Parshas Matos-Maasei 5784
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 2, 2024
- 2 min read
ויאמר משה לבני גד ולבני ראובן האחיכם יבאו למלחמה ... (לב-ו)
MASHAL: One time when young Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, later to be known as the “Sefas Emes”, was about 12 years old, he stayed awake all night learning Torah with a friend. When dawn broke, they davened shachris at the earliest time, and went to bed. A mere few hours later, the boys awoke and returned to the Yeshivah, where they encountered the revered R’ Yitzchok Meir Alter zt”l (Chiddushei HaRim), who did not know that his grandson had stayed awake all night studying. He proceeded to rebuke him for not having attended the regular morning service and waking up late. The rebuke lasted a few minutes, throughout which the future Sefas Emes listened quietly, not uttering a word.
When his grandfather had left, the boy’s friend expressed disbelief: “Why didn’t you defend yourself against this unwarranted rebuke?” The young boy replied, “It’s not every day that I get such personalized feedback from my revered grandfather, and I wasn’t about to miss such an opportunity!
NIMSHAL: The Sefas Emes based his reasoning on the following: When the Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven approached Moshe Rabbeinu asking that he permit them to remain on the other side of the Yarden river, Moshe replied with a strong rebuke. He ominously reminded them of the terrible consequences incurred from the spies, and criticized them for being unwilling to join their brethren in conquering the land. It is interesting to note, however, that they had indeed intended to join the conquest right from the beginning and it was Moshe who did not perceive this. Explained the Sefas Emes, rebuke is such a constructive thing, that they were happy to listen to Moshe Rabbeinu’s criticism, even if it wasn’t applicable at that present moment.