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Shavuos / שבועות
Shavuos / שבועות
The seforim
write that the
Aseres Hadibros
contains 620
letters. 613
correspond to the
613 mitzvos and the
extra seven
represent the seven
mitzvos d’robonon.
The 613 end before
the two words “asher
l’reeicha”, “which
is to your friend”.
The Chasam Sofer
finds a unique hint
here to the words of
the Chovos Halivavos.
He writes that the
obligations of the
limbs are limited –
they correspond to
the number 613. The
obligations of the
heart increase with
the expansion of the
person’s
comprehension of his
Creator. Since in
medrash Hashem is
referred to as “your
friend”, then the
number 613 ends
before one begins
focusing on the
obligations of the
heart, your friend.
The custom is to
remain awake the
night of Shavuos,
immersed in learning
Torah. A reason
given is the fact
that the Bnei
Yisroel had to be
awakened to give
them the Torah. The
question is obvious,
how could they have
allowed themselves
to fall asleep? The
answer could be that
they put great
effort in the
preparation to
receive the Torah
and perhaps they
felt fulfilled in
their purpose and
complete in their
preparation. The
lesson to be learned
is that there is
really no end to
ones developing
readiness for
spiritual growth. (Darkei
Hashlemos)
Although a person
may be on a much
higher spiritual
level than another
person, the Torah
defines the counting
of each individual
according to age,
not spiritual
development. This
equality in the eyes
of Hashem is a boost
to each person, that
he has qualities on
level with the
greatest and
therefore he has
what to strive for.
This is why the
parsha of Bamidbar
precedes the
receiving of the
Torah (and perhaps
why Arachim in
Bechukosai precedes
Bamidbar). This is
to show the true
value of each and
every Jew. (Darash
Moshe)
We find the efforts
of Arpah in helping
Naomi to be
commendable. She
tries accompanying
her back to Eretz
Yisroel and Naomi
thanks her genuinely
for all her help. It
would seem that she
is a woman with
virtues. However,
after she is
convinced to return
and sees that the
future with Naomi
would bear no fruit
for her, the Chazal
tell us she fell far
and fast into a very
degenerate level of
existence. How could
this be? The answer
is that the desire
of man is to be on a
high level and if
this doesn’t happen,
man cannot
comprehend, or come
to grips with, a
secondary position.
Instead, he falls
and eventually
assumes a totally
different attitude.
Also of note is the
persistence of Arpah
in the beginning -
why? The answer
could be found in
the statement of Rus
that she would not
forsake Naomi and
“your G-d is my
G-d.” Arpah,
perhaps, saw in
Naomi a noble and
gracious person who
could be a role
model, but was
easily dissuaded to
join her. Rus, on
the other hand,
possessed a
different agenda.
She respected Naomi,
for she saw in her
the attributes of a
true servant of
Hashem and
therefore, although
Naomi said, “she had
no other children
whom Rus or Arpah
could marry, Rus saw
the entire Jewish
people as her new
family.
Boaz told Rus
“Hashem should repay
you for your work
and your wages
should be complete
for that which you
came under the wings
of Hashem”. Now what
are these two
statements of
payment? The Ksav
Sofer points out
that although there
is no reward in this
world for mitzvos,
the extra effort
invested in doing
the mitzvah is paid
for even in this
world. Therefore,
Boaz meant, you
came, you traveled,
you put extra effort
into your conversion
and for this you
will receive reward,
even in this world.
The full reward,
however, will be in
Olam Haba. We would
add, one does not
know the true reward
for mitzvos. The
reason for this is
because Hashem
calculates into the
formula all the
effort invested and
resistance one
encounters in the
performance of a
mitzvah. This is
what Boaz said -
although you will
receive reward for
effort, this will
not detract from the
mitzvah being
considered on a
greater level in the
world to come.
Chazal trace the
name of Rus to two
words, which mean he
satisfied (G-d) with
song. This is a
reference to Dovid’s
tehillim. The Chasam
Sofer explains. The
Chazal were puzzled
by the fact that the
purpose of this
Megila was to
strengthen the
lineage of Dovid
Hamelech and yet it
is called Megilas
Rus. Therefore they
traced Dovid’s name
in the word Rus. In
addition, the fact
that Rus abandoned
her home and people
to find a new refuge
with G-d, was the
opposite of
Elimelech who left
the hunger of Eretz
Yisroel to find a
home in a strange
land. So it was with
Dovid, that even in
the most difficult
situations he
remained a faithful
servant, and as the
many chapters of
tehillim indicate,
he sang songs of
praise even in these
trying and
oppressive
situations in his
life.
Previous Parshos
Tazria
Metzora
Achrei Mos
Kedoshim
Emor
Behar
Bechukosai
Bamidbar
Shavuos
Naso
Behalosicha
Shilach
Korach
Chukas-Balak
Pinchos
Matos-Masei
Devorim
Voeschonon Ekev
Reah
Shoftim
Ki Seitzei
Ki Savo
Nitzovim
- Vayelech Rosh
HaShana Haazinu-Yom
Kippur Sukkos V'zos
HaBrocha
Breishis
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