This D’var Torah should be a Zechus L’Ilui Nishmas my sister, Kayla Rus Bas Bunim Tuvia A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my paternal grandfather Moshe Ben Yosef A”H, my paternal grandmother Channah Freidel Bas Avraham A”H, my uncle Reuven Nachum Ben Moshe & my great aunt Rivkah Sorah Bas Zev Yehuda HaKohein,
It should also be in Zechus L’Refuah Shileimah for:
-My father Bunim Tuvia Ben Channa Freidel
-My grandmother Shulamis Bas Etta
-MY BROTHER: MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO BEN CHAYA ROCHEL
-HaRav Shlomo Ben Shayna Zelda
-Mordechai Shlomo Ben Sarah Tili
-Noam Shmuel Ben Simcha
_R’ Simcha Yitzchak Ben Mirela Yudka
-Chaya Rochel Ettel Bas Shulamis
-And all of the Cholei Yisrael, especially those suffering from COVID-19 and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for an Aliyah of the holy Neshamos of HaRav HaGa’on V’Sar HaTorah Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Ben HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky A”H, Dovid Avraham Ben Chiya Kehas—R’ Dovid Winiarz ZT”L, Miriam Liba Bas Aharon—Rebbetzin Weiss A”H, as well as the Neshamos of those whose lives were taken by terrorists (Hashem Yikom Damam), COVID-19, and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for success for Tzaha”l as well as the rest of Am Yisrael, in Eretz Yisrael and in the Galus.
בס”ד
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Parsha Paradise/פרשה פרדס – Ki Savo: “Uphold” the Torah or “Hold up” the Torah? Is the Torah Falling? 📜🙌🏻
Audio:
https://jewishpodcasts.fm/thedatabeis/42151
After listing a variety of curses in response to a variety of Mitzvos which a person may violate, the Torah states the following curse [Devarim 26:26]:
אָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן
The question is who the target of this curse is? “He who does not uphold the Torah.” It seems like a broad curse. But, why was this broad curse was added? If this verse is to include a curse for anyone who violates ANY Mitzvah, why specify any in particular? Is this final curse just a broad one, or does it actually refer to a specific individual or group of indicators?
P’shat:
Rashi reads this curse like it sounds, as a broader warning to keep the Torah at large.
However, Ramban/Rabbeinu Bachya (after quoting Rashi) explaim that this curse is reserved for one who intellectually/emotionally denies the Divine authenticity and legitimacy of Torah, or any Mitzvah of the Torah.
Malbim similarly explaims that the curse is addressed to and against “philosophers” who only believe in the primacy of the “spirit of the law,” and disregard practical observance.
Rashbam views this curse in light of the others which revolve around Aveiros that are notorious for their ability to be committed secretly, behind closed doors. The curse reinforces that reality that every crime, public or private, is noticed and accursed. Thus, this broader curse covers ANY Aveiros committed in private/secret.
Remez:
Ba’al HaTurim picks up on the juxtaposition between thus curse and the penultimate curse which denounces one who accepts a bribe to sentence the innocent to death. Explains the Ba’al HaTurim, one who is complicit in the spilling of innocent blood is like one who has violated and neglected to uphold the entire Torah. Indeed, each and every individual Nefesh is likened to the entire Torah.
Drash:
Ramban elaborates on the Yerushalmi in Sotah [7:4] which picks up on the Torah’s Lashon of “Yakim,” literally to “uphold” or “hold up,” and asks rhetorically: “Is the Torah falling?”
To understand the true meaning of the curse, Chazal suggested several Drashos based on this expression of “holding up the Torah.” One suggestion is that the curse refers to Torah leaders who have a unique responsibility to see the it that all of the B’nei Yisrael properly fulfill the Torah; they uphold the Torah. And yet, Ramban cites the same Yerushalmi suggesting homiletically that the curse is addressed to the one who is honored and charged with Hagbah, the lifting of the Sefer Torah for all to see at Krias HaTorah. Cursed is the individual who does not properly display the Torah so that people on all sides of the Shul are able to see the text.
Sod:
The Kabbalistic work, Reishis Chochmah [Sha’ar Teshuvah 3:29] and the Chofetz Chaim refer to another sort of individual who is uniquely charged with “upholding the Torah,” namely, one is financially capable of supporting it. Indeed, one who isn’t capable of learning so much can “uphold the Torah” by supporting Torah through other such means. The Chofetz Chaim emphasizes the responsibility of both Rabbanim and Parneisim (philanthropists) alike to do their part to “uphold” the Torah.
At the end of the day, we each have a responsibility to uphold/hold up the Torah in any which way we are capable. We should be Zocheh to uphold Hashem’s Torah, achieve only blessing through it, especially the ultimate blessing of the Geulah with the coming of Moshiach, Bimheirah BiYomeinu! Have a wonderful Shabbos!