Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 07:36:04 +0200 (IST)
B"H

                             "Path Markers"
                                 Yisro:
                          By: Yaacov Silverstein
                       e@mail: hm16@popeye.cc.biu.ac.il
                  HomePage: http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~hm16/
                                Year:  5760
This Years Parsha Series is prepared in the memory and merit of:
 My grandfather:  Rav Yitzchak Zev Ben Yisroel Mordechai Hakohen Solomon Z"L 

NOTE: Is anyone out there interested in a Palm Pilot version of "Path Markers"?

************************Dedication********************************************

This weeks Dvar Torah is dedicated in the memory and for the merit of:

Shaindal Bas Avraham Yitzchak Silverstein (Y.L.T.A)

A 9 year old cousin of mine, who passed away last week, due to being
allergic to milk products.

The next time we say a Beracha over drinking a glass of milk, let us feel
how lucky we actually are, that we are able to drink and eat the foods we
like.
Let us all realize that we are fortunate to be able to live the lives
which we live, for their are many who are much less fortunate than us.

                         *****^^^^^^^*****

Pasuk (19:1):

"In the third month from the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt,
on this day, they arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai."

The Bnei Yisroel cast away their past, there were no complaints for water
or food, not only did their geographical location change, but also their
attitude.

It was now the Third month, the first day of Sivan (The counting of the
month's starts in Nissan, while the counting of the years starts in
Tishrei - Rosh Hashana).

The Pasuk states that the Bnei Yisroel arrived "on this day" and not "on
that day".
Why does the Torah use this specific wording? Wouldn't "on that day" fit
in better?

Chazal learn from this specific wording of the Pasuk, that the words of
the Torah must be new to each and every one of us.  The words must be
beloved to us, as if the Torah was given to us on this very day.

Rav Mordechai Gifter (Sefer Pirkei Torah), gives us an insight to this
idea, in our every day lives.
When a person purchases an object, such as a car, it looses significance
in ones eyes as time goes on, for after a while, he is no longer
interested in his old "Chevy wagon".
He wants a new car, with all the new and great gadgets; power steering,
electric windows....
He thus decides to dump his old "wagon" for a new car.

If this person valued his car, he would never discard it because of its
old age.
For example, one always likes to eat food, and one never gets bored of
eating.  One also never gets bored of light and heat, in the winter time,
even though one is already used to it.
What's the difference?  The difference is, that a person sees the great
significance of food, heat, light...in his life, thus he will never get
bored of it.

For one who sees and knows the true significance of the Torah, as if the
Torah was just given today, it will never loose the valuable status in
one's eyes.  The Torah remains the same important, as it was over 3,000
years ago.

We can learn a similar lesson in our everyday life.  If we start
appreciating things more, and enjoying the little that we do have, we will
become more satisfied with life, than we would be if we would be
constantly looking for the "new model" or "what's in style today".


Pasuk (19:12):

"You shall set boundaries for the people roundabout, saying "Beware of
ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain
shall surely die".

The literal explanation for this Pasuk is found in Rashi:

"That Moshe was to designate fixed limits around the mountain beyond which
no one was to pass, if they would dare to enter, they would be engulfed by
a sphere of holiness, so intense, that they would die."

Rabbi Moshe Sherer Zt"l, a great communal leader, who served as the
president of Agudat Israel of America, for more than 30 years, explained
this Pasuk using the interpretation of "The Kotzker Rebbe".

There are times that one may embark on a mission or goal, to accomplish
something which is of great importance.  At times, one may only feel
partial success even though he exerted a considerable amount of effort.
However, the person still feels satisfied that he has accomplished
something.

The Kotzker Rebbe comes and states that this feeling of partial success,
is wrong.
We know that from this Pasuk:

"Beware if you are trying to climb a mountain (beware if you are trying to
accomplish an important mission) and you will only touch part of the
mountain (and you only have partial success), if you have only touched the
mountain (you only had a partial success), you shall surely die (this is
not the reason for life, for it is a form of death).

Rav Sherer ends off by saying, "If you have merited to climb the mountain,
don't be like those who are satisfied with a little, but instead try to
climb higher and higher." (Adapted from Echos of the Maggid)

If you decide to be more careful in doing Mitzvos or if you decide to keep
more aspects of Judaism (Kashrut, Shabbat...), don't be satisfied on just
partial success, for one never reaches his spiritual mission / goal.


*******
I would like to thank my mother (S.M.F) for helping me out by
looking over the first draft.

(The above Halacha is not Psak, it is there to try to help to increase
ones Torah awareness, for final Psak, please consult your : Local Reliable
Orthodox Rabbi.)


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