Chazal already discussed what is the most important Passuk in the Torah. We’re certainly not arguing with Chazal but suggesting that one Passuk mentioned in this week’s Parsha should certainly be on the list in fact I humbly think that two Pesukim in this weeks’ Parsha are the most important Pessukim. The first Passuk is found in the beginning of the fifth Aliyah ועתה ישראל מה ה׳ אלוקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה I think that the question posed by Hashem alone is in itself is very powerful because it makes us stop and think wait what does Hashem want from me what is he asking from me why did he put us in this world am I really living towards the real goal or have I been distracted and traveling on a journey that will end up being a grave disappointment.
The answer the Torah gives is also very profound and in past years we discussed it and mentioned the insightful words of the Ramban. Today I want to focus on the question alone and connect it to an idea that I thought about on This last Tisha Beav.
Erev Tisha Beav I had mentioned on our daily chizuk video the connection Chazal make between the first word of Megilas Eicha which is איכה and the famous words Hashem said to Adam Harishon איכה same letters but different conjugation and meaning. Chazal are teaching us that the path to Teshuva the path to rebuilding the Bais Hamikdash the path to healing the world of all evil and pain is through the Prism of ayeka – where are you? Adam,even after making a mistake, could have turned to Hashem and said I made a mistake – help me get back on track” but he didn’t. And we are all still trying to get back on track both as individuals and as a nation.
Tisha Beav night after our emotional singing and crying a wonderful man gave me a book on Kinos translated by Rabbi Yechiel Spero. In Kinna 13, which is called תאי כה he shares a powerful story of what it means not to give up. of what it means a Jewish soul of what it means to be part of nation that was promised כה יהיה זרעך the question that a person can always ask himself is אי כה where is the promise of כה and this question is two-fold: it can be directed to Hashem it can also be directed to ourselves.
Never Give Up
In 2020 Reb Shimon Elkan found himself dancing at the Siyum Hashas holding the hands of a stranger he saw this man was experiencing something very special. When they sat down the elderly man shared his story. He was six years old in the city of Lublin and the famous Rav Meir Shapiro the founder of the Daf Yomi was dancing Simchas Torah and he took this man on his shoulders. As they were dancing the kid asked the Rav if he can give him a Bracha that he will one day finish all of Shas. The Man/kid said Amen and forgot about it. Fast forward and the WWII breaks out. In the darkest of nights in the horrors of horror when he was ready to give up he found himself crying out to Hashem to save him so he can fulfill the Bracha of the Rav to finish Shas. Lemaseh Hashem performed miracles and he was saved. Unfortunately coming out of the ashes took its toll, and he left the path of Judaism for many years until one night. The night Rav Shapiro himself showed up and with a disappointed face said “what will be with my promise to finish shas?” The elderly man emotionally concluded “after that dream I was on a new path and now I’m celebrating that promise. I feel this Siyum in some ways is all for me”.
A Jew has to keep checking in and asking “where am I?” End even if we find that we left the path, a Jew works above nature and never gives up.
