The Torah implies that all Jews are able to learn Torah, no matter what their background, talents, and skills are. The Steipler Rav z.l. writes that if one just applies himself diligently to learn Torah, he will succeed and achieve scholarship even if he is not intellectually astute. A young man once came to the Steipler and, in a voice full of chagrin, complained that even though he had been studying diligently in a yeshiva for five years, he still could not master the elementary level of erudition of Talmud and the basic commentaries. The Steipler responded, “Nonetheless, you must…
The above pasuk relates the mitzvah of Hakheil. This was the time, during Succos immediately following the Shemittah year, in which all of the people were to assemble in the Bais Ha’Mikdash to listen to the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read Sefer Devarim. Rashi comments that, although the young children were not able to comprehend the meaning of the event, they were to be brought ovhthcnk rfa i,hk, “to give reward to those that brought them,” their parents. Rashi is citing the words of the Talmud in Chagiga 3a which attributes this interpretation to R’ Elazar ben Azaria. Indeed, the…
In his second interpretation of this pasuk, Rashi explains that the mesoros, traditions, and maayanos, wellsprings of wisdom, in which Moshe was so erudite were closed off from him. It seems perplexing that Moshe Rabbeinu, the quintessential teacher of Klal Yisrael, should “lose” his vast storehouse of knowledge on the day in which he reached perfection, immediately before his demise. One would think that Moshe should be able to learn until the very last moment of his life. We may suggest a novel interpretation of Rashi’s text. The choice of words employed is “mesorah,” tradition, and “maayan,” wellspring. Each of…
Rashi explains that Moshe was not suggesting that the frailty of old age impeded him from going out and coming in. The Torah itself later attests to his remarkable vigorous health and physical vibrancy. Rather, Moshe indicated that Hashem had forbidden him from continuing in his current position as leader. Rashi’s explanation does not seem consistent with the literal definition of the word kfut which means “able”. The literal definition would be translated as, “I am no longer able.” This translation implies physical impediment and inability to continue. We may suggest that, indeed, when a tzaddik is prohibited from doing…