Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto’s talks are known throughout the Jewish world. They combine chassidic teachings and philosophy, along with tips for a better life. We have collected pearls from his teachings that are relevant to our daily lives. This week he comments on the Torah section of Shoftim.
"And when he is seated on the throne of his kingdom, he should write for himself this Mishnah Torah in a scroll."
A person should conduct his life in two ways that correspond to the two Torah scrolls that accompanied the king.
We are entering the month of Elul, the time when we have to look back and inspect the whole past year - and not just the past year, but our whole past life. At the same time, we have to think about how we want ourselves to look in the future, to be devoted to God and improve our ways.
In this week's Torah section, the Torah teaches us that the king must write "this Mishnah Torah" and Rashi explains that “Mishnah Torah” refers to the two Torah scrolls, one that is placed in the king’s treasure house and one that accompanies him wherever he goes.
The Torah commands the king to write two Torah scrolls so one will be outside for the public and one will be hidden away in his private treasury. A person should try to see how he can fulfill every mitzvah symbolically even if its legal parameters do not apply to him. How can we interpret and fulfill this mitzvah during our times?
Perhaps we can explain it as follows: First, every Jew is obligated to try and have his own Torah scroll. Even if he has only a little money - he should try to write a Torah scroll. The verse states, "And now write this song for yourself." (Deut. 31:19) Once a person writes a Torah scroll, he’ll feel he has to behave the way a king behaves, with a Torah scroll inside and a Torah scroll outside.
The Gemara says (Ketuvot 103b) about Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi that when he fell ill and felt that his time had come to leave the world, he call his eldest son Rabbi Gamaliel to fill his place and entrusted him with the leadership of the Jewish people. The Gemara says, "Rabbi Gamaliel entered the house and [his father] gave him instructions on how to lead the people. He told his son, "Be a high-handed leader and make sure your students are in trepidation of you" (according to Rashi).
The Gemara asks, “Doesn’t it state (Ps. 15:4) ”He honors those who fear Hashem,” implying that one should honor students rather than frighten them?” Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, when he saw a Torah scholar, would get up from his throne and embrace and kiss him and call him “my master, my master, my teacher, my teacher.” The Gemara answers that this is not a question because the situation depends on if the situation is private or public. Rashi explains that privately, he respects each and every one, but publicly - he is tough and makes sure they are frightened of him so they will respect his leadership prerogative.
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 107b) also says that one’s left hand should repel while his right hand brings close. If so, how should one behave with his students and what is this statement coming to teach us?
Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi taught his son Rabban Gamaliel that a leader has to do two things. On the one hand, his students should feel trepidation of him, and he should be tough with them, but on the other hand, he should treat his students warmly (the left repels and the right brings closer). This is the significance of the two Torahs that God commands the king to have, one Torah for his private treasury and one Torah for the outside.
These are also the two attitudes that a leader has to have. Externally, the leader should act tough and demanding with his students, but when he is privately with them, he should behave warmly to them, to bring them close and treat them compassionately and kindly. These two ways that Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi instructed Rabban Gamliel are also the significance of the two Torah scrolls. The Torah scroll for the public symbolizes how one behaves externally, while the Torah scroll to be kept hidden away symbolizes how one behaves inwardly.
This conduct can be seen with King David. King David said (Psalms 22:7) "I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of a man, despised by peoples." The verse also says about him (Sam I 27:18), "King David came and sat before the Lord and said, ‘Who am I, My Lord, God, and what is my house, for you have brought me until here?’"
Yet, King David declares (Psalms 18:38-39), "I will hunt down my enemies and I will overtake them and I will not return until they are destroyed. I will crush them and they will not be able to get up, and will fall under my feet."
King David humbly says that he is a worm and not a man, showing a humility without comparison. On the other hand, King David wants to crush his enemies and treat them unmercifully. These are two completely opposing ways and therefore the Torah commands the king, “Outwardly act tough and forceful but inwardly behave simple and humble and treat all those close to you kindly.”
This is an important principle that every person should keep in mind. Who are the kings? The rabbis are. Who is a king? A Torah scholar. Every person is a king in his own surroundings, in his home and wherever the person tries to help others. A person should behave outwardly in a tough way while inwardly showing mercy and love, as much as possible to those people who are close to him.
May God help that this special time of the month of Elul will turn out good and be a blessing for everyone, bringing salvation and success, and great help from heaven. Then we will reach Rosh Hashanah as a vessel ready to accept the blessing that God will pour into it, to ameliorate difficult decrees and decree instead good decrees on us.
This article was written in cooperation with Shuva Israel