Storm the Shores of the World with the Torah
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (Chapter 6 Mishnah 2, the Chapter we learn before Shavuos) says: Said Rabbi Joshua the son of Levi: Every day, an echo resounds from Har Chorev (Sinai) proclaiming and saying: "Woe is to the creatures who insult the Torah."
Why is the mountain upon which the Torah was given called Chorev in this Mishnah instead of its common name of Har Sinai? The Rebbe answers this question by first clarifying what changed at the giving of the Torah in comparison to the way the Torah was earlier by the Avos (they also learned the Torah).
When Hashem gave the Torah he gave us a tool with which to combat the negativity of this world where Hashem’s goodness is hidden. By having the Torah we have a tool with which we are empowered to combat the darkness of the world and make it into a dwelling place for Hashem’s presence.
This is the reason Har Sinai is called Har Chorev. The word Chorev comes from the word churbon which means destruction. It also comes from the word cherev which means sword. We have been given the power to transform the destructive forces of this world into positive with our sword of Torah that was given to us on Har Chorev at Matan Torah.
Chassidus teaches us that until the giving of the Torah mitzvos did not penetrate into the physicality of the world. There was a separation between G-dliness and the world. By Matan Torah the separation between physicality and G-dliness was broken. From that day forward the power to infuse the physical world with G-dliness was given and the world was changed forever. Ever since we have been on a non-stop campaign to combat that which covers over G-dliness and transform the negativity of that darkness into a world where Hashem the King is apparent and a place that recognizes His glory.
Everything that happens in the world is by hashgacha protis. This week the world commemorated the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. On Tuesday, 6 June 1944 the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II began. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of German-occupied France (and later western Europe) from Nazi control, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.
This week President Trump said in his speech:
“The exceptional might came from a truly exceptional spirit. The abundance of courage came from an abundance of faith. The great deeds of an Army came from the great depths of their love. As they confronted their fate, the Americans and the Allies placed themselves into the palm of G-d’s hand.”
The President’s speech ended:
“The blood that they spilled, the tears that they shed, the lives that they gave, the sacrifice that they made, did not just win a battle. It did not just win a war. Those who fought here won a future for our nation. They won the survival of our civilization. And they showed us the way to love, cherish, and defend our way of life for many centuries to come.
Today, as we stand together upon this sacred Earth, we pledge that our nations will forever be strong and united. We will forever be together. Our people will forever be bold. Our hearts will forever be loyal. And our children, and their children, will forever and always be free.
May G-d bless our great veterans. May G-d bless our Allies. May G-d bless the heroes of D-Day. And may G-d bless America. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much.”
At that time some 75 years ago the majority of the Free World fought the Nazi evil empire on the theater of the European continent, a backdrop of millions of casualties including the Six Million Jews that were killed in the Holocaust. As we recall the great sacrifice of those who gave their lives on that day, we draw a lesson as to the importance and sacrifice required of us and our task of bringing Moshiach to the world. We are called upon on a day-to-day basis to draw our sword, the sword that we received at Chorev to destroy the negative forces that attempt to overwhelm our purpose.
During this same time period, about 4 years earlier in the middle of World War II, the Previous Rebbe landed on the shores of America. The Rebbe announced his purpose immediately upon arrival. The Rebbe was here to fight the misconception that “America is different”. The Rebbe fought the notion that the Judaism of Europe did not belong in America. The Previous Rebbe was physically challenged in a number of ways. The Rebbe was limited to a wheelchair and due to illness could not speak clearly. Undaunted, the Rebbe started to storm the shores of America with a small army. The Rebbe opened the Yeshiva Tomchei Tomimim with a small group of 18 year olds. He sent these young men out to various cities throughout the country to combat the darkness and negativity of the American culture. My father served as a ‘paratrooper’ in that army, ‘dropping in’ to various cities throughout America to bring Yiddishkeit to the masses. Over time and with a tenacious spirit they were successful. Today there are thousands of Shluchim all over the world. It all began on the shores of America where the Previous Rebbe and a few brave young yeshiva students stormed the walls of galus in America and in the world at large.
There is an important lesson in both of these stories for each and every one of us. At times we may feel overwhelmed by the darkness of the world culture that surrounds us and feel the odds are not in our favor. When we reach the holiday of Shavuos we are reminded that Hashem has given us a sword, the Torah which allows us to attack the destructive forces of our world notwithstanding the daunting darkness. As we proceed with sacrifice unwavering towards our goal carrying with us the Torah that we received at Har Chorev we go forward with Simcha and Penimius to follow through on the original storming of the darkness and culminate in total victory to receive the Torah Chadasha from Moshiach immediately.
Good Shabbos. Good Yom Tov. Kabbolas HaTorah b’simcha u’b’Penimius