Parshas Tzav (Shabbos HaGadol) - Chag HaPesach 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
הנה אנכי שלח לכם את אליה הנביא לפני בוא יום ... (מלאכי ג-כג, לשבת הגדול)
The last pasuk of the Haftorah of Shabbos HaGadol is repeated twice as Malachi HaNavi declares, “I will send Eliyahu HaNavi to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of Hashem.” Chazal (Sotah 49b) explain that this means that prior to the coming of Moshaich, Eliyahu HaNavi will arrive to let Klal Yisroel know the good news and then the dead will resurrect. But why won’t תחיית המתים occur first so that all of Klal Yisroel can enjoy the good tidings being brought by Eliyahu HaNavi?
R’ Shloime HaKohen zt”l of Vilna (Cheshek Shlomo) explains that Chazal also note that חסידות - righteousness brings one to Ruach HaKodesh, and divine inspiration hastens the future resurrection of תחיית המתים. While some say that Eliyahu HaNavi’s central purpose was, and still is, to propagate peace and harmony within Klal Yisroel, Chazal (Idiyos 8:7) say that Eliyahu’s primary mission is to establish the יחוס of all the families of the Jewish people. As such, without Eliyahu HaNavi’s initial presence establishing peace, harmony, and familial lineage, the holy Shechina would have no place to settle on this earth. Divine inspiration would then not be able to be tapped into - the prerequisite for the resurrection of the dead.
היתה עלי יד ה'... ויניחני בתוך הבקעה והיא מלאה עצמות .... (יחזקאל לז-א, לשבת חול המועד)
The Haftorah of Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach is from Sefer Yechezkel in which the Navi is standing in a valley of dried bones. Yechezkel had been transported to the spot where the Bnei Ephraim had been slaughtered after their failed exodus from Egypt decades prior to Yetzias Mitzrayim. The Navi declares, “Hashem’s hand was upon me. It led me out with the spirit of Hashem and placed me in the midst of the valley. It was filled with bones.” Was this a prophetic vision or an actual experience?
R’ Benzion Yadler zt”l (Tiferes Tzion) quotes Chazal who tell us that according to one view, Yechezkel never actually revived any dead bones but merely envisioned himself doing it. The expression, “Hashem's hand was upon me,” denotes that Yechezkel HaNavi was granted a prophecy which is sometimes termed as a “hand” since a human being is unworthy of communicating directly with the Almighty Himself and needs Hashem’s “supporting hand” to accomplish this. However, according to another opinion, Yechezkel literally records that “Hashem's hand” was upon him compelling him to follow without question, the direction in which the Divine Spirit leads him - namely the incredible miracle of תחיית המתים.
Concludes the Tiferes Tzion, miracles performed by human agents are limited in scope while those performed by Hashem Himself are limitless. Those revived by human beings - as has occurred a number of times throughout history - eventually died a second death, while those who arise during the future תחיית המתים will live eternally since Hashem Himself will be doing it without any malachim.
May we merit to see it soon and in our days!