By Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim

This week are the yahrzeits of Binyamin Yisrael ben Shlomo HaLevi Gonsher (10 Tammuz) and Shlomo Zalman ben Rabbi Mordechai Yisroel Tzvi Rindenow (11 Tammuz), who both passed away at a young age. These young men and their families are very close to our yeshiva.

They both had a close connection to the mitzvah of tefillin.

Binyamin Gonsher went with his parents to Eretz Yisrael before his bar mitzvah to put on tefillin for the first time at the Kotel. I remember the photograph of Binyamin standing by the Kotel wearing his tefillin, with a radiant smile on his face. He was a sweet and very caring person, always sensitive to people’s feelings and appreciative of anything done for him. He showed special care in his performance of mitzvos, including being careful not to speak while wearing tefillin.

Rabbi Rindenow was especially proud of Shlomo Zalman based on the following story: Shlomo Zalman served in the Israeli army and he was on a bus returning to his base after an extended weekend. Another young soldier sitting next to him took notice of Shlomo Zalman’s tefillin bag. He told Shlomo Zalman that he never put on tefillin in his entire life. Shlomo Zalman asked if he would like to put them on. He said, “Yes,” so Shlomo Zalman explained the mitzvah of tefillin to him for the remainder of the long bus ride. When they arrived at their base, Shlomo Zalman took the soldier straight to the beis knesses (synagogue) to put on the tefillin and called a group of soldiers in, telling them this was the bar mitzvah this soldier never had! Everyone cheered and congratulated him. Just then, the commander entered and was upset. “What’s going on here?” he asked. Shlomo Zalman explained to the commander the nature of the momentous occasion. The commander was genuinely moved and congratulated the soldier.

The concept of tefillin is connected to parshas Chukas. At the end of the parsha, the nations of Sichon and Og attacked klal Yisrael and were defeated by them.

The Sfas Emes says that Sichon and Og represent two evil spiritual forces that attempt to prevent a person from performing mitzvos. Just as Sichon and Og bordered Eretz Yisrael and tried to prevent klal Yisrael from entering the land, so too, the spiritual forces related to these nations attempt to prevent Bnei Yisrael from accessing the kedushah (holiness) of Eretz Yisrael.

The giant Og was ruler of Edrei. The word “edrei” means “arm, a symbol of power and might.” Og embodies the notion that any person can defeat their opponent with greater power and might.

Sichon was the king of Cheshbon. The word“cheshbon” means “calculation.” Sichon represents the force of intellect. This force attempts to convince a person that his intellect and mental abilities are the reason for his success.

The Chiddushei HaRim says that the mitzvah that counteracts the influence of these two forces is the mitzvah of tefillin. The tefillin box on one’s arm (representing strength) impresses upon a person that his strength is from Hashem. The other box of tefillin is placed on the front of the top of one’s head, which houses our memory and ability to reason. Each morning, when we put on tefillin, we remind ourselves that Hashem is in control and we attribute all our strength and our intellectual abilities to Hashem.

In parshas Chukas, two great leaders of Klal Yisrael pass away: Aharon and Miriam. In the merit of Aharon, we had the ananei hakavod (clouds of glory) that protected us when we wandered in the desert. In the merit of Miriam, we had the be’er (wellspring) that gave us water in the desert for 40 years.

Rav Elya Boruch Finkel says that only when Aharon passed away, and the clouds of glory disappeared, did klal Yisrael realize that their protective gift was tied to Aharon. Hashem brought them back later only in the merit of Moshe.

Similarly, the Alshich says that Hashem removed the well after the passing of Miriam in order for Bnei Yisrael to realize that the vital resource of the well had been available in her merit. Only through Moshe’s merit did it return.

Yeshayah HaNavi said, “A tzaddik is lost (passes away) and no one is paying attention.” Reb Yerucham Levovitz said—in the name of the Alter of Kelm—that the pasuk is telling us that a tzaddik is considered “lost,” when no one pays attention to the tzaddik’s accomplishments and influence. When people recognize the merit and good deeds of the tzaddik, then the tzaddik and his influence continues forever.

It is, therefore, important to take notice of the special nature of these two young men who passed away prematurely, who cherished the mitzvah of tefillin and recognized its significance. We need to recognize and appreciate their contributions to publicizing this mitzvah, thereby, keeping their memory alive forever. May their gift to us be a continuing source of spiritual strength.

Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim is the associate rosh yeshiva of Passaic Torah Institute (PTI)/Yeshiva Ner Boruch. Rabbi Bodenheim can be reached at [email protected]. For more info about PTI and its Torah classes, visit www.pti.shulcloud.com