Torah Table of Contents
Lag B'Omer - Teshuva and the Worthiness of Man Pesach Sheni - For Special People, Divrei Yisroel A Dvar torah from Reb Motti Rosen z"l, Sefiras Haomer. Lag B'Omer - Teshuva and the Worthiness of Man
based on a ma'amar of the Imrei Aish on Lag B'Omer, in Ma'amarei Oraysoh, Iyar 5750
The piyut [liturgical poem] for Lag B'Omer in praise of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, has an amazing verse: "Na'aseh Adam - Let us make Man" [Breishis, 1:26] was said for [because of] you." To understand this, the Imrei Aish brings a Gemara [Eruvin 13b] which tells us that for two and a half years, the schools of Hillel and Shammai [Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai] argued whether it was better for Man to have been created or not. Finally, a vote was taken and it was decided that it was better for Man not to have been created, but since he was created, he should [constantly] examine his deeds. The Maharsha explains this Gemara that it was better for Man not to have been created, for there are more negative commandments [365] than positive ones [248], and therefore easier to stumble into sin. [More things one can do wrong than right]. Nevertheless, now that Man has been created, he should examine his deeds. The Maharsha explains that Man should add good thoughts to his deeds, and then the positive actions will be doubled. This is because "Machshava tova m'tzarfa HaKadosh Baruch Hu l'maaseh - Hashem joins the good thought to the good deed, and therefore, "examining" his deeds means to add the good thoughts to them.
However, says the Imrei Aish, with a saying of Rabbi Shimon's, we can give another interpretation. The Gemara [Kiddushin 40b] cites the following: "Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said...even one who is completely evil [Rasha gamur] his entire life, and does teshuva [repents] at the end, none of his evil is mentioned." According to this, Man should have been created, for even if he stumbles [into sin], he can do teshuva. Therefore the peytan [the composer of the verse cited at the beginning] tells us that 'Let us make Man' was said for Rabbi Shimon, who tells us that one can do teshuva even at the end of his days, and all his sins will be forgiven. So even if he sins, he can repair it.
Translated by Reb Yitzchak Dorfman of Yerushalayim, a Modzitzer Chassid
Pesach Sheni - For Special People
based on a ma'amar in Divrei Yisrael, found in Parshas Vayikra
Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, Speak to the Bnei Yisrael saying, "If anyone will be tameh [ritually impure] by (contact with a dead) soul, or be on a distant journey, whether among you [now] or your descendants, he must make the Pesach offering to Hashem...[Bamidbar, 9:9-10]
The verse goes on to say that the offering must be brought on the 14th of Iyar, known as the Chag of Pesach Sheni. Rashi explains that "on a distant journey" can also refer to one who is outside of the threshold of the courtyard [azara] (of the Temple) for the entire time that the Korban Pesach was being slaughtered. Amazing!, wonders Rebbe Yechezkel of Kuzmir. If he is so close to the courtyard, why doesn't he just go inside?
Reb Chatzkel explains that such a person feels so low and humble that he thinks, "Who am I to approach the Holy place - to enter amongst the lofty, holy ones?" Even when he musters the courage to go in, he immediately withdraws out of embarrassment. The Korban Pesach was offered in three separate groups, so Reb Chatzkel explains that this happens to him over and over again - as each group enters to slaughter their Pesach. When Hashem sees this humility, He declares, "For such a person, I will make a separate, unique Yom Tov." That is Pesach Sheni.
Translated by Reb Yitzchak Dorfman of Yerushalayim, a Modzitzer Chassid
What does Hashem Elokecha ask from you, but to fear Hashem Elokecha and to walk in His ways? (Dvorim, 10:13)
A Dvar Torah from Reb Motti Rosen z"l, grandson of Harav Shaul the Second Rebbe
SEFIRAS HAOMER The 49 days that we count from Pesach to Shavous are given to us to work on our Middos. It is a time of introspection, a time when we ask the Ribbono Shel Olam to help us improve our ways. Chazal teach us "Derech Eretz kadma LaTorah." It is only after this time of improvement that we can receive the Torah.
We can also see this in the piyut we sing about Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. We say "Lifnei mi Atah Metaher, Mi Metaher Eschem". Literally translated this reads, before whom do you become pure, who purifies you? But we can also read it just a little differently. The word Mi is spelled Mem Yud and has a gematria of 50. "Lifnei Mi", before 50 - Shavous - Atah Metaher, you work on purifying yourself. Then comes Matan Torah, Shavous and "Mi Metaher Eschem" - Avichem Shebashamayim" - on the 50th day, our Father in heaven purifies us with His Torah.
It is only when we have worked to cleanse ourselves through the 49 days of Sefira that we are Zocheh to the purity of Torah - Derech Eretz Kadma LaTorah.
Editors Note: I came across this vort for the first time about seven months ago. It was written the first day Chol Hamoed Pesach in the year 5750. What is interesting is the parallel it has to my father's life. My father was born the day before Lag B'omer and died shortly after his 50th birthday. It was right before his 50th Shavous that his condition began to worsen. I have always thought that this vort was prophetic. Until his 50th year, my father worked very hard on improving himself and his middos - "Lifnei Mi Atah Metaher", until 50 he was Metaher himself. Then came his 50th year and the Ribbono Shel Olam took over the cleansing process. "Mi Metaher Eschem - Avichem Shebashamayim".
Submitted by Chumi Friedman, daughter of Reb Motti Rosen z"l