“
You shall guard (ushmartem) the Mitzvos and do them…” (Vayikra
22:31) What is meant by guarding the Mitzvos that isn’t included in doing
them?
The Chasam Sofer explains the word guard (ushmartem) to mean
anticipate. We find the same word by Yaakov. After Yosef told Yaakov about his
dreams, the Torah says Yaakov “shamar es hadavar.” He anticipated
seeing the dreams come true.
We are instructed in this verse in Parshas Emor not only to fulfill the
Mitzvos, but to anticipate them. We should long to have the opportunity to
fulfill as many Mitzvos as possible.
A story is told that the Chasam Sofer was on a journey with his Rebbe Rav
Nasan Adler. One of the horses pulling the carriage became ill and the driver
went to find another horse. Suddenly Rav Adler jumped out of the carriage and
started dancing from joy in the snow. To the puzzled Chasam Sofer Rav Adler
pointed to the carriage driver from afar. He was bringing an ox to help pull the
carriage along with the sick horse. That meant Rav Adler had the rare
opportunity to fulfill the Mitzvah not to ride in a carriage pulled by different
animals (kilyaim), Rav Adler was an individual who anticipated and longed
to fulfill all the Mitzvos.
The Maharsha in Gemora Makkos writes that the Almighty sends angels to take
us along the path we desire to follow. If we desire to do the Mitzvos certainly
the Almighty will send angels to bring us the opportunities.
Thank you again Rabbi Beryl Glaser.
So we are packing up for the Chatan's Ufraf in Yerushalayim. Yeshiva
Nisivos Aaron in the Beit Yisroel area will be host to the Ponak expanded clan.
Arriving from Ashdod and Bnie Brak, Haifa and of course Metzad. And its almost
Lag Be'Omer, and I can smell the music in the air. This week its the wedding and
next Shabbas is sheva bruchas by me.
Have a great Shab-bass,
Rb Yossi Ponak