The passuk says, “Ki mi go gadol asher lo Elokim krovim eilav” — “For what great nation has Hashem so close to it?” The Yerushalmi in Brachos says something beautiful on this passuk. The nature of a person is that if he has a wealthy relative, he proudly tells everyone about him. But if his relative is poor, he hides the relationship and even pretends not to know him. Hashem is not like that. Even when the Yidden are poor in their behavior, Hashem still calls them “brothers and friends,” as the passuk says, “L’maan achai v’rei’ai,” “For the sake of my brothers and friends.”
There was a famous Rebbe named Reb Hershele of Riminov. He was the gabbai of his Rebbe, Reb Mendel of Riminov, and after his Rebbe’s passing, to some people’s surprise, he was given the mantle of leadership. It turned out that he had been a hidden tzaddik all those years.
At the beginning of his leadership, people still did not realize what a great tzaddik he was. Once, while visiting the city of Lvov, he went to visit the famous Rav of the city, the Yeshuos Yaakov. The Rav thought it was strange that a former gabbai had become a Rebbe, so before Reb Hershele arrived, he instructed his attendants to remove all the chairs from the room so he would not have to spend much time with him.
When Reb Hershele entered, he reached toward the mezuzah but then pulled his hand back. The Rav jokingly asked, “Don’t tell me the mezuzah is pasul. It was just checked.” Reb Hershele replied, “I don’t know. I just don’t feel that there is a mezuzah here.”
The Rav became curious. He removed the mezuzah and discovered that when it had been put back after being checked, a nail had accidentally been driven through the writing, making it pasul.
When the Rav saw this, he immediately brought chairs into the room and honored Reb Hershele greatly.
The Rav’s grandson, who later told over the story, said that he noticed something even more amazing. When Reb Hershele first entered, and there was nowhere for him to sit, he showed no sign of feeling insulted. Later, when the Rav honored him so greatly, he showed no sign of feeling honored either. His demeanor never changed. He was with Hashem the whole time. The grandson said that this was an even greater mofes than discovering that the mezuzah was pasul.
After the eigel, Aharon HaKohein went from house to house and taught every Yid “Shema Yisroel” and “Baruch Shem” to help atone for the sin of the eigel. (Medrash)
The Shibolei HaLeket brings a fascinating reason why we say Shema Yisroel during Kedushah in Mussaf. In the times of the later Amoraim, there was a king of Paras (Persia) named Yuzgard, who was very cruel to the Jews. He decreed that they were not allowed to say Krias Shema. The leaders of the Yidden were afraid that, ch”v, the people would forget Krias Shema, so they added the first passuk of Shema and Ani Hashem Elokeichem into every Kedushah, including weekdays and Minchah.
A short while later, a crocodile appeared and swallowed the wicked king, and the decree was canceled. The Chachamim then decided to leave these additions in Mussaf and Ne’ilah, where there is no Krias Shema.
#1 What is the mitzvah of “V’asisa hayashar vehatov” — “You shall do what is right and good?”
Answers: 1) To act lifnim mishuras hadin (beyond what the law requires). 2) At Matan Torah, when Hashem opened all seven Heavens and showed us His Oneness, kivyachol. 3) At Marah, right after Krias Yam Suf, before Matan Torah.
#2 The passuk says, Atah horeisa lada’as — “You have been shown to know.” When did this happen?
#3 In the Aseres HaDibros, Hashem says to keep Shabbos “as I commanded you.” When was that command given?
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 91.