Rebbe Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam, zt”l—the “Shefa Chaim” of Klausenburg, Romania—was an extraordinary gaon and tzaddik. During the Holocaust, he suffered the murder of wife and 11 children and the destruction of his community, and he survived numerous death marches and concentration camps. Drawing from his deep reservoir of emunah and purpose, incredible dedication and holy determination, he rebuilt his community in Kiryat Sanz in Netanya and Union City, New Jersey, and built institutions such as Laniado Hospital, Mifal haShas and a thriving chasidus.
Throughout his public talks and sefarim, the Shefa Chaim stressed the importance and challenge of remaining b’simcha under all circumstances—for true simcha comes as a result of knowing that all is from Hashem.
In the first few days after the liberation, an American rabbi, a chaplain, visited the rebbe in Föhrenwald DP camp and asked, “Do your disciples, who study with you, have everything they need when they sit and learn with you?”
“I teach them not to need anything,” the Klausenberger replied, “so that they naturally have everything they need.”
Many years after the war—in the midst of the revelry at a Purim seuda—the Klausenberger Rebbe remarked to one of his outstanding talmidim, “You must be happy today because you’ve learned a lot of Torah!” The student smiled with a sense of approval and satisfaction. The rebbe drew him close and continued, “A much deeper joy, however, is just to be happy about being a Yid. I am b’simcha that my father and mother were Jews and that I was, therefore, born Jewish … ”
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ואתם תהיו לי ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש אלה הדברים אשר תדבר אל בני ישראל
“And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation—these are the words that you shall speak to Bnei Yisrael,” (Shemos, 19:6).
On the phrase, “These are the words that you shall speak to Bnei Yisrael,” Rashi makes a curious comment: לא פחות ולא יותר—“Neither less nor more (than these words).” The Chasam Sofer explains: Why is it that here, out of all of the instructions, commandments and statements in the Torah, does Rashi need to clarify the will of Hashem? Would Moshe, the eved neeman—the faithful servant of the Ribbono shel Olam, really be tempted to embellish or detract from this divine directive?
On a deeper level, Rashi hints at the following facts. When klal Yisrael received the Torah, Hashem bestowed upon our nation a most meaningful challenge and blessing, and with it, a unique title to match: ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש—“a kingdom of Kohanim and a holy nation.” This is a status, obligation and privilege unmatched among all nations—it is “neither less” (there can be no greater, more exalted achievement than being a Yid), “nor more” (there is no Jew unworthy of this great status).
Many of us often point to impressive statistics enumerating the collective successes and accomplishments of our people—such as disproportionate advancements and innovations, science and technology, economics, academia and so on. Jewish dedication to education is undeniable and all of these statistics are valid. At the same time, our focus on Jewish intellectual prowess misses the point. We are not merely what we accomplish. Actually, much more essential to our identity than feats of Yiddishe kup (head), is our Yiddishe heart.
This week, as we celebrate and relive receiving the Torah and our becoming the “people of the book.” Let us remember what truly makes us special: we are chosen and beloved for who we are, regardless of our accomplishments, our IQ, our abilities or whatever “gifts” we may think the Ribbono shel Olam needs from us. Hashem wants our hearts; Hashem wants us. The Ribbono shel Olam is giving us the Torah as an expression of His love for us, and in His limitless kindness, He chooses us simply for who we are. Matan Torah expresses the promise Hashem made to our beloved Avos and Imahos: “Atah b’chartanu mikol ha-amim… —You chose us from among all the nations,” and “Ahavta osanu, v’ratzisa banu—You loved us and took pleasure in us.”
On Chag Matan Toraseinu, we may certainly rejoice in our accomplishments and learning and feel elevated by all we have strived to achieve, study and fulfill. May we also heed the invitation to rejoice in our unbreakable relationship with Torah, and in the greatest joy of all: celebrating our unique role as Hashem’s chosen people—ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש, לא פחות ולא יותר—a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, no more and no less!
Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. He is the founder of Tzama Nafshi and the author of the “Baderech” series. Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife Ora and their family.
