Kol Tzofayich: Zachor I

The 9th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Chaim Ephraim Zeitchek, Mashgiach of Novardok,Yerushalayim and Rosh Yeshivas Ohr Chodosh (1989)  “The voice of God calls out to the people of the city; the men of wisdom recognizes Your Name: Listen, O Israel, to the Rod of punishment and to the One Who has ordained it (my God 6:9)!” Rashi explains that we derive from here that all those who recite a verse every day, one that begins with the first letter of his name, and concludes with the final letter of his name, the Torah will save him from Gehenna.

There is a fascinating Chatam Sofer that says, “it is possible to say that when King Saul sinned and forfeited his kingdom, one of the reasons was that his father called him, “Shaul,” which sounds like, “She’ol,” which is one of the names associated with ESA. His father should not have given him any name reminiscent of the evil, for there is much in a name. In fact, the prophet Samuel was also “asked for from God,” but his mother did not call him in, “Sha’ul,” but Shmuel. (See Sefat Emet on Vayishlach, where he makes a similar comment about Korach.)

When Jacob commanded his children before his death, “bury me in the cave that is in the field of Machpeilah, where they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac,” the Ramban asks, “why did he not say I buried Isaac? The reason was that since Esau had joined Jake up in bearing Isaac, he did not want to mention his participation for that would hint to his wicked brothers participation even if only in word or thought.

“And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them and their homes and all the people who were with Korach, and all the possessions, and they went down, with all that were theirs, our live to She’ol,” the Talmud (Jerusalem, Sanhedrin 10:1) teaches, “Rabbi Berechiah taught in the name of Rabbi Chelbo, even their names disappeared from their treasures; although they had engraved their names on all their property, those names disappeared, so that they would never be remembered again.”

“And Laban said to Jacob you determine your salary and I will give it. And Jacob said do not give me anything.” Jacob shows that the only reward he should receive should come from God. He was insisting that he will not retain any connection at all to his wicked father-in-law, Laban. For any good that is associated with evil, is rejected by the righteous, for it allows the seed of evil to remain.