שמות יד, יג וַיֹאמֶר משֶה אֶל-הָעָם אַל-ת ירָאוּ ה תְיַצְבוּ וּרְ אוּ אֶת-יְשוּעַת ה' אֲשֶר-יַעֲשֶה לָכֶם הַיוֹם כּ י אֲשֶר רְ א יתֶם אֶת- מ צְרַי ם הַיוֹם לֹא תֹס פוּ ל רְ אֹתָם עוֹד עַד-עוֹלָם:
This verse, and its interpretation, has a personal connection for Rabbi Epstein. The Netziv (Rabbi Epstein’s uncle) would have gatherings at his home on Motzei Shabbos with the leading scholars of the town. One year on Motzei Shabbos of Parshas Beshalach, there arose a question. One person had vowed not to see the face of another Jew (after a business deal went bad). Now that the other person had died, and the first party wanted to go to the grave site prior to burial and request forgiveness. Was he allowed? Those around the table gave differing opinions.
When the time came for the young Rabbi Epstein to give his opinion, he stated that there shouldn’t be any questions or doubts on this matter, and the person was definitely permitted to go and ask forgiveness.
Rabbi Epstein explained from this verse. How does Moshe say that the Jews would not see the Egyptians again, when they did see them dead at the Yam Suf? Especially since the Medrash says that each Jew recognized his taskmaster that had oppressed him, dead at the shore. The answer must be that the term ראיה applies only to a live person and not to a dead person.
The Netziv agreed and permitted the person to go to the grave site. And later the Netziv told Rabbi Epstein that this concept was one of the precious treasures that were hidden in the Torah, and he was happy that the young Rabbi Epstein was worthy to find it.
