Parshas Korach 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
הבדלו מתוך העדה הזאת ואכלה אתם כרגע ... (טו-כא)
The Gemara (Berachos 21b) learns the amount of ten men required for a minyan from a gezeirah shava that connects Kiddush Hashem to the tragic story of Parshas Korach. When Hakadosh Boruch Hu commanded Moshe and Aharon to, “Separate yourselves from the midst of this eidah,” during the machlokes of Korach, the word “eidah” is linked directly to the ten Meraglim who were called an “eidah ra.” By deriving the very concept of a tzibbur from Korach and his assembly, the Torah is teaching us a tremendous lesson about the importance of unity and achdus: a minyan doesn’t require pure and righteous tzaddikim - rather, just ten Yiddishe neshamos all standing and davening together. This proves that while we must stand up against evil sinners, just as Moshe Rabbeinu stood against Korach and his rebellious assembly, ultimate judgment belongs to Hashem, and our responsibility is to ensure that no one is excluded from the circle of community.
Cantor Louis J. Herman grew up in Toronto, Canada. His father, Rev. Samuel Herman, had been a well-known Cantor in Montreal and Toronto. A boy soprano, Cantor Louis Herman was a protégé of the world-famous Chazan, Yossele Rosenblatt, and had sung on the famous Maxwell House Coffee Hour on New York’s Jewish Station WEVD. During the 1920’s and 1930’s he sang professionally in Canada and throughout the American middle west and northeast.
When Canada entered World War II on the side of the allies, Louis Herman enlisted in the Canadian Army and ultimately saw combat duty. When he finished his training, young Louis was transferred to Italy. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and by war’s end, he was assigned to the front, in the midst of heavy fighting.
Throughout the difficult months of the war, Louis kept as many mitzvos as he possibly could. On the day of his mother’s Yahrzeit, despite being many miles away from any shul, Louis wanted to say Kaddish for her. This prayer, however, would require a minyan, and finding ten Jews in the middle of a battlefield in ltaly was not going to be easy.
Louis knew of only five other Jewish soldiers in his unit. Louis approached the army chaplain, who was a priest, and explained his predicament. Louis asked the chaplain if he knew of any other Jewish soldiers in the area.
To Louis’s surprise. the chaplain not only knew where he could find other Jewish soldiers, but he also understood the meaning of a minyan. He was happy to be of assistance.
“See that area over there?” The chaplain pointed to a tall observation tower. “That is where our soldiers guard our unit and watch for advancing German soldiers. When they see any activity, they radio the information back to the artillery unit to help us aim our bombs more precisely. There are four Jews who occupy positions in the observation tower. lf you’d like, I can put in a call to them and ask that they come over to our area for your minyan.”
Louis was overjoyed. He would have exactly the ten men required to make up a minyan. The kind chaplain called over and asked if the unit could spare the four Jewish soldiers for a few short minutes. To his great relief, the soldiers were happy to oblige. Louis was able to say Kaddish on his mother’s Yahrzeit with a minyan.
After they finished davening. Louis thanked everyone for joining him and enabling him to fulfill this meaningful personal obligation. The entire group lingered for an extra minute, enjoying the opportunity to pray altogether, even for a short time.
As the four soldiers turned to walk back to the observation tower, they suddenly heard a loud explosion and saw a most startling sight. The entire tower and its contents had been blown up by German saboteurs who had managed to plant explosives at the base of the tower and successfully exploded their charges. Only the four Jewish soldiers, who had just “happened” to be busy doing a very important mitzvah, had escaped annihilation.
Chazal tell us (Pesachim 8b) that “Shluchei mitzvah einan nizokin” - messengers who go to do a mitzvah are saved from harm. Not only do acts of chessed help others, but those very acts can also save us from harm. (For Goodness’ Sake)