Preparing for Shavuos | HaRav Asher Weiss

We are now in a state of war [music] against a very dangerous enemy. Iran. Iran, which was the financer of numerous terrorist organizations Shalom, I'm [music] David Bagirov, originally from Azerbaijan. I was born and raised in there. I didn't know [music] anything about Judaism. Ohr Somayach is in a different type of a war. They're trying to secure [music] our spiritual survival. I think Ohr Somayach is absolutely necessary for the survival of Judaism in a world where everything is trying to tear [music] us apart. >> Lo BeChayil v'Lo BeCoach, ki im BeRuchi. Ohr Somayach [music] is on the front line, battling assimilation, giving the Jewish students an understanding of magnificent his heritage [music] is. This is a such a critical time because now our eyes are open. The the world has turned on us. Ohr Somayach is a place where the Torah created yesh me ayin, like God's creation, something literally from from nothing. Before I came to Ohr Somayach, Judaism was just something in the background. To the every city that I've ever been to in [music] all parts of the world, there have been Ohr Somayach graduates or Somayach alumni. The levels here are unbelievable. There are people who don't know aleph from bet. There are students who are learning tomorrow the even sois. Reb Nota Shiller, that is a shiva zechrono l'vracha, was a real visionary. And Ohr Somayach was >> [music] >> actually the very first major kiruv endeavor and institution. It's about touching something that speaks to me, to my life, connects me to [music] my past, and gives me some reason to go forward to the future. They often achieve in just one or two [music] years what one would normally expect many years to attain. Here I discovered something powerful. [music] Torah isn't just history, it's the survival of the Jewish people. This is what Or Sameach does every day. Cuz 30% of the Torah community in Eretz Yisrael >> [music] >> is either baal teshuvah or children of baal teshuvah. 30%. And so we need a strong Or Sameach because that is what's going to ensure the survival of the Torah community and of the Jewish people in general. I knew I was Jewish, I just never really knew what that meant. >> Included in the mitzvah of loving Hashem is to bring his own [music] children closer to Hashem. And that's what Rav Nosson Scherman said that's what the Rosh Yeshiva >> [music] >> built this place to be. A place where any Jew, regardless of their background, can come here and be [music] able to find their chelek, their portion in Torah. Or Sameach can't do it itself. Or Sameach is a [music] Yeshiva that lives by the contributions of Klal Yisrael. But there's so much more work that has to be done. >> [music] >> And without your help, we're not going to be able to do it. Or Sameach is vital for the survival of Klal Yisrael. Buy in. Buy into Or Sameach today and become a partner, become a shutaf. And whatever we can do, whether it's physical, whether [music] it's spiritual, and perhaps most importantly, to invest, to invest in the future of the Jewish people because the Yeshiva [music] has a very firmly established data that we will never ever turn down a student because of an [music] inability to pay. We will find a way, but finding that way does cost money. And in the zechus of this huge endeavor and great mitzvah, Kodosh Boruch Hu should bentch you all b'chein, b'chesed, u'verachamim. Eight is the last day of Sefirah. And tomorrow night is the big day. Yom Kippur Torah and we've embarked on this journey 49 days ago. And each and every day we came a bit closer. And tomorrow we finally reach our final destination. And this is a very special day. So the only one of the Shalosh Regalim that doesn't have any mitzvahs is Shavuot. Sukkot, we have two huge, beautiful mitzvahs. Mitzvah Sukkah and mitzvah Lulav. With so much different interpretations. So much feeling. Pesach, we have many more mitzvahs. Shavuot, none. Just Yom Tov. And when there are no mitzvahs minhagim take central stage. If there are no mitzvahs then the minhagim are really the spirit the spirit of the Yom Tov the ruach of the Yom Tov. And Shavuot has two fundamental minhagim. And there seems to be some fundamental lack of symmetry between the two minhagim. One is Lail Shavuot. It is the only night of the entire year in which we try to dedicate an entire night just to learn Torah. No sleep. No divrei Torah b'teilim. Just dedicate the night to learn Torah. That's one minig. The other minig is blintzes. How do they fit together? We could appreciate minig number one. This is the day that we chose us. This is the day he gave us Torah. What does it have to do with cheesecake? It has to do. There's an interesting sukkah that has Rabbi Eleazar says there's a steer between two sukkahs regarding Yom Tov. Two sukkahs that are contradictory. I said you can I said you can So, what is the real spirit of I said this? Rabbi Eleazar and Rabbi Joshua, two of the greatest men. Rabbi Eleazar says you could choose. Each and every individual could choose every Yom Tov. I you could learn all day or you could eat and drink. Yom Tov is a day of Simcha. Simcha has two different manifestations. It could be physical, eating and drinking. That is why people rejoice. Or it could be a spiritual experience. Learn Torah all day. It's up to you. And you choose whether it's last year or this year last year or this year. Rabbi Eleazar disagrees and he says it's unreasonable. You need to divide your day. Eat, drink, have a good time. And then learn. Learn Torah as well. And then Eleazar says something surprising. Shavuot says an exception. And in Chag Shavuot, even Eleazar would agree you can't learn all day. You need to eat and drink and enjoy. And why is that? Yom Shavuot Nitna Torah. Because this is the day in which Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us Torah. And that is counterintuitive. It is clear to me that if any one of you would be asked which of the three yamim tovim would Rabbi Yeshua agree to Rabbi Eleazar that a person could choose to learn all day and not eat and not drink? It is clear we would respond which of the three yamim tovim? Of course Shavuot. Why? We would say the same words the Gemara says, Yom Shavuot Nitna Torah. This is the day of Kabbalat haTorah so you definitely can learn all day. But Rabbi Eleazar uses that same argument, Yom Shavuot Nitna Torah, the other way around. And he says even Eleazar that says on the yamim tovim you could choose to learn all day but not Shavuot. Shavuot you need to eat and drink. Why? Yom Shavuot Nitna Torah. Does that make sense? Of course it's Rashi. And Rashi is a great commentator. All the others were his talmidim. Laharot to show to prove she no yach v'mekubal ol ov yom zeh Shavuot Nitna Torah l'Yisrael. We want to show we love this day. We love the day and it is so enjoyable because this is the day we received Torah. To show laharot whom do we want to show? Whom do we need to show? Libiyoymali, my feeling is yes, whom do we want to show? Our children. Our kids. Because sometimes there is a misconception and people think and feel the Torah way is so hard, it's so difficult. It's so burdensome. You need to get up every day in the morning. You never have a free moment. You can't just feel carefree. Kodesh Boruch Hu is on top of you every day, every moment. But we have no other choice. This is why we're here. This is what our Kodesh Boruch dictates and this is the only way to get to Olam Haba. And sometimes for young people that is a difficult choice. We want to prove and show our children no the Torah way is not only about Olam Haba. It's about Olam Hazeh. This is what you choose to enjoy life, to have a life of happiness, of fulfillment, of meaning, of ultimate joy. Laharois, we want to show our kids this is the happiest way to live. There's a very famous braysa and it is in the sixth perek of maseches avois. >> [snorts] >> Kachi darko shel Torah. Pas b'melech tochal, mayim b'mesurah tishteh, al ha'aretz tishan, chayei tzar tichyeh. UveTorah at >> And when our kids are they're deterred. We don't want this type of life. We don't want We don't want We don't aspire to Allah We all want a comfortable life, a happy life. And it is legitimate. This last Shabbos like every fourth Shabbos every month we say "Birchas Hachodesh." And we ask to give us Obviously it is a legitimate request. means he should give us money He should give us some covered, some status. If it would be an illegitimate request, we wouldn't say it in "Birchas Hachodesh." Rashi the greatest of all Rashi's in Tovei says We don't aspire to "Basra Melach Mayim Bisura." What Chazal mean to say even if you're in dire straits and even though you have nothing to eat besides "Melach Mayim Bisura." And even though the consequence of the situation is such that "Ores Tishin Chayei Tzar Tichyeh." Nevertheless, [clears throat] in "B'toras Hashem Ashrecha Ba'olam Hazeh V'tov L'cha Ba'olam Haba." So this is not what we choose possible or my missoula. But it is what has all promised us. In every situation. I know matter what you are confronted with in life. Choose the title way or the title at the moment and you will find. Happiness. [clears throat] So this is an important message to convey. The title life is not only about about a master. I was in America last week. And I see a lot of people. And one of the people I met it was not about money. It was just a friendly conversation. He asked to see me. I was told that he's a billionaire. But it wasn't really relevant because I didn't come. I didn't ask money from him. And we had a conversation and he asked me how many kids do you have? And I said I have seven children. They're all married. Yes, how many grandchildren do you have? A lot. I don't think anybody here wants to know how many grand kids I have. A lot. We should be sure. I keep the number to myself. And then he gives a sigh. And he says I have five kids. None of them are married yet. And. My daughter's getting married to a. Boy from from. Georgia. In Israel. He didn't seem to be very happy about that. And he says my dream is to have a grandchild. Because my other kids don't seem to be interested in marriage. So my dream is to have a grandchild and I think to myself. He's a billionaire. >> [snorts] >> That's so sad. So sad. Western society is falling apart. It is in demise. It's in this It's disintegrating and how happy we have to be and how lucky we are having a loving family and a big family and seeing your children and grandchildren follow in your footsteps. And what a beautiful experience is Shabbos and Yom Tov. And hearing a wonderful sheer and being inspired. And Simchas Torah and Simchas Mitzvah. So, the Torah way is not only the only way to achieve Olam Haba. It is about Olam Hazeh. So, about 40 years ago I met a person in America and we became friends and he told me he was one of the first talmidim in Lakewood. One of the earliest talmidim of Reb Aaron Kotler. He learned in Yeshiva and then he got married and he went into business and after many years he was honored at a dinner and Reb Aaron Kotler met him after many years and Reb Aaron asked him, "I never see you in Yeshiva. I haven't seen you at a sheer. How are you doing?" And he said, "Well, the Yeshiva remembers him. I wasn't the biggest masmid in Yeshiva. I wasn't very much into learning. Baruch Hashem, I'm doing business and I'm very successful and I have five years such as a one-year contracts with great scholars. Ain't I doing the right thing?" he asked Reb Aaron. And Reb Aaron said, [clears throat] "I envy your Olam Haba. But what about your Olam Hazeh?" he asked him. "What type of an Olam Hazeh do you have if you don't come to Yeshiva? I don't see you at a sheer." So, he said, "Wow, you have a great alma mater. Five years of service that you support." What is service? What type of an alma mater do you have if you never come to Yeshiva? If you don't enjoy the intellectual beauty of Torah, of engaging Torah, of enjoying Torah. And this is an important message to share beyond Kabbalah Shabbat Torah. So, the Gemara twice in Shas Bava Metzia Perek Ha'aretz Al Mah Ovda Ha'aretz quoting a pasuk in Navi. What caused Churban Bayit HaMikdash and Galut Yisrael? Davar zeh nish'al l'chachamim u'l'nevi'im and according to the Gersh of the Bach Malachei Yashar es v'lo pirshu. The wise, the prophets, the angels, nobody could understand and nobody answered this question. What brought about the destruction of the Bayit HaMikdash? Until Hakadosh Baruch Hu himself says Al Ozvam Et Torati, they left Torah. And Chazal say Shelo Berchu BaTorah Techilah. They did not say Birchas HaTorah. Degel Machaneh Efraim, does anybody here know who was the Degel Machaneh Efraim? This seems to be a very Litvish establishment. No one here knows who was the Degel Machaneh Efraim. [clears throat] One of the greatest disciples and a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov. You know who the Baal Shem Tov was obviously. And he writes Shamati Memoire Zeikeni. I heard from my great rebbe. When Chazal say Lo Berchu at Torah to Chilo, they didn't say Berchas at Torah. What Hazal mean, they didn't say V'harevnu Hashem Elokeinu as divrei Torah sh'b'finu. That is the brocha they skipped and they missed out. And the Degel writes, "Ze pele." I wonder, where did he pick this up? And why did the Bal Shem Tov think that the brocha they didn't say was V'harevnu? Well, V'harevnu is the lesser of the three brochos. The Gemara says, "Ma'ulish b'brochos, the most important brocha of Berchas at Torah is Asher Bocharbanu, number three. Number one is also an important brocha because it's Berchas Hamitzvah. V'harevnu is defined by Halachic criteria as a brocha s'mucha l'chaverto. It's only somewhat of a half brocha. So, why did the Bal Shem Tov say that what brought about this tragedy was they didn't say V'harevnu? So, let me share with you my feeling, libi omerli. This Gemara is a tremendous pele because in Yoma daf tzadi, the Gemara says, "What caused the Churban of the Beis Hamikdash was gimmel aveiros chamuros sh'b'Torah." They committed the most grievous crimes and sins and transgressions. Sh'fichas damim, giluy arayos, and avoda zara. So, how does the Gemara say it was because they didn't say Berchas at Torah? And does it make sense for not saying a brocha, the gross greatest of tragedies, Churban Beis Hamikdash and Galus Yisrael? My feeling is this. Everybody knew what was the direct cause of carbon base and migdos. Yes, gilius schweigel is dominant avoid the zone. They were obvious. They were everywhere. You could run, but you can't hide. And if there were schweigel dominant avoid the way the zone and gilius, they were known. The big question was, how did this be for us? How could a Jew be a murderer? Does this make sense? A Jewish murderer? Big amora says in your moments the finest gimel simonim yeshin baum azu. Our people have three fundamental traits. Rachmanim. Baishonim. Goim lechasodem. By nature, we are people of mercy, of compassion, of love. So, how could a Jew be a murderer? How could a Jew be an idol worshiper and avoid the way the zone if I could just go who promised me the gum ba ya mino la olam? How did this happen? How did we sink to such terrible depths? That was the ultimate question that no one knew to answer and give an explanation. Then I could just go who said I'll always have a Torah tea. When you go astray and when you lose Torah, there is no limit how deep you could sink. And then the Bel Shem Tov said, what were they lacking? Vaharivno. And it is only if our children were experienced the beauty of Torah, we could be confident and we could really hope that they will follow in our footsteps. So the Bal Shem Tov said, that was lacking. We should be able to feel and share the sweetness of Torah, the beauty of Torah. The ultimate joy of living a Torah life. And when our kids didn't see that, yes, we lost generations. That is how we lost our children. And that was the wisdom of the Bal Shem Tov and his interpretation. So the three brochos of brochos of Torah, if we try to categorize and define them by halachic criteria, brocha number one is brocha of mitzvah. And that is the basic formula Brocha number three is brocha of shevach. >> [snorts] >> We thank Hakadoshbaruchu for choosing us amongst all the nations and for giving us his beautiful Torah. What is "v'ha'arev na"? How do we define this brocha? It is defined as brocha of tefillah. What does this criteria mean? Any brocha in which we not only sing the praise of Hakadoshbaruchu, and we not only express gratitude to Hakadoshbaruchu, but we plea with Hakadoshbaruchu, and we ask him to give us something, that is brocha of tefillah. So could you help me figure out, are there any other brochos of tefillah? Are you familiar with brochos in which we ask, we request? Mhm. Maybe, but I'm thinking of some others that are far more obvious than Birkat Hamazon. All the middle brochos of Shmoneh Esrei besides first three and last three. Each and every one we have bakashos. Another one? Tefilas Haderech. We should arrive safely home. All the other brochos of tefillah are very focused. Each brocha one request and not more. Va'harevnu we have two requests. And that is somewhat unusual. We should have the privilege to experience the beauty of Torah and then we go on with another request. Veni Two different bakashos in one brocha. And I say no, these are not two distinct and different bakashos. They're two sides of the very same coin. It is only if we will be zocheh Va'harevnu Hashem Elokeinu es divrei Torah bifinu could we really expect and hope sheniyeh anachnu vetse'tsueinu vetse'tsoei tse'tsueinu kulanu yode'ei shmecha velomdei Torah lishmah. So, these are not two different bakashos. They're one in the same and two sides of the same coin. So, Chag Hashavuos this is the day in which Hakadosh Baruch Hu chose us amongst all the other nations and we became Hakadosh Baruch Hu's family and his children and not only his servants. And this is the greatest day. And this is the day in which we want to share with our children how precious and how lucky we are. So many years ago when I visited my great Rebbe, the Klausenberger Rebbe in Union City, New Jersey, and he was very weak at the time in his elderly years, and as I walked into his room, he surprised me by asking a question because usually he was the one to give the answers, not he asked us the questions. And he asked me, "In Titus Mosha and Chumash, we have a few Sukhim speaking about the beauty of Eretz Yisrael, Eretz Zavas Chalav U'Dvash. So the possuk puts milk before honey. But the possuk in Shir Hashirim says, "Dvash V'Chalav Tachas Lishonech." So why does Shir Hashirim put Dvash before Chalav when in Chumash Chalav always comes before Dvash?" I was a bit surprised that he turns to me asking a question and expects me to respond. And Chazal teach us, "Whenever your great Rebbe asks a question, the way to respond is Talmidei Chachamim Meimecha Anu Shosim." Where your Talmidim we drink from your waters. And I asked him, "What does the Rebbe say?" And he insisted, "Do you have an idea?" And I said, "I do." And I say, "When we are talking about actual Chalav and Dvash, real milk and honey, milk is far more important and essential than honey. Without milk, there could be no humankind. Tinak yonik mish day imoi. A newborn baby, all he can live on is his mother's milk. Without milk, there would be no mammals on this planet. And this planet will be ruled by the reptiles and the amphibians. You all know what reptiles are, yeah? So, the only ones around would be the crocs and the alligators and the snakes. It would not be a very friend friendly place to live in. Without dvash, we could get along well. Our biggest problem would be, what do you do with the apple before Rosh Hashanah? Where do you dip in that apple if you have no dvash? So, let me make this clear. When I spoke to the Kois and the Maggid Rebbe, it wasn't exactly in the style of speaking to you right now. I didn't use the same terminology. So, I say when we're dealing with real chalav and real dvash, chalav is far more important than honey. But the pasuk dvash v'chalav tachas lishoneich refers to Torah. When it comes to Torah, you always put the dvash before the chalav. Dvash is the beauty of Torah, as sweet as honey, sweeter than honey. Hamisukim midvash v'nofet tzufim. What does chelbah shel Torah mean? That's a Gemara at the very end of Maseches Brochos. And the Gemara explains in other pasuk that's in Mishlei and not in Shir Hashirim. K'mitz chalav yotzei chem'ah. B'mi atah motzei chem'ah shel Torah? Where do you find cream and butter of Torah? B'mi shemakeh al leyo chalav sheyonak mishday immo. If a person would throw up the milk that he nursed on, that is the highest level of toil, of amal, of yegia. And that's chelboshal Torah. So when it comes to Torah, it is our responsibility our responsibility as teachers of Torah, as marbitzei Torah, to give atamidem dvash, honey, to feed them the beauty of Torah, and to share with them the beauty of Torah, and only then could we expect that they will find the koach and the courage to partake michelboshal [clears throat] Torah. And that is why this pasuk puts dvash before chalav. And that's what Shavuos is all about. Yes, have your cheesecake and your blintzes. Hakal mayden batzeres d'veina bein am l'ochem l'harot, to show, to inspire our children, to show them in night ach v'makubal yom zeh shebo nitna Toras l'Yisrael. So we spoke about the two minhagim. One minhag being up all night and learning Torah. The only night in the year in which we dedicate the entire night to learn Torah. Second minhag is cheesecake and blintzes. Have a great time. Enjoy. So there are two different minhagim regarding minhag number two. Our minhag is we have machalei chalav, we have all those goodies in the morning. We make kiddush and milchigs, and then we have the seudah. Many years ago in Germany, in most Ashkenazi kehillos, the seudah at the first Yom Tov night was a milchige seudah. That's when they had their cheesecake and the dairy machlin. My feeling is that our meaning is the right one. Yes, blintzes are part of Shavuos, but it's not the right way to start Kabbalat Torah. If you're going to start off with blintzes, you're not going to get very far. So, I think first you need to learn all night. After you learn all night, in the morning, the din who she ate all of Shavuos. You were up all night to learn Torah diligently. Okay, now you could enjoy your cheesecake. So, I just said a moment ago that we need to put the vast before the cholev. I say if only year-round you put the vast before cholev, Shavuos you could put cholev before the vast. So, we're up all night and we learn Torah and we try not to speak the vorem bitaylim, but yes, your cheesecake is part It is part of the day. The Hadar Shinoiyach v'makubal ohlav yom zeh shebo nitna Torah. We should appreciate that the Torah way is not only about Olam Haba. It is not the thing that we do grudgingly, that we do because we need to do it, because we want to achieve the ultimate goal of Olam Haba. It's about Olam Hazeh as well. It is about a life of meaning, of fulfillment, of joy, of ultimate happiness. And that is the Torah way. And that is a message we wish to convey on this very special day, shebo nitna Torah l'Yisrael. Have a beautiful Yom Tov and a great day, and I hope Shavuos night will be extremely meaningful and enjoying and enjoy your blintzes. Have a good Yom Tov. >> [applause]