It was the rare occasion that the Rov zt”l reluctantly delayed the beginning of shiur to discuss something that was in the air but far from the daf. More than once but not much more, it was the phenomena of Israel and the appropriate manner of the celebration of its origin. He then would contrast the train rides before and after May 1948. Prior to the State, Jewish passengers were easy prey for missionaries. The Jews were depressed and sorely lacked the strength that faith should provide. After 1948, it was entirely different. Heads were held high, and the success of the missionaries was mightily thwarted.
I remember my disappointment. That was it? That is what we were to celebrate? What about the unpredictable return to the land and the unprecedented awakening of a people thought to be a fossil destroyed by genocidal Germans? The one who penned the six knocks and heard the voice of my loved one could only muster up the renewed resilience to incessant and opportunist missionaries?
Rashi quotes that it can take forty years to understand one’s great teachers, and this is a case in point. Renewed faith is not to be undersold, and certainly not renewed national faith. After all, just a few days ago we celebrated that renewed faith as the climactic crescendo of the miraculous splitting of the sea.
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One of the most heartfelt parts of the yom tov davening and now a popular song as well has us envisioning, “... וְהַרְאֵנוּ בְּבִנְיָנו ... וְהָשֵׁב כּהֲנִים לַעֲבודָתָם וּלְוִיִּם לְשִׁירָם וּלְזִמְרָם. וְהָשֵׁב יִשרָאֵל לִנְוֵיהֶם. - … let us see it [the Beis Hamikdosh] built … and return the Kohanim to their service and the Levi’im to their songs and return Yisroel [i.e. the rest of us] to their homes.”
Belonging to “the rest of us”, I recited this for many years with a tinge of disappointment. It would sound to me that I was represented here as a courtesy, as if to say, “Let’s not leave them out altogether”, and as if my appearance in the Beis Hamikdosh with korbanos and for the yomim tovim and my attachment to it through the ma’amodos did not merit mention. It is true that is does enormously pale in comparison to the lofty involvement of Shevet Levi, of which we should all be envious.
However, a few years ago it occurred to me that “return the Yisroel to their homes” is the prophetic plea that Hashem has already begun to answer. My request was triaged first. Incredibly far from being merely a courtesy, Hashem has started the divine revelations of redemption thru “והשב ישראל לנויהם”! My lot will not bring me to the eminent avoda, but being a member of the group that brings the brocho of renewed faith to our people is of sublime importance.
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Interestingly, the Baal Haturim points out that the phrase וידם אהרן has only one similar appearance in Tanach. וידם השמש which describes the miraculous wait of the sun to allow for a more stunning military victory as Yehoshua and his forces defeat the Emori. Apparently, Aharon’s silence when absorbing an untimely family tragedy was not a silence of defeat or dejection. Rather, there was great strength, resolve and resilience, as the Ramban and Rashbam comment. Aaron’s וידם has its place with the stand-still sun as moments that will always inspire faith, the later coming as a battle draws to a staggering close, and the former coming when a fresh wound is at its most painful.
This week we will focus with gratitude on the privilege of being the witnesses of unfolding redemption, with its attendant gifts and blessings. Prominently among them is having so much to bolster our faith as we continue to absorb painful, enduring wounds. That will be in our hearts as we learn from immortal lessons of Aharon Hakohen of old and from the timely teachings of the Rov zt”l.