The weight that must be given to the words of a gadol baTorah

Living Higher

Once again, the gedolei haTorah from Eretz Yisrael arrived on American shores. Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsh, Rav Don Segal, Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rav Avraham Salim, and Rav Shimon Galai visited multiple communities in the United States, Canada, and South America in an effort to raise funds for Eretz Yisrael’s yeshivos.

One of the gatherings in honor of the gedolim and their mission took place in the Woodmere home of Reb Yisroel Chafetz. Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky and his son, Rav Sholom Kamenetsky, came to pay their respects as well.

Rav Sholom spoke, and in his usual manner, shared brilliant insights and divrei chizuk. In his final remarks, he said, “I asked my father, what is the tachlis here? What is the ultimate objective of Klal Yisrael? My father answered, ‘Yerushalayim darf hubben a kiyum — Yerushalayim must have continuity.’ ”

Rav Sholom then questioned this wording. “What does this mean? Why Yerushalayim? Isn’t this a problem facing all of Eretz Yisrael?”

Rav Sholom quoted the Nefesh Hachaim in Shaar Beis, which cites the pasuk in Yirmiyahu, “Haloch v’karasa b’oznei Yerushalayim — go and call into the ears of Yerushalayim.” What does this mean? Does Yerushalayim have ears? The Nefesh Hachaim explains that Yerushalayim is a reference to Knesses Yisrael, the dimension of Klal Yisrael that exists as a single unit.

Said Rav Sholom, “What ‘Yerushalayim darf hubben a kiyum’ means is that the ‘single unit’ nature of Klal Yisrael, that place where we are entirely unified, undivided by any distance or divergence, must be given added vigor. It is for this reason that Hashem has orchestrated the opportunity for Jews the world over to rally behind a single, exalted cause.”

In these final moments of galus, the source of our unity — our spark of Yerushalayim — must continue to be strong.

Rav Sholom delivered a long, thought-out response to his father’s five words: “Yerushalayim darf hubben a kiyum.” And those in attendance walked away with a deeper understanding of Yerushalayim, Knesses Yisrael, and the weight that must be given to the words of a gadol baTorah.

Overheard

“Although I have other opportunities that baruch Hashem keep me very busy, after twenty-three years I am still heavily invested in chinuch because that is who I am at my core, and you are my chevreh that I grow together with.”

—Rabbi Baruch Levine, speaking to the rebbeim of Yeshiva K’tana of Waterbury before the beginning of the new school year. Reb Baruch’s message was that, at the end, the most beautiful song is the one sung from the classroom, as we raise a next generation of banim u’bnei banim chachamim unevonim....

HAPPENING IN FIVE TOWNS

This past Sunday morning, a group of about 40 rabbanim, menahalim, school and shul leaders from across the Five Towns gathered at the Yeshiva of South Shore to hear from Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, and other political leaders about the importance of the upcoming elections. Addressing the crowd, Congressman D’Esposito made clear his intention to do what he can to strengthen the security of Jews in America and the alliance between the United States and Israel. In the congressman’s words: “This election represents a pivotal point in the history of our country, as well as our special relationship with Israel, and I am confident voters right here in the 4th District will elect candidates up and down the ballot that work to combat anti-Semitism and stand with the Jewish State.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1029)