Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Nitzavim Volume VI/Number 50 (284) 28 Elul 5752/September 26, 1992 R' Moshe Alshich writes: Chazal teach that whenever Moshe spoke to Bnei Yisrael, he honored the "Nesi'im (leaders of the tribes) by addressing them first. This week's Parasha begins, however, "You are all standing today before Hashem." No preference was shown to the Nesi'im over anybody, even the lowly water carriers and wood- choppers. This difference results from the purpose of the assembly described here: to enter into a new covenant with G-d. Everyone was "standing before Hashem." While among ourselves we must respect our elders and leaders, we do not really know who is great or small in Hashem's eyes. This lesson should not lead a person to feel haughty (thinking that perhaps Hashem considers him to be the greatest member of the congregation), but should rather be humbling. The story is told of a person who used to honor everyone, regardless of age or station. When his neighbors inquired of his reason for doing so, he explained, "If one is older than I, he has done more Mitzvot; if he is younger, he has committed fewer sins. If he is wiser than I, he should be honored for his wisdom; if he is less intelligent, he should be honored because he cannot be held as responsible for his sins as I am for mine." (Torat Moshe) ************************************ [In our Tisha b'Av issue, when we began our series commemorating the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, we quoted the statement of Rabbenu Yonah that when we speak of the destruction of a great community we must include in our discussion a statement of hope for a better future, and our trust in Hashem that He will bring about that future. In that spirit, we conclude our series on this page with some words by R' Yitzchak Abohab on the subjects of Teshuva and the coming of Mashiach, both of which are themes that run through this week's Parasha. The following is condensed from Menorat haMaor, Book III, Part 2, Chapters 9-10.] Chazal relate: R' Yehoshua ben Levi met Eliyahu haNavi at the entrance to the tomb of R' Shimon bar Yochai, and he asked Eliyahu, "When will Mashiach come?" "Go ask him," Eliyahu responded, and he directed R' Yehoshua ben Levi to the gates of Rome, where Mashiach sits among the beggars. "When will you come?" R' Yehoshua ben Levi asked. "Today," Mashiach replied. The next day, R' Yehoshua ben Levi again met Eliyahu. "Did you see him?" Eliyahu asked. "Yes. He told me that he would come 'Today,' but he did not," R' Yehoshua ben Levi replied. "He meant," Eliyahu explained, "to refer to the verse (Tehilim 95:7), 'Today, if you will heed My [Hashem's] voice'." From this, R' Yehoshua ben Levi learned (the Gemara says), that if we repent and are deserving, Mashiach will come immediately. If not, he will come at the time which Hashem has predestined. The king, the Mashiach, who will eventually be revealed, will return the crown of King David to its former glory. He will build the Bet haMikdash, gather in the exiles, and live a long time. After gathering-in the exiles, he will defeat Gog and Magog, as many prophets have foretold. It will appear to mankind that the entire world has been created anew, for the Jews will reside securely side-by-side with the evil-doers of the world. In the words of the prophet Yishayahu (11:6), "The wolf will live with the lamb." All Jews will eat only kosher food and will set aside fixed times every day for Torah study. There will be no more wars, and every person's sustenance will be readily available. This is what Chazal mean by their statement (Ketubot 111b): R' Chiya bar Yosef said, "In the future, the earth will produce ready-made cakes and clothing of silk." Regarding all of this the Gemara (Pesachim 88a) says in the name of R' Yochanan, "The day on which the exiles are gathered-in will be as great as the day that heaven and earth were created." ************************************ The Month of Elul R' Moshe Tzvi Neriah, Shlita, records that on the evening following Yom Kippur, 5694 (1934), R' Yitzchak Hutner, later dean of Yeshiva Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, paid one of his regular visits to R' Avraham Yitzchak haKohen Kook, and asked the following question: Rabbenu Yonah, in his work Sha'arei Teshuva, speaks highly of Hashem's kindness in allowing Teshuva to erase one's sins. Why, however, don't Mussar teachers emphasize the teaching of the Gemara (Kiddushin 40b) that a sin can negate a Mitzvah? R' Neriah continues: The master [i.e. R' Kook] answered him, but I forgot the answer. Forty years later, I met R' Hutner at a wedding, and he restored what I had lost. He explained (in R' Kook's name) that of the two truths stated above, the "original" one is the fact that Teshuva erases sins. [Chazal say that Teshuva was created before the world existed.] However, in order for man to maintain his free-will, every advantage must be balanced by a disadvantage. Therefore, Hashem decreed that just as Teshuva erases sins, a sin can negate a Mitzvah. Nevertheless, R' Neriah concludes, Hashem's kindness is always greater than His deeds which appear unkind. Thus Chazal tell us that not only can Teshuva erase sins, it can turn those very sins into merits. (bi'Sdeh haRe'iyah p.424) ************************************ R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was late for "Selichot". The Chassidim waited and waited. Finally, he arrived, stood before the "Aron haKodesh" and said, "Master of the universe! I am a mortal, born of a woman; I am an old man who is no longer able to rise before dawn to say all of the Selichot. But You are eternal, You are mighty, You do not become old, You do not sleep. Furthermore, the Selichot that You recite are short. They consist of one word: 'Salachti' - 'I have forgiven'." Please recite Your Selichot and tell us, 'I have forgiven'." ************************************ The staff of Hamaayan wishes our readers worldwide a "Ketiva vaChatima Tova" and a healthy and successful year. Shlomo and Sharona Katz Alan and Fran Broder ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit: Taharot 1:1-2 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit: OC/MB 484:1-486:1 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi: Yevamot 83 (Learn two sides of a page every day) ************************************ The hard copy distribution of this weeks Hamaayan is sponsored by: Manny and Loretta Sadwin and family on the Yahrzeit of Loretta's father, Irving Smolar Elaine and Jerry Taragin on the marriage of their daughter Deborah to Aiton Marizan Professor and Mrs. Gilbert Ginsburg on his father's Yahrzeit ************************************ Donations to Hamaayan are tax deductible