10 Mar HAND IN HAND

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.