09 Jul THINKING IS NOT ENOUGH

Parsahas Chukas. The end of an era. Bnei
Yisroel’s forty year journey through the
desert is coming to a close. Forty years of
travels, encampments, and life lessons.
Forty years of dedicated guidance and
leadership by Moshe and Aaron.
In this week’s parsha, Bnei Yisroel lose
their beloved Kohein Gadol, Aaron.
“Va’yivku ess Aaron shloshim yom, kol
Bais Yisroel, The entire House of Israel
wept for Aaron thirty days.” (Bamidbar
20:29)
In Sefer Devarim, the Torah tells us that
upon Moshe’s death, “Va’yivku Bnei
Yisroel ess Moshe shloshim yom, The
children of Israel wept for Moshe for thirty
days.” (Devarim 34:8)
We know every word, every little nuance in
the Torah, is there for a reason. Why does it
say “kol Bais Yisroel, the entire House of
Israel” in connection with the passing of
Aaron, but in recording Moshe’s death, the
Chumash says only “Bnei Yisroel, the
House of Israel”, without the “kol—all”?
The Midrash teaches that Moshe was
“Rabbeinu” – our teacher, our leader, our

guide, and our mentor. A position that at
times required Moshe to judge and rebuke
members of Am Yisroel… not always to
everyone’s liking. There were some who
may not have appreciated the mussar, the
admonition or reprimanding that came with
the job. Some, may not have grieved as they
should have upon Moshe’s passing. Thus,
the word “kol” is missing.
In Pirkei Avos, Hillel teaches “Hevei
mi’talmidav shel Aaron, oheiv shalom,
v’rodef sholom, oheiv ess habriyos
u’meh’karvan laTorah, Be among the
students of Aaron, loving peace and
pursuing peace, loving people and bringing
them closer to HaShem.” (Pirkei Avos 1:12)
The Mishna is exhorting us to learn from
Aaron, the Kohein Gadol, who looked at
every person b’ahavah, with love and
understanding. To be a student, to be
constantly working on oneself. Growing,
developing and improving our ability to
create an atmosphere of peace and
tranquility.
Love peace, pursue peace. The Mishna in
Avos uses the word rodef for pursuing
peace. Rodef literally means to run after. It
is not enough to be a lover of peace, but one
must bring their thoughts and attention to

action. To be a rodef,
to literally live a life of
bringing peace to
others.
Aaron was the
paradigm of a rodef
shalom. He physically
ran to create peace
between people. The
Midrash tells us that
when Aaron saw two
people who were in
conflict with each
other, he would make
it his business to create
shalom between them.
He would run to one
and say, “Your friend
sent me to tell you that he feels terrible, he
wants to make up with you.” He would then
run to the other person with the same
message. “Your friend is sorry about the
disagreement. He wants me to tell you that
he really wants to get together with you.”
When the two sides would meet, they would
run to each other, embrace each other, and
once again shalom existed between them.
Under my mother’s guidance, Hineni would
host singles get-togethers. Always the
shadchan, the Rebbetzin would mingle
amongst the crowd, introducing people to
each other.
At one such singles Chanukah event, my
mother noticed a new face, and went over
to welcome her. “What’s your name?”
my mother would asked. “Nikki…
Nicole.” A short, terse response. Not
satisfied with that answer, my mother
asked Nikki for her Hebrew name.
“Nechama, but I have no need for that
name.”
My mother started to tell Nikki what a
beautiful name Nechama is. That it means
comfort, and surely, as one having that
name, she has the power to bring comfort
to others and to herself.
Nikki was quick to say that she knows the
meaning of Nechama. In fact, she grew
up in a religious home, but is now
estranged from her parents. She is an
aspiring actress, living in the city. My
mother saw the tzelem Elokim, the image
of G-d, within Nikki, and invited her to
come to a Torah class at Hineni.
A week later Nikki was sitting in Hineni
listening to a Chumash class. One never
knows, and one should never give up. My
mother’s intuition proved correct once
again. Nechama was at a Torah class.
And she kept coming. Week after week.
The more she studied, the more sensitive
she became. Nechama became like a

butterfly, and by the time Pesach arrived,
she underwent a complete metamorphosis,
ready to say goodbye to Nikki, and be
Nechama once again.
My mother told Nechama that HaShem
wants nothing more than to see His children
come home. He is waiting for them. The
Rebbetzin asked her where she was
planning to spend Pesach.
The tears started to flow. Nechama said it
wasn’t so simple. Her father knew of the
lifestyle she lived; he wouldn’t want her
home.
My mother would not be deterred. She had
a plan, and immediately jumped into action.
She called Nechama’s parents. Nechama’s
father picked up the phone. “Hi, this is
Rebbetzin Jungreis. I heard you and your
family have an open home and are happy to
do hachnossas orchim. Can you please help
us. Some of our Hineni members are
looking for places to have seder.”
“I’ll have to ask my wife. How many
people?”
“One girl, twenty-five years old. Her name
is Nechama.”
Dead silence on the other end. Nechama’s
father was in shock, and then with a shaky
voice he asked if this was a joke.
“Your Nechama is attending our Hineni
Classes. She is a new person. She wants to
come home.”
The following week, Nechama’s parents
made their way to the Hineni building.
They met Nechama in my mother’s office.
A reunion laden with tears. A daughter who
was no longer estranged. A family that was
whole again just in time for Pesach.
Oheiv shalom v’rodeph shalom. It’s not
enough just to think of peace. One must
take action and pursue peace. To follow in
the footsteps of Aaron. To see the tzelem
Elokim in every person. Bringing peace to
those around us.