Parshas Ki Savo 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
תחת אשר לא עבדת את ה' אלקיך בשמחה ... (כח-מז)
MASHAL: Moshe Shmuel Noll, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier from Beit Shemesh, fell in battle in northern Gaza on July 8, 2025, after a life marked by extraordinary perseverance. From struggling to read, to embodying joy and faith, his story, shared by his rabbis at his moving funeral, reveals the profound spirit behind the soldier’s sacrifice.
At the funeral, his rebbi from Kfar Zeitim Yeshivah shared one thing of profound significance. This is what he said: “Moshe had unimaginable learning difficulties. He couldn’t read or write when he arrived at the yeshivah. Yet he never gave up. He borrowed children’s books to practice reading, without shame, just pure determination. When he wanted to learn to daven, he memorized the entire prayer service over a year, section by section, reviewing until he knew it by heart. But this is what really struck me: Despite all his struggles, Moshe was always happy and smiling! When I asked how he managed to stay so positive, Moshe’s response was profound and well beyond his years: ‘Things are hard enough for me as it is. Do I need to add the challenge of sadness too?!’”
NIMSHAL: One of the most important ideas in Judaism is happiness. The Torah tells us the reason for so much suffering is, “Because you didn’t serve Hashem with happiness.” Imagine if we all thought the same way young Moshe Shmuel, Hy”d, felt throughout his short life - choosing not to add unnecessary suffering to life’s inevitable challenges. We would be better people. We would feel better and have better relationships with the people closest to us. Ultimately it is up to each individual to choose his or her life. Is it going to be a life of burden, or a life of glamour, light as a bird reaching ever higher levels of spirituality?