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Vol 16.39 - Tetzaveh - Zayin Adar    Spanish French Audio  Video

Hebrew Text:

Page 342   Page343   Page344   Page345   Page346   Page347   Page348   Page349   Page350   Page351  

 

Summary:

Explanation of the aspect of Zayin Adar (The birthday of Moshe Rabbeinu) and the connection to Parshat Tetzaveh.

Explanation of Rashi (Tal Taanit 29a): "When we enter Adar - They were days of miracles for Yisroel - Purim and Pesach"

(5738  Vol. XVI, 16 pp. 342-351.

 

Synopsis:

In most years, the seventh of Adar — the day of Moshe Rabbeinu’s demise — falls during or near the time that the Torah portion of Tetzaveh is read. This is why, from the time of Moshe’s birth until the Book of Devarim, Tetzaveh is the only Torah portion in which Moshe’s name is not mentioned. The absence of Moshe’s name hints at his demise on the seventh of Adar.

This corresponds to the ruling of the Magen Avraham that in a leap year, the fast of the seventh of Adar is observed during Adar I and not Adar II, inasmuch as only the seventh of Adar I falls near the time of the Torah portion Tetzaveh.

The seventh of Adar, however, marks not only the day of Moshe’s demise, but also the day of his birth. This being so, why is Moshe’s birth not alluded to in Tetzaveh?

We may say that Moshe’s birth is indeed implied in Tetzaveh, since the title “VeAtahTetzaveh,” “You shall command,” refers to Moshe. Since the title of a Torah portion — its “birth” — hints at the content of the entire portion, it follows that the entire portion alludes to (the birth of) Moshe.

But we are now faced with a remarkable paradox: On the one hand, Moshe’s name is not mentioned in the portion. On the other hand, every word of the portion is included in “VeAtahTetzaveh,” which refers to Moshe. How do we resolve this?

In past times, Moshe’s birth on the seventh of Adar was joyfully celebrated. This being so, why do we now only commemorate the seventh of Adar as a fast day?

The explanation is that since Moshe’s birthday is such a momentous and auspicious occasion, it presently cannot descend below and be revealed through palpable joy. Rather, its joy remains concealed and affects us from afar.

Another example of the above is the difference in the degree of revealed joy on Shabbosand the Festivals. It goes without saying that the degree of sanctity of Shabbos is greater than that of the Yomim Tovim; so much so, that Havdalah is recited to distinguish the sanctity of the former from that of the latter.

Nevertheless, the commandment to be “joyous” extends only to the Festivals and not to Shabbos. Seemingly, if we are commanded to be “joyous” on the festivals, shouldn’t we surely be commanded to be “joyous” on Shabbos?

The reason we are not so commanded is that since Shabbos is loftier than the Festivals, it can only be experienced through the more sublime state of “rapture,” rather than through the less subtle state of “joy.”

In a like manner, Moshe’s birth is so sublime an event that institutionalized, palpable joy can in no way do it justice.

The sublime and subtle aspect of Moshe’s birth will be better understood by referring to the saying of our Sages that tzaddikim pass away on the same day as they are born.

The inner reason for this is that tzaddikim attain the state of perfection and completion at the time of their demise. For at that time there is revealed (to their disciples) the “essence of their spirit, i.e., the faith, awe and love with which they served G‑d,” to a greater degree than when their souls were within their bodies.

But this illumination, which instills in their disciples’ hearts “thoughts of repentance and good deeds,” is “greatly hidden and concealed.” Thus it is stated in the Zohar in reference to Moshe that after his passing, his radiation extends in every generation to the “600,000 souls,” but it does so in a concealed manner.

At the time of a tzaddik’s birth, however, their revelation is only in a state of potential. The completed state of birth and revelation is expressly at the time of their demise. At the moment of death, this lofty level is drawn down in a concealed manner, and that which is palpably felt in this world at the time of their demise is but the aspect of passing. It is therefore a fast day — a solemn day of introspection, rather than a day of revealed joy.

In light of the above, we can understand the connection between the contradictory aspects of the seventh of Adar and the portion “VeAtahTetzaveh:” In a revealed sense, Moshe’s name is not mentioned there at all, for that which is revealed for all to see is that it is a day of fasting — demise.

However, the inner reason Moshe’s name is not mentioned is that on the seventh of Adar there radiates an aspect of Moshe’s being that transcends a mere name. It is “essence” that transcends “name.”

Based on Likkutei Sichos - Chabad.org (c.f. link for footnotes)

Translation:

 

Links:

http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/2300327/jewish/Whats-in-a-Name.htm

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