Parshas Re'eh 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 22
- 2 min read
בנים אתם לה' אלקיכם לא תתגדדו ולא תשימו קרחה בין עיניכם למת ... (יד-א)
A non-Jew once asked R’ Yehonasan Eibschutz zt”l about the following observation: “Why do we gentiles have a library-like sense of decorum when we gather to pray in our houses of worship, while you Jews hustle and bustle in yours synagogues, talking and schmoozing as if it’s your living room? Where’s your sense of respect?”
R’ Yehonasan responded wisely. “Your people feel like they are like servants standing before their master. Therefore, you tend to stand in awe and trepidation lest you be fired or demoted. We Jews, on the other hand, feel as if we are are like children before our Father. In the presence of a father, one tends to be more relaxed. That is how we
While this clever reply is accurate, it obviously doesn’t justify speaking during davening or acting frivolously in shul. In fact, the sefer "מפי ספרים וסופרים" quotes from Sefer Derech Moshe, that whenever the Satan prosecutes against Yidden, Hashem responds by saying, “Who’s to say the gentiles would act any better had they accepted the Torah?”
However, when it comes to comparing our behavior in shul to theirs, being that they’re reserved in their places of worship, there may be cause for concern. We must improve in this area, in order to defuse the Satan’s case against us.
Furthermore, he quotes from Harav Kuntslicher zt”l, who explains our posuk in light of R’ Yehonasan Eibschutz’s pshat. "בנים אתם לה'" - you are like children, but you must still ensure "לא תתגדדו" - do not make “Agudos, Agudos” group gatherings in shul disturbing the decorum. No matter how comfortable a son feels, he must still show the proper decorum and respect.
If we truly work to strengthen ourselves in this area, we will be zoche to what Chazal say, "ה' ילחם לכם". Hashem will “battle” for you on condition that"ואתם תחרשון" - you will keep quiet and refrain from talking during davening. כן יהי רצון!