Salute the REAL HEROES

A Message from the Kalever Rebbe for Parshas Mishpatim & Chodesh Adar 5781 Heralding Our Selfless Heroes "Only he shall give his idleness (lost wag

Like   Tweet   Pin   +1   in   A Message from the Kalever Rebbe for Parshas Mishpatim & Chodesh Adar 5781 Heralding Our Selfless Heroes HATZOLAH during COVID-19 "Only he shall give his idleness (lost wages) and surely heal him" (Exodus/Shmos 21:19) After the Cholera epidemic in the year 5591/1831, my holy ancestor, the author of Bnei Yissoschar, ZY"A, wrote a letter of encouragement to his Chasidim in Munkatch, who had suffered great hardship from the plague. Concluding the letter, he included a special blessing to his Chossid, Reb Yosef Yehudah Halpert, z"l, who selflessly sacrificed to save lives during the epidemic. In this merit the Rebbe wished him much success and fulfilment. Indeed, the Chossid was subsequently blessed with wealth and pious progeny. One of his descendants was the famed Gaon of Yerushalayim, Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss ZT"L (1902–1989), author of the Minchas Yitzchok. During a pandemic, there is a special merit for those who work to save lives, even as the fear of contagion causes others to avoid helping those who are infected. The Gaon Rebbe Eliezer Papo ZT"L, who lived in Bosnia amongst both Christians and Muslims, wrote in his Sefer Pele Yoetz (Section Shmirah), that during a pandemic, Jews may not conduct themselves in the manner of Bosnian Muslims who, attributing everything to Divine Providence, make no effort to protect themselves from infection. Hashem wants us to exercise caution in the face of present danger. As the Talmud explains (Shabbos 32a), one should avoid situations of even moderate risk. Many Poskim explain, however, that when others face certain danger, it is permissible to enter a situation of doubtful danger to save them. Thus, the Pele Yoetz writes (Section Dever), we cannot conduct ourselves like Bosnian Christians who, denying Divine Providence, totally abandon those who are ill, for fear of infection (see Or Yakar from the Ramak, Parshas Vayakhel 1). When a Jew endeavors to save lives, the merit of this great mitzvah protects him, as Scripture tells us, "one who keeps a mitzvah will know no evil" (Ecclesiastes/Koheles 8:5). The Seforim explain, even if harm appears to result while performing a mitzvah, it must be understood that this had already been decreed from Heaven beforehand and it may well be that the merit of the mitzvah protected from worse harm. On the other hand, when a Jew sees someone in danger and refrains from trying to help due to an overabundance of caution relative to the circumstances, he could face serious consequences for withholding needed assistance. Thus, in all generations, Jews were always "moser nefesh," giving of themselves with much sacrifice and at great risk to assist another Yid in danger. The Jewish Hospital in Posen - built by Rebbe Akiva Eiger In the time of the abovementioned Cholera epidemic of 5591, the great Gaon Rebbe Akiva Eiger ZT"L established a temporary Jewish hospital in Posen, where he presided as Chief Rabbi. In that hospital, despite the dangers presented by the epidemic, many Jews cared for their sick brethren, and it had been reported that the death rate amongst the Jews was much lower than that of the general population. In the aftermath of the plague, Rebbe Akiva Eiger ZT"L built a permanent Jewish Hospital in Posen that treated the sick for many years thereafter. And of course, during the Holocaust, so many heroes, like HaRav Michoel Weissmandel ZT"L and others like him, rose to the terrible challenge of the moment and risked everything to save their brethren, sometimes, even at the cost of their own lives. And today, after a year of so much pain and suffering from the current COVID pandemic which still presents danger, we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to so many amazing Yidden among us who work tirelessly in hospitals and Hatzolah EMS service, and other organizations, to save others. These dear Jews run to fulfill the mitzvah of saving lives, even in the middle of their workday or the middle of the night. They do so with hearts filled with faith, and with the knowledge that performing this sacred mitzvah of hatzolas nefashos will always bring great zechusim. Perhaps this too is a lesson imparted by the verse in Parsha Mishpatim: "Only he shall give his idleness" - one shall give into his heart to weigh the cost of his own idleness when it comes to saving a fellow Jew in distress. Recognize that desisting from providing help in a situation that warrants doing so can lead to great harm to both the suffering party as well as the one who stands by without responding appropriately. And then he will "surely heal him" - always endeavor to come to the aid of his fellow Jew. [We note that in situations of grave danger, qualified Halachic authorities should be consulted for guidance] As we enter the month of Adar and begin to prepare for Purim, this is a lesson we need to take to heart. Indeed, the miracle of Purim was brought about through the sacrifice of Queen Esther who placed herself in life threatening danger to save the lives of her people. Rebbe Yonasan Eibeshutz zt"l explained in his Sefer Yaarov Devash (1:3), that for this reason the Megillah is called "Megillas Esther" to recall the self-sacrifice of Esther for all future generations. May the zechus of our selfless care for one another bring an end to the current crisis and herald times of great joy very soon. ©2021 Kaalov | 188 Hewes St. | Brooklyn NY | 11211 | 718-782-4553 | www.kaalov.org Web Version   Preferences   Subscribe   Unsubscribe