I haven't written in the last few weeks [I have actually written quite a bit Baruch Hashem but not this email dvar Torah] because I haven't had time. I am sooooo busy trying to get in touch with Netanyahu to try to convince him that Arabs don't honor cease-fires so he should should stop trying to make them. One sided cease fires are only for bald-pacifists-with-funny-
In this weeks parsha [called "Ekev - Heal"] we read of the mitzva of mezuza. The Torah says in the second parsha of shma וכתבתם על מזוזות ביתך ובשעריך. למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם על האדמה - The mitzva of mezuza and the promise of long life.
Mori Vi-Rabi Shlita, the Holy Tolna Rebbe asked a number of questions:
1] In the first parsha of shma in parshas Va-eschanan it tells us to place a mezuza on our doorpost but omits what it says in the second parsha that in the merit of mezuza we will live a long life. What is the difference?
2] The first parsha of shma talks about the tfillin and teaching Torah to your son in the singular form while in the second parsha it is in the plural form. However, with respect to mezuza, in both parshiyos it is stated in the singular form [bey-secha and not beyschem]. Why?
3] Other mitzvos that promise long life [such as kibud av va-eim and shiluach ha-keyn] only mention the person who fulfills the mitzva while with respect to mezuza the Torah adds that the children will also merit long life. What is the difference?
Answered the Rebbe Shlita [Seuda Shlishit Eikev 5770]: A mezuza is placed on the doorpost of a house. A house is by definition a place of privacy. That is why we have doors!!:-). The mitzva of mezuza must always be in the singular form. However, a house must also be a place that welcomes visitors. If a doorway is not used to enter and exit there is no obligation to affix a mezuza. The mezuza symbolizes that a house must be welcoming for visitors. יהי ביתך פתוח לרוחה it says in pirkei avot. Your house should be wide open. Even for "shnorrers". They need it most.....
The second parsha of shma is stated in the plural form [except for mezuza which much be singular as we explained] and it is there that we are promised long life not only for ourselves but our children as well. If our home is a place for visitors, even those we might find disagreeable, then we will merit long life and our children who see this and will emulate our behaviors will also merit long life.
From here we learn two lessons.
1] A home should be a place of privacy. Don't let all the shmutz into your homes. In the olden days there was also shmutz but one had to go searching for it. Today, the shmutz goes searching for you. The Internet allows a person of any age to be one click away from the most horrible filth imaginable. Countless frum families have broken apart because of the poisonous content of the Internet that sucked in innocent people and and like quicksand never let them go. One can't be too careful.
2] Open your homes [and wallets and fridges] to visitors. A home that is open for the needy and unfortunate is one whose inhabitants deserve long life for themselves and their children.
Now is a time of great tzaros for klal yisroel, both for the klal and prat. We hope and pray that אט שוין - we are seconds away from the geula shleima. ציון במשפט תיפדה ושביה בצדקה - In the merit of tzedaka [and justice] we will be redeemed! Chazal say אין ישראל נגאלין אלא בצדקה. It is in our hands. Open your hearts [as it says in this weeks parsha that when giving tzedaka one must give with an open heart] to others and we will see the culmination of 5,000 very trying years and the geula shleima!
Bi-ahava rabba,
Me:-)
