Parshas Devarim (Chazon) 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
איכה אשא לבדי טרחכם ומשאכם וריבכם ... (א-יב)
MASHAL: The following mashal is attributed to R’ Mordechai Gifter zt”l, Telsher Rosh HaYeshivah. It captures the suffering of the Churban while giving a perspective to these sad days.
During a high holiday prayer segment in a large shul, the silence was heavy and tangible. Everyone stood quietly in their seats as the chazan led the awe-inspiring prayers.
Suddenly, from the back of the shul came a giggle. A young child was finding something amusing to laugh about. At first the people sitting nearby gave the boy a stern look. When that didn’t help, someone politely went over to him with his fingers on his lips and gave him the “Shhhh” sound. Then another. But even that didn’t help.
By now the whole shul was getting annoyed. Angry looks scanned the crowd for the father of the child; he was really disturbing the prayers at such a critical moment.
And then the shul members watched with interest as one man briskly walked down the aisle, right over to the young child. He drew his arm back and ... WHACK! The kid got what he deserved - and he stopped giggling immediately.
The chastened young boy got up and walked out quietly, while the man walked calmly back to his seat.
NIMSHAL: Asks R’ Gifter, who could smack the young child? Who would be the right person to do this? No one else but the boy’s father! And the same goes with our Father in Heaven. For many years, Hashem warned Klal Yisroel to repent through His emissaries or face a far larger consequence. They were like the adults standing around trying to rebuke Klal Yisroel. When the Nation didn’t repent, Hashem Himself came and gave us a WHACK! It is terrible to go through the pain and suffering, but it also shows us that Hashem is our father, for only a father can smack a child! He loves us and cares for our wellbeing even more than we do ourselves.