Modern Masters: Faith Beyond Fear | Rabbi Sam Shor | June 4 2026

Good morning everyone. Um, as you can see once again, Rabbi Tab unfortunately is still not able to be with us this week. He also wrote to me already that he's not going to be able to be with us again next week, which means I'm going to be teaching in the 10:30 slot again next week. Please God. Okay, so we should just note that. And as we said last week, my course is normally called modern masters where we focus on, you know, great philosophical, you know, and great Jewish thinkers of the 20th and 21st century. And Rabbi Ta normally teaches para para. So we're going to do a once again do a shilu of those two ideas and we're gonna look at paratlock and of course parl contains within it the story of the moragle the very troubling story of the moragle and how mushenu sends the moragle to scout out arit is we know that unfortunately they come back with a less than um stellar report about arit is and before we even get to the sources on your sheet just to kind of set the tone kn for kind of understanding or or understanding maybe what their the shortcoming of the of the report of the Moragi really was. I want to share with you a short couple of lines from a longer maamar a longer teaching from the oh yakov the oh yakov we learned from many many times together in this course he is the rebi ofatan who was the rebi who came on aliyah toel in in 1938 lived the last 19 years of his life from 1938 to 1957 in downtown Tel Aviv on beak street in downtown Tel Aviv and in the 1930s. Okay. Even before he came just sorry just upon his arrival to Israel, he shared this idea or these these thoughts as part of a longer amar about the significance of coming to make aliyah to Israel and he writes that you know many many people have very legitimate reasons for why they haven't come to make aliyah and these are his words. There the reality is there there's no limit to the amount of there's the limitless uh reasons for why people say they're they're not able to make aliyah for this one it's what their reason is financial fiscally they're not able to do it for others their reason is what family their family for others it's because of their role in the community, okay? They're a leader. They don't, you know, their community needs them. And then there are others that were really have a combination of all these factors, okay, that hold them back. But now listen to the Reb's words. And he said this in 1938. But the reality is that most people that hold themselves back from making why because they what they love the gullus a little bit too much. So with this powerful muser as our introduction, but I just want to kind of set the stage for learning about the moragle specifically. We're going to learn today. We're going to do something to again it's a modern masters class. We're going to do something that I think is pretty interesting. We're going to learn from an extended dynasty from six different personalities from these three interconnected dynasties. Those dynasties are the dynasty of Gres Gisknit and Petsna. So we're going to just uh to kind of explain how these dynasties are all interconnected. Okay. So Rebel Mahis who died in 1892. He from his first marriage he had three children. He had a daughter and he had two sons that succeeded him as rabbas. One was Rabi Israel of of Gresist May of Gisk. Okay. Okay. And they both died in the Shabbat. We're going to learn a piece from Rabbi Israel of we're going to learn his story about his last few moments on earth in Trebinka. Okay. We're going to learn that together this morning. Okay. From his second marriage. From his second marriage, Revel had two very famous sons. That's Rebi Clonus Kama Shapi who became known as the Rebi of Pietetsna. Okay. The Rebi of the Warsa ghetto. and Rlmus Kamish married into the Kajitsu dynasty. The Kajitsu dynasty was actually a cousin. So he the dynasties were really intertwined to be before this. But he marries his rebbiton was the daughter of one of the Rebies of Kajnets. So we're also going to learn today from um his I guess you could say his brother-in-law and also a cousin of his okay. And we'll learn his story together in a few moments as well. And then we're also going to learn from the second son of Elimis from his second marriage. Okay. His youngest son and that's Shapi lovingly known as Rashila. Rashila Shapi was also known as the Adore Hakalut. He made aliyat in 1919 and he becomes a a pioneer literally he becomes the rebi theidic rebi who ministers to the kalutin the pioneer is building up is his story is a fascinating story it's a moving story we're going to learn from him as well today so um we're just going to jump right in text number one okay these are the psukimi that we're all familiar with first before we even get to these pukim what what's what's the story in Moragn Mosher Rabenu sends out the leaders of the 12 tribes right to basically carry out a an assessment of the situation in the land of Israel and Moshabenu instructs them to tell come back and tell us not only the good but the bad so Mashenu instructs them to share the good and the bad okay share the truth whether it's good or bad so why do we say that the Moragi committed such a grave sin because ultimately the Moroglin come back and give an honest assessment. That's what Moshu asks them to do. Okay. Mosh Rabu says, "Tell me the truth. What's going on there?" And they seem to give an honest assessment. They see yet they see the land is beautiful. It's flowing with milk and honey, but they're going to be challenges that we're going to face in our coming into the land. Okay? And it seems like an honest report. So take a look at the sukim here. They came back and they said to him, they said, "We came into the land that you sent us." Yeah, it's true. It's a land flowing with milk and honey and it's very fruitful. But now comes the next part. But the people who are living there are fierce. Okay. And the cities there are heavily fortified. We saw there what children of giants. And then he goes on to say Malik is waiting for them in the negi bahar and the the the other nations are are are in the are in the higher regions. Vakani and the Canananim are are are near the near the yard and near near the yard meaning near all the water and then all of a sudden who stands up. Okay. Khaliv quiets down the people before Moshe. People hear this report from Moragi that it's not going to be so easy. It's not going to be it might be a beautiful place, but it's going to be difficult for us to conquer and to take the land. But and Khal stands up in front of the people and he calms them down and he says, "We shall surely go up and settle the land because what? It's within our capacity to do so." So, it's interesting. Khali doesn't argue with them. He doesn't try to refute their reasons. Rather, he simply says, "No, we can do this." >> Yeah. and everything called dust. >> We're going to get there. We're going to get there. So, we're the first of these modern masters in this extended family tree that we introduced a few moments ago that we're going to learn from is actually the grandson of Ali Majes, the the half nephew of the Rebatna. And his name is Rabb Al Shapira. We're going to learn a short piece from his from his from his Torah first and then we're going to learn from his father meaning the son of Ali the half brother of the psi but first text number two it says you see that okay the okay and he says the following so he says let's understand answer what does he So he says he says the answer that gives okay is to be understood as follows that that if the entire Jewish people would go up together then what then certainly they'll be able to conquer the land and that's why he says okay it's it's cap it's we're capable of that Okay. Doesn't say that it's e that we will be able to do it but okay to that to it meaning what that we'll be able to go into the land it'll be accessible for us. We'll be able to do this to the wisdom of of of clarity and purity and holiness that's waiting for us in that land. that's there for us to grasp. It's within our capability to get it to take the land to grab that wisdom and to build our lives there. Says the admiral. >> Right. >> Correct. >> The land not the not right. Exactly. Okay. So now we're going to learn from his father Gravisk. Okay. That's number three. Before we do that, in the introduction to his safer, um, they include the last words and the last an account of the last words and last moments of this rabbi's life, okay, in the trebinka death camp. And it says as follows, when they brought the the the people in the camp when they brought thousands of Jews, okay, a community of thousands of people together to the to the to the the the outer the the entrance to the the the the gas chambers really. Okay. Okay. In Trebinka Elad and the community turned towards the Admir, what do you have to say? what what should we be thinking of at this moment? So our master began to share these words softly listen to me my brothers and sisters the people of Hashem it's beyond our comprehension to what to try to understand the ways of God. Okay. If it's been determined that we are going to be the carbanos, okay, that lead to the days of Msiach, okay? [snorts] and that we are going that we are going to be za to be on this level to be able to initiate this next stage of the redemption of the Jewish people. Okay. Then then we are happy to be able to merit to be those s be that sacrifice. Okay. Okay. That I came and I did not see him. that until now while we've been in the camps and we've been questioning where is God and how could it be that we we're going going through all the suffering up till this point we were allowed to question and we can struggle he says he says he says but now that we've arrived to this level that we're going to be the carbonos he said the we need to rejoice that our ashes will will purify the entire Jewish people. Therefore, I'm instructing all of you. I'm I'm in I'm empowering all of you that we shouldn't hesitate and we should not cry as we go to the to the furnaces but rather we should go with joy and we should sing the and just like when He was martyed. We too shall be martyed with the words of Israel on our lips. Okay? And we should pass with the words of just like Reba the community all those that heard him. fulfilled his holy words and by sing with singing and reciting they sanctify the name of God in in public avenge their blood and may their memory be for a blessing. So >> I guess oneim that survived. Okay. There must have been some not everyone was taken at the same time but it's this this made it into the introduction to the safer that was published obviously posimously after it's unbelievably right unbelievably. So with this is our introduction to who this rais of gis was. We're now going to learn text number three which is his take on our same sukim about the moragi. The same idea is taught through the shalom. This is going to answer your question by the way that Mosha when he sends the morag he wasn't just simply setting sending them to what to scout out you know what's the situation of the land itself whether it's good or bad okay but rather is but rather what to scout out the hearts of every single member of whether they are ready and deserving and deserving worthy to inherit the land to dwell in the land. Damastros that all the mitzvos that are that are tied to the agricultural mitzvos that are tied to the land like Samasos and giving gifts to the poor all those mitzvos are what dependent on us putting all those mits that are connected to land are dependent on us what putting our full trust in Hashem it's all dependent on amuna that we what won't have a shortage in terms of our our own by keeping those mitzvah. Okay. Quite the contrary that by keeping those mitzvah that quite the contrary by keeping those mitzvah it brings to all the other acts of our hands. So the key to The messaging that Mosha was hinting at to the moragi was what? come back and give us an honest report. But what you still got to sell it to the people and and encourage them like Khal does what? That we can do this. And that's what the Moragi missed. The Moragi only understood what that what they're meant to assess the land. They >> they just saw what they saw with their they they saw with their eyes. >> Correct. But a Jew has to see with not with your eyes but with their mind and their hearts. >> And also I don't know. I also learned recently, so maybe I'm wrong, that they just sort of when they came into the camp, they had been gone and they came in and they just sort of started talking. They didn't like put a report together and go to Mosha Re. >> That's one take on it. That's one take on it. But here we're getting another take on the Rebi is saying what that it's a shortfall and amuna. And that's why Khal stands up and says what? No, we could do this. Okay. because they they didn't understand that as much as Mosher Rabb was telling them you know scout and see what's going on there but still you're a leader of each one of you is a leader of one of the team each one of them is a leader of their they have an obligation what to the members of their and that's the piece that they missed says the gis okay now we're going to learn from kajnit kajnit actually made succeed in coming coming on Aliyah. He escaped the Nazis may also got out of Poland first and then came first to Paris and then was able to come to Erit Israel in the 1940s. Um, and uh, he's the brother-in-law of the Rebats of the Ishkodesesh. And just a a a quick short teaching from the the the the Admir of Kajnitz here, the Visar. By the way, people asked about the old city tour. So, one of the other tours I think Richard was with me um this past year that I that that we've developed is during during um during El to visit Kate Sadikim in the Sanhedria cemetery. One of the Sadikim who was buried in the Sanhedria cemetery is the who we're going to learn from right now. Okay. So, he died in 1966. Now he's he's going to speak about our okay we have to understand and explain the dual language okay this okay we shall surely go up is how it's translated it's repeated twice okay that that it's within our capacity to achieve to accomplish okay also seems repetitive repetitive and redundant right so let's listen let's listen how the rabbi explains is we can explain as follows. Kal's words can be understood as fouls like what is the message Khal is communicating that if we believe again amuna if we believe completely that hashem will indeed bring us up then what then we'll succeed if we have that faith if we have put our trust in the right then we will succeed and we if we believe that nothing is beyond the capacity of to even when the odds seem impossible to us from our human perspective. But if we kind of transcend that and are able to what to acknowledge that Hashem can do anything what then that means that what we also can accomplish it and do it. Okay. As the as the kakone of of famously said that just as a person must believe in the rebon the necessary to the necessary outcome of our putting our full faith in Hashem is what that we also believe in ourselves that if we believe that every single one of us okay is has within us that that is that that is an actual portion spark of divin ity that rests within within us that if we believe that can accomplish anything then we have to believe that what Hashem gives us incredible spiritual powers to persevere and accomplish and therefore says the necessary to of our belief in Hashem has to be what that we believe in ourselves and that's exactly what the is saying was the message of khal khal is saying that we know hashem can do this we have to believe that hashem can do this that means if hashem can do then that means that what we can do it also and we could take the land that's so now to bring this all together we're now going to learn a very very powerful piece from the ishes from the rebi the pbi and the p the rebi is going to take the language of arsukim and give us a context in terms of what they're actually living through in the wars ghetto and you're going to see what he does with this with with this message of Kaliuna in terms of in terms of using it as a as a source of inspiration and strength for the Jews living in the depths of hell in the war. Okay. So this is text number five in our sheets and okay it begins by quoting our okay quoting our we shall surely go up and take and dwell in the land because Hashem says it's within our capability to do so and now we have to understand okayings the moraglings seem to what come back and they give a very very logical ical assessment of what's of of the land. But the land the people there are very fierce and the and the cities are very heavily fortified. Why doesn't try to argue with them right and dismiss their logic and their rationale and reasons? There's any good defense attorney. Okay. What do you do if someone presents information as fact? What is the job of a good defense attorney to poke holes in those facts and and contradict those facts? But that's not what Khali does. Okay? He simply says, "What? We shall go up and take the land. We should go up and take the land." Now listen to what the Rebi does with this. But we learn that this is what how a Jew has to believe. The faith of a Jew has to be as such. Not only when it's obvious to him, okay, based on his intellect and the laws of nature, that he sees a natural way out of his trying circumstances. Must he believe that he can overcome those challenges? Okay. But even and most specifically in those moments when it seems like there's no hope and there's no way out, a Jew never gives up hope, a Jew has to in those moments when it seems according to his human intellect and understanding that it's impossible for the to think that and imagine there's any natural way out. It's specifically in those moments where a Jew has has a Jew's faith and trust in Hashem has to be strengthened even further. We have to put our full trust in Hashem even when the circumstances seem what? Impossible. >> The greater listening and hearing the negative terrible saying those things Listen to let's finish let's let's let's let's finish a piece on the pa the and quite the contrary bisho at this time. Okay. What's he talking about? Not just in the time of when a person feels there's no way I'll be saying in our in our situation. Okay. In our situation. Okay. It's better for us what? not to contemplate and think is there a natural way out or or or by the laws of nature can we find a way out. Why? Because when it becomes clear to us what that there is no natural way out or logical way out then what could happen God forbid then God forbid our faith could become damaged as a result of this and when a Jew lose his faith when his faith becomes damaged and he no longer puts his full trust in the shaam What could happen? That could prevent the salvation God forbid. Okay. If a Jew loses hope, okay? If a Jew doesn't believe that Yeshua, Hashem can arm can indeed bring a redemption at the blink of an eye. Okay? The flip of a coin, Hashem could bring that redemption. But Judas doesn't believe at that level that when that when that window of Yeshua when that window of salvation opens up if we're if we're not look if we don't believe that that can happen then we could miss the boat. We could miss the moment and that window could close that opportunity for salvation we if we're not looking for if we're not open to it we could miss it. Okay. Because our faith when our faith becomes damaged then that could be the impediment to our redemption but rather we have to say it's all true and now he's going to borrow the words of the Moragi to talk about their circumstances. The people who are dwelling around us are fierce. The words are correct and there the cities are heavily fortified despite this. I believe fully in God was beyond any of the limits and laws of nature that he will indeed bring us salvation. This is what Kali says. We have to believe that Hashem will lift us up and will bring us and allow us to to achieve and succeed without any rationale and without theories. Okay? And that level of faith and trust in hem Yeshua will bring our Yeshua closer and speedily. A Jew always has to believe Yeshua. Okay. We'll take questions at the end. Okay. Okay. So before we learn this next piece, this next piece we just learned from Columbus Shapi, the rebessa, the rebagto, we're now going to learn from his younger brother. His younger brother of Rashila Shapiro Shapi is known lovingly as the adora kalut. Okay, which means the the maidic master to the pioneers or though or the pioneering master. He came in aliyah in 1919 okay to arr and he becomes a devoted disciple of Rafkuk actually one of the swarm that we have of the teachings or the overall ideology of Rafuk's uh love for the land of Israel is called Ericets the editor of that safer was the admiral the admiral basically went through many many of the vast writings of and uh specifically the writings about the safety of the land of Israel and the beauty of the land of Israel and he put them together in this beautiful safer known as eritz and it it's very interesting that we know the ps of the rebi and he continued to correspond even though the psbi stayed in Poland they continued to to correspond with some frequency as a matter of fact when the psbi realized that they were the nazis in makiman were going to liquidate the wars ghetto and he buries his writings that we just learned from in in those milk cans. Everyone has heard me tell the story before. Um he includes a note asking people that if if these these manuscripts are found and he's no longer alive that they should find a way to bring these manuscripts to his brother Rashila Shapi who is now living in Eric Israel. And we know that ultimately Rashila dies just a few months after the murder of his brother just a year after the murder of his brother and um and ultimately those manuscripts are brought to Rashila's son okay who publishes the safer posimumously but Rashila okay the admiral could literally be called a modernday khalifuna and we're going to understand why in a moment just a little bit about his incredible story he makes aliyah and of course He comes, he's okay. He's got a long black coat and a and a long beard and the beard stayed. But um he when he comes he he's determined that he's going to do everything he can number one to be able to stay here and number two to be able to contribute okay both spiritually as well as physically to sustaining and strengthening the efforts to build the Jewish community here in Isel which ultimately would leave to the state of Israel which he was never Z to see because he died in 1945 and um like there are descriptions of him you know taking off his lavushes lavush and you know starting to dress like a cowboy with a big cowboy hat and riding on a horse and there pictures of himal didn't print them out pictures of him riding a horse you can Google this okay you can see him riding on a horse as he went from yeshu to yes to give to the to the to the by the way we're not just talking only the religious workers talking any Jew that was here involved in building up the land of Israel he becomes the the rebba uh to those Jews. So before we learn from his writings up above, we'll talk about these writings in a moment. I want to look at the paragraph on the bottom where it says, "Okay, a modern day, right?" So you'll understand why I call him a modern day khal in a moment. tough pay in 1919. Okay. Even though he it was known how bad the financial the the the the fiscal situation was here init Shapi. Okay, we're talking about Shapiro Shapira. He he got up the no and he made a courageous decision. came home and made aliyah to Israel. Not because there was an alarm that went off, okay? Or because of anything going on in Europe. Not because he heard a great chauffeur being sounded, okay? And he already from the moment he arrived he made the decision that he is going to be involved in the mitzvah of building up physically. Okay. Now listen what it says here. Okay. We're talking about a son of of holy ones, a descendant of giants, a raayodit who was his way of life was distant from any kind of physical labor. He was only in spent up till now time in the base med and and and in rrook. He came and he was ready to what? To you to be active to actually actively be involved in building the land big day. He took off his clothes, right? Big day and put on the clothes of a construction worker. He went out every day to work in physical labor in, you know, in painting and and building and gravel and in concrete all these kinds of physical labor and building all the new neighborhoods of Jerusalem. And he wrote back to his brother, the Rebna in Warsa, I've accepted upon myself to do anything I can in order to stay here to be able to live in even if it means what? I become a garbage collector. I am determined to build my life here in Erits, Israel. You found the picture. >> Yeah. Yeah. Famous picture. It's a famous picture. >> Can show people. Anyways, so >> Okay. So with this that with this biographical context there is a safer that was published a year or two ago a year ago because it's for his 80th art site called um called Maser Yeshua the the one who will who will will usher in the Yeshua it's about it's about who will speak about the Yeshua and it's a basically a collection of all he he didn't organize in his own lifetime time all his thoughts into very specific very specific um safer organized safer. But he wrote there were a lot of writings and teachings either oral teachings that were recorded or things he wrote for magazines or articles and they basically his descendants for his 80th yard site. They basically gather all these various writings random writings. They're not it's not like a a safer he wrote and published it in one book. So within that beautiful saber it's like 600 something pages I found two short snippets okay about the challenges of building the yeshiv um that the rebi wrote okay and we're going to we're going to learn those two short snippets together this morning and with this we'll close this so this is text number six the first paragraph the unity of the Jewish people is one of the fundamental foundations itions of Jewish faith and of the of the Torah, the unity of God, the unity of of the Jewish people. Okay? They are inextricably bound to one another. If we believe that there's one God and only one God, then we have to believe what? That there's one entity called the Jewish people and that every Jew and member of the Jewish people is holy and and joined in that entity. and it's impossible at all to separate between the unity of God and the unity of Israel as the Garos that we've learned together in this course before says you the Jewish people by declaring Israel and by wearing that have the words of Israel in it you make me Hashem a unique entity in this world and what's we're in Hashem's proverbial fill in. Okay. And therefore the Gar concludes that just as you declare me as a unique entity in this world, I also what? Make you a unique people here in this world. Just as artillain contain within it the declaration of the oneness of God. Okay. The of the creator of the world describes the uniqueness of the Jewish people. It's who is like you. I'm Israel. A unique people, united people on earth. And therefore, says the Rebi, the Admiral, anyone who introduces disunityity amongst the Jewish people. the dear Allah. It's as if they've created a an invalidation of the fillin of the creator of the world. The proverbial fillain of the And this level of consciousness of the unity of God and the unity of the Jewish people is not expected only for the righteous amongst the Jewish people. Am kulo kamoshu. But regarding we have to have that same love and affection and affinity and and cavode for every member of the Jewish people no matter who they are. Okay. In all our colors and manifestations. Okay. Kazal have taught us that since the since the beginning of the Jewish people what we've always had different kinds of Jews there are hasn't been we haven't been an homogeneous group ever we have those that were good and those that weren't so good those that were knowledgeable and scholars and those that knew nothing wicked ones and righteous ones But they all understood and knew what that every single one of them was considered a child of the even a Jew who is involved in idolatry is still called a child to Hashem. Okay. every single group amongst the Jewish people need one another and complete one another as the tells us okay if the greats are not are not all on the on the bunch then the bunch won't exist okay okay now he says only when the all the poor parts of the Jewish people are linked together, join together and come together as one, then they can bring out the full color, the complete picture of the Jewish people. That's the first beautiful teaching about the challenges of building a Yeshu here. Okay? That the different perspectives that in order for us to succeed at building Yeshu here, the different perspectives need to what? Find a way to love and respect one another even when they disagree. Sadly, why are we still struggling in our society? Because we still haven't got this fundamental idea. Okay. Now, the next piece and now the Rebi continues. It's as clear as the sun in the sky. Okay. That the message, this message, the message of disunityity, okay, is what is a Torah that's incomplete. Okay. As long as there is perude, as long as there is this unity, okay, amongst the Jewish people, then we're not a complete entity. Okay? It's as if the safer proverbial safety collection the the collective entity of the Jewish people is pleaf tora. It's like a that's missing most of its letters. Okay? The complete Torah, the Torah of the true Jewish identity is a Torah of, okay, of a living Torah of love, loving kindness, of of charity, blessing, compassion, life and peace. This is also true regarding building up the bin here in the gam even though we know that there it's going to be divided into 600,000 little portions everyone's going to have their own little dollar right every Jew will have their own portion in the land of Israel but the Sanctity in the land of Israel can only be sustained and protected when what? When everyone is united as one. The anit that is full of disunityity and controversy is an is devoid of holiness. It's the same as what? Apostle Torah. The complete the true is one when every single Jew is united there's no separation no segregation the low and no baseless hatred my friends based on everything we learned today okay and as we prepare to read the troubling episode of the MAGAM okay and their lack of understanding of full understanding of the assignment that Mosherenu gave them the opportunity the lack of understanding the opportunity they had to inspire the Jewish people to face life's challenges with amuna with strength and strength and faith and perseverance okay let's take to heart all these beautiful teachings from this basically extended dynasty from six different great leaders of the Jewish people who all come back to the same point even though each one picked on a different a different aspect of the same point. This message of the fundamental message of being united in our faith and our trust in Hashem and being united in our faith and our trust in every single member of Israel no matter what they look like, no matter how they behave and if we're able to do so, then what? We can indeed achieve anything. We can indeed persevere. We will succeed here. We will continue to succeed here because indeed we can. Have a great shabas. of you.