By Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser  Ritual Slaughter

Pearls of Wisdom Posted 5/14/2003

"I will remember for them the covenant of the early generation, those whom I took out of the land of Egypt, before the eyes of the nations, to be G-d unto them — I am Hashem" (Vayikra 26:45).

The great Chassidic master, R` Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, asked, "Why is it necessary for this verse to mention the Exodus from Egypt?" He explained, "We are familiar with the Rambam which explains that when Moshiach comes, the generation will either be entirely guilty or completely meritorious." The question is, what happens if the generation will be, chas v`shalom, entirely guilty?

The answer is that in the Messianic era, there will be a reminder to Hashem of our Exodus from Egypt. At the time of the Exodus, the Jewish people were at a very low spiritual point. Nevertheless, Hashem did not cast us off or despise us. He redeemed us. And Rav Elchonon Wasserman, zt"l, wrote, "We are living now in the "ikvesa d`Meshicha," the times of the footsteps of Moshiach.

One begins to wonder how our generation is to be viewed. We are certainly not "kulo chayav" — entirely sinful. We just have to look at the tremendous amount of Torah learning and well attended shiurim, the proliferation of Daf Yomi shiurim, and the availability of technological advances that have brought Torah closer to us than ever before.

Chesed (kindness) is another area in which the Jewish people excel today. There are hundreds of organizations that service every segment of the Jewish community. These include Bikur Cholim (services for the sick), Hachnasas Kallah (helping poor brides), food packages delivered to those in need, and countless gemachim for every need. The amount of chesed being done is overwhelming.

People today have an unquenchable thirst for Yiddishkeit, such that we literally see the fulfillment of the verse in Sefer Amos, "Not a hunger for bread, not a thirst for water, but only to hear the word of Hashem" (Amos 8:11)

It would appear that we are kulo zakkai (meritorious). I feel that we, as a collective community, should not only appreciate the exceptional ma`alos (positive attributes) of Klal Yisroel, but we should also report and transmit these most favorable impressions to the public at large.

Unfortunately, in recent times, there is a preoccupation in certain segments of the media with Jewish issues. We must remember that "v`es tznuim chochma" that those who are modest and discreet — are wise (Mishlei 11:2). Did we ever benefit by airing our "dirty laundry" in public? Do we expect answers to internal problems from the nations of the world? Do we realize that the greatest mitzvah one can perform in this world is to be mekadesh shem Shamayim (to sanctify the Name of Heaven)? Conversely, the worst transgression one can commit in this world is to be mechalel shem Shamayim — to desecrate the Name of Hashem.

I am certain that those who have taken their "cause" to the secular media have no idea of the chilul Hashem they are causing. In my travels, I have been asked questions by people who are unobservant concerning the frum community. They want to know why there is such disunity, why all the disagreement? When I ask them the source of their information, the answer is invariably the same.

I was recently shown an advertisement that was placed in a secular publication, in which so-called Orthodox Jews were seemingly monitoring the religious lives of other frum Jews. While they may do this with good intentions, we unfortunately all know which road was paved with good intentions. What thoughts does this implant in peoples` minds concerning those who are the keepers of Hashem`s holy Torah? These writings are nothing more than lashon hara, which according to the laws of Shmiras HaLashon, are 100% forbidden even to read.

R` Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev dedicated his entire life to being a defender of Klal Yisrael. The Berditchever wrote of the importance of only saying positive statements concerning the Jewish people.

At the conclusion of the Pesach Seder, we all sing the Chad Gadya with great emotion. We learn how the Angel of Death killed the shochet (slaughterer), who came and killed the ox that drank the water, that extinguished the fire, etc. Rav Nosson Adler asked a profound question, "What did the shochet do wrong? His job is to slaughter, so why was the Malach Hamaves given the right to obliterate him?"

The answer is that the shochet was trying to be the Ribono Shel Olam`s policeman. No one in this world has the right to appoint himself sheriff, and become the judge, jury and prosecuting attorney in the courtroom of Hashem.