By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

On our trips to Eretz Yisroel, we go “visiting”. One of our first stops is Har Hamenuchos, burial place of my great-grandfather, Harav Tzvi Hersh HaKohein zt”l, as well as other relatives.

Down the hill from my zeide’s kever, stands a large structure, referred to as an ohel or a tziyon. Realizing it must be the resting place of an “adam gadol”, a man of great stature, and curious to find out who, we made our way there. It was the burial place of Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l, (1887-1933). Rav Shapiro initiated the study of Daf Yomi, to learn a page of Talmud a day, completing the entire Talmud in about 7-1/2 years. A study that makes the daunting task attainable, and in the process, unites Jews worldwide.

To my husband and myself, it was most meaningful, since for the past six cycles of Daf Yomi, my husband was one of the organizers of the Agudath Israel Siyum HaShas. We felt it was bashert that we came upon the rov’s kever, and are always sure to stop there, say Tehillim, and tell Rav Meir Shapiro that his legacy lives on.

In 1930, Rav Meir Shapiro established Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Poland. It was his life. He put his heart and soul into the yeshiva. The rov was childless, and dedicated himself to his students, loving and caring for them as if they were his own.

Unfortunately, despite Rav Shapiro’s extensive travels to raise funds, the yeshiva remained in dire financial straits. Like a father worried about his beloved children, Rav Meir was concerned about the future of his yeshiva, his talmidim.

In September of 1933, the rov had a premonition that something would happen to him. He purchased an insurance policy from Prudential Life, which just then opened a branch in Poland. The policy was for $30,000, with the beneficiary being his yeshiva, Chachmei Lublin, the home of his spiritual children. Only a month later, in October 1933, Rav Shapiro contracted viral pneumonia, and passed away shortly thereafter, at the young age of 46.

The policy paid out the face amount, which cleared the yeshiva from its debts and sustained it until 1939, when it was seized by the Nazis upon their invasion of Poland.

The story of Rav Meir Shapiro and his devotion to his yeshiva reflects a theme we encounter in this week’s double parsha, Vayakel-Pekudei, where we continue learning about the building of the Mishkan.

“Rachmana liba boyeh”. “The Merciful One desires the heart.” (Talmud Sanhedrin 106b)

To do mitzvos with heart, with love and compassion. The word lev, heart is repeated multiple times in Parshas Vayakhel.

“…nediv libo – every one whose heart motivates him” (Shemos 35:5).

“…chacham lev–the wise-hearted, amongst you” (Shemos 35:10).

“…asher noss’o libo–every man whose heart inspired him” (Shemos 35:21)

Nediv lev, a giving heart. Rashi explains that giving emanates from the heart. A heart that is willing to give with empathy and understanding, with kindness and love.

Chacham lev, a wise heart. We usually associate a heart with love, and the mind with wisdom. What is a “wise” heart?

Shlomo HaMelech asked HaShem to bless him with “an understanding heart, able to discern between good and bad.” (I Melochim 3:9) The Malbim expounds that Shlomo didn’t ask for wisdom to attain wealth, or to win wars against his enemies, but desired to have the insight to differentiate between right and wrong. Wisdom is meaningless if not used properly. We can use knowledge to bring cure and healing, and make the world a better place, or it can be used to wreak havoc and destruction.

In the Hebrew language, the word chochma, wisdom can be divided into two words. Koach, strength, and mah, what. Mah–What we do with our koach, how we channel our strength, defines our wisdom, our chochma.

Asher noss’o libo, every man whose heart inspired him.

The Ramban explains noss’o libo as a heart that lifts one, a heart that carries a person to greater heights. A heart that is infused with inspiration and determination.

The Generation of the Exodus didn’t have any formal training in architecture, design or construction. Yet, they became carpenters, goldsmiths, weavers and master craftsmen. They built the Mishkan. And they built it without a glitch. How was this possible? Even with small construction jobs, invariably, something goes wrong.

With an inspired heart, with ambition and devotion, great things can happen.

Rav Meir Shapiro’s wife, Rebbetzin Malka Toba, like her husband, lived for the yeshiva and its students. When she learned of the yeshiva being short on funds, and unable to afford the construction of a succa sufficient in size for the large student body, without hesitation, she sold her diamond engagement ring, and donated the money to enable a most beautiful succa to be built. To give with heart.

Rebbetzin Malka Toba was following in the ways of generations of holy women before her. Women that gave with lev, with heart. Noshim tzidkonios. Righteous women. Women who knew when to give and how to give.

In last week’s parsha, we read of the Eigel Hazahav, the Golden Calf. The righteous women didn’t participate, and adamantly refused to contribute any of their gold and jewelry. However, when it came to the building of the Mishkan, the women were ready to give. They gave with wisdom, they gave with inspiration, they gave with heart.

The word lev appears fourteen times in Parshas Vayakhel. Fourteen is the gematria of the word yad, hand. My mother would explain that yes, it is hard for some to be givers. To put their hand into their pocket. She would say, reach in, at first it’s hard, like an exercise one is not used to, and ends up becoming charley horse. But with repetition, the sore feeling goes away, and one is left with strong muscles. So, too, when we become accustomed to exercising our hand, by reaching in to give tzedaka, we build muscles of kindness.

When we take the word yad, hand, spelled yud-dalet, and we connect it with another yad, we form the word yedid, spelled yud-dalet-yud-dalet, meaning a dear friend. One hand reaching out to another creates true friendship. The gematria of yedid, yad+yad, 14+14, equals 28, the same as koach, kof-ches, meaning strength. Together, we are a team. Together, we have strength. The strength to give with heart, with love.

This Shabbos, we will bentch Rosh Chodesh Nisan. A reminder that Pesach is just around the corner. While we make all of our preparations for the yom tov, let’s remember to give with heart to those in need. To help make another Jew’s yom tov as comfortable and enjoyable as our own. Hand in hand, we are one.

A legacy of giving from the heart. A lesson learned from this week’s parsha. A lesson learned from Rav Meir and Rebbetzin Malka Toba Shapiro. A lesson learned from generations of Jews who understood that when a heart inspires the hand, greatness can be built.

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