This week will be Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan, the 14th days of Adar I. We do not fast or eulogize, or say tachanun or lamnatzeach on these days.
This is the very last halacha in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim. This is the only observance we do. However, the Rema brings the opinion that we should eat a feast on the 14th, but says we do not follow it. Nevertheless, he says, it is worthwhile to increase our meals a little, to fulfill the opinion of the stringent, and, “One who is good of heart is always festive.” (Mishlei 15:15)
The Magen Avraham says this refers to finding joy in Hashem’s mitzvos, thereby hastening, “Then our mouths will be filled with laughter,” may it be speedily in our days.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe wondered why the Rema chose this halacha to teach us to always be joyous. After all, we just skip tachanun and perhaps eat a bit more. He explained that this is the perfect opportunity to teach us the importance of being b’simcha always. Joy is not restricted to days on which there are great happenings, such as the conclusion of the Torah on Simchat Torah or the grand Purim feasts a month from now.
Even on seemingly mundane days, we should be in a constant state of joy for it breaks all boundaries, and hastens the ultimate redemption.
Thought of the week:
Luck isn’t a matter of chance. It’s a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.
“You shall place the cover upon the top of the ark, and into the ark you shall place the testimony that I will give you.” (Shmos 25:21)
Hashem previously said the luchos should be placed in the aron, the holy ark. The repetition here seems superfluous. Of course, nothing in the Torah is, so the various commentators give explanations and suggestions. Rashi suggests it merely conveys that the luchos should be placed in before the cover is put on for the first time. Others add that once they are put in, they remain there forever, as we find by other items.
The Ramban comments that we don’t have a reason for the cherubs on the cover of the aron. Now, we understand that the ark is to be a resting place for Hashem’s presence because of the testimony (the tablets of the Ten Commandments) which rests inside. The cover with the angelic figures with wings upstretched implies the lofty level of the space and its purpose being to further uplift the Jewish People. Therefore, the order is correct, as what is inside sheds light on why the cover is made.
The Ohr HaChaim offers several concepts, but one of them stands out as a lesson for us on a personal level. The reason the Torah tells us the luchos went inside the aron after it speaks of placing the cover on it, is because the luchos were only to be placed inside when the aron was complete and ready for them to be housed properly. This can be extrapolated to human beings, and how they are to behave.
The Torah was given to us by Hashem to guide us and mold us into better people. The Torah is to be placed inside of us, seated at the core of our being, instilling us with spirituality and purpose. We see from here that we must prepare ourselves to be the appropriate vessel for it. Being only partially committed to Hashem or His Torah will prevent us from appropriately receiving Hashem’s presence in our lives.
Like anything else, the end result will only be a product of the preparation we put in. If we recognize that Hashem wants to be present in our lives, and we prepare ourselves for this, it can become a reality. The Torah also limits what can go in the aron. There was only the luchos and the broken luchos, but nothing else.
For us to be successful in the endeavor to become a resting place for the Shechina, we must seek to purge ourselves of things which run counter to Torah. We must shun foreign ideas and ideals so that Torah is our sole energy source and motivator. That is not to say we must be hermits and ascetics. Rather, everything we do should revolve around serving Hashem, and when we put those perspectives to practical use in the real world, we, like the aron, will find Hashem in our midst, urging us to higher levels.
A contingent of government officials came to Rimanov to find a suitable storage warehouse for the army's food and supplies. After combing the city, the only place they came up with was the local Shul. When the heads of the Kehila heard, they ran to R’ Mendele of Rimanov to ask him what to do.
One person stood up and said that as soon as they told the officials that the roof leaks and all their supplies would be ruined, they would change their minds and not use the Shul as a storehouse. Everyone agreed that this seemed a good plan of action.
R’ Mendele, however, heard this and said they were sorely mistaken. In fact, he said, it was because of the leaky roof that this Gezeira befell them. “If we don't actively take care of our own Shul, and degrade its honor by allowing the roof to leak, what do you expect of the non-Jews? Go fix the roof right away and everything will be fine.”
©2024 – J. Gewirtz
