In this week’s parsha, the Torah teaches us that the Yidden took stones out of the Yarden to write the Torah on them. In Navi Yehoshua, the passuk says that they took these stones with them, and Chazal say that they carried them all the way to Har Grizim. The Sifsei Kohein says that these stones became small while the Yidden were carrying them, making them easier to shlep. Later, when they wrote the Torah on them, they became large again!
בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ
והארץ היתה תהו ובהו וחשך על־פני תהום ורוח אלקים מרחפת על־פני המים
The Chida brings a fascinating story about a Yid who owned a rare copy of the Zohar and sold it. That night he dreamed that someone was calling him a baheima. In the morning he told the dream to a talmid chochom, who explained that baheima is rashei teivos for Biarta Hakodesh Min Habayis — “you removed the holy from the house” — hinting that he deserved this name because he had removed something holy from his home. The man immediately went and bought back the Zohar.
Two merchants were traveling through Europe in an elegant coach during the winter. As they approached a certain town, Reuven turned to Shimon and asked, “Have you ever been in this town during the winter?”
“No,” answered Shimon. “Then watch carefully as we pass through.”
As they entered the town, Shimon noticed that everyone was suddenly standing outside their homes holding a shovel or plow.
“What is everyone doing?” he asked.
Reuven laughed and explained, “The governor made a law that everyone must shovel the snow in front of their homes. Anyone who doesn’t can receive a hefty fine. The people of this town are very lazy and rarely shovel. But whenever they see a fancy carriage entering town, they’re afraid it might belong to the governor, so they quickly run outside with their shovels to make it look like they’ve at least started the job.”
Reb Chatzkel Levenstein would tell this mashal about our avodah during Chodesh Elul. Really, we should be clearing away our aveiros all year long, but many times we forget and delay doing teshuvah. Hashem does not expect perfection. During Chodesh Elul, He wants to see that we have begun shoveling the snow. Even if everything is not yet clean, what matters is that we have started.
#1 What does Makeh Rei’eihu Basoser – “one who strikes his friend in secret” – mean?
#2 When is the mitzvah of Vidui Ma’asros?
#3 In what voice was Parshas Bikurim recited in the Beis Hamikdash?
Answers: 1) Speaking lashon hara. This is considered hitting your friend in secret. 2) Erev Pesach of the fourth year of the Shemittah cycle. 3) Loudly (Rashi 26:5). Parsha Pix: For answer look in פרק כח פסוק ז. (See the Baal Haturim)
It’s geshmak to be a kid!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 96.