In this week’s Parsha, Moshe addresses the Jewish people as a whole. From the great leaders to the simple woodcutters, and water carriers, all the different types of Jews were gathered together. The pasuk begins, Atem Nitzavim Hayom Kulchem… you are all standing here today. There is a question here: What does today represent? What day does this signify? The Kedushas Levi says that Hayom – today represents Rosh Hashanah, the day of judgment. We all want to get a favorable judgment. What’s the secret to good judgment? I heard from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita that the Hafla says something incredible: He says that the secret to getting a good judgment is revealed in the next word of the pasuk – the word Kulchem. Kulchem means Hashem wants all of you. Meaning Hashem wants every Jew.
Says the Hafla, this is the secret to a favorable judgment. If you want to get a good judgment, you must be able to tell Hashem that you respect every Jew irrespective of their background. Every Jew must be beloved to you in your eyes. Hashem is telling us that if we want a favorable judgment, we must care for His children. Hashem wants us to make sure every Jew feels unique and special. He wants us to make every Jew count. It doesn’t matter their level or stature. It doesn’t matter their level of observance. Hashem wants us to take care of and help bring back every single Yid. Every last Jew. Therefore, the Parsha enumerates and delineates every single stratum, every single type of Jew from the heads of the tribes, all the way down to the woodcutters and the water carriers. In Hashem’s eyes, Kulchem, everyone is equal. Everyone is special. Hashem is saying, Hayom – if you want good judgment, Kulchem – you must make sure that every Jew is special. Make sure every Jew is unique, precious, and beloved in your eyes – the same way he is viewed in My eyes.
A few decades ago, a Rav shared a story about a boy in the Chofetz Chaim’s Yeshiva who was caught smoking on Shabbos. It was decided that this boy would be expelled. When the Chofetz Chaim heard about this, he asked for the boy to be brought to his home. At this point, the Rav interrupted the story and said, “Truth be told, I have no idea what the Chofetz Chaim told the boy. What I do know is that they were only together for a few minutes and that the boy stayed in Yeshiva and never desecrated Shabbos again.
After the speech, the Rav stayed by thinking that everyone had left. He was surprised when he heard a faint sound coming from the back. As the Rav approached the back of the shul, he saw an old man crying hysterically. The Rav sat down next to him and asked him what was wrong. Trying to calm down, the man said, “Rabbi, that story – the story of the boy that went to the Chofetz Chaim. I can’t believe you know it. You see that boy was me. I was that bachur.” Now the Rav was speechless. With tears in his eyes, the man repeated the missing part of the story: “After I was caught violating Shabbos, I was terrified to go into the holy Chofetz Chaim’s house. I had no idea what was going to happen. When I came into his small, humble, home the Chofetz Chaim embraced me. He took my hand and placed it between his hands. When I looked up, I saw that the Chofetz Chaim’s eyes were filled with tears. Whispering, the Chofetz Chaim said to me in a hushed voice filled with pain and hope, ‘Shabbos. Shabbos. Holy Shabbos. Shabbos my dear child, holy Shabbos…’
Tears streamed down the Chofetz Chaim’s face and one of them – one small tear landed on my hand. I couldn’t believe that I made the Chofetz Chaim cry. The Chofetz Chaim’s message stayed with me forever. I understood how important and special Shabbos was. I realized how holy it was. Since then, I have observed every Shabbos properly.” What an incredible story! We must never give up on someone! We can never reject a Jew. Never give up! There is always hope! Be that one to make a difference! To receive our weekly email, email us at [email protected] or visit our website parshaknowledge.com.
