Stories Of Greatness

In August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany entered into an agreement committing that neither country would ally with or aid an enemy of the other country. In addition, the two world powers arranged a secret protocol that divided territories of Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland into Nazi and Soviet “spheres of influence.”

The Baal HaTurim writes that since the holy Aron was constructed to contain the Luchos, it is symbolic of the talmid chacham, who contains the Torah inside of him. The measurements of the Aron were given in half amos (2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5) as compared with the other keilim, to reflect that a Torah scholar must maintain his humility inside and out and always see himself in half-measures (chatzi shiur) – not living up to his full potential. There’s always more to learn.

Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l said that one cannot be a believer unless he is first faithful. One cannot believe in the Torah and the word of Hashem unless he himself is a person who values a word. If it means nothing when I say something, then when Hashem says something, why should I believe it? The more trustworthy a person is, and the more meticulous he is about his own words, the more he will be faithful to the word of the Almighty.

Throughout the ages, many a Jewish community has encountered enemies comparable to the evil Haman of the Purim story. Sometimes the Jews succumbed to his persecutions, Rachamana litzlan; in other instances, there was a reversal of fortune, and they were saved. At such times, a Purim Katan, a local Purim, would be enacted. Its observance on that same date in future years would serve to commemorate their deliverance from impending disaster. Where the sequence of events rendered it appropriate, a day of fasting was instituted on the day previous to the new Purim.

The Maharal writes that when Hashem places Jews in positions of power, from which they are able to save their people, this reveals His special love and protection for us. The Purim story, the incredible hashgachah, and the fact that Mordechai and Esther were appointed to positions of authority to bring about Haman’s downfall, teaches us the importance of emunas chachamim.

Chazal quote a midrash that the reason why Moshe Rabbeinu’s name does not appear in the entire Parshas T’tzaveh is because, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Hashem intended to eradicate the Jewish people and create a new nation out of Moshe’s descendants.