Parshas Vayiagash, 4 Teves, 5785
Hei Teves, 5785
At krias hatorah, the third aliyah ends with vatechi ruach Yaakov avihem (45:27); the fourth aliyah ends with ito mitzraymah (46:7); and the fifth aliyah ends with haba’ah mitzraymah shiv’im (46:27).
Today marks the anniversary of the decision of the United States Federal Court in the historic case involving the seforim and manuscripts of the Rebbeim, in 5747. The Rebbe referred to this day as a yom segulah and an eis ratzon.
The horaos of this day include the following:
- To increase set times for Torah study, especially in public.
- To expand your personal library with sefarim of our Rebbeim and with sifrei kodesh in general.
If you will ask the sefarim themselves how their victory should be celebrated, they will tell you that their greatest honor lies not in being kept out of arm’s reach, but in being used even more. (Sefer Hasichos 5748 vol. 1, pp. 184-187)
To elaborate on the directive of acquiring sefarim:
Each Jewish home should possess basic Jewish sefarim, and especially sefarim of practical halachah, which will be studied on a frequent basis. (This is in addition to possessing a Chumash, siddur, Tehillim and Tanya.)
Each Jewish child should possess his or her own sefarim. They should be told that they do not need to worry if the sefarim will rip due to constant use, because if that happens, they will be replaced with even nicer ones.
The minhag of buying a set of Shas for a chosson and a “Korban Minchah” siddur for a kallah should be fulfilled. (Today, this siddur can be replaced with sefarim of practical halachah relevant to women, written either in Hebrew or in any other language.)
Similarly, sefarim should be given as presents in honor of personal milestones or birthdays. They should be given to children on such occasions as well.
