Parshas Nitzavim 5785 & Rosh Hashana 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Sep 18
- 2 min read
והתברך בלבבו לאמר שלום יהיה לי כי בשררות לבי אלך... (כט-יח)
MASHAL: R’ Yisroel Reisman shlita, the Rosh Yeshivah of Torah Vodaas, offers a powerful analogy to bring out a very important lesson: Two pious Jews davened shachris together for 40 years. While Reuven never came after the 7:00 am start time, Shimon always came a few minutes earlier. Each prepared for davening with much devotion. Each enunciated every word in the siddur with fervor and enthusiasm. It was truly an inspiring sight to watch the duo pray each day.
Finally the time came. The angel of death swooped down to earth and took those two precious souls to a lofty place in heaven. Standing before the heavenly court, they were rewarded tremendously for the pious lives they led. Specifically for the morning prayers, Reuven received a special portion for his inspiring shachris prayers. But that was nothing compared to the more grandeur portion Shimon received for his shachris. The difference between them? Well, they didn’t either understand, so they asked the heavenly court for an explanation. The answer came based on a Gemara (Berachos 47b) which states that the first ten individuals of a minyan get rewarded the amount all attendees receive, put together! Shimon was always from the first ten!
Reuven was aghast, “What? They really meant that seriously?!” he cried out with bitter tears. But it was too late!
NIMSHAL: The world is not a hefker velt, a free-for-all. Especially for a Torah Jew, the Torah has a set of laws that must be obeyed and the more committed one is to every word the Torah states, the more reward he will receive in olam haba.
As we prepare for Rosh Hashana, we bear in mind many mitzvos, or more accurately, the many opportunities Hashem gives us to obtain a greater reward for that special time.