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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
I heard a beautiful Midrash that tells of two neshamos facing the Heavenly Court after 120. As the first neshama stood before the court, a voice called out, “You receive reward for three children”. “But, I had six” the soul exclaimed. “You may have had six, but one you ignored, another you were short-tempered with, and a third, you didn’t even care about. You are credited with three.”
Then, the second neshama appeared before the court. “You receive reward for 250 lives.” “250? But I didn’t have any children!” “Yes, but you taught so many. You gave them Torah. You gave them life. You showed them kindness and understanding. You put smiles on their faces. You even covered tuition for those who couldn’t afford. You are credited for 250.”
In this week’s parsha, Bamidbar, we are told of the genealogy of Moshe and Aaron. “Eileh toldos Aaron u’Moshe…, These are the offspring of Aaron and Moshe.” (Bamidbar 3:1) The pasuk leads us to think that the names of both Moshe’s and Aaron’s children will follow. However, only Aaron’s progeny are mentioned in the following verse. “And these are the names of Aaron’s sons, Nadav, the first born, Avihu, Elazar, and Issamar.”
What about Moshe’s sons? Rashi explains that since Moshe taught Aaron’s children Torah, he is considered to be their spiritual father. While Moshe was, of course, a devoted father to his own children, he was much more than an uncle to the sons of Aaron. He was their Torah teacher, their educator, their mentor, their guide. The Torah wants to emphasize a Talmudic saying quoted by Rashi, that “Whoever teaches his fellow’s child Torah, is considered as if he gave birth to him.” (Sanhedrin 19b). Like the neshama that received reward for reaching out to 250 students, becoming their spiritual father, Moshe Rabbeinu was a spiritual father to Aaron’s sons, among so many others. After all, he is Rabbeinu, our teacher.
My mother, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h, was a spiritual ema to many. Besides teaching and inspiring thousands through her Torah classes, she would share words of Torah wisdom wherever she was. From being at home with the family, to her world-wide travels. From doctors’ offices to meetings with presidents and prime ministers. From shiva houses to wedding halls, words of Torah were always on her lips. I recall how every Friday, the phone would ring with Good Shabbos wishes from appreciative students – many, who by then had become parents and even grandparents, but who never forgot their “Torah Ema” as they would lovingly say.
Each of us can be a Torah Ema, or a Torah Abba. All one needs is a warm, giving heart and some Torah knowledge.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that it is crucial to share divrei Torah, words of Torah learning and insight. He said, if one knows Aleph-Bais, teach Aleph-Bais. If one knows only Aleph, teach only Aleph, one letter. Even if one knows just a little, share it. Pass it on, and by doing so, the flame of Torah will illuminate the world.
How fortunate we are to live in a world where sources of Torah knowledge, on every level of understanding, on limitless subjects, and in so many languages, are easily accessible. We can choose from a multitude of Torah classes, be it in person or online. There is a plethora of Torah literature and inspiring Torah podcasts out there. We simply have to avail ourselves of them. Find something that speaks to you, and then share the knowledge, even if it is only an “aleph”, a few words of learning. Share it with family and friends. Share it with your walking partner and your business partner. Make Torah the subject of your conversation, and in the process, you will not only inspire others, but become further inspired yourself.
To illustrate the importance of sharing one’s knowledge, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe (1745-1812) would relate a parable. Imagine that the world was suffering from a terrible famine. There was one man who had giant storehouses filled with grain. G-d forbid that he should withhold the grains from starving people. So it is, with words of Torah. We are living in times when we are experiencing a hunger in the land. People are starving for words of Torah. How could we not share? It’s up to us to do the right thing. To illuminate the spiritual famine. To share Torah knowledge. As the navi Amos describes, “Days are coming, said HaShem, when I will send a famine in the land. Not a famine for bread, nor a thirst for water, but a famine to hear the words of HaShem.” (Amos 8:11)
As the Yom Tov of Shavuos is approaching, the message of sharing Torah takes on extra and timely meaning. As we renew our commitment to Torah and mitzvos on Shavuos, let’s share a dvar Torah with friends, family, neighbors. It’s our time to follow in the footsteps of Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Shmuel, and my beloved mother. It’s our time to say “Hineni—Here I Am”. To give of our hearts and minds to others.
This past week, my daughter, who is a teacher, was gifted a beautiful bouquet of tulips by a grateful parent. Upon arriving home, she placed it on her dining room table. She didn’t think anything further of it until the next morning. When she came downstairs, she saw the tulips forlornly drooping. She didn’t realize that the flowers were without water, as they were given to her in a black vase. She quickly filled the vase with water and hoped for the best. To her pleasant surprise, when she came home from work, the tulips had a new life. They were standing upright. All it took was “mayim chayim – waters of life.” Our Torah is called Mayim Chaim. For just as water refreshes and revives, so too, does Torah refresh and revive the soul. Just as water quenches thirst, Torah quenches a thirsty soul. Just as water is a source of life, Torah is the soul’s source of life.
By studying and sharing words of Torah, we not only enrich our lives, but the lives of those around us as well. In that merit, may we be rewarded, as we read in this week’s sixth and concluding chapter in Pirkei Avos, ”Gedolah Torah, sheh’hee nosenes chaim l’oseh-ha b’olam hazeh, u’b’olam habah. Great is Torah, for it gives life to its followers both in this world and the World to Come.”
All it takes is one spark, one word, one aleph — to pass the torch.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt’l
