14 Feb MY PILLOW

It was the mid-1940s, the horrific days of
the Holocaust came to a close, yet the cruel
acts of Nazi Germany left its mark. It was
time to pick up the remnants of our nation,
it was a time to rebuild and start anew.
There was a group of young orphaned
boys. Boys who were left without mothers
or fathers. Boys who were totally alone in
the world.
Plans were made for them to go to Eretz
Yisroel, but who would care for them?
Who would be there to give them a helping
hand, a kind word, and offer encouragement
during their time of healing?
Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, zt”l, the
Rav of the Ponovezh Yeshiva, accepted the
responsibility. The Rav arranged for an
empty municipal building in his community
in Bnei Brak to be transformed into a dorm
for the boys. He raised funds to purchase
beds, tables and chairs, sparing no effort to
make the boys as comfortable as possible.

Rav Kahaneman had everything ready –
almost. The funds he collected were
exhausted, and he wasn’t able to purchase
pillows and blankets.
It was a Friday afternoon, Erev Shabbos.
The boys were to arrive on Sunday. What
was the Rav to do? Even if he were able to
obtain the extra funds, proper bedding was
“a luxury” in Israel in those days,
exceedingly hard to come by.
The Rav came up with a plan.
Rav Kahaneman spread the word in his
community that he had an important
message to deliver, and would be speaking
in his shul on Shabbos afternoon. Of
course, when the Rav would speak, not
only would his immediate community
attend, but people from throughout Bnei
Brak would come out in masse to hear his
words.
On Shabbos afternoon the shul was full.
Rav Kahaneman began speaking about the
laws of an “eved Ivri”, a Jewish servant.
Laws that are found in Parshas Mishpatim.
At first the people couldn’t understand – it

wasn’t even Parshas Mishpatim that week.
Why was the Rav speaking that particular
Shabbos about the subject of eved Ivri?
Rav Kahaneman related the teachings of
the Talmud of how one must treat his
servant. The servant’s physical comfort is
of such importance, that if a master has
only one pillow, he must forgo his own
comfort and provide it to the servant.
Rav Kahaneman continued, telling his
listeners that it is difficult to understand
why a servant would receive priority over
the master? After all, doesn’t the master
deserve a good night’s sleep?
The Rav rhetorically asked, how can one
sleep knowing that a fellow Jew is not
resting peacefully?
Rav Kahaneman spoke from the depth of
his heart. He shared that he tried his utmost
to make everything comfortable for the
soon-to-be-arriving group of young war
orphans. Yet, despite his efforts, he was
unable to obtain proper bedding. With
much emotion, he cried out to the audience.
“How can any of us sleep comfortably
tonight knowing that the arriving
children have no pillows or blankets?”
Devarim hayotzim min halev, nichnasim
el halev, Words which emanate from one
heart enter another.
The Rav’s words were heartfelt and
poignant. They touched all who were in
attendance. That night, soon after
Shabbos ended, there was a rush of
people in Bnei Brak bringing pillows
and blankets to Rav Kahaneman.
When the boys arrived on Sunday, their
rooms were ready and comfortable.
Parshas Mishpatim shares with us many
laws bein adam lechaveiro, between man
and his fellow. Ethical, moral and civil
laws. Mitzvos teaching us kindness and
compassion. Amongst them are how
careful we must be not to cause pain to
widows and orphans. To be sensitive to a
convert’s feelings. Not to speak
falsehoods and be a rumor monger. Not
to fall into the trap of bribery. All of
these are mitzvos that speak to our
neshamah. Yet, the parsha opens with the
laws of an eved Ivri, a Jewish servant.
Why?
One way an individual becomes an eved
Irvi is if he stole and was unable to repay
his victim. He becomes a servant, with
the proceeds paid by his master used to
compensate those whom he victimized.

Even though he is a thief, the Torah has
laws to protect his honor and dignity. For
instance, he should not be ordered to
perform menial tasks, he is offered the
same quality food and drink as his master,
and must be given sleeping accommodations
comparable to what his master and family
enjoy. And yes, even if there is only that
one pillow, it goes to the servant.
In our modern-day world, a convicted
criminal ends up doing jail time. However,
in Talmudic times, a thief would join a
loving family. A family that can give him a
second chance. Instead of jail time, he is
given rehab time. An opportunity to
observe and a experience a meaningful and
productive way of living, thereby giving
him a new lease on life.
The question remains as to why the parsha
opens with the discussion of an eved Ivri.
The Torah is giving us a valuable lesson.
Each one of us is created betzelem Elokim,
in the image of HaShem, implanting within
us a Divine spark. Sometimes, we may
stumble, we may even fall and make
serious mistakes. But despite it all, that
inner Divine spark never disappears. It
may become diminished at times, but it is
never extinguished, and with sincere effort
it can once again become a roaring flame.
Each and every individual is worthy of
honor and respect, if only to recognize and
honor the chelek Elokah, that part of
HaShem within.
Just consider, if even a thief is afforded
dignity and humane treatment, how much
more are we obligated to treat family,
neighbors, friends and business associates
with respect, courtesy and consideration.
This Shabbos we recite Birchas
HaChodesh, the Blessing of the New
Moon, for the month of Adar. The month of
Purim, followed closely by the Yom Tov of
Pesach. Two opportunities to learn from
the wonderful chesed example of Rav
Kahaneman. As we hope to enjoy these
Yomim Tovim with our families and dear
ones, let’s not forget that it’s not just “my
pillow”, but a time to share our good
fortune with others who are in need.