Parshas Vayakhel/Shekalim – “ASSEMBLE ALL THE JEWS”

“ASSEMBLE ALL THE JEWS”

By Roy S. Neuberger

Rabbi Yaakov Landau Shlita”h, Rav of Congregation Chanichei Ha Yeshivos in Lakewood, spoke on Shabbos Parshas Tetzave about the current state of the world. He compared our current matzav to the times of Haman Harasha, as it says, “Letters were sent by courier to all the provinces of the king, to destroy, to slay and to exterminate all the Jews from young to old, children and women ….” (Esther 3:13)

All over the world they are rising up against us. Was it not recently, in the citadel of democracy,  that a rosh yeshivaand his rebbetzin were thrown off an airplane operated by a major airline? Is it not in the citadel of democracy that the State of New York is extending its fingers to choke our yeshivos? 

My friends, this is the week of Rosh Chodesh Adar Shaini, the month during which simcha increases. How can simcha increase when the news is beyond disastrous?

Well, that is exactly the point. This is when we see the Yad Hashem!

Rabbi Landau explained how the yeshua began during the fearful days leading up to Purim with the mesiras nefesh of Mordechai and Esther, who built everything on ahava and achdus among Klal Yisroel. The yeshua began with the words, “Laich, knos es kol hayehudim… Go, assemble all the Jews…” (ibid 4:16) 

We must be one in order to survive. We must eradicate jealousy and sinah. 

There is no choice.

How did the building of the Mishkan commence? Let’s look at this week’s Parsha.

“Moshe assembled the entire assembly of the Children of Israel ….” (Shemos 35:1)

Does that not say it all? In the way the work of the Mishkan commenced … in the same way Am Yisroel was saved during the days of Purim. It all begins with “assemble all the Jews!”

We have to know that we are one! We have to throw away jealousy. We have to throw away sina! We have to act like brothers, one family! This is not theory; this is survival!

Chazal ask how Am Yisroel will come to teshuva during Chevlei Moshiach. “Rabbi Yehoshua said to [Rabbi Eliezer]: If they do not repent, they will not be redeemed? Rather, Hakadosh Boruch Hu will appoint a king over them whose decrees will be as harsh as [those of] Haman, and the Jewish People will repent, and in this way [Hashem] will bring them back to the right [path].” (Sanhedrin 97b) 

The terrible decrees that are falling upon us with increasing severity and frequency are coming to impart a lifesaving message. Soon the yeshua will come. But first we must listen to the words of Moshe Rabbeinu, our Teacher. When we come together as a vast multitude, united to do the will of the Ribono shel Olam, then we will once again have “light and gladness and joy and honor” (ibid 8:17), but this time forever, with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid, may we greet him soon in our days!

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Roy Neuberger, author and public speaker, can be reached at roy@2020vision.co.il.

© Copyright 2019 by Roy S. Neuberger