(2003/5763)

In Perek 40 Pasuk 35 the Torah says: “Vilo Yachol Moshe Lavo El Ohel Moed Ki Shachan Alav Heanan” “Moshe could not go into the Tent of Meeting because the cloud rested upon it.” 

Rav Moshe Feinstein in Darash Moshe asks, why was it impossible for Moshe to enter the Ohel Moed when the cloud rested upon it?  When the cloud rested on Har Sinai, Moshe did not refrain from going up to accept the Torah? 

Rave Moshe answers that the presence of the cloud over the Ohel Moed was a sign from Hashem that Moshe was not allowed to enter the tent.  So here the phrase Lo Yachol means that he was not allowed to enter the Tent of Meeting while the cloud was resting upon it.

However, Rav Moshe did not just offer this as an explanation to this Pasuk, rather he incorporated it into his own lifestyle.  He was once at a convention to deliver a speech where he davened Maariv before going to the convention.  Then after the convention was over there was a minyan for Maariv.  However Rav Moshe and the person driving him home were walking towards the exit.  Suddenly Rav Moshe stopped in his tracks, and the person asked him why he stopped?  He responded that I cannot move because the person in our path is in the middle of Shemone Esrei and the Halacha does not allow me to walk in front of him.  This shows that Rav Moshe lived the Torah, and not only interpreted it.  

Many of us know of the transitive property in Mathematics which states if A=B and B=C then A=C. Many years ago when I was a student in RIETS, Rav Dovid Lipshitz zt”l put signs around the Yeshiva on Rosh Chodesh Adar that said: The Gemara states Mishenichnas Adar Marbim Bisimcha, “When Adar arrives joy increases.”  The Gemara also states Ein Simcha Ela Torah, “There is no joy in this world like the studying of Torah.”  Therefore, Rav Dovid said Mishenichnas Adar Marbin Bitorah, once Adar begins our Torah learning should increase. 

Let us hope as we start Adar Sheni that we increase out Torah study and not just study it, but actually live it, just like Rav Moshe did.  Then hopefully this month of Adar which the Megilla says, “Ashar Nehepach Lahem Miyagon Lisimcha Umeyevel Liyom Tov” “Which was changed from sorrow to happiness and from mourning to a holiday,” will be changed to total happiness, it should be an end to suicide bombings and the suffering of Acheynu Bait Yisroel, our Jewish brethren, as we celebrate a time of “Kiymu Vikiblu,” and acceptance of the Torah