25 Mar WE ARE FAMILY

This Shabbos, we read Parshas Pikudei,
completing the second book of the Torah,
Sefer Shemos.
The final pasuk of the parsha tells us of the
anan, the Divine cloud that hovered over
the Mishkan. When the cloud would lift, it
was a sign for Bnei Yisroel to continue
their journey onward. The cloud would
direct and protect them by day, while a
pillar of fire would be with them at night.
The Torah tells us that both the cloud and
the fire were “l’einei kol Beis Yisroel,
before the eyes of the entire House of
Yisroel”. (Shemos 40:38)
Kol Beis Yisroel…. The Chumash uses the
phrase Beis Yisroel, the House of Yisroel.
It would have been sufficient to say kol
Yisroel, all of Yisroel. What is the
significance of the added word beis, house.
We know that each word in the Torah is
there for a reason, that here are no extras.
Each word comes with its message.
We have come full circle. Both the opening

and closing pesukim of Shemos include the
word beis, house. Sefer Shemos opens with
Yaakov bringing his family down to
Mitzayrim… “ish u’beiso, each man and
his household” (Shemos 1:1) Additionally,
we find the word beis used when Bnei
Yisroel are given instructions for the
korban Pesach, the Pesach sacrifice. It is to
be eaten “seh la’bayis, one for a
household… And if the household is too
small for a lamb, he should join together
with his neighbor, one who is next to his
bayis, his home.” (Shemos 12:3-4)
We see the importance of the Jewish home,
the Jewish family. Yaakov knew his
children and his descendants will have a
long exile ahead of them in Egypt. By
bringing down his family, “ish u’beiso,
each man and his household” he was giving
them the key to survival in the galus of
Mitzrayim, as well as in all future exiles. A
strong bayis, a strong home. A message
underscored by HaShem in his instructions
regarding the korban Pesach. And again, as
the nation was on its journey to Eretz
Yisroel.

This past week, on 20
Adar, was the
yahrtzeit of Rav
Shlomo Zalman
Auerbach, zt”l. Not
only was Rav Shlomo
Zalman a Torah giant,
but a giant of chesed
as well. The Rav had a
custom of making
time before Rosh
HaShanah to visit a
nursing home and
spent time with its
elderly and infirm residents. As he himself
aged and became weaker, the Rav found it
challenging to be in shul for the extra-long
Selichos said on Erev Rosh HaShanah. Yet,
despite his lack of strength, he never gave
up on visiting the nursing home. Rav
Shlomo Zalman explained that “HaShem
knows my weakened condition, but
residents of the home wouldn’t know why I
missed visiting them on Erev Rosh
HaShanah.”
The Rav made room in his heart for all of
Am Yisroel. It is no wonder that over
300,000, from all walks of life, came to
his levaya. Not just his talmidim and
those who were privileged to be
enlightened by his vast knowledge of
Torah, but people who were touched by
his actions, people who learned from his
kind, peaceful ways, even if they didn’t
know him personally.
This Shabbos, as we complete Sefer
Shemos, we all rise in unison and call out
Chazak, Chazak, v’Nischazeik, Be strong,
Be Strong, and May we be strengthened.
How uplifting it is to be part of the entire
congregation in reciting these words
together. Words of encouragement, words
of prayer. We say v’Nischazeik, may
“we” be strengthened, as one nation, one
Beis Yisroel. We daven that HaShem give
us continued strength to learn and do
more. Physical strength, emotional
strength, spiritual strength. The Sefer
Taamei Haminhagim quotes the
Avudraham, that the source of saying
chazak is taken from HaShem telling
Yehoshua upon his concluding his reading
of the Torah and assuming the leadership
of the nation, chazak v’ameitz, be strong
and courageous. (Yehoshua 1:6)
To find ways to strengthen ourselves, we
can turn to Pirkei Avos, which extols the
virtues of Torah (study), avodah (prayer)
and gemilus chassodim (acts of
lovingkindness). Three paths to engage in
by Beis Yisroel for Beis Yisroel.

Torah – Study. We are living in special
times. Yeshivos as filled with chavrusos,
learning partners. Chavrusa, taken from the
word, chaver, meaning a friend. By learning
together with others, we become true
friends. Friendships that go way beyond
the study halls, impacting not just ourselves
but our entire family. Additionally, we have
seen a growth of Torah-mates, people
making time lilmod u’lelamed, to learn and
to teach.
Avodah – Prayer. As part of our tefillos, we
daven for acheinu kol Beis Yisroel, our
brothers, the entire House of Yisroel. To
think of each and every Jew as part of your
bayis. In the daily Amidah, many of the
brachos we recite are in the plural – as
refoeinu, HaShem, heal us; hashiveinu,
HaShem, return us; shema tefilaseinu,
HaShem, please listen to our prayers; and
many more. Since October 7, so many have
taken on reciting Tehillim, or extra Tehillim
for Eretz Yisroel. So many have taken on
the name of a soldier or hostage to daven
for.
Gemilus Chassodim – Acts of
Lovingkindness. We are a nation that cares
and shares. That feels each other’s pain.
When Yarden Bibas was sitting shiva, the
line waiting to be menachem ovel, to
express a few words of comfort, stretched
around the block, and beyond. People just
wanting to say, we’re thinking of you. You
are part of our bayis. And, if your bayis is
hurting, so is ours’.
It’s now before Pesach. So many find it
difficult to bring in the Yom Tov with joy
and an easy heart. Here too, we are nation
that steps up to the plate. So many
campaigns, in every community and shul,
gathering funds to ensure that every bayis,
every family will be able to sit at their seder
table, celebrating the Yom Tov as it should
be.
Mi k’amcha Yisroel, Who is like Your
nation, Yisroel. We are truly a beis Yisroel.
We are family.