Parshas Bo 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים ראשון הוא לכם לחדשי השנה ... (יב-ב)
In Parshas Bo we are gifted with the Yom Tov of Rosh Chodesh, and the power to proclaim it through Kiddush Hachodesh. As Chodesh Shevat commenced this week it would be appropriate to mention some timely divrei hisorerus.
In his sefer Ohr Gedalyahu, the great Rosh Yeshivah of Torah Vodaas, R’ Gedalya Schorr zt”l, cites from the ספר היצירה that each chodesh has its own unique letter and inyan. Regarding Chodesh Shevat, he says "המליך אות צ' בלעיטה". He crowned the letter "צ" to rule over the consumption of food - eating. R’ Schorr explains that Shevat is a time to do teshuva, and utilize the letter "צ" which stands for צדק - righteousness, and צמצום - austerity, over our base instincts. Hashem created humans with desires for certain things; e.g. eating, living well and procreating. A yid though has to elevate all of these base desires to a holy level, bringing nachas and כבוד שמים to הקב"ה even while engaging in these normal human activities.
He then quotes posukim from the beginning of Devarim: "ויהי בארבעים שנה בעשתי עשר חדש באחד לחדש...באר את התורה". Shevat is the eleventh month, the month reserved for bettering one’s self, Moshe, davka then, elucidated the Torah showing clearly that one eitzah to properly control your impulses is through limud HaTorah. As Chazal say "בראתי יצר הרע בראתי לו תורה תבלין".
If all our actions would be guided by the Torah through plumbing its depths, we would be easily able to navigate the vicissitudes of life. There is a pshat quoted in a previous Machsheves, on the Chazal "קבעת עתים לתורה", which says that the word עתים is referring to all the עתים listed in קהלת and should be refined and developed through the lens of the תורה.
With tremendous siyata dishmaya may we be mechazek ourselves this chodesh. And may Hashem recognize our extra effort and shower each and every individual in Klal Yisroel with myriad beracha, simchos, refuos and yeshuos!