News

The Jewish People are the only people in history to predicate their survival on education. The most sacred duty of parents is to teach their children. Judaism is a religion whose heroes are teachers and whose passion is study. The Egyptians built pyramids. The Romans built the Coliseum. Jews built schools. That is why we alone, of all the civilizations of the ancient world, are still alive and strong, still continuing our ancestors’ vocation, our heritage intact and undiminished. In this parshah, Moshe Rabbeinu speaks of the duty of parents to educate their children. We should encourage our children to ask questions, so that the transmission of the Jewish heritage would be not a matter of rote learning but of active dialogue between parents and children.

Concern for others and the fear of hurting another individual’s feelings were trademark qualities of the Rosh Yeshivah of Chevron, R’ Simcha Zissel Broide zt”l. He embodied the attributes of Yosef HaTzaddik who was a “king who ruled the regiment” of his limbs and emotions and made them do the will of Hashem. It wasn’t just the way he acted with respect to his peers, fellow Roshei Yeshivos and other honorable people in all walks of society. R’ Simcha Zissel remained exactly the same in relation to his talmidim in the yeshivah as well.

A successful merchant came before the Sanzer Rav, Rav Chaim Halberstam zt”l, with a complaint. For years, his store had been bustling with customers and he did quite well in business. Now, however, another Jew came along and opened a competing business right near his. The competitor sold new, fashionable merchandise at lower prices, and literally took over the market. Now, his store is practically empty, and his source of livelihood is shattered.

At a wedding, Rabbi Yisrael Gettinger, Rav of Congregation Bnei Torah of Indianapolis, related the following story to Rabbi Hillel Goldberg. Between dances, he leaned over the salad and asked, “Do you follow football? Let me tell you a story.”

The following story is about a young boy who understands the meaning of nosei b’ol chaveiro – “shouldering the burden of a fellow Jew.” What is truly inspiring is how this boy did what he did and who he did it for.

The Midrash Rabbah famously cites the pasuk from T’hilim (40:5): “Praiseworthy is the man who placed his trust in Hashem and did not turn to the arrogant.” The Midrash comments as follows: “Praiseworthy is the man who placed his trust in Hashem” – This refers to Yosef; “and did not turn to the arrogant” – Because Yosef said to Pharaoh’s chief butler (at the end of last week’s parshah), “If only you would think of me...and mention me,” Yosef had to remain in prison an additional two years. At times, a person may be put in a situation where he clearly sees that Hashem is his only true provider. He must face that reality with pure faith and then he will be rewarded with salvation.