Shalom Friends;
Our Simchat Torah vort is being sponsored by Simon and Aliza Baum and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh who dedicate this vort Lilui Nishmas in honor of Simon’s Parents: Chaya Miriam Bas Boruch and Simcha ben Yehuda Leib and for the safety of the Chayalim, as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Baum family, many thanks for your sponsorship and your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring (or as the case may be, co-sponsoring) a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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Shem Mishmuel comments on the Yom Tov Shemini Atzeret, which in Israel combines with Simchat Torah (Sefer “Shem Mishmuel” translated to English by Rabbi Tzvi Belovski, pages 454 – 455) ;
The very essence Shemini Atzeret is derived from the word “atzeret” itself. It literally means “stopping,” and Rashi informs us that it is Klal Yisrael who stop, or stay behind:
Stay back near me. This is like a king who invites his children to a banquet for a certain number of days. When their time comes to go home, he says, “I ask of you: stay behind with me one extra day; your departure is difficult for me.” (Shem Mishmuel citing Rashi on Sefer Vayikra, Parshat Emor, Perek 23. posuk 36)
Shem Mishmuel continues (ibid) :
During Succot, Klal Yisrael offered seventy bulls in the Beit Hamikdash. These brought brachot to the seventy primary nations of the world.
The operation of the Divine Bracha or influence [has] various guises. Sometimes Hashem bestows His Bracha on a nation purely for its temporary good, without improving the relationship between Him and the beneficiary, In other situations, the Divine influence will not only benefit the recipient, but also develop a closeness between the recipient and Hashem. The first sort of Bracha is received by the other nations. Hashem blesses them with their physical needs, but without improving their spiritual standing or relationship with Him. Yisrael, on the other hand, receives the second type of Bracha. Hashem provides their needs as well as drawing them close to Him,
Since this Yom Tov is for all of the nations, including Yisrael, the primary flow of bracha must be of the first sort, without lasting connection. The nations collect their Brachot from their Divine source, remain for a moment, and then are gone… But Hashem says to Klal Yisrael, as it were, “Your departure… is hard for Me. I want to give you a special Bracha, one unsuitable for the other nations. Therefore, stay behind just one further day and I will give you this Bracha.
The intimacy which results from the special day of Shemini Atzeret far outlasts the gift itself. Therefore, staying for one more day will not in fact make Klal Yisrael’s departure from Hashem harder to bear; rather, it will strengthen their relationship, providing them with real closeness during the months ahead.
It is now clear why this special last day is applicable only to Succot. Every other Yom Yov applies just to Klal Yisrael and not to the non-Jewish nations… On Succot, though, Klal Yisrael receives a Bracha together with the other nations. Then they alone remain with Hashem for one more day — Shemini Atzeret — to mark their special relationship with Him and to receive an appropriate and unique Bracha.
It would seem to this author that there is a common thread between Shemini Atzeret — Simchat Torah and Parshat V’zot HaBracha, as Shem Mishmuel indicates — “this special last day.” Torah records, in the very first posuk of our Parsha:
“And this is the blessing that Moshe, the man of G’d, bestowed upon the B’nei Yisrael before his death.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 33, posuk 1 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
Four posukim later, Torah record’s Moshe recounting:
“He [Hashem] became Melech of Yeshurun when the numbers of the nation gathered — the tribes of Israel in unity.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 33, posuk 5 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
Rabbi Hershel Reichman relates Perek 33, posuk 5 in transliteration of Iv’rit, followed by his rendering to English with commentary in his Sefer, “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel,” Volume 2 (pages 792 – 796) :
“Va’yechi bishurun Melech b’hitateif roshei am yachad shivtei Yisrael.” “There is a King in Yeshurun when the heads of the people gather together with the tribes [shevatim] of Israel.”
This refers to Hashem, the King of kings, Who is found among Am Yisrael.
Shem Mishmuel raises a question: Why is the name Yeshurun used here instead of our usual name [in Hebrew], B’nei Yisrael?
The name Yeshurun is used in two instances in Torah. In Parshat Ha’azinu, Torah writes “Va’yishman Yeshurun va’yivat.” — “Yeshurun became fat and kicked” — that is, rebelled against Hashem, The other appearance of Yeshurun is also in V’zot HaBracha. The Torah says, “Ein kaEil Yeshurun.” — “There is no one like the G’d of Yeshurun.” Why is the name Yeshurun used instead of other names in these three places?
[Rabbi Reichman cites] Sifri who comments on the words of Perek 33, posuk 5, “There is a King in Yeshurun when all the Shevatim of Israel are united. When the Am Yisrael are united in groups, they create a situation that allows Hashem to be King.
[Rabbi Reichman cites] Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who says, when Klal Yisrael do the will of Hashem, then the palace stands. Hashem builds His high places in Shemayim. This palace is the palace of the King and Am Yisrael inhabit it. When the the people do the will of Hashem, that palace is in Shemayim. But if they don’t do His will, the palace is found on the ground, not in Shemayim.
Shem Mishmuel explains that a king requires a nation. A king needs more than a few individuals [such as tzaddikim]. He must have a nation. Only Klal Yisrael, the nation of Hashem, can create the foundation of His Kingdom.
The foundation of the Malchut of Hashem is that individuals function together as a people. This happens when we are united. When we are not, our nationality falls apart.
What makes us a nation? What is the factor that Hashem considers, when evaluating whether or not He can be called King of this nation? He looks to see if we are an aguda — a collective unit bound together. When one meets another Jew and feels brotherhood, then both are part of the same Am Yisrael and Hashem is our King.
The key is that the people are united. Am Yisrael is certainly supposed to do Hashem’s will. But even if we don’t, as long as we are united, we will still have Hashem’s Kingship in this world.
Rabbi David Feinstein, z”l provides commentary on Moshe’s mounting Har N’vo and surveying Eretz Yisrael in his Sefer, “Kol Dodi (page 300) :
In our Parsha, Torah relates that when Moshe actually went up on the mountain, he surveyed the whole of Eretz Yisrael, including the portions of each of the Sh’vatim, “until the farthest sea” [R’ Feinstein referring to Sefer Devarim, Perek 34, posuk 2] Rashi mentions the homiletical interpretation of the Sages that this phrase may also read “until the last day,” to say that Hashem showed Moshe everything that was destined to happen to the Jews until the “last day,” namely the Resuscitation of the Dead.
It is also possible to interpret this another way: On the last day of his life, Moshe saw the physical portion of the Land that would be given to each Shevet and he was shown each Shevet’s destiny until its last day. Based on his knowledge of the Shevet and its destiny, and the physical characteristics of its portion, he gave each one the Bracha that was most appropriate for it.
Back in Philadelphia, decades ago. this author heard a vort indicating that, while Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har N’vo, surveying the Land of Israel, he was given a Divine vision of Rabbi Akiva giving Shiur to his Talmidim. The Rabbi, whose name this author does not recall, in delivering this vort, indicated that Moshe did not understand what Rabbi Akiva was teaching.
Thanks to R’ Hillel Horovitz who provided this author with a source for this in Gemara Menachos 29b and translated it to English:
Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: When Moses ascended on High, he found the Holy One, Blessed be He, sitting and tying crowns on the letters of the Torah. “Moses said before Hashem: ‘Master of the Universe, who is preventing You from giving the Torah without these additions?'” “Hashem said to him: ‘There is a man who is destined to be born after several generations, and Akiva ben Yosef is his name; he is destined to derive from each and every thorn of these crowns mounds upon mounds of halachot. It is for his sake that the crowns must be added to the letters of the Torah.'”
“Moses said before Hashem: ‘Master of the Universe, show him to me.'” “Hashem said to him: ‘Return behind you. Moses went and sat at the end of the eighth row in Rabbi Akiva’s study hall and did not understand what they were saying. Moses’ strength waned, as he thought his Torah knowledge was deficient. When Rabbi Akiva arrived at the discussion of one matter, his students said to him: My teacher, from where do you derive this? Rabbi Akiva said to them: It is a halacha transmitted to Moses from Sinai. When Moses heard this, his mind was put at ease, as this too was part of the Torah that he was to receive.'”
“Moses said before Hashem: ‘Master of the Universe, You have shown me Rabbi Akiva’s Torah, now show me his reward.'” “Hashem said to him: ‘Return to where you were. Moses went back and saw that… Rabbi Akiva was tortured to death by the Romans.'” “Moses said before Him: ‘Master of the Universe, this is Torah and this is its reward?'” “Hashem said to him: ‘Be silent; this intention arose before Me.'”
Having cited R’ Feinstein on Sefer Devarim, Perek 34, posuk 2, Torah records:
“So Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there, in the land of Moav, by the mouth of Hashem.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 34, posuk 5 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin comments, citing the Radak, on Sefer Devarim, Perek 34, posuk 5 in his sefer, “Growth Through Torah” (page 474) :
The Radak (Rabbi Pliskin citing Yehoshua 1:1) explains that just as all that a servant does for his master, so too Moshe utilized all that he had just for the Almighty. All of his abilities and talents were devoted to serving the Almighty. Similarly, everyone else is able to devote all that he has to serve the Almighty. (Rabbi Pliskin citing Kovetz Ma’amarim, page 48)
Rabbi Reichman adds a final comment in his Sefer, “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel,” (page 801):
May we be zocheh to see, [feel and experience] the real, physical tangible Kedusha of Eretz Yisrael, which Moshe Rabbeinu wanted to be there forever.
B’ezrat Hashem that we all double-down on increasing our service of Hashem, at all levels, collectively and in Unity.
With the third anniversary of the War of Simchat Torah, now a multi-front war; to disarm and eliminate all aspects of Hamas in Gaza, to do likewise to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and to bring about the utter and complete eradication of the ayatollahs’ and IRGC murderous regime in Iran, eliminating its proxies locally and worldwide, we feel special joy in our closeness to our Creator on this special day, as well as davening and yearning for, as dictionary.com defines salvation according to theology: [Noun: Deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption] and the Ge’ula Shleima.
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May we see that our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the entire Islamic terror cabal in Iran, B’Yad Hashem, and to become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.”
May it be in the coming year, and always thereafter, that our leadership — governing, judiciary and IDF high command echelons, as well as kol Am Yisrael be devoid of false, fraudulent conceptions and ideologies, as well as political agendas, and endeavor to achieve a faithfulness and consistency in our avodah — both V’Ahavtah L’Arecha Kamocha, as One, and in our Service of Hashem, B’Ezrat Hashem
May we see in the coming year, and always thereafter, a government of Israel, military high echelons, judiciary, as well as Kol Am Yisrael secure in it’s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Ezrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. Baruch Hashem that another of the MIAs have been liberated and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin from the Gaza War of ten years ago, and now, Yehuda Katz. There is still one MIA to be recovered, Ron Arad. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Yom Tov and Good Shabbos! May You, All of My Brothers and Sisters, be Inscribed and Sealed for another Year of Life… Now and always! L’Shana Tova!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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