Thursday, February 17, 2022

Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Ki Tissa

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

R' Frand began the vort by quoting a Medrash that said that Moshe Rabbeinu had an Ayin Tova (often translated as a generous eye). It gave two examples in that Moshe received the Torah but did not keep it for himself and instead taught it to the Jewish people. The Medrash gave a second example in that when Moshe was commanded to be Somech Yehoshua he used two hands even though he was commanded to use one hand (singular). The Medrash used a parable to a man who was directed to give one bushel of grain to another, but rather than giving one, he gave two, showing that he gave with an Ayin Tova.

R' Frand quoted R' Berel Povarsky (sp?) who observed that when a person gives double, he at least has a personal loss. But when Moshe gave the Torah, what was his loss? And when he used two hands (vs one) to bless Yehoshua. he certainly had no loss. How are these example of Ayin Tova?

He answered that even when does not suffer a personal loss, he still may not act with Ayin Tova. You may see your friend who acquires something or is marrying off a child and be happy for your friend, but do you truly want him to have it as good as you?

R' Frand quoted the Ramban on the pasuk  וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ (Vayikra 19:18). The Ramban writes that the pasuk is an "exaggeration" as how can one truly love another like himself? And aren't we taught that if there is one bottle of water which will not be enough to sustain you and someone else that your life comes first? So what is the mitzva? If you see that something good is happening to someone else, you should feel happy for that person and want that person to have it just as good as you.

R' Frand closed this portion of the vort by quoting R' Matisyahu Solomon who observed that after Birkas Kohanim there is a prayer said privately by the Kohanim where they state we have done what you decreed (gazarta) for us to do. But why is Birkas Kohanim a gezera? After all it seems like an honor that they get to give a special blessing that everyone stops and listens to! R' Solomon answered that the gezera is that the Kohanim must give the blessing "B'Ahava" that people are waiting for beracha and that the Kohain should want the recipient to have it as good as him, or even better. The Kohain may have issues with raising children or finding shidduchim for his children, but he must give the beracha to another to attain these things, even if the Kohain does not have them. This is the meaning of the gezera.

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