ויאמר ה' אלי רב לך אל תוסף דבר אלי עוד בדבר הזה ... (ג-כו)
MASHAL: R’ Aharon Kotler zt”l, was one of American Jewry’s greatest Torah leaders. After the turbulent years of WWII, when the Jewish world was in need of so much guidance and direction, especially in America, R’ Aharon was at the forefront of it all. He was personally involved in assisting countless groups and individuals, as well as leading and directing many communities and organizations.
Once, Reb Meir Pantel z”l and Reb Yosef Friedenson z”l, were talking with R’ Aharon about an important communal matter. Suddenly, R’ Aharon stood up and apologized for not being able to talk with them any longer. He had an urgent matter elsewhere, he explained, and had to immediately attend. R’ Aharon was on edge. It was obvious that he was anxious and in a big rush.
Just then, his Rebbetzin came in and reminded him that he wouldn’t have time to daven mincha later, and she advised he daven now and then immediately go. Well, that “quick” shemona esrei took the great Rosh Yeshivah 45 minutes!
NIMSHAL: The week after we mourn the terrible destruction of the Bais HaMikdash, the parsha begins with the concept of tefillah. Moshe davened 515 prayers, begging Hashem to let him into Eretz Yisroel, until Hashem had to tell him to stop. One of the most central themes of prayer, is that “tefillah” is an instrument by which we draw closer to our Creator. Tefillah is the means by which we remove ourselves completely from our surroundings. When we daven, the Divine Presence conceals us and the ananei hakavod, the clouds of glory, enshroud us, thus cementing our firm commitment to Hashem. This serves as a rectification for the distance we experienced during the prior week.
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