In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, the pasuk starts off, “Emor El Hakohanim” – say to the Kohanim… right after, the pasuk says “Vamarta Aleyihem” – and say to them. Rashi says that the Kohanim received a double charge. They were charged to protect their kedusha and “Lehazir Gedolim Al HaKetanim” – they were charged to admonish the children and warn them how to behave.
I heard from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, that the Sefer Be’eres Mayim says that the word Lehazir – to warn, comes from the word Zohar, which means to radiate or shine. The Sefer Be’eres Mayim says that the most effective way to guide and inspire others is by radiating kindness and joy. The best way to impact others is to lead and shine by example. According to this, the adults were charged to lovingly guide the children and help them become the best they can be through being good role models and setting the right example.
From here, we can learn that the most effective way to impact and guide others is not necessarily through preaching but through inspiring and leading by example.
There was a group of guys in Yeshiva who wanted to have fun. Every night, one of them would prank call different people. Late one night at 12:30 am, one of the boys decided to call the Gadol Hador, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l. The boy called, and the Rebbetzin picked up and said that Rav Moshe was sleeping. She asked if it was an emergency and if she should wake Rav Moshe up. The boy replied that he had a serious halacha question and needed to speak to Rav Moshe.
A few minutes later, after Rav Moshe washed his hands and said Birchas Hatorah, he picked up the phone. Right when the boy started talking Rav Moshe sensed that it was a prank call – but he didn’t hang up. Rav Moshe asked the boy which Yeshiva he was in. The boy didn’t want to say, but Rav Moshe assured him that he won’t get him in trouble. The boy told him. Rav Moshe asked him what he was learning. Luckily, the boy remembered what Daf of Gemara he was up to, even though he never participated in class.
Rav Moshe said over a question on Tosfos and asked the boy if he understood the question. The boy replied that he didn’t even know the Gemara, let alone Tosfos. So, Rav Moshe lovingly asked the boy if he wanted to learn and get a Gemara.
For a full hour, Rav Moshe taught the boy the Gemara and Tosfos until he got it. Rav Moshe then repeated the question on Tosfos, and after a few times, the boy finally got it. The boy asked Rav Moshe what the answer was, and Rav Moshe told him to ask his Rebbi the question during class the next day.
The next morning, the rebbi repeated over the Tosfos, and the boy raised his hand. The rebbi was surprised; the boy used to always sleep. He never spoke up during class. The boy asked his rebbi the question, and the rebbi was shocked. He couldn’t believe it. He asked the boy who told him the question, and he said Rav Moshe. The Rebbi said, Rav Moshe? Rav Moshe Feinstein?! The boy replied, “Yes, it’s a long story.”
For the next few days, that question was all the Rebbi could talk or think about. At the end of the week, the rebbi came in beaming. His face was shining. He said that after working on it the whole week, he finally came up with an answer to the question, and he shared the answer with the whole class.
That night, when the boy came home from Yeshiva. He ran straight to his room, locked his door, and started crying. His parents knocked on his door and asked him if he was ok.
All he could say through his tears was, “Rav Moshe. Rav Moshe. Rav Moshe!!” Through his tears, the boy said, “Rav Moshe believed in me! Rav Moshe showed me love and validation!
Rav Moshe acknowledged me! If Rav Moshe believed in me, then I believe in myself. I believe in myself!” The boy told his parents that he was ready to go back to Yeshiva the next morning to try and start learning.
The next day, the boy changed his life around. Eventually, this boy became a prominent rebbi in a Yeshiva, helping, impacting, and leading other boys. Why? Because Rav Moshe believed in him. Rav Moshe didn’t preach or give mussar. Rav Moshe radiated righteousness, kindness, and love. Let’s make an impact. Let’s spread light! Let’s spread love! Let’s inspire others by leading and shining by example!
