1. The first thought of today has to do with Geula and specifically two questions. Question # 1 is when we Daven Maariv every night after the Beracha of (גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל) we say another Beracha called (הַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ) that ends (בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד' שׁומֵר עַמּו יִשרָאֵל לָעַד). The Gemara in Maseches Berachos asks that there is not supposed to be any Hefseik between (גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל) and Tefilla and the Gemara answers that (שׁומֵר עַמּו יִשרָאֵל לָעַד) is a Geula Arichta. It is an extension of the Beracha of (גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל). The question is twofold. First of all, why do we need a Geula Arichta, why don't we just say (בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד' גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל) and go straight into Shemoneh Esrei? Why add another Beracha? Secondly, why is Arvis different then Shacharis where we say (גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל) and go into Shemoneh Esrei without (הַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ). Why is it that in Maariv (הַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ) was added as a Geula Arichta?
I would like to explain this idea by turning to Klal Yisrael in Mitzrayim. We learn in Sefer Shemos about Klal Yisrael going out of Mitzrayim not after 400 years of slavery but after 210 years. (שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חִשַּׁב אֶת הַקֵּץ) and deducted 190 years and we went out after 210 years. We find two explanations which seem to be separate explanations. 1) (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ). Chazal tell us that Klal Yisrael were at the edge of falling into the 49th Shaarei Tumah and had that happen and they fell into the 50th of the Shaarei Tumah they would never have been able to be redeemed again. So according to this Pshat they left early because they had to, they were in trouble. 2) Klal Yisrael went out early because of Kishui Hashibud - the Gemara says that because they worked so hard (the 210 years weren't actually 210 years of work) but it was 86 years of work was so cruel and difficult that they counted to compensate for the missing 190 years. These are two different reasons. So Halo Davar Hu! Which reason is correct?
To explain this lets step back. We actually find two promises which HKB"H makes to Klal Yisrael during our Galus. There are two Geulas which HKB"H promised us. one is the Havtacha that we find at the end of the Tochacha. Vayikra 26:44 (לֹא-מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא-גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם--לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי, אִתָּם). It says that even when Klal Yisrael sins in the Galus HKB"H doesn't allow it Kavayochel to get so bad that Klal Yisrael would be destroyed during the Galus. In the Galus HKB"H protects us. We have a Kabbalah that even a single Sheivet won't be destroyed during the Tzar of our Galus. So that is one Havtacha, a Havtacha of protection during the period of our difficult Galus.
There is a second Havtacha of (גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל), the best Havtacha we find in Parshas Nitzavim is where HKB"H promises us in Parshas Nitzavim 30:3 (וְשָׁב יְדוָד אֱלֹדיךָ אֶת-שְׁבוּתְךָ, וְרִחֲמֶךָ; וְשָׁב, וְקִבֶּצְךָ מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים, אֲשֶׁר הֱפִיצְךָ יְדוָד אֱלֹדיךָ, שָׁמָּה). Here we are promised the Geulah Ho'asida. So we have two Brissim, two understandings with the Ribbono Shel Olam. There is a Goel for Klal Yisrael during the Galus of Klal Yisrael not being destroyed and the Geulah Ho'asida which will come ultimately. These are two distinct promises of Geulah.
In Shemoneh Esrei we say a Beracha (בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד', גּואֵל יִשרָאֵל). Rashi in Maseches Berachos says that that Beracha (בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד', גּואֵל יִשרָאֵל) is going on the first Havtacha. That during the period of Galus Hashem will protect us. This is because the 12 middle Berachos of Shemoneh Esrei are six for help during Olam Hazeh and six starting from (תְּקַע בְּשׁופָר) that there is a promise of a better tomorrow. (גּואֵל יִשרָאֵל) is in the first six so it is a Beracha of Geulah during Galus. Then we have the Beracha (צוּר יִשרָאֵל. קוּמָה בְּעֶזְרַת יִשרָאֵל. וּפְדֵה כִנְאֻמֶךָ יְהוּדָה וְיִשרָאֵל. גּאֲלֵנוּ ד ' צְבָאות שְׁמו קְדושׁ יִשרָאֵל:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד ', גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל). This refers to the second Geulah, the Geulah Ho'asida. We have two aspects of Geulah.
We turn back now to Mitzrayim. In Mitzrayim, the Maasei Avos Siman L'bonim. The first Galus, the Galus that Yaakov led us into which was Galus Mitzrayim has two promises of Geulah which are both Mikuyam, they both take place at the same moment. At the moment that the 210 years end (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ). Klal Yisrael in the Galus was about to fall into a pit from which they couldn't escape. That is the first type of Geulah. A (גּואֵל יִשרָאֵל) Geulah. A Geulah from the difficulties during Galus.
Then there is a second type. What was the Geulah Sheleima for Klal Yisrael in Mitzrayim? They had to go to Eretz Yisrael. The Kishui Hashibud allowed that time, that moment to come. So although they had to be saved because of (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ) but being saved then would not necessarily had brought them to leaving Mitzrayim and going to Eretz Yisrael. That came because of the Kishui Hashibud. Two aspects of Maasei Avos Siman L'banim, Two types of Geulah. Now we understand that Klal Yisrael the Dor Midbar said let's go back to Mitzrayim, why did they want to go back to Mitzrayim? They said let's have the first Geulah, the (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ) in Mitzrayim. Klal Yisrael should be as Klal Yisrael is in its Galus in a period of time where they were free to serve Hashem. But no, the desire was to bring the Geulah Ho'asida. The Kishui Hashibud took care of that.
Now we turn to Arvis, we turn to Maariv. Night is a period of darkness and of course the Geulah during darkness is the Geulah during the Tzaros Hashibud. At night when we say (בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד ', גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל). It is not enough to talk about the Geulah Ho'asida. At night we add a Beracha of (שׁומֵר עַמּו יִשרָאֵל לָעַד). Night which represents the darkness of Galus has a Geula Arichta not just the one Geula that we mention in Shacharis but Geula Arichta, a long Geula. A Geula during the Tzaros of Shibud. The Geula of (שׁומֵר עַמּו יִשרָאֵל לָעַד). You see, it is two different Geulos. There is the Geula which will come suddenly with Moshiach and there is the Geula Arichta. Since night as opposed to day is a period of remembering the difficulties of Galus. By day we say (וְיַצִּיב וְנָכון) and at night we say (וֶאֱמוּנָה כָּל זאת). A time that we need to have faith during the Galus.
2. Let's move on to a second topic. Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch in 3:22 has a beautiful Pshat in (וְשָׁאֲלָה אִשָּׁה מִשְּׁכֶנְתָּהּ) which is typically Teitched a woman will borrow from her neighbor the (כְּלֵי-כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב) and take them out of Mitzrayim. Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch talks about the word Shoel. Shoel has two meanings. It means to borrow as in Shemos 22:13 (וְכִי-יִשְׁאַל אִישׁ מֵעִם רֵעֵהוּ) which is the laws of a Shoel in Parshas Mishpatim and it also means to request as in Tehillim 2:8 (שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי--וְאֶתְּנָה גוֹיִם, נַחֲלָתֶךָ), or as in Shemos 13:14 (וְהָיָה כִּי-יִשְׁאָלְךָ בִנְךָ, מָחָר), or as in (וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל). It is a request, a question, to ask. So Shoel could mean to ask and request and it could mean to borrow. How can we tell which one a Posuk is referring to? Says Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch, when you are borrowing, the Posuk says (וְכִי-יִשְׁאַל אִישׁ מֵעִם רֵעֵהוּ) where (עִם) means with. You are asking (מֵעִם רֵעֵהוּ). To use something which is with your friend, it is going to stay with your friend. You want to borrow his shovel, you are (יִשְׁאַל אִישׁ מֵעִם רֵעֵהוּ). You say can I have this? It is yours but I want to use it. If you are asking for a gift you would say (וְכִי-יִשְׁאַל אִישׁ מֵרֵעֵהוּ). A person requests it from his friend. So Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch has a rule. When it says (יִשְׁאַל מֵעִם) it is borrowing, however, when it says Yish'al Min then it is requesting. Of course with this he explains the Posuk in 3:22 (וְשָׁאֲלָה אִשָּׁה מִשְּׁכֶנְתָּהּ וּמִגָּרַת בֵּיתָהּ, כְּלֵי-כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב) does not mean to borrow. It means that Klal Yisrael before leaving Mitzrayim will request, they will ask their neighbors for different items and the neighbors will give it to them just to get Klal Yisrael to leave. A beautiful Pshat Al Pi Pshat. They weren't borrowing they were requesting. This is Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch's Yesod here in this week's Parsha.
Rav Schwab in Parshas Eikev 10:12 (page # 408 in Mayan Bais Hashoeva) brings Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch and asks a Kasha. It says there (וְעַתָּה, יִשְׂרָאֵל--מָה יְרוָר אֱלֹריךָ, שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ: כִּי אִם-לְיִרְאָה אֶת-יְרוָר אֱלֹריךָ לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו). Hashem asks us to have Yir'as Shamayim. It is a request. It is not borrowing. There it says (מָה יְרוָר אֱלֹריךָ, שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ: כִּי אִם-לְיִרְאָה אֶת-יְרוָר אֱלֹריךָ). It sounds like a language that means borrowing which is a tremendous Kasha on Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch's Yesod.
He answers so beautifully. The Posuk is a request from Hashem that we have Yir'as Shamayim. Yir'as Shamayim is difficult. On the one hand as the Gemara says in Maseches Niddah 16b (12 lines from the bottom) and Berachos 33b (8 lines from the bottom) (הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים). On the one hand Yir'as Shamayim is up to us. Asks Rav Schwab, when we say (וישם בלבנו אהבתו ויראתו) we talk about HKB"H influencing us to have Yir'as Shamayim. Which one is it? Answers Rav Schwab, Yir'as Shamayim has to start from you. You have to begin with some Yir'as Shamayim. It may seem like a daunting challenge to be a Yir'ai Hashem but just start it. HKB"H tells us if you start Pischu Li Pesach K'Chudo Shel Machat, V'aani Eftach Lachem Pesach K'Pischo Shel Ulam. Start with something and I will finish it, I will make it happen. So (הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים) you have to start then (וישם בלבנו אהבתו ויראתו) HKB"H will make it happen. From where does this idea come?
It is beautiful. (מָה יְרוָר אֱלֹריךָ, שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ) what does Hashem want from you? (כִּי אִם-לְיִרְאָה), Yir'as Shamayim. (מֵעִמָּךְ). It is something that you take to give back. Hashem says what do I want something from you, I am like a borrower. Give me a little Yir'as Shamayim and I will give you back lots of Yir'as Shamayim. I will give you the ability to be a Yir'ai Shamayim. It is Botuk Uminusa. It is a tested, tried, and true fact. When a person puts his mind to it and sets his mind on working on Yir'as Shamayim he gets tremendous Siyata Dishmaya. How beautiful. Rav Shamshon Refael Hirsch's code for the word Shoel, Shoel Min is to request while Shoel Mai'im is to borrow and give back. (מָה יְרוָר אֱלֹריךָ, שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ). HKB"H says give me a little Yir'as Shamayim I will give you back plenty. I will help you along. How beautiful. So two thoughts, one on the two Geulos and one on Shoel for Yir'as Shamayim.
3. Let me end with a Vort from the man in the grocery store. You see this morning I was in the grocery and the man behind the counter was a Frum Jew and I asked him a question on the Parsha as I often do. I said I don't understand Moshe Rabbeinu at the Sneh says to HKB"H as is found in 4:1 (וְהֵן לֹא-יַאֲמִינוּ לִי) the Jewish people will not believe me and HKB"H says back what? The Jewish people are Maminim Bnei Maminim so of course they will believe you. This once bothered me because at the end of the Parsha when Moshe Rabbeinu goes to Pharoh, the Yidden who agreed to accompany Moshe and Aaron fall away and they don't have that Emuna, M'kotzer Ruach. But Moshe Rabbeinu was right, they didn't have the Emuna. It sounds like Moshe was right, could Hashem have been wrong? I asked this question. He on the spot said the following. He said they would have believed him, however, they didn't believe him because Moshe Rabbeinu said so. You see to inspire confidence you have to be confident. To inspire Siyata Dish'maya you have to talk Siyata Dish'maya. If you talk about Yir'as Shamayim, about Siyata Dish'maya, about Emunah and Bitachon and you feel they won't be interested then they won't be. Moshe Rabbeinu, they were Maminim Bnei Maminim but you have to approach them that way. What a beautiful thought to a Kasha that I had for so many years. With that I wish you all an absolutely wonderful Shabbos this Shabbos that is the first Parsha from the Sefer Hageulah a Sefer which gives us hope in our faith that the Geula will come at last. A Gutten Shabbos to all! |
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