Geshmake Question & Readers Answers
Last Week’s Geshmake Question:
R' Paysach Krohn shlita, lost his father when he was just 21 years old. The family needed money, so he became a mohel after he lost his father.
One day, a man came to him and said, “Here is $1,100.”
R' Krohn said “Thank you, but we are not poor.”
The man said, “It’s a loan. One day you will pay it back.” R' Krohn said he would ask his mother. She also said, “We are not poor,” but R' Krohn explained to her, “The man said it’s a loan, and we can pay it back whenever we want.”
The truth was, they weren't poor, but could really use the money. A few years later, R' Krohn made back the money by being a mohel.
He went to pay back the loan, but the man said, “No, give it to another family, just like when you needed it.”
The man shared that at one point in his life, he lost all his money, and someone helped him in this way.
R' Krohn said that's what they did. A few months later, they gave the money as a loan to another family who lost their father and needed money and then later told them to do the same as well.
What’s the lesson? If one wants to help others, there are many ways to do so in a nice, respectful way, so they can feel good and supported.
This connects to this week’s parsha:
The Torah says, “When Moshe grew up, he went out to his brothers to see how they were doing.” On a simple level, this means that when he grew older, he went to check on them. On a deeper level, Moshe Rabbeinu “grew” to higher levels in serving Hashem by going out to see how his brothers were doing.
Moshe was busy serving Hashem, part of that is by helping others, that’s how one becomes really great.
Story of R' Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l
R' Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l had terrible Parkinson’s disease; his whole body would shake uncontrollably, but he did not let this stop him.
He traveled, gave shiurim, and built one of the biggest yeshivas in the world: the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim.
One day, he came to give a shiur, and the room was full. R' Nosson Tzvi was very weak, his body shaking. He tried to speak but couldn’t.
He tried a few times, but he just didn’t have the strength to speak. He took a paper and wrote one word: “Hishtadlus,” meaning “I tried.” And then left. This itself was a shiur.
What’s the lesson? Hashem wants us to try, to do our part. The results are not in our hands.
R' Nosson Tzvi did many great things, building a great yeshiva and uplifting so many people, even though he wasn’t feeling well for more than 20 years with this terrible disease.
R' Nosson Tzvi lived his life doing the best he could; that was his secret to success, because all he needed to do was try, like he himself said, “I tried.” And he ended up changing the world. Let’s never stop trying our best…
This connects to this week’s parsha:
Hashem told Moshe to go to Pharaoh and take out the Yidden from Mitzrayim. But Moshe Rabbeinu kept telling Hashem he couldn’t be the leader because he was afraid that 1) he couldn’t speak properly, 2) maybe his older brother would be upset.
Hashem said Aharon wouldn’t be upset; he would actually be happy for you.
What about the problem that Moshe couldn’t speak? He had a lisp.
To this point, Hashem asked Moshe, “What’s in your hand?”
Moshe said, “A stick.”
Question: What was Hashem’s message to Moshe?
Answer: Hashem was saying to Moshe, “You are also just a stick in My hand; even without speaking properly, you will be successful. It’s not dependent on your talents and skills, so don’t be afraid, I’m with you.”
(Based on R' Zechariah Wallerstein zt”l)
In life, so many people are missing self-confidence, but remember: we are like a stick in Hashem’s hands.
If something must be done, and you can help, never be afraid to do something good. Hashem is with you. Don’t forget that Hashem is in charge.
We have to do our best; it’s not dependent on your talents and skills.
Be the great person you are. At least try.
Never Stop Trying
There Are Many People Who Can Use Your Help.
Moshe Rabbeinu was in the desert taking care of sheep when all of a sudden, he saw a bush on fire. But he noticed that, even though it was burning, it was not being burned; it stayed fresh and whole, and Hashem spoke to him for the first time from that bush.
What was the message of this burning bush that wasn’t getting burned?
Why was it only Yosef’s children, Menashe and Ephraim, who became part of the Shevatim?
Yidi Muller & Shea Herenfeld answer: They were the only ones who were brought up in such terrible surroundings, and there were many tests. Yaakov wanted to show that, because it’s hard, you can become big; that’s why they are part of Shevatim. They are our role models.
S. M. D. answers:
1) Maybe he gave it to Yosef to show honor for his kingship like by vayeishev shevet Yisrael!
2) Since Yosef was getting the bechorah, he deserves a double portion.
Yitzchak Lowinger from Chicago: Usually, there is yeridas hadoros, the next generation becomes weaker, but Menashe and Ephraim were on the same level.
Yankel Gross answers:
Yosef went through challenges that no one else did. Because the kids come from Yosef, who himself went through so much, they are an extension of Yosef, who was part of the Shevatim.
