YISRO:
DVAR TORAH-
Toward the end of the Haggadah we recite "Da'ayenu". One of the phrases in this poem states: "Had you brought us to Har Sinai and not given us the Torah, Da'ayenu, it would have been enough."
Q: Really? Would it have been enough for us to have gone through the ordeals with the chasing Egyptians, and the lack of food and water, only to be brought to a mountain with no big finish? What would have been the point?
A: The Pasuk states: "Vayichan Sham Yisrael Neged Hahar", (19:2), "And Klal Yisrael encamped there opposite the mountain." Rashi points out that the verse uses "Vayichan", "they encamped", in singular; it should really have said "VayachaNU". The reason for this is that they were on such a level of unity that they were like one, "K'Ish Echad B'Leiv Echad." This is what the Haggadah refers to in Da'ayenu, that yes, it would have been worth it to be brought all the way to the foot of Har Sinai even if we would not have received the Torah. Why? Just so we could've attained that extremely high level of unity.
STORY-
Ari Brown was a frequent flier with American Airlines and found himself on a flight to Israel with Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, Rosh Hayeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva. As a well to do lawyer, Ari sat in first class while Rav Berenbaum sat cramped in economy class. When Ari heard that the Gadol was on his plane, he was appalled at the idea of allowing himself to sit in luxury while R' Shmuel sat in discomfort. He made his way to the Torah giant and requested that they switch seats. Rav Shmuel responded "I don't need a first class seat. What i do need is a Chavrusa. Please ask the man sitting next to me to switch with you, and let's learn."
INTERESTING TIDBITS-
1) The Zohar says that the reason Jews shuckle when they learn is because it says "Vayecherad Kal Ha'am", the Jews shook at Har Sinai when the Shofar sounded. Our Neshamos were all there, and that part of us still shudders in awe any time we learn Torah, causing our whole body to shake.
2)The Bal Haturim says that there are 620 letters in the Aseres Hadibros, 613 for the Mitzvos, and 7 for the Sheva Mitzvos B'nei Noach. Additionally, there are 127 words, the exact numerical value of the word "Keva", a hint to the advice of Pirkei Avos, "Asei Torascha Keva", we should make our Torah learning set steady and forever consistent.
QUOTES-
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
- Henry James
"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
-Abraham Lincoln
DVAR TORAH-
Toward the end of the Haggadah we recite "Da'ayenu". One of the phrases in this poem states: "Had you brought us to Har Sinai and not given us the Torah, Da'ayenu, it would have been enough."
Q: Really? Would it have been enough for us to have gone through the ordeals with the chasing Egyptians, and the lack of food and water, only to be brought to a mountain with no big finish? What would have been the point?
A: The Pasuk states: "Vayichan Sham Yisrael Neged Hahar", (19:2), "And Klal Yisrael encamped there opposite the mountain." Rashi points out that the verse uses "Vayichan", "they encamped", in singular; it should really have said "VayachaNU". The reason for this is that they were on such a level of unity that they were like one, "K'Ish Echad B'Leiv Echad." This is what the Haggadah refers to in Da'ayenu, that yes, it would have been worth it to be brought all the way to the foot of Har Sinai even if we would not have received the Torah. Why? Just so we could've attained that extremely high level of unity.
STORY-
Ari Brown was a frequent flier with American Airlines and found himself on a flight to Israel with Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, Rosh Hayeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva. As a well to do lawyer, Ari sat in first class while Rav Berenbaum sat cramped in economy class. When Ari heard that the Gadol was on his plane, he was appalled at the idea of allowing himself to sit in luxury while R' Shmuel sat in discomfort. He made his way to the Torah giant and requested that they switch seats. Rav Shmuel responded "I don't need a first class seat. What i do need is a Chavrusa. Please ask the man sitting next to me to switch with you, and let's learn."
INTERESTING TIDBITS-
1) The Zohar says that the reason Jews shuckle when they learn is because it says "Vayecherad Kal Ha'am", the Jews shook at Har Sinai when the Shofar sounded. Our Neshamos were all there, and that part of us still shudders in awe any time we learn Torah, causing our whole body to shake.
2)The Bal Haturim says that there are 620 letters in the Aseres Hadibros, 613 for the Mitzvos, and 7 for the Sheva Mitzvos B'nei Noach. Additionally, there are 127 words, the exact numerical value of the word "Keva", a hint to the advice of Pirkei Avos, "Asei Torascha Keva", we should make our Torah learning set steady and forever consistent.
QUOTES-
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
- Henry James
"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
-Abraham Lincoln