July 21, 2020

On July 23, 2020 By Avrohom Meir MorgensternIn My Life1 Comment

On the following Monday, July 21st, Naftoli Glenner made a Siyum on Mishnayos Brechos. The Siyum was at his Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe and Frumit Roberts

Naftali and his father.

Mitch Morgenstern, my wife, Serka, and my son Eli.

I spoke and added the following.

There is a fifth interpretation of לא יחל דברו and that is Naftoli Glenner. Naftoli always does what

he says he will do. He is always there. He does not delay, does not profane his words, does not violate his words, and he is forgiving. We call him Reb Naftoli. When he has to come to my house, he persistently calls me. I invariably will be in the middle of an important text, he calls me, and my text is ruined. He will call me 10 times. He is always at the front of the Shul to open the Aron, to help with taking off the Torah covering. Rabbi’s chairs were only created so Naftoli can have a place to sit. He is very observant of what is happening around him, absorbing details, and the scene around him.

Parshas Matos – Masei

On July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 By Avrohom Meir MorgensternIn My Life1 Comment

Shabbos Parshas Matos – Masei

July 18,2020

This past week I heard a great speech from Rabbi Steven Weil, executive director of the OU gave a great speech on the burning of the Talmud. I also heard Rabbi Sugerman give a Shiur on Hiddur Mitzvah in regards to Milah. There is a Machlokos Rashi and the Rambam in how to learn the Gemora 133B of Zizin – shreds that do not impede the circumcision. This is compared to Hiddur Mitzvah of the candles of Chanukah. There is a Brisker Rov that explains the Machlokes. I also heard a lecture sponsored by Lubavitch of Washington, moderated by Rabbi Shemtov. Two of his congregants, Stuart Eizenstat and Tevi Tory both came out with books. Both worked for Presidents, Stuart Eizenstat with President Jimmy Carter and Tevi Troy for President George W. Bush. I purchased Tevi Tory’s book,

Thursday – July 17, 2020:

Eli, Tzvi, and I had a private tour of 522 W. Deming, the house that Jim Petrozzini, my customer lived at while he was alive. It has been completely remodeled and restored back to its 1886 elegance. ttps://www.luxuryportfolio.com/Property/chicago-properties-the-sarah-belle-wilson-house/LPMP

Shabbos – July 19, 2020:

We ate lunch by Rivkie and Mordy and had great Cholent.

I spoke before Musaf on the following two Verses in Parshas Matos:

Chapter 30, Verse 2:

וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הַמַּטּ֔וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֽה׃

Chapter 30, Verse 3:

אִישׁ֩ כִּֽי־יִדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לַֽיהוָ֗ה אֽוֹ־הִשָּׁ֤בַע שְׁבֻעָה֙ לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ עַל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ כְּכָל־הַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

First Dvar Torah:

Rashi explains זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר two ways. The first explanation uses the word זֶ֣ה as used the same way when Hashem instructed Moshe Kiddush Levana in Exodus 12:2, the half-Shekel in Exodus 13:3, the Menorah. Hashem actually showed Moshe what a new moon and a half-shekel looked like. . What has to be understood is that in this Parsha of vows, Hashem is not showing Moshe a physical object but giving him laws which are verbal.

The answer is that Rashi is telling us that when giving over Torah it has to be clear as if it is the words of God. Perfect. A teacher has to say with confidence and clarity זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר. Someone giving over Torah cannot read Gemora in a confusing and mumbling manner. The Rebbe has to paint the picture so the student sees the concepts in his mind. For most of my adult life I was a “כֹה אָמַר ה – lacking clarity, saying this is kind of what it the Torah means.

Words of Rashi and the Mizrachi:

זה הדבר. מֹשֶׁה נִתְנַבֵּא בְּ”כֹה אָמַר ה’ כַּחֲצֹת הַלַּיְלָה” (שמות י”א) וְהַנְּבִיאִים נִתְנַבְּאוּ בְּ”כֹה אָמַר ה'”, מוּסָף עֲלֵיהֶם מֹשֶׁה שֶׁנִּתְנַבֵּא בִּלְשׁוֹן “זֶה הַדָּבָר”

זה הדבר – THIS IS THE WORD — Moses prophesied with the words (introduced his message by the statement), “Thus saith the Lord, About midnight [will I go into the midst of Egypt]” (Exodus 11:4), and other prophets also prophesied with “Thus saith the Lord”, Moses, however, had an additional superiority in that he prophesied also with the expression “This is the actual word [that God hath spoken]” (Sifrei Bamidbar 153:2).

The Mizrachi and Sefsei Chacomin quoting the Mizrachi explains Rashi that Moshe initially and all the Prophets did not get a translucent revelation from God. It is called a באספקלריאה שאינה מאירה and this is represented by the words used in the Torah “כֹה אָמַר ה’ – so said Hashem. They are telling the essence of what God said but not completely the actual thoughts and words of Hashem. After Har Sinai, Hashem spoke directly to Moshe, as it is stated elsewhere פּה אל פּה.

The Mizrachi: זה הדבר משה נתנבא בכה אמר וכל הנביאים נתנבאו בכה אמר מוסף עליהם משה שנתנבא בלשון זה הדבר. בספרי מלת כה מורה על מכוון הענין ומלת זה מורה על הענין *הרמוז* בעינו ומפני שכל הנביאים לא נתנבאו רק באספקלריאה שאינה מאירה ואין בם יכולת לקבל רק המכוון מן הענין שהראוי להם הוכרחו להזכיר בלשונם כה אמר יי’ שפירושו המכוון מדבריו לא הדברים בעינם ומשה רבינו ע”ה בעבור שנבואתו היתה על ידי האספקלריאה המאירה והיה בו כח לקבל מה שהראו לו בעינו כפי מה שהוא הוזכיר בלשונו זה הדבר שפירושו זה הדבר בעינו מבלתי שום שינוי כלל ומפני שמשה רבינו בתחלת נבואתו עדיין לא עלה אל המדרגה שזכה בה באחרונה הוכרח גם הוא להזכי’ בלשונו כה אמר יי’ בהרבה מקומות ומשזכה באספקלריאה המאירה שוב לא הזכיר בלשונו רק זה הדבר וזה שאמרו משה נתנבא בכה אמר רוצה לומר בתחלת נבואתו וכל הנביאים בכה אמר ר”ל תמיד מוסף עליהם משה שנתנב’ בלשון זה הדבר ר”ל משזכה באספקלריא’ המאירה ואילך: *This word seems wrong and should be erased.*

Rabbi Elya Brudney spoke over a Reb Yehoshua Leib Disken on the difference between Moshe’s prophecy and all the other prophets. Moshe prophesied the drrects words and intent of God. All the other prophets had a vision that what was conveyed was filtered through each prophets level of spirituality and their personalities. Meaning that if a prophets had an angry disposition, the prophecy would be raw and harsh. If the prophet had a more mellow personality the prophecy would be softer. The interpretation is different based on who the prophet is. It sounded good when I heard it, but it is hard to understand.

The question is that the Torah uses the language זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר in a number of places to introduce a set of laws. Why did Rashi choose to say his explanation and nowhere else? The answer may be that the laws of “waiving vows” by a Halachici expert is not explicitly stated in the Torah. It is only hinted to. Moshe had to be clear when speaking to the people on the source and how to waive a vow.

The Mishna in Chagigah 10B says:

מתני׳ היתר נדרים פורחין באויר ואין להם על מה שיסמכו

MISHNA: Incidental to the Festival peace-offering, the mishna describes the nature of various areas of Torah study. The halakhot of the dissolution of vows, when one requests from a Sage to dissolve them, fly in the air and have nothing to support them, as these halakhot are not mentioned explicitly in the Torah. There is only a slight allusion to the dissolution of vows in the Torah, which is taught by the Sages as part of the oral tradition.

Second Dvar Torah

Five Questions on these two verses:

A – The Torah does not start out with, “and God spoke to Moshe” as it does everywhere else.

B – How do you translate לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ? Both Artscroll, Lubavitch (Gutnick), and Sefaria all translate it as, “And Moshe spoke to the head of the tribes of the Isralites.” However, when you read the Verse it can be translated as – “And Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes, who are to speak to the Isralites.” This seems to be the better translation.

C – Verse 3 says that if a man makes a vow “to Hashem”. What does to Hashem mean. Rashi does not say what is the vow to Hashem. Rashi says, נדר. הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי קוֹנָם שֶׁלֹּא אֹכַל אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא אֶעֱשֶׂה דָבָר פְּלוֹנִי; does not take about a Vow to Harshem. It is simply a vow not to eat something or do an action. What is the “To Hasem”

Additionally, why does Rashi say that the from of the vow is using the work הֲרֵי עָלַי קוֹנָם – Konum. The form of the vow is “it should be as a Korban to me that I will not eat.” Why didn’t Rashi simply say, that a person makes a vow not to eat. Is it perhaps that if one says, I make a vow not to eat, that this is not a vow that binds him according to the Torah.

D – What is the translation of לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ – Artscoll says to prohibit a prohibiton, which is almost meaningless. The true translation is to forbid something that is permitted. Lubavitch translates it seemingly more correctly as “makes an oath to prohibit himself”.

E – What does לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ mean?

Answer:

Let me start with Question E – What does לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ mean? There are four translations of the word יַחֵ֖ל.

Rashi and Ibn Ezra – Both say do not make your words profane. This implied that by making a vow your words are sacred and by violating them you have made your words profane.

Rashi: ( לא יחל דברו. כְּמוֹ לֹא יְחַלֵּל דְּבָרוֹ — לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה דְּבָרוֹ חֻלִּין (שם

Ibn Ezra: לא יחל דברו. כמו לא יחלל ואיננו לשון מחילה

The Ibn Ezra adds something that to me is mysterious. He says that יחל does not express forgiveness. Huh? Forgiveness – why would anyone think the explanation is forgiveness when the Torah seems to be clearly talking about profane, violation,

This is how Artscroll translates לא יחל דברו – do not profane your words.

2) אונקלוס and Mosef Rashi – to violate, to nullify.

Onkalis: לָא יְבַטַּל פִּתְגָּמֵיהּ.

Mosef Rashi from Tanis 7B – רוח צפון תחולל גשם ופנים נזעמים לשון שקר – תחולל תבטל כמו לא יחל דברו

(במדבר ל׳:ג׳)

This is how Lubavitch Chumash translates לא יחל דברו – do not violate your words. Sefaria translates it similarly – “you should not break your pledge”.

3) Comes along the Kli Yakar and says that יחל is expressed as מחילה.

First he explains question B as follows that the translation of לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל is that the heads of the tribes are to speak to the Jewish people and he clearly says that the word יחל is מחילה. The correct translation of לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל leads to his translation of Lo Yachal Diburo.

The Kli Yakar on verse 2:

וידבר משה אל ראשי המטות. מה דבר אל ראשי המטות לבני ישראל לאמר, דבר אל ראשי המטות

שיאמרו איזו דבר לבני ישראל ולא פירש עדיין מה יאמרו ראשי המטות אל בני ישראל, עד שהגיד להם

פרשת נדרים שחייב ראש המטה לאמר אל הנודר מותר לך, וזו היא האמירה שצוה לראשי המטות

שיאמרו לבני ישראל ועליה אמר לא יחל דברו הוא עצמו לא יחל אבל אחרים מחלין את דברו ועל זה

אמר ככל היוצא מפיו של החכם המתיר לו, כן יעשה, אם לקיים, או להתיר.

Kli Yakur on verse 3 again repeats this:

לא יחל דברו. אבל אחרים מחלין דברו טעם להיתר נדרים ביחיד מומחה או בג’ הדיוטות שנקראו בית דין,

The Kli Yakur seems to be based on the Gemoro in Chagigah that clearly says this.

אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל אי הואי התם אמרי להו דידי עדיפא מדידכו שנאמר (במדבר ל, ג) לא יחל

דברו הוא אינו מוחל אבל אחרים מוחלין לו

Thank you Rabbi Revach for this Gemoro although Rabbi Revach seems to disagree with my Pshat in the Kli Yakar.

Bonus:

The Kli Yakar also explains the language of נֶ֜דֶר לַֽיהוָ֗ה – as follows:

The Torah is talking about a vow that is for God. Only a person who is of calm mind and body and he takes a vow, is someone who is uplifting himself, not someone who vows in anger.

איש כי ידור נדר לה’. שני מיני נדרים הם כי הנודר בכעסו לאסור על עצמו איזו דבר נדר זה אינו לה’,

ודווקא איש כי ידור כשהוא איש מיושב בדעתו קרינן ביה האדם בשבועה (שבועות כו.) והוא הנודר לה’

4) The Rashbam, Reb Shmuel Ben Meir, Rashi’s Grandson who translates לא יחל דברו as one should not delay his pledge of a Korban.

The Rashbaum has a completely differently understanding of the Pesukim as follows:

וידבר משה אל ראשי המטות – נשאלתי ביוניוב [=שם עיר] בכרך לושרון [=שם מחוז בצרפת]. לפי הפשט היכן מצינו שום פרשה שמתחלת כן? שלא נאמר למעלה וידבר ה’ אל משה לאמר איש כי ידור וגו’. והיאך מתחלת הפרשה בדיבורו של משה שאין מפורש לו מפי הגבורה? וזה תשובתי: למעלה כתיב: אלה תעשו לה’ במועדיכם לבד מנדריכם ונדבותיכם – שאתם צריכין להביא באחד משלש רגלים משום בל תאחר כמפורש במסכת ר”ה, הלך משה ודבר אל ראשי המטות שהם שופטים להורות לישראל הלכות נדרים ואמר להם הקב”ה צוה לי שיקרבו נדריהם ונדבותם ברגל פן יאחרו נדריהם. לפיכך –

איש כי ידור נדר לה’ – קרבן. או השבע שבועה – לענות נפשו.

לאסור אסר – לא יחל דברו – מוסב על הנדר. כלומר, לא יאחר את נדרו עד

לאחר הרגלים כמו שציום הקב”ה שכך פירש: לא יחל כמו: ויחל עד בוש.

ויחל עוד שבעת ימים. יחל ישראל אל ה’ – ימתין ויחכה לו. והמפרש לשון

חלול לפי הפשט טעות הוא בידו.

(1) IMPOSING AN OBLIGATION ON HIMSELF … HE SHALL NOT BREAK HIS PLEDGE. This refers to the vow offering. In other words, he must not delay his vow offering until after the festivals, as the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded. For this is the explanation of “he shall not break [lo yahel],” as in (Jud. 3:25) “He waited [actually, “They waited”] a long time”; (Gen. 8:10) “He waited another seven days”; (Ps. 130:7) “O Israel, wait for the LORD” — wait and anticipate Him. And one who explains [this] as an expression of desecration [hilul] according to the straightforward sense is in error.

The end of the Rashbam is incredible. The Rashbam says “those who translate this as an expression of desecration ( חלול ) according to the straightforward sense is in error.” He is saying that Rashi, his grandfather, is wrong. This lets the reader into an intimacy with the Rashbam and his grandfather. Yes, my grandfather is wrong.

Additionally, normally the Rashbam uses the Pasur Pshat – straightforward explanation and here he is saying do not use it.

Resume

On July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 By Avrohom Meir MorgensternIn My Life1 Comment

July 15, 2020

Mitchell A. Morgenstern

6110 N. Sacramento

Chicago, IL 60659

(773) 647-8097

mitchellamorgenstern@gmail.com

Born – September 18, 1953

Job Search

I am looking for a job that matches my experience and strengths in Commercial Lending – Primarily Healthcare

Experience

MB Financial Bank – Fifth Third Bank November 1986 – March 2020

Started out as a commercial lender with Peterson Bank, a $200 million Bank in Chicago.. Bank was acquired by Manufacturers Bank and as it grew changed its name to MB Financial Bank. MB was acquired by Fifth Third Bank in March 2019. I was offered a choice between continuing with Fifth Third Bank or taking severance. I chose severance.

In 2005, I was promoted to Senior Vice President – Division Head responsible for the Lincolnwood Office. At its peak I oversaw a staff of six individuals. We built up the department to $275 million in loans with $125 million in deposits. The portfolio was 50% in health care loans, with 35% in real estate loans and 15% in commercial loans. This portfolio consisted 100% of relationship banking with zero participations purchased.

In 2014 my department was instructed to focus 100% on healthcare loans. I was allowed to retain my existing non-Healthcare customers. Our department focused on retaining relationships and building our share in the local market. At the same time my department built up a national presence in the Assisted Living and Memory Care Market, financing projects across the country.

In 2017 my responsibilities changed and my title changed to Managing Director – National Healthcare. My job was to continue to support my customer base and source relationships.

FDIC – Chicago, IL November 1977 – October 1986

Bank Examiner responsible for Safety and Soundness, and compliance examinations.

Education

Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL September 1974 – June 1977

BSBA – Accounting

Awards

CPA – 1977

Week of July 4, 2020

On July 14, 2020July 23, 2020 By Avrohom Meir MorgensternIn My LifeLeave a comment

Week ending July 4, 2020 – 12 Tammuz

Yisroel Yaakov Ben Avrohom Meir – My father’s 18th Yahrzeit

July 1 -3, 1863 – Battle of Gettysburg

July 4, 1863 – Day after the Battle of Gettysburg

Independence Day – Imperfect Men with a Perfect God

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Yisroel Yaakov Ben Avrohom Meir – My father’s 18th Yahrzeit

Friday, July 3, 2020 was the 11th of Tammuz, my father’s 18th Yahrzeit. He died on a Friday, the same as this year. I still remember getting a call from the nursing home to come as my father’s health is failing and that he is short on this world. I remember clearly being with him as he took his last breath in this world. As his soul left him, one tear fell from his eye, seemingly a regret. Lisa and I were in the room, with Karen on the phone.

Independence Day 2020 –

July 1 -3, 1863 – Battle of Gettysburg

July 4, 1863 – Day after the Battle of Gettysburg

This week was the 157th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. Unfortunately all celebrations, programs and battle walks were cancelled. I hope one day to be at Gettysburg. I watched as much as I could. I really did not learn anything new. I rewatched General John Buford’s great soliloquy to his second in command on June 30th 1863, the day before the Gettysburg Battle. I did read up on General Gouverneur Warren. Gouverneur Kemble Warren (January 8, 1830 – August 8, 1882) was an American civil engineer and Union Army general during the American Civil War. He is best remembered for arranging the last-minute defense of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg and is often referred to as the “Hero of Little Round Top.”.

July 4, 1863 was a rainy day at Gettysburg. The field was littered with dead soldiers and dead animals. It was as if the heavens cried at the loss of life. President Trump in his July 3rd Mt. Rushmore speech gave gratitude to the Union army at Gettysburg when they defeated Pickett’s charge. Abraham Lincoln won the civil war, declared the Emancipation Declaration and paid for it with his life.

Imperfect Men with a Perfect God.

Right before Shabbos I was watching Fox news and they had the governor of South Dakota on. She said a great line that is still reverberating in me. The forefathers of America who were heroes were nonetheless Imperfect Men with a Perfect God.

Shabbos Parshas Chukas – Balak July 4, 2020

On July 14, 2020July 14, 2020 By Avrohom Meir MorgensternIn Divrei Torah, My LifeLeave a comment

July 4, 2020 – 12 Tammuz

Parshas Chukas – Balak:

Summer Heat

Dvar Torah – Mei Merivah – Waters of Strife

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Summer Heat:

This Shabbos Hashem brought the heat. It was hot. We walked to Rivkie and Mordy’s house where I sat on their patio for 2 hours and worked on my Dvar Torah.

Dvar Torah – Mei Merivah – Waters of Strife

I looked over my notes on Chukkas and expanded on it this year. The following is my explanation of the Mei Merivah of Moshe hitting the rock and losing his right to go into Israel.

The following two questions have always plagued me.

How were the Jews allowed to go into Israel when the children seemingly were the same as their parents. The generation of the desert died in the desert because they challenged God and were not allowed to go in, They also said why did you take us out of Egypt.

What was exactly Moshe’s sin?

To answer the two above questions, let us understand the sequence of Verses and how to interpret them.

Summary of my answer and more fully explained afterwards:

38 years pass
No water, thirst
The people need water and ask in a harsh way
They called the desert a wretched place, with no crops.
They were rejecting their parents’ lives. They wanted what God wanted for their parents 38 years ago.
They rejected the completely spiritual lifestyle
Moshe misinterprets this and thinks they are no different than their fathers and perhaps would not be allowed to go into Israel.
Moshe is angry because he wrongly believes his teachings for the past for 38 years is a complete failure.
God sets up a scenario that will almost certainly fail because as we know by the burning bush and Eldad and Medad that Moshe will not go into Israel.
God gives Moshe seemingly conflicting instructions.
There were 600,000 people packed before the rock breathing down Moshe’s neck.
Moshe loses his Ruach Hakodesh and does not know where the rock to give forth water is located.
God switches the rock around and puts the correct one in front of Moshe. Moshe and the people fail to recognize the switch happening under their eyes.
The last two words in this Parsha was that Hashem was sanctified.

Explanation following the Verses:

Chapter 20 – Verse 1:

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל כָּל־הָ֨עֵדָ֤ה מִדְבַּר־צִן֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב הָעָ֖ם בְּקָדֵ֑שׁ וַתָּ֤מָת שָׁם֙ מִרְיָ֔ם וַתִּקָּבֵ֖ר שָֽׁם׃

The Israelites, the entire assembly, arrived at the wilderness of Zin on the first new moon, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.

Rashi says: כל העדה. עֵדָה הַשְּׁלֵמָה, שֶׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ מֵתֵי מִדְבָּר וְאֵלּוּ פֵרְשׁוּ לַחַיִּים:

This Passuk takes place 38 years later. Parshas Korah and the laws of Parah Adumah took place during year 2 after leaving Egypt. This innocuous Verse takes place 38 years later. What happened during the 38 years. My assumption is nothing. Life settled into a routine. For years I did not realize that this Passuk is a transition. The generation of the desert has died out and it is now time for the Jewish people to go into Israel. God’s wish for the Jewish people will now be fulfilled.

Verse 2 – וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה מַ֖יִם לָעֵדָ֑ה וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹֽן׃

The community was without water, and they joined against Moses and Aaron.

People are thirsty. They are in a desert. How did the people respond?

Verse 3 – וַיָּ֥רֶב הָעָ֖ם עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר וְל֥וּ גָוַ֛עְנוּ בִּגְוַ֥ע אַחֵ֖ינוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

The people quarreled with Moses, saying, “If only we had perished when (IBN Ezra and Radak) our brothers perished before Hashem. Rashi interprets it as “If only we would perish with the same death as our brothers because dying of thirst is the most painful death. Rashi seems to fit better based on my below Pshat. They were not identifying with their parents, they were only saying that if we do not merit to go into Israel, please kill us the same way as our parents.

Rashi’s words: בגוע אחינו. בְּמִיתַת אַחֵינוּ בַּדֶּבֶר, לִמֵּד שֶׁמִּיתַת צָמָא מְגֻנָּה מִמֶּנָּה:

בגוע. שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא, כְּמוֹ בְּמִיתַת אַחֵינוּ, וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרְשׁוֹ כְּשֶׁמֵּתוּ אַחֵינוּ, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִנָּקֵד בִּגְוֹעַ:

It seems that they do not simply ask Moshe to pray for water. They fought with Moshe. It is interesting to note that they use the words “when our brothers” when the people who died were their fathers and brothers who were over 20. I do not have an answer for this.

Verse 4 – The people continue to criticise –

וְלָמָ֤ה הֲבֵאתֶם֙ אֶת־קְהַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה לָמ֣וּת שָׁ֔ם אֲנַ֖חְנוּ וּבְעִירֵֽנוּ׃

Why have you brought Hashem’s congregation into this wilderness for us and our beasts to die there?

They refer to the people as “Hashem’s congregation”. They are wrapping themselves in holiness, “Hashem’s congregation”. They also seem to be blaming Moshe even though Moshe was only a messenger of God.

Verse 5 – and it continues –

וְלָמָ֤ה הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם לְהָבִ֣יא אֹתָ֔נוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הָרָ֖ע הַזֶּ֑ה לֹ֣א ׀ מְק֣וֹם זֶ֗רַע וּתְאֵנָ֤ה וְגֶ֙פֶן֙ וְרִמּ֔וֹן וּמַ֥יִם אַ֖יִן לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃

Why did you make us leave Egypt to bring us to this wretched place, a place with no grain or figs or vines or pomegranates? There is not even water to drink!”

Amazing. They use the same words of their fathers 38 years earlier. They are the kids and were teenagers when their fathers uttered these words. In the last 38 years, they lived a spiritual life. a life of great comfort, where all needs were taken care of by God, Yet they pushed back and seemingly rejected this life,, and called the desert a wretched place. They said that the desert is a wretched place “a place of no grain or figs or vines or pomegranates”. They wanted normalcy, a life that combined spirituality and work, making your own way in life.

Yet 38 years earlier, their fathers rejected Israel precisely because it was a place that you have to work. As the Satmar Rov and others say that they wanted to live a completely spiritual life, being fed by God, living the ultimate Kollel life, with no suffering. Now it seems that the kids are rejecting their parents’ choice. They want a normal land, one in which they have to work hard, grow crops, feed their families by the sweat of their brow. This is the nature of things. It is a new generation and the kids want something different. Society needs all types, those that are spiritual, those that go to the army, those that are farmers, all united together by the Torah and by great leaders. This is the greatness of the Israeli army. It is a reserve army so during war, everyone from all different walks of life report back to their army units. In one unit, you will have a Torah scholar, a taxi driver, a professor, and a laborer. They bond together protecting the land of Israel.

Verse 6 – וַיָּבֹא֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה וְאַהֲרֹ֜ן מִפְּנֵ֣י הַקָּהָ֗ל אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהוָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (פ

Moses and Aaron came away from the congregation to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces. The Presence of the LORD appeared to them,

What is this Verse telling us? Moshe and Aaron fell on their faces. Moshe spent 38 years in the desert teaching and my assumption is preparing the new generation for their future in Israel. At the first crisis, the new generation seems no different than the generation of the desert. They accuse Moshe of bad faith. Moshe is frustrated, he is upset, he falls on his face. Hashem does not criticise the Jewish people. He tells Moshe in a calm manner, this is what to do.

Verse 8:

קַ֣ח אֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֗ה וְהַקְהֵ֤ל אֶת־הָעֵדָה֙ אַתָּה֙ וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתֶּ֧ם אֶל־הַסֶּ֛לַע לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם וְנָתַ֣ן מֵימָ֑יו וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ לָהֶ֥ם מַ֙יִם֙ מִן־הַסֶּ֔לַע וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֥ אֶת־הָעֵדָ֖ה וְאֶת־בְּעִירָֽם׃

“You and your brother Aaron take the rod and assemble the community, and before their very eyes order the rock to yield its water. Thus you shall produce water for them from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their beasts.”

The instructions to Moshe while seemingly clear is confusing. If Moshe is to speak to the stone, then why take the rod. The Kli Yakar brings this out in the next verse, verse 9, that says Moshe took the rod that was before Hashem, Aaron’s rod that was set aside for future generations to see that God is life giving.. The Kli Yakor explains that when Hashem tells Moshe to speak to the rock and וְנָתַ֣ן מֵימָ֑יו – Moshe is being told what to say to the rock. Moshe is to say, just like this rod that was Aaron’s is a dry piece of wood, yet it became moist and sprouted forth blossoms, so you too, dry flint rock, produce water.

Rashi on this verse says:

ואת בעירם. מִכָּאן שֶׁחָס הַקָּבָּ”ה עַל מָמוֹנָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

ואת בעירם [SO SHALT THOU GIVE THE CONGREGATION] AND THEIR BEASTS [TO DRINK] From this we may see that the Holy One, blessed be He, has regard for the possessions of Israel (Menachot 76b; Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 9).

Rashi is saying that preserving Jewish possessions and collective Jewish wealth is a real Jewish value. We have to pray for it and our leaders have to be cognizant of it. Resources are not to be squandered.

Verse 9:

וַיִּקַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֖ה מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּֽהוּ׃

Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He had commanded him.

Verse 10וַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַקָּהָ֖ל אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ הַמֹּרִ֔ים הֲמִן־הַסֶּ֣לַע הַזֶּ֔ה נוֹצִ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם מָֽיִם׃

Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock; and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, shall we get water for you out of this rock?”

Rashi says:

ויקהלו וגו’. זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק מוּעָט אֶת הַמְרֻבֶּה (בראשית רבה ה’):

ויקהלו וגו׳ [AND MOSES AND AARON] ASSEMBLED [THE WHOLE CONGREGATION BEFORE THE ROCK] — This was one of the places where the smaller contained the greater, (the entire congregation being assembled in front of one rock) (Leviticus Rabbah 10:9).

What is Rashi saying with this Medresh. The entire experience in the desert was one of miracles. There were 3,000,000 Jews in the desert along with up to 2.4 million of converts. What were the logistics like? It was all a miracle. How did these many people leave Egypt. There were no roads in the desert, no water, and no food. It was all a miracle. The Clouds of Glory paved a path wide enough and provided shelter for the Jews in the desert. Food – there was Man. Not only that I assumed that there was non stop food. If you wanted red grapes which I love, you just stuck out your hand and it showed up. When I was in Israel for the first time in 1980, I worried about quenching my thirst. We took a tour into Beer Sheva and I wondered how will I quench my thirst. Is there is cold Pepsi in Beer Sheva. Lo and behold, I was able to purchase one. I assume in the desert, if you wanted a cold Pepsi you just extended your hand and boom, God put a Pepsi in your hand, not a can but in the 12 oz. bottles sold in Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Denver when I attended in 1967 – 1971. Do I wonder how it was possible for 600,000 to see the actions of Moshe? Not at all. No one would even bother to ask how this was possible and what difference does it make.

Look at the land of Israel today. Prior to 1948 the total population was roughly 700,000 people, today over 8,000,000 and Israel is prosperous.

Just supplying the daily water needs in Israel is magnificent. In the 1950s there was a minister in the cabinet who worked on water resources. I remember going to Israel for the first time and being amazed that there was water and bathrooms at the Kosel. To me life in Israel is a complete miracle from God.

So what is Rashi telling us? I think Rashi is painting for us the scene. There were 600,000 people watching Moshe, crowding him. Moshe could feel the 600,000 breathing on him watching him closely. Rashi is telling us that Hashem was amping up the pressure on Moshe and supercharging the atmosphere.

Verses 10 and 11:

10 -וַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַקָּהָ֖ל אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָא֙ הַמֹּרִ֔ים הֲמִן־הַסֶּ֣לַע הַזֶּ֔ה נוֹצִ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם מָֽיִם׃

11-וַיָּ֨רֶם מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־יָד֗וֹ וַיַּ֧ךְ אֶת־הַסֶּ֛לַע בְּמַטֵּ֖הוּ פַּעֲמָ֑יִם וַיֵּצְאוּ֙ מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֔ים וַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּ הָעֵדָ֖ה וּבְעִירָֽם׃

Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock; and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, shall we get water for you out of this rock?” And Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Out came copious water, and the community and their beasts drank.

Rashi on Verse 10 says:

המן הסלע הזה נוציא. לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהָלַךְ הַסֶּלַע וְיָשַׁב לוֹ בֵּין הַסְּלָעִים כְּשֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק הַבְּאֵר, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם מַה לָּכֶם מֵאֵי זֶה סֶלַע תּוֹצִיאוּ לָנוּ מַיִם? לְכָךְ אָמַר לָהֶם המרים — סַרְבָנִים, לְשׁוֹן יְוָנִי שׁוֹטִים, מוֹרִים אֶת מוֹרֵיהֶם, הֲמִן הַסֶּלַע הַזֶּה שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַוִּינוּ עָלָיו נוֹצִיא לָכֶם מַיִם? (תנחומא):

המן הסלע הזה נוציא MUST WE BRING [WATER] OUT OF THIS ROCK? — They said this because they could not distinguish it (the rock intended by God), for the rock from which the water had hitherto flowed during these forty years had vanished and taken a place amongst the other rocks when the “well” disappeared after Miriam’s death, and Israel said to them, “What difference is it to you from which rock you bring forth water for us?” —

It was on this account that he (Moses) said unto them (called them) המרים — which means wayward one, or, as a Greek expression, “foolish people” or, “such as would teach (מורים) their teachers” — from this rock about which we have received no Divine Command can we bring forth water for you?! (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 9).

Rashi on Verse 11 continues:

פעמים. לְפִי שֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹנָה לֹא הוֹצִיא אֶלָּא טִפִּין, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא צִוָּה הַמָּקוֹם לְהַכּוֹתוֹ, אֶלָּא “וְדִבַּרְתֶּם אֶל הַסֶּלַע”, וְהֵמָּה דִּבְּרוּ אֶל סֶלַע אַחֵר וְלֹא הוֹצִיא, אָמְרוּ, שֶׁמָּא צָרִיךְ לְהַכּוֹתוֹ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר “וְהִכִּיתָ בַצּוּר” (שמות י”ז), וְנִזְדַּמֵּן לָהֶם אוֹתוֹ סֶלַע וְהִכָּהוּ (תנחומא):

פעמים [HE SMOTE THE ROCK] TWICE, because at the first attempt it did not bring forth more than a few drops, for God had not bidden him smite it, but He had said, (v. 8) “and ye shall speak to the rock”. They had, indeed, spoken, but to a different rock (not that which God had intended) and it had not given forth water. They said, “Perhaps it is necessary to smite it as on the former occasion when it says, (Exodus 17:6) ‘and ye shall smite the rock’, and just that rock intended by God happened to be there and they smote it [but without full effect, and so they smote it a second time] (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 9).

The above Rashis on these two Verses add color. Rashi says that Moshe and Aaron could not recognize the stone that was to produce the water. Based on the Rashi in Verse 11, Moshe did speak to this rock as instructed by Hashem and no water came because it was the wrong rock. Moshe was the prophet of Hashem, and his divine providence – Ruach HaKodash – failed him at a critical moment. Moshe seems to lose his cool and calls them Rebels. Everything goes south for Moshe. The people said what difference does it make which rock, it is all a miracle anyhow. Moshe answers angrily, I cannot produce water on which there is no divine commend. The pressure is building on Moshe.

Rash adds in Verse 11 that at this point Moshe decides to hit the rock seemingly not knowing if this is the rock (or maybe even knowing). Moshe decides, perhaps this is why Hashem told me to take a staff is to hit the rock. What Moshe amazingly does not realize is that unbeknownst to him Hashem in an unnoticeable split second switches rock and Moshe hits the correct rock. Wow.

Everything failed Moshe at this critical time. Moshe overreacts to the complaints of the Jews. He thinks they are rebelling against God and that they are no different than their parents, This was not true. Hashem gives him instructions that on the surface and in a calm situation seems clear, but in panic can be misunderstood, his Ruach Hakodesh fails him. There are 600,000 people watching his every move, breathing down his neck, and crowding him, Hashem switches the rocks at the last minute. All this results in a state of frenzy and Moshe hits the rock when Hashem wanted him to speak to the rock.

Moshe seemingly was set up for failure. It is the opposite of Yehuda and Tamar, where Midrash says that an angel pushed Yehuda into the room with Tamar. Yehuda was going to walk away, Hashem took Yehuda’s free will away from him and is in effect saying, Yehuda, you will not fail this time. You failed when Yosef was sold, now you will accomplish your destiny. You will sleep with Tamar against your innate wishes, you will be forced to confront your humanity and say that she is more righteous than me and through this you will experience personal growth and understand responsibility. This will catapult you into a leadership position for your people, you will become the king. So too here, Hashem was setting up a scenario where Moshe would make a mistake and hit the rock. Moshe was destined not to enter israel. We know this from the burning bush in Shmos, from the prophecy of Eldad and Medad, and other places. Hashem put into motion the Mei Merivah so that Moshe would lose his free will, do something in anger, and not go into Israel.

It started with Moshe misinterpreting the Jews when they complained about no water. Yes they said, why did you take us out of Egypt into a bad place, where there are no crops. They were not polite in their request for water (and I would argue, who would be polite). They were not rebelling against Hashem. They were upset about no water and their life in the desert. They realized that the desert was an idyllic life, but not the life they wanted. They rejected their parents’ life in the desert. In fact what they were saying, we want to go to israel. We want to plant crops, have vineyards, orchards, and a life of physical labor combined with a spiritual God centered life. They called themselves in verse 4, the congregation of God. They were loyal to God and wanted what God originally wanted for their parents.

They complained that with no water we will die of thirst and as Rashi says, thirst is the worst type of death. If Hashem does not want us to go to Israel, fine, but we do not want to die a slow death of thirst.

Moshe misinterpreted this and thought they were rebelling against God. The last Ramban in effect says this and I had to speak to Rabbi Twersky to confirm. Here the Jewish people were not rebelling against Hashem. They quarrelled with Hashem. They needed water and asked harshly. But they still recognized Hashem. They were different then their fathers. They wanted to go into Israel to fulfil their destiny that Hashem laid out for them.

The Ramban on Chapter 20, Verse 13: Look at the underlined part when the Ramban says that the Jewish people did not rebel against God. I do not really understand the Ramban, but his concept fits my entire Pshat. The Ramban says that the Jews did not rebel against God. They fought with God because they were dying of thirst, but they did not ask as their parents did, Is God with us.

ויקדש בם שמתו משה ואהרן על ידם כשהקב”ה עושה דין במקודשיו הוא מתירא ומתקדש על הבריות שנאמר (ויקרא י ג) בקרובי אקדש וכן הוא אומר (תהלים סח לו) נורא אלהים ממקדשיך לשון רש”י גם כן פירש ר”א ואיננו נראה בעיני כי עדיין לא מתו משה ואהרן ואיננו מתפרסם לבריות שימותו בחטא הזה שיתירא הקב”ה על ידי כך כאשר היה בנדב ואביהוא ובפרץ עוזא ( ו ח) ועוד כי הכתוב אמר אשר רבו בני ישראל את ה’ ויקדש בם כי במריבים נתקדש מלשון בקרובי אקדש וראוי היה לדבריהם שיאמר ויכבד על פניהם

And He was sanctified with them: in that Moses and Aaron died because of them. When the Holy One, Source of all Blessing is He executes judgement with His sanctified ones, He is feared and sanctified by people. As it says: “With My close ones shall I be sanctified” (Leviticus 10:3). And it is also said that “The Awe of the Lord is from Your Holy Place” (Psalms 68:36). The language of Rashi also explains R’ Eliezer and it doesn’t appear to be correct to me because Moses and Aaron haven’t yet died, and, that Moses and Aaron had been sentenced to death for their sin, had not yet been publicized to people, which would enable fear of G-d through this. This occurred with Nadav and Avihu and with the transgression of Uzah. And furthermore, when the verse says “that the Israelites quarreled with G-d, and He was sanctified with them.” Because through their quarrel, He was sanctified of the same type as “with my close ones, I will be sanctified.” And it is fitting for these words as it says “and He was glorified on their faces.”…

והנכון בעיני כי מעשה הצור הראשון היה לעיני זקני ישראל בלבד כמו שמפורש שם (שמות יז ו ז) ובזה אמר ויקהילו

משה ואהרן את הקהל וגו’ על כן אמר הכתוב כי מי מריבה האלה שנגזרה בהם הגזרה על משה ועל אהרן המה אותם מי מריבה אשר רבו בני ישראל את השם ויקדש בם לעיני כלם כענין שכתוב (יחזקאל לט כז) וקבצתי אתם מארצות איביהם ונקדשתי בם לעיני הגוים רבים ודע כי בראשונה היתה להם מריבה עם משה כמו שאמר (שמות יז ב) וירב העם עם משה וכן אמר (שם פסוק ד) עוד מעט וסקלוני והיו מנסים את השם היש ה’ בקרבנו (שם פסוק ז) אבל בכאן היו מריבים כלפי מעלה ולא היה בכאן נסיון ועל כן אמר כי אלה מי מריבה שנגזרה בהם הגזרה הזאת המה מי מריבה אשר רבו בני ישראל את ה’ ויקדש בם לעיניהם ולא הראשונים אשר נסו את השם ולא נתקדש רק לעיני זקני ישראל ובעבור היות ענין הסלע שני פעמים הוצרך לבאר על איזה מהם נענשו הצדיקים:

How does the Parsha of Mei Meirvah end? As verse 13 says, with holiness. Klal Yisroel learned a lesson and now they were ready to go into Eratz Yisroel, the land of Hashem.

Verse 13: הֵ֚מָּה מֵ֣י מְרִיבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־רָב֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּקָּדֵ֖שׁ בָּֽם׃ (ס)

Those are the Waters of Meribah—meaning that the Israelites quarrelled with the LORD—through which He affirmed His sanctity.

Shabbos Parshas Pinchos – July 11, 2020 – 19 Tammuz 5780

On July 13, 2020July 14, 2020 By Avrohom Meir MorgensternIn Herzl, Jabotinsky - Betar, My Life, ZionismLeave a comment

The Three Weeks – Very Zionistic Period

Hertzl’s Yahrzeit – 20 Tammuz 1904 (July 12, 2020)

Herzl’s Repentance

Admor Dovid Morgenstern – 22 Tammuz 1873 (July 14, 2020)

Ze’ev Jabotinsky – 29 Tammuz 1940 (July 21, 2020)

Shabbos Day July 11, 2020:

I spoke today before Krias hatorah and the following is my speech:

On Thursday was the fast of the 17th of Tammuz and the beginning of the three weeks, which are times of great sadness in the Jewish calendar when the two Temples were destroyed. It is a time that we talk about Moshiach. Even the Chicago Community Kollel this year had an article about Moshiach. All the years I worked these were not easy weeks. Even though I did try to minimize the feelings of depression to do my job, I still felt the weight of Jewish history on my shoulders. Once my associate presented a loan for Frum people on Tisha B’av and I thought about how when the customer is fasting, his loan is being presented for approval.

At the same time it is a time of great hope that the Jews will overcome all hardships and Moshiach will come. We have come very far as Jews being privileged to have the State of Israel and as for myself, living in America. However, the journey is not yet over. This period of time a very Zionistic.

There are three Yahrzeits of great people in the Zionistic movement during the three weeks.

Hertzl’s Yahrzeit – 20 Tammuz 1904 (July 12, 2020)
Admor Dovid Morgenstern Yahrzeit – 22 Tammuz 1873 (July 14, 2020)
Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s Yahrzeit – 29 Tammuz 1940 (July 21, 2020)

Hertzl’s Yahrzeit – 20 Tammuz 1904 (July 12, 2020)

Binyomin Zev Ben Yaakov, known as Theodore Herzl, died at only 44 years old during his struggle to get the Jews out of Europe and establish a country in Eretz Yisroel. I have said in the past that the Imrei Emes who in 1903 criticised Herzl and the movement back to Israel is now learning B’Chavrusa with Herzl.

What was Theodore Herzl’s repentance?

Early on Theodore Herzl proposed to the Archbishop of Vienna a mass conversion to Christianity of Jewish children. Herzl was laughed out of the church.

Fast forward about 15 years later to early 1904. Herzl’s dream of establishing a State in Israel was not going well. His friend, Count Lippay, got him an audience with the pope. Pius X at the Vatican. Herzl had wanted an audience with the pope for years to request the Church’s help in settling the Jews in Eretz Yisroel. Herzl was told by his friend that protocol is to kiss the Pope’s hand. Herzl refuses to kiss the Pope’s hand. Despite Herzl’s fight to establish a Jewish state in Israel, he refused to humble himself in such a way to the pope. The pope would never have agreed to help Herzl and the Jewish people even with the kissing of his hand. Herzl stood as a proud Jew, aware of his role representing a proud and noble people, and that he is an equal to the pope. He represents a proud people, entitled to live freely and openly as Jews. Wow. Similar to Mordechai who refused to bow to Haman.

This was Herzl’s repentance. Years earlier, Herzl thought the answer to the “Jewish problem” was mass conversion. Herzl changed, he understood the holiness of the Jewish people. Despite the major roadblocks and seeing his dream of Israel in his lifetime fading, Herzl refuses to kiss the pope’s hand. As you read the below, Count Lippay who got Herzl the audience with the pope, said to Herzl to impress the pope, reminded Herzl, Herzl himself said he wanted to kiss the pope’s foot.

Throughout Herzl’s writing he writes about the specialness of Jewish people.

At the end of his audience with the pope, Herzl writes, “ Then I realized that the Pope liked this sort of thing. But on parting, too, all I did was to give him a warm hand-squeeze and a low bow.”

I have copied a little background and text from Herzl’s diary at the end of this speech.

Admor Dovid Morgenstern – 22 Tammuz 1873 (July 14, 2020)

Admor Dovid Morgenstern was the son of the Kotzker Rebbe. He was my grandfather’s great grandfather. He is second generation and I am seventh. Admor Dovid Morgenstern was a Bocher and a Chosid of the Rebbe, Reb Bunim of Peshischa. His Chasuna was on the day Reb Bunim of Peshischa passed away. He was more of a calmer nature than his father, the Kotzker. It is tragic that he nor his father wrote anything down, so the world does not have a legacy of his Torah. His legacy is the Torah of his children. Bourch Gutter put out a Sefer on Admor Dovid called Ahavas Dovid, however, there are few first person stories or life stories.

In the Sefer Bais Kotzk from Yehuda Leib Levin, there are eleven pages on Admor Dovid Morgenstern. After the Kotzker’s passing in 1859, most of the Chasidium became aligned with the RIM, the first Gerrer Rebbe. There is little known about Admor Dovid Morgenstern. I read page 282 in Yehuda Levin’s Bais Kotzk, which is a story when Admor Dovid’s nephew, Reb Yechiel Moshe Greenwald, came to visit his uncle. Rabbi Yechiel Moshe Greenwald is the sole source of stories about Admor Dovid Morgenstern. He lived until around 1920 and remarried into his 80’s. He has a grandson in Toronto. Reb Yehcial Moshe has family living in Chicago.

Page 282 says the Admor Rabbi Dovid did not push away any man. He was willing to purify sinners from their sin, and to cleanse their body. He could not tolerate people with false piety and arrogance.

What was Admor Dovid Morgenstern’s Zionism. As I spoke out the last three weeks, the essence of Kotzk was Ahavas Yisroel. Admor Dovid’s son, Reb Chaim Yisroel Morgenstern, known as the Pilaver Rebbe, in 1885 wrote a Sefer Shalom Yerushalayim that it is time for the Jews to go back to Israel. I read the first Chapter a number of times. Around the 5th time, I read it with Ahavas Yisroel and it was a different Chapter. This to me is one of the unknown legacies of the Kotzker Rebbe and his son Admor Dovid Morgenstern.

Pages from Bais Kotzk.

Ze’ev Jabotinsky – 29 Tammuz 1940 (July 21, 2020)

Ze’ev Jabotinsky, despite being born into an assimilated family in Odessa, Russia, became entwined with the Jewish people and his legacy continues to benefit the Jewish people. He was born and not given a Jewish name, and later in life took on a jewish name. He was a prophet and in the 1930s saw the holocaust coming. He worked tirelessly to aswaken the Jews about the nazi threat. My friend Eliykum Schwartz told me that despite not being Frum, when he travelled throughout Europe. insisted on Kosher food, as he understood that he represented the Jewish people. His great student was Menachem Begin.

I met Rabbi Naphtali Jaeger of Shaarei Yoshuv, in Far Rockaway, New York. He told me that his father was from Alkush in Poland. I said, wow, the first position of the Sochachover Rebbe in the 1860s was Alkush. I asked Rabbi Jaeger when did his father leave Europe, Upon hearing that it was in the early 1930s, I asked why did your father leave Europe? He answered that his father heard Ze’ev Jabotinsky speak, came home, and said we are leaving Europe. He took Jabotinsky’s words to heart.

THEODOR HERZL: Audience with Pope Pius X (1904)

On January 26, 1904, Theodor Herzl had an audience with Pope Pius X in the Vatican to seek his support for the Zionist effort to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. He recorded his account of the meeting in his diary. Source: Raphael Patai, The Complete Diaries of Theodor Herzl, translated by Harry Zohn (New York/London: Herzl Press, Thomas Yoseloff, 1960), 1601-1605. The “Lippay” to whom he refers is Count Berthold Dominik Lippay, an Austrian papal portraitist, whom Herzl had met in Venice and who had arranged the audience with the pope.

Yesterday I was with the Pope. The route was already familiar since I had traversed it with Lippay several times.

Past the Swiss lackeys, who looked like clerics, and clerics who looked like lackeys, the Papal officers and chamberlains.

I arrived 10 minutes ahead of time and didn’t even have to wait.

I was conducted through numerous small reception rooms to the Pope.

He received me standing and held out his hand, which I did not kiss.

Lippay had told me I had to do it, but I didn’t.

I believe that I incurred his displeasure by this, for everyone who visits him kneels down and at least kisses his hand.

This hand kiss had caused me a lot of worry. I was quite glad when it was finally out of the way.

He seated himself in an armchair, a throne for minor occasions. Then he invited me to sit down right next to him and smiled in friendly anticipation.

I began:

“Ringrazio Vostra Santità per il favore di m’aver accordato quest’udienza” [I thank Your Holiness for the favor of according me this audience].”

“È un piacere [It is a pleasure],” he said with kindly deprecation.

I apologized for my miserable Italian, but he said:

“No, parla molto bene, signor Commendatore [No, Commander, you speak very well].”

For I had put on for the first time—on Lippay’s advice—my Mejidiye ribbon. Consequently the Pope always addressed me as Commendatore.

He is a good, coarse-grained village priest, to whom Christianity has remained a living thing even in the Vatican.

I briefly placed my request before him. He, however, possibly annoyed by my refusal to kiss his hand, answered sternly and resolutely:

“Noi non possiamo favorire questo movimento. Non potremo impedire gli Ebrei di andare a Gerusalemme—ma favorire non possiamo mai. La terra di Gerusalemme se non era sempre santa, è santificata per la vita di Jesu Christo (he did not pronounce it Gesu, but Yesu, in the Venetian fashion). Io come capo della chiesa non posso dirle altra cosa. Gli Ebrei non hanno riconosciuto nostro Signore, perciò non possiamo riconoscere il popolo ebreo [We cannot give approval to this movement. We cannot prevent the Jews from going to Jerusalem—but we could never sanction it. The soil of Jerusalem, if it was not always sacred, has been sanctified by the life of Jesus Christ. As the head of the Church I cannot tell you anything different. The Jews have not recognized our Lord, therefore we cannot recognize the Jewish people].”

Hence the conflict between Rome, represented by him, and Jerusalem, represented by me, was once again opened up.

At the outset, to be sure, I tried to be conciliatory. I recited my little piece about extraterritorialization, res sacrae extra commercium [holy places removed from business]. It didn’t make much of an impression. Gerusalemme, he said, must not get into the hands of the Jews.

“And its present status, Holy Father?”

“I know, it is not pleasant to see the Turks in possession of our Holy Places. We simply have to put up with that. But to support the Jews in the acquisition of the Holy Places, that we cannot do.”

I said that our point of departure had been solely the distress of the Jews and that we desired to avoid the religious issues.

“Yes, but we, and I as the head of the Church, cannot do this. There are two possibilities. Either the Jews will cling to their faith and continue to await the Messiah who, for us, has already appeared. In that case they will be denying the divinity of Jesus and we cannot help them. Or else they will go there without any religion, and then we can be even less favorable to them.

“The Jewish religion was the foundation of our own; but it was superseded by the teachings of Christ, and we cannot concede it any further validity. The Jews, who ought to have been the first to acknowledge Jesus Christ, have not done so to this day.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say, “That’s what happens in every family. No one believes in his own relatives.” But I said instead: “Terror and persecution may not have been the right means for enlightening the Jews.”

But he rejoined, and this time he was magnificent in his simplicity:

“Our Lord came without power. Era povero [He was poor]. He came in pace [in peace]. He persecuted no one. He was persecuted.

He was abbandonato [forsaken] even by his apostles. Only later did he grow in stature. It took three centuries for the Church to evolve. The Jews therefore had time to acknowledge his divinity without any pressure. But they haven’t done so to this day.”

“But, Holy Father, the Jews are in terrible straits. I don’t know if Your Holiness is acquainted with the full extent of this sad situation. We need a land for these persecuted people.”

“Does it have to be Gerusalemme?”

“We are not asking for Jerusalem, but for Palestine—only the secular land.”

“We cannot be in favor of it.”

“Does Your Holiness know the situation of the Jews?”

“Yes, from my Mantua days. Jews live there. And I have always been on good terms with Jews. Only the other evening two Jews were here to see me. After all, there are other bonds than those of religion: courtesy and philanthropy. These we do not deny to the Jews. Indeed, we also pray for them: that their minds be enlightened. This very day the Church is celebrating the feast of an unbeliever who, on the road to Damascus, became miraculously converted to the true faith. And so, if you come to Palestine and settle your people there, we shall have churches and priests ready to baptize all of you.”

Count Lippay had had himself announced. The Pope permitted him to enter. The Count kneeled, kissed his hand, then joined in the conversation by telling of our “miraculous” meeting in Bauer’s Beer Hall in Venice. The miracle was that he had originally planned to spend the night in Padua. As it happened, I had expressed the wish to be allowed to kiss the Holy Father’s foot.

At this the Pope made une tête [a long face], for I hadn’t even kissed his hand. Lippay went on to say that I had expressed myself appreciatively on Jesus Christ’s noble qualities. The Pope listened, now and then took a pinch of snuff, and sneezed into a big red cotton handkerchief. Actually, these peasant touches are what I like best about him and what compels my respect.

In this way Lippay wanted to account for his introducing me, perhaps to excuse it. But the Pope said: “On the contrary, I am glad you brought me the Signor Commendatore.”

As to the real business, he repeated what he had told me: Non possumus [We can’t]!

Until he dismissed us Lippay spent some time kneeling before him and couldn’t seem to get his fill of kissing his hand. Then I realized that the Pope liked this sort of thing. But on parting, too, all I did was to give him a warm hand-squeeze and a low bow.

Duration of the audience: about 25 minutes.

In the Raphael stanze [rooms], where I spent the next hour, I saw a picture of an Emperor kneeling to let a seated Pope put the crown on his head.

That’s the way Rome wants it.

Exploring Kotzk

Month: July 2020