Divrei Torah Parshas Ki Savo
Torah Table of Contents
Praised be the L-rd! The Imrei Shaul, in Alei Deshe Solid Beginnings, Imrei Aish in Alei Deshe
Adapted from the words of the Imrei Shaul, brought in "Alei Deshe",Parshas Ki Savo
"Hashkifa miMaon kadshecha, min HaShamayim u'Vareich es Amcha Yisrael - Look down upon us from Your dwelling place, from the Heavens, and bless Your nation, Israel" [Devarim, 26:15].
Reb Shaul says that we need to understand the seemingly repetitious language: "from Your dwelling place" and "from the Heavens."
Chazal explain that "the dwelling place" is a place in the firmament that houses groups of ministering angels who sing praises (to G-d) by night, and are silent by day because of the respect and honor they bestow upon Klal Yisrael. This is indicated by the verse [Tehillim, 42:9]: "By day G-d commands His mercy, but at night songs of praise are with Me (Him)." Also in Chullin 91b, "The ministering angels do not sing their praises from above until Yisrael sings their praises from below."
Reb Shaul then brings the words of his father, the Divrei Yisrael, who explains this from his understanding of the beginning of Parshas Vayikra [1:2]: "[When] a man from among you offers a sacrifice. . ." The Divrei Yisrael explains that even though the songs of praise of the angels are pure and unaffected by extraneous thoughts, this is not so regarding those of us who dwell below. It is impossible that our praise of G-d is not tinged with our less than sublime thoughts, as well as disturbances and preoccupation with worldly matters. Even so, our praises from below are more valued by G-d than those of the angels, because we are able to overcome our being weighed down by mundane matters, and sing the praises of our G-d.
Therefore, concludes Reb Shaul, we ask Hashem to "Look down from Your dwelling place, from the Heavens", noting that there is no lack of ministering angels to be found there to praise You. Nevertheless, out of the respect and honor they bestow upon Klal Yisrael, they wait until Yisrael sings their praises from below, since such praise is more valued by Hashem. It follows that Hashem will then "gaze upon and bless Your people, Yisrael." Thus should we be privileged to sing the praises of G-d from Zion, with joy and gladness.
Translated by Reb Leibel Kruger of Bnei Brak,, a Modzitzer Chassid
Solid Beginnings
based on a ma'amar by the Imrei Aish in Alei Deshe, Parshas Ki Savo
"You shall take the first of every fruit of the earth produced by the land that Hashem your G-d is giving you, place it in a basket and go to the place that Hashem will choose..." [Devarim, 26:2]
The Imrei Aish points out that the bringing of the first fruits in our parsha immediately follows the mitzva of remembering Amalek which ended last week's parsha. What does this signify?
The yetzer hara [evil inclination] is called "reishis" [beginning], for it enters the person 12 to 13 years before the yetzer tov [good inclination]. "Taking the first" can thus refer to taking hold and control of the yetzer hara. As Rebbe Shmuel Eliahu of Zvolin would say, the expression of our Sages [Mechilta Shemos 19, Parshas Yisro], "kol haschalos kashos" [all beginnings are hard] means that all beginnings must be hard, solid and strong, like a foundation for a building. Therefore, the "taking of the first", meaning taking hold of the yetzer hara from the outset, must be strong, solid and hard - it must be uprooted from the beginning.
Now the juxtaposition of our parsha to that of Amalek is clear. For our Sages tell us that Amalek, known as "reishis goyim" [the first of nations; Bamidbar, 24:20], is the physical embodiment of the yetzer hara, which must be uprooted at the outset of our avoda [Divine service]. Amalek must be eradicated at the beginning - before he has an opportunity to cause one to sin. Otherwise, it may be too late - for sin may take root in the person.
Similarly, continues the Imrei Aish, at Rosh Hashana - the beginning of the year - we must strive to see that the foundation is solid and strong. The entire month of Elul is a preparation so that the year shall begin on a strong foundation - b'kedusha v'tehara [in holiness and spiritual purity].
Translated by Reb Yitzchak Dorfman of Yerushalayim, a Modzitzer Chassid
