Rabbi Doniel Staum, LMSW
Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR
Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
STAM
TORAH
TORAH
PARSHAS
SHOFTIM 5775
SHOFTIM 5775
“TOO
WISE”
WISE”
Dr. Raphael Moller was a legend in the
German-Jewish community. Not only was he an exceptional doctor, but he was also
a person of great moral character, devoted to Klal Yisroel wholeheartedly[1].
German-Jewish community. Not only was he an exceptional doctor, but he was also
a person of great moral character, devoted to Klal Yisroel wholeheartedly[1].
On November 10, 1938 Dr. Moller
arrived in shul for shacharis, only to find the building engulfed in flames. It
was the morning after Kristallnacht. He returned home looking ashen and pale.
arrived in shul for shacharis, only to find the building engulfed in flames. It
was the morning after Kristallnacht. He returned home looking ashen and pale.
Later that day two SS officers came to
Dr. Moller’s home and arrested him. He was sent to a Concentration Camp for
eight weeks. When he returned home, his beard and hair were gone, and his feet
were frostbitten.
Dr. Moller’s home and arrested him. He was sent to a Concentration Camp for
eight weeks. When he returned home, his beard and hair were gone, and his feet
were frostbitten.
Shortly after, with the help of Rabbi
Shimon Schwab zt’l, the Moller family escaped toEngland
and from there toAmerica
Shimon Schwab zt’l, the Moller family escaped to
and from there to
During the horrific eight weeks he spent in
the Concentration Camp, Dr. Moller did all he could to assist his fellow
prisoners. On one occasion he assisted a prisoner who had been beaten by an SS
officer. When the officer saw Dr. Moller helping the man to his feet he barked
to him, “Leave him alone or you’ll get the same treatment.” Dr. Moller looked
at the Nazi and replied, “You do your job and I’ll do mine!”
the Concentration Camp, Dr. Moller did all he could to assist his fellow
prisoners. On one occasion he assisted a prisoner who had been beaten by an SS
officer. When the officer saw Dr. Moller helping the man to his feet he barked
to him, “Leave him alone or you’ll get the same treatment.” Dr. Moller looked
at the Nazi and replied, “You do your job and I’ll do mine!”
The prophet Yirmiyahu lived a very tragic
and difficult life. During the period just prior to the destruction of the
first Bais Hamikdash, Yirmiyahu futilely tried to warn his people about the
impending doom that was imminently to befall them if they would not repent and
heed the word of G-d. But the nation did not want to hear his message, and they
scorned and ridiculed him. Despite the fierce resistance he encountered, the
righteous prophet continued to preach his message, until he was incarcerated by
his own nation.
and difficult life. During the period just prior to the destruction of the
first Bais Hamikdash, Yirmiyahu futilely tried to warn his people about the
impending doom that was imminently to befall them if they would not repent and
heed the word of G-d. But the nation did not want to hear his message, and they
scorned and ridiculed him. Despite the fierce resistance he encountered, the
righteous prophet continued to preach his message, until he was incarcerated by
his own nation.
Eventually they all realized that Yirmiyahu
had spoken words of truth, but by that time it was too late. The Bais Hamikdash
was no more than a pile of smoldering ruins and the nation was ignobly being led
into the Babylonian exile. Yirmiyahu was left to mourn the obstinacy of Klal
Yisroel and to live with the painful awareness that if only the nation would
have heeded his call the catastrophe could have been averted.
had spoken words of truth, but by that time it was too late. The Bais Hamikdash
was no more than a pile of smoldering ruins and the nation was ignobly being led
into the Babylonian exile. Yirmiyahu was left to mourn the obstinacy of Klal
Yisroel and to live with the painful awareness that if only the nation would
have heeded his call the catastrophe could have been averted.
The AriZal explained that Yirmiyahu was a gilgul
(reincarnation) of Shlomo Hamelech. King Solomon, the wisest of men, had lived
a life of regality and affluence. The entire world was subject to his
benevolent leadership, and Klal Yisroel enjoyed a period of utopian prominence,
such that will not be repeated until the advent of Moshiach. It was in that
period of august grandeur that Shlomo commissioned the construction of the
first Bais Hamikdash inJerusalem
(reincarnation) of Shlomo Hamelech. King Solomon, the wisest of men, had lived
a life of regality and affluence. The entire world was subject to his
benevolent leadership, and Klal Yisroel enjoyed a period of utopian prominence,
such that will not be repeated until the advent of Moshiach. It was in that
period of august grandeur that Shlomo commissioned the construction of the
first Bais Hamikdash in
The beauty that was Jerusalem
under the tutelage of Shlomo eventually became the destruction that wasJerusalem
prophecies of Yirmiyahu went unheeded. But the greatest irony was that the soul
of the person who had built the Bais Hamikdash in all its beauty returned to
witness its calumnious destruction in shame and ignominy.
under the tutelage of Shlomo eventually became the destruction that was
prophecies of Yirmiyahu went unheeded. But the greatest irony was that the soul
of the person who had built the Bais Hamikdash in all its beauty returned to
witness its calumnious destruction in shame and ignominy.
The glaring question is why should
Yirmiyahu have been subject to seeing the undoing and destruction of his
lifelong efforts? Why was he chosen to be the prophet who would be maligned and
ignored?
Yirmiyahu have been subject to seeing the undoing and destruction of his
lifelong efforts? Why was he chosen to be the prophet who would be maligned and
ignored?
The Meloh Ha’omer[2]
explains that the verse in Koheles[3]
– written by Shlomo Hamelech – states, “Do not be exceedingly righteous or
excessively wise; why be left desolate?” In truth, Shlomo wrote these words
based on his own personal experience.
explains that the verse in Koheles[3]
– written by Shlomo Hamelech – states, “Do not be exceedingly righteous or
excessively wise; why be left desolate?” In truth, Shlomo wrote these words
based on his own personal experience.
The Torah delineates specific guidelines
that a Jewish king must follow. Although a king has an elevated status and
enjoys certain added privileges and benefits not granted to the common man, he
too is bound to certain restrictions. “You shall surely set over yourself a
king whom Hashem, your G-d, shall choose…Only he shall not have too many horses
for himself, so that he will not return the people to Egypt in order to
increase horses… And he shall not have too many wives, so that his heart not
turns astray; and he shall not greatly increase silver and gold for himself.[4]”
that a Jewish king must follow. Although a king has an elevated status and
enjoys certain added privileges and benefits not granted to the common man, he
too is bound to certain restrictions. “You shall surely set over yourself a
king whom Hashem, your G-d, shall choose…Only he shall not have too many horses
for himself, so that he will not return the people to Egypt in order to
increase horses… And he shall not have too many wives, so that his heart not
turns astray; and he shall not greatly increase silver and gold for himself.[4]”
Shlomo reasoned that as king over the
entire world he would be able to influence all of mankind to serve G-d and
believe in the veracity of the Torah. In so doing Shlomo hoped to usher in the
Messianic era when the world would unequivocally recognize that, “G-d is One
and His Name is One.” He felt that the best way to expedite that transition was
for him to marry a princess from every nationality. Then, after he had forged
such strong connections with all of the world’s rulers and kings, he would be
able to accomplish his goals for ‘world unification under G-d’.
entire world he would be able to influence all of mankind to serve G-d and
believe in the veracity of the Torah. In so doing Shlomo hoped to usher in the
Messianic era when the world would unequivocally recognize that, “G-d is One
and His Name is One.” He felt that the best way to expedite that transition was
for him to marry a princess from every nationality. Then, after he had forged
such strong connections with all of the world’s rulers and kings, he would be
able to accomplish his goals for ‘world unification under G-d’.
Thus, Shlomo felt he was justified in
taking more wives than the Torah allows. He was confident that he was above the
Torah’s admonishments. He reasoned that the Torah feared that if a king took
too many wives they would mislead him. He however, was an exception and many
wives would not affect him.
taking more wives than the Torah allows. He was confident that he was above the
Torah’s admonishments. He reasoned that the Torah feared that if a king took
too many wives they would mislead him. He however, was an exception and many
wives would not affect him.
The day that the Bais Hamikdash was built
was a day of unparalleled joy. Yet, regarding that same day, the gemara[5]
applies the verse[6],
“For this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and of My fury, from
the day they built it until today.” The gemara explains that the reason for
G-d’s anger was because on that day Shlomo married the daughter of Pharaoh.
was a day of unparalleled joy. Yet, regarding that same day, the gemara[5]
applies the verse[6],
“For this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and of My fury, from
the day they built it until today.” The gemara explains that the reason for
G-d’s anger was because on that day Shlomo married the daughter of Pharaoh.
The gemara[7]
also notes that on the day when the Bais Hamikdash was completed and Shlomo
married the daughter of Pharaoh, the angel Gavriel thrust a reed into the sea,
around which mud gathered and eventually grew into ‘Rome of Italia’ which would
one day destroy the Bais Hamikdash. In other words, on the very day when Klal
Yisroel was celebrating the completion of the Bais Hamikdash, the seeds of its
destruction were sown.
also notes that on the day when the Bais Hamikdash was completed and Shlomo
married the daughter of Pharaoh, the angel Gavriel thrust a reed into the sea,
around which mud gathered and eventually grew into ‘Rome of Italia’ which would
one day destroy the Bais Hamikdash. In other words, on the very day when Klal
Yisroel was celebrating the completion of the Bais Hamikdash, the seeds of its
destruction were sown.
What was the ultimate root-cause of the
destruction? Because Shlomo felt he was ‘wiser than the Torah’. He felt that a
commandment in the Torah did not apply to him because he was above it. In so
doing he dug his own grave, as it were. The wives he married were clandestinely
faithful to their idolatry, and eventually became the bane of Shlomo.
destruction? Because Shlomo felt he was ‘wiser than the Torah’. He felt that a
commandment in the Torah did not apply to him because he was above it. In so
doing he dug his own grave, as it were. The wives he married were clandestinely
faithful to their idolatry, and eventually became the bane of Shlomo.
Shlomo was compelled to return as Yirmiyahu
to witness the destruction that he himself had unwittingly – and with the
noblest of intentions – caused. Therefore, when he authored Koheles, Shlomo
exhorted, “Do not be exceedingly righteous or excessively wise; why be left
desolate?” It is a lesson that the wisest of men himself learned from personal
experience: Never think that you are wiser than the Torah! Never think that you
are above the guidelines and protective fences that the Sages enacted! If you
do you may end up as Shlomo did; “why be left desolate?”[8]
to witness the destruction that he himself had unwittingly – and with the
noblest of intentions – caused. Therefore, when he authored Koheles, Shlomo
exhorted, “Do not be exceedingly righteous or excessively wise; why be left
desolate?” It is a lesson that the wisest of men himself learned from personal
experience: Never think that you are wiser than the Torah! Never think that you
are above the guidelines and protective fences that the Sages enacted! If you
do you may end up as Shlomo did; “why be left desolate?”[8]
The month of Elul and the days of
repentance are upon us. These are days when we seek to reconnect ourselves with
our Creator and the true purpose of life. One of the most important components
of connecting ourselves with G-d is to subjugate ourselves to His Will, which
is taught to us through the Torah.
repentance are upon us. These are days when we seek to reconnect ourselves with
our Creator and the true purpose of life. One of the most important components
of connecting ourselves with G-d is to subjugate ourselves to His Will, which
is taught to us through the Torah.
At times we feel that our brilliant ideas
and schemes allow us to be above the restrictions of the Torah. We feel
confident that some of the prohibitions of the Sages do not apply to us and we
can ignore their safeguards and still not transgress the Torah. Shlomo Hamelech
warns us that no one is above the Torah.
and schemes allow us to be above the restrictions of the Torah. We feel
confident that some of the prohibitions of the Sages do not apply to us and we
can ignore their safeguards and still not transgress the Torah. Shlomo Hamelech
warns us that no one is above the Torah.
It is not our job to save the world as much
as it is to do what is incumbent upon us.
In a sense the month of Elul is a time when we look heavenward and
humbly proclaim, “You do your job and I’ll do mine!” Ultimately G-d will run
the world as He sees fit. In the meantime our role is merely to adhere to the
injunctions and commandments of His holy eternal Torah.
as it is to do what is incumbent upon us.
In a sense the month of Elul is a time when we look heavenward and
humbly proclaim, “You do your job and I’ll do mine!” Ultimately G-d will run
the world as He sees fit. In the meantime our role is merely to adhere to the
injunctions and commandments of His holy eternal Torah.
“And he shall not have too many wives”
“Do not be exceedingly righteous… why be
left desolate?”
left desolate?”
[1]A
story involving the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum zt’l, demonstrates the esteem
that the Rebbe had for Dr. Moller. On one occasion a Satmar chossid approached
the Rebbe to ask his advice regarding a medical issue, and the Rebbe directed
him to Dr. Moller. The chossid replied that it was very difficult to get into
Dr. Moller because of the long lines of people waiting to speak with him. The
Rebbe replied, “It’s true that you may have to wait a long time to speak with
him. But you better do so now, because in the next world the lines will be much
longer and it will be that much harder to get into him there.”
story involving the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum zt’l, demonstrates the esteem
that the Rebbe had for Dr. Moller. On one occasion a Satmar chossid approached
the Rebbe to ask his advice regarding a medical issue, and the Rebbe directed
him to Dr. Moller. The chossid replied that it was very difficult to get into
Dr. Moller because of the long lines of people waiting to speak with him. The
Rebbe replied, “It’s true that you may have to wait a long time to speak with
him. But you better do so now, because in the next world the lines will be much
longer and it will be that much harder to get into him there.”
[2] Rabbi Aryeh
Leib Tzintz zt’l – in his commentary on Koheles
Leib Tzintz zt’l – in his commentary on Koheles
[3] 7:16
[4] Devorim
17:15-17
17:15-17
[5] Niddah 70b
[6] Yirmiyahu
32:31
32:31
[7] Shabbos 56b
[8] This
thought was adapted from a discourse given by the Mashgiach, Rabbi Mordechai
Finkleman shlita, on Tisha B’av 5769, in Camp Dora Golding.
thought was adapted from a discourse given by the Mashgiach, Rabbi Mordechai
Finkleman shlita, on Tisha B’av 5769, in Camp Dora Golding.