Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Head of the Yeshiva: Chizuk for the 21st of Elul

The following is based on Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli's Hebrew Chizuk video for the 21st of Elul, 5786

Spiritual Preparation and Standing Together as a Community

We are approaching the Holy Sabbath during the month of Elul. Today we prepare ourselves through a spiritual rectification (Tikkun) at the yeshiva, where everyone gathers to make a rectification for our 248 limbs and 365 sinews, meriting to be inscribed and sealed for a good life and peace.

In the Torah portion of Nitzavim-Vayeilech, it is written: "You stand today, all of you" (Deuteronomy 29:9). The holy Zohar explains that "the day" refers specifically to Rosh Hashanah—the fateful, decisive day that impacts a person’s entire year. The Tur writes that while an ordinary person facing a trial, wears black, grows out their beard, and lets their nails grow in fear of the verdict, the nation of Israel do the opposite. Israel wears white, wraps themselves in white, shaves neatly, and eats and drinks on Rosh Hashanah because they trust that the Holy One, Blessed be He, will perform miracles and wonders for them. Even if they are not inherently worthy, Hashem helps them for the glory of His name because of His love and choice of Israel.

The Alter of Kelm taught that while an individual must fear the Day of Judgment for themselves and cannot rely on a miracle, the solution for an individual is to connect with the community by benefiting the public (Zichui HaRabim). When the public needs a person, a miracle is performed on their behalf. This is why the verse emphasizes: "You stand today, all of you"—unified as a single entity.

We see this principle with the Shunammite woman when the prophet Elisha asked her: "Is there anything to speak to the King on your behalf?" (2 Kings 4:13). That day was Rosh Hashanah, and Elisha offered to advocate for her before the King. She replied: "I dwell among my own people," meaning she did not wish to stand out individually, choosing instead to remain part of the community.

Similarly, Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, head of the Mir Yeshiva, would decline being singled out on Rosh Hashanah when called up to the Torah, repeating: "I do not want to stand out; I dwell among my people".

Every individual must care for their fellow. The Torah specifies: "Your leaders, your elders, your officers...". An elder, for example, carries the burden of their entire family. When judged on the awesome Day of Judgment, their actions affect not just themselves, but all their descendants who rest upon their shoulders.

Historical Hints in Scripture and the Final Week of the Year

The Torah states: "That many evils (Ra'ot) and troubles (Tzarot) shall befall them" (Deuteronomy 31:17). Historical events are hinted at in these words:

• World War I: The letters of Ra'ot (תרע"ו) correspond to the year 5676 [1915/1916], when the earth trembled during the First World War.
• World War II and the Holocaust: The word VeTzarot (וצרות) has a gematria of 702, corresponding to the year 5702 [1941–1942], the period during which the Holocaust raged.

Furthermore, in Song of Songs (1:7), the verse asks: "Where do You pasture (Tir'eh), where do You rest Your flock at noon (Ba'tzohorayim)?". The word Eichah ("Where/How") refers to tribulations. Tir'eh hints at the year 5676 [1915/1916], while Tarbitz ("rest", gematria 702) hints at 5702 [1941–1942]. Ba'tzohorayim ("at noon") refers to the end of the exile, signifying that the suffering is reaching its conclusion.

We are now entering the final week of the year, beginning with this Sabbath. Rabbi Elyashiv taught that during this final week, one has the power to rectify the entire past year:

• This final Sabbath can rectify all the Sabbaths of the whole year.
• The final Sunday rectifies all Sundays, and so on through the week.

When a person is judged on Rosh Hashanah, a properly kept final Sabbath steps forward to defend them, stating that the person possesses merits and spiritual strength. Therefore, one should observe this final Sabbath to the absolute best of their ability.

Additionally, on the Sabbath preceding Rosh Hashanah, the new month of Tishrei is not blessed in the synagogue. This is done to confuse the Satan so he will not know the exact timing of Rosh Hashanah, or because the Holy One, Blessed be He, Himself blesses the month at the start of the year. Rabbi Elyashiv made a special effort to pray the final prayer of the year at the Western Wall, explaining that the final seal elevates all the prayers of the entire year.

The Sanctity of the Sabbath and Livelihood

The Sabbath is the ultimate source of all blessing.

The Chafetz Chaim once addressed a Jewish shopkeeper who opened his store on the Sabbath claiming he needed the extra income. The Chafetz Chaim compared him to a fool who installs a second faucet on a hot water urn, expecting to get more water overall. The fool does not realize that the total volume of water inside the urn was already fixed; adding another faucet yields no extra water, only drawing from the same pre-determined amount. Similarly, Hashem decrees a person's livelihood for the week, and working on the Sabbath or taking extra overtime at the expense of Torah study does not increase what was already designated.

Sustenance (Mazon) is directly linked to faith (Emunah):

• The gematria of Emunah (אמונה) is 103 (counting the word as a whole).
• The gematria of Mazon (מזון) is likewise 103.
• A person's sustenance is granted in direct proportion to their faith in Hashem.

The physical places where the Patriarchs and Moshe prayed reflect multiplying measures of this sustenance:

1. Avraham on Mount Moriah: Hashem doubled the sustenance to two measures of Mazon (103 X 2 = 206). Avraham called the place Har (הר - "Mountain"), which equals 205, or 206 with the Kolel.
2. Yitzchak in the Field: Hashem added a third measure of sustenance (103 X 3 =309). Yitzchak called the place Sadeh (שדה - "Field"), which equals 309.
3. Yaakov at Bet-el: Hashem added a fourth measure (103 X 4 = 412). Yaakov called the place Bayit (בית - "House"), which equals 412.
4. Moshe: Looking toward the Temple Mount from afar, Hashem added a fifth measure (103 X 5 = 515). This corresponds to Tefillah (תפילה - "Prayer"), which equals 515, as in "For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations".

All of these spiritual blessings depend entirely on keeping the Sabbath. The Hebrew word for "The Sabbath"—HaShabbat (השבת)—serves as an acronym for these four stages of blessing:

• ה - Har (Mountain)
• ש - Sadeh (Field)
• ב - Bayit (House)
• ת - Tefillah (Prayer)

Miracles of Sabbath Observance

Observing the Sabbath with self-sacrifice brings divine protection and miracles.

The Contractor in Jaffa

A building contractor in Jaffa ordered large quantities of cement from abroad. The cement arrived on a Friday afternoon right before the Sabbath, delivered in barrels to the construction site after the workers had already left for Jaffa. Dark storm clouds gathered, and a torrential downpour was imminent. Unprotected, the wet cement would turn to concrete and be completely destroyed.

People urged him to hire workers immediately to cover the materials, even though it would cause Sabbath desecration. The contractor refused, stating: "I am under no circumstances willing to desecrate the Sabbath! Come what may!". He left the site exposed to the storm.

After the Sabbath ended and he completed the Melaveh Malkah meal, he went out to inspect the site. To his astonishment, all of his cement was completely covered and unharmed. A nearby construction firm, Solel Boneh, had sent their own workers during the day to cover their own materials at a neighboring site, and by mistake, those workers had covered his cement as well. Because he stood firm in his Sabbath observance, a miracle was performed for him.

Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Herman

When the great scholar Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Herman arrived at the Port of Jaffa in the summer of 5699 [1939], it was a Friday afternoon, just as World War II broke out. Officials rushed him, warning that war had begun and demanding he carry his suitcases immediately.

Rabbi Herman refused, declaring: "I am not desecrating the Sabbath! Did I come to the Land of Israel to desecrate the Sabbath? Never in the world will such a thing happen!". He abandoned all his luggage at the port and traveled to Haifa to pray at the Cave of Elijah the Prophet. On Saturday night after the Sabbath ended, he returned to the port and found all of his suitcases standing in the exact spot where he had left them, completely untouched despite the chaos of the outbreak of war. When a person sacrifices for the Sabbath, Hashem guards their possessions.

Self-Sacrifice During the Holocaust

During the Holocaust, Rabbi Meisels risked his life on Rosh Hashanah to blow the shofar in 20 different locations within the concentration camps, blowing a hundred sounds in each location. Had the Nazis caught him or those listening, they would have executed them immediately.

In one area, approximately 100 young children were locked inside an enclosure, scheduled to be murdered and burned shortly thereafter. The children wept and pleaded through the barrier, begging Rabbi Meisels to blow the shofar for them so they could fulfill the mitzvah one last time.

As the sun began to set, Rabbi Meisels hesitated, knowing that approaching the enclosure at that hour was exceptionally dangerous. His son encouraged him, saying: "Father, do it". The children cried out: "Soon we will be burned! Come perform a mitzvah with us before we turn to ashes!".

Rabbi Meisels could not stand idly by. Stationing his son at the edge of the camp to watch, he slipped inside. The children wept, kissed his hands, and embraced him. He spoke words of mussar (ethical encouragement) to them, saying: "We recite: 'Blow the shofar on the new moon... for it is a statute for Israel, a day of judgment.' On this day, the future is hidden (keseh)—no one knows who will live and who will die. But even if a sharp sword rests upon a person's neck, one should never despair of Hashem's mercy".

He blew the shofar for them amid intense tears. Rabbi Meisels managed to escape, and within less than an hour, the children were taken and turned to ashes. Yet, they merited to return their souls to the Creator with immense love, devotion, and Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d's Name).

We must carefully safeguard the education of our children so that their souls are not lost, especially today when improper digital devices cause so much spiritual harm.

The Story of Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov and the Confession at Sea

Before the passing of the Vilna Gaon (the Gra), many of his disciples sought to fulfill his dream of moving to the Land of Israel. Among them was Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov. They boarded a ship to travel to Israel, but the vessel was old and rickety.

While at sea, a violent storm erupted. Dark clouds covered the sky, torrential rains fell, and fierce winds battered the vessel. The ship's captain, who had been sailing for 30 years, approached Rabbi Yisrael in terror, stating that he had never encountered such a storm and that the rickety ship was about to break in two. He told Rabbi Yisrael: "Tell everyone to prepare, for soon we will all sink into the depths of the sea. There is nowhere to escape".

Rabbi Yisrael gathered the passengers and said: "I am embarrassed before you, but the storm is fierce and there is no choice. We must return our souls pure to the Creator. Let us recite the Vidui (confession) together with trembling and tears".

To ensure the confession was recited with complete sincerity, Rabbi Yisrael instructed that each person stand up in order and publicly confess their specific sins.

The first to stand was a young man, the eldest of nine siblings. Weeping bitterly, the young man shared his background: His family had lived in an apartment that shared a physical wall with the home of the Vilna Gaon. His father worked at a grocery store by day, but at night he would sit by that shared wall, listening to the Vilna Gaon study Torah and studying along with him all night long. One night, the father overheard the teaching of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai regarding those who abandon eternal life for temporary worldly pursuits. Overcome by these words, the father told his wife that he could no longer work in the store and wished to dedicate himself entirely to full-time Torah study in the Beit Midrash. Without hesitation, his wife agreed, taking on the burden of the household.

Eventually, the family's income collapsed completely, and there was no food left in the house to eat or bake. Not wanting to disturb her husband's Torah study, the mother kept the extent of their poverty a secret from him. When this eldest son would leave for school, there was often no food to give him.

Standing on the storm-tossed ship, the young man cried out his confession: "What is my sin? For two full years, I lied to my mother every day, telling her that I had already eaten at school so that she would give my portion of food to my younger brothers and sisters! For two years I lied to her! That is the sin I am confessing!"

Hearing this confession, all the passengers wept. They cried out to Hashem: "Master of the Universe! Look at this first confession—look at this Tzaddik (righteous person)! He has no sins, except that he lied to his mother so that his little brothers and sisters could eat!"

Rabbi Yisrael of Shklov noted that at that exact moment, the storm ceased, the rain stopped, and the sea grew calm. The ship navigated safely, and all the passengers disembarked unharmed in the Land of Israel. That single, pure confession was enough to tear annul the harsh decree.

Concluding Prayer

May Hashem grant great salvations, and may we merit the fulfillment of the verse: "Who is an Almighty One like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us" (Micah 7:18–19).