Parshat Pikudei: Get Back Up!

In this week’s parshah, (40:18), Hashem’s home - the Mishkan is finally inaugurated. After a seven-day process in which Moshe had to assemble and disassemble, build and demolish, raise and lower the Mishkan - on the eighth day it was finally permanent. The question is why? Why all the upheaval? Why the turmoil? Why did Hashem make Moshe assemble and disassemble the Mishkan for seven days? Why couldn't the Mishkan just be permanent on day one?

My father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, beautifully responded based on the Nesivas Shalom explaining that in each and every person, we build a house, a repository for Hashem's existence. Sometimes it gets shattered; sometimes it rises and falls. We build and demolish; we have dreams, hopes, and aspirations that fail to work out. We slip and fall religiously and spiritually. At times we behave in ways that are not really our true essence. Just as Hashem’s home is assembled and disassembled, so too we experience the building and demolishing, the raising and the lowering, the rising and the falling until one day when we persevere and maintain the faith, we will endure. We will see the happiness of our faith being fulfilled.

In 1941, Rav Mendel Hager, the Vishover, the eldest son of the Ahavas Yisrael, the Vizhnetzer Rebbe, was lying on his deathbed. His nephew, Rav Yidele Horowitz of Dzhikov, was visiting him at the hospital when the doctor entered the room and asked how he was feeling. The Rebbe looked up and responded, “I am feeling fine. The pain has subsided.”  Rav Yidele heard this and breathed a sigh of relief. The doctor however gasped. Rav Yidele looked at the doctor in concern. “What’s wrong? Isn’t this good news? Quietly, the doctor explained that the disease is there; it hasn’t gone away. However, as long as the body is fighting the disease, it’s going to hurt. However, if there is no more pain that means that the body has given up. A few hours later, the Vishover sadly passed away.

The lesson of the story shows how we must realize that we all have a yetzer hara (evil inclination). At times we may fall, but that is normal. As long as we meet our challenges, as long as it is painful, we know that we are alive and fighting. Falling does not signify weakness – it signifies strength. When we fall, the pain we endure is a sign of life. It means that we care, and we are fighting. It means that we are striving to do what is good and that we have not given up and that we possess holiness and greatness. Even if we fail to do what’s right, even if we fall, we must get back up.

Remember, sometimes our house - our repository for Hashem’s existence gets shattered; sometimes it rises and falls. However, we must get back up. Remember that just as Hashem’s home – the Mishkan –  had to be assembled and disassembled, so too we experience the building and demolishing, the rising and the falling. We must hold on tight and not give up! Hashem’s home in your soul! In you – it will be forever!

 

Parshat Vayikra:
The Young Opera Star

In Parshat Vayikra (1:2), the p'suk says, "Adam ki yakriv mikem korban laShem," translated as when a person from you offers a sacrifice to Hashem. There is a question here: The Torah could have simply said p'suk without the extra word "mikem" – from you? My father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, states in the name of the Sfas Emes that the ultimate sacrifice is not the offering given to Hashem. Hashem really wants mikem; Hashem wants you. Hashem wants each of us more than animal sacrifices. The ultimate sacrifice that one can give Hashem is ourselves. Hashem wants our sincerity,  conviction, heart, and for us to be the best we can possibly be!

We must ask ourselves what we are giving up from within. Is there something in our nature or personality - a struggle? Is there a temptation that we are giving up or sacrificing? Hashem wants us more than anything else. This includes our strengths, talents, and devotion - that's Adam ki yakriv mikem, the person who brings from mikem – from within themselves. That is the deepest and most important sacrifice, more than any other offering!

Over 100 years ago in Vienna, Austria, there was a young girl who had a beautiful and amazing voice. However, for a religious girl professional singing was not an option. One day, a famous agent heard about this girl's incredible voice, and offered her a very lucrative opportunity and career as an opera singer. The young star was thrilled, so she decided to discuss the matter with her parents. When her parents heard, they decided that they would do all within their power to not allow her to take this offer. However, the young girl refused to listen.

Eventually, the family’s rav suggested that they go to Rav Yitzchok Meir, the Kapytshnitzer Rebbe, who was in Vienna at the time. Immediately, the father went with his daughter to see the Rebbe, who spoke with the girl. The Rebbe asked the girl, “Why do you want this position so badly? The girl answered honestly, “It’s because of the fame that I will find. I will be known throughout the world.” The Rebbe closed his eyes, deep in thought, contemplating the aspirations the girl had just expressed. After a few moments, the Rebbe opened his eyes and said, “It is the dream of every young Jewish woman to be blessed with a child who will illuminate the world through his Torah learning. I give you my promise that if you now sacrifice your chance at fame, there will come a time when you will be blessed with a child who will light up the world. He will become one of the greatest halachic authorities of his time. Your fame will come, but it will be through him - your son.”

The young girl wiped away her tears and thought deeply about the magnanimous promise the Rebbe had just made to her. She was a fine Jewish girl and after considering the offer, she accepted the Rebbe’s proposition. Eventually, this girl got married and had a son named Shmuel. This Shmuel grew up to be the great Shevet Levi - Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, one of the greatest Rabbis of the time! Why? Because his mother gave up for Hashem, she gave from mikem – she gave from herself and her talents to Hashem, sacrificed her career!

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