I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has happened to Am Yisrael recently. It is simply impossible to continue as normal without acknowledging and addressing it. We are now three weeks after six Jews were murdered in Neve Ya’akov on Leil Shabbat, including the gabbai of the shul, a small child, and a couple who heard gunshots and ran downstairs to help. Six precious souls, on Shabbat Kodesh, taken from this world. That same week, HaRav Landerman from Elad, dressed for Shabbat in his shtreimel, was also killed – HY”D – just six months after his wedding. Then, a young boy from the Paley family had his life cut short in an attack, while his father and brother were injured. His brother later succumbed to his wounds and left this world as well – on Shabbat Kodesh. May Hakadosh Baruch Hu send a refuah sheleimah to all those injured, and may they, along with all those wounded in Am Yisrael, have a swift recovery.
The mother of these two holy boys stood up to speak, and the magnitude of Kiddush Shem Shamayim that came from her lips is immeasurable. The way she accepted the decree of Hakadosh Baruch Hu with love; the way she articulated our utter inability to grasp the ways of Heaven – who can even fathom such strength?
Chazal teach us a Midrash in Mishlei (31) on the chapter of Eishet Chayil. It tells of a story with Rabbi Meir, whose two sons passed away on Erev Shabbat as he was giving a shiur. Their mother gently placed them on a bed upstairs and covered them with a sheet. When Rabbi Meir returned, he asked where they were. She told him they had gone to the Beit Midrash. He replied that he had just come from there and had not seen them. She said they must have gone to another Beit Midrash and then encouraged him to wash and sit down to eat Seudah Shlishit.
After the meal, she turned to him and asked: “If someone entrusts an object with me and then comes to reclaim it, am I obligated to return it?” “Of course,” he replied. “One must return what was given in trust.” She then took him by the hand, led him to the roof where the boys lay and uncovered the sheet. He began to cry, and she said, “Didn’t you just tell me that one must return the deposit to its Master?” She then exclaimed: ה’ נָתַן וַה’ לָקָח, יְהִי שׁ ֵם ה’ מְבֹרָך. About this woman, Chazal say, it is written: אֵ שׁ ֶ ת־חַ יִ ל מִ י יִ מְ צָ א.
This, Rabbotai, is Rebbetzin Paley! She received the decree of Heaven – the loss of her precious sons – b’ahava, with love. And in her strength and faith, she wound up consoling those who came to console her!
Rabbotai, please allow me to ask: Last week, an earthquake struck the world (in Turkey), and 30 to 40 thousand people died. We do not attempt to understand the calculations of Heaven, but I want to open my heart and share something. We just passed Tu B’Shvat – a day of blessing that our “fruit” – i.e., our children – should be blessed like us. We know that six months prior was Tu B’Av, and the two days are intertwined – a deep topic we will not delve into right now. Six months ago, on Shamgar Street in Yerushalayim, a bus lost control of its brakes, and a mother and her two daughters were tragically killed. Another young mother had both her legs amputated – she, too, a member of the Paley family. Two sisters taken on Tu B’Av, and now two brothers on Tu B’Shvat! And not long before that, forty-four kedoshim perished in Meiron, including two sets of brothers!
We do not question Heaven’s calculations. We do not understand the ways of the world. The Ben Ish Chai, in his hesped for a man who died on his wedding day, said: “We have no questions – קוֹל רַעַמְך בַּגַּלְגַּל.” These thunderous moments we witness are connected to the world of gilgulim. We have no way of knowing why one leaves this world at age 8 or at age 108. Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the Ba’al HaBayit – He directs this world, and our appearances, as He sees fit.
But Rabbotai, there is one thing I do know: When siblings are taken, Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants something from us! How do I know? In our Parsha, it says: כִּי־תֵצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָצְאָה קֹצִים וְנֶאֱכַל גָּדִ ישׁ אוֹ הַקָּמָה אוֹ הַשָּׂדֶה שׁ ַלֵּם יְשׁ ַלֵּם הַמַּ בְ עִר אֶת־הַבְּ עֵרָ ה׃
If a fire goes out of control and catches on thorns, and then consumes bound or standing grain or a field, full restitution must be made by the one who started the fire.
The Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh explains, when there are dinim (strict judgments) in play, they consume the bound grain as well! This is a reference to the Tinokot Shel Beit Rabban – the pure and innocent children, without sin, who are taken when the fire emerges.
And so, we ask: Why siblings? Is it not enough to take individuals? What does Hakadosh Baruch Hu want from us?! He is speaking to us! I do not have the answer. But there is something I must say. We all know the Gemara in Succah (29a) that states: בִּשְׁבִיל אַרְבָּעָה דְּ בָרִים חַמָּה לוֹקָה – on account of four matters the sun is eclipsed. The fourth case in the list is: ו ְ ע ַ ל שׁ ְ נ ֵ י א ַ ח ִ י ן שׁ ֶ נ ּ ִ שׁ ְ פּ ַ ך ד ּ ָ מ ָ ן כ ּ ְ א ֶ ח ָ ד – on account of two brothers whose blood was spilled as one. This, says the Gemara, must shake the world!
Rabbeinu Yona explains that the sun and the moon were originally equal in size – brothers, so to speak – until one spoke negatively about the other. Two brothers on Tu B’Shvat. Two sisters on Tu B’Av. Two sets of brothers in Meiron. Perhaps, just perhaps, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is sending us a message. Perhaps He is reminding us, as we open our Parsha with one who steals from his brother, that we are all His dear children; that He looks out for each of us, even the thief. What is He asking of us? I do not know. But I do know that when siblings are taken together, the heavens are calling out to us. And we must listen.
Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants us to be brothers, because we’re all children of the same Father: בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה' אֱ - לֹהֵיכֶם. The Rambam writes in the Halachot of Gifts to the Poor (Hilchot Matanot Aniyim, 10:2):
וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַנִּלְוֶה עֲלֵיהֶם כְּאַחִים הֵם שׁ ֶנֶּאֱמַר )דברים יד א( "בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַה' אֱ -לֹהֵיכֶם" וְאִם לֹא יְרַחֵם הָאָח עַל הָאָח מִי יְרַחֵם עָלָיו. וּלְמִי עֲנִיֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹשְׂאִין עֵינֵיהֶן. הֲלְעַכּוּ"ם שׁ ֶשּׂ וֹנְאִין אוֹתָן וְרוֹדְפִים אַחֲרֵיהֶן. הָא אֵין עֵינֵיהֶן תְּלוּיוֹת אֶלָּא לַאֲחֵיהֶן:
The entire Jewish people and all those who attach themselves to them are as brothers, as it states: "You are children unto G-d your Lord." And if a brother will not show mercy to a brother, who will show mercy to them? To whom do the poor of Israel lift up their eyes? To the gentiles who hate them and pursue them? Behold their eyes are pointed to their brethren alone.
Even if there are differences of opinion – that's perfectly fine. There can be differences of opinion between brothers – it doesn't interfere. But not hatred. Not baseless hatred! Not hatred between brothers!
We have entered the month of Adar, approaching the days of Purim when we are commanded to increase love and kindness towards one another. We do not have an explanation for what is happening today, but we have one thing from the Arizal HaKadosh, on the Pasuk in Devarim:
כִּי יִפָּלֵא מִמְּך דָבָר לַמִּשְׁפָּט בֵּין־דָּם לְדָם בֵּין־דִּ ין לְדִ ין וּבֵין נֶגַע לָנֶגַע דִּבְרֵי רִיבֹת בִּשְׁעָרֶיך וְקַמְתָּ וְעָלִיתָ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר ה' אֱ - לֹהֶ יך בּוֹ׃
If a matter of law is too abstruse for you—between blood and blood, between decision and decision, or between leprosy and leprosy, matters under dispute in your city; you shall rise and ascend to the place that Hashem, your G-d, will have chosen.
דִּ ין לְדִ ין וּבֵין נֶגַע לָנֶגַע דָּם לְדָם בֵּין בֵּין – Are you wondering where all the disasters that befall us come from?! The answer is clear: דִּ בְ רֵ י רִ יב ֹת בִּ שׁ ְ עָרֶ יך – words of disputes in your gates! It is because of disputes among Am Yisrael! Brotherly hatred is what causes bloodshed! And what is required of us? To unite! Another act of kindness towards a brother! Help this one out, become closer to that one! Feel another’s distress! Share another’s pain!
The Chafetz Chaim writes (Ahavat Chesed, 2:5): “And now, when the attribute of Judgment has intensified greatly upon the world, and there is no counsel to escape from the troubles that renew themselves each day, how greatly must one strengthen oneself in the attribute of kindness! For through this, the supreme attribute of Kindness will be awakened, and it will be fulfilled upon us: וְאֵ רַ שְׂ תִּ יך לִ י בְּ צֶדֶ ק וּבְ מִ שׁ ְ פּ ָט וּבְ חֶ סֶ ד וּבְ רַ חֲמִ ים׃ – I will espouse you with righteousness and justice, And with goodness and mercy. And Chazal said, Hakadosh Baruch Hu says: ‘And if these, who themselves need kindness, do kindness with one another, I, who am full of kindness and mercy, how much more so do I need to bestow kindness upon My creatures.’”
Every one of us needs to see the other in their poverty, in their distress, in their trouble, just as Hakadosh Baruch Hu sees us and is with us in those times. If we do so, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will renew this month for us for good and blessing, and we will merit the complete redemption speedily, Amen! ◊
