Having a Rabbi
Nitzavim
At the end of this week’s Parsha we read the words ולדבקה בו “and to cleave to Him”. This phrase appears a number of times in the Torah. The Gemara asks how is it possible to cleave to Hashem? In answer, our sages teach that through cleaving to Talmidei Chachomim, it is as though one cleaves to Hashem himself.
The Alter Rebbe in Tanya explains that it’s not just “as though” we cleave to Hashem. Rather, it is through the Talmidei Chachomim and our connection to them, that our connection to Hashem is revealed.
In Hilchos Talmud Torah, the Rambam lists two Mitzvos; 1) To learn Torah and 2) To honour those who learn and are knowledgeable in Torah.
Why is the Mitzvah of honouring Talmidei Chachomim placed in the Halachos of learning Torah? It would have been more appropriate to place this Mitzvah in either Hilchos Deios, where the Rambam brings the Mitzvah of cleaving to Talmidei Chachomim, or in Hilchos Mamrim, where the laws of honouring parents are discussed.
The answer is that the Rambam is teaching us a lesson; If we want to have the study of Torah, we must show Kovod for its learners.
We are obligated to teach our children Torah. We want them to respect Torah and embrace its study. By showing respect for those who are learned in Torah, we demonstrate the Chashivus of Torah and the awe with which we value it.
This can be illustrated by the following story;
A Ben Torah, who had spent many years learning in Kollel, was upset that his sons had not grown up to follow in his ways. To add insult to injury, his neighbour, a simple Jew who had not spent time in Yeshivah, saw all of his sons grow up to be Talmidei Chachomim, Roshei Yeshivah and Rabbonim.
Burdened and with a strong sense of injustice, our Ben Torah went to his Rosh Yeshivah to pour out his heart. He had devoted his whole life to Torah, so why didn’t his children follow his example?
The Rosh Yeshivah answered. As a Lamdan, when you come home to your Shabbos table after the shiur or after hearing the Rov’s Drosha on Shabbos, you start to upshlog; The Rov misquoted the Gemora, there’s a false argument, etc. This is what your children hear.
Your simple neighbour doesn’t know the Gemora or if the Rov misquoted. He comes home excited and shares with his family what the Rov said at the shiur or the message of the Drosha. His children see his sincerity, respect and excitement and are infused with respect and awe themselves.
In a Yechidus, the Rebbe asked Rabbi Chaim Klein, the director of Heichal Shlomo in Jerusalem, “Who is the Rov of the Shul where you Daven on Shabbos”? Reb Chaim answered that there was no official Rov. The Rebbe replied, “if you seek my advice, then on Friday nights, for Kabbolas Shabbos, take your son to a Shul where there is a Rov. It makes no difference which Shul, as long as there is an officiating Rov.”
The Rebbe explained why this was so important. “A Yiddishe child must know that at the end of Davening, he approaches the Rov to wish him Gut Shabbos and the child will look forward to receiving Gut Shabbos back (Sippurei Tzaddikim, Simcha Raz).
For the Rebbe, Rabbonim and their Piskei Dinim were Kodesh Kodoshim and the Rebbe exemplified and actively defended the due respect which must be accorded to them.
There are many other ways in which we show this respect and it is important, as the Rebbe pointed out, that our children see and hear us doing so;
A Shochet shows their knife to the Rov, not because the Rov is more expert, but to show Kovod.
It is customary for the Shliach Tzibbur and the community to wait for the Rov to finish his Krias Shema or Shemoneh Esrei before continuing the Davening.
We honour Talmidei Chachomim with certain Aliyos and Kibbudim throughout the year in Shul and at private Simchas.
One should stand when a Talmid Chochom enters the room and listen respectfully when they speak.
When speaking about/quoting a Talmid Chochom, they should be referred to respectfully and with their title (as opposed to first name or last name basis).
This showing of Kovod is not for the Talmid Chochom, who should epitomise the trait of humility shown by not pursing Kovod. Showing Kovod to Talmidei Chachomim and Rabbonim is for ourselves and for our children; for our relationship with Torah and for our own connection to Hashem Himself.
The Alter Rebbe in Tanya explains that it’s not just “as though” we cleave to Hashem. Rather, it is through the Talmidei Chachomim and our connection to them, that our connection to Hashem is revealed.
In Hilchos Talmud Torah, the Rambam lists two Mitzvos; 1) To learn Torah and 2) To honour those who learn and are knowledgeable in Torah.
Why is the Mitzvah of honouring Talmidei Chachomim placed in the Halachos of learning Torah? It would have been more appropriate to place this Mitzvah in either Hilchos Deios, where the Rambam brings the Mitzvah of cleaving to Talmidei Chachomim, or in Hilchos Mamrim, where the laws of honouring parents are discussed.
The answer is that the Rambam is teaching us a lesson; If we want to have the study of Torah, we must show Kovod for its learners.
We are obligated to teach our children Torah. We want them to respect Torah and embrace its study. By showing respect for those who are learned in Torah, we demonstrate the Chashivus of Torah and the awe with which we value it.
This can be illustrated by the following story;
A Ben Torah, who had spent many years learning in Kollel, was upset that his sons had not grown up to follow in his ways. To add insult to injury, his neighbour, a simple Jew who had not spent time in Yeshivah, saw all of his sons grow up to be Talmidei Chachomim, Roshei Yeshivah and Rabbonim.
Burdened and with a strong sense of injustice, our Ben Torah went to his Rosh Yeshivah to pour out his heart. He had devoted his whole life to Torah, so why didn’t his children follow his example?
The Rosh Yeshivah answered. As a Lamdan, when you come home to your Shabbos table after the shiur or after hearing the Rov’s Drosha on Shabbos, you start to upshlog; The Rov misquoted the Gemora, there’s a false argument, etc. This is what your children hear.
Your simple neighbour doesn’t know the Gemora or if the Rov misquoted. He comes home excited and shares with his family what the Rov said at the shiur or the message of the Drosha. His children see his sincerity, respect and excitement and are infused with respect and awe themselves.
In a Yechidus, the Rebbe asked Rabbi Chaim Klein, the director of Heichal Shlomo in Jerusalem, “Who is the Rov of the Shul where you Daven on Shabbos”? Reb Chaim answered that there was no official Rov. The Rebbe replied, “if you seek my advice, then on Friday nights, for Kabbolas Shabbos, take your son to a Shul where there is a Rov. It makes no difference which Shul, as long as there is an officiating Rov.”
The Rebbe explained why this was so important. “A Yiddishe child must know that at the end of Davening, he approaches the Rov to wish him Gut Shabbos and the child will look forward to receiving Gut Shabbos back (Sippurei Tzaddikim, Simcha Raz).
For the Rebbe, Rabbonim and their Piskei Dinim were Kodesh Kodoshim and the Rebbe exemplified and actively defended the due respect which must be accorded to them.
There are many other ways in which we show this respect and it is important, as the Rebbe pointed out, that our children see and hear us doing so;
A Shochet shows their knife to the Rov, not because the Rov is more expert, but to show Kovod.
It is customary for the Shliach Tzibbur and the community to wait for the Rov to finish his Krias Shema or Shemoneh Esrei before continuing the Davening.
We honour Talmidei Chachomim with certain Aliyos and Kibbudim throughout the year in Shul and at private Simchas.
One should stand when a Talmid Chochom enters the room and listen respectfully when they speak.
When speaking about/quoting a Talmid Chochom, they should be referred to respectfully and with their title (as opposed to first name or last name basis).
This showing of Kovod is not for the Talmid Chochom, who should epitomise the trait of humility shown by not pursing Kovod. Showing Kovod to Talmidei Chachomim and Rabbonim is for ourselves and for our children; for our relationship with Torah and for our own connection to Hashem Himself.