Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Head of the Yeshiva: Chizuk for the 4th of Cheshvan
It is written in the holy Zohar that when Noah emerged from the ark, he saw the world in total desolation. He began weeping and praying to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: "Master of the Universe, why did You do so?" The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "A foolish shepherd! Why did you not pray beforehand? Only now you pray? How long did I speak with you! You did not ask of Me even once that I should be patient—not even once! If you had prayed even once, everything would have ended well."
Based on Rabbi Shmueli's Hebrew Chizuk video for the 4th of Cheshvan
Preparing for Shabbat Noah: Torah Study, the Power of Prayer, and Lessons from the Ark
Introduction to Parshat Noah and the Pursuit of Torah Study
Thursday, the fifth day of the Holy Shabbat Week, the fourth day of the month of Cheshvan, 5787. Here we are preparing ourselves for Shabbat Malka, Parshat Noah. Everything is progressing: last week was Parshat Bereishit, and now this week we are already at Parshat Noah.
Whoever studied Rashi on Bereishit truly merited it. But how does one properly study a parsha? It requires knowing every single word. Now, to prepare ourselves for Parshat Noah, we must aim to know every word in the Torah, to study Rashi, and never to leave Rashi aside. Beyond two readings of Mikra and one of Targum, one must study Rashi on the Torah so that a person will know—for how else can one know what is written in the Torah? Without Rashi, it is simply impossible. One must know every word in the Torah.
Today, thank Hashem, there are fine Chumashim that outline the subject matter for you before each section in the Torah. Sometimes they even provide word explanations to make it easier, putting everything right before a person so that everything can be known. One must pay close attention in order to study very well. Therefore, let us strive!
The Ark, the Attributes of Judgment, and the Re'em
When Noah built the ark, he was commanded to make a tzohar—interpreted by commentators either as a window or as a precious gem that illuminated the interior. We saw that the Holy One, Blessed be He, says to Noah: "A tzohar shall you make to the ark, and to a cubit shall you finish it above; and the door of the ark shall you set in its side; with lower, second, and third stories shall you make it."
You know, gentlemen, the tzaddikim taught that they turn the attribute of judgment into the attribute of mercy. Take a plague (nega): instead of a plague, they make delight (oneg)—for nega and oneg contain the exact same letters in a different order. You shall call the Shabbat a delight; when a person delights in the Shabbat, he fixes the plague so that no plague remains. Similarly, sorrow (tsara) can be transformed into desire (retzei) or into illumination (tzohar), as these three terms share the same letters in a different order.
The ark itself featured lower, second, and third stories designated for Noah's household, the animals and fowl, and refuse, respectively. Accommodating thousands of animals presented an extraordinary logistical challenge. Midrashic sources note the existence of a gigantic beast—the re'em—which King David once encountered, mistaking it for a mountain before it stood up and lifted him between heaven and earth. To save the re'em from the flood, Noah brought only its nose into the ark, while the surrounding waters were kept cold and frozen to preserve the structure's pitch.
The Power of Prayer and the Importance of Loving-Kindness
It is written in the holy Zohar that when Noah emerged from the ark, he saw the world in total desolation. He began weeping and praying to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: "Master of the Universe, why did You do so?"
The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "A foolish shepherd! Why did you not pray beforehand? Only now you pray? How long did I speak with you! You did not ask of Me even once that I should be patient—not even once! If you had prayed even once, everything would have ended well."
Later, when Avraham our father met Noah, and likewise when Eliezer met Shem the son of Noah, they asked them: "You were in the ark for twelve months—what did you do for so long?"
He replied: "We were not resting! Every beast eats at a different hour—this one at twelve at night, another at a different time." They say that Noah could not sleep the entire time he was in the ark. Why? He was constantly tending and running back and forth from one animal to another.
Why all this? If Noah beforehand had gone from this one to that one, to return them in repentance, he would not have needed to run about in the ark.
There was once a Jew who had many children, but he was constantly visiting doctors. One day, people advised him to go to a Torah scholar to receive a prayer. The scholar asked him: "Well, do you give a tithe (ma'aser)?"
The man asked: "What is a tithe?"
The scholar explained that there is a charitable fund into which one must contribute. He then asked: "How many children do you have?"
The man replied: "Ten children."
The scholar said: "Set one of them to study Torah!" The man agreed to set one child to study Torah. The scholar then said: "Now, set up a flour provision fund (gemach) in your house so that there won't be sickness or problems."
His wife protested: "Why flour? I have so many children, I cannot manage a flour fund! People will arrive by day and by night, bothering and disturbing us."
He replied: "This is the very remedy so that they won't be sick! Be busy with kindness, and you won't be busy with illnesses."
About this, King David says: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me." How does mercy pursue people? Usually, the income tax collector pursues! Does mercy pursue? He explained: It is far better that a person be pursued to do charity and good deeds than to be pursued by illnesses and tax collectors.
Therefore, a person must preface his life with action—always doing acts of kindness and offering prayers to the Holy One, blessed be He. You know that Rabbi Akiva Eger made a practice once or twice a week of visiting the sick. Rabbeinu HaAri writes that on Tuesday and Wednesday, a person should perform kindness with his body by visiting the sick.
Visiting the Sick and the Miracle of Rabbi Akiva Eger
Once, Rabbi Akiva Eger arrived to visit a sick person whose condition was severe. He asked the doctors: "What can be done?"
They replied that there was nothing to be done. However, Rabbi Akiva Eger heard that a certain physician—the Emperor's doctor—was crossing the city on his way to the palace and passing nearby. Rabbi Akiva Eger asked the people of the city to stand on the road and plead with the doctor to come inspect the patient.
The rabbi of the city asked him, and the doctor obliged. When he arrived and examined the patient, he confirmed: "There is no cure for his blow. There is nothing to be done." He explained that the condition was far too severe and offered no hope.
Upon hearing this, Rabbi Akiva Eger started to weep: "What are you saying, Doctor?"
The doctor said: "Honorable Rabbi, I will tell you—there is no ordinary cure, but there is a certain rare bird that, if cooked and fed to him, would restore him to health. But there is none available. Who can find such a bird? Who can bring it? It is critical." He explained that it was a rare bird found only deep in the forest, and when cooked in a specific manner, there was a slight chance the patient could recover.
Rabbi Akiva Eger asked: "And if the Emperor himself needed this remedy, what would you do?"
The doctor replied: "The Emperor has many hunters! He would send soldiers and skilled hunters into the forest."
Rabbi Akiva Eger said: "Do not despair!" He told the doctor: "The patient before us is also a son—a son of the King of kings, the Holy One, Blessed Be He. This bird will come to him!"
Immediately, Rabbi Akiva Eger went to Posen, stood in a corner, and began to pray and cry out to the Holy One, blessed be He: "Your children, Your beloved!" As he prayed, he saw a bird pecking at the window—tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet—as if saying, "Take me!"
He said: "Is this the lokeshet bird? This is exactly what we need!" It was as if the bird was pleading to enter. He immediately instructed his students: "Bring it in!"
They observed it and saw that it was wondrously formed—a rare bird indeed. They slaughtered the bird, prepared it according to the doctor's exact instructions, and the patient was healed. Some time later, the doctor passed through that city again and was astonished to see the man fully recovered. Rabbi Akiva Eger told him: "We made him a special stew!" Wonders of wonders! Imagine the power of prayer and the spiritual strength they possessed.
The Heavenly Halls and the Healing of the Sick
It is written in Yalkut Reuveni that in the Garden of Eden there is a specific hall known as the Hall of the Sick. The Messiah will emerge from that hall. All illnesses, pains, and sufferings come before the Messiah, who endures them all to protect the Jewish people; were it not for his suffering, the Jewish people could not endure their afflictions.
It is further taught that in the fourth hall, there are cures for every pain and every problem. The tzaddikim know how to draw healing from this hall and bring it to whoever needs it. There are many deep hints regarding this mystery.