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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5786

ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

Moshe Rabbeinu received the ultimate reward of having Hashem attend to his death and burial. Our leader led an extraordinary life, one that established a standard for how a Jew should live. He confronted challenges, overcame personal loss, dealt with a mutiny and overcame his own physical speech impediment. He reached the epitome of service to Hashem and to his people. On Simchas Torah, we read of his mortal passing, as we conclude the annual cycle of reading the Torah. On what should be the happiest day of the year, celebrating another year of Torah study, we record the death…

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Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5786

ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

According to one exposition of Rashi, the Torah alludes to the idea that Moshe Rabbenu buried himself. Nothing is above Hashem and His relationship with Moshe. Indeed, we have no manner of fathoming our leader’s greatness. Thus, burying himself, although certainly possible, is a concept that eludes us. Perhaps, the following story might shed some light on this idea. While no mortal can possibly bury himself, he could perform acts of kindness that earn him a place of burial which, for all intents and purposes, would have otherwise probably not have occurred, as was the case in the following story….

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5786

כי שם ד' אקרא הבו גדול לאלוקינו

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Ha'azinu

When I call out the name of Hashem, ascribe greatness to our G-d. (32:3)

Moshe Rabbeinu commences Shiras Haazinu with Ki shem Hashem ekra havu godel lei’Elokeinu. In his commentary to Berachos 21a, Rashi writes: Ki shem Hashem ekra, “When I call out Hashem’s Name;” havu godel lei’Elokeinu, “by saying amen.” We cannot overstate the significance of reciting amen following a blessing or kaddish. It incurs extraordinary reward, both in protecting the person and in earning eternal merit for him. A well-known story has circulated concerning the Levush, Horav Mordechai Yoffe, zl, who was invited to lead the Jewish community of Posen. He stipulated that, prior to accepting the position, he had desired to…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5786

זקניך ויאמרו לך

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Ha'azinu

Your elders and they will tell you. (32:7)

In his hesped, eulogy, for Horav Elazar M. Shach, zl, Horav Moshe Shmuel Shapira, zl, spoke emotionally concerning the impact Rav Shach had on the thousands of talmidim who were studying Torah during his tenure as Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh. He quoted the Brisker Rav, zl, in his hesped for the Chazon Ish, zl. The Rav said, “Up until now, we have experienced a world with the Chazon Ish alive – and now a world without the Chazon Ish.” “We too,” cried Rav Moshe Shmuel, “are now experiencing a different world” (without Rav Shach). He continued, relating that, when the Chafetz…

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5786

כי שם ד' אקרא הבו גדול לאלוקינו וישמן ישורון ויבעט

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Ha'azinu

Yeshurun waxed fat and rebelled. (32:15)

It seems implied that prosperity has its dangers. The Torah intimates that, once the Jewish people’s financial portfolio took an upward turn, the people felt that they no longer were under Heavenly obligation. They had money; it was now a free-for-all. This is clearly not true. We see many bnei Torah who, some after struggling, finally make it in the world of commerce. They are extraordinary baalei tzedakah, supporting every organization from Torah institutions to welfare and social organizations. Indeed, these bnei Torah act with the greatest reverence toward fulfilling their Heavenly obligations. Apparently, not everyone can handle sudden wealth….

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Home -> Ha'azinu -> 5786

ויבא משה וידבר את כל דברי השירה הזאת... הוא והושע בן נון

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Ha'azinu

Moshe came and spoke all the words of this Song… he and Hoshea bin Nun. (32:44)

While it was only Moshe Rabbeinu who proclaimed the Song, on the last day of his life he stood with Yehoshua, his worthy successor, to symbolize the transfer of leadership. Otherwise, cynics might belittle Yehoshua’s qualifications for leadership, saying that, as long as Moshe was alive, Yehoshua was afraid to lift his head. Actually, it was not Yehoshua who was different – it was the nation that was about to enter Eretz Yisrael that was different. The nation that left Egypt and journeyed for forty years in the Wilderness was melumad b’nissim, used to miracles. They were entering a land…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5785

וילך משה וידבר את הדברים האלה אל כל ישראל

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayeilech

Moshe went and spoke all these words to all of Yisrael. (31:1)

Ramban writes that, on the last day of his life, Moshe Rabbeinu went from camp to camp to comfort the Jewish people (individually) concerning his leaving this world.  He said, “I am already of an advanced age, and you have very little benefit from me.” (Moshe was in perfect health, but he wanted to play down the void that would be left with his passing.) Horav Meir Tzvi Bergman, zl, observes the unparalleled level of derech eretz, proper conduct/common decency/respectful behavior/courtesy, manifest by Moshe.  It was the last day of his life, the day on which the punishment preventing him…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5785

ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני ביום ההוא

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayeilech

I will surely hide My face on that day. (31:18)

The first lesson to be derived from this pasuk is that Hashem’s Presence is otherwise always revealed.  If we do not see His choreography in our lives it is either because we refuse to look, or we are plagued with myopic vision when it involves spirituality.  If Hashem must “hide” His Presence, then it is always out in the open.  Hester Panim, Divine Concealment, when suffering and confusion reign, one mistakenly may feel abandoned and alone.  He is not.  We find another seminal Anochi, which, superficially, is the opposite of this Anochi.  Anochi Hashem Elokecha asher hotzeischa mei’eretz Mitzrayim, “I…

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Home -> Vayeilech -> 5785

ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayeilech

So now, write this song for yourselves. (31:19)

Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to write the Torah and teach it to the nation.  The Torah is referred to here as a shirah, song.  (Alternatively, shirah applies to Shiras Haazinu.)  Writing the Torah is the last (613th) mitzvah, for the climax of all the mitzvos is their redactment followed by teaching and studying.  This comes across as enigmatic.  We would think that writing the Torah should be the first mitzvah.  It is almost as if a child goes to school, studies all year, and, at the end of the year, receives a textbook.  Should it not be the other way…

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Home -> 5785 -> Nitzavim

אתם נצבים היום כלכם לפני ד'

Sruly Schnair
In Nitzavim, 5785

You are standing today, all of you, before Hashem. (29:9)

Rashi cites Chazal (Tanchuma 1), who explain the juxtaposition of Nitzavim upon Parashas Ki Savo.  When the people heard the frightening litany of the ninety-eight curses which comprised the (second) Tochachah, Admonition, they turned colors from fright at what appeared to them to be a limited likelihood of a positive future.  Moshe Rabbeinu told them: You are all here today, despite having angered Hashem a number of times.  Horav Yaakov Neiman, zl, explains that the Torah’s wording, nitzavim kulchem, standing/all of you, is deliberate and profound.  It does not merely state that the Jewish people stood before Hashem – it…

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