‫בס”ד‬

Vol. I:22

A Collection of Inspiring Insights

Besamei HaTorah

…Beneath the Surface

R’ Shmuel Winzelberg

‫שבועות תשע"א‬

Shavuos 5771

Compiled by: Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg

The Ten Commandments are hinted at in Shema - ‫עשרת הדברות רמוזים בקריאת שמע‬ The Mishnah Brurah (‫ )סימן ס"א ס"ק ב‬writes: Eliyahu Rabbah quotes a Yerushalmi (end of the first perek of Brachos) in the name of the Kolbo, that Shema hints at The Ten Commandments. 1) Hashem Our G-d - I am Hashem your G-d — ‫ אנוכי ה' אלוקיך‬- ‫א( ה' אלוקינו‬ 2) Hashem is One - There shall not be unto you other gods — ‫ לא יהיה לך אלהים אחרים‬- ‫ב( ה' אחד‬ 3) And you shall love - You shall not take Hashem’s name in vain. — (‫ לא תשא )אוהב המלך אינו נשבע בשמו לשקר‬- ‫ג( ואהבת‬ (One who loves the king, does not swear falsely using His name) 4) Your house (and not your friend’s house) - You should not covet — ‫ לא תחמד‬- (‫ד( ביתך )ולא בית חבריך‬ — ‫ לא תגנב‬- (‫ה( ואספת דגנך )ולא דגן חברך‬ 5) And you will gather your grain (but not your friend’s grain) - You should not steal — (‫ לא תרצח )ההורג – יהרג‬- ‫ו( ואבדתם מהרה‬ 6) And you will swiftly be banished - Do not murder (He who murders is himself murdered) — (‫ כבד את אביך ואת אימך )ששכרו אריכות ימים‬- ‫ז( למען ירבו ימיכם‬ 7) In order that your days are lengthened - Honor your father and your mother (whose reward is length of days) 8) Do not stray after your eyes - Do not commit adultery — ‫ לא תנאף‬- ‫ח( ולא תתורו וכו' אחרי עיניכם‬ — (‫ זכור את יום השבת )ששקול כנגד כל המצוות‬- ‫ט( ועשיתם את כל מצוותי‬ 9) And you shall keep all my mitzvos - Remember the Shabbos day (which is equivalent to all the mitzvos) 10) I am Hashem your G-d - Do not bear false testimony against your friend — ‫ לא תענה ברעך עד שקר‬- ‫י( אני ה' אלוקיכם‬ Therefore, a person has to focus when he says Shema so that he does not come to transgress any of the Commandments. (Chaim shel Torah)

Shavuos Thoughts

Ideas and Reflections

By: Rabbi Aron Moshe Jacobsohn

Why do we read the Book of Rus on Shavuos? R' Chaim Friedlander explains that the Torah isn't a book of knowledge whose students study it to become scholars. We received the Torah to follow in its ways and fulfill it. The Book of Rus is a guide and How-To for doing mitzvos. Rus and Boaz epitomized looking at the world with the perspective of chesed (kindness) in mind, and they did mitzvos (particularly acts of chesed) with effort, motivation and passion. We also see the reward given for one who does chesed, as Rus merited the Davidic Reign from her children.

The Siddur Speaks

A Closer Look at Davening

According to Tikunei Zohar, the redemption from galus (exile) will occur on Shavuos. The Baal Shem Tov explained that Mashiach is delayed because during shacharis, we don’t say the brachah of Ahavah Rabbah / Ahavas Olam slowly, and this tefilah is a plea to Hashem for understanding in Torah learning, and that we yearn to love and fear Him. Therefore, some have the minhag (custom) to say Ahavah Rabbah / Ahavas Olam very slowly and deliberately on Shavuos morning. Once, a student of the Chasam Sofer moved to Ropshitz and a while later came back to visit with his Rebbe in Pressburg. In their conversation, the Chasam Sofer asked how Shavuos was in Ropshitz. The student reported that what stood out in his mind was that they said Ahavah Rabbah during shacharis with such great feeling and devotion that it took a full two hours to complete! (Shavuos Secrets)

Megillah Treasures

An Inside Look

Rav Dovid Feinstein notes that in Megillas Rus we can learn a powerful lesson in how one should react to favors that one receives from others. It goes without saying that one should thank the one he benefitted from, but that is not all. One must realize that ultimately the Source of all blessings is Hashem. It is not nearly enough to thank the agent, one must thank the Giver of all good. It is human nature to thank the one who helps and not realize that Hashem was really behind the entire scene. As the Sages teach in Bava Kamma (92b): 'The wine belongs to the king, but thanks are given to the waiter', instead of to the master. In Megillas Rus (2:20), we see that Naomi realized this concept. When Rus informed Naomi that the man who had been kind to her was Boaz, Naomi thanked Hashem for His kindness in bringing them together— '‫ !ברוך הוא לה‬We should realize that nothing that happens is ever coincidental and that everything is in the hands of the Creator. One's good fortune is a sign that he has been the beneficiary of Hashem's kindness and should show proper thanks to Hashem. (Kol Dodi al Megillas Rus, Introduction)

Pearls of Wisdom

L’Maaseh…

A Tale to Remember

‫בס"ד‬

…A Word for the Ages

HaKadosh Baruch Hu said:"Since you have accepted upon yourselves the Yoke of Torah, it is as if you have never sinned in all the days of your life." (Yerushalmi Rosh HaShanah, 4:8)

The Rama (Orach Chaim 494:3) writes that on Shavuos there is a minhag (custom) to put greenery and flowers in the shuls and houses as a reminder for the joy of receiving the Torah, and the Mishnah Brurah (10) comments that we do this because Har Sinai grew grass and flowers before the Torah was given on it. In the town of Ostrow there lived a very pious man by the name of Reb Hersch Shmulkes who learned Torah all day and night while living in abject poverty, in a dilapidated old shack. The Jews of the village had no idea that there was a great Torah scholar living in their midst, except for Reb Pinchas of Koretz— who did not reveal this to anyone. One Shavuos, Reb Meir Margolis, Reb Yaakov Yosef, and Reb Pinchas of Koretz were learning the laws and customs that related to Shavuos, and the question arose as to the source of the minhag of spreading grass on the floor of the shul on Shavuos. Reb Pinchas suggested that they go visit Reb Hersch to wish him a good Yom Tov, adding that perhaps he knew of a source for this custom. Not knowing who Reb Hersch really was, the two could not understand why they would ask him such a question, but they did not want to refuse Reb Pinchas. When they got to the broken-down shack, they saw Reb Hersch sitting on a rickety bed learning Shulchan Aruch, and he invited his guests in to sit on a wobbly wooden bench. Reb Pinchas of Koretz asked Reb Hersch if he knew of a source for spreading grass on the shul floor on Shavuos, and without hesitation, Reb Hersch replied, "The Gemara (Eiruvin 22a) relates that Rav Adda bar Masnah decided to learn in the yeshivah of Rav, and his wife, who agreed to let him go, asked him how she will feed the children while he was gone. He answered, Is there no grass left in the field?" Reb Hersch continued, "What did he mean by this response? He surely did not expect his family to eat grass! He was implying that just as Hashem provides grass for the animals to eat without them having to earn a livelihood, He would provide for her as well. Those who put their trust in Hashem and rely on Him to sustain them will be supported by Him. When the Jews accepted the Torah at Har Sinai, they said that they were willing to learn Torah day and night, but wondered how they would be provided for. Hashem showed them the mountain all covered in grass, and taught them this lesson, that Hashem will provide for those who put their trust in Him, just as He provides for the animals. Spreading grass on the floor in shul reminds us of this." The three visitors were greatly inspired by the vast Torah knowledge of Reb Hersch, and from then on, the community of Ostrow recognized the tzadik's greatness. Many offered to support him and help him with better living conditions, but not wanting to take any gifts, turned down all offers, leaving his reward intact for the World to Come.

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