I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

As a postscript to Tisha B`Av; I remember a very great lady describing to me, how she and her husband were hidden in a basement during the Second World War. On one occasion, they heard the couple who were hiding them, arguing upstairs about whether to obey the priest`s sermon to hand over any Jews they knew, to the Nazis.
To this day, I remember the fear which emanated from her in waves, as she relived those moments, when her life hung in the balance. For a moment, I felt a little, of the fear she had felt. It is one thing to remember words, it is another thing altogether, to remember the emotions which accompanied the words. That leaves a far deeper impression.

Similarly when we remember the giving of the Torah, in this week`s Sedra, it is not enough to remember the words of the Torah alone. We need to remember the feelings of awe and inspiration we experienced too. The words which were said, “from the midst of the fire, the cloud, the thick darkness, the voice that did not stop” (Chap. 5 verse 19) had a colossal emotional impact and we have to remember that as well. That is why it says about the giving of the Torah; (Chap. 4 Verse 9) “Guard yourself, in case you forget the things your eyes saw, and in case you remove them from your heart”
In keeping with this idea, it is not enough to do a Mitzvah without feeling, as if it is a burden, to be dealt with, as quickly as possible. We should give as much honour and make as much fuss, for the Mitzvos as we can. That is the way to engage the emotions.
On a personal note I remember, and I am sure everybody who met him remembers, the enthusiasm and the beaming smile, with which my father Z”tsal kept his Judaism. That is how he reached my heart, and the hearts of those around him.

The words in Oleinu, from this Sedra, sum it up; “And you shall know it this day and put it in to your heart”. (Chap 4 Verse 39)
SOURCES; Based on the teachings of Rav Ben-Zion Levy.

QUESTION FOR THE WEEK;

In the first part of Shema, in this week`s Sedra, we are told to teach our sons the Torah (Chapter 6 Verse 7). The usual Hebrew word for “And you shall teach” is “Velimadetem”, as in fact we find in the second part of the Shema. But here the word used is “Veshinantom”. What is the extra nuance, of the word “Veshinantom”?

ANSWER;
Rashi gives one answer. However the Alshiech Hakodosh says, the root of the word is the same as in the Verse, “Chitsei gibor Shinoonim” (Psalm 120)-“The arrows of the mighty person sharpened”. The Alshiech explains, a mighty archer sharpens his arrows, because he wants his arrows, not only to hit the target, but also to penetrate it. So when we teach our sons, we want our words not only to reach our sons, but also to penetrate inside their being.
The Alshiech then proceeds to say, How do we achieve that? The answer is in the preceeding verse of the Shema. “And these things which I teach you this day shall be, “Al Levovecho”-“On your heart”. If these teachings are on your heart, then they will penetrate your sons hearts as well.

SOURCES; Sefer Alshiech on the Torah

If you have any comments, answers, or information, on any of the above, please E-mail me, or tell me.

Please note my new E-mail address is rabbij@talktalk.net

Have a wonderful Shabbos

Jacob Rubinstein (Rabbi)