Divrei Simcha on Parshas Shemos 5767

In this week’s parsha, Shemos, Rav Shloma Margolis (rav in Boston and now Bnei Brak) writes a beautiful commentary in his book Darchei HaShleimus. It states that Moshe saw a taskmaster whipping a Jewish man. Moshe felt the other Jew’s pain and killed the taskmaster. The next day, there were two Jews that were arguing (one of them was the man that Moshe had just saved). Moshe tells them to stop fighting, whereupon they question Moshe if he is going to kill them just like he killed the Egyptian. Moshe then screams out that the thing is known. Literally, it means that the event of Moshe killing the Egyptian is known, but Chazal, our Sages of blessed memory, say it means more. Moshe knew that the slavery they were suffering in Egypt was a punishment from G-d. He stated now the matter is known because Moshe now understood what the Jews did that made them deserve this punishment. What was it that they did?

Rav Margolis teaches us that it was when Moshe saw two Jews fighting; he then understood why G-d was punishing the Jews. If the Jews could sink to such a low level, then they deserve to be punished. If the Jews are fighting internally, then they need to be to be taught a lesson so they change their ways. Basically what Moshe was saying is Jews do not fight. We do not enjoy disputes. When we sink to that level, G-d needs to straighten us out.

Rav Aharon Kotler was a great leader of the Jewish people in America around the middle of the 20th Century and very strictly held that people should not learn secular studies. Rav Soloveitchik was another great leader in America who very strictly held that people should learn secular studies. Rav Kotler founded an organization called Chinuch Atzmi to help yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel. The organization decided to have their first journal dinner and guess whom Rav Kotler named as the Honorary Dinner Chairman – Rav Soloveitchik. Although Rav Kotler and Rav Soloveitchik disagreed bitterly about their views on secular education, they did not start a battle. When Jews fight, it is the worst. Rav Kotler and Rav Soloveitchik were able to work out their dispute and remain friends.

I mentioned this story to a friend of mine and he responded that this is not a big surprise because they were relatives (he said they were cousins). I thought about this and responded aren’t all Jews relatives. We say Achenu Kol Beis Yisroel (all of the Jews are brothers). We are all family. Today, some people follow Rav Kotler and others follow Rav Soloveitchik and others follow neither of them. We may all have different customs. Some of us are Sephardic, others are Ashkenazic, and others are a mixture of both. We are all one though. Therefore, we should try to avoid internal strife. If we can make peace with our relatives, then, Hashem will reward us with peace in the world!

May we see the day of the ultimate peace.

Good Shabbos!

-yes
Any questions or comments should be sent to [email protected].

By Rabbi Yaacov Seltzer
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(305) 652-0186