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BEHALASCHAH
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Among other things, this week's section gives details about the commandment of "Pesach Sheni." Pesach Sheni is the only time-bound commandment that you can "make up". If one doesn't, for example, put on Tefillin or say the Shma or sit in a Succa in the proper time, the spiritual "blessings" which were to be drawn down by those "Mitzvot" are lost forever. But if one was "far away or unclean" and couldn't make his Pesach Sacrifice, he could make it up a month later on Pesach Sheni. To clarify this here is a story. Rabbi Dovid and his wife had been married almost twenty years and despite all their efforts, prayers and good deeds they remained childless. They had been to the Besh't time and time again but each time he would bless them with long life, success, health everything but children. Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem (Baal Shem Tov, or Besh't for short), like his predecessor Moses thousands of years earlier, was an expert at exonerating Jews from their problems. But, just as in Moses' time, there were some Jews that couldn't be helped and Rav Dovid seemed to be one of them. A normal person would have just given up but not Rav Dovid, exactly the opposite. He was on his way to the Besh't for the tenth time and this time he swore he wasn't going to leave that room till he got that blessing. When his turn came he boldly entered the Tzaddik's study, but as soon as he saw holy man's face again, he burst out weeping and couldn't say a word. The Besh't just looked at him for several minutes, even after he stopped crying, as though he was looking at something written in the heavens and finally said. "All right Rav Dovid. You will have a child. A son. But only on one condition, you must guard him constantly until he is six years old. After that time he will be out of danger but before then he must never be left alone." Rav Dovid couldn't believe his ears. He was going to have a child, a boy!! He wanted to yell, to dance, to do a somersault! But the holiness of the room sobered him up. At first he couldn't talk but finally he readily agreed and backed out of the room thanking the Besht profusely. Sure enough a month later his wife became pregnant and nine months afterwards it was a boy!! Rav Dovid and his wife were ecstatic but they remembered well the Besht's warning and immediately began their plans for guarding the child. At first it was easy, but as the child grew and became more mobile it was not so simple. Nevertheless Rav Dovid and his wife met the challenge and spared no trouble or money securing babysitters. Everywhere the child went there was someone with him and it seemed everything was going well until.... It was early one Thursday afternoon; Rav Dovid and his wife weren't home and the child was being guarded, as usual, by the trusted maid. Everything was fine until faint strains of music began filling the house. In the distance lively music could be heard and as it becoming louder and louder it was clear that it was....The Circus!! A circus had come to town!! Joy, noise, laughter, children screaming with glee... what a scene it must be!!. The maid could not resist the temptation. The child was sleeping, everything would be alright. She wouldn't go far, she had to at least step outside and see. She'd keep the house in sight. She slipped out the door, locked it behind her and when she returned fifteen minutes later the back window was open and the child was gone. When the parents arrived home they were beside themselves with grief. What exactly had happened no one could figure. Rav Dovid immediately began searching and interrogating everyone in the area, but to no avail; it was as though the child disappeared into thin air. Rav Dovid would have rushed to the Baal Shem Tov, but it was impossible; the Besh't had passed away just months earlier. But there was hope. People said that the Besht's daughter, Aidel, was very attached to her father, perhaps she could help. Rav Dovid had to take the chance. He traveled to Mezubuz, and sure enough the rumors were right; she promised to go to her father's grave that day and ask for advice. Late that afternoon she came back with good news. "My father says that your son is still alive. But he said to tell you that the only way you will find him is to wander the highways and ask about him at every inn or tavern you pass. HaShem will help." Rav Dovid wasted no time. He immediately jumped back in his wagon and began moving. Day after day week after week, he literally lived in his wagon. At night he slept and by day he went from place to place searching. He'd been searching now for over three months exactly as the Besh't suggested, with absolutely no success and he was tired; the horse plodded on and he drowsed off. Suddenly he opened his eyes. He had passed a tavern and didn't enter! He stopped the wagon, looked behind him, sure enough, there it was. He tied the horse to a tree and ran back. The place was empty, only the owner was there. Rav Dovid put a silver coin on the table and got straight to the point. "My son is lost. Perhaps you saw him. He's Jewish, six years old, black hair, green eyes about this tall." Before he could finish the innkeeper began shaking his head yes. "Ah sure! That must be the Jewish kid the Baron is adopting, today is supposed to be the conversion but I'm not going, who's going to run the tavern?" "What?! You know where he is?!" exclaimed Dovid "You saw my son!? Thank G-d Thank G-d!! But what is this about a Baron? Conversion? What Baron? What are you talking about?!" "Yep, the Baron has no children so he sent his soldiers to kidnap one." answered the innkeeper. "A few months ago one came back with a Jewish boy and the Baron is crazy about him, just crazy; everyone knows, it's no secret. "Well," he continued, "today the Bishop is coming to the castle to convert him and do the adoption. But it's your son, eh? Wow. You must feel terrible! But there's nothing you can do now. Nothing! That Baron is a real Jew hater, that's why there's not one Jew on all this area, not one for miles. Hates 'em like poison. Your only chance is the Bishop. He's also hates Jews, you should hear his Easter sermon! But at least maybe you can talk to him. Maybe you can intercept his carriage and convince him. He'll be coming down this road; you won't be able to miss him!!" Rav Dovid ran outside, stood in the middle of the road and waited, and he didn't have to wait very long. After a few minutes he saw a cloud of dust in the distance; a large carriage was approaching. A minute later he saw it. It was the Bishop's. He waived his hands like a madman and when the carriage stopped amidst the curses of the driver, he ran around to the carriage window and begged the Bishop to hear his plea. The Bishop opened his door and Rav Dovid began weeping and pleading his case. To Rav Dovid's surprise the Bishop seemed moved and replied. "I don't know how much I can help; the Baron is a hard man. But I promise you I will try. You just stand by the gate of the Baron's castle and I'll see what I can do." Rav Dovid jumped in his wagon and followed at a distance. The Bishop reached the castle, entered the gate, alighted from his carriage followed by his servants and priests and he approached the stage where the Baron was sitting. As he walked he blessing those to his right and left amidst the blowing of trumpets while the crowd of hundreds stood in awesome silence. Everything was set up for a royal ceremony. The Baron was smiling from ear to ear surrounded by beaming courtiers and stone-faced soldiers standing at attention. As soon as the Bishop reached the podium and took his place next to the Baron the proper signal was given and the boy was brought before the two of them. The Bishop called for his anointing scepter. It was brought on a crimson pillow by one of his servants. Poor Rav Dovid was witnessing the entire thing from afar and his heart was pounding. Suddenly the Bishop took a look at the boy, gave a loud scoffing laugh and said in a voice loud enough for all to hear. "My dear Baron, I think we are wasting time, energy and holy water." The crowd was astounded, not to mention the Baron. His jaw fell and he couldn't believe his ears as the Bishop continued. "This child is a stiff-necked, stubborn and as selfish as the rest of his wretched people. Why, it's written all over his face. Here just watch this. You have been caring for this child for over three months, correct? Any normal child would be grateful, correct? Just have a look." The Bishop looked toward the castle gate and declared, as though in surprise. "Aha! See, there at the gate stands a Jew. Bring me the child! See there, my boy, at the gate stands one of your foul people. Look!" Needless to say, as soon as the child saw his father he broke from the crowd and ran in his direction while the Bishop was yelling "Aha! You can't change a leopard's spots. No matter what we do he will never be one of us!" Rav Dovid immediately grabbed his son, jumped with him into the wagon and drove off as fast as fast as possible, thanking G-d for the miracle as he sped away, but it wasn't over. A half hour later he was still whipping his horse, away from the castle when coming toward him in the distance on its way to the Baron was... The Bishop's carriage! It stopped as he pulled off the road, and as it passed and Rav Dovid looked inside and saw the Bishop!! His wagon driver yelled, "Cursed Jew!! The Bishop is late to the Baron's Castle! Out of the way!! Some say that the first "Bishop" was really Elijah the Prophet. This answers the questions we asked. Passover, in many ways, is the essence of Judaism. Besides being the birthday of the Jewish nation, an unequalled miracle in the history of mankind, and the essence of the Torah (The first of the Ten Commandments; I am G-d that took you from Egypt) Passover was the first time in history all the Jews did a COMMANDMENT. They took a lamb (or a goat), did G-d's will with it and the PHYSICAL actually became HIGHER than the spiritual. This is what the Jews were CHOSEN to do; to make the physical world into a holy place. Now, the Torah tells us in Exodus 12:14 and 12:24 that this commandment will be eternal. And Pesach Sheni means that it is NEVER TOO LATE to do it. Namely no matter how "far" from G-d or "unclean" one is, it's never too late to do this job. By just beginning to do good, one can transform one's self and the entire world to be a G-dly place. And it also means that, just like Rav Dovid in our story, despite all the obstacles he didn't give up and each time G-d helped him in a big way, and just as in the first Exodus G-d helped in a bigger way, so also it's NEVER TOO LATE for G-d to help each and every one NOW. May we all merit seeing how G-d helps in the BIGGEST way and sends Moshiach who will return even the "furthest" and "most unclean" to the Holy Land, rebuild the Temple and reveal how this world is far Higher than the spiritual Moshiach NOW!! Rabbi Tuvia Bolton Torah Online Site: http://www.ohrtmimim.org/torah A well-dressed middle-aged
couple knocked and entered Rabbi Shvartz’s office. He immediately
recognized them; they were the parents of one of his pupils. The Rabbi nodded silently,
thought for a while, and agreed to do what he could. Right then
and there he took the phone and called her. To his surprise the
daughter answered very pleasantly and even said that she was willing
to speak face to face.
* * * This week’s section
begins with the commandment of lighting the ‘Nairos’
the seven lamps in the Tabernacle (the Menora). Rabbi Tuvia Bolton |
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Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki), the most basic and famous of Torah explainers, tells us that in this week’s section (9:1) G-d advertises the shame of the Jewish people; The "Passover Offering", (the most important of all sacrifices, made yearly after they entered Israel) was sacrificed ONLY ONCE in the entire forty years the Jews wandered in the desert!!! At first glance this is not understood…. What was so bad? G-d never commanded them to do more than that! (See Rashi on Shmot 12:25) Why is it shameful that they did EXACTLY what G-d told them to? I want to explain this with a STORY: Zalman the woodchopper was a poor Chassid who lived in a small isolated hut with his wife and seven children. But he was happy. Sometimes the family only had bread to eat, and the Ukrainian Winters were often difficult to bear, but nevertheless they were happy. In fact Zalman used to say, “We are Jews! We are alive! And we can learn G-d’s Torah! A million rubles couldn’t make us happier.” One balmy summer evening Zalman was sitting in his house learning Talmud with two of his children when they heard the unmistakable sound of a large carriage stopping in front of his hut. He looked out the window and could not believe his eyes; the wagon was filled with Chassidim and … the holy Baal Shem Tov himself!!! And they were coming to visit him!! Zalman had seen the Besh’t (Short for "Baal Shem Tov") from afar some five years ago when he came to a nearby town to speak. And now… he was here! What an honor!! What a blessing!!! Zalman turned to his wife and excitedly whispered to her to prepare something to eat, and for the children to straighten their clothes and stand at attention. Then he ran outside, arms outstretched, greeting his visitors, “Blessed are you all! Thank G-d! Thank G-d you have come to my house!! Please, Please come in!! Is there anything I can do? To what do I owe this great blessing?” “May HaShem bless you also, my friend,” Said the Besh’t “We want to spend this "Lail Shishi" (Thursday night), in your house if it is all right with you.” Zalman was overjoyed. He showed them in.
His wife brought out all the bread they had in the house with a
few pieces of herring, some of boiled potatoes and tea, while
they prayed the evening prayer, then washed their hands and sat They didn’t sleep that night. They sang, danced, listened to the Besh’t speak, and learned Talmud and Zohar until, at the crack of dawn when they went to the river, immersed themselves and returned to Zalman’s house to pray the Morning Prayer. Only then did they all go to sleep for a few hours. When they awoke it was already Friday afternoon and the Besh't announced that if Rav Zalman would agree they would like to stay for Shabbos. As soon as Zalman heard the good news he went to the closet, took out his slaughtering knife, sharpened it, gave it to the Besh’t to check, and preceded to slaughter his only cow. These were very special guests; they deserved nothing but the best!!! He checked the lungs to be sure the cow was Kosher and gave the meat to his wife to prepare. Then he hitched up his horse to the wagon put his goat and all his chickens in, and drove off as fast as he could in the direction of the nearest village about an hour away. A few hours later he was back with flour, potatoes, fish, wine and more. He had even put his horse and wagon up for collateral. The Shabbos was unforgettable; the prayers, the three meals, the words of Torah, the singing, the Joy. In fact, just looking at the radiant face of the Besh’t....or even one of his pupils, made Zalman and his family feel like they were in the Holy of Holies. When the Shabbos ended, he made the M’lave Malka (meal after Shabbos) from Shabbos leftovers. But the next morning was another story. It seems the Chassidim had eaten everything,
and Zalman’s cupboards were all
empty. All he could find was a small sardine that the Besh't willingly “Are you sure you have nothing left?” asked the Besh’t. “If so, it is time to leave.” He bade his host goodbye, ordered the Chassidim to enter the carriage and rode off into the horizon. At first Zalman was in bliss, the aura of
the Shabbos was still in the air.
But the whining of his children brought him to his senses. The previous That entire day went by with no food, and the next morning found Zalman in his backyard begging to Heaven: “I never asked you for anything G-d, You know I never asked, but now I can’t take it any longer! G-d, have mercy on my wife and children! HAVE MERCY!!! Send me a blessing!!! HELP!!! The children are starving!!” Zalman lay on his face weeping for almost
a half an hour until the sound of another wagon stopping before his house made him look up. He ran
to the
front to see a fancy carriage, its door being held open by the driver. “Ahh! You must be the owner,” Said one of the rich men as he saw Zalman appearing from around the back of the house. “Pardon us, but we are tired and hungry and we saw the Mezuza on your door, may we enter?” “Oy!” Moaned Zalman, “You are more than welcome but I’m sorry to say I have no food to offer you, not even a piece of bread.” He said, as he rolled his reddened eyes beseechingly to the heavens. “Food?” Answered the other rich man “Ha Ha! We have enough food for an army! We just need a place to eat it and an oven to warm it up! We can even give you food if you want! Now may we use your house?” Zalman realizing that a miracle was transpiring, nodded, shook their hands and introduced himself and escorted them in. “Ahh! What a beautiful family! Here....they can eat with us also! We have plenty of food. I assure you it is of the highest standard of kashruth,and we can buy more at the next town. Please, tell the children to sit down, and you and your wife also, Reb Zalman. Please do join us” the guests chimed in together. Throughout the meal the two men were mumbling to each other, and when everyone had finished eating and children left the table they confided in their host. “Reb Zalman, we, my friend and I, are
business partners. For various
reasons we have decided to dissolve our partnership and divide our
assets,
but it’s more complicated than we thought; we have lands, investments, “Now we are on our way to Prague where there are great Rabbis that can advise us. If you could attempt a solution you would save us weeks of dangerous travel and we would reward you for your troubles. What do you say?” It took a few minutes but finally Zalman
agreed and they brought out all
their papers. The amounts were not large, about 20,000 rubles sum
total,
and although the problems were difficult, after half an hour Zalman
had a The two rich men listened carefully as he explained. They asked several questions, repeated his plan and finally joyously announced that that they would accept it!! “Of course your commission is three percent of the total sum.” One of them said to Zalman. “Now each number we wrote here really represents 1,000 rubles, in other words we owe you 3% of twenty million rubles or 600,000 rubles. Here is 20,000 and a promissory note for the rest.” Said the other. They produced a bottle of brandy, poured three cups, drank ‘L’chiam’, shook hands, and departed leaving a bewildered Zalman waving goodbye in the cloud of dust. Not more than an hour passed, and Zalman had still not digested all that had happened, when the unmistakable carriage of the Baal Shem Tov appeared in the distance and returned to Zalman’s house once again! “How wonderful!!” thought Zalman as he went toward the carriage to announce his new riches to the Besh’t. He was sure that it was all in the merit of the wonderful Shabbos, and he was prepared to give it all to charity. “No!” Explained the Besh’t. “Exactly the opposite. It is all in your merit. For years these great riches were waiting for you in heaven, but you refused to ask for them. In fact you never asked G-d for anything for yourself. That is why we ate all your food and brought you to starvation. I knew you would beg with all your heart. And that opened the heavenly gates to this fortune as well.” This answers our question about the Jews in the desert. True, G-d didn’t tell them to sacrifice more than one Pesach offering in the desert, but the Pesach offering is so essential to Judaism that they should have begged for more. (Like they did for the "Pesach Sheni"), And that was the "shame" of the Jewish people. What does this have to do with us? We are supposed to demand Moshiach. Although it appears that G-d has His own
schedule, nevertheless, says the Even one second earlier will mean one less second of pain for the world and one more second of truth for all mankind.
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton |
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