Parshas Ki Savo August 31, 2018 A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul The Holy Land by Rabbi Yosef Melamed Worth Crying About A famous philanthropist once traveled “When you come to the Land.” The opening and no better than any other. to Bnai Brak to visit the headquarters verse of this week’s parsha tells us when the Thus, when the Medrash teaches that of the organization Ezra Lemarpeh, an obligation to bring bikkurim, the first of Hashem says, “Bring before Me bikkurim organization which aids countless Jews the fruits, to the Bais Hamikdash (Temple) so that you will merit entering the Land of in need of medical help, advice and begins – when the Jewish Nation enters Israel,” they were not referring to the original referrals. The philanthropist met with Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). There they entrance of the Jews into Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Elimelech Firer, the renowned would present the fruit to the kohen (priest), That entrance obviously preceded the director of Ezra Lemarpeh. After their and recite a special recitation of thanks fulfillment of bikkurim. Rather, the Medrash meeting, the two of them decided to to Hashem for all of Hashem’s goodness is referring to the entrance of the bringer of travel to Jerusalem to daven by the Kosel. and kindness. The Medrash (Sifri 297) the bikkurim to the site of the Temple. True, teaches that Hashem tells the Jewish People, this person may have been living in Eretz They arrived after midnight and, as they “Bring before Me bikkurim so that you will Yisrael until now, but only upon arriving approached the Kosel, they heard the merit entering Eretz Yisrael.” This seems at the Temple, the source of the holiness of sound of sobbing coming from the Kosel very puzzling, because the commandment the Land of Israel, could it be considered plaza. As they drew closer, they saw a to bring bikkurim only began upon the that he truly entered Eretz Yisrael. In this middle-aged Jew standing, head resting Jewish Nation’s entrance into Eretz Yisrael. light, the statement “I have come to the upon the stones, crying unceasingly. How then could the fulfillment of that land promised to my forefathers” is indeed When Rabbi Firer saw this, he was unable commandment be the merit with which appropriate. The bikkurim giver would to continue, even while in the company they would enter the land? joyously proclaim, “I have merited to truly of such a prestigious philanthropist. He Also puzzling is the statement made by enter Eretz Yisrael, by coming to the source turned to the man and said, “Hashem the bringer of the bikkurim: “I declare now of its holiness!” didn’t arrange that we would be here at to Hashem, your G-d, that I have come to In a similar vein, the Chofetz Chaim (Rabbi this time for no reason; He wanted us the land that G-d promised our fathers to Yisrael Meir Kagan; 1839-1933) explains to behold the tears of this Jew and help give us.” (Ki Savo 26:3) The implication of (see Chofetz Chaim al Hatorah, Parshas Vayera) him out. I propose a deal: I’ll approach this is that the speaker has just now entered that there are two components to the Jewish this man, introduce myself and find out Eretz Yisrael. This would be an appropriate Nation: Eretz Yisrael is the guf, the physical what he needs. If he requires medical statement for someone from the generation body of the Nation of Israel. Only there can advice, I will aid him to the best of my which entered Eretz Yisrael. For all future one fulfill mitzvos which are dependent on ability. If, however, he tells me that he generations, however, this statement would the Land of Israel. The Torah, however, is is not in need of medical advice, but in seem inaccurate. That generation did not the neshama, the soul of the Jewish Nation. need of financial help, you will enter come now into the land of its forefathers. Torah is the breath of life which gives Eretz the picture and offer to assist.” The That generation had been living in the land Yisrael, the body of the Jewish Nation, its philanthropist agreed to the deal. for a long time before. What, then, is the ability to exist. A Land of Israel without the Rabbi Firer went ahead and introduced meaning of this statement? holiness of the Torah cannot be called the himself to the fellow, asking him if Rabbi Shimon Schwab (1908-1995) offers a Land of Israel at all. he required any medical assistance. novel explanation. We are taught (Tractate This serves as a very clear guideline to how The man replied that no, he was not Keilim 1:6) that Eretz Yisrael has ten levels we must approach the concept of living in in need of any such assistance. The of sanctification. The Mishna relates ten Eretz Yisrael and our yearning to be there. philanthropist then approached, asking different locations in Eretz Yisrael, each Eretz Yisrael is the land of our nation, but if the man required financial aid. Again, one holier than the next. The final location only as long as we are willing to live by the the man replied that he did not, adding listed is the site of the Kodesh HaKodashim holy Torah, the breath of life of Eretz Yisrael. that Hashem had already provided for (Holy of Holies). Rabbi Schwab explains Yearning for Eretz Yisrael carries great value all his needs. that there is Eretz Yisrael, and there is when that yearning is one for holiness and Confused, Rabbi Firer asked the Eretz Yisrael. The Land of Israel is only the greater levels of Torah learning and mitzvah man why he was crying. “Last night,” Land of Israel because of what it contains; fulfillment. explained the man, “I married off my that is, the Bais Hamikdash and the Kodesh This is a very powerful lesson in regards to youngest son, the last of the twelve HaKodashim, where the Shechina (Divine our connection with Eretz Yisrael. However, children Hashem has given me. I came Presence) of Hashem resides. A Land of there is an additional lesson that we can Israel devoid of that holiness is no different learn from the above explanation, which is continued on back continued on back To receive Torah Weekly by email, email to [email protected] to email email, by Weekly Torah receive To www.denverkollel.org www.denverkollel.org [email protected] 1395 Wolff Street, Denver, CO 80204 80204 CO Denver, Street, Wolff 1395 Kollel Community Denver 303-820-2855 Harry H. Beren Foundation of Lakewood, NJ, in memory of Harry H. Beren, z”l z”l Beren, H. Harry of memory in NJ, Lakewood, of Foundation Beren H. Harry The Torah Weekly is made possible through a generous grant from the the from grant generous a through possible made is Weekly Torah The Him for answering his prayers. The man man The prayers. his answering for Him People. People. Shofar he had now come to the Kosel to thank thank to Kosel the to come now had he ness to him and the entirety of the Jewish Jewish the of entirety the and him to ness over Eating before Hearing the the Hearing before Eating over Hashem to help him marry off his children, children, his off marry him help to Hashem expresses gratitude to Hashem for His good good His for Hashem to gratitude expresses Food Fight: The Controversy Controversy The Fight: Food come to the Kosel over the years to plead to to plead to years the over Kosel the to come integral part of this mitzvah is that one one that is mitzvah this of part integral study session will focus on on focus will session study bikkurim The man explained that just as he had had he as just that explained man The , the first fruits. 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