Chazal quote a midrash that the reason why Moshe Rabbeinu’s name does not appear in the entire Parshas T’tzaveh is because after the sin of the Golden Calf, Hashem intended to eradicate the Jewish People and create a new nation out of Moshe’s descendants. Moshe begged on the people’s behalf and told Hashem, “And now, if You would just forgive their sin; but if not, erase me from Your book that You have written.” (Sh’mos 32:32). Even though Hashem did in fact forgive B’nei Yisrael’s sin as a result of his plea, Moshe was nevertheless erased from one parshah in the Torah, Parshas T’tzaveh. The lesson is powerful and unmitigating: A word is a word. When a person makes a statement, he must keep his word, no matter what happens or changes in any given situation. Once Moshe said, “Erase me from Your book” – meaning the Torah – Hashem held Moshe to his word, and did indeed erase him – but mercifully, only from one parshah.
Every year, on the first night of Purim after k’rias haMegillah, thousands of people gather at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, for a festive Purim mesibah. The gathering is always spectacular and uplifting, replete with beautiful singing and divrei Torah from the roshei ha’yeshivah and the Mashgiach. For many years, the annual mesibah was held in the Israel Henry Beren dining hall of the yeshivah, but more recently, due to the large crowds, the gathering has moved to the larger Bais Aharon beis midrash a few blocks away. One year, a special guest graced the yeshivah. The renowned Maggid, Rav Yaakov Galinsky zt”l was in the US on a fundraising trip, and for Purim he was thrilled to be in Lakewood. Reb Yankel was a feisty and exuberant person, and the liveliness of the bachurim and yungerleit at the mesibah suited him perfectly. He sang and danced with them and spoke more than once. It was one of the more memorable Purim gatherings that the yeshivah held.
Of course, the men continued to pour drinks of wine for themselves, as well as for Reb Yankel, who graciously accepted their libations, and it served to make him and the assembled even more lively. Suddenly, in the midst of all the festivities, six older, single bachurim pushed their way through the crowd and approached the head table where Reb Yankel sat with a beatific smile plastered on his face. After a bit of pushing and carousing, the six men got Reb Yankel’s attention and they begged him for a brachah that they all become engaged in short time. Reb Yankel tried to wave them away, and others did the same, but the group was insistent. Finally, one of them said, “Rebbi, if you guarantee us that we will all become chasanim this year, we guarantee to raise all the money you need for the entire budget of your kollelim in Eretz Yisrael! You will not have to go collecting or raise a single penny – we will do it all for you!” Reb Yankel laughed and gave them a brachah, but the leader said he would only guarantee the money if Reb Yankel would guarantee (havtachah) them success in shidduchim.
This time, Reb Yankel paused for a few moments, and one could see he was thinking furiously. Finally, he looked up at them (he was rather short), and said, “I guarantee it – this year!” The entire gathering heard the havtachah and called out “Amein!”
Literally, the very next morning, the six unmarried men came to Reb Yankel and brought him an envelope containing the entire amount of money! Reb Yankel vaguely remembered the incident of the previous night, but now he realized that he had given these desperate men his word – and they were fulfilling their end of the bargain. “Look,” said Reb Yankel, “What I said cannot be taken back. A word is a word. However, since I cannot be sure that my word is really any good, I will make you the following proposal: I will take this money, but I will put it aside. For the next year, I will daven that my havtachah should be realized. If it is, I will then use the money. If it is not – if even one bachur is not engaged by the end of this year – then the whole arrangement and ‘guarantee’ is off and you will take back the entire amount of money. Do we have a deal?”
The six agreed and went on their way.
A number of months later, the phone rang in the Galinsky home and the Rebbetzin answered as the Rav was not home. “This is a call from Lakewood, New Jersey. Please tell the Rav that last night, the sixth bachur got engaged.” When Reb Yankel came home and was told the good news, he ran to the cabinet and pulled out the envelope filled with money. “A word is a word. It was important for them to let me know so that I can finally give the money to the avreichim.”
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
