before course, fulfilled: the Kedushas giants in their own right, the he became well-known, he still Yom Tov had two luminaries, Rosh Yeshiva understood the had great power to dispense his sons Rav Yoel of Satmar individual character of each berachos, as I heard from my and Rav Yoel’s brother, the talmid and encouraged them, grandfather about the holy author of the Atzei Chaim each in his own way, to make chassuna of the Yetev Lev of of Sighet, as well as several

- 17 of 29 - Sighet and this is the story he from his room the crowd Among those descendants was told me (here the Tosher parted so as to allow him to the Satmar Rav. Rebbe Shlit’a retold the story peer through the door and see heard from his grandfather): the face of the anonymous When the Satmar Rav was a pauper who had requested six-year-old lad, he merited to When the Yetev Lev married such a sum of tzedaka. When visit the holy sanctuary of Rav the daughter of Rav Moshe the Yismach Moshe saw who it Mordechai’leh of Nadworna. Dovid Ashkenazi, the Av Beis was, he turned to his son, Rav Rav Mordechai’leh asked the Din of Taltsheva, theElazar Nissan, and told him to young child what he was grandfather, the author of give the poor man the entire studying in cheder. Rav Yoel Yismach Moshe, gave his son sum of tzedaka he had answered that he studied Rav Elazar Nissan (the father requested, without arguing. Chumash with Rashi’s of the chosson) a certain commentary. Rav amount of money to distribute When the pauper received the Mordechai’leh farhered as tzedaka to the poor who money, he blessed Rav Elazar (tested) him and was pleased were present at the chassuna. Nissan and the Chosson, the to see he knew the material Amongst the poor there was Yetev Lev, with a great well. He then told him to be one particular pauper who, beracha, promising them that very diligent in studying having received the allotted from this marriage would Chumash with Rashi every amount of tzedaka which Rav come forth generations of holy week, saying, “Mordechai’leh Elazar Nisan distributed to righteous descendants.knew several great men, who, each one, insisted that he add Afterward, he vanishedin their older years, they did more money to the amount without a trace. not know where HaKodosh and asked for a certain very Boruch Hu dwells, because large sum - so large that Rav Many years later, when the they were not diligent in Elazar Nissan kindly told him Kallah’s father, the Taltsheca studying Chumash with that the money was not his Rav, prepared to move to Rashi.” He promised the and he could not use his Eretz Yisrael, his son-in-law, young Rav Yoel that if he discretion to give one pauper the Yetev Lev, accompanied would diligently study such a princely sum. him to visit many Rebbes and Chumash Rashi week by week, Tzaddikim, among them Rav he would rise to very high He turned and went to his Hirsch Rymanower. The Yetev levels. father, the Yismach Moshe, Lev immediately recognized related the pauper’s request his face – it waste pauper who The holy Satmar Rav fulfilled and asked him what to do. had attended his wedding so these words all his life. The many years before, who had words of Rav Mordechai’leh “I wish to see this pauper,” blessed him with descendants were very precious to him: said the Yismach Moshe, and who would be Tzaddikim. every day after davening,

- 18 of 29 - while still adorned in tallis and condition – that the Rav does The young man told how, as tefillin, the Satmar Ravnot make me a Chassid!” they were almost liberated, he studied Chumash and Rashi; and a friend ran in search of even in his old age when this Rav Yoel smiled and answered food to feed their starving practice was difficult and sweetly, “Mein tei’ere kind brethren. The Nazis caught taxing for him, he never gave (My precious child)! Why, if them both and hanged his it up. you fulfill my request and take friend immediately. care of fulfilling the needs of The Satmar Rav’s kochos in the poor, I will be your "They would have hanged me Tzedaka were very great. He Chassid!” too on the spot, except that I would give out huge sums to had done some favors for a the poor and destitute, looking (Based on Avodas Avodah few officers and they decided after their needs and helping Sichos Kodesh II) to at least grant me one final to care for them. wish as thanks for my good SATMAR RAV'S BERACHA deeds. I asked to be able to When he was Rav in Kruly in Once, after the war, a young see my mother one last time his younger years, the Satmar man approached the Satmar and to say goodbye. At first Rav asked his gabbai to invite Rav for a beracha. “What they protested that the the wealthy Rav Chaim Shtern makes you think I can give you women's camp was too far and of Pest and explain that he had a beracha?” asked the it would take too long, but an urgent and important Tzaddik. finally they agreed. They took matter of business to discuss me to her and as I stood there with him. When Rav Shtern "Someone whose opinion before her, I said goodbye, arrived in Kruly, Rav Yoel counts even in heaven surely explaining that they were explained the reason for his has the right to bestow going to kill me. My mother summons: “You should know berachos," answered the fainted on the spot. As they that in Pest, there areyoung man. were taking care of her to approximately forty families I revive her, she came to and know of who are so destitute "Well, if you could prove that whispered to me, ‘You will that they cannot even put were true about me, surely I live! You will live!’ bread on their tables. I am would bestow myberacha asking you to please see to it upon you. Any person who “I was dragged away by the that at least their needs for knows that someone's opinion Nazis and as they led me to Shabbos are taken care of.” counts in heaven is worthy of a the gallows, the American beracha!" smiled the Satmar forces attacked and began to Rav Chaim answered Rav Yoel, Rav. "Pray tell, how you would rain heavy artillery and bombs “Surely I will fulfill what the know such a thing." on the camp. The noise and Rav is asking of me, on one explosions caused the Nazis to

- 19 of 29 - flee for cover and I escaped. THE SATMAR RAV'S Rav Hutner and Rav FORESIGHT Later, when the American Kalmanovitsh and others officers liberated us, I was Rav Yitzchok Hutner, Ra”m of discussed the issue, wrote up reunited with my mother. I Chaim Berlin and author of such a letter and protested asked her how she knew I Pachad Yitzchok, used to say vehemently against what was would live. She told me that that the Satmar Rav was able going on. They decided to when she fainted, she rose up to see with a far-reaching enlist the help and support of before the Heavenly tribunal vision, greater than many the Satmar Rav as well, and saw many Tzaddikim with other Rebbes and Rabbonim, thinking that perhaps he too long beards and hadrasponim saying, "He sees further than would sign the letter. (radiant countenances). She all of us." did not recognize any of them Two importantRabbonim till she spotted the Satmar He once told the following acted as messengers and Rav, whom she recognized story which demonstrated this visited the Satmar Rav in his from her childhood infar-reaching vision: home, asking him to sign the Rumania. ‘Rebbe, Rebbe, save letter and pledge his support my son!’ she cried to him, Once, two messengers arrived in protest against the ‘Have mercy.’ from Eretz Yisrael to visit the missionary activities in Eretz offices of Agudas Yisrael in Yisrael. ‘Do not worry,’ said the America. They told how Satmar Rav, ‘he will live.’ recently, many missionaries The Rav read the letter and Then she woke up." had been traveling from answered them, "I cannot sign village to village and from city this letter." The Satmar Rav So saying, the young man to city, attempting to turn then offered the following turned to the Satmar Rav and Jews away fromYiddishkeit explanation as to why he said, "You see, Rebbe, my toward Christianity. The would not sign: mother told me how your Rabbonim in Eretz Yisrael opinion counts in heaven and I asked the Rabbonim of the "I know that in the next few am living proof!" Agudah to sign a letter of days the Israeli prime minister protest against thesehas a trip scheduled to Italy. "Well said,” smiled the Satmar missionary activities, which Surely he will take the Rav– and gave him hiswould then be sent to the opportunity to visit the Vatican beracha. Israeli prime minister,and meet with the Pope. protesting the missionaries’ (Yiddish Licht Vol. 33 No. 8 nefarious activities. “Once he receives this letter, I Kislev 5742, pages 9-12) believe that he will take it with Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav him, show it to the Pope and Yaakov Kamenetsky, as well as use it as a tool to find favor in

- 20 of 29 - the pontiff's eyes. He will wave A few weeks later, they all saw Shlomo. our letter of protest and say to just how prophetic the Satmar the Pope, ‘See – they asked me Rav's words were; they all Rav Meir, the father of Rabbi to intercede againstcame true – not one word was Shabsai Cohen (famed missionary activities, but no – false. The prime minister of mechaber of the commentary even though Israel is a medina Israel took the letter with him Sha”ch on Shulchon Aruch) for Yidden, we believe in to the Vatican, showed it to studied Gemora together with freedom of religion, and each the Pope and the entire Rav Yehoshua. They agreed religion has the right to episode became public news. that when they studied a new practice unhindered and teach Then we all understood that a sugya they would refrain from its ideas to anyone. See – even Divine spirit of intuition spoke referring to Rashi and Tosfos though the Americanthrough the Satmar Rav, and commentaries and instead Rabbonim protest against me, through his Torah and attempt to each arrive at his we – the Israeli government – righteousness he had the own understanding of the pay them no heed and do not power and foresight to see topic. Invariably, when they listen to them.’" what would indeed happen. would discuss their understanding, Rav Meir’s The Satmar Rav concluded Rav Yitzchok Hutneropinion was always consistent and said, "I believe the Israeli concluded, "Der Satmar Rav with the comments of the prime minister will take this hot gezen far ois mit a pur Tosfos, whereas Rav letter to the Pope and thereby chodoshim vus es vet zayn– Yehoshua’s was always in cause a great Chillul Hashem the Satmar Rav saw a few accordance with Rashi. And so (desecration ofHashem ’s months ahead what would be!" Rav Yehoshua would then name) – and so I cannot sign a (Moshiyan Shel Yisrael II, defend Rashi’s position (which letter which will be used in page 20) was his own as well) against such a way." the questions of the Tosfos. As a reward for his diligence and Rav Yehoshua Heschel The messengers thought that Charif Meginei Shlomo (Av alacrity in defending Rashi, his the Satmar Rav was simply 27) grandson would relate that he pushing them off with excuses. once told his students that They did not believe that what Rashi himself appeared to him DEFENDING RASHI he said was true, nor did they in a vision and congratulated take it seriously at all. The In the workIr Hatzedek him, saying, “Happy is your lot letter was signed, sealed and p.85–6 are a few stories and portion in the Next World delivered to the Israeli prime explaining Rav Yehoshua’s for defending me against those minister without the Satmar practice in defending Rashi’s ferocious lions, the Tosfos!” Rav's signature. position and how he came to author the workMaginei

- 21 of 29 - episode unfortunately is not name is Bakhur. He said to me Rav Yehuda Fattiah Beis unique. Demonic possession is that for a number of years evil Lechem Yehuda (Av 27) not limited to the realm of the thoughts would pop into his horror film. Whenever we as head as though from nowhere. Jews violate the mitzvos, we During the silent Amida tefilla, THE SPIRITS SPEAK become open to spiritual- or during Kaddish or Kedusha, A Story of Possession - The psychic attack. I offer this he would hear a voice within Evil Soul of the False Messiah translation so as to open the him saying, “Give up your Shabsai Tzvi Strikes from eyes of those who do not see. religion, convert and become a Beyond the Grave ~ Copyright Remember, this story is real. Christian” (G-d forbid). © 1995 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. We have an insider’s view of All rights reserved. what happened. Know that a These thoughts were so lot of stories going on around powerful that they would Introduction us today are similar to this disturb his concentration, one. Armed with thepreventing him from Rav Yehuda Fatiya was truly a knowledge this episode will answering the Kaddish or remarkable man, a master provide, you may become Kedusha. It had not been Mekubol, as the following more aware of what is really twenty years since he had story will show. This rendering going on in the hearts and gone to Rav Yosef Chaim (the is more of a paraphrased minds of those around us. May Ben Ish Chai) who sent a letter translation than literal. I Hashem bless and protect his to Rav Eliyahu Mani in sometimes changed tenses, people Eretz Yisrael from all Chevron. The response was and added a needed word that our enemies, seen and unseen, that (Bakhur) had a great is implied (but not in) the corporeal and non-corporeal. klipah (evil shells/husks) original text. I have chosen Amen! within his heart, and that he this format to bring this piece (Rav Mani) could not help him. to you so that you can get the HoRuchos Mesaperos – The feel of the original flow that Spirits Speak The Ben Ish Chai consulted the piece has to it. with me at that time and told On Monday, the 22nd of Kislev me to write a mezuza, and There are many lessons within 5663, a man named Reuven prescribed that Bakhur should this episode. Those who work ben Moshe Mani ben Rahama wear it over his heart. This, today with Yichudim and came to me. He was possessed however, had no effect. exorcisms rely heavily on Rav by a spirit named David Therefore he had returned to Yehuda’s work as a guide to Yohana. While I was yet me to inquire whether he had how to recognize spirits and working with him, another a spirit within him. Being that how to deal with them once man, Yehezkel Ezraben Bakhur was an honest, G-d- they have been identified. This Yisrael came to me. His family fearing man, I consented to his

- 22 of 29 - request. I started to perform without interruption, until are more painful then hell Yichudim (Unifications, a such a time that the spirit was itself; for I will not leave you specific form of Jewishcursing, twisting and turning alone until you truthfully tell meditation in Kabbalistic within Bakhur’s heart. But I me your name and whence you Jewish mysticism, especially would not pay the spirit any came. You will suffer all this denoting the completemind. In the end Bakhur pain for nothing, because you meditative method developed inquired of the spirit within do not submit to me. You are by the Arizal) by his ear, the him, and he said, “Ask Yehuda causing all this suffering to fall Yichudim used against spirits. what he wants from me.” upon you, and not me.” Thus the breath of the Yichud enters into his ear, and then I said to him, “I want to know I started again to recite into his organs, for the breath from what city you come and Yichudim by Bakhur’s ear as I of the Yichud disturbs the what is your name. I want you did previously; I also blew the breath of the spirit. to tell me the absolute truth. If Shofar close to his ear with you lie to me, I will show you the meditations that are While I was reciting the what I can do by placing appropriate for this. Yichudim into his ear, Bakhur severe punishments and started to laugh. I asked him sufferings upon you.” Bakhur started to scream. what he was laughing about; “Enough, enough!! I he answered and said that he The spirit answered Bakhur surrender.” can almost hear another saying, “There have been a person inside himself, and he number of people like Yehuda The spirit now wanted to tell is very viciously cursing you, who tried to get me to reveal me his name and place of saying this one’s Rav, Yosef my name, but they weren’t origin. Yet I wasn’t ready to Chaim (the Ben Ish Chai) able to get anything from me. I listen. For I know it is the way advised you to wear a mezuza, am stronger than stone. I do of the spirits to be like he should take the mezuza and not open up to just anyone.” Pharaoh; they only surrender place it up his Bais HaBoshes for a moment, then go back to (the embarrassing place) (G-d I said to the spirit, “If so, I will being stiff-necked. Therefore I forbid). Now his talmid has continue to try, and we will decided to show the spirit the become the Rav. He is only see who will be successful in power of the Holy Names. half of his Rav, Yosef Chaim. the end. If you are truly a In this way did the spirit curse strong spirit and areOnly when I was finished with me and mock me. accustomed to sufferings, then the Yichudim was the spirit prepare yourself to suffer the tired and worn down, and Upon hearing all this, I travails of the the Yichudim, asked me to give him time to returned to recite Yichudim by for they are like anrelax from his travails. his ear numerous times, unquenchable flame, and they

- 23 of 29 - Afterward, the spirit asked me, had flipped the world over on Only a few short days had “Why do you seek to know my him. He said, “I have never passed when the spirit name and place of origin? Why hurt (Bakhur) or caused him returned to his evil ways and do you need to know this?” any harm, and if you are so brought evil thoughts into concerned about theseBakhur’s mind. Bakhur came I said to the spirit, “So that I insignificant thoughts, I will be to me and related what was can rectify your soul and allow careful from now on not to happening. you to ascend to the Garden of cause him evil thoughts. Just Eden, so that you won’t suffer leave me here in my place, for I started to recite Yichudim by from being earthboundif I were to leave, where would his ear. I commanded the anymore.” I go? Where would I find spirit that this time to rest?” truthfully tell me his name, for The spirit said, “This is not the angel who oversees the possible, not for you or for Bakhur said to the spirit, “Go Yichudim had already revealed your rectifications. I do not to Gehinnom.” to me the spirit’s name and wish to go to the Garden of place of origin. (This Eden.” The spirit answered, “I am not frightened the spirit.) I told yet worthy to enter into the spirit that I would continue I said to the spirit, “Again you Gehinnom, for I am guilty of to recite a number of Yichudim challenge me?” I brought my sleeping with a menstrual by Bakhur’s ear until he mouth close to Bakhur’s ear so woman, a gentile woman, and revealed to me his name, just as to again recite thea prostitute. Please don’t go as the angel had told it to me. Yichudim. The spirit then again to Yehuda, for I can’t screamed within Bakhur’s stand it. Let me stay here in The spirit was very disturbed mind, and said he would my place, and I will not bother by this, and he said his name reveal his name. you further.” was Tzvi, and that his mother’s name was Rivka, and He said his name was Dovid All these things did the spirit that he was from Izmir. I ben Savti ben Rivka from the speak within Bakhur’s mind, commanded him to tell me the city of Izmir (Turkey). He said and he (Bakhur) would speak truth; for initially the spirit that he was an apostate and them to me. Being that I really said his name was Dovid ben that he had slept with gentile didn’t want to deal with Savti, and now he said his women, and that he left no spirits, I made a condition with name was Tzvi. children, and that he had the spirit. If he would return possessed Bakhur someand place evil thoughts in I asked him outright, “Aren’t seventeen years earlier. Bakhur’s mind, I would set my you none other than the hand against him. notorious Shabsai Tzvi from The spirit then asked why I Izmir, who made himself to be

- 24 of 29 - a messiah?” forbid. not shine like the most brilliant pearl? It is only due to The spirit answered that this The next day, Bakhur came to sin that you have fallen. The was the truth. I asked him, “If me, and I started Yichudim for Holy One, blessed by He, is so, you died in the year 1666; Shabsai Tzvi. From within above all, and the Source of it has not been 237 years from Bakhur, Shabsai Tzvi began all. It is by His design that you your death. Tell me where you again to curse me with awful entered into Bakhur’s body, so have reincarnated until now? curses. Bakhur would tell me that by such, your soul would How were you judged?” all. have a limit and end to its sufferings by the work I am The spirit answered me I stopped the Yichudim, and doing with you. I am making mockingly, “Even if you get for started to speak gently to the the endeavors to rectify you. yourself enough paper to write spirit, words that would touch What then is my sin, my a book and enough pens (I will his heart. I spoke with him, blemish, that you curse me not tell you), for these things saying, “Let me ask you some with all these horrible are none of your business. questions: What is my strife curses?” Now, you are late for your with you? Do you think that I class in theYeshiva . Your wish to take revenge for what The spirit said to me, “I can’t talmidim are awaiting you, you did when you were alive?” stand the sufferings of the they are looking for you. How Yichudim.” much time will you waste, The spirit answered that he delaying here with me?” did not think this. I asked him, I said to him, “It is the way of “Do you really think my intent the world that if a person is I saw that what he said was with these Yichudim is to sick from an illness deep true. I arose and left for the cause you harm so that I will inside the body, the doctor has Yeshiva. I decided I would receive a Heavenly reward for to open up the body in order to finish this work tomorrow. my endeavors with Bakhur?” remove the cause of the While in the Yeshiva I met Rav illness. Even if this causes Shimon Aharon Agasi; I The spirit said, “It’s not that.” much pain, the person suffers related to him this matter of it so that he can get well. He Shabsai Tzvi, and how he had I said, “For Bakhur is a poor doesn’t curse the doctor. As possessed the soul of Bakhur. man, he cannot pay me for my for me, it is not my way to Rav Shimon went and told services. Why then do you discuss things in such depth these things to Rav Yosef think I am troubling myself with the spirits, for the vast Chaim (the Ben Ish Chai). taking time away from my majority of them are quite Together they warned me not learning, if not for the sake of ignorant, and can’t tell the to continue with Shabsai Tzvi, your soul? For is it still not a difference between what is fearing he would hurt me, G-d spark from G-d above? Can it good for them and what is bad.

- 25 of 29 - However, I know what I know. want you to perform Yichudim exhausted from all his travails. I know that you are a very upon me. And even if I jump or It was not able to speak learned individual. You know scream, pay no attention to my anything for a good amount of how to judge for yourself what pain, for I scream due to the time. is for your own good and what tremendous pain.” is not. Therefore, I am correct After this I asked the spirit if in what I am doing with you, I told him that this was still the Yichudim had helped and your curses can have no not enough. “When a person rectify him. The spirit said, effect upon me; for I know that becomes drunk, and stumbles “Yes, yes, your honor, I feel your soul does not truly wish around, falling into a pit of that the weight of the klippa is to curse me. It is theklippa mud, he cries out to those lighter upon me.” that surrounds you that is passing by to help him up. It forcing you to act thus. goes without saying that the I then asked him, “How thick Therefore, I forgive your soul.” one in the mud helps those is the klippa that is left upon These were my words with helping him to pull him out of you?” The spirit answered, Shabsai Tzvi that I spoke with the mud. He doesn’t depend “Without exaggeration, it is at kindness and respect (toward on them to do all the work. In least two feet thick.” him). Rav Yosef Chaim and relation to this I ask you not to Rav Shimon Agasi had both place your full burden upon I asked him, “I have one told me to be aggressive with me. I will work to remove the question to ask you: tell me, him. klippa from surrounding you does the ball of the sun on the outside, but you must revolve around the earth, or is When I finished my words, the make the efforts to remove it stationary in the heavens, or spirit answered me in the your klippa from within it is suspended in the air of words of a wise man. “I will yourself. Hashem will help us this world?” not conceal from you a thing. both.” For even though I suffer from The spirit answered me, “Do the Yichudim, like a man who The spirit answered, “Yes. Yes, you wish for me to enter my has wounds in the flesh, and let’s do it and prosper.” head between the great along comes the doctor who mountains (meaning the souls covers the wounds with I started performing a number of the Talmudic Sages, vinegar and salt, until it can of Yichudim, and the spirit dwelling above) so that they hurt no more; yet, when the would scream horriblewill crush my head? What you Yichud is finished, I do feel screams. Yet I would not pay find written in the books, that my flesh has softened, attention to his screams until I learn. I have no business in and that the wounds are was exhausted fromthese matters.” healing. I feel at ease. And performing the Yichudim. The now, I agree with your path. I spirit also was tired and I asked the spirit a number of

- 26 of 29 - other questions, yet here I will [At this point, Rav Yehuda it is written, “When one only write the answers that inserts this side note: Evil reincarnates in a person, it is were given to me, and from spirits can only speak in the done in one of two ways. The the answers I’m sure that you heart, but not in the mouth. I first deals with the souls of the will understand what the give witness to this. In 1914 a wicked, who after their deaths questions were. virgin woman came to me who are not even worthy to enter was then thirty-five years old. into Gehinnom (hell) – they The spirit continued, “I am he, She was blind in both her enter into the bodies of living Shabsai Tzvi. My death was by eyes. She had reincarnated persons here in this world. The hanging. I did not repent of my within her the soul of a Rav second manner is when a soul sins. I was buried in a gentile that was of my generation, impregnates a person by what cemetery. While I was yet whom I had known very well. is called an ibbur. This soul alive the klippa would bonds (with the living person) materialize before my eyes. With all this, he would only in great secrecy. Thus, if that They are what caused me to speak within her heart and not person then commits a sin, the become evil. I did not keep within her mouth, even though incarnated soul within can myself in holiness. [The spirit she was blind. She did not then overpower the soul of told me that] he hadstudy Torah, and this Rav was that person whom they are reincarnated numerous times attracted to her while he was inhabiting, and cause that that cannot be counted. He still alive. Even now he was person to sin further and to merited to achieve the levels trying to get her commit a deceive it into going in an evil of nefesh and ruach. When the sexual sin with another Rav, direction. Until here are the neshoma started to manifest saying that from their union words of theSha’ar within him is when itwould the Messiah be born. HaGilgulim. It is possible that happened what happened. Yet, she did not listen at all to what the Rav (the Arizal) Now he acknowledges that his voice. After performing meant here when he referred Moshe, our teacher, upon him Yichudim and making efforts, to the souls who “bond (with be peace, is true, and that his the identity of this Rav was the living person) in great prophecy is true, and that his made known to me, as well as secrecy” is that they do this Torah is true. Yet all this will the fact that he had desired for the reason mentioned bear him (the spirit) no fruits; her…This then is the reason above, so that they will be for being that he is dead, he is why the spirits speak only in recognized, and thus they will not obligated to observe the the heart, and not in the be free to mock and otherwise mitzvos (Shabbos 30a). The mouth. They do not want to be trouble the public.] merits he had earned from any recognized. This way they can mitzvos that he did perform be mocking and maligning. Let us return to our subject. are already gone. With regards to Bakhur, he In Sha’ar HaGilgulim 22, 22A, was the reincarnation of the

- 27 of 29 - ruach (aspect of the soul of tefillin. He even once sent a hour of the day through the Shabsai Tzvi). Thenefesh young man to have an illicit fourth hour and a half. The aspect was still living in an adulterous affair with his own spirit told me that he is animal in the forest. It did not wife Sora, telling the boy what punished alongside the spirit want to be in this place, nor was written in the Torah, “All of Yeshu HaNotzri in boiling did it want to ever reincarnate that Sora says to you, listen to feces. Regarding myself, the in the body of a Jew. It wanted her.” spirit told me, that I am here to stay in the forest. reincarnated for the second (Regarding Shabsai Tzvi), he After his death he wastime, and that fifteen years was thirty-five years old when punished with demonicago I merited to receive the he died. I asked him a number beatings for twelve years. ruach level of soul. The spirit of other questions that he did Until now he had always said that it was Hashem who not want to answer me, for he reincarnated into wildbrought him to me, in order was still encased in a klippa animals. Being in Bakhur was for me to rectify him. two feet thick. his first time possessing a human. He then explained to Regarding Bakhur, he must After five days, I again spoke me why he was able to enter learn Zohar every day, in the with the spirit in a softer tone, into Bakhur to possess him, early hours of the predawn and I saw that he had relented the reason being that once morning, as well as after his tremendously. He was actually Bakhur, when a young man, meal, for the sake of the remorseful over the sins that gave a young girl a (forbidden) elevation of the soul of he had done. He was now very kiss. Shabsai Tzvi ben Rivka. He anxious for me to try to must go to the mikve every complete his rectification. He This Bakhur did thirty years day. He must not be now abundantly blessed me ago. Prior to this, the spirit concerned with the evil and the members of my family. said, he would hang around thoughs that pop up in his He said he wasn’t saying all Bakhur’s proximity, because mind. And when they do pop this (talk about repentance) Bakhur was from the same up, he should recite the pasuk: for my sake, but rather source soul as he, the spirit, Rochash libi dovor tov – “My because it was true. was. (The teachingsheart is astir with a good referencing this are in Sefer thing” (Tehillim 45:2) and (He told me) that his first sin HaLikutim, Yirmiyohu meditate upon the holy Name was that he had fallen victim 8:14)…For the sake of one resh ches shin.” Also meditate to committing adultery. And forbidden kiss was an opening upon the holy NameKibel that it is true what they say created for the spirit to come Rinat Ameycha (KRA STN – about him, that he had had a in and possess Bakhur. Yet the tear the Soton) and the evil homosexual affair while he spirit is judged (and punished) thoughts will be nullified. was wrapped in his tallis and every Friday, from the second

- 28 of 29 - From that day onward, the demonic possession, what spirit of Shabsai Tzvi would caused it and what efforts request of Bakhur that he need be made to rectify such a study more and more Zohar terrible situation. Let us all every day, more than the day learn from this a lesson, to before, even if this meant safeguard and protect taking time out from making a ourselves. Evil surrounds us. It living. When it came to going can only be neutralized by the into the mikve, the spirit good within us. And there is would cause Bakhur to hurry no good but Torah, the word of so fast that he would almost the living G-d. fall down the stairs into the water. The spirit would also awaken him every morning early, in time fortefilla .

The spirit also requested of me that I should recite Yichudim for him every day into Bakhur’s ear, including the blowing of the Shofar. The spirit thought that by doing all this maybe he would merit to enter Gehinnom.

I asked the spirit when he would leave Bakhur. He told me not to ask. When he was ready to enter into Gehinnom he would leave Bakhur, without having to be asked. And in truth, this is the way it was. For after a few days, Bakhur was no longer being disturbed in his sleep, I examined him and found no traces of the spirit of Shabsai Tzvi. Thus ends a true story of

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Parshas Ekev

The meforshim were troubled as to why is it that parshas VaEschanan concludes with the concept of haYom la'asosam - to do the mitzvos today - in the here and now. Chazal elucidated in Avodah Zarah 3, that we can deduce - do them today and earn reward for them in the coming world - because there is no reward for mitzvos in this physical world of olam hazeh. However, in our parshah, the Torah seems to go back on its word and contradict this, because here it seems to say that so long as we keep the mitzvos, we will be rewarded - even here and now in this world. The Chasam Sofer explains, that the reward we receive in this world is not for the act of the mitzvah itself but rather for the joy and simchah that accompanies fulfillment of the mitzvah. Rav Mordechai suggests an explanation for this as follows: The reason why there is no reward for mitzvos here in this world is because olam hazeh is physical and therefore it has limitations and boundaries, whereas the reward for mitzvos is spiritual and boundless, limitless and infinite! It is therefore simply physically impossible to reward us properly in this limited physical world for the performance of a mitzvah. However, when we do a mitzvah with simchah and joy, then that simchah draws down shefa - bountiful blessings and an influx down here into this world. This is because simchah is not actually an integral part of the mitzvah itself - therefore it can be rewarded here in this world. The opposite though, Heaven forbid, is also true, that if we fulfill mitzvos without simchah and joy, we are rebuked, as it says in Parshas Ki Savo after the entire rebuke, Hashem concludes that all those evils befall us because we did not serve Hashem with a happy and joyful heart. The meforshim are bothered by this and ask - is that right? Do we really deserve such harsh and severe punishment for not serving Hashem with joy and for failing to fulfill the mitzvos with simchah?! After all, it is not a sin?! However, based on the explanation we just gave it makes sense, because we can say that punishment comes for sin, and only when we fulfill the Divine Will then we merit all kinds of bountiful blessings and shefa and we merit that our sins are erased by that shefa. It is well known that the Mezritcher Maggid used to say that the meaning of the poem Kol MeKadesh that we sung Friday night by the Shabbos Tisch from the Zemiros - when we sing the stanza - draw down Your kindness to those who Know You - O Vengeful Jealous G-d! At first glance it makes no sense - it seems almost contradictory to ask Hashem to act with Chessed and loving kindness while

Page 1 of 4 describing Him as a Jealous and Vengeful G-d?! The Maggid resolved this seeming contradiction based on the following parable: A mashal – There was once a king who son the prince was very rebellious, and one day he acted especially wayward and the royal ministers wanted to punish him soundly for his grave sins. However, his father, the king, decided not to punish him so badly, because after all he was the prince. What did the king do in order to teach the rebellious prince a lesson and cause him to repent his ways? The king acted towards his son with even greater kindness, the more favors he did for the prince, and the kinder and nicer that the king acted towards him, the more he pampered and loved him, the greater the prince's discomfort grew. More and more, he felt terrible and wretched, undeserving and unworthy of his father, the king's love and affections after having wronged the king so badly. "See how kind and good my father is and how despicable I am for having rebelled and wronged him", this continued until the prince could no longer contain himself and he cried out and called out in pain at just how ashamed he was to have mistreated his father after all the kindness that his father had showered upon him and done so many favors for him. He then began to ponder and reflect on how his father always took care of him and his needs and provided for him and his regret grew and grew until he hated himself for having rebelled so badly against his beloved father who had only done so much good for him. And so it is with us and our relationship towards Hashem, Hashem can punish us in one of two ways for our sins and transgressions: either He sends us pain and suffering in order serve as a wakeup call - or the second way is that Hashem does acts of love and kindness - sending bountiful blessings and openly revealed love, and this awakens a person's feelings of remorse and regret for their previous actions that were rebellions against Hashem and he is ashamed and lowers and humbles himself saying "How could I have sinned against such a good and loving Father Who does so much good and kindness for me?" Especially when we reflect on how each and every breath we take is all a gift from Hashem, and how then could we have rebelled against Him so brazenly? This fills a person with pangs of remorse and regret and humbles him before Hashem and this strengthens our resolve to accept upon ourselves the yoke of the kingship of Heaven - the Ol Malchus Shomayim to fulfill the Divine Will. This is what we mean when we ask - Draw down Your kindness to those who Know You - O vengeful and jealous G-d. In this way, the revenge is through acts of loving kindness - and in the same manner we ask Hashem to erase our sins but not via pain and suffering, sickness or evil. We are asking Hashem for shefa and bounty so that we achieve forgiveness and atonement. Therefore, we can conclude that simchah shel mitzvah - the joy and happiness while fulfilling mitzvos draws down an influx of blessings that itself erases past sins and serves as a form of punishment for those sins, and then no further punishment is needed, which is not the case when we fail to serve Hashem out of simchah, and then we still require punishment for sin to atone and correct our wrongdoings. Now we can understand our pasuk - VeHaya Ekev Tishmaun - because Chazal teach us that VeHaya is a term that connotes simchah - because through simchah shel mitzvah we merit reward, even here and now in this world, and through this we merit to be saved from all kinds of punishments and we receive all manner of bountiful blessings and influx. May Hashem help us to always rejoice and be happy be'simchah shel mitzvah - and to always live be'simchah with happiness and joy and thereby to merit to receive all manner of hashpaos tovos, Amen, Selah.

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And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances," Devarim 7:12" - והיה עקב תשמעון Rav Mordechai suggests a reason why the Torah promises us reward for our mitzvah observance? (As it says in the beginning of the parshah: And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, etc . . . And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your soil, your grain, your wine, and your oil, the offspring of your cattle and the choice of your flocks, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples etc., Pesukim 12-14) Even though we know that there can be no reward for mitzvos in this world, nonetheless for the amount of alacrity - zerizus that we put into our mitzvah observance, for that we deserve reward, even here in this world of Olam Hazeh. Perhaps, the purpose for this is as follows: the reason why there is no reward for mitzvos in this physical world is because mitzvos are fulfilled together with our spiritual counterpart partner - the soul. Since that is the case, we need to reward the soul, and that is not possible here in this world, the eternal world is only possible in the supernal world above. However, when we connect and combine body and soul as one unit, when they function as one to perform and fulfill the mitzvah, then we can justly and rightly say that we need to receive reward here in this world as well, because the body participates in the mitzvah. Therefore, when we perform mitzvos in zerizus and alacrity which goes against our nature and breaks down the body's natural tendencies, we deserve worldly reward. That is because our natural instinct is to be lazy and avoid work and effort. Especially nowadays when we have all the modern conveniences that save us time and effort, and we try and get everything done quicker, faster and more efficiently with less exertion and effort. Today, people study Shas and poskim with recordings and all kinds of commentaries as shortcuts, so that a person could lie down in his bed and study without any efforts exerted at all. And so, it is regarding mitzvos, the same attitude goes, where nowadays people want their mitzvah observance to be effortless. People want to do mitzvos easily and quickly like building a prefab sukkah without any hard work, or having someone else select the daled minim for you quickly. And so too it is when it comes to davening, that people due to our many sins, we see so many people find davening a bore and a chore, it is so strenuous and hard for them that they do their best to fulfill this mitzvah and just get it over and done with. Their davening itself lacks any emphasis on understanding the basic words that they say or simple kavanah, they cannot even bring themselves to work just a little bit, invest just a little effort, rather they want everything easy, comfortable and effortless - and this is sheer laziness. Obviously, this is all due to the efforts of the yetzer hara who seduces people to do mitzvos without any effort or strain, since really it is well known that you simply cannot get anywhere or achieve any great spiritual levels or stature without putting in effort - as the saying goes: no pain no gain. So too it is regarding avodas Hashem, it requires effort, as Chazal teach us in Megillah 7b, that if a person says I worked hard and succeeded, we believe him because Torah requires yigiyah - effort and hard work. To merit Torah achievement means to exert yourself. And all matters of kedusha are included in this that it is simply impossible to achieve sheleimus and fulfillment except through hard work. Especially when it comes to Torah, where Chazal said in Berachos 63 that - the Torah can only be fulfilled by those who kill themselves over it - that it is impossible to make an acquisition in Torah - no kinyan without effort and hard work. The holy seforim cite that the kedusha of Torah that comes with

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Torah study and is drawn from that is a form of bountiful influx and blessings that cannot be acquired except by effort and hard work. The reason why this is so? Because the holy Torah is a spiritual matter altogether and how can a physical body weighed down by base gross gashmiyos receive spirituality except with effort?! This effort refines the gross physicality and allows us to accept and receive shefa from the holy Torah. And so, it is regarding all other matters in avodas Hashem. However, when it comes to worldly matters, there is where laziness is a virtue and not a vice. Better to be cold and as the seforim say Bereishis 31:3, “All day I baked in the hot sun and froze at night”, that the day hints at matters of avodas Hashem like light, whereas the night hints at this world and its darkness, and Yaakov is teaching us that when it comes to spiritual matters of avodah, we perform them in a blazing hot manner - aflame with excitement. However, when it comes to nighttime matters of darkness, we act frozen and cold. Back to the point we were making, with alacrity and zerizus, we merit to receive reward in this world, because we serve Hashem with our bodies. However, a person needs to remember that there are those who run each morning to the beis medrash, not because of alacrity or zerizus but because the opposite is true, they are lazy and wake up late, so late that they must run to catch the last minyan in shul. The truth is that we must accustom ourselves to zerizus and alacrity to fulfill every mitzvah with zerizus, simchah and joy. This includes waking up and getting up each morning be'zerizus, as Dovid haMelech says in Tehillim 119:60, "I hurried and did not delay," I hurried, because I was zariz and acted with zerizus and I did not delay, that I was not in a hurry because of any delays, rather I was truly hurried and zariz, and in this manner we can reinterpret the hint in our pasuk in Ekev: "And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances" (Devarim 7:12), which we can say that Ekev alludes to the heels of our feet. The pasuk is alluding to the fact that when we walk it should be done with joy and zerizus - hinted at by the opening words of VeHaya Ekev, because Ekev is the heel and VeHaya is a lashon simchah, as Chazal said in Megillah 11b. This teaches us, that when we walk with joy to fulfill the will and ratzon Hashem - then we "will heed these ordinances," meaning that we should not be hurrying and running off to shul because we woke up so late and that we delayed and were lazy, rather we should act with zerizus because of shamor - which he looked - וְאָב יוִ֖ שָמַַ֥ ר אֶ ת־הַדָבָָֽ ר also means to await and eagerly anticipate (veAviv Shamar es haDavar forward to it – Bereishis 37:11) when we will finally get to fulfill this mitzvah? By so doing, we merit that all our goals and achievements are fulfilled and that all the promises mentioned later on in our parshah come to fruition and the reward and bountiful shefa will be given to us here in this world. May Hashem help us to receive and be strengthened with zerizus and alacrity and to distance ourselves from laziness. To work hard and exert efforts in Torah and mitzvos and not to regard them as a heaven burden that we want to just get them over with and done, as fast as possible - rather that we fulfill them happily with simchah and joy, eagerly anticipating the upcoming opportunity. By so doing, may we merit all the hashpaos tovos, until we merit the coming of our righteous redeemer speedily in our days, Amen.

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