Our Generation of Greatness
Please send your feedback to [email protected]
To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to support or dedicate this publication which has been in six continents and over thirty-five countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at [email protected]. Thank you.
לעילוי נשמת שמואל אביגדור בן יצחק מאיר
Archives: https://parshasheets.com/?s=Rabbi+Yehoshua+Alt
Please feel free to print some copies of this publication and distribute it in your local Shul for the public, having a hand in spreading Torah.
COMING SOON Bez"H
Fascinating Insights—The Sefer (in English).
For Dedication Opportunities (which can be used from Maiser money)—L’Ilui Nishmas, in memory of a loved one, L’Refuah Shleima, Hatzlacha, or for any reason, in addition to sharing in the merit of the Torah learned by each reader—please send an email to [email protected]
Our Generation of Greatness
We are taught that Yosef and Binyomin
cried on each other’s neck over the destruction of the sanctuaries that would
be built in their respective territories.[1]
The Chassam Sofer[2]
is bothered how could Yosef and Binyomin cry if it was Shabbos,[3]
as it is forbidden to cry on Shabbos?[4]
Although we recognize how
impure and immoral the world is today, we must realize that this also shows our
greatness, as we still serve Hashem in such a situation. The אור לשמים[5] (1767-1831) brings from the
Sefer Bris Menucha that the expression אם
ראשונים בני מלאכים אנו בני אנשים...[6], if the scholars of
previous generations were sons of angels, we are sons of men; if they were sons
of men, we are like donkeys… applied in their day. However, today where
there is so much darkness and yet we strengthen ourselves to serve Hashem
according to our ability, we are considered greater than Tzadikim from earlier
generations!
The Arizal (1534-1572) once
told R’ Chaim Vitaal that nowadays, in the darkness of Galus, even just one
crying out or a groan that comes from the depth of one’s heart is like many
fasts of earlier generations! The Yismach Yisrael[7]
points out that this was in the time of the Arizal. Imagine what a sigh or
groan from us today is considered, as the Galus and troubles of today are much
worse.[8]
The
Beis Aharon[9]
(1736-1772) writes an idea he says that are found in many Sefarim. That is,
that which Tzadikim from earlier generations worked to attain for days and
months, nowadays it’s possible to accomplish this in one hour since the world
today is more lowly (This was in the 1700s.).
In explaining why Moshe was
so humble—[10]ענו מאד—the Rashab says the following: The Midrash[11]
tells us Hashem showed Moshe the Sefer of Adam Harishon in which he saw all
future generations from בראשית until תחיית
המתים.
When he saw the generation of עקבתא דמשיחא—how they are trying to
have Emuna and be religious—he was so humbled and said they are greater than
me.[12]
Binyomin and Yosef saw all
that would happen to us in Galus—which was caused by the destruction of the sanctuaries—and
that we would withstand the tests until לעתיד לבא when the Beis Hamikdash
will be built. From this דביקות and Simcha they cried as such crying is
permitted on Shabbos![13]
[1] Breishis 45:14, Rashi.
[2] Drashos Chassam Sofer, חלק
א, דרוש לח' טבת, s.v. ועד"ז אני מיישב.
[3] See Breishis Rabba 92:4.
[4] Unless it is a cry that comes from Simcha and such
connection to Hashem. See Orach Chaim 288:2 with the Taz s.v. וכן.
[5] Tetzave, s.v. עוד
נ"ל רבוע יהיה. He was R’ Meir of
Apta, a student of the Chozeh of Lublin. During the years 1824–1825, he engaged
in a range of contacts with Polish authorities concerning police investigations
of the Chassidic movement and restrictions on the establishment of Chassidic
prayer houses. Through Jacob Bergson, a wealthy Jew from Warsaw, he lodged a
formal complaint against the local police, who were impeding his efforts to
hold gatherings of his followers in his court. R’ Meir was among the leading
Rebbes in Poland. From one police report it is estimated that about 200 Chasidim
convened at his court on a regular Shabbos, and on holy days that number rose
to up to 600.
[6] Shabbos 112b.
[7] Chanuka, 56, s.v. והסבר.
[8] The Zera Kodesh (Vaera, s.v.
וידבר ה') says that one who is on such a low level that he can’t open
his mouth properly to speak to Hashem should know that just the desire and
yearning to speak to Hashem properly is so significant to Hashem.
[9] Pesach, s.v. אהוביי.
[10] Bamidbar 12:3.
[11] Shemos Rabba 40:2.
[12] This is implied from והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם, Moshe was exceedingly humble from all other people (Bamidbar
12:3), as he was humble because of other people.
[13] Orach Chaim 288, Taz s.v. וכן.
