title.jpg (23972 bytes) subscribe

Back to This Week's Parsha | Previous Issues

Chukas

Then Israel sang this song - "Come up, O well, announce it:" (Bemidbar 21:17).

Rashi explains that Moshe's name is not mentioned in this song since it concerns the well of the rock which he was punished for smiting. And since Moshe's name is not mentioned, Hashem's is not either. Just like a king who was invited to attend a banquet said, "If my beloved will be there then so will I; otherwise I am not coming."

Rabbi Shemuel Dovid Warshavchik z"l, one of my Roshei Yeshiva, was a prince of a man who always was concerned about others. As a boy, he learned in the yeshiva of Kamenitz where Reb Reuvain Grozovsky zt"l was the menahel (director). When any student of Kamenitz got married, the yeshiva staff and his many friends traveled to the city where the bride lived, to participate in the wedding celebrations.

It was customary that whoever spoke, praised the groom before his bride and his new in-laws. However, young Rabbi Warshavchik broke with tradition. His reasoning was as follows: The groom already got his basherte (the one ordained to be his) and doesn't need any more help. However, all of the townspeople with eligible daughters are looking over the group of boys from yeshiva to see if anyone is suitable for them. It is more important for me to sing their praises.

And so, this magnificent person stood on the table introducing each and every one of his friends to the guests, and describing his special qualities, hoping that some of the parents would pick some of the boys to wed their daughters.

Reb Reuvain was very proud of his student and the way he behaved at these ceremonies. Consequently, when invited to attend a wedding, which involved shlepping to another town and traveling for many hours at a time, the Rabbi would often say, "Find out if S. D. is going. If so, then I'll go too; otherwise I won't attend!"


Shema Yisrael Torah Network
info@shemayisrael.co.il
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il
Jerusalem, Israel
732-370-3344