OUR DEEP TORAH

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

In this week's Parshah (Vayechi), we learn about the brochas that Yaakov gave to each of his children, i.e. the 12 shevatim, just before his death.

The brochah to Yissachar was to be great in Torah study, and he describes Yissachar as a strong boned donkey (who bears the load of Torah), and who pays his dues (mas) with work (oved)

The tribe of Yissachar produced brilliant Torah scholars throughout the centuries and as Rashi mentions, they provided 200 heads of the Sanhedrin.

I saw a very interesting and deep explanation regarding this brochah of Yissachar from the Rebbe's father Reb Levi Yitzchak as follows:

It says in Gemorra Chagigah that you get two types of Tzadik

• Tzadik shelo oved (a Tzadik 'who does not work') - he learns his studies 100 times (100 times being the standard high level current in his times). Of course this is a huge effort and that that is why he is called a tzadik. But it is only a tzadik according to the normal level of big effort.
• Tzadik oved (a Tzadik who works) - he learns he studies 101 times. This means that he exerts himself beyond his limits, and that is why he is called an oved.

The Gemorra goes on to explain this with an example of a donkey rider who charges one zuz for carrying a load for 10 parsa (a certain distance), but if he carries for 11 parsa, then his fee doubles to 2 zuz.

Reb Levik explains this as follows from the teachings of the Arizal:

There is an angel, who is not a good angel, by the name of mas (in Hebrew this is spelt mem and samech, and the numerical equivalent is therefore 100).

This angel's job is to make one forget ones Torah learning. But it cannot do this if one puts in effort beyond one's nature.

And why does the Gemorra use the example of a donkey? Because it is hinting towards Yissachar and Torah study.

And we can now understand better the end of Yissachar's brochah which said vayehi lemas oved, which can now be understood with a new translation, that the angel mas could not have influence over him because he was an oved ie the second category of Tzadik who is an oved who goes beyond his nature. (101)

And even more interesting he brings an explanation from the Tzemach Tzedek as follows.

The numerical value of the Hebrew word zecher, meaning to remember, is 227.

The numerical value of the Hebrew word shachach, meaning to forget, is 328.

And what is the difference between remembering and forgetting (i.e. subtract 227 from 328)?

Amazingly this is 101!!

How deep is our Torah and our Sages!

And in relation to ourselves, this means that occasionally, we should also try to push ourselves beyond our limits.

Gut Shabbos to all.