Parshas Ki Savo 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה' נקרא עליך ויראו ממך ... (כח-י)
On our posuk, Chazal say: "אלו תפילין שבראש", this refers to the tefillin worn on the head. My grandfather would often share a story about the Baal HaTanya. When the Alter Rebbe was imprisoned by Russian authorities, a jailor entered his cell and saw him wearing tefillin. He immediately fled in fear. The Chassidim asked what had frightened him so. The Baal HaTanya answered: “Chazal say that the nations will see Hashem’s name upon us and fear us, which is fulfilled through the tefillin shel rosh.” But they pressed further: “Rebbe, the Cossacks see us wearing tefillin regularly, and they show no fear!” The Rebbe explained: “The Gemara doesn’t say tefillin ‘Al harosh’, tefillin upon the head, but tefillin ‘Shebirosh’ - tefillin within the head. When tefillin become part of who we are, shaping our thoughts and essence, then their power shines forth and commands awe.”
The Meshech Chochma, R’ Meir Simcha Hakohen zt”l, adds further depth. The tefillin shel rosh and shel yad each contain Hashem’s Name 21 times. Together, they total 42, corresponding to a special forty-two letter Name of Hashem mentioned in the Gemara, revealed only to men of great stature. This is our goal; to reach a point when Hashem’s Forty-Two Letter Name will be revealed to the world. In our current exile, a time of hester panim, we primarily experience the aspect of shel yad, which is hidden from view. By internalizing the message of tefillin, we can reach a period of shel rosh, which is worn openly. Hashem’s forty-two letter Name will be revealed, and the nations will revere Him and His people.
This idea appears at our redemption’s beginning. When Moshe asked what Name to tell Bnei Yisroel in Mitzrayim, Hashem replied: אהי-ה, numerically 21. At the Exodus, Hashem revealed אהי-ה אשר אהי-ה, two times 21, equaling 42. Redemption moved from concealment to revelation. May we merit the final Geulah, when the posuk will be fulfilled: "וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה' נקרא עליך" - all nations will see Hashem’s Name upon us, and the world will stand in awe.