Why do we get up later on Shabbos morning? The Mordechai says that this is because in the Torah it says about every day baboker baboker, but on Shabbos it only says once baboker!
Why is Maseches Tamid called Tamid and not Temiddin, if there were two temiddin every day? Because when Moshiach comes soon bez”H, there will be only one tamid every day! (Maaseh Rokeach)
The passuk says “V’lo sihiyeh adas Hashem k’tzon asher ein lahem ro’eh — the congregation of Hashem should not be like sheep without a shepherd.” The Maharitatz learns from this passuk that a kehillah that does not get themselves a Rav is transgressing a lav!
Reb Shimon Sofer, the great rav of Krakow, was on his deathbed. He urgently called the askanim of the town to come to his house. They quickly came, and the rav told them different things that should be done after his passing: how to run the cheder and yeshivah, how to set up the tzedakah funds, and other communal matters.
The askanim were stunned that this is what was bothering the rav before his passing, and not his own personal affairs. They told him so.
The rav answered with a profound insight. A shepherd is very loyal to his sheep, always making sure they are all okay and counting them. But many times it is not because he really loves his flock. Rather, he loves himself, and therefore he makes sure everything is okay with his possessions.
But a Jewish Rav truly loves his community. This is what is on his mind. This is what Moshe Rabbeinu told Hashem: “V’lo sihiyeh adas Hashem k’tzon asher ein lahem ro’eh.” Klal Yisrael should not be like cattle that do not really have a shepherd, because he only cares about himself. Give them a Rebbe who truly cares about them.
“I too,” said Rav Shimon Sofer, “try to be such a Rebbe, and therefore my interest in my community is far greater than my interest in my personal affairs!”
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 88.