STAM
TORAH
PARSHAS
KI SAVO 5777
“HEROIC PRESERVATION”
Rav Chaim Shmulevitz zt’l related that he once asked a survivor how he endured
five years in a forced labor camp, and remained a believer? How could he have
emerged with the same love for Hashem?
The man replied, “We couldn’t keep one mitzvah in the camp. They
deprived us of Shabbos, Yom Tov, Torah, etc. and from early morning until late
in the evening they guarded us closely. But there was one thing they could not
take away from us – the moon! There were inmates among us who calculated when
Rosh Chodesh was, and when it was time to recite Kiddush Levana. On that night,
as we would walk back to the barracks with soldiers on both sides, someone
would whisper ‘Miken machen Kiddush Levana’ and we would hold hands and say
Kiddush Levana. That symbolized everything to us.
This was a fulfillment of the words we
recite in the blessing of Kiddush Levana: “To the moon he said that it should
renew itself, as a crown of splendor for those borne by Him from the womb,
those who are destined to renew themselves like it, and to glorify their
Creator for the sake of His glorious kingdom.”[1]
After
relating the harsh and frightening words of rebuke, Moshe Rabbeinu tells the
nation: “You shall observe the words of this covenant… so that you will succeed
in all that you do.”[2]
Rav Nissan
Alpert zt’l notes that when a word ends with the letter nun – such as
the final word of this verse (ta’asun- that you do) - it means to
minimize whatever is being discussed.
At times, a
relatively minor action can be as valuable as a greater action, because of its
rarity and necessity. For example, if someone gives a few coins to a destitute
person who is then able to buy some food which saves him from starvation, the
contributor has saved a life despite the fact that he gave very little.
Moshe
Rabbeinu was conveying to Klal Yisroel that after a period of tochacha
(the fulfillment of the frightening rebuke delineated earlier in the parsha)
merely preserving the covenant is itself profound. The ability to persevere in
the face of terrible prosecution is heroic.
The
generation of survivors, who we are still privileged to have met, are living
fulfillment of this idea. Despite the atrocities they suffered they maintained
their faith and have transmitted to us a conviction that defies all odds and
logic. Our successes are solely due to their sacrifices.
There’s a question
that we all ask ourselves from time to time: If Moshiach didn’t come during the
lifetime, and in the merit of, our great leaders of yesteryear, how can we dare
think he’ll come during our generation? If the Chofetz Chaim, Chasam Sofer,
Vilna Gaon, Ba’al Shem Tov, Rambam, and Rashi did not merit greeting Moshiach,
how can we even hope to merit seeing him?
Rabbi
Azriel Tauber related a poignant answer, based on the following analogy. In the
army, there are two types of heroes. There is the hero who is willing to
disregard his personal safety and place himself in peril for the sake of his
comrades. He fearlessly plunges himself into the line of fire to take on the
enemy and bring honor to his people.
Then there
is the second type of hero who is not a particularly high-ranking officer, and
isn’t known for his bravery or military acumen. But when he is captured by the
enemy and offered his freedom and wealth for merely pledging his allegiance to
the enemy, he obdurately refuses. He is willing to endure ridicule and
discomfort rather than to turn his back on his king and his people. Such a
person may not save his country but he shows ultimate loyalty and love for his
king. Despite not having actually committed any great acts of heroism, his
sheer loyalty makes him a hero for his people.
Throughout
our history we have had many great and heroic leaders. These Torah giants
invested every ounce of their strength and capabilities for the honor of
Hashem, the Torah, and the Jewish people. They are analogous to the heroic
soldier who is willing to take on the enemy under fire.
Then there
is the second hero. He may not possess such extreme sagacity or leadership, he
may not even be an accomplished scholar. However, he contains an incredible
loyalty that trumps everything else. Though tempted by the ultimate enemy – the
evil inclination – to succumb to the temptations and whims of society at large,
he is unyielding. He may be assured pleasure and fun if he lets his guard down,
and what’s more, he is guaranteed that no one will ever know of his actions,
and he can maintain his veneer of piety. Yet he will not budge. Such a fellow
demonstrates uncanny loyalty, borne out of sheer love and devotion for his
king. He demonstrates that his unwavering love for Hashem is so strong that he
is willing to forgo all pleasures of society, simply because it is not what
Hashem wants of him.
Rabbi
Tauber explained that while we may no longer have the first class of heroes,
there are individuals in our time who are from the second class of heroes. No
one in the world may know it, expect for Hashem Himself. It is their unbending
loyalty in the face of such powerful urges and drives, that may very well be
the catalyst and merit that brings Moshiach.
We may
never achieve the greatness of that first class of heroes, but every one of us
can become members of the second class of heroes.
When Moshiach
indeed arrives, we may be shocked to discover who Moshiach thanks for hastening
his arrival. It may very likely be us!
“You shall
observe the words of this covenant”
“To the
moon he said that it should renew itself”
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW
Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – Heichal HaTorah
Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
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