“Welcome, welcome,” Anshel Holtzbacher said as the many guests arrived at his home for the Horki siyum on Meseches Pesachim.
“WELCOME-WELCOME,” Anshel’s housekeeping robots echoed, as they quickly took the guests’ coats and hurried off to hang them in the coatroom.
“This way,” Anshel said, leading the guests to his lavish dining room. The guests took their seats as the robot butlers began to serve the appetizers. There was pickled salmon, smoked herring, and gourmet white fish salad. A robot sommelier rolled in, pouring wine which paired perfectly with the fish.
Next came the soups: everyone watched in amazement at how the robot waiters were able to move so quickly with the steaming bowls of french pea and split onion soups without spilling a single drop!
The siyum was a festive affair. The many Horki Chassidim who were being mesayem talked animatedly about various sugyos in the mesechta, from bedikas chometz to leil haseder, and everything in between. Phrases such as “אין מביאין קדשים לבית הפסול”, and “זה וזה גורם”, and “היתר מצטרף לאיסור” could be heard as the discussions intensified.
Just as the robots began serving plates of whole roasted grass-fed angus chicken, a household robot burst into the room. “HIS HOLINESS, THE HOLY GRAND RABBI OF HORKI HAS ARRIVED,” the robot announced.
Anshel Holtzbacher, along with everyone in attendance quickly jumped from their seats and rushed to greet the Horki Rebbe as the band began playing ‘Yomim’. The crowd danced the Rebbe to his seat at the head table, and Anshel pulled out his giant sheepskin Gemara to begin the siyum. Anshel read the last mishna and gemara of the mesechta, expounding on the implications of whether zrikas hadam is considered a form of shfichas hadam or not and its implications for the brachos one makes on the Korban Pesach and the Chagiga. A lively debate ensued over the sugya as people asked questions and offered different explanations.
While this was going on, Joel E. Munz, the President of the Jolly Munz candy factory, walked into the room carrying a massive lollipop. Mr. Munz watched with interest at the interactive discussion between everyone present.
After about twenty minutes, the discussion came to an end. Anshel finished the final gemara of the mesechta, made the siyum, and said kaddish. The band started playing and everyone got up to dance.
When the dancing finished and everyone sat down to eat, Joel E. Munz rushed over, still carrying his giant lollipop.
“Mazel toff, Anshel!” Mr. Munz said enthusiastically, handing Anshel the lollipop. “I had my team make you a custom matzah-shaped lollipop in honor of your sea-hum!”
“Why thank you!” Anshel said, taking the giant candy and putting it into a vase so it could serve as a centerpiece for the table.
“You know, Ansel, it was fascinating to hear the discussion everyone was having about the Pesach korban. And look at the size of that Gemara! Imagine, if only the Jews had more time to bake bread before leaving Egypt, we would not have all of the hummetz laws. And if the Egyptians didn’t worship sheep, we would not have the Pesach korban! Why, if not for Paraoh, this entire giant Gemara would not exist! It’s like we have all of these laws because of him!”
“That’s interesting, Joel,” Anshel responded. “But these laws are not because of Paraoh, they’re because of us!”
“Huh”? Mr. Munz asked.
“You see, Joel, the purpose of these mitzvos is not only to remember yetzias Mitzrayim, although that is an important part. But Hashem wanted to give us zechusim, so he gave us mitzvos with complicated halachos in order so that we should have to spend time studying them!
In the secular world, only lawyers know the laws and when someone has a legal question, they run to their lawyer. But Hashem gave the laws of the Torah to every single Jew to study. Because the mere study of the Torah, along with keeping the mitzvos, is the delight and enjoyment of the Torah Nation.”
“This is so fascinating,” Mr. Munz said. “I’ve never even seen the inside of a Gemara before.”
“Well, why don’t you join us?” Anshel said warmly. “We’re starting Bava Kama tomorrow. Come to the Horki Beis Midrash at 8pm - I’d be happy to be your chavrusa.”
Mr. Munz hesitated. “8pm? But that’s when the basketball game is on... Hmmm... you did say learning Torah is a delight and enjoyable... okay I’ll do it - you got a deal! I’ll start learning bakavama with you tomorrow!”
“That’s Bava Kama, Joel,” said Anshel with a smile. “I’m excited to start learning with you. Here, take a seat next to me and have something to eat and I’ll give you an introduction to learning Gemara.”
Have a Wonderful Shabbos!
Let’s Review:
- What were the chassidim doing as they waited for the Rebbe to arrive?
- Why did Hashem give us so many mitzvos?
